My life in 3 hour increments

I don't know what to tell you about first.

I'm hungry. Why are you always checking your email? Why do I have the forehead wrinkles of an 87-year-old man?

My sister is here holding the baby. I don't have to feed him for another hour. I should be sleeping, right? Ha.

Why do these people keep swaddling me? My fingers are so tasty!

I wanted to sit down and write a birth story today. A sort of birth story, anyway. I knew my sister was coming over and I'd taken a nap and I was all prepared. But then I made Phillip drag out the plastic tub with my summer clothes (it's 80 degrees today) and now I am horribly miserably depressed because my summer clothes are two sizes too small and I will NEVER WEAR THEM AGAIN.

Of course, I am so worth it.

Then, because it's 80 degrees out, I watered the front yard. I was hungry so I ate a banana. I threw twelve million burp rags in the washer. I held a fussy baby and watched the news. I rinsed out all the plastic thingies that help me feed the baby and tried not to think about yesterday's follow up hospital visit, where a very nice nurse told me that just because the baby is sucking doesn't mean he's eating. I tried not to think about how I starved my baby for three entire days.

I am already a SMALL BABY.

I really want to write all about how Jackson came into this world, (minus the graphic details as this is, after all, a family website) but it's going to take me forever. Even if I had the time and brain power, I have no idea how to write it down. For someone who was absolutely uninterested in birth, in the "experience", who made a conscious decision NOT to read everything, who sincerely just wanted the baby out in the easiest way available, it was... surreal, amazing, sublime. And hurt like hell, but I guess that's a given. The more I think about the day Jackson was born, the more I think God planned the entire thing, down to my nurse and the room and the time he finally arrived. I hate to be one of those googly-eyed annoying girls raving about her Experience, but PEOPLE. It was AWESOME.

Not that I want to do it again. I'm going to take a quick scalding bath before the baby starts howling for food and it takes me about half an hour to climb the stairs.

[I don't know what this ribbon thing is called, but when you have a baby in Italy, you hang one on the front door until he's a month old. And that door? Is my front door. Also, yes, that is blue painter's tape. Tape was not on the list of Things To Buy Before The Baby Comes.]

Comments

[Vanessa]

Maggie - he is sooo cute!! And he looks so big until you put him in the car seat. What a little peanut. Glad to know the birth was awesome for you. I was a little nervous for you. Don't worry about rambling, jumbles, I like that. Hope everyone is giving you what YOU need and not what THEY think you need. Kiss that beautiful little boy for me on his 87 yr old forehead. I love little bald men!!

[Jenn]

Oh my, he is ADORABLE. I love that top picture most of all, that expression is priceless.

[Laura]

What a cutie...so, you were wondering who he would look like..have you gotten out baby pics to check yet? Ramble away girlfriend...I love it! Glad you had a wonderful birth (or he did I guess) and can't wait to hear more. Oh, and sorry about the doc appt. but I know you will get it all worked out. You are his Mommy afterall!

[Stef]

He's darling! Glad you had such a wonderful birthday. I remember my labour/delivery nurse telling me it was my birthday, too.

[Christina]

You are doing great. And he is adorable. And I am thrilled for you that his birth was a good experience. I could say that about #2, but with #1 it was like post-traumatic stress every time I thought about it for a year. So hooray for using words like "Sublime"!
Take care of you... and thanks so much for posting more pics! What a doll!!

[karianne]

Happy Mother's Day!

He is so great.

[Arwen]

Oh, I am so glad you had a birth worth remembering! I felt like that after Milla was born - like, I never knew it could be so amazing - and I wish everyone could have that, you know? I can't wait to hear your birth story.

I could just eat that baby up.

[Jennifer]

Oh my, he is adorable!!!

[Carrie/Piesbonitos]

He is adorable!!!

**HUGS** It gets easier with time, I promise (the feeding thing). I had some issues too.

[Maureen]

Well, I can tell you who he looks like. You've got a miniature Phillip there. Only much cuter.

I'm sorry you are having feeding issues, but I'm thrilled the birth was so amazing, and I can't wait to hear the story. This from someone who has not written down her birth story because... well, I guess I don't want to! But I like to read others'!

But aren't nurses the best? They are angels from heaven, I swear.

[Kanuck]

I've been travelling/away from teh internets for over a week, so it's great to come back to good news and adorable pictures! Congrats on Jackson's arrival, and his Eyebrows of Alertness Look is indeed adorable!

[annie]

What a precious baby. Lots to say to you - primarily, you're not starving your baby - he will get what he needs from you. My boy had similar "learning how to suck productively" problems, but we worked it out and so will you. Keep doing what you're doing and all will be well (welcome to the world, though, of frustrating dr. visits.) Second, I love that stripey jammy. My boy had the same one and I was so sad when he grew out of it because it was my favorite. Third, I think you're awesome - and you have EVERY right to be a googly mommy reminiscing over your experience....it is, by far, the most incredible thing you will ever do. Congratulations again.

[jackie]

nyaah. i want to eat him.

don't worry. i took me two or three outtakes to type up my birth story. and really, you should be happy that it was *sublime* and that you're not nursing a hundred million tears amongst your lady bits.

small baby, ahoy!

[Sean]

Well, I think Jack's WAY more awake in all the above pictures than I've ever seen him in person. And, I must admit to the World (which happens to include my other friends who've recently had babies): Jackson is the cutest of them all! (But really, Maggie, just don't tell Young & Jen and Nathan & Won that I said so...).

Congrats again!

[SHannon]

OK, he is just beautiful, and I am all teary for you! Wow. And I want to read all of the details when you are ready...I am obsessed with birth stories! Glad you had such an amazing experience! It just gets better!

[kelli lu]

not being a parent myself, i don't know this for sure, but i'm guessing that a new mother cannot be told too many times that her baby is, in fact, the cutest little man EVER. and you know that Jackson Cheung is, in fact, the definition of baby-love cuteness!!

[Kate P]

You've got a photogenic cutie there, Maggie. And I love how you said you were so hungry you ate a banana. So, what, their only acceptable form is in daquiris? :)