Grady's second week

Posted on Jan. 15, 2007 at 2:27 PM - Post Comment

Grady went back to the doctor today (December 5), and he was up to 6 pounds, 10 ounces. The doctor said that his weight gain since the last appointment was much faster than she had even expected, so it shows that he is eating well

It is just so overwhelming to instantly love someone so much. I look at him and think "I want the world to be perfect for him" or "I can't bear the thought of anyone ever being mean to him or anything hurting him". It is just a helpless feeling to know that I brought him into the world, and I can't always make everything perfect for him. If he gets the hiccups, I get mad at the hiccups because I think it is making him uncomfortable (even though he does not seem to mind at all). It is just an overwhelming desire to protect him.

Last night (December 4) Eric read him his first bedtime story (after an evening feeding), and he went right off to sleep. It was so sweet, and I am so glad I videotaped it. I have tons of video already - first sponge bath, homecoming, etc. We also watched the video from the moments after he was born, and I was crying all over again watching it.

Tonight Eric and I are going to pick up our Christmas tree while my mom watches the baby. The place is really close, so we will only be gone about a half hour, but I know I will miss him! We plan on decorating it on Friday night before Eric's parents come on Saturday.

Grady loves to put his hands and fingers in his mouth. He just found his thumb yesterday He still loves the fetal position - always getting himself into a ball. I love his expressions - I try to capture them on film, but it can be tough, so I try to just stare at him and commit them to memory. He makes little "oooh" and "aaahh" faces, and if I did not know better, I would swear he smiles at me.

It is a lot of work to have a new baby at home.  It is probably the hardest thing I have ever done and yet the most rewarding and wonderful too - even at those tough moments. I never feel frustrated with him at all - I can't believe how much patience you find when dealing with a baby you love so much. If anything, it breaks my heart to see him sad, and I have to try not to cry. It's like after having him in my belly for 9 months, I can almost feel his pain. But I know it is normal stuff he just has to deal with.

I had a fun moment today. I was rocking him and reading him the nursery rhyme book I read him when I was PG. He was so soothed by it. It made me smile to think that now he is here, after all that waiting!

After the second visit to the doctor:

Sleeping in Grandma's arms

After we got the tree - Grady was mesmerized!

Sleeping in the vibrating chair

With Grandma again

In his monkey chair

Flexing those baby muscles