Family Day for Three

E and I have been parents for 11 days already.  Time certainly does fly!  We find ourselves at Family Day with our own little family of three, the sun is shining, we've been out for a walk (the stroller did well in the light snow and the ride must be comfy enough as JJ slept through it all) and we are fairly well rested (for parents of a newborn).  JJ is feeding great and pretty good at napping.  E feels less chained to the couch for constant feeds.

We have obviously been through and learned a lot so far.  Compared to seven days ago looking after a newborn is way less scary.  There are certainly highs and lows, laughter and tears.  I think the best thing is that not only do we have a son but he has brought E and I even closer together (rather than putting a bit of a divide between us as we once thought might happen).  We know that between us we will get through the tough times and enjoy the great times.

You really can't beat seeing him alert and happy in your arms or nodding off to sleep and making funny faces (and monster yawns).  A great feed, a good (and quiet) diaper change, how he smells after a bath, visiting family for a change of scenery, not waking him when we put him down in the crib, getting two hours sleep, having time for a shower are all fantastic.  We love how small, cute, sweet and vulnerable he looks during bath time or when we are dressing him.

Of course there are the cluster feeds at 2am, the uncertainty of being on his (non-existent) schedule, messy changes (you really will get pooped on and in places you didn't expect), trying to follow all the recommendations of the midwives (which leads to us second guessing a lot of what we do when we don't have a great day) and never knowing what to expect next.  He doesn't seem to realise my chest hair is attached, to me.

Our lives really have changed (for the better) and we look forward to next Family Day when we could be out playing in the snow, taking JJ on a snowshoe or just playing with him in front of our cozy fireplace.

Our next challenge, I'm back to work for a day tomorrow...