Learning Curve

Here are a few things I've learned a long the way:

1. It is true to soak it all in. I have to remind myself to stop and let him sleep on me, to hold him just one more second and to capture every moment in my mind.

2. One of my gifts is administration. I used to plan events. In planning events you plan for things and they happen when you think they will. With a baby- no such luck. I'm constantly using the phrase "I just want to figure this out"...figure feedings, figure his gas or burps, breastfeeding, poops, etc....

3. I now sleep for 2 hours at a time. I used to require 8 hours minimum to function. Must sleep when possible.

4. Water jugs. Keep water every where and for a while (first 2 weeks) keep a snack at all feeding stations.

5. To take a shower and bath every day is essential and a huge blessing when it happens.

6. Pray, Pray- We seek the Lord for wisdom a lot. If only He had an index for newborns.

7. To have someone come stay to keep the house going is a must. For the first 2 weeks at least I did not have capacity to think of anyone but Parke and Blake. My mom thought of all of us and kept the place functioning.

8. It has also been so important for Blake and I to get to talk at least the last 30 minutes of each day. We get out of whack when we aren't able to function as a team. Spend time with spouse....(check it off every day).

9. Must cover the pee source every diaper.

10. It's okay to be encouraged by the gas smiles for now. If it keeps me going, I'll keep pretending!

Things to continue learning:

Grace....grace for myself, grace to extend to others, grace for Parke and Blake. I get frustrated when our "schedule" doesn't happen and have anxiety about it. I worry if it Parke is getting enough rest or awake time when I can't keep track of it. I get worried if people want to hold him while he's asleep and at the same time want them to hold him. It's a constant little battle in my mind. Again "TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT" :)