[Laurel Lakey]

Oh how wonderful, she is gorgeous Thao! Congratulations.

[Cheri T]

She is a gorgeous baby and you all are the most amazing family:) I'm sorry to hear about the complications at her birth and hope you are healing well and Mercy Elizabeth is doing great!
*hugs* and prayers for you!

[PBarnes]

She is so sweet and precious, Thao! Congratulations. I'm sure she will be a wonderful inspiration to your designing (when she allows you the time to get back to it. )

[scrappinchar]

Lovely pictures. So sweet. Congratulations.

Both of my pregnancies ended up in c-sections (not what I had planned on either one.) I hope you're recovering well from yours.

I'm glad you have such a supportive husband. That helps a lot. Rich has been so good for me. I'd probably not have left the house and taken Nathan anywhere if it weren't for Rich's support. I'm a few weeks ahead of you...but my first 2 weeks with Nathan were pretty rough with the sleeping at night issues. He didn't seem to realize that's what nighttime was for. lol After that, I started laying him in his crib in his room. It's been better ever since. The past week has even given me many nights with him sleeping for some 5.5 hour stretches. Which is far from how the first 2 weeks went.

I don't have a very good schedule with him as far as nursing and naps. Heck...what schedule? lol I don't really know how to "make" a schedule. He's 5 weeks old...is he supposed to have a schedule? lol Probably. Sometimes he nurses each hour for a few hours, sometimes he goes 3 or 4 hours between especially if we have run an errand or he's taken a nap. During those "every hour" times I feel like I'm glued to my couch. But...thankfully, my life allows for some of that to occur.

I'm sharing some of that because I don't know what kind of "hard" times you were referring to. I pray that Mercy is healthy and there aren't issues of that nature. Hopefully your hard times are the kind that most mothers have to deal with which means it will probably pass soon. Not that that makes it any "easier" to deal with. Like when I'm driving the older boys to school in the mornings and Nathan starts wailing half way there and all the way home. Sure, other mothers have to deal with that too (except for the ones who have babies that love the car lol) but that doesn't mean I don't get tears from hearing him crying in the back seat. I say to myself over and over, "This, too, shall pass... this, too, shall pass..."

Anyway...lots of hugs here for you. I pray all is well.

Oh, and don't get me wrong...Nathan is a joy. Once in a while I just let him fall asleep up on my shoulder so I can see his little face next to mine and hear his sweet little sighs while he breathes. And when he wakes up at night (which, of course, I'm tired) and I go in to nurse him...seeing his sweet little face in the dimly lit room and his eyes looking at me...it just melts my heart and I forget that I just trudged across the house. lol And he is starting to give real smiles now. You never know when he's going to give one to us and we just love it. I think about how fast Hunter and Ethan have grown and it sure makes me appreciate every little moment with Nathan even more. He's only going to be a baby for a little while and I know I'm going to miss that stage. (He's sure to be my last.)

Okay...enough rambling from me.

Luv ya!

[HisThao]

Thank you, Charlene, for sharing your own experience. It does help to know what I'm experiencing is "normal." Mercy is healthy and has no health issues--Praise God!

By "hard" times I mean more for me...getting use to the changes in schedules, lifestyles, etc. I've had a little of the baby blues in this transition too. I've always had a hard time with big changes. Plus, I have a performance mentality where I can easily beat myself up if I don't "get something." The physical stresses is one thing, but truly when she cries and I can't fix it, that it is the hardest emotionally. I guess that's normal too! I just have to remind myself that her cries only communicates a need and that they are not harmful to her long-term well-being. I'm learning to read her cues too, which are more predictable than I originally realized.

Char, she is like your Nathan in that she can feed every 1-1/2 to 3 hours. She too has "marathon" feedings during the evening hours, which are also her most fussy times. Normally, she nurses for about 20 minutes on each side, which may take longer if she is sleepy during feedings. During these evening cluster feedings, I rarely have time to squeeze in a nap or shower. I have to prepare ahead of time for that! At nights, I'm able to sleep for 2 to 3.5 hour blocks between feedings, which is a slight improvement from last week.

I hope I don't sound like a bad mommy, but when does it get easier? When does the lack of sleep not seemed so great? or when do the feedings not consume so much time? I love my little girl so much. I don't want to be sad or view this time as hard, because quite frankly she's worth much more than even this.

[varanda]

Thao, stop worrying and just try to go with the flow. Even though I'm not a mom, I do know you have all the resources you need. Listen to your heart and just be in the moment. All is well and you are loved.

[caprimom]

Congratulations Thao! Little Mercy is so precious! I'm glad she made it into the world safely and that she's doing well. I'll be praying for a speedy recovery for you too.

I can definitely tell you that it gets better. I can't say exactly when it will happen but there will be a time when you'll get more sleep and the baby will not need to nurse as much. I felt the same way w/Akira, in terms of nursing because I didn't breastfeed Jenelle long enough to get tired of it. At every feeding, I would tell myself "I'm quitting. This is it." and then next thing you know, it'd be time to nurse again and I'd do it all over again. Be easy on yourself! Just think about what you'd tell a friend if they told you how they felt about managing a newborn. You'd tell them they're doing an awesome job and that everyone has to learn through trial & error. We're so very hard on ourselves.

[scrappinchar]

Oh gosh...you don't sound like a bad mommy at all!

I just laughed, though. I looked down at Nathan and asked, "Is that what we're doing right now? Having a marathon feeding?" lol
I have some of the same questions as you, actually. Like will he start eating less often pretty soon...or when? It's not like he is lacking. My scale here shows he is nearing 13 pounds. I'll know at his dr visit tomorrow.

I wasn't sure at the time, but I must have been dealing with the baby blues the first 2 weeks or so. I cried too many times about not feeling like I was doing things right. You wouldn't think I've had kids before. lol But, the rough times I had with the twins probably made these past weeks "easier" for me. They came home on medicines and heart/breathing monitors and I felt like a 24 hour nurse with very little sleep. (And poor support...emotional mainly...from my ex.) I was a bit of a zombie for a while with the twins. So my "rough" times with Nathan seem smaller in comparison.

Some of my tears the first couple of weeks were due to thinking Rich would be disappointed in how I was doing. I guess those feelings point back to my ex. But, Rich is so sweet and supportive. That has meant so much.

I spent a LOT of time holding Nathan while googling info. lol Sleeping, schedules, nursing, crying, burping, etc., etc. I was on information overload!

I'm glad to know that Mercy is healthy. I don't know "when" things will seem easier or seem like second nature...but I know they will. Just hang in there. Time will pass before you realize it and I'm sure more sleep and a new normalcy will come with that.

I know I told Rich some things to pray about for me. Like for my mentality to be in a sweet/good place in the middle of the night, etc. Seems to have worked, lol, as I mentioned in the post above.

I'll be praying for you.

And I'm with the others who are looking forward to your baby layouts and products. I won't be expecting them too soon, though. (And I'll cross my fingers that some of the products can be used for baby boys. lol)

I hope I typed all of this correctly...Nathan is across my lap, so Ive been typing with one hand.

[scrappinchar]

Oh, and what Valerie said.
lol

[anemone1983]

Congratulations, Thao, on your beautiful baby! I know you'll be a great mom!

[Reminiscing]

Mercy is so sweet and so little! I had three 9 lb babies so I marvel at smaller ones.

It has been over 9 years since my first child was a newborn, but I remember how difficult it was figuring things out, adjusting to being responsible for another person, learning to go with the flow. She was born at the end of May and at the end of that summer I felt like I had completely missed the summer. I hadn't done any summer activities, I had been so absorbed with learning to be a mommy.

One of the best ideas is cosleeping. My babies nursed through the night and I got lots of sleep. Wearing my babies during the day helped a lot too, so they could be happy snuggled close to mom and I could do other things at the same time.

When does it get easier? Well, everything passes, but new challenges come. Honestly, I find 3 years old to be the hardest age. That's probably different for everyone. I would love to be a mom of a newborn again -- I loved it -- except it's harder when you have older kids (and we're not having anymore).

Take lots of pictures. I didn't take a lot of my first born. I don't know what I was thinking! LOL I obviously didn't realize how fast babies grow. It's funny because my mom took some while she was visiting and when she offered me copies I said I didn't need them. A couple of years later I happened to see them at her house and I had a complete change of mind and asked her to please get me copies! LOL

Enjoy!

[Syndee]

She is beautiful Thao and so are you! Valerie really said it - go with the flow. The thing is that you are 'learning your baby' and she is 'learning you'. Everything is new to you and to her, when she cries just check the obvious things like diaper, hunger etc.. If it's not one of those things just hold her close and tell her you love her It does get easier, it's different for every Mother and child.

My youngest Brevyn was born 3 weeks early and here I thought I had this pregnancy thing down! lol My other three were all born a week early, so needless to say it threw me for a loop. He slept most of the first two weeks and I thought how fortunate I was to have such an easy baby. HA! I don't know what happened but at two weeks he became a completely different baby, he had to be held constantly and was fussy for two or more hours before bed each night. He was rarely happy and it was hard on the whole family. My oldest was I think 11 at the time and she told me one day that she had so looked forward to having another baby brother but that Brevyn was no fun at all! lol But it did get easier and although he is still a demanding kid, we love him to pieces! lol
And most importantly be kind to yourself! Give yourself a lot of slack, don't worry about all the rest it will fall into place as you go on this exciting adventure!

[TheresaK]

What an amazing and beautiful little girl. I love the name you chose for her, too!
You're going to be a great mom. It's pretty scary sometimes, thinking of such a great responsibility being placed into your hands, but just remember to love her, and the rest will come. Not always easily, but it will come!
The best advice I every found was to trust your own instincts above all other advice from friends, family, and all those fabulous baby books out there! You know what's best for your child and your family. Other great tidbits: remember to apologize to your child when you've messed up. It's important that they know you aren't perfect. And forgive yourself (one of the toughest ones for me). My sister once showed me a piece of an article that said it was important that a mom make mistakes, otherwise a child can develop narcissistic tendencies. It made me feel much better!

[PhotoshopScrapper]

Thao she is absolutely beautiful! Congratulations!!! You've gotten tons of great advice and I think V said it best 'go with the flow and don't worry'. You're doing great! Know that even when things aren't perfect and you make mistakes .... Mercy will still LOVE YOU! Children are the most forgiving creatures on the planet and they know that loving parents are doing their best. They may not always like or agree with what you do as they get older, but they know their health, happiness, and safety are your first priority.

Enjoy every minute of her infancy ... even the ones in the middle of the night or when you or she is not feeling your best. They fly by and soon she will move into a new stage of life with new and different challenges. While you're taking all those wonderful pictures, don't forget to take video as well. There's nothing more precious than baby talk and yes ... baby cries. I wish I had more of that from when my girls were younger but I didn't think of it then.

[satippetts]

She is beautiful Thao! I am so excited for you, and am sorry you had to do an emergency c-section. That always makes recovery even harder! Up's and downs are what you'll experience from here on out as a mother, but luckily it's usually more ups. It's an awesome adventure, and nothing more amazing. You'll be a wonderful mother!

[Pebbles-J]

What a beautiful baby girl!! Congratulations!

[Rose Ann]

Oh Thao! She is beautiful!! (So are you!)
Those photos made me melt! I pray that you and your family will be showered with many blessings!!
Hugs!

[BarbaraC1977]

Thao, I want to add my congratulations, and my encouragement to be patient with yourself and with Mercy, especially on the nursing time. My boys were sometimes long feeders, and in hindsight, I am grateful for those times of just cuddling them and feeding them sprawling at about 45 degrees on a comfy couch, even in the middle of the night. I went back to full-time work at four & three months respectively, and nursed both, pretty much full time, for a total of 11 months each. I basically worked, fed the babies and chatted with my husband while nursing, and rested, but they were not bad years!

Your hospital may have a lactation consultant for new moms, or be able to recommend one. They can be an invaluable resource on "what's normal, what's needed?" Congratulations again on your precious baby girl.

[gophergirl]

Congratulations! She is beautiful!

I had an emergency c-section with my first too so I can understand. It is totally normal to have ups and downs as you all get used to the new life you have. Before long she'll be smiling back at you and that for me was the moment that made the challenging stuff of the first few weeks melt away. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Especially since you are recovering from surgery. It is a little overwhelming at first, but parenting is a journey and we all find our way as we go. Sometimes I have to remind myself to find the beauty in the journey, not just the outcome. Take care of yourself, enjoy your beautiful daughter and know that you are never alone.

[Dutch_Smurfie]

She is gorgeous! Congrats on her birth, even though you had to have c-section.
(I know I'm late with this but I am new to Scrapgirls and just lurking around at the messageboard )
Hope it all is going a bit better/easier. Enjoy your little family!

[Dutch_Smurfie]

She is gorgeous! Congrats on her birth, even though you had to have c-section.
(I know I'm late with this but I am new to Scrapgirls and just lurking around at the messageboard )
Hope it all is going a bit better/easier. Enjoy your little family!