Maciukenas Blog: New Reality

It's hard to tell if three weeks feel like a blink or an eternity, but here we are, three weeks into being full-on parents. I keep referring to this as an adventure, and yup, that still seems the most appropriate way of describing it. (Tom might have his own term?!) Each day is full of its own unpredictabilities: What will the nighttime feeding schedule be like tonight? Will we actually get that four and a half hour stretch of sleep again? (now that felt like luxury!) Will Liana be fussy in the evening during the 6-9pm "witching hour?" When will the "parental fog" lift?

All these questions (and more) occupy much of the days, and obviously our reality is so completely different now that a needy baby is in the picture. Bedtime comes a LOT earlier (so long 11pm - you are now reserved for a round of nursing!) and certainly the lack of sleep is catching up on both of us. I've tried to sleep when the baby sleeps, although that has been much easier with my mom (Liana's Babi) around for the last two and a half weeks to help watch the baby. Tomorrow "Mama B" heads back to NJ and we will definitely be sad to see her go, as we've all gotten used to having her around - her home-cooked meals, her advice, her cleaning around the house. Maybe mom will more seriously consider a part-year Portland residency, now that she has three grandkids out here?

Despite all the many adjustments, we have to acknowledge how grateful we are for Liana's temperament and development. She is on track with everything - crying when she needs something, growing as she should be, and just continuing to be a sweet and innocent little baby. At her two-week pediatrician visit, she weighed 7 lbs 14 oz, which is a very healthy weight gain from the 7 lbs that she was when we left the hospital (thank God, as this means that the amount of nursing is sufficient). She has started developing a bit of "baby acne" on her forehead, but this too is completely normal for this age, so we aren't really concerned. All in all, we can't complain too much, since we have a healthy baby girl and that, in and of itself, is huge. Here are a few recent shots of Liana from the past few weeks, including Thanksgiving with the family, and a very nice walk through the gardens at the Grotto with my mom, sister and her two boys. There are also more photos at the link above.