Unplanned Parenthood: One Month!

Today is Evan's one month birthday. We've learned quite a bit about our little guy and how to take care of him during that time. It helps that he's a pretty easy going baby boy. He only really fusses a little at night before his last bottle and when he is HUNGRY!

Evan at one day old and at one month

Before jumping into our tales of the past month, let's take a break to go back to the beginning. Many have asked about the name of our blog, Unplanned Parenthood. He wasn't planned. It doesn't mean he wasn't/isn't wanted. While we were initially taken off guard when we found out Evan would be joining our family, but can't imagine life without him now.

So where did the name come from? Well, like I said, Evan wasn't planned. We weren't focusing our efforts on getting pregnant. See, when Brian and I got married, we took the attitude of "if it happens, it happens." And, because I had concerns about taking birth control, we decided that since we were married, we didn't need to worry about that. After nearly four years "without a goalie," you don't really think about or worry about pregnancy. So we were caught off guard when I found out I was pregnant. He wasn't planned. So the whole title is just a funny little reminder that the best things in life aren't planned - and I thought it was hilarious when a friend suggested it after I told her I was pregnant.

Sleeping: Everyone always asks how Evan is sleeping. Well, I think he's doing great. He will sleep anywhere from 4.5 to 6 hours in a night. Now, Brian and I working on getting him on solidifying an evening schedule, so he wakes up at a more consistent time in the morning. This will be great for when I go back to work next month.

The fact that Brian and I keep different hours is a good thing, too. He takes the last feeding which is around 11:30 or midnight right now and I usually go to bed around 9-10ish. Evan will wake me up anywhere between 4:00 and 5:30 usually. This is a great schedule because when I do go back to work, I can feed him, put him back to bed, get ready for work and leave and then Brian will have him when he wakes up again around 9.

Eating: Baby boy has made the transition to straight up formula. During the day, he eats between every 2.5 to three hours. Thing that alarms me the most. We started feeding Evan formula and when we would make formula, we would do it a bottle at a time, following the directions on the package. Well, he only eats about 1/2 a bottle's worth of formula in one setting, so we would put the rest in the fridge and use it for the next time he was hungry. We received a babycenter.com update and when I started reading it was going on and on and on about how you absolutely should not, under any circumstances, keep formula in a bottle your baby has drunk out of. Apparently, it can build up bacteria and make your baby sick. WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE THIS ON THE FORMULA CAN?

Parents: I've finally relaxed. I've figured out that if he starts crying because he is hungry, we don't have to run to pick him up and then try to get everything ready. He's going to keep on crying whether he is in his crib or not. So go ahead and start warming up the bottle, go to the bathroom or use the 10 minutes to sweep some floors or change out laundry real quick. You have to multi-task!

It is hard to go to sleep though. I still hear the phantom baby sometimes. I still can't nap during the day, but don't really need to since I'm getting a full night's rest most nights. I also figured out that there is a reason you are not cleared to go back to work for at least 6 weeks. I get tired fast!

My body seems to be mostly healed and feeling back to normal - except for the whole fatigue thing. I have managed to injure my left shoulder since bring Evan home and my back still hurts quite a bit. However, we keep going on our daily walks (if weather permits) with Truman and if my back hurts too much, its a shorter walk using the stroller. If it doesn't hurt too badly, then I'll use the Baby Bjorn and really wear Truman out! The shoulder isn't anything incapacitating, it just hurts to lift my arm above my head sometimes.

Intellectually and emotionally, I think I'm doing okay. I don't think I've had any of the post-depression issues, but Brian would be a better judge of that. I know I was and still am moody/irritable, but I attribute that mostly to nights when Evan wakes up earlier than what we have become accustomed to. - Is it possible a one-month-old baby can spoil HIS parents? - Besides, if I can sweep the floors, change laundry, do the dishes, fold laundry, sterilize bottles, make a new batch of formula and catch up on the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy during ONE of his naps, shouldn't everyone be just as productive? :)

On days when I don't have the opportunity to interact with other adults, I think I start going a little crazy. Evan isn't exactly a great conversationalist yet and he is not too interested in discussing current events. You will know which days I am going crazy because I am imitating The Muppets' Fozzie Bear nonstop.