Nutgraf

So far, while trying to draft this blog post I have been interrupted three times. Just wanted to get that out there. Fast. Before, you know, I get interrupted.

Observation 1: Hardly Workin’ is Hard Work

I have always worked hard. Now, I’m not saying that it always went well, or that it was always brilliant work, but I did totally try. I’ve been on leave for six weeks now, after having the baby (yes – the one in the picture), and have managed to go from being a highly effective human with a full-time job, adequate social life, family obligations, correspondence, mildly successful blog project, and active freelance career to spending my days on my sofa with glazed eyes, a cup of tea that’s gone cold, and an ever-expanding to-do list.

Observation 2: Babies Are Both Easy and Exhausting

The actual elements of infant care don’t seem to be that complex. She has – essentially – four needs. Food, sleep, output management (diapers and burping) and love/interaction. I know how to meet each of these needs. Sometimes it takes a couple of attempts to identify the most pressing need of the moment, but I tend to achieve resolution pretty promptly. It’s great to feel like a success. On the other hand, she has one of these needs on average every 10 minutes, which makes it hard to get any momentum on any other activities. I say on average, because she could require an hour of constant tending, then be maintenance free for two hours… or five seconds. I never know.

For the first time in my life I’m tired without being stressed out. It’s a pretty nice feeling because unlike stress-related fatigue, it can be solved with sleep. It also doesn’t tie my stomach up in knots, give me hives or make me sweat and doubt myself. I’m tired, yeah. But pretty relaxed, all-told. S’nice.

Observation 3: Nobody knows what they’re talking about. Conversely, everybody knows what they’re talking about.

I noted this one before in my post introducing Veronica Rose, but it bears repeating.We’ve had a lot of flat-out contradictory advice from bona fide medical and baby-related professionals. And for some reason everyone’s mother wants us to give the baby water, while all medical professionals are against it. We’re siding with pros here., but I thought it was interesting.

I figure babies have to be sturdy so they survive first-time parents. Trusting your instincts seems to play a pretty big role here, as does getting to know your own personal infant. They may look at lot alike and have similar needs, but their preferences in need fulfillment apparently differ widely.

And that’s about all I can muster today. Am hoping to take the baby out for a walk in about two hours, which means I need to start my preparation sequence now. Don’t get me wrong – this is a pretty awesome gig so far, and I am crazy about the baby of course. And it’s all still so new that even this new shape of my days is interesting. I haven’t lived without a schedule before – or, more accurately, totally beholden to the arbitrary and demanding schedule of someone who can neither verbalize her motivations nor be reasoned or bargained with – and it’s at the same time frustrating and my pleasure to accommodate.

Omigod, she just smiled. What was I saying?

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