8 weeks

[j4]

Imogen is 8 weeks old today. I thought I'd be posting a lot more here about what was happening day to day, but it's all been so difficult that I've not really managed to do very much except survive. Those of you who follow me on Twitter will have seen more of the emotional rollercoaster in action (and I've been very grateful for both the personal support from individuals and the general trickle of human interaction that Twitter provides -- I'd have gone mad by now without it). addedentry has been wonderful (the role of Dad definitely suits him), and my mum has been an absolute lifesaver, staying over for days on end and helping us through the endless nights of inconsolable wailing (from not just baby but me as well).

It's amazing just how much Imogen's changed already in those 8 weeks. She's gone from being a very tiny waily animal (when she cried at first she looked just like a spider monkey) who did nothing but cry and feed and sleep and poo and wee, to being a tiny person with facial expressions (including smiles!) and quite a little vocabulary of noises. When she's not wailing and kicking and screaming, she's wonderfully cuddly; there are few things as lovely as letting her fall asleep in my arms. (Admittedly she still doesn't do very much. Everybody says this time is magical and I shouldn't wish it away, but I'm very much looking forward to a time when she can interact a bit more.)

There are loads of things I want to write about -- from specific things like breastfeeding (though Juliette has written an excellent post that says a lot of what I'd want to say) and nappies (honestly, what is all the fuss about?) to the more general issues of guilt, joy, tiredness, panic, confusion, and love -- but I'm too tired to put words into sentences. I'll write more when I'm next awake and have both my hands free. So, see you all some time in 2012...

Comments

[juggzy.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested to hear how what you actually feel compares with what you imagined you'd feel, if you ever have the time.

[vinaigrettegirl.livejournal.com]

OK, I've broken down - have joined Twitter. I'm sorry I haven't been able to be more supportive.

Gaze, it's all in the gaze :-)

[jinty]

That article of Juliette's is interesting. One thing though: it doesn't have a date on it but the statement that the growth charts are based on formula-fed babies is not true any more, as the current red books have bf charts. This is something that gets repeated a lot, presumably because it was true until fairly recently, but isn't any more, or not here anyway (I think that someone on Mumnet who also had a baby at the same time as A might have had ff charts).

What's the fuss about nappies? I think that when you get to weaning and the poos change from bf type to more adult type then it matter, or if there's not enough poo or wee and you start to get worried. Was it something other than that?

[emperor]

Good to hear from you! I hope things get easier for you soon.

[geekette8.livejournal.com]

*waves* I'm not on Twitter so just thought you'd gone generally silent, which I think is very understandable in these early days. Glad to hear you're surviving, at least.

I know what you mean about "not wishing away these magical days" (ptooey). To be perfectly honest I've liked Matthew more and more as he's got older; every age has been better than the previous, so far. The interaction does very soon move on in leaps and bounds from where you're at now!

[nja.livejournal.com]

Hellooo! I've gone silent on Twitter, really ought to start up again. I'll be in Oxford Monday night to Thursday evening, if you want to meet (union training course again, Tues-Thurs). Seeing my brother and his partner on Tuesday night and obv. busy during the days, but let me know if you're free to do something (even if just briefly - it would be lovely to see all three of you).

[jackiesjottings.livejournal.com]

See you soon I hope :) Stu's wife Raquel had a baby boy, Daniel, yesterday :)

[annajaneclare.livejournal.com]

She's filthy cute, isn't she? Just want to pinch those little cheeks!

(Admittedly she still doesn't do very much. Everybody says this time is magical and I shouldn't wish it away, but I'm very much looking forward to a time when she can interact a bit more.)

Be careful what you wish for. It'll feel like five minutes before she's fifteen, slamming doors and wailing "Muuuuuuum!" every time you have an embarrassing opinion.