The First Month

These are some notes I jotted down during Orrin's first month. I had no idea how hard it was going to be -- when I was pregnant, I really didn't spend much time thinking about what things would be like after the birth. I wrote these notes partly so that I could remember for next time -- the next baby!

-I didn’t sleep for the next three days, I was so overtired, and breastfeeding constantly, and stressed about whether I was doing a good enough job of being a mom. The first week was really, really hard, but Lizzie came down to help us out, and Solon didn’t have to go back to the fire dept. until Dec. 4.

-3 days old. Orrin’s first snow! It’s a good one, about 3 inches. Feels very magical.

-Nov. 22. Thanksgiving. Mom, Dad, and Orrin stay at home in the Patch. Lizzie goes to Thanksgiving (held at Aunt Barb’s boyfriend Jim’s house) and brings us back some leftovers.

-Days 3-4-5 were very hard, as my milk came in gradually and Orrin got cranky b/c he was hungry, and was nursing constantly, trying to get fed. Hormones were surging, and my nipples were sore and cracked.

-The midwives instruct me not to go up and down the stairs more than once a day, and not to carry Orrin while walking around. I am basically on bedrest for 2 weeks, with Solon and Lizzie bringing me meals and water. I only get up to go to the bathroom, although I did start cheating a little bit at the end of the first week. These restrictions were really tough. I was not allowed to be alone in the house for the first two weeks, either. All I did was email, watch TV, watch Orrin, and breastfeed.

-2 weeks old. Orrin leaves the Patch for the first time ever. Mom, Dad, and Orrin take a trip in the car to Northampton. Big step!

-Dec. 9, 2007. Orrin’s expected due date! We went out & got a Christmas tree and wreath, and decorated it two days later. It’s our first Christmas in our new house with our new baby. I really wanted to decorate for it, and the house looks very festive. It means so much more with a baby here.

-Dec. 13. Snowstorm. 8 inches in 8 hours. This will be the first white Christmas we’ve had in several years. Our baby boy brought real New England winter back when he came.

-Dec. 16, 2007. Another snowstorm. About 10 inches. The snowbanks are piled high! Anderfellow family Solstice celebration had to be postponed to next weekend. We are sad that Aunt Taury won’t be able to make it next weekend -- she’s going to Maryland with Dave for Christmas.

Orrin turned 4 weeks old yesterday. He is a wonderful, peaceful baby and we love him so much. We are starting to figure out his signals and learning how to get around in the world with him. A few days ago I took my first drive with him without Solon, and we went to the La Leche League meeting in Amherst. It was a big step for me, and I felt very empowered when it went fairly easily. My big project right now is figuring out how to sleep. Orrin is sleeping in bed with us, in the crook of my arm, and when he’s sleeping, I sleep quite well. I love to sniff & kiss his warm little head while he’s sleeping. However, the little tyke wants to nurse about every 2-3 hours at night, and hourly from 5am-8 or 9am. I haven’t had more than 3 hours of sleep in a stretch in over a month! Until he can hold his head up on his own, I have to get out of bed and nurse him in the rocking chair. I am really looking forward to being able to nurse lying down in bed! A few nights ago, I learned that I can pop Orrin into the Moby wrap after nighttime nursings and he will go back to sleep pretty quickly. This is a big step, as before I learned this I was up for an hour or two each time he woke up in the night.