What Day Is It?, or Surviving the First Six Weeks

We received a book at the baby shower entitled The Fourth Trimester. It offers "advice, humor and inspiration for new moms", and explores what it considers the most difficult time of having a new baby -- the first six weeks. It covers the difficulty of the hospital stay, the frustration of breastfeeding, the bombardment of unsolicited advice, and the feelings of overwhelming worry about child-rearing, as well as many other issues that we've recently stumbled and fumbled across.

While we have no previous reference point, I'll take author Amy Einhorn's word for it, that it gets easier around the six-week mark. (YAHOO!!!!) Because up until now, our relationship with Colin can be summed up by the famous quote from Cool Hand Luke:

"What we've got here is failure to communicate."

Colin sometimes cries for apparently no reason, leaving Heidi and I to wonder and guess, and basically try everything under the sun to get him to calm down. We sing, we dance, we babble nonsense, we throw money....

Slowly, over time, we've been starting to figure out his patterns a bit better, and not be so frazzled if he decides to throw a snit fit. We know somewhat better when to let him be, as opposed to constantly fussing and fretting over him.

Seriously, though, this kid can and will cry about anything, from eating to being burped to having his diaper changed to taking a bath. And it's not just little whining, it turns to full-out, eardrum shattering screams that you can hear in every single installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street series.

This is not to say he's a bad baby. In fact, he's a very good baby. He eats well, he sleeps well, he's healthy, generally affable and cute as a button. However, simply because he's as new to this family thing as we are, and has no clue how else to communicate, he cries. Babies do. It's still far from my idea of a picnic.


Tired but happy.

We're very fortunate to be going through this transitional period as a couple. It helps alleviate the stress and allows us to learn together how to solve the riddle that is Crazy Legs. Still, we've been a bit cooped up because of Colin's feeding and sleeping schedule. We're doing our best to rest up and maintain touch with the real world when we can. Anyone know how that election turned out?

Around the six week mark, it's said (per several books) that he begins to see further than 12 inches in front of his face, and begins to coo and smile. Which will be a wonderful, wonderful change. Heidi and I are certainly looking forward to it.

Again, I'm really explaining rather than complaining. We love this little guy more than anything, and can't wait until he can reciprocate the feeling a teensy bit. That is, before he becomes a teenager, and is completely resentful and embarrassed by our every move.

Every day, I realize how much credit our parents deserve for the great job that they did. Thanks, Moms and Dads.


What a good kid!