Let's Get A Little Caught Up

Ok, this is going to be the Cliff's Notes version of Lyla's first couple of weeks since mom had a little time out from blogging in order to sneak in a shower here and there...

First, I hatched.Then Lyla got to come home to her new crib on the water. Welcome to Beantown baby, full of Dunkin Donuts and the craziest drivers imaginable that mama has to yell at every day.The first week was full of sleep, one of the benefits of a baby who is early. They're still on womb-time and you get to recover from the marathon of pushing. She was always snuggled up in one of her cushiony blankets, warm as can be with a cap on to keep it all in. I love baby hats. Simply impossible to not stare at and inhale her all in.We had many first milestones that I got to freak out over. It's amazing how your baby sneezes, and you're excited over snot rocketing for her. You've done it a million times yourself, but that little mouse-like sneeze is the cutest thing in the world.

The first time Mom figured out how to use the jigsaw puzzle carseat.

The first time Auntie Lulu got a hold of Lyla's wardrobe.
The first time we heard cries that melted our hearts. But she ended up loving bathtime and still does.The first outfit in pink. I dont know what it is about this color, but it just makes you feel so lucky to have a little girl.

These were the good times that brought us up from the bad. The first few weeks were hard in coming to terms with the firsts of Down Syndrome. The first time hearing medical jargon that was way over my head, but when broken down meant she has a common Downs heart defect that will require open heart surgery in her first year. Ouch. The first talk we had with a fellow parent of a 12-year old child with Down Syndrome...who let us know her son was still signing because he wasn't able to talk yet. Damn. The first visit from a social worker who informed us of our new world of Early Intervention and a Down Syndrome Clinic- both of which I knew nothing about, and just nodded upon hearing of like I knew what they entailed. Social worker? The first cardiologist appointment where I had to see my 6lb infant being swallowed by an adult-sized medical exam table, and hooked up to wires and stickers bigger than her own limbs. Where are we? The first time being in public at the pediatrician's waiting room, wondering if the other moms quietly realize she has Downs after coming over to admire her little pink strawberry hat. How do I do this?Like nature intended, the good always outweighs the bad. It's all just live and learn. We're living in the moment and learning along the way how to handle all of these new firsts. Sometimes it involves tears, sometimes it involves silent terror. But it always involves eventual acceptance of where we're at and moving forward to the next first.