Letters to Joseph-September...The First Days

When things settled down a little, we got into a groove of taking care of you. You slept a lot in the beginning, and we watched you sleep a lot. You also nursed constantly…I felt so happy that I was nourishing you so well. It’s typical for newborn babies to lose a little weight in the beginning week of their life…you gained almost a pound. We knew you were strong and healthy.

Your very first outing was the Tuesday after you were born. It was voting day and we took you to the polls with us. Your Dad carried you in the front pack as we walked through the neighborhood. The weather was still warm and summery. You slept for most of the time, but we were proud that you were exercising your democratic rights with us.

We spent the days of your first weeks relaxing with you at home. We napped when you napped. We watched movies, talked to friends and family on the phone, looked at all of the photos that were being taken of you, and just enjoyed you. We went out a few times for errands and to visit Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Norm.

Suzy, your midwife, and the same midwife who helped deliver Uncle Asa and Cousin Henry, came back to give us a checkup at one week. This time they had to prick your heel again for more routine tests. This time you really didn’t like it and you cried so hard that I began to cry too. I can’t stand it when you are in pain.

When you were two weeks old, your Uncle Chris and his girlfriend Camille came to visit you from Austin, Texas. We all went out to pick them up from the airport so they could meet you as soon as they could. We came down the escalator and they beamed at how wonderful you are. I think your Uncle Chris has a very special place in his heart for you since your Dad is his twin brother.

We came back to our house and they showered you with cool gifts…a Mean Eyed Cat onesie (that’s your Uncle’s bar in Austin) that Camille sewed for you, a cool orange stuffed cat and matching bib, a Johnny Cash onesie that you are wearing as I write this (you’re asleep on my lap), and a sling for me to carry you around in.

Then we went down to the beach and walked around and hung out with you. We had lots of fun all weekend and we took you to restaurants and lots of places and you were so happy. You did have your first meltdown while we were at the grocery store…we tried everything to console you, but you weren’t having it. Your tear ducts started working and you actually had tears running down your cheeks. This was no fun for me, because when you are crying like this, everyone molecule in my body feels like it’s crying too. We finally got you happy and you fell asleep while we all sat around the fire bowl outside on the deck (you probably know by now how much your Dad loves to sit around the fire). Dana and Kai came over too and we had cake since it was Dana’s birthday.