Bringing Baby Home: Vacation

V is for Vacation. We took a Baby Moon about six months before my son was born. It was wonderful visiting Barcelona and Madrid, getting over morning sickness, and spending time with my husband. We ate all kinds of food, walked around for hours, and visited museums. The whole time, I knew our vacations would never be the same. As soon as there were three of us, my husband and I could no longer be selfish. Even if the two of us went somewhere, we would still talk about our son. Heck, that vacation was before we knew it was a he and we were still talking about him.

Now, three months after my son was born, I need a vacation more than ever. Handing over my son to visitors is a mini vacay. While others coo at him, I run off to throw laundry in the washer, empty the dishwasher, and clean the toilet. That's not really a vacation or even a break.

Another mini vacation was when I slept in the guest room one night. I'd pumped so there was enough milk for the night and my husband answered all our son's calls. I slept all night, something I rarely did during pregnancy. It was almost ruined though when I woke up engorged and ready to burst. I sprinted to the bedroom ready to force the child to nurse. There was no need to force though, he was awake and my husband was out of milk.

We're taking a weekend vacation soon. It's really a trip to visit family. But it will give me a chance to see what future family vacations are like when it's no longer two of us: How much stuff to take, training my husband to take bathroom breaks on road trips, and coping with the unexpected. It's another adventure. Good times.

Bringing Baby Home: Understanding

U is for Understanding. Understanding that things have changed and that this littler creature has needs only parents can meet. Understanding also means patience: when he won't stop crying, when he poops his diaper seconds after it is changed, and patience for weeks of not getting enough sleep.

Understanding that these days are short and I'll want them back someday.

Understanding that your spouse is just as tired as you. Understanding that there are only so many hours in a day. And understanding that nothing will ever be perfect. Understanding and accepting these facts.

Bringing Baby Home: Target Gift Cards

T is for Target gift cards. People are generous to new parents; we received several Target gift cards. Although I thought I had the room prepared, the changing table well-stocked, and everything washed and ready, we ended up at Target multiple times during the first few weeks.

First it was for diapers, then we wanted Gripe Water. We've gone back for baby wash cloths (yes, I could use adult ones, but these are smaller) and toys for him to ignore. Target is a refuge for new mothers, it is a place where it is OK to take a child, wonder around, look at shoes and jewelry and pick up a few things for the baby--justifying the trip.

One thing Target only has online is cradle sheets. It turns out, bassinets and cradles are different sizes. A local resale shop had the cradle sheets in stock, slightly marked up. Had I known my child was going to be early, I would have ordered them from Target and used a gift card, of course.

Bringing Baby Home: Sleep

S is for sleep. S is also for sheets. Usually, sleep is done on sheets. With a newborn in the house, parents should sleep anywhere they can sleep anytime they can sleep. Sofa, chairs, the floor, the car, anywhere.

Sleep is difficult--the first few nights at home I wouldn't sleep because I kept listening for noises. Then, I was so tired I slept through all my son's noises. Now that he is in his own room, I sometimes sleep through some noises on the monitor, then again, other nights, I have listened for every little sound. I feel like I can't win and every expert says not to try to develop sleep habits until a baby is four months old. One more month. I can do it. If there is enough coffee.

My baby needs his sleep too, it's important for infants to get enough sleep so their brain can develop and rejuvenate. Napping is important. I am happy to say that at 3 months we are starting to develop napping habits. A step in the right direction--toward sleeping parents.

One thing about sheets--in the first few days, nursing mothers should have extra sheets for their bed. They should be washed and ready to put on the bed at a moments notice. Spraying is not fun.

Bringing Baby Home: Room

R is for Room. No, not the baby's room since that is not necessary. R is for room for all the baby's stuff. Diapers. Bouncing chairs. Clothes. Toys. Bath supplies. Medical supplies. Bassinet. Crib. Boppy.

Yes, you can change a baby on the floor, but considering the number of blowouts my son has had while changing his diaper, no way am I changing him on the floor without an acre of padding around him.

No, a bassinet is not necessary and neither is a crib. Some parents chose to co-sleep. Others get the crib and end up co-sleeping, meaning the crib is an expensive storage unit. Nevertheless, even if co-sleeping, baby needs space (room) to sleep.

Yes, a person can bathe a baby in the kitchen sink. Mine is never that clean. And bath supplies are not necessary. I find them nice to have--towels, cloths, soap--and they take up a small amount of space.

Clothes. I guess we could have 1/3 of the clothes we have and be OK. And I am amazed at how quickly he grows out of them--it seems something is too small every day. Even if I had less clothes, they would still be piling up in my laundry room.

Chairs, etc. Not necessary, until he is screaming at 9 at night and I am drained of energy and desperate for him to stop.

Toys, not necessary, but people give them to you, so you need a place to put them.

My Boppy goes everywhere. It took over my cat's favorite place to sleep on the couch. Now my cat needs more room.