Our first week with Faye has come and gone, and it really hasn’t been all that bad. If I could sum the whole experience up with one word it would be “routine“. Not to say there hasn’t been any stress - Faye pooping in the bathtub comes to mind - but there really isn’t much variance from day to day.
8am - Wake up, feed Faye. Burp her and change her diaper. Ali goes back to bed, and I either play with the baby (if she’s up), or go back to bed.
11am - Wake up (or if I’m awake, wake Ali up), feed Faye. Burp her and change her diaper. Eat some lunch. Ali goes back to bed, and I either play with the baby (if she’s up), or play on the computer.
3pm - Wake up Ali, feed Faye. Burp her and change her diaper. Start thinking about dinner, and maybe do some visiting (this is prime time for visitors). Faye’s usually wide awake for quite a while here, and Ali is up for the day.
7pm - Dinner.
8pm - Feed Faye, burp her and strip her naked. Bath her, clothe her, and settle her for bed.
10pm - Get ready for bed and go to sleep.
2am - Wake up, feed Faye. Ali or her Mom usually settles her while I sleep.
5am - Wake up, feed Faye. Anyone with the energy settles Faye.
Repeat.
I know it seems pretty boring, but it honestly feels like there isn’t much spare time in the day. Cyndy (my mother-in-law) has been staying with us since Ali started to labor. She’s been cooking and cleaning up a storm, teaching us how to care for the baby, and taking on a lion’s share of the diaper changes and burpings. I’ve been trying to take care of Ali while she recovers from surgery and learns to cope with this new little baby. My parents have been around pretty much every day from 10am until 6pm. My Mom has been cooking, cleaning and playing with the baby. My Dad will hold the baby and promise her trips around the world so long as she isn’t crying.
Cyndy goes home tomorrow and my parents are coming to stay with us. I’m sure it will be fine, but I’m a little scared to do anything that may upset the cart. Faye’s been pretty easy going, but I honestly can’t claim to know why. Is she just a mild tempered baby who is happy to eat, burp, crap and sleep? Or have we accidentally stumbled upon some magic routine that keeps her happy and quiet. Reason would indicate the former, but I fear the latter. Time will tell.
