We Did It!

We had the baby!  Well...four weeks ago we had the baby.  But since then, it's been such a crazy whirlwind that there has been no time to update this lovely blog.  As it is, our little munchkin is fast asleep in his carseat, Stephen is studying, and the cats are behaving themselves, so I figure now is as good a time as any to share the happy news that Gavin Robert Dowd came into the world on Saturday, December 3, at 1:15 in the morning.  He weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces and was 20" long -- big boy!  Stephen and I couldn't be happier...but we also couldn't be more exhausted, haha.  Having a winter baby is difficult because you can't get outside and play, so in addition to being tired, you also become a little stir crazy.  It doesn't help that it gets dark around 5:00 pm.  We've been functioning with the help of friends and family, and I've practically moved into my parents' house when Stephen is at school or work, but we're slowly getting used to our new life and new routine.

It's weird...three weeks ago we were pretty sure Gavin would be an only child.  I mean, how could people go through this more than once?  But the other day I went to Buy Buy Baby to get some supplies and actually got jealous of all the adorable pregnant women there.  I ACTUALLY MISSED MY ENORMOUS 40+ WEEK PREGNANT BELLY.  It must be true...you DO forget the trials and tribulations of pregnancy/labor and delivery/those first few crazy weeks.  I was SO sore and SO uncomfortable and was sleeping SO horribly, and yet it all led to having our sweet little baby boy (who sometimes screams so much at night that I long for the days of my terrible pregnancy sleep cycle.)  I've had friends tell me that at around 9 months postpartum, when your baby finally is sleeping through the night in his own crib and life has settled into a nice pattern, you start craving another baby.  You miss your little one being teeny tiny and all of the excitement of pregnancy and having a newborn.  I have to say, I'm not sure I believe it...but at least I'm not swearing off of ever having a baby again.  :)

Stephen and I have learned a few things in our first month as parents -- things that people told us while I was pregnant but we didn't believe.
- You don't need thousands of little adorable baby outfits, especially in newborn size.  Gavin's newborn clothes are already packed away in the basement.  He wore each outfit exactly once.  We took photos, he looked precious, but now they are obsolete.
- Speaking of baby clothes, we wish we had more outfits with ZIPPERS and fewer outfits with SNAPS.  When you're trying to change a squirming, oftentimes screaming baby, it's nice to be able to do it QUICKLY.
- Go on dates if possible.  Our pediatrician told us this at our very first appointment, when Gavin was three days old.  Stephen and I have been lucky enough to go to dinner a few times, and to a Bengals game together.  It makes us feel a little more human -- and a little more like ourselves -- amidst all the drastic changes in our lives.  We always feel more refreshed afterwards, even if we've only gotten a few hours of sleep.  (It's also nice to be able to get outside for a few hours, which you typically can't do with a newborn during flu season.)
- That super expensive baby swing?  Chances are likely the baby will hate it.  That super expensive bassinet?  Chances are likely the baby will hate it.  You get the picture.

Maybe THAT is how people do this more than once.  You learn what works and what doesn't.  What needs to be purchased and what can wait until after the baby gets here.  What makes you feel better and what stresses you out more.

Or maybe they do it more than once because the babies are SO DARN CUTE.  :)
 

Happy December!

As predicted, the little bundle (who by now is most likely a BIG bundle) will be arriving as a December baby!  The funny thing is, I find myself way less anxious now than I did two or three weeks ago.  It's probably knowing that they won't let me go beyond 42 weeks (I'm 41 now), so there is a definite end in sight...and the end is measured in days, rather than weeks.

I think it also helps that I'm not working anymore.  My last day was November 23, but my maternity leave started on November 28 (after the Thanksgiving break), so I feel physically much better not spending entire days on my feet.  Would I rather be spending my maternity leave holding Gavin and watching movies with Stephen?  Of course.  But honestly, I've felt better this past week than I have in a long time, so it's worth it.

Tonight Stephen is taking me out for a surprise dinner date!  If you have to be huge as a house and questioning if your baby will EVER arrive...you might as well do it with a handsome man and a delicious meal.  :)

41 weeks and counting...