Before and After

Before: A family of two: B and I (14 weeks pregnant) enjoying an evening out this past spring.

After:

After: A family of three. Bradley (in costume), Mac (3 weeks) and I make an appearance at Trunk or Treat to support our small group.

(See here for more pictures at the Gaymons' blog. Try to find me and B hiding in the first shot! Our "redneck fishermen" did a great job giving out candy.)

Don't worry about Mac: the festival was outside, no one touched him and we were gone in a flash. I think the fresh air did us good!

Before: I needed eight and a half hours of sleep (in one stretch!) to feel fully rested. Seven and a half was pushing it, but I could cope.
After: Ha ha ha. Really... If I get eight hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, I'm amazed. And it comes in tiny little bits - but I'll take it!

Before: I drank 90 ounces of water a day (Mac must have been floating in there!) and hit the ladies' room at my office more times an hour than anyone should.
After: If I have time to swig a glass of water daily, I'm impressed. Who knew tiny babies could keep you so busy?

Before: I rolled my eyes at people who told me to sleep when the baby sleeps. That must be the most popular piece of advice to give pregnant ladies.
After: I get it. I totally get it. And I understand why people preach it - the laundry, the dishes, the dusting, the watching-your-adorable-baby-sleep - everything gets in the way. Napping when your baby naps could save your sanity. Still working on this...

Before: I waddled to the bathroom multiple times a night.
After: I wake up, incoherent, at Mac's bassinet multiple times a night. Where am I, who's crying and why? It takes a moment to figure it out...this baby must think I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed!

Before: I could have broken our digital camera, I was so against photographing my ever-growing self.
After: I have that same camera in my hands ten times a day, photographing a cute expression or a sweet sleeping baby.

Before: I didn't sympathize with people who lamented about crying babies. If you know they're full, dry and safe, put them down and know you've done your best, right? You can't win 'em all.
After: Again. Ha ha ha. Oh, judgmental Anne. How little you knew about the every-nerve-tells-me-to-fix-him instinct that kicks in when it's your baby.

Before: I loved, loved, loved babies.
After: I love, love, love this boy. Crying, screaming, middle of the night - doesn't matter. I'm amazed at what love (and a little Diet Coke!) has gotten me to do this first month of his life. Give up sleep? Sure! Skip Grey's Anatomy to take 1,000 photos? Absolutely. Pass on blogging because your brain is entirely consumed by feeding, changing, sleeping? Mmm-hmm.

Before: I pictured our son as a beautiful baby boy with a headful of dark hair.
After: I could never have imagined anyone this cute (or this light-haired) being related to me!

Before: I loved my parents.
After: I owe them more thank you notes than my still-numb-from-pregnancy hands could ever write. Who knew how much they did for us when we were little - and to this day?!

Before: I laughed at the hundreds of diapers our lovely friends gave us at baby showers.
After: I worry our son may develop a pack a day (diaper) habit. Whew! Best gift ever, y'all! It really is insane how many they go through. I guess "they" were right all along.

A final thought from Babyland: As busy as everyone is, might I recommend Mac's daily afternoon siesta? He sure looks peaceful - wonder how good we'd feel if we could manage to do the same?
Back to non-baby topics soon, I promise, though the Mac updates won't stop. It's hard to think about much else besides him these days! Thanks for all the love, prayers and good wishes - keep 'em coming!