July 6, 2014 – Finding a New Normal

We are 3.5 months into our journey as parents.  It has been exhausting, but also the most amazing and wonderful experience of my life.  I think Doc would say the same.  We are both completely in love with and amazed by our son.  He is constantly learning, surprising us, and making us laugh.  Right now he is trying to make the raspberry sound with his tongue because he thinks it is hilarious when his Daddy does it at him.  His version is him sticking his tongue out, spitting, while making a high pitched squeal.  It is awesome and I laugh every single time he does it.  The best part is that he babbles all the time and he believes it is normal to stick ones tongue out mid conversation.  This is probably a lot less fascinating to the rest of the world, but to us it is top notch entertainment. 

Regardless of what theories we had about parenting to start with, I can tell you things change when faced with a child.  Each child is a unique human being and they handle each situation differently.  Things that my niece loved, my son hates, and things that would set her off into a tail spin he doesn’t mind at all.  Everything from how they like to play and what games and songs they like is different.  It is an amazing adventure getting to know each child, but it requires some flexibility of mind, rules, and even theory because each child is so very different. 

We are doing like every other parent on the planet and muddling through, praying we aren’t doing anything that will require therapy to repair.  We both have a lot of training and education specifically for working with children, but when it is your child you sometimes end up at a loss.  Thankfully we have each other and aren’t afraid to ask other people how they managed!  And just like we have for the last 16 years we figure things out together, when one of us is exhausted and at their end of their rope the other is there to help out.  I feel like I am almost always the exhausted one.  That is probably at least in part to my continued breastfeeding.  Monkey still wakes up 3 times a night to feed.  The countdown to solids has begun.  I am ready for a good night’s sleep.  

Speaking of sleep… I am exhausted and headed to bed.  I just realized I hadn’t posted anything in a while.  Life is still good.  Doc and I are enjoying this time wrapped up in our little family and our little life.  I am sure we will eventually peek out at the outside world again, but for now it is all about keeping little man on schedule and finding a few moments to still enjoy each other.  As Monkey gets more involved in the outside world, so will we.  We are just enjoying this time as a family and getting to know our newest member.  J