Notes on a Baby

• The first night home from the hospital is the toughest.  In our case, Grady was spitting up everything he ate.  So every hour or two, I would hear him and rush to sit him up, fearful that he would hurt himself choking on spit up.  This resulted in practically no sleep, and therefore at 6AM when he woke up spitting up again, I thought I saw green in it, told Lewis, and he went to get the number for the hospital to tell them we were coming.  What did I really see?  The frog on the crib sheet.
• The second night home was better for Grady, but worse for me.  He was awake from midnight until 4AM, and had no interest in sleeping.  Blessedly, the third and fourth and subsequent nights have been much better as I learn how to feed him, change him, and get him back to sleep relatively quickly.  The poor kid, he knows exactly what he's doing.  I'm the one that has the learning curve!
• I worried incessantly about breastfeeding.  I was afraid I couldn't do it, that Grady and I wouldn't jive or have hiccups getting along.  Not so.  He got it the first time in the hospital and it's been relatively breezy ever since.  He eats so well, in fact, that he's just 2 ounces off his birth weight as of yesterday, and had gained 5 ounces in two days.
• One thing that has surprised me is the baby blues.  They are pretty strong.  I know my hormones are all over the place, but the fear and anxiety that brings me to tears is very alarming.  It's gotten a little bit better as we go along, but I was not prepared for the sadness.  I thought it would be all hugs and kisses and happiness.  Having Lewis and my mother here some this week has been really good.  Support helps.
• I am terrible at changing little boy diapers.  I have gotten peed on at least once a day.  Yesterday he even hit himself in the hair.  The joys of little boys.  But really, I feel bad that I'm so lousy at it!  Poor kids going to be scarred for life because of my ineptness!
• When your son sleeps for more than three hours, do you wake him up to feed him?  Or let him sleep?  The pediatrician RN said to wake him up.  But then every nurse I've talked to says "scheduling" doesn't work with infants, so why would I force a feeding?  Like last night, he slept for four hours.  I didn't wake him (previously we'd been setting an alarm for every three hours).  Since he hasn't had an issue with weight gain and his jaundice levels are under control, I don't see why I would force feed him when he isn't hungry?
• This swing is awesome.  If you don't have it, you should invest.  They can only swing in it for 6 months-ish, but he's so content in it, it's really quite nice.  Note the reviews: 190.  5 stars.  Also full disclosure: we got this swing for free from friends who are done having children.  The baby network is awesome.
• If you are interested (and big if) I did write up the labor story HERE.
• I'm not sure what to do with the info I want to write up on the baby.  Do I use this venue?  Or start something new?  Do I just use facebook?  I don't know.  Something to ponder.