Reply to Veteran moms: Tell us what the first month is like...

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]sorry if this is a repeat; i haven't read the whole thread.  just so you know, i am naturally a bit cynical, prone to standoffishness and sarcasm, not good at earnest emotional presence and a bit of a misanthrope; so it was with some surprise that i experienced the following:  the first few weeks were pretty magical.  the blood, the poo, the discomfort, the sore nipples, the sleep deprivation were kinda the background music to falling in love with baby.  i realize it doesn't work this way for everyone, and i respect that different experiences are equally valid.  BUT after we got home from the hospital, i was blissfully, weepily happy for a few weeks.  seriously, it's amazing.  i was speechlessly, weepily thunderstruck by this amazing new human being . . . about every 10 minutes.  somewhat more amazingly AND surprisingly, i found the parenting books helpful.  i had read a few books, watched a video or two, attended a class, and i had my mom there to help.  those things together were absolutely crucial at giving me the confidence that i could do this.  here's the thing, everything FEELS awkward and earthshatteringly important and possibly dangerous the first time you do it (including breastfeeding, changing diapers, pulling a onesie over baby's head, introducing baby and dog, giving a spongebath, etc) but you try your best to follow the advice you're given and then you do it a HUNDRED TIMES and you no longer feel awkward and dangerous.

after the first few weeks, baby colic set in and a lot of my confidence was shattered.  but the "happiest baby on the block" techniques helped us survive that time.  the biggest, scariest part for me were the occasional surges of kinda insane anger at my screaming baby (you know, the magical light of my life i just fell in love with).  the reading i had done helped with that too.  this too would pass.  i had some coping mechanisms, a helpful husband, and if all else failed, it wouldn't kill her to cry in her packnplay for a few minutes while i did some deepbreathing, ran cold water over my face and pulled it together.[/quote]

oh, and it does pass!  i have a happy, healthy, active 7-month-old.  she's not exactly "easy-going" by any definition, but she is maniacally happy about 90% of the time.  Her delighted shrieks and waves when I get her from the crib in the morning and again when i pick her up from daycare are the best parts of my day.  EVERYDAY.[/quote]

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