Top Ten List for Parents of a Newborn

We are now 3 weeks into parenthood, and finally finding a few moments to start our blog. This has been such a rollercoaster ride already, so I can’t imagine what the next years will be like. Where to start? I guess it would have to be the incredible moment of seeing, hearing, and holding your child for the first time . . . truly the most emotional moment of my life. After about 21 hours of labor, Cooper Joseph Claus entered the world and let us know that he was here with a hearty cry. Then immediately was quiet when he was placed in my arms. He knew me already! At 7 lbs. 13 oz., he proved us all wrong in thinking that we would have nothing less than a mammoth boy, and all fears of having an ugly baby and anything less than perfect were relieved. He is so beautiful and it is hard to believe that something so tiny can come from Peter and me. Bringing him home was quite terrifying, and I couldn’t help but say to Peter as we drove away from the hospital, “I can’t believe they let us leave with this thing. Don’t they know we have no idea what we are doing?” At 1 week, I proclaimed, “We’ve kept this guy alive for 7 whole days!” After 3 weeks, we are still trying to get the hang of breastfeeding, getting up at night, and constantly checking to make sure that our little guy is still breathing. Cooper has a way of wrinkling his forehead that makes him look like a wise old man, and I can’t help but think sometimes that he somehow knows that we have no idea what we are doing. But we do figure these things out, and he helps us out by being a really easy-going baby. Sleeps great (we wake him up in the night for feedings), cries only when he is hungry or wants to be held, and is easy to soothe.

What have I learned so far?

Amy’s top 10:
1. The boob solves just about anything, and if that doesn’t work, Mylicon and a warm blanket will likely do the trick.
2. The signature mommy move is the bounce. A baby just doesn’t like to be still.
3. Always be on guard when removing a little boy’s diaper. That fountain just always seems to find a way to squirt out!
4. Nothing is more delicious than the smell of a freshly bathed baby.
5. Nursing is the most rewarding and most stressful thing at the same time.
6. There’s no such thing as “sleep when the baby is sleeping.”
7. There is no room for modesty anymore when you have a newborn.
8. I love my husband dearly no matter what I may say, do, or think in this sleep deprived state! (And hopefully Peter has learned not to take anything from me personally right now!)
9. No one knows what a new mom needs and how to help more than another mother. (Brenda and Melissa, you are invaluable, and I couldn’t survive without you!)
10. I have the cutest baby in the world!