The Unexpected

I knew going into this whole mom gig that I could never fully prepare for what it would be like. Over the past few days, I have been reflecting on just what aspects have been the most unexpected.

• I knew that I would be sleep deprived in the beginning. And boy was I. By the end of that first week, I think that I had only gotten 15 hours of sleep total. However what I did not expect was that when I got the opportunity to sleep, I couldn't. Mind mind was racing. Being a new mom was stressful, and I had difficulty wrapping my mind around the enormity of it all. There was this new little life that I was entirely responsible for, and I feared failure. I was exhausted, but I couldn't get myself to unwind enough to rest.
• Then once I was able to settle down enough to sleep, I found that my baby made lots of noises that kept me up. Loud noises too as I wasn't even co-sleeping. These were the noises I heard from across the hall without a monitor. I could never have forseen sleeping with earplugs every night. I can still hear her cries, but it takes the edge off enough for me to sleep.
• I am sore. My arm is sore. My shoulder is sore. My neck is sore. My knees are sore. My difficult to burp baby requires lots of bouncing. She also takes a long time to feed so I'm actually sore from holding her in the feeding position. I'm loving both my hot tub and Ben-Gay these days. If only I didn't reek of wintergreen.
• Babies (or at least my baby) doesn't nap anytime or any place. I figured that when she would fall asleep that we'd stick her in the crib for a few hours. Ummmm...not so much. For the first couple of weeks I don't think she slept any where but on me or Jeramy. Finally I learned she would sleep in her swing, which is where she is napping right now. This has turned out to be the magic solution to both nighttime and daytime sleep for us. I just wish that I had purchased a swing that could be plugged into the wall. D batteries are spendy.
• I always heard that babies easily fall asleep in cars. That is true for Jillian provided the vehicle is moving. I have come to despise red lights. I'll even take a longer route to go places now if it means going on freeways rather than surface streets.
  

Jeramy went back to work on Monday. He is working six ten-hour days, and is not getting home until after 6pm at night. We're both pretty sad about that as he does not get to spend much time with Jillian. So far it seems like he's either had a crazy work schedule or been laid-off during the course of her life. Anyhow, the money is very nice as we know he'll likely be home again by late January or early February.

Okay, here are the latest pics. Is it me or does this girl have the craziest expressions?

A big smile. Provided she is in a good mood, it is pretty easy to coax a smile out of here these days.

Apparently she isn't too keen on the bonnet I knitted for her.

First thing after waking up and being released from the swaddle she loves to stretch and stretch and stretch. I think it is hilarious, and every time I stretch now I remind myself of her.

She's not a big fan of tummy time.

She was so tired after the shots that she even slept in the bassinet for like 30 whole minutes.