Brie Fit

It’s been a big week for Charlie.

He watched his first Mizzou game.

He went to the pediatrician for the first time.  He’s almost back up to birth weight!  He got down to 8 pounds, 6 ounces the Friday after he was born, but rebounded to 8 pounds, 15 ounces by the following Tuesday.

We started cloth diapering.  So far, so good!  We got a bunch of free disposables from the hospital that we used the first few days at home.  Now, we are cloth diapering during the day and just using the disposables at night and when we leave the house.  I’m still a little…fragile…these days, so we’re easing in.

(PS: The BumGenius Newborns, pictured above, are still too big for his chicken legs.  Right now, my favorite diapers are cotton pre-folds with Thirsties covers, seen below.)

Charlie also met the pets.  They are largely uninterested.  Milhouse gives him a good sniff every now and then, but that’s about it.

We also had professional newborn pictures taken on Sunday—I can’t wait to see them!

We took our first outing, to Target, and he slept through the whole thing.  He did great; I nearly had an anxiety attack in the middle of the tampon aisle.  My postpartum emotions are still a bit out of control.  I THINK they’re getting a little better at this point?  We’ll see.

Generally, and I hate to jinx us—we’ve been blessed with a pretty easy newborn.  He sleeps long stretches at night, to the point we have to wake him up to eat, and he seems to fuss and cry only when something is wrong, like a dirty diaper or he’s hungry or gassy. 

My mom went home yesterday, so today is the first day with just the two of us.  So far, everything is going well, although I admit I’m a little lonely and bored.  The weird anxiety is keeping me fairly house-bound for today, but I think tomorrow we will attempt a short trip to the grocery store.  We’ll see.  Although I knew my life would change drastically, you can’t really KNOW until one day you’re like, “whoa, my formerly independent, career-driven life is now all about breastfeeding on the couch watching Top Chef reruns.”  It’s a huge shift.  And then there’s the anxiety—I worry that he’s sleeping too much, or nursing too much, or if he’s crying.

Physically, my body is completely different overnight—my stomach is squishy and has stretch marks and my hips are wider, even though I’ve lost 30 pounds since he was born.  (Don’t worry.  I still have plenty more to lose. Ugh.)  My boobs are gigantic and none of my clothes, pre-baby or maternity, fit right.

Also, because it deserves mention: I have never loved my husband more.  Going through labor and delivery with him by my side was absolutely incredible, and seeing him as a father just brings everything to a new level.  (And the push present doesn’t hurt, either…a gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring!)

Anyway.  One week down.  Here’s to week two!