Baby Sullivan | Week One

With Marin, I did weekly posts documenting her first year. I kept it up for all 52 Weeks and I'm pretty proud of myself for that. I love that I can go back and see how much she changed and grew in the course of one year. There's a quote that comes to mind regarding parenthood: the days are long, but the years are short. I want to capture every moment that I can. 

I hope to document Baby Sullivan's first year the same. Granted, with Marin, I lugged around my DSLR camera and shot solely with that. This time around, I'm realizing that I am without my camera most of the time and will be documenting most everything via my phone. I have a preschooler and a newborn now. Mommy doesn't always have the capacity to shoot a photo the old school way. 

Sullivan is a week old as of today. The first few days of his time here on earth were spent at the hospital. Since I had a c-section, we stayed 3 nights this time. His sugar levels were pretty low and they monitored them very closely. A lot of that had to do with the fact that he's a pretty big baby. Every three hours or so, they would prick his adorable little heel and test his sugar levels. Luckily, after the first few days, everything was back where it needed to be and the monitoring ceased. 

We are getting in a great groove with nursing. With Marin, those first few weeks were super hard because her latch wasn't very awesome. Sully has been eating like a champ and I feel like Wonder Woman. I've been pumping like a crazy person as well and I'm already working on a stash for when I return to work. 

We are just taking each day as it comes at this point. We settle more into a routine with every feeding, every diaper change,  every length of time of sleep. He's sleeping in his crib at night and takes other naps in his swing/bouncer. We are learning the difference between day and night. Our nights have honestly not been too bad either. Once I was able to actually sleep on my side instead of awkwardly sleeping on my back practically sitting up, everything seemed to fall into place. A c-section is no joke though. The healing process this time around has been so different. 

I feel like this time around has been a lot easier. The transition has been pretty smooth. Marin is warming up to her little brother for the most part. I can tell that she's dealing with not being the center of attention all of the time though. I'm trying to make sure that she doesn't feel left out. She's been a great helper so far. 

Baby Sullivan...Week One. 

Baby Marin: Week One

I'm tired. I'm a tired that I didn't know was even possible. I'm so tired that I'm not tired and I'm sitting here writing these words to you. I will be shocked if all of my sentences come out as they should, but here goes nothing. 

It has been officially one week and two days since Marin Ryan Hollen came in to this world. I plan on writing out our birth story at some point, but that isn't what this post is for today. Each week I want to try and capture a photo of her. Her element. Her smile. Her grimace. Those sleepless nights where my husband and I find ourselves just staring at each other and then back to the crying little girl in my arms and wondering if we will ever see the other side of that feeding or if maybe we will end up with an only child. 

Parenting is tough. Breastfeeding is tougher than I could have ever have imagined. But, looking back from this time last week, we have completely hit a new stride, even if we are still very far from being where one would hope. 

I know I will look back upon these first few weeks of motherhood and laugh someday. I usually am not showered, walking around with a babe in tow, my hair sticking up in a million places and smelling like last nights dinner. I am more exhausted than I thought possible. I have to remind myself to eat and usually consume lunch around 3pm most days. I am constantly in awe of my husband and his character. His help through the breastfeeding has been so needed. I don't think I could do these first few weeks without him by my side. Our zombie like states have caused us to laugh until we've cried and fall more in love with our little girl every minute. 

I know this time will pass far too quickly. I can't believe we are already a week in. I am anxious to know her little personality and really come into our own in regards to breastfeeding. 

One day at day. One feeding at a time. One minute at a time. 

Week One.