December 11, 2009 – 11:40 pm
The sleepless nights, the crying fits and the poopy diapers will probably not cause you to thank God you’re now a parent. However, if you’ve survived the first few weeks of caring for a newborn baby, I’m hoping that you’ve had a few of those “worth it” moments. Here are a few of ours:
- the half-asleep smile
- mommy shaping baby G’s hair into a mohawk
- the unexpected toot that makes mommy and daddy chuckle
- daddy feeling like a king after being able to settle baby G down after a long cry
- the milk coma
- the Abuelita sneeze
These are the moments when we realize how lucky we are. These are the times when we understand that without the bad, there is no good and that if she wasn’t a little devil sometimes, we wouldn’t know when she’s being an angel.
So what makes/made parenting worth it for you? What is/was your priceless moment with your little one?
December 8, 2009 – 7:10 pm
We’re still not in full parent mode yet, but each day seems to bring new signs of this whole parenting thing beginning to sink in. Today for example, I picked up baby G’s birth certificate. Most would probably not consider this a memorable event, but for me, it was kind of special. Seeing my daughter’s name along side mine and her mommy’s on this official-looking paper further solidifies the fact that I’m not just in some 2:30 AM coma preparing a bottle for my hungry little devil, but rather that the Dept. of Health in the state that we live is aware of my daughter’s existence and that we’re her parents!
I suppose things will really sink in later this week as I head back to work. I’m anxious to get back to the real world, but saddened that I’ll be seeing mi princesa a lot less. I’m sure this is difficult for any parent — to go from being with your child all day to just a few waking hours a day. I know there is no other way. Parents have to go to work or else they wouldn’t be able to provide for their children. It just seems so unnatural — to leave that which you love the most. If anything, I have a new reason to help get me through the workday and a caring wife that will give me the daily baby G update as soon as I walk through the door.
November 27, 2009 – 11:55 pm
Tonight was the night! We knew it was coming. We knew it would be BIG! We just didn’t know exactly when it would come. After 6 very long days, baby G finally pooped her brains out tonight — an epic bowel movement by all accounts. As expected, it took a tag team effort to change this diaper and believe me, it was not for the faint of heart.
I think mommy and daddy were more relieved than baby G in the end. I mean seriously, can you imagine what that must have felt like…post-explosion? She must feel like a brand new baby girl — “all cleaned out,” as Grampie would say.
The question still remains…why? We might never know the answer, but if it happens again, we’ll make sure to have all hands on deck for that diaper change. And yes, we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving…a whoooooole lot!
November 23, 2009 – 1:52 pm
Baby G had a busy weekend! On Saturday, she was the center of attention and met more of her family, including her Aunt R (G’s daddy’s sister-in-law) and cousins C and D, her Uncle M (G’s mommy’s brother) and her two cousins A and A, as well as her Uncle E (G’s daddy’s cousin) and Aunt V and their little boy. She slept most of the day, but at least our family had the opportunity to meet our little turkey.
Thanksgiving came early for us and baby G as we spent Sunday with mimi, grampy, abuelo and abuela. It’s a shame baby G couldn’t have any of abuela’s famous mashed potatoes, but she will someday.
G’s mommy is hanging in there and trying to recuperate. She has been so great with baby G, as I knew she would be. It’s a joy to watch her with my daughter and baby G is blessed to have her as a mommy.
November 19, 2009 – 10:47 pm
There’s something about seeing your baby do something for the very first time that just makes you feel so proud. I’m not talking about big things here either, just the mundane actions or movements that we don’t pay much attention to. And even if the other parent saw it but not you, a part of you will still not believe it until you see it with your own eyes. I saw baby G yawn a couple of times today and I felt so privileged to see it. These small little actions seem to assure me more and more that yes this is real — she is a real person. Of course, this also puts me at ease to know her body is doing things that I do, which leads me to something else that apparently both my daughter and I do.
So while G’s mommy was talking to a friend, I was sitting down with baby G in my arms. One second, she was content, moving around a little, but being good. The next second, I hear a LOUD BURST! What went through my mind next was the following:
- 1 second after loud burst – “Hey! That sounded like…”
- 2 seconds after loud burst – “Nah, it couldn’t have been!”
- 3 seconds after loud burst – “Yup, she definitely just farted loud and hard enough to send vibrations up my arm”
Everyone farts…even babies. I knew that, but for some reason the whole event surprised the heck out of me. When you’re holding this little bundle of joy and she’s making cute baby noises and looking adorable, the last thing on your mind is the sound of a fart. Maybe that was a sign to expect the unexpected! Nonetheless, I’m still proud of baby G — proud of her first yawn and her first fart!
November 18, 2009 – 4:37 am
Barely awake right now, but just to sum things up…yes, I did witness a miracle just after midnight this morning, the birth of my baby girl or baby G as we like to call her. It was everything I thought it would be and then some! Sure, I was speechless, proud of my wife going through labor and proud of my daughter for being born, but I definitely didn’t expect me to get all the nurse’s attention at one point during the delivery. They had me sit down and brought me a cold towel. I got so caught up in the moment and hearing the “sounds of labor”, I almost fainted! I’m sure baby G will hear that story one day and laugh at me just as her mother did.
The events of the past 24 hours are sure to remain in memory for quite awhile, but two moments in particular stand out as the “coolest.”
1. Holding my daughter and witnessing her very first sneeze.
2. Baby G falling asleep in my arms for a few minutes.
My daughter is truly a gift from God and I hope I never forget that.
