It's been quite awhile since I've written. In fact, the last time I posted an update I was halfway across the world traipsing around the U.K. and attempting to stalk Kate Middleton (unsuccessfully, might I add).
For those of you who are completely in the dark, I'll give you a quick rundown of what has happened in my life since then. I did eventually come home from London (sadly), moved to Galveston (with Josh - not by myself), went to nursing school, graduated from nursing school and passed the NCLEX, moved back to San Antonio, worked in the Neonatal ICU for a bit then decided to just volunteer with my nursing license for awhile (because if you've ever worked in an ICU you know that it can be STRESSFUL, especially as a brand new nurse), missed all the babies I took care of as a nurse, spent the better half of 2019 pregnant, built a house, and had a baby boy (Andrew) this past January.
I think that hits all the highlights. By the way, you would think being a nurse and having worked in the NICU would make you feel better prepared to bring home a baby.
It doesn't. I think it just makes you even more paranoid because now you know all the things that could go wrong.
Since Andrew was born our life has consisted of staying in the house and trying to get our newborn to learn how to eat and sleep so he doesn't die from starvation (and gain enough weight to keep the pediatrician happy) and Mommy and Daddy don't die from lack of sleep :)
In all seriousness, the first month or so was especially challenging trying to figure out his extreme fussiness and reflux issues. Turns out he is sensitive to dairy and soy, making it super fun for me to eat (not). I have now become the person at restaurants I hate who has to grill the staff on how the food was prepared because the slightest bit of milk or soy protein equals a very unhappy baby for 2 weeks.
Ok, let's be honest. I don't actually do the grilling - I make Josh do it.
Not that we're really eating out right now anyway because a baby born in the middle of flu & RSV season coupled with the new COVID-19 quarantine means we've pretty much been home since January and will be for the foreseeable future.
Which is why you are getting a blog post from me. I have been cooped up for so long that I am bored out of my mind, and I figured now would be the perfect time to write a post so my family stops bugging me about it.
Thank goodness I'm not the one who does laundry in this house.
I did offer for Josh to teach me (for the thousandth time), but he just laughed. Apparently he has zero faith in my laundry capabilities or he's just really tired of having to answer my frantic texts about whether darks are washed on hot or cold and how long to leave such and such shirt in the dryer before pulling it out and letting it air dry.
Andrew is growing fast, and I finally understand what people mean when they tell you to enjoy the newborn days because they really don't last long. I already miss the little 6 pound baby that we brought home from the hospital, but I really really really don't miss those sleepless nights. We're getting a 5 hour stretch most nights, and it truly is heaven compared to when we brought him home.
Andrew is now smiling and cooing enough that we forgive him when he's fussy, cranky and punching us in the face with his sharp talon nails. Unfortunately, we are already reaping the consequences of naming him after the Andrews side of the family because he is the most stubborn 2 month old I've ever encountered.
And I can't even pretend he didn't get it from me.
His favorite things to do are look at the wall behind the couch, sit outside (especially when it's windy), play with Mr. Rabbit, read all the books, try to talk to Mommy and Daddy in loud screeches and smiles on his changing table, and listen to all the children's music in Alexa's music catalog.
I really thought listening to Down by the Bay in the car didn't start until toddlerhood, but I was wrong. Most nights we eat dinner to Alexa playing Skidamarink and The Ice Cream Song. There also may or may not be hand motions to go along with them.
Speaking of dinner, at what age are you able to put a child down long enough for mom and dad to eat dinner at the same time and place? Asking for a friend.
This month we're working on being able to put him down for an actual bedtime. We will take all the prayers and wishes of luck that we can get because as of now, if we want him to sleep anytime between the hours of 7 PM and 10 PM, he's asleep on us after having walked him around the perimeter of the house 20 times or bouncing on the yoga ball for 30 minutes just so Mommy and Daddy can sit on the couch and unwind after keeping a baby entertained all day.
He's not reciting his ABC's yet, but we're working on it. I've informed him that he's not allowed to be stupid, and since he listened to me in utero when I told him he's not allowed to be an ugly baby, I think we'll be fine :)
Well, friends, I hope you stay healthy and sane during this time of quarantine. If you need any tips on how to get through weeks of social distancing pent up inside your house, feel free to reach out. We have pretty much become pros at staying in.
And if you're really bored, we have a baby we can send to you in exchange for a full 8 hours of sleep.
