The First Three Weeks
Wow… Hard to believe that it’s been three weeks already since Alice was born. Admittedly, the first (almost) week flew by while we were in the hospital. It’s true what everyone says — one ought to enjoy her time in the hospital and treat it almost like a hotel stay, because life gets a bit wompus afterwards! Bringing Alice home was exciting, but a bit of a shock, even though we were expecting that shock. I promptly marched her upstairs to her nursery, swaddled her, and placed her lovingly in her crib to snooze while we unloaded bags and got ourselves settled… except that she didn’t snooze, of course. She screamed. And we (I?) kinda ran around like a headless chicken realizing that (unlike at the hospital) we didn’t have any formula ready, we didn’t know how exactly the cloth diapers worked, and — ack! — we were fully, completely, 100% in charge.
We’re a bit more sorted now. 
We have the diapers all figured out and the formula-making under control (Rob has been AMAZING at keeping on top of this). We’re still 100% in charge, but as we’ve settled into a routine, it’s been getting easier. Mostly. I’m not going to lie — this post-partum stuff has been a bumpy ride. Given my history of bipolar disorder, I was at high-risk for post-partum depression, and I wish I could say that that ship set sail without me. Frustratingly, I had a ticket on the SS Tears Anger Misery. Not to worry — I’ve seen my doctor and asked for a full refund, which we’re working on. Administrative delays, of course. 😉 These things take time.
Generally, however, life is amazing. Alice is the most beautiful thing in the world; you’re shocked, I know. I think she’s changing everyday. I know she has gas (baby toots are hilarious! Probably funnier for me than for her, but what can ya do). We took her first hand and foot prints today (thanks, Aunty Laura) and went on our first family walk with the stroller. (Alice loves it – falls asleep easily to the swaying – which is good because I find it has very sensitive steering and drove it over some pretty big rocks on someone’s lawn, hee hee!) We’ve been trying to take supreme care of her, of course, and she’s been accepting us with reasonably good humor. She didn’t LIKE getting shot in the face with formula, for example, but she dealt. She thinks I’m a moron for taking 45 minutes of her screaming to figure out she was cold, but she warmed up quickly enough. As I say – we try our best around here.
Alice and I are bracing ourselves for change, as Rob (World’s Best Husband and Father and General Godsend) is back on the hunt for work. It has been incredible having him at home with us for the first few weeks — I’m so very grateful that things worked out they way they did — and am now looking for and at the bright sides of having him back at bread-winning. It’ll be my turn soon enough, I suppose. Anybody looking for a professional speaker, speaking on mental health and addiction with a side of humor and personality? 😛
Thanks to everyone for their love over the last few weeks. We’re taking it in with open arms, and love you back. Lots. <3!
Posted in Alice
Where’s the “like” button on this thing???
Hey Kim, aka Mommy… You sound as though you are doing just fine. Bringing a baby home for the first time..(even the 4th time), can be pretty nerve racking.. You just do what you think is right, and fly by the seat of your pants the rest of the way.. It gets better! (until teething starts, but by that time you’ll be old pros ..haha)..
Tip, if Alice won’t sleep, take her out for a car-ride! I remember Jim and I driving a screaming Sara around the block several times, when she was a teenie weenie, until she fell asleep.. It (usually) works every time. Soothers are great inventions as well, and can be life savers, if you start them early enough. I waited too long with some of mine, and had to suffer the noisy consequences.
Enjoyed all the pics.. and looking forward to more of them. I have some things for Alice, and better get them into the mail, before she is in University!
love to all.. P