More Photos and Adventures

DSCN4695cropped.jpg, originally uploaded by mamieandjohn.

Head on over to our photo site for a chronicle of Lucy Gail Benac's first week outside the womb. She has had a thrilling week of eating, sleeping, burping, and crying. Grandma Jamison, Mamie, and I are more than content to wait on her every need. I love the electronics that come with the baby such as: the relaxing sleep sound machine, electric breast pump, baby monitor walkie talkies with integrated night light, and vibrating musical chair. Mamie won't let me sit in it though.

I love every minute of having Lucy in my arms. She will never be newborn again, and her adorable, clay-mation like movement of her head as it moves from side to side is truly priceless to behold.

Lucy wakes up whenever she has to burp. Which sometimes is many times a night. It's a test of endurance every few hours. When I have her on the couch, if she falls asleep first, then I put her in her crib. If I fall asleep first, then we both get to sleep in each other's arms on the couch until I wake up from cold or discomfort.

And Swaddling is a whole different story. I think that they should have a Boy Scout Merit badge on Swaddling. It can be pretty complex. depending on the size or her blanket, her arm position, and her leg position, there is a seemingly endless trial and error experience to get her wrapped up. Once she is wrapped up, though, she sleeps much better. I am getting the hang of it, and Mamie and I are already discovering that we have different preferences.

Burping is a intricate affair as well. I have come to the conclusion that Lucy is kind of like one of those old games where you try to get the marble to run the right course through the maze as you tilt the board up or down or left or right. The marble has to work its way through the maze without falling in one of the many holes. Lucy has little gas bubbles inside of her intestines and stomach; she has to be patted while on my shoulder, in my left arm, right arm, on my knee, etc. She needs to be patted on her back or bottom. As I go through this juggle, I can hear the gas moving around in her insides, and can even feel it sometimes, as if her stomach were growling. I get points when she farts or burps. However, sometimes its hard to know weather she is gasping or burping. So I just do it for extra long to be sure that I got everything out. If I don't, I wont be back in bed for long before she has me up again.

Yesterday we had a true adventure, where we went to Red Robin with Cousins Jenny and Chris. They had their own baby Lia there and we listened with new interest and appreciation to the story of their baby has grown. Lucy was a gem, complaining a little when our burgers got there but otherwise sleeping serenely in her car seat.

I absolutely love being a Dad. I truly enjoy doing nothing but holding my beautiful daughter. I am so impressed with my wife for her strength and sacrifice through this whole ordeal.

Stay tuned for more pictures and adventures of Lucy Gail.