Week one...

Hard to believe it's been a week since Rhys joined our family.

And yet, I'm exhausted enough to confirm, yes, there is a newborn.  Exhausted for maybe four weeks so just one seems unreal.

We came home on Thursday afternoon and It. Was. Hard.

Seems like you remember how hard having a newborn is but you forget how hard that newborn makes every single thing.  

He screamed almost all night long Thursday.  And then repeated that Friday and Saturday.  By Sunday morning when he was screaming too much for me to really say goodbye to my dad, I had hit a wall.

I told my mom and Chris that morning, We need to be in constant prayer today for my milk to come in. Because I cannot take another night like this.  

God must have believed me.  Milk started coming in Sunday.  

Rhys ate all day.  And all night.  

Quiet.

Bless his heart.  I felt just so awful for him.  His little tummy was crazy rumbling with hunger.  

Thankfully, now we have settled into something that resembles a routine.  We are working on a 3 hour schedule.  And yes, we're doing the Babywise thing again.  So far, the "play" part of the schedule is rather limited.  He sleeps a whole lot.  

He is also still eating a whole lot.  Nursing sessions are taking a full hour and sometimes 90 minutes depending on how hard he is to keep awake.  Considering he has lost a full pound since birth, we need to keep feeding him as much as possible.  I have no doubt nursing will get shorter as he gets older and able to both stay awake for longer periods and my milk supply builds up.

Other than that, we are simply getting to know him.  

You also forget how much time it takes to get to know a new human.  

Here's what we know so far:

1.  He hates to be swaddled because he loves to play with his hands.  Aubrey Kate was the same way.

2.  He can't sleep unless he's swaddled because he has no control over his hands.  

3.  Yes, that's a fun struggle.

4.  He goes from content to crazy upset in 0.16 seconds flat.  

5.  He does not like to lay on his back.  So far, the swing is his crib.  Yes, I realize that flies all over the face of Babywise but right now, for us, it's more important that we all get some rest.  

6.  He is unbelievably strong.  Literally almost crawled off the blanket today during some pictures.  It was the first time we'd put him on his tummy and we all watched in awe as he scooted himself to the edge with his hands and legs.  Seriously.

7.  Very.  Hot.  Natured.  Really, he is always warm.  We keep him in just a diaper and the swaddle blanket.  

8.  Not sure if he's trying to or not, but I swear, he gets cuter every minute.  That trait will serve him well.  But not me.  Back off, girls.

Hopefully, as things settle down a little more each week, I'll be able to spend a little more time keeping y'all updated.  Which largely means, y'all want to see pictures.  Grandparents are strange like that.