Mother.
You guys are unbelievable. Thank you for the outpouring of good wishes and support. This past week has been a roller coaster. Our world has changed dramatically and we are negotiating the new territory with a mix of fear, excitement, paranoia, dumb luck and pure joy. My emotions have swung with the hormones and I am getting used to my new role as the primary caregiver. Breast feeding has been a trip and a half. This is what it feels like to breastfeed our little monkey.
I get to meet with a real live lactation consultant. My boobs have become part of the world now so many people have seen them, discussed them, and contemplated them. I’m hoping we’ll kick butt in no time.
My first realization that I was a mom - I had to fill out Sophia’s insurance paperwork at the pediatrician’s office. A question asked my relationship to the patient. Carefully and with deliberate pride I carefully printed
- Mother.
Is it normal that I want to reach out to my computer screen and touch her perfect little nose??
I’m sure you and Rob are fabulous parents. Sophia is so lucky to have you both.
11 Feb 2007 at 7:18 pm
I am so happy for you! Welcome to mommyland!!
11 Feb 2007 at 7:18 pm
I promise, the worst of the nursing is probably over. Day four is the absolute nadir of my experience and lanolin cream is a godsend. If you don’t have any Lansinoh, let me know and I will send you some!
Motherhood is an amazing experience. Welcome to the club! And if I can offer any cyber nursing support, please don’t hesitate!
11 Feb 2007 at 7:26 pm
She’s ADORABLE!!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:09 pm
Great picture of you!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:15 pm
I see motherhood hasn’t changed the crazy. YEAH!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:16 pm
You will be a pro in no time. Yeah, that letdown is an eye-opener and breath-taker-awayer, though, eh?
11 Feb 2007 at 8:23 pm
It’s pretty strange to suddenly think of yourself as someone’s mom. Weird, huh? Nursing gets so much easier. I expected to enjoy it but I admit that I hated it at first. Now I love it because I can calm Beatrix down and make her happy INSTANTLY. I know THAT won’t last forever!!!!
btw, i think you now need to update your ‘about’ section.
11 Feb 2007 at 8:24 pm
Well, there you go! Mama Bookish!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:36 pm
LOVE the nursing photo! so true!
good going kid!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:38 pm
Now you can whip ‘em out at the mall! And tell those on-lookers, “I’m feeding my kid!” Just make sure to have her with you. Congrats!
11 Feb 2007 at 8:45 pm
i bet it’s been a zany ride while you negotiate a new place and role in the world you thought you knew. Sophia is as cute as a button, I can’t wait to see the “bookish baby” cartoon your DH will draw up!!
11 Feb 2007 at 9:07 pm
Oh she’s beautiful! Congratulations and welcome to the world of motherhood!
11 Feb 2007 at 10:20 pm
hehe Too funny! Lookachoo!
awww… sweet little baby lips.
11 Feb 2007 at 10:28 pm
Looks like everything’s fine over here!! Sophia is adorable, Wendy, and motherhood looks wonderful on you.
11 Feb 2007 at 10:51 pm
Congrats on the little one. I’m a new mommy as well - gave birth Dec 28th, 06. Just wanted to say Congrats & hello!
11 Feb 2007 at 11:27 pm
Ah, boobs in perspective. Just what they were designed for. You’ve been in my thoughts and I’ve been hoping that things are going well. Nothing, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the ups, downs, and sheer joy of parenthood. I love the photos! She is gorgeous.
12 Feb 2007 at 2:25 am
She is so very gorgeous… I’m sure you’ll sort the breastfeeding and look less surprised soon ~x~
12 Feb 2007 at 5:08 am
Them’s my girls! xoxo…
12 Feb 2007 at 5:23 am
Yeah, those first few days of breastfeeding can be a real treat. It will get better, I promise.
Congratulations again!
12 Feb 2007 at 6:21 am
That’s so cool.
Great pictures too!!
12 Feb 2007 at 7:47 am
Great pictures! What a hoot!! I have a 4 week old, and who says nursing gets better in a few days? Try a few weeks! Not a big fan of the lactation experts we had-my best help was from talking to other mothers (and our wonderful pediatrician)
12 Feb 2007 at 8:39 am
Go Bookish Mom! More than that I cannot say, it’s too close to home!
12 Feb 2007 at 9:04 am
Hooray for boobies!
xxoo
12 Feb 2007 at 9:16 am
You are still you! And a lovely mother you make;-)
12 Feb 2007 at 9:23 am
Nursing gets better- remember… neither one of you has done this before- and it is really harder than you’d think. I learned a lot from the lactation consultant when I had to go… enough that instead of giving up on nursing, we ended up continuing until Bridget was almost a year old. I was lucky enough to work 5 minutes from Bridget’s daycare- and when I had to be further away, there wa always the handy-dandy Medela.
Congratulations again. Your daughter is beautiful, and motherhood befits you.
12 Feb 2007 at 9:39 am
Welcome to the club! That bookish baby is the cutest! Nursing woes…it gets better in time, it truly does. There comes a point where everything just clicks and it’s smooth sailing. You and her cuteness will totally get there!
12 Feb 2007 at 9:42 am
You crack me up! I love that face. I always wondered what it felt like and now I totally understand.
Heh. You’re somebody’s mother. You are now fair game to be the subject of “your momma” jokes, isn’t that awesome??
Sophia, your momma is SO bookish, she - uhhh - she’s wicked smart and nice.
I need to work on that one.
12 Feb 2007 at 10:03 am
Aw honey, she’s beautiful. Nothing but love for you baby. Nothing but love!
12 Feb 2007 at 10:06 am
What a precious bundle of pure and absolute joy!!
I have seen that look on many a nursing Mom!! Hang in there…it does get better (I think:))
12 Feb 2007 at 10:19 am
I’m so glad that you are seeing a lactation consultant. Ours, Beth, was the biggest superstar in our lives when we met with her. Keep with it, it’s CRAZY HARD sometimes and really frustrating, but know that even when it’s going really well, and is “easy” it still hurts and it’s still hard. It’s one of those secrets they don’t want to let out into the world… bastards!
We are here if you need ANYTHING!
12 Feb 2007 at 10:31 am
I should have said, they tell you it doesn’t hurt. It does, but less and less and eventually not. And it takes about six weeks for your milk supply and the baby to get all regulated. But it is well worth it and good for your health and the baby’s. She is absolutely beautiful!!
12 Feb 2007 at 10:36 am
She is the cutest little thing ever! I’m not sure if my last post went in.. but I just wanted to say that I am insanely excited for you both.. The look on your face just says it all
Congrats new mom!
12 Feb 2007 at 10:37 am
Both you girls are fabulous! Welcome to the fold. Now go feed yer baby, mom.
12 Feb 2007 at 11:37 am
She is absolutely beautiful. Welcome little Bookish, and congratulations! I want to razz her tummy and kiss her cheeks - babies smell so good. Good luck with the nursing - it also depends on the baby. My eldest simply refused, so after 6 weeks I gave up and went with bottles. Every baby’s different - I hope it goes swimmingly for you!
12 Feb 2007 at 11:57 am
What a beauty! She’s gorgeous. I just love seeing pics of her. Thanks for sharing.
12 Feb 2007 at 12:39 pm
The first time I had to fill out paperwork for Silas it asked for “Mother’s DOB.”
I filled in my mother’s birthday.
Congratulations. She’s awesome.
12 Feb 2007 at 1:14 pm
Nursing will get easier - hang in there! The first few days are the roughest, and day 6-7 tends to be insane because that’s when the first growth spurt is (have to nurse a LOT to increase production then - great for a mom already getting no sleep!), but after the first few weeks it gets simple and something you don’t have to think about any more. And yep, that’s pretty much what it felt like at the beginning for me, too!
Congratulations again. Isn’t being a mom amazing?
12 Feb 2007 at 3:00 pm
Delurking to say congratulations! Cutest baby ever. I love how the expression on her face says, “WTF?!”
12 Feb 2007 at 3:09 pm
Who’s a cute baby. Hi Sophia! Aren’t you a beauty??
Hmm Wendy? did you say something??
She is beautiful. So are YOU!
xo
12 Feb 2007 at 4:07 pm
Congratulations! She’s incredible. I’m so thrilled to hear all went well.
12 Feb 2007 at 4:13 pm
Sophia takes the cuteness cake, let me tell you. (Like you need telling.) Congratulations!
12 Feb 2007 at 4:15 pm
You have some of the cutest baby pictures EVER! Baby Bookish, er, Sophia will love ‘em when she gets older. The breast feeding is such a nice experience, even though it has its rough moments at first. For one reason and another I had to give it up for both kids when they were about four months. They got a good start on life.
12 Feb 2007 at 4:17 pm
Mwonk! I’m so excited for you guys, she’s beeeeeeyooouteefull! I love the way the light caught those teeny little lashes in the last pic.
What’s with the awesome matching family outfits in the flickr album–was that a hospital thing or a weather thing?
12 Feb 2007 at 4:39 pm
She’s beautiful and you’re wonderful. Breastfeeding is a piece of cake, once you get the hang of it. If you need help, I’m just a phone call away.
12 Feb 2007 at 6:01 pm
Congrats! She is beautiful. Enjoy your new role.
12 Feb 2007 at 6:17 pm
I love how baby’s face in the second photo looks just like your face in the first one!!!
Re-living all those moments right now. . . .
12 Feb 2007 at 9:21 pm
You have it under control, chica! Ah, mom!
12 Feb 2007 at 9:51 pm
Nursing sucks (no pun intendend) for two weeks…hurts like hell LOL.. but it does get better PROMISE
Hang in there you have a lot of support and will do great and the babe is beautiful
13 Feb 2007 at 7:28 am
You (and Sophia, of course) are so sweet - thanks for sharing the pics of your baby, and good luck with the breastfeeding.
Kari
p.s. I still get a weird thrill when I write “mother” on a form - and my son is 13 years old!
13 Feb 2007 at 12:07 pm
I can’t decide which face looks more adorable . . . yours in the first shot or Sophia’s in the second one. Have to give it to the youngster. She is so lovely and you are in for one heck of a ride (mostly good, some - you know). Nursing is awesome and so good for both of you if you can get past the two week mark. By then, you should both have the hang of it and the latching on is less painful. I nursed the girls until the day they turned a year old (I felt like a dairy at that point) and they are now fairly healthy almost 16-year-olds.
Good luck and have fun!
13 Feb 2007 at 2:48 pm
She totally looks like you.
13 Feb 2007 at 8:32 pm
I think Sophia looks like her mommy! And about that nursing, the first week or so is the worst; once the milk comes in and you get your rhythm, it’s a breeze. Just watch for thrush; if you think you have it, stop using lanolin and call the doc (yeast cell like lanolin).
You look fabulous!!
14 Feb 2007 at 6:06 am
Welcome home to you both. And congratulations on the little one - Sophia is beautiful!
14 Feb 2007 at 4:57 pm
I very vividly remember the first time I wrote that, Mother, and was referring to myself. It was on my oldest daughter’s birth certificate form. Wow. That is a moment and a half huh?
Hang in there, breastfeeding WILL get better! With my first, it took about 2 months until we were both really in the swing of things. With #2, about 4-6 weeks and with #3, it’s been smooth sailing since birth! She is beautiful!!! Oh, and I am so glad to read that you’re using a sling! I love mine and use it ALL the time!!!
14 Feb 2007 at 9:26 pm
I think I just released an egg.
Stop that.
15 Feb 2007 at 8:27 am
Congratulations! I’m sure there will be many more “oh wow, I’m a mother” moments soon.
15 Feb 2007 at 11:37 am
So good that you have a lactation consultant!!! Hang in there, nursing gets easier. She is simply gorgeous.
15 Feb 2007 at 5:15 pm
What a Beautiful Baby!
16 Feb 2007 at 2:23 pm
Aaah, Congrats to you and your family! I have been reading your blog for a while, just want to say hello.
17 Feb 2007 at 9:36 am
Congratulations! Sophia is beautiful. I have to include a lame a** ditto to the nursing hurts something awful the first two weeks with the first. Then in gets so much better, then they get teeth! But that’s ok too. With baby number two nursing was totally pain free this time around. Now I’m in the waiting for the razor sharp teeth to come in stage.
No worries!
Love the pics. Enjoy your sweet little one.
17 Feb 2007 at 6:44 pm