Role Reversal

For roughly three weeks I have spent each and every day with our wonderful baby boy. I have learned a lot throughout this process:

• Though babies only eat every three hours it seems like they eat every thirty minutes. I feel that the second I feed him and change him he is ready to eat again. I try to plan to accomplish something in between his feedings but anytime I plan something grand he decides not to sleep and instead wants to play until his next feeding thirty minutes later
• I understand why spiders lay so many eggs, it is because they have eight limbs. I only have four, and really only two of them work for what I need to accomplish. An example was yesterday when I tried to turn off our scentsy candle with my shoe, my shoe was covered with wax and I still had to bend over to turn off the candle. I constantly think "I wish I had just one more hand to hold Lucas, make his bottles and keep his pacifier in his mouth."
• Dinner should not be planned far in advance, instead it should be planned based on the disposition of the baby. If the baby is in a napping mood, homemade biscuits and gravy with a side of fresh banana muffins, if the baby is in a playful mood mac and cheese and if the baby decides to be a little terror cold cereal or frozen burritos work well.

• Showers are optional (up to three days). Even right now as Lucas sleeps I know I should shower but I did shower yesterday so I am good until wednesday. Brushing teeth is essential, if I am not going to shower for three days I better make sure my teeth are clean.
• There is no more demanding work than taking care of children. I only have minimal experience with one child but what I have experienced has been difficult but rewarding. The other day as Lucas decided to be held all day long (the same day of cold cereal for dinner) I wondered how mom's do it with multiple children, which leads me to my last lesson
• The mothers in my life are the most amazing people I know and I love and honor their hard work and dedication. I have often called my sisters and sisters in law to ask questions about how to get a baby to sleep, how long he should sleep, how much he should eat, how to properly soak poop stained clothes and a variety of other questions. I have called my own mom to ask what I can make for dinner in a short amount of time and to thank her for being my mother. I decided that mothers do not need 8 limbs, more hours in a day or sleeping babies, they have been blessed by God with talents and abilities that I just do not have. I love being with Lucas, it is a joy each and every day. I am also very grateful that my wife is a mother who has been blessed by God with skills and abilities that will bless our family forever. 

Here are some fun pictures that show how much fun we are having with this miracle baby boy and to document how big he is getting (9 lbs 6 oz).