I’m a few weeks behind but I plan to write weekly updates now that our bambino has arrived.  I’m not sure at what point I’ll transition from weekly updates to monthly updates and then eventually to quarterly or yearly updates but for right now I’m going to write a few things down each week to share with everyone (and to help us remember the small things) about what’s going on with our dear little Annabelle and her parents.  This first outfit was chosen by Dusty and is a tribute to Annabelle’s favorite guy in her life, her daddy!

So many things happened during our first week of parenthood yet so little.  First, a big thank you to everyone for all of your help during this first week and second and third.  We have some of the best family and friends who helped get us through these first couple of weeks.  I can’t thank my mom and mother-in-law enough for coming over a couple of times this first week to watch Annabelle while Dusty and I took naps and recharged a little.  And thanks to everyone who came to visit us in the hospital and at home.

And an even bigger thanks to our friends who brought us food! I’m forever going to do this for any new mommies and daddies I know (and feel so guilty I never did it before).  I never realized how glorious this small gesture could be.

And now for what our first week looked like.  We had our little bambino on Friday and were in the hospital until Sunday.  These were the easy days.  We had some of the best nurses (and doctors) who took such good care of Annabelle as well as mommy (and daddy) that I didn’t want to go home.

The rest of the week was spent in our apartment (we only left to go to the pediatrician) trying to figure out life with a newborn.  We learned a lot this first week (and still have a lot more to learn) but Dusty and I are doing it together and it makes the adventure so much more fun (or maybe just more tolerable)!  This first week Dusty was so supportive and the best dad.  Without him I would have had a lot more emotional breakdowns but he was so great at being encouraging and knowing the exact things I needed.

Here are just a few highlights from Annabelle’s first week and our first week as parents:

Watching Dusty and Annabelle together. During some of these sleepless nights Dusty would go on “adventures” with Annabelle, walking around the apartment, describing everything from the books on our bookshelves to the food truck across the street to all of the bottles of wine we have.  I love seeing Dusty as a dad.  I’ve never seen him hold a baby and watching him cuddle and care for our little girl makes me love him even more.  I have a feeling Annabelle is going to be daddy’s little girl.

Going to the pediatrician. Dusty and I went to the pediatrician, looked around at all of the parents and their children, and then had a stark realization that we were like all of those people. Yes, we are parents.  It was such a weird feeling, I looked around and thought, “we’re not like those people” and then looked over at Annabelle and said to myself, “yes, we are like those people… we’re parents!” For the longest time we’ve identified with those couples that don’t have children, that can go out whenever they want, do whatever they want and have no cares in the world.  Our world has turned upside down!

Not sleeping.  This most definitely is not a highlight of our first week.  I knew we’d get very little sleep these first few weeks but this first week was really hard.  Annabelle wasn’t sleeping much and had a her nights and days switched around.  Of course, people say to sleep when baby sleeps but we had so many guests stopping by that it was almost impossible to sleep during the day and although Dusty was home with us this first week, he still worked and so we both were zombies.  There were a few early mornings I woke up to find Dusty napping on the nursery floor and Annabelle sleeping in her bassinet.

Learning to be parents.  Dusty and I are pretty darn smart but learning to be parents as well as learning what is right for your specific child is hard work.  So many people (including the internet) have ideas, suggestions, and stories about what you should and shouldn’t do that it can be really hard to decide what works for you.  There have been several times this first week as well as following weeks where someone has told me something (or I’ve read about) and then I’ve started wondering if I should be doing something different, was doing something wrong, or if I should be doing something at all.  I know that we’re doing a great job and Annabelle is quite happy with all of our parenting decisions (at least I think so) but wow, there a lot of conflicting information out there!  As far as parenting goes though, I think Dusty and I are a great pair and we’re figuring it out together!

Our roles as parents. My primary role is feeding our darling little girl and Dusty’s primary role is diaper changer (and supportive husband).  All Annabelle has done this first week (and weeks to follow) is eat, sleep (infrequently) and dirty her diaper. Dusty and I didn’t realize that since I was breastfeeding that this would mean I am the primary care-giver, which is both a blessing and a curse.  I love all of the bonding I get with her and the connection we are making but it also makes it impossible to let someone else care for her, especially during this first week when she’s hungry all the time (and breastfeeding is still new and difficult).

It also makes it a little difficult as a new dad because Dusty can’t do a lot for Annabelle.  There have been times when I just needed some sleep and Dusty wants to help but the only thing that will soothe Annabelle is to be fed.  This first week Dusty has been a trooper though, taking care of Annabelle when I went to get my hair done and was gone for 2.5 hours (remember how I mentioned that sometimes nothing soothed her but being fed–yep, that happened while I was gone), changing most of her diapers, and taking care of me while I’ve been recuperating.