What I've learned thus far...

Today was supposed to be my due date. I had thought my entire pregnancy that even today was too early to expect little Blueberry to arrive. Boy, did I learn an important lesson in not having everything go as planned...

This brings me to reflect on the lessons I've already learned in the short 2.5 weeks since I've officially become a mom. First, I must have some sort of sixth sense because I somehow felt that I was going to go into labor the night I did, and asked Kyle to come home from his guys' night. Now I can tell that this "instinct" to parent is most definitely real, as all the "ideas" I have in my head, such as how to calm Emerson down when he is grumpy, seem to work in reality when I implement them. Today, for example, Emerson was not happy, and would cry if he wasn't eating. He didn't nap like usual, so I assume he is over tired, and is only turning to hunger because, like an adult, he doesn't know what else to do. So, my idea was to distract him, take him outside on a walk where he couldn't concentrate on being hungry or sleepy, and wouldn't you know, he immediately stopped crying in the fresh air and sunshine and was happy as a clam until the minute we walked back into the house. It was seriously instantaneous crying once we were back home until he got to eat again. But the experience helped to get him back into his feeding routine.

The next thing that I've learned is that the SIMS in NO WAY really helps to simulate parenting. The reason I bring this up is because back in 2000, around the time the SIMS was released, my siblings and I had a little problem with fighting over who got the most computer time to play the game. I remember my summer home from college and staying up all night to play so I wouldn't have to share the computer with my family. In this game, if your characters had a baby, for 3 computer-simulated days you would have to be prepared to wake up at any given moment and feed the baby, rock the baby, sing to the baby, play with the baby... Then, magically, after 3 days, the baby became a kid. Then you never knew what your kid would look like. Sometimes they were annoying kids. In one famous incident, my sister locked her kid out of the house until it died because it was too ugly. (There are many embarrassing stories about my characters, too, but not dealing with the parenting of the game). Well, SIMS, your simulated parenting in NO WAY helped me to prepare for the challenges of actual parenting. Kyle will be the first to tell you that every time it is feeding time in the middle of the night, I ask for "just 5 more minutes" before I can get up the energy to go get Emerson out of his crib and stay up with him for an hour to eat. To minimize the monotony, I play a lot of Mahjong on my phone. (That was a highly alliterative sentence). So, I guess what I've learned is that this really is a challenge that you can, in no way, prepare fully for, or understand the difficulty of, until you have experienced it.

I have also learned that I can pretty much immediately fall asleep on demand now, knowing how precious a commodity true sleep is.

I have learned that eating with one hand while nursing a baby is a valuable skill.

I have learned that having backup clothes readily available at all times is essential, for Emerson can pee all over everything at any given moment. Backup clothes for him and you, the parent, that is.

I have learned that the great outdoors really is helpful for a little man named after the great Transcendentalist, Emerson.

I have learned to ask for help (although I am still really bad at it) and to trust in the help that I receive (like from my coworkers who had to step it up to get my sub transitioned).

I have learned that daytime TV is horrible. Except for HGTV.

I have mostly learned that I can't control, plan or count on anything going smoothly when I am no longer the one making the calls in the family. I've had to change and cancel plans because of feeding schedules, and I've had to let some things I've wanted to do go, like attending the grand opening of the new J.Crew outlet store.

But most of all, I've learned that I truly love and appreciate my family, all of it, from my parents and in-laws, to those who are considered family but not by blood. And of course, above all else, I love my husband and my little one more that I'd ever imagined. Even if I am just a food cow and an incubator for them...

My eyes are open more and more often these days!

Dad likes to nap with me on the couch.

Phoenix Baby Shower

Since our son came to this world early, I get to do a number of flashback posts! I shared pictures from my baby shower in Wisconsin/Minnesota, but barely made it with my shower in Phoenix before Emerson arrived. My mom was excited to host a shower for me here at her clubhouse, Tuscany Falls, in Pebble Creek. My sisters-in-law helped a lot with decorations and desserts, and my mother in law and mom helped with food and planning as well. Karen, my sister-in-law, made these adorable cube blocks with pictures from throughout my pregnancy on them. Anji and Peg, sister-in-law and mother-in-law, made S'more's cupcakes that went with the theme, complete with buying a torch for the marshmallows on top to be toasted! This shower's theme was camping and the great outdoors. I really appreciate all the friends and family who came out to support me and baby E. I am truly grateful for all the books, diapers, and cute outfits (we have already found out how many of the diapers and outfits we need/go through every day).

Anji Davis, my sister-in-law, was the contest winner in the "guess my birthday" game- she guessed October 27, but that was the closest guess to our 3-week-early little man!

Here are some great pictures from the event:

The invitation (prototype- I altered slightly)- The triangle in the center is a tent (the flaps close)

The dessert table- complete with "Camp Davis" banner by Karen!

Cookie favors! Barb's Bakery, of course!

Our gift table- See the cute picture blocks?!

Karen crafted candle centerpieces (with Casey, her husbands, help)- with moss and pinecones

My friend Lindsay helped me make these chocolate pretzel campfires!

And these white chocolate pretzel birch trees!

Anji and Peg made the S'mores cupcakes!

A Frog Pod by Boon is a must have for bathroom organization!

So many cute gifts- and bags!

The grand Chianti room where we held the shower!

Handmade gifts from Cozy Cactus Creations (Etsy)- That is a light-saber rattle!

My 36 week baby bump!

With one of my pregnant friends- Candi!

The Davis family women (well, Shannon is a Snipes now but Davis by blood!)

Thanks for always being so supportive, Kelli, and everyone who came!

Getting our Learn On

I had heard mixed reviews about my friends' experiences with the classes offered for first-time parents. From the start, I knew that I was going to take them despite any negative feedback I had heard about them, and I knew that I was going to drag Kyle along with me so that I could feel totally supported and prepared. After all, I am kind of a "planner", so after the books, the phone app, and the classes, I don't know if there is really anything I'm not anticipating. Kyle says this has just caused me to have a case of "the worst-case scenarios" worrying mentality, although I, on the other hand, feel rather calm in spite of what I could be feeling giving the impending finale to this pregnancy.

Well, here is my take on our classes (in case you were pregnant and planning to ignore whatever I have to say about classes, too).

Class 1: (we went a little out of order here) "Baby your Baby"
This class taught us all the basics of what happens after we leave the hospital, except it started with what happens at the hospital. Having extensive experience as a babysitter, nanny, and older sister, I felt that I didn't really learn all that much (that I hadn't already, in a fit of paranoia perhaps, read in a book) that was useful. I did learn the difference between newborn pacifiers and other pacifiers, what my baby's poop will look like each day of his first week, and what rashes to ignore vs. rush to the doctor over.

Pros: A little bit of hands-on work with a plastic doll to practice swaddling and diapering, burping holds, and some useful information about how many diapers I'll be expected to need in stock for the first year or so of baby's life.

Cons: This class is subtitled "100 Ways to Kill Your Baby". From hanging pictures on the wall, to crib bumpers, from pacifiers with loops, to husbands with plastic bags at their disposal, we covered all the safety hazards you knew about and some your  never imagined. It was also repetitive to the labor and delivery class (as we found out later) in that it covered the hospital procedures as well.

Memorable moment: Kyle decided to swaddle the plastic baby like a ninja, and then since the baby's legs were molded in a bent position, thought swaddling the head was easier. The neighboring couple only egged him on. I was, at that point, dreading the full-on labor and delivery class.

Class 2: Labor and Delivery Class (expedited- we did it in 1 shot on a Saturday instead of spread out)
This class,  I was told, would be awkward, and feel useless when you aren't actually planning a natural birth. On the contrary, I wound up really enjoying the class! I think our presenter was just really dynamic and listened to and answered our questions. Then, I reverted back to my biology obsession of high school and sat through the videos and graphic illustrations with fascination about the human body.  I think that being knowledgeable about the process biologically will actually help to calm me when I want to be freaking out during labor. It was a bit long to be sitting in uncomfortable chairs, though.

Pros: Biology is freaking cool. And I got a massage with a tennis ball that felt SO good during the practice relaxation and visualization exercises.

Cons: Graphic videos of natural childbirth are disturbing. Preparing for a C-section when I really don't want to have to is not pleasant. Practice visualization in a group of people is awkward.

Memorable moment: I was SO glad that my mom didn't decide to accompany us, as one woman's mom was there and she asked innumerable questions. She even commented at one point that she "just doesn't feel prepared for this" after learning her daughter wants a natural birth. Um, not you having to be prepared, lady. Kyle and I was also center of attention when he insisted I give HIM a massage after he gave me mine. Then we had to demonstrate a wall-supported labor position that was a bit inappropriate!

Class 3: Breastfeeding class (and yes, many men were there!)
This class was pretty dry (no pun intended). It could be that I was just worn down from the end of the quarter. Either way, I did find the tips useful. Will I remember them when it comes down to it, not sure.

Pros: I really want to breastfeed, so it will hopefully help me be more successful. I now know what to do to "start" the process in the hospital.

Cons: It really focused on women who would be able to breastfeed solely because they are not going to be working moms. Unfortunately, many of us will be pumping and feeding with both boobs and bottles. The class really didn't ease any of my worries about achieving this balance.

Memorable moment: When they split the dads up into their own group and made them brainstorm ways they could help moms out. Nothing makes Kyle more comfortable than having to contribute to a group in an academic way.

Final thoughts on this whole experience: I have always been one to try to get the most out of classes and trainings, no matter what the subject matter. I think I approached my pregnancy classes with the same mentality, and I think that I came away with some valuable information. Hopefully the more I know, the more I'll feel relaxed during the process of labor, delivery, and bringing baby home, all the way through the first year.

Kyle proving to me he could diaper a baby.

A proud papa after his actual swaddle- not the ninja!