The First Two Weeks

Honestly, where do I even begin? 

These last two and half weeks have been filled with every emotion under the sun. I've been overwhelmed, overjoyed, over-exhausted, over-emotional, overly-in love, overly terrified......and sometimes all within the same hour. 

But over all, the time is been filled with joy and I have a six pound bundle of pure bliss that has truly captured my heart and I'll never be able to get it back. Leo has changed our whole world in just sixteen short days and life will never be the same. 

When we left the hospital on Sunday, my mom, Joel, and I entered our little bubble, and stayed there for as long we could. I didn't answer my phone, I didn't have guests, we honestly just hunkered down and got adjusted to our new life. 

 On Monday, our first big outing was a visit the pediatrician. 

 

We had a great first appointment and it felt so good to be outside. Just leaving the house felt like a large victory. 

The next few days, Joel stayed home from work and my mom, Joel, and I learned how to navigate this new life. We gave Leo his first little bath, his Coco gave him a little manicure, we went for short walks, Roscoe met his little brother, my mom cooked and cleaned for us, and we gawked at Leo's perfection between diaper changes and feedings.  

 

 

 

 

The first three days home were enjoyable only because my mom was here to help us. She gave us such a gift with all of her guidance, love, support, experience, hard work....I'll never be able to fully express how grateful I was to have her here these last three weeks, but she truly was the reason Joel and I survived and enjoyed this time -  and she allowed me to heal and rest while she ran the show. 

On Thursday - my dad and sisters arrived into town and for three days my whole world was complete. 

 

Watching my sisters and especially my Dad, with Leo....it's just something so great...something much bigger than I could have anticipated.  This little guy instantly changed our family and having us all in one room was pretty incredible. 

 

 

It had strangely and perfectly worked out that Leo came early, because my whole family was already due in Los Angeles for my cousin Erin's wedding. The timing was bittersweet because we obviously had to miss the wedding but on Saturday morning, Joel and I took our first little outing as a family and went to visit with even more family. 

 

That afternoon, Joel got to watch the Vols play with Leo which he has been looking forward to my entire pregnancy...so all around, our first official weekend home was a major success.

 

My sister Nellie and Dad had to leave on Sunday, and I learned that goodbyes are even harder now than they were before. 

Hannah was able to stay until Wednesday, and she was a huge help (when she wasn't sun tanning ;). She and my mom made it possible for Joel to go back to work on Monday, and the three of us got out a few times for a drink, to the grocery store, I snuck away for a 10 minute hair trim!......and they really helped me get used to just doing things with the baby and not being afraid.

 

Then, all of a sudden Hannah had to leave, and before I knew it, another full weekend had passed and we had to say goodbye to my mom too. I can't even get into it, but and it was harder than the day my parents dropped me off at college. 

Yesterday was my first day flying solo, and with the help of some friends who brought lunch and helped keep me company, we made it through the day.

My motto with every day and every learning curve has been "today is better than yesterday" and truly, it has been. 

So here is to an even better tomorrow!