Screams and Sleep, Fun Failure #1

In just six short weeks, I've already learned that being a mom is all about little failures you make everyday. That sounds a little depressing, but I've learned to accept those little failures as laughable moments that you learn from, move on from, and hopefully don't make again but realize that most likely  you will.

Sophie's first day in this world she decided to cry and scream all day and night long. Of course you hear all the advice while you're pregnant: "get sleep while you can", "say goodbye to any sleep once the baby comes", etc. I braced myself for this and was ready, however, I was not ready for my little love to come into this world and decide she wanted to "party" from 5:30pm on February 1st until 8:00am on February 2nd. That's right folks, our first 24 hours as parents, Sophie cried for what felt like 14 hours nonstop.

This was our first test as parents and to be 100% honest, I didn't think Dan and I were going to pass this test. That first night in the hospital, when the adrenaline from meeting your new little one is starting to wear off, not to mention the epidural effects are long gone, all the visitors are at home tucked in their beds, the nurses have changed shifts, the lights are dimmed, and the halls of the hospital area quiet, that's when the fun began. At about 2am, when Dan returned to our hospital room after his 5th lap around the nurses station pushing Sophie around in her baby bed as an attempt to get her to sleep, we both looked at each other with bleary eyes and said "Is this always what it's going to be like all the time?". We both selfishly and honestly agreed if this was what is was going to be like, neither of us were ready nor looking forward to it.

To show just how bleary it got, at one point I think at around 6am, the nurse came in to say she was going to take the baby to the nursery for 5 minutes to check her temp, hearing, etc. She turned towards Dan and invited him to watch and he said unless he had to be there, he'd actually stay while she took the baby and got 5 minutes of sleep. I fully supported his decision and we both slept for 5 wonderful minutes. The nurse returned with Sophie and we both resumed our two minute sleeping shifts in between feedings and crying.

Looking back and after relaying this story to others, we realized that the nurse expected Dan to accompany her to watch Sophie's hearing test. In fact, she kinda looked at Dan funny when he said he would stay in the room instead of going with her.

Fun Failure #1 - choosing 5 minutes of sleep over watching your baby's first hearing test.

Looking back - I think we made the right choice.