7th December 2008

Big Day in Melina’s World: Belly Button Has Arrived, First Bath, and Binky Crack?

It was a big day in little Melina’s world.  We now have a belly button, and yes, I’m sad to say I’ve captured it on film.  I’ve become one of “those parents”.  Do you think it’s sick I’ve saved her tiny umbilical cord remainder?  ;-)  Once the cord has fallen off - you can bathe the baby.  This was exciting ’cause this meant I could finally wash her hair.

Thus, Susan, a friend visiting from DC, and I bathed her tonight in a wonderful baby bath wash that my friend Pazit gave me for the baby shower, as well as baby tub from Beth.  I washed her hair as best I could.  Melina definitely cried in a healthy way, and afterwards got snuggly warm in her sleeper and sacked out hard in my arms for two hours while we hung out and watched TV tonight (something I haven’t done since she arrived). 

Melina is now 12 days old.  It’s fun to watch her eyes begin to open more, and her expressions when her eyes are open.  Although she’s not supposed to have responsive expressions at this stage, I do see her grin at times.  It’s kinda funny, because those of you whom have had the luxury of having a child, and breastfeeding, would know that most babies prefer one side over the other.  I could swear that my baby girl is grinning on the one side, and frowning on the other.  Not only that, I could swear she dreams about this, because you see her grin and then frown - while she sleeps.  Hilarious.

So, it’s sad to think you count your baby’s diapers and how many are wet versus poopy, but you’re trained on this when you’re at the hospital.  You’re having 7 wet diapers - good.  You’re having 2-3 poopy diapers - good!  Well, what happens when she doesn’t have a poopy diaper in two days, almost three?  You start obsessing over this in a wierd way.  Tonight, Susan and I are in the nursery and I’m rocking Melina and feeding her.  All of  a sudden Melina lets one go in the diaper, and her eyes flashed open so fast, in total shock!  So funny -wish I could have captured that look on her face - priceless!  Big blue eyes, looking around, like what the heck was that???  So, we’re good there.

A few days ago, I caved to the pacifier, or binky, or crack cocaine, whatever you want to call it.  Despite having a “lazy sucker” in the hospital that the lactation consultants were a bit consternated about, this has now changed.  Melina is no longer a lazy sucker - the only thing I wish I could share with her is how my breasts are not binkies - thus, they do not need the same sucking velocity association with them.    I’m further convinced she just might reshape what I have left if I don’t keep an eye on that activity.  What’s likely worse, is that the binky is in her mouth in the crib at night - and she’s rather talkative at this hour - ’cause she slept all day despite desires to wake her and give her a bath (meanie Mom I am).  So, she screeches with this binky in her mouth and then heaven forbid it fall out - it’s bloody murder and of course, I’m enabling this conditioned activity by what else?  Walking over there and putting it right back in her mouth again.  Um, humm, smart mom.

Probably the scariest thing of my entire day is how it started at 3 a.m.  I woke up with her on my chest sleeping soundly.  I don’t remember falling asleep that way, nor picking her in a crying fit and letting her rest on my chest.  That was a clear indicator I needed more sleep - as I’m a bit terrified of the SIDs and other risks of letting your baby sleep in bed with you.  So, today we caught up more - I’ve been going back to sleep with her in the morning the last two days until about 9 a.m.  Still hard to be up every three hours for feeding and/or pumping if she decides to be the lazy “sucker” at 3 in the morning.  But I must admit the breastfeeding is getting easier every day.  Now, it’s time to figure out my sleep schedule.  I tried to sleep this afternoon with her, but I was unable to do so.

She’s quite awake right now.  Eyes closed, sleeping on the new wedge in her crib, and swaddled with crack binky in her mouth.  The funny thing - she’s screeching over there in this state.  I go over and she’s got her eyes closed, binky in mouth, and seemingly just fine.  First time Mom here just needs to take a chill pill.

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