Baby Care Class! Swaddling Like a Pro, Husband's Diapering and I am Taking Your Parking Space!

Though I have tons of experience with children of all ages because I was a camp counselor, worked at a library reading to kiddos, babysat since I was 12 and was a preschool teacher, I still want to be as prepared as I can!  And I figured the hubs could maybe could use some tips and a refresh on changing diapers since he probably hasn't done so for 27 years when his little sister was still in pampers.  So I signed us up for a baby care class at the local hospital.  Which somehow turned into a race.  When I saw that swaddle, I prepped my hands and looked around, who was ready for the swaddle challenge!  It is always fun to race people who have no idea you are racing them.  When she told us to all take a try at swaddling, my lil fingers began folding those triangles tightly around lil fake bean's front, up the side and tucked nicely behind her.  If there was a buzzer like on Jeopardy, I would have hit it.  I looked up and said "DONE!" as if I had run a marathon.  Everyone else was still swaddling away...and giving no shit that I was done before them.  Because this was not a race.  Mike said, "Good job, sweetie!"  And that is why we belong together.  He understands my need for reassurance.  And he likes chicken tacos as much as I do.  The baby looked pretty happy in her lil swaddle cacoon.  I was so excited, I forgot to take a picture of her before I took her arms out as she got older ;)  Of course, I picked the one with the big mouth.  I recognize this pic is sideways.  It is showing up upright but when I upload it it changes and mama ain't got time to figure it out.  She has diaper talk next!

Talking even when she is sleeping, just like her mama!

I have changed probably thousands of diapers.  I am not proud, nor do I look forward to changing more.  It is something, in my mind, you never get used to.  It isn't pretty, it doesn't smell pretty, and even though it will be 'our  baby's' it will still look and smell the same.  Lucky for us, bottle feeding makes it closer to having the properties of adult poop.  But smaller and looser.  Oh dear, I sound like a parent already.  YEP, I have heard you guys talking about your children's poop.  You can't deny it.  I thought I would let the hubs take over the diaper changing, and boy am I glad I did.  He made me laugh so hard that I myself almost needed a diaper.  He changed the baby, wiped all its imaginary doods up and then started playing a weird baby game with the doll as he flipped the feet back and forth going "WEEEE!!!!"  He did not win the diaper changing race, but he won the most fun diaper changer, in my mind.

 

"WEEEEEEE!"

All the prego ladies with their cute lil (ok big) bumps got to put their feet up on stools for the 3 hour class.  Since I was short and tired, I figured I could use one, why not.  I want the perks, too, people!  Give me that 'expecting mother'  parking spot, while you are at it!  I am tired too!  Maybe just from paperwork and big decisions, but I am takin it!  I actually already have.  Evidence below. 

P.S. I didn't really take your spot.  

We were surprised when 2 other couples said they were adopting!  They had the privilege of already being matched (no emergency placements) and their birthmothers are due within the next month.  We exchanged info with them and hopefully made some new friends! 

All in all, I knew most of the information and how to's from the class.  I was apparently the only nerd taking notes.  I figured 3 hours of info, I better write some shiz down!  There was some helpful information regarding umbilical cord safety and taking your installed car seat to the fire station, and other than that, it is never bad to have refreshers! OH and the SIDS section of course was helpful, though I have researched the hell out of that since I am my mother's daughter.  There will be no bumpers, no anything in that crib,  I am sure I will have a fan running and keep that temp at exactly 68!  I will be the one with the heart beat monitor and probably end up after all that, falling asleep with the baby in my bed ;)  OK, I hope not, but even our teacher said it happened to her.  She advised to never say, "Oh we will just lay here ONE minute."  Because that one minute is how fast you fall asleep when you are parenting a newborn.

I am glad we went to the class so I can feel even more prepared.  Mike thought it as helpful as well and since he is SOOOO GOOOD at diapering that baby, I think he should just be the diaper changer permanently ;)

I already have modern hip velcro swaddles, so you will probably never experience my awesome swaddling skills, lil bean! 

Daddy just can't waaaaaaait to change your diaps,
Bumpless Baby Mama

#adoption
#motherhood
#diapers
#swaddling
#babycare
#newborn
#newborncare
#baby