Baby Boot Camp
Okay, so I really can’t believe I left the last entry as the one about eating poo. What is wrong with me?!
Rachel and I went to see “The Lake House” last weekend, and it was fabulous. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys chick flicks. Much better than I expected!
Magnus and I have been communicating more about our expectations with the baby. I keep reading scary information about how much work it’s going to be. Plus, people keep telling me about how hard it is to take care of infant. I have been really worried that I won’t have the support I need from him because he won’t realize how hard things are going to be. However, I had Magnus read an article about this, and he looked up at me with shocked eyes and said, “I’m terrified!” Somehow, even though it makes him feel worse, it makes me feel a lot better. I know he will do what it takes to help me, and I know that if we keep communicating, we will figure this out.
I think part of the concern I feel is due to still being pretty tired from the pregnancy. It’s hard to feel capable of caring for an infant when you can barely get it together to make dinner or do the dishes as it is. But I just keep reminding myself that I probably won’t be anymore tired with the baby than I was in the first trimester. And Magnus was a huge help there. So for right now, I’m doing okay with that – until I read or hear the next scary baby story.
I told Magnus that this will be like baby boot camp. If we can make it through those first couple of months, we will be able to make it through anything (with the possible exception of the teen years).
Auntie Pat said,
August 22, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Just remember that you’re not expected to be perfect. I know you’ll do fine if your hormones will allow you not to be too hard on yourself.
Love.
Samantha Tengelitsch said,
August 22, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I think you’re being very honest about your expectations, so by the time the baby gets here, it’ll be cake. It is hard, but it’s also amazing and you won’t be working full time, so you’ll be able to nap with the baby. That makes life as a new mother so much easier!
mel said,
August 22, 2006 at 7:43 pm
and when you think about it, all that talk about poo was also great preparation for raising a child
iamsamiam said,
August 23, 2006 at 8:30 am
Baby poo is so gross. I would never eat it.
And I was thinking about it (babies, not poo) last night. My children overwhelmed me in the beginning, but I was also very ill prepared for motherhood. Unlike you, I never saw myself as a mother. I also had three children in as many years which would overwhelm anyone. When I think about how my life is with Lucy, it seems easy. Except at the very beginning, I’ve felt pretty good – not incredibly overhelmed even with three children. I have no doubt you’ll do wonderfully.
And even when our husbands don’t quite get it before the birth, they most certainly get it immediately following.
Love and hugs, Sam
Kate said,
August 23, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Thanks for the support, you guys! I’m actually feeling pretty good about everything now that Magnus is terrorized. Poor Magnus.
magnus said,
September 8, 2006 at 8:12 am
Yeah, no shit. I’ve been terrified the whole time, actually. And it’s the kind of terrified that is like seeing the oncoming freight train but knowing I need to grab on and ride it. I might as well not dwell on the anticipation and enjoy the moment. I know that some people (ahem) have an issue occasionally with “living in the moment.” I know that things are going to change on an intellectual level, and if I wanted to I could let myself dwell on it, but what’s the point? Perhaps it’s the “man” point of view, but besides doing extra housework and taking extra care of Kate there isn’t any change in my life right now. I also game online with some folks that are really nice and just had a baby less than a year ago. And they still game! And I have NO DOUBT that they do a good job because they are both INCREDIBLY intelligent people that are very sensitive and cool. So basically I know that things will change, but I will still get to do what I like to do. It’ll just be less of it, and I’ll be spending some of that time dealing with baby and mother. And I’m already dealing a lot with the mother.