Two words...LIFE. CHANGING.

Wow...I am going to just come out and say it...this first week and a half of Karsen's life has been the most rewarding, stressful, exhausting, challenging, and amazing week and a half of my life. I have experienced emotions I never even imagined I would experience as a mother. It was never any big secret. I always wanted to have kids. It has been a dream of mine for many many years. Now that I am here...wow...I had no idea what it would take to be a mother. As I sit here and type this up, I remember the times over the last week where I have felt so guilty. Guilty that all I can think about is SLEEP and I wish he would sleep just a little longer so I can sleep a little longer. But then I look at his sweet, sweet face and that guilt goes away. As each day passes, things constantly change. One day he sleeps longer between feedings...the other day, I swear he eats every 30 minutes (ok not really...but you get the idea).

On Tuesday, June 3, we had our first family outing to the pediatricians office. Clearly it was my first time going anywhere with a baby because we almost left the house without the diaper bag. YIKES! Even though I knew we would only be gone from the house for an hour, it would have been tragedy if I would have left the bag at home. Karsen did wonderfully in his carseat and didnt make a peep while waiting in the waiting room. Once back in the exam room, things were a little different. We took him out of the carseat to get his weight (back up to birth weight...woot!!!) and measure his length. I decided to just hold him until the pediatrician came in. BIG mistake. He was grunting and bearing down...and sure enough, he blew out of his diaper up his entire back, through his super cute outfit and all over my shirt. New mom lesson #1: Bring a spare change of clothes for baby AND mom. Sure I had another outfit for him...nothing for me. Oh well. We got him changed and calmed down. We made it through the rest of the appointment, then headed home. This picture isnt the best but you can see he was a little upset so it was a heated moment to even get a picture! Haha.

Thursday, June 5 marked Karsen's 1 week old birthday! He was still very much a "sleep, wake, eat, repeat" type of baby. The best picture I could get of him was while he was sleeping, because awake we was either crying for food, or eating. So here he is in his swing all snuggled up. Ah, the sleep of the innocent. 

Call me a bad mom, but for some reason giving Karsen his first bath did not even cross my mind. Another YIKES! Bruce and I tackled the challenge of the first bath at home on Monday, June 9. Yes I get it...over a week from his bath in the hospital, but again...didnt cross my mind. Ugh. Karsen did GREAT in the water! I am hopeful this means he is a water loving baby and will enjoy some pool time when he is old enough. Here is K in the little infant tub. Bruce and I have told ourselves that we will make sure to schedule a bath multiple times a week so we dont "forget" and let such a long length of time go between cleanings. 

Like I said, this first week and a half has been tough but so rewarding. I have leaned very hard on some friends who have recently had newborns of their own. Brittany with her 8 month old, Skylar; Laura with her 5 month old, Declan; and Lauren with her 2 month old, Henry. These three ladies will never know how much they have helped me already. I have felt like a terrible mom more times than I can count because I just want the best for this little guy, but they have helped reassure me that I am doing great. 

Karsen is such a great baby and we are so blessed. Here is one last picture...Karsen at his finest...doing what he loves to do best...yawning! Those cheeks!

MB