Can I spread it out for you in a nutshell? part 1

The last six (omg) seven weeks has been something else. I wanted to take the next couple of posts and talk about my labor process. I want to touch on things that I never read in books. Things I wished someone would have told me. I have been thinking about how to write these things and since I prefer numbered posts...that's how I'm going to do it.

1. I wish someone would have told me that when I pack my hospital bag, I should put it in my car right then. Included in that bag should be a toothbrush, a hairbrush, make up (even though I thought I wasn't going to care what I looked like), and entertainment. Entertainment such as DVDs so I wouldn't be put up to watch the first disk of the second season of the West Wing for 26 hours of labor. And also so I wouldn't have to watch the ever repetitive shows on HGTV.
1.5: I wish also I would have listened a little more when I heard I should have brought my own pillows to sleep on. Because wow what precious little sleep I'd be getting.

2. I wish I someone would have told my ever loving husband that jokes when I'm having contractions aren't as funny as they would be otherwise. I wish someone would have told me to have more patience with him when he was just trying to make me laugh through the horrible pain.

3. I wish someone would have told my anesthesiologist where the epidural space was the first time...instead of the third time when I went through 7, 8, and 9cm with no pain killers. I was not prepared mentally to go through labor without an epidural.

4. I wish someone would have told me to pay more attention when she finally came out. I was too scatterbrained to really realize what was happening. I feel like I missed the opportunity remember things. Perhaps there was just too much going on. Perhaps there were too many people in the room. I'm not sure I just feel like that whole thing was a blur.

5. I wish someone would have told me that it's okay to leave her in the nursery for a little while longer so that I could sleep because I sure wouldn't be getting any for the first 6 weeks.

6. I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish someone would have told me how swollen I would be in my nether regions and to never underestimate the power of an icepack. 

7. I wish someone would have told me that once my epidural finally wore off enough for me to stand and go pee that I would be in there for 20 minutes (and not be exaggerating) and to bring some reading material because the corporate beige of the bathroom walls get really boring after 20 minutes. 

There are many other things but this is only part 1...of how many parts? I'm not sure. Guess we'll have to see!

It's the little things

My darling husband put a sweet note inside the laptop so I got to see it when I opened it today. It was really awesome. It's the little things that we do for each other that keeps us so strong. I truly believe he is my other half, my partner, the peanut butter to my jelly, the cream to my oreo. We understand the importance of talking to each other.

My biggest fear when having M&M was losing the togetherness that my husband and I had when we got married. Especially since we found out about M&M 2 days after our wedding! The most welcome surprise of my life! We had the next 9 months of togetherness and then M&M came on June 11th. We talked about it during of my hormonal breakdowns before she got here and we agreed that we were a team and we were always going to have that togetherness even after the baby. That we would try hard to maintain our marriage circle.
Has it been hard? YES!! Sometimes we irritate each other. Sometimes we're just really tired. Sometimes we just need some time alone. But at the end of the day we hold hands and always kiss goodnight. It's the little things that mean so much.

6 weeks and a life changed

Wow, I can't believe it's already been 6 weeks since M&M was born. After three weeks of not sleeping and three more weeks of not sleeping well, I'm jumping for joy at the fact she slept 4.5 hours in a row! She's sleepin beside me which I have learned not to do for too long if I want to keep her sleeping 4.5 hours in a row but today I have things to do. I have laundry doin and a messy kitchen. Not to mention LOTS of pictures to edit for my husband's work. The problem is I just want to spend all day looking at her beautiful face.  How can one not be distracted!
I think what is the most amazing thing is how quickly your life changes so dramatically after having a baby. I mean, I knew people told me it would, but feeling it is pretty amazing. That feeling of knowing you would jump in front of a bus in less than a heartbeat to protect this tiny person is unreal. Laying on the bed and spending countless hours just hearing her babble is amazing.
I'm not trying to be SuperMommy but being there for my daughter and my husband is all I can think about. It's been 6 weeks and my life is changed!

PS: As of this morning I'm down 34lbs from my top pregnancy weight! HOORAY!