Baby Shetler - Redux
Return of the Alien
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May 18, 2007
Last Year, At This Time...
At this time last year, I was puking from the immense amounts of pain I was in. Labor? Oh no. Not labor. Labor would have been productive. No. This was just my stupid uterus's reaction to Cervadil.
T- 5 hours, 23 minutes until Dylan joined the world.
I have been like this all day. Well, truthfully, I have been like this since yesterday. "Last year, at this time..."
So I figured it would be a fitting title for a post on Dylan's birthday. Not only what I was doing last year at this time, but what I have learned and experienced since them. So here goes.
Last year at this time...
... I was having a girl.
... I had never sat and watched Dylan sleep - not to make sure he was breathing (although I did that too) - but just because. Just because he looks like an angel when he sleeps. Just because his features are so perfect and he's just adorable how he likes to cuddle up. When he was first born, he would pull in his legs and we'd call it "peanutting up" because he looked like a little peanut. Now, he rolls onto his side, contorts himself into a pretzel shape that doesn't at all look comfortable and hugs Hippo. (Yes, Hippo is still around).
... I didn't realize how incredibly painful it was to try to breastfeed when your baby is a "lazy sucker." I also had never experienced the amount of guilt I felt when I eventually had to give up breastfeeding.
... There was never anything that could instantly make nothing else in the world matter the way Dylan's smile or laugh does.
... I didn't realize just how little sleep you actually need.
... I didn't think there was anything worse than seeing your parent in the hospital. Now I realize there is. Seeing your baby in the hospital is heart-wrenching. Even if he is laughing and kicking his little butt off. Seeing him go in for surgery - even minor surgery - is even worse.
... I had no idea how much fun phones, remotes, empty soda bottles and keys are.
... I didn't clap every time something happened. "Yay! Dylan ate his cheerios!" or "Yay! Dylan put the ball in the dinosaur." or "Yay! Just because, yay!"
... I didn't understand how it could possibly be true that during a c-section, once you hear the baby, you're not even thinking about the surgery. I had never had surgery, but I couldn't imagine NOT thinking about it.
... I never realized just how many movies, commercials and TV shows have language or situations that is completely inappropriate for children.
... I didn't fully appreciate just how hot it is when a man is a good father to his son.
... "Sleeping in" was not staying in bed til 7:00 am.
... Maintaining my identity outside of being "Dylan's Mom," seemed important. (Well, outside of being my daughter's mom, since I was having a girl).
... I didn't realize what it was like to honestly be willing to give up your life for someone else.
... I didn't appreciate my mother-in-law as much as I do now.
... *MY* baby was not going to play on the floor without some sort of blanket down, watch TV until he was 2 or leave the house in an outfit that didn't match.
... I was going to lose all my pregnancy weight in 9 months (9 months up, 9 months down) and go back to the theater and dancing (in moderation, of course).
... I didn't realize how snuggly a boy would be with his Mommy.
... I didn't fathom just how proud it would make me to see someone putting a cheerio in their mouth, or drinking out of a sippy cup, or putting a shape in the right hole, or even just rolling over.
... I wasn't as happy and content with my life as I am now. I love being a mom. I love being Dylan's mom. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and Darren. I love him so much I just can't believe it sometimes.
Posted by Terri at May 18, 2007 03:45 PM
Comments
There is a commercial out there (J&J maybe) that says "A Baby Changes Everything" and I never full comprehended that statement until now. The feelings we get over the daily accomplishments he makes is incredible. Now if we could just hit pause before he starts asking for the keys to the car...
Posted by: Daddy at May 21, 2007 10:53 AM
What a sweet, loving entry. You should print it out and keep it, because I think that Dylan will love reading it one day - maybe when his own kid celebrates his/her first birthday! :-)
Yay, Mom!
Posted by: Juno at May 29, 2007 02:35 PM