Tuesday, November 5, 2013

One Week!

I still owe you my Birth Story and I'm about halfway through writing it, but I can't ignore that Owen is now one week old! Actually....it's 8:40 as I write this. He was born at 8:49 exactly one week ago. That gives me chills. The first week has been overwhelming, intense, difficult and amazing. By far the hardest part is breastfeeding and that deserves its own post but you can imagine how draining and intense it has been. The best parts are holding him and looking into his eyes and marveling at his facial expressions. I am awed by being a mother and awed by my son. I feel like I am the luckiest mother in the world, but I know that everyone feels that way. That's the beauty of this relationship.

I don't really know how to describe to you in words the first week. There are moments. When he nuzzles into my neck. When he makes little grunting noises in his sleep. When my nipples hurt so badly I want to cry out (or I actually do cry out). When B tells me I am strong and he adores me. When B sings to Owen to soothe him. When Owen calms just by hearing my voice. When I am terrified that he will stop breathing. When I realize that I am carrying him around like a pro. When I realize that we are actually doing this. When I am terrified and amazed that this is the start of the rest of his life.

The first week. The beginning. The moment I have been thinking about for nine months. The transition to a new identity. It is actually happening.

A Shout Out to Lorna at the LaLa Diaries for the wonderful background for my weekly photos. Crafty people amaze me!

p.s. I am sorry about not commenting on your blogs. I am reading them. I read them while I feed Owen in the middle of the night and I feel alone and overwhelmed. But it's hard to comment from my phone and I just fell behind. But I love to read what everyone else is going through. I am happy for those of you who have had wonderful news, anxious along with some of you who are waiting for news, and relieved to read others who are experiencing things similar to me. Basically, I love you guys!

13 comments:

  1. Congrats on making through the first week. Your son is absolutely gorgeous. Keep the photos coming!

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  2. So glad to hear things are going well!! I love the pics - he is adorable! A little assvice for BF'ing - if you're experiencing cracked or sore nipples, try expressing just a little milk at the end of a nursing session, rub it into your nipples, and air dry. It helped me a lot!

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  3. I love this post!! Keep enjoying every moment. :)
    Owen is just adorable!!

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  4. Oh this is so sweet, I specially love that pic where he is smiling / playing with the monkey.
    I can not wait to hear all your stories. Enjoy the cuddles.

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  5. This post totally made me tear up. So happy for you and your little family!

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  6. Awww great photos!! I bought the same organic Monkey for my niece, and now my brother uses it to track her growth (how much bigger than the monkey as time passes)

    I am so happy for you. I've heard that breastfeeding really hurts in the beginning and I'm scared for that. My friend who recently went through it said it made her feel like going from a girl to a woman.

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  7. Hehe, I want to caption them all, maybe shall save that for Facebook, but I don't want to steal your dad's thunder!

    You're doing it! Every day you get a bit more confident and you'll look back in a few months and laugh at how much you had to learn. Proud of you lady. Glad I could offer some assistance for photo posing. No one look at how squint the edges are... x

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  8. Awww he is so, so sweet! Congrats, friend! I'm a little late but better late than never right! :)

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  9. He is really so, so beautiful! Just perfect.
    In 3 weeks from now you'll be able to shower without shielding your nipples and it will be even easier. I promise ;)

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  10. He is so adorable! And look at him smiling already! Congratulations, mama. As someone who is still sleep deprived two months in, I can tell you that breastfeeding does get easier. Good luck in these first trying weeks!

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  11. devastatingly cute! love the photo background! Congrats on making it through the first few days and here's hoping your boobs can catch a break!

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  12. He is just perfect! Congratulations!!!!

    The first few weeks (months? years?) of motherhood are wonderful, and exhausting, and frightening, and painful and beautiful, all at the same time. It's a crazy life!

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