Bringing home baby

Bringing home baby is an exciting and often times unnerving time for new parents. All of the excitement that has built up over the last nine months is now becoming reality. The new mom and dad are ready to put that new bundle of joy in the beautiful nursery and get some well deserved sleep after that sleepless time in the noisy hospital. I mean what are they thinking in these hospitals, waking mom up every hour or two to check on her and baby? How are they supposed to get any sleep?

Dad arrives at the hospital hoping he grabbed everything mom listed. He proudly carries the empty car seat up to the room. Mom has baby and all of the things packed and ready to go. The nurse says I will be back to discharge you. Mom and Dad place baby in the car seat carefully. They check the straps 4 times to make sure they are snug, but not too tight. In comes the nurse, and so she begins with another list of 50 dos and don'ts. She then checks the baby in the car seat. She tells you everything you thought you already knew, and then tightens the safety belts more. Ok, finally she is finished and they are ready to go. Oh my, what is that smell? Mom and dad look at each other. Baby hopefully just passed gas. They sniff a little closer, the smell is not fading. Mom sighs and then out comes the bundle of joy for another diaper change. Back in baby goes, and finally they are headed out of that room. The nurse insists mom ride in the wheelchair with baby on her lap. Mom, not so appreciative of the fact that her new bundle of joy in this car seat is killing her incision. She grins and bears it. Dad, dragging a wagon full of flowers, teddy bears and baby items follows behind. As they head out towards the car the nurse now helps mom to the car dad nervously loads the baby in the car. He holds his head high, he's got this. He puts baby's car seat on the base and attempts to snap it in place. It's not working. Mom, in the back seat beside baby says "slow down". He tries again, no luck. The nurse still standing there says I believe you have the base in backwards. Dad thinks that is impossible. He knows he stood on his head trying to install that thing for an hour, it has to be right. After turning the base around, the car seat clicks in place. The nurse now checking to make sure the straps are tight again, goes over the importance of making sure baby is in a car seat and that the straps are snug and the cross bar is over babies chest. What feels like 9 months of waiting is now over, the nurse tells them to enjoy the new baby.

Dad drives off. Ouch, that bump! Dad says sorry, and tries not to hit anymore. Mom holds her incision a little tighter...and then sneezes, OUCH! Mom is glancing at her beautiful baby, dad is asking if everything is okay back there. Mom is now nodding off and dad is trying to see baby in the baby mirror they installed. He can see babies' nose and mouth. Shew it's all good. Mom's asleep, babies asleep. Then the sound of a hungry baby. Oh no, what to do now? They can't pull baby out of the seat and nurse him going down the road. Ah, mom has remembered to bring a bottle that she has pumped. Baby eats and it is quiet again. They pull in the drive at home, dad wakes mom, baby is still sleeping. That was easy.

In the front door they go. All of the stuff left on the floor and the kitchen counter. Dad, mom and baby plopped on the sofa. They are home. It feels good to finally have the family that they have waited for home and settled. Ummm, honey I think the baby pooped, again. Will you change him? You can't? Why? Well, my incision is hurting. Can you bring me my pain meds, too? Dad takes the baby to the nursery, places the little baby on the changing table. He thinks...I can do this. He struggles to undo the onesie snaps. The smell gets stronger, dad is holding his nose. Then, he unfastens the diaper and reveals...yuck, gag, choke, choke. Honey? Are you ok? Mom yells from the living room. No, I am gonna puke. No your not, you'll make it. He gags some more, gets the wipes and then the inevitable poop on the hand. He struggles to get the diaper on not too tight, as the nurse showed him in the hospital. Whew, dad has done his job. He picks up baby, heading back to the living room, he thinks, now time for some football. As he arrives back to the couch he finds mom sound asleep. The meds have kicked in. Honey? No answer, he sits down in his easy chair props baby on his lap and says let's watch some football. Ah, life is good.

The screaming starts, mom jumps and awakes. He needs fed. Dad brings baby to her. Mom struggles a bit to get baby to latch on. Mom is getting frustrated and tears flow from baby and mom's eyes. Dad reassures her. Finally baby starts to nurse. What seems like eternity, the baby is now finished. Dad now has a supply of diapers, wipes and powder at mom's reach on the sofa. Mom changes baby and back to sleep he goes. They can rest again. Mom lays baby down in the bassinet. Peace and quiet again. They got this, like pros. 

Should we put baby to bed now? Yes, indeed it is time for them to all get a good nights sleep! They lay baby in his bassinet. What, not in the crib dad says? Mom says, no I cannot have him that far from me. I need to be able to see him and hear his breathing. But, you insisted he needed this nursery when he arrived home? And... oh well. Mom and dad lay their head on the pillow they are both out within seconds. Mom sleeping at bit heavier, due to the pain meds. They are in such need of a normal night of sleep so everyone can get rested up. 

2 hours later baby cries. They feed, change and put him back down. Back to sleep they go, 2 hours later the baby cries.

Welcome to Baby Boos and Coos!

This is my blog about all things baby! Babies are wonderful and so lovable. They bring joy to your heart and happiness to your face. Our little guy has changed my world! I am now a mom of 3 and a grandma of 1. This little guy has brought such joy. He has also stirred memories of the joy and struggles I had as a young mom.So, with a little wisdom and a lot of love I will attempt to help and humor parents and grandparents everywhere. I will be posting the fun stuff about babies and the not so fun stuff too! From coos to boos...I will be here to help you learn and laugh about that little bundle of joy!