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May 26, 2008July 19, 2010

The 1 million dollar swing.

There are some ideas that are absolutely brilliant. Sliced bread, automatic dishwashers, phones with mac software on them, and my new favorite, the baby swing. I actually don’t call it a swing. I call it the “heavenly daddy-back saver.” (or HD-BS) It is truly the most amazing machine I have ever encountered. Here’s how a typical usage goes:

I hear Ben Jr starting to “pre-fuss” (a maneuver involving loud coos, a few grunts, and his face wrinkling up like it’s beginning to melt). I grab up the baby bundle, and bounce across the room. Baby Ben is not content with small bounces, either. The big, 2 foot, exaggerated bounces are the only ones that will do. I generally can get him to stop fussing (or prevent him from starting) in about three bounces. But then I have to continue until he falls asleep.

Enter the HD-BS

I place him in (which was rather nerve-wracking the first time… “where do you think this strap goes, and what’s that squeaking?”) and bundle the blanket all around him. One twist of the knob starts him swinging. He initially protests, and starts to melt his face again. I stay within ear-shot and give him a standard “shh-shh-shh” The nurse at our childbirth class said that sound mimics mom’s heartbeat from the womb, explaining it’s cathartic effect. The combo of the shh-shh and the HD-BS lulls him back into contentment.

Then, my back muscles kick up their feet, break open an adult beverage, put some Jack Johnson on their iPods, and relax.

Thanks, Josh and Stacy, for the HD-BS. Your reward will be in heaven, and worth at least a million bucks.

May 24, 2008July 19, 2010

The Onesie Trials

As we packed up to leave the hospital, we had to put little Ben into his “going home outfit” (of which we brought 15, I think, in case he was either 4 pounds 2 ounces or 12 pounds 13 ounces… can’t ever be too prepared). We decided to go with the definitely-too-large outfit seen above, and learned that it currently takes two parents and 3 minutes to figure out how to insert a child into a short-sleeved onesie.

But he was stylin. He rolled up next to a two-day-old chick in a leopard-print car seat and started flirtin’. He was all “hey girl, I’m sportin’ a fresh pamper and you know you like this hat…” She screamed. We’ll have to work on his delivery. When we got to the car I let him in on the secret that leopard print at two days screams “high maintenance” and that’s not how Meredith boys roll.

OK, so maybe the previous paragraph was a fabrication. But I did see a pink car seat with leopard print trim in the hospital today. Dang.

We are back at the house, and I just woke up from an hour long nap with a newborn on my chest. It was the best nap of my life. I give parenthood a 10 out of 10.

May 24, 2008July 19, 2010

We are outtie (like Junior’s belly button)

We have made it through the second full night, and have just gotten clearance from Mom’s doctor and Baby’s doctor to hit the road! Just one more feeding, and we will be set to go! Ben Jr’s doing great, Jacq’s doing great, and I am so ready to go the land of comfortable seating/sleeping. Who knew having a baby could make dad’s back so sore?

So, praise the Lord that we get to knock one night’s stay off this “hotel” bill! We are so thankful that God has answered every single prayer with a “yes!” so far this week. From Jacq recovering more quickly than expected to Baby Ben being 100% healthy to him learning in no time to nurse to us getting a few great hours of sleep last night as we “tag-teamed” soothing/feeding/bouncing/changing duties. Thanks so much for all of your prayers, too! God said yes! (unless of course you prayed toward our detriment, in which case I take back my gratitude)

If you live in Asheville or are otherwise planning on coming to visit, you are welcomed to, just call before you come and we will feel the freedom to respectfully postpone you if mom or baby needs more time. Be prepared to do a chore before you get to hold little Ben, also!

May 24, 2008May 23, 2018

Recipe for a good cry.

Ingredients:

2 Days with less than stellar sleep
2 brand new parents
7lb 13oz of the cutest baby on earth
a dash of the video here:

Mix ingredients thoroughly in a medium-sized hospital room. Recipe good for at least 10 minutes of homemade, gourmet crying.

May 23, 2008August 20, 2010

The Bouncy-dad trick.

I was present for a good 100% of Jacqueline’s pregnancy, and I don’t remember her doing many cartwheels, jumping jacqs (couldn’t resist) or riding any roller coasters. But that doesn’t change the fact that last night just about the only thing that would make little Ben settle down was the ‘bouncy-dad’ maneuver. You know the one I’m talking about. I hold him, and gently (but exaggeratedly) bounce/dance around the room. He loves it, and the squalls become coos and eventually snores.

It was fun, but quite a workout. If I even slowed down, much less attempted to sit down, I was accosted with a shrill baby lung-full of dissatisfaction. And his lungs held more than you’d think, for just having used them for 15 hours or so.

All in all, not counting the one emotional breakdown that I had at hour 21 with no sleep, it was a great first night. I enjoyed bouncing him back to sleep, or at least bouncing until he calmed and I got the ‘both eyes open’ look you see above. It was fantastic. Here’s hoping for a “two hours in a row” break tonight!

For those who have asked, mama Jacq is doing great. She walked to the nurses station today, which was a great feat. She’s already back to solid foods, and eager to get back on her feet. Now my job becomes encouraging patience (and changing diapers!) As a side note, I am such a crybaby that I got emotional changing his diaper for the first time last night. I can’t wait to read this again in 2 years and get a great kick out of that line. But it’s true. I cried changing a diaper. There, I said it.

Oh, and we added some more pics to the Baby Photo Page. Enjoy!