the learning curve.

Our baby girl turns 3 weeks tomorrow and this is the first time I'm managing to sit down and write a post. I'm wondering how to even compose anything that could possibly put these first few weeks of her life into words. In fact, I'm almost positive there are no words for the first few weeks as a first time parent. There has been so much I've wanted to share along the way and I hope to eventually catch up and hit on all of our experiences. 

I'll start by saying no one is exaggerating when they say the love you feel for your child is a new, unconditional and overwhelming love. Over the past few weeks, I have cried a lot. I've cried out of exhaustion, stress, and worry. However, I've shed more happy tears during the times I've sat with our baby girl and  thanked God at what an amazing gift He has given us. My heart literally swells when I step back and realize what we have been given.

Now with that being said, life with a newborn is complete and utter chaos.

No one is exaggerating about how hard these first few weeks are. There is not a single class I could have taken or book I could have read to prepare myself for first time parenthood. I'm convinced we feel such love for our babies so that we don't just go completely insane and head for the nearest cliff. I have never survived on such little sleep, resorted to Google, or second guessed every single thing I've done in my entire life. I could have taken every parenting, breastfeeding, new baby class in the world and I would have still felt like I had no clue what the hell I was doing.

But, we are making it.

I am so grateful to have a wonderful and supportive husband! If it weren't for him I would seriously be lost, crying in a corner somewhere, starving and probably wearing the same clothes I came home from the hospital in. He has been amazing and I will forever be grateful for all that he's done for us including hand feeding me breakfast/lunch/dinner while I nurse, taking over every household task, and showering our baby girl with lots & lots of daddy love.

Before we left the hospital, one of my nurses told me that having a new baby is a "learning curve". I didn't realize how right she was. Every day is a new day filled with new obstacles to overcome. In my mind I compare it to a marathon with a constantly moving finish line. You want someone to tell you what to do and how to do it and no one can. We've had to learn through a series of trial and error. We will spend one day trying something, only to realize the next day that whatever we did wasn't working. Repeat that over a course of 3 weeks and ta-daa, welcome to life with a newborn.

Anyways...she is worth every second; the good and the frustrating. We think she is perfect (obviously) and we wouldn't trade a moment!

I still plan on sharing our birth story, just have to find some time in the day! A good majority of my days have been spent nursing, which is another topic I want to be able to write about when I have the time (and brain cells) to really get into it. It's been journey to say the least!

I've been writing this last part while baby girl has been sleeping on my chest so before she wakes up, I'll leave you with some of our favorite pictures from her newborn session.

xo