The First Few Weeks

Your surprise early arrival gave us the opportunity to stay in Austin with you a little longer than we had anticipated. We had mentally been prepared to live here about two weeks with you to get through to the first doctor visit, but the extra week caught us by surprise. I wasn’t even done officially with the work I was scheduled for yet. We had to make a run to get diapers and wipes and bust out some of the clothes that we happened to keep in Austin. I only thought we would need a few outfits and you ended up rotating a few outfits over and over again. Don’t worry that will all be fixed when we go to Houston and you find out that you in fact have tons and tons of clothes. Daddy and I were scared to leave the hospital with you because it would be a lot more real than it felt. It still felt surreal. Fortunately, GiGi came back up and helped us transition. You were so easy and so chill that it wasn’t at all what I expected. Sure I woke up lots during the night two or three times to feed you but I already didn’t sleep well or much so that didn’t phase me. GiGi helped out with holding you a little during the day so I could do things at home. I ended up feeling more like I was hosting GiGi than really needing help but it sure felt nice to have your grandma there in case I panicked. I think she really enjoyed sharing your first moments with you too. After that first week, your Taylor family came to meet you too. They were in St. John when you were born and we had to deliver the good news via phone. They were disappointed to be late but they were thrilled to meet you when they did. Grannie Jannie and Aunt Sabita stayed a few days later than the rest of the family. Your first photo shoot was orchestrated by your Taylor grandmother. We went to Hobby Lobby and stocked up on background fabrics and props. You were a great photo subject for a good two hours but then the new mommy in me couldn’t handle your subtle cues of annoyance due to all of the fiddling with you anymore and I called it. We got some super cute pictures from it though and below is the one that we used for your birth announcement. Beautiful. 

Everyone thought so. Finally, we had a few days with just us. GiGi took your brothers to Houston so it was really just us. Your daddy and I really enjoyed those early moments. We started a bad habit, though, of having you snuggle to sleep with me instead of in your crib. We only had the pack-n-play in Austin and you had issues with acid reflux so you weren’t comfortable sleeping on your back. I couldn’t bear hearing you cry – it was so much harder than I imagined having to listen to you uncomfortable. You weren’t really even crying much but I just knew you wouldn’t even make a single noise if I held you so I did. I held you all the time. I never wanted to put you down. I didn’t even want to sleep. I just wanted to stare at you all the time. I was sold on you, and your daddy’s heart was melted by you too.