Today was Ben's two-month check-up, which means, among other things, that my baby is TWO MONTHS OLD! Reaching this milestone is the first time within parenthood that I've felt like time is flying. For me, pregnancy seemed to breeze by, so I was sure I would experience what every other mother tells you to expect -- that you blink and suddenly your baby is all grown up.
However, that was really not my experience at first. I think it was because Ben was so tiny. I would see older babies -- big babies! with skills! -- and think, We'll never get there. Ben will never be big and old and skilled like that. And in my defense, he really was small and fragile for a long time (and as far as the skill thing goes, the pediatrician assures me that his month-early arrival will probably mean he hits developmental milestones a month late). When he was nine days old, we took him to be weighed, and he was at his smallest: 5 pounds, 6 ounces. That's apparently the 4th percentile for nine-day-old babies.
Today was a different story, though. Today, my little runt of a boy weighed TEN POUNDS! He has graduated to the 70th percentile! And he gained three whole pounds in one month, which wouldn't have meant anything to me until I acquired a newborn and learned that they're supposed to gain about one-half to one ounce per day. Three pounds in a month means little Ben made up for lost time by gaining one and a half ounces a day! Go, baby Ben!
Three pounds in a month also means that I now believe he won't be small forever. And while this knowledge makes me feel so very proud of my boy and so very grateful that God has given him a healthy, growing body, it also makes me understand how precious and fleeting my time with him is. A full night of sleep sounds so good, but there are only so many more times I will get to snuggle this sweet baby in the quiet middle of the night. Some day soon, he will be too big for me to fumble through housework one-handed while I hold him with the other arm. And he will be much too big for me to kiss the top of his fuzzy head while I blog with him asleep on my chest. Two months are gone now, and we only get to do this five more times before he is suddenly a full year old. And I can only imagine how quickly the time goes when his life is measured in years.
Being a new mom is a pretty overwhelming job. Some days I get frustrated with myself because lunchtime rolls around and I realize that not only have I not showered, but I haven't even remembered to brush my teeth. It's easy for me to get annoyed that I am tethered to a baby by every-three-hour feedings and that some article of my clothing is constantly wet from one disgusting body fluid or another. But today, I am more thankful than ever that I get to rearrange my existence for Benjamin Eager Wiginton.
Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
1 year ago
5 comments:
i remember that 9 day checkup, but by day 12 he was going the right direction. sometimes it seems like just yesterday that all of you were little rug rats around here. it won't be long until you're saying stuff like "i don't care what granddad says, we don't do that here". see you thursday.
Micah,you are so right about them growing up fast, but my favorite quote about child raising is "The days are long, but the years are short." You are a great writer! Love that pic of you two!
That's my girl! And my baby :)
look at him, he is getting head fat! yay! i love your posts, maybe you should print them out for little B to read in a few years. i can't believe that in just a few weeks, i will kiss that little head myself.
I thought "I feel the exact same way!" about 20 times while reading this post. Mostly about the days of frustration with the constant 3-hr feeding schedule, coupled with sadness at how fleeting are the days of holding him with one arm and cuddling during nighttime feedings. Glad to know I am not the only one with this mixture of emotions. And glad your boy is eating well and catching up!
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