On May 31, 2010, my life changed forever. I woke up around 5:00 in the morning and knew something was happening. I told my husband, “I think my water broke and we need to go to the hospital!” He jumped quickly out of bed and said, “Let’s go!” We both were rushing around the house trying to make sure we grabbed everything we would need. Within thirty minutes we were on our way to the hospital and preparing ourselves for the expected arrival of our baby.
Once we arrived at the hospital of course we had forgotten which entrance to go into. Fortunately we met a nurse in the hall who directed us to the right entrance. By the time I checked into my room it was around 7:00 in the morning. I was thinking this was going to be easy because so far I didn’t have any pain. I was never so wrong in my life! About an hour later, my pain was so intense (off the charts) that I asked for an epidural. From the time I received my epidural, everything was pain-free.
At 12:34 p.m. my baby was here. My husband and I welcomed our first child into our family. We named him Jonathan Willis. He is the cutest baby I have ever seen. I know I am a little bias, but he is my son so I think it is allowed! He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long. I thought a seven pound baby would not seem very small, but he was. Here is this little boy who is completely dependent on me for everything he needs and wants. Awe and panic swept over me as I realized what I had done.
Jonathan has been home for a couple weeks now. My husband and I are trying to adjust to life with a newborn. It seems like I don't have time for anything else, especially since I have to sleep a lot during the day. I never knew how long it could take to feed a baby. It seems like I just get done feeding him and then within an hour or two, I have to do the same thing again. Besides feeding, there is the diapering. I have already gone through over a hundred diapers. I thought our huge supply would last a couple of months, but it looks like I miscalculated! Besides eating and pooping, my son loves to sleep! He seems to do this quite often, just not when my husband and I think of sleeping. This is when I get stuff done, even if it isn’t much. However, this is also when I do my sleeping. It is surprising how much you can hear in your sleep. Even when I am trying to sleep, I wake up from all the little noises he makes. However, my husband can sleep right on through the little noises. Well, at least one of us gets a little sleep through the night. He sleeps so much in a day! The past couple of nights, he has even slept for over four or five hours straight. Yeah for me!
Since having my baby, my concept of time has changed drastically. Time seems to fly when I am taking care of my son. Because he has been home for a little while, my husband and I have even taken him on a couple little visits to our friend’s house. We use to be able to just pick up and go, but now it is the complete opposite. When we want to leave the house, we have to begin packing all of Jonathan’s gear at least thirty minutes earlier than we really plan, although it doesn’t feel like thirty minutes at all. First, Jonathan has to be fed and make sure he has a clean diaper. Then, we have to make sure we have packed everything we think he might need. Then, we place him in the car seat, which he completely hates. At last, my husband and I are ready to go out. Another example of this time delusion is when Jonathan cries. When my son cries, it feels like eternity. I believe this notion of time will continue. I think this is what parents are describing when they say, “Cherish your time because it will fly by in an instant.”
I knew that having a newborn would be quite overwhelming at first, but I am amazed by how much my son sleeps, eats, cries, and needs a diaper change. When he is not doing one of those things, he simply entertains me. I love to just watch him sleep or look at him when he is wide awake. All of the cute little facial expressions are priceless. It is so amazing how one little person can change you. I look at him in total awe and can't believe it. I am sure other moms feel exactly as I do about their children. My life has changed forever and I am absolutely happier for it!
