Motherhood

Beckett is two months old today! I can’t believe he has been in the world that short of an amount of time and changed me so much as a person. I can’t even begin to explain the love I have for him. Before Beckett Andy and I had five years alone as a married couple. We went on trips, moved states twice, hiked a ton, and just really enjoyed our alone time. We were both excited and a little scared when we first learned we had a baby on the way. We prepared for Beckett’s arrival with tiny baby outfits, baby gadgets galore, and baby birth classes. Heading to the hospital the night before Beckett arrived I felt so prepared. I thought I knew what to expect out of parenthood. Oh how wrong I was. Beckett made his appearance after 17 hours of intense labor and 3 hours of pushing. He came out screaming and was placed in my arms while his daddy cut the cord and set him free. I waited for the flood of emotion to take me as I held my squirming, gooey, baby boy. Honestly it was not there at first. It felt so surreal. Was he really mine, had all that pain been real, and was I really a mommy? The two and a half days in the hospital flew by with visitors coming and going, nurses explaining breastfeeding, and sleep deprivation creeping into my life. The first night following our son’s birth I managed to drag myself to the shower and clean myself up for the arrival of our families. While in the shower Andy and Beckett had the first real bonding moment. I remember coming out of the shower and finding them snuggled up together with tears streaming down my husbands and a giant small aimed at my son. I knew Andy had just fallen in love again and my heart melted. I was so happy that he was so happy with our little bundle of joy. I was also secretly worried. Why had I not cried tears of joy yet? I mean even when I first held him I did not cry. I was curious as to what he looked like and concerned that he was smaller than I had anticipated but tears…not yet. We went home with our little man and had guests for a few more days and then on and off those next few weeks. Andy stayed home with me for two weeks and it all sort of melted together. It crept up on me slowly this whole motherhood thing. It was after Beckett was two weeks old and we had a few days to be alone all day and I was able to really focus on just him and not guest, Andy, or anything else. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was his mommy and he was mine forever. Overwhelming does not even come close to describing the love and fear those first few weeks brought me. I was constantly afraid of messing up or not knowing the right way to do something. It worried about him getting enough to eat. The whole breastfeeding saga needs its own post entirely. Slowly my comfort level increased and my confidence in my ability as well. By five weeks I knew his cry for food, for diaper change, and for just needing me. My days were suddenly filled with holding my son and admiring his handsome features. I searched his face constantly for something that resembled me and have found that right smack dab in the middle of that amazing little face that looks just like Andy is a nose I know all too well. He has the little button nose that belongs to my side! How exciting! He is so laid back I really can’t complain about how hard motherhood is. He cries rarely, sleeps well, and eats heartily. He started smiling at about six weeks and again my heart grew. Will it continue to swell as each new milestone is reached? I imagine it will. I just never knew I could feel this way. I love my family, I am in love with my husband, and I have no words for the feelings I have for my son. He made me fall in love with his daddy all over again. What women would not swooned at the sight of a daddy loving on his son or telling you how great a gift you have given him? I am going to try to do better than I have these first two months about writing down how I feel and what I am experiencing as I experience motherhood for the first time.

A weighty issue

I am going to blog about this in the hopes that not many people read it…

So pregnancy was a great time for me to eat like a pig and forget all the hard work I did before pregnancy to lose weight. I gained around 60lbs while pregnant with Beckett. I left the hospital 16bs lighter and then by two weeks post partum I had 40ls left to go. Well here I am almost two months post baby with 36lbs to go! I don’t think I was prepared for the intense self loathing I would feel toward my post baby body. I don’t recognize this body. It can’t belong to me. I have never been thin but always curvy and well proportioned. Now my breasts are giant, my belly is saggy, my but is large and flat, and my thighs rub together when I walk. Other women tell me that “it takes time”, “stretch marks are your badge of honor”, “and breastfeeding will take it right off”. I am not buying it. I know it will take time, but along with time it is going to take hard work and less yummy food. I don’t think my juice diet will cut it this time because I can’t cut the calories that much because I need them for the milk I gotta make for the baby I love. I don’t think I can spend hours in the gym either. I’ve been walking a few times a week since Beck was a week old but with the GA heat I have to go early, which is tough when you are getting such sporadic sleep, or in the evening which cuts into my family time. I’m lucky that my husband is so loving and kind about the extra weight and body changes, but let’s face it he is a man and he probably does not see anything past the fact that his wife now has double the boobs she used to. I’ll take this distraction for now and hopefully get some of this pregnancy weight off before he loses focus and notices. Any great advice or wonder way to lose weight is welcome. I’ll try to keep the weight issue updated so that you can enjoy my progress or lack of. Maybe some before and after photos would be helpful too. I’ll work on that.

Beckett's One Month Old

My first mothers day

We went to the lake and just enjoyed some outdoor time with our little family.

The First Month

Since Beckett arrived life has been an amazing rollercoaster. He is five weeks old and honestly I can’t imagine how our life ever felt complete without the little man. He amazes me daily with his changes and rapid growth. At 9lbs 10oz he is a healthy boy and already too long for most of his newborn stuff. I guess he gets the height from dear old dad. There have been ups and downs as far as getting settled in with Mr. Beckett. We started out with him in our bed in a co-sleeper but quickly found that daddy could not sleep with the baby in the bed. For the next four weeks Beckett has slept beside mommy’s side of the bed in his pack and play. We were getting rest but Beckett makes a good bit of noise in his sleep so it was still a long night. His feedings range from 2 ½ to 5 hours and we do what is called on demanding feeding. We started experimenting with putting Beckett to bed in his own bed and for two nights now he has slept there. He seems content and we are getting far more restful sleep. I personally hate having the space between us and long for our morning nap where we cuddle and nurse as we drift in and out of sleep but I understand that we have to find what works for the whole family. I worry about having him in another room because of SIDS and also just because he is mine and I want him near. I guess time will tell where the little guy will end up sleeping for good.

We had a slew of visitors in the beginning with everyone coming to meet our little guy but the hype of the baby has weaned and we have had three weeks on our own. I am yearning for some family time, which the upcoming visit to Knoxville so provide. It is a strange feeling to think that my sister Ashley will be meeting my son for the first time. I can’t wait to present my son to his Aunt and Uncles as the last few of our siblings meet Beckett. By August they should have all meet him and if we are lucky maybe sooner. I just love sharing him with everyone and can’t wait to see the faces of our families as they see how much our little boy has grown. I know most new moms are not even thinking of their next child five weeks after delivery but honestly Beckett is such a blessing that I can’t wait to try again and add to our family.

Additionally yI feel compelled to include my thoughts on having a son, since most of you knew how much I wanted a daughter. I was surprised when we were told we were expecting a boy and had to have several ultrasounds before the news really sunk in. I had only every really imagined myself with girls and honestly felt pretty uncomfortable with the idea of a son. I can now say with confidence that I will be fine if I only have boys. Having him be a mini Andy has added to the pleasure of having him but on top of that he is such an easy baby. He is content to nurse and snuggle mommy and honestly he rarely cries. I have never enjoyed anything as much as I enjoy being my son’s mom. It amazes me that he is mine that I get to raise him and love him and experience motherhood. So to sum that up… BOYS ROCK!

First Few days home

I love this froggy outfit

I love this photo. Mleeka was helping him get some sun since he was a little jaundiced

Beckett Stone Bethmann

Pops and his Grandson

Finn getting to hold Beckett

Lennie holding Beckett

Beckett's going home outfit. It was what Andy wore home from the hospital too and we put the sweater Gram made him over it

Gigi and her new grandson

Fleda and mom doing a dirty dirty diaper

Aunt Katelyn and Baby Beckett

Aunt Megan sure looks good with a baby in her arms

Fleda is such a natural with babies

Nana meeting Beckett for the first time

Aunt Nikki was the first to hold him and he really liked her alot. She was a great help because she brushed my hair and held the baby while Andy went for some milkshakes to celebrate.

He looks even smaller than he really is here but Daddy and Beckett love this position.

First Family photo thanks to Aunt Nikki

Beckett Stone Bethmann 7lbs 4oz 22in 11:57am

After 12 hours of labor I finally got the epidural

This was the last photo we took before heading to the hospital. I was so giant who would have guessed I would have such a tiny baby.