life with max: eight weeks in.
Someone please tell me howwwww I have an almost-two month old?
If I could be granted one wish right now, aside from good health, it would be for time to slow the heck down. I can’t take it!
Everyday I feel so lucky. I don’t know how I got so lucky. CUE MAJOR TEARS.
Soooo week 8? Oh my. Lots of things.
We can’t get over how fat his little feet are. Little flintstone feet. They are the cutest thing ever. I want to eat them.
I miss him from yesterday. I miss him from last week. I miss him at two weeks old and at four weeks old. I say over and over that I want ten kids, I wish I could have ten kids, but I think I really want ten Maxes right now. He is just the sweetest thang.
I still haven’t bought him one outfit or toy since he has been born. Being the first kid on both sides – oh my gosh, this child has SO MANY CLOTHES. I really want to get some super cute boy clothes that I see, but I feel like it would be so wasteful since he will barely make it through all the outfits he has now.
His smiles are out of control. He giggles and smiles so much. I’m patiently waiting for the first belly laugh, but when does that happen? He coos and talks a ton, but mostly at night and in the mornings. We are all up around 430-5ish and Eddie and I spend a good 15 minutes staring at him while he smiles and talking to him about the day. GAH.
Speaking of Eddie… he had a little men’s day out. Uh, yeah. SO – last Saturday I had a cooking class to teach. They are about three hours long but we do some prep before, and with how often Max is still eating, it’s easier to just bring him and I feed him before then he goes on a little “adventure” during the class. Let me start by saying that Eddie was SO EXCITED for this day with him. Like talked about it all week.
While he was talking about his excitement, I was, um, GENTLY telling him about all of the things he needed to prepare for/find/do. I knew it may be too much in the moment so about five days before I started telling him we had to go over how to strap the seat into the stroller, he needed to try to use the portable bottle warmer, we needed to go through the diaper bag so he could easily find everything in the moment while out.
WELL. He… thought… this was… nagging him, per se? Every time I brought it up, he looked at me like I was insane and was all “uh, how hard can it be?!” with a few thousand eye rolls and then a few “I’m not a child, I can do this!” and then some more “I’m 41 years old I think I can handle this.” To which I said, yes of course, but you know – when you’re out and he’s bundled up and starts crying it can be OVERWHELMING and blah blah blah.
He said he didn’t need to the stroller, that he was just going to CARRY HIM EVERYWHERE. I’m like, um. You have no idea what you’re getting into. In my head, all I was thinking was how I couldn’t wait to see how the day went down.
So we went over everything. That morning, I spent ten minutes showing him how to use the bottle warmer while he played on his phone.
He dropped me off and was on his way, taking him to the horse racing track to show him his horses even though it was OMG SO COLD. Within minutes he experienced a huge diaper explosions without a place to change him, trying changing him in our new car where he ended up – um, for lack of a better word – peeing all over the new car – then got him back in his carseat and went to the mall. While he attempted to get the stroller out of the car and snap in the car seat (which he couldn’t figure out how to do EVEN THOUGH WE “PRACTICED”), an older woman was screaming at him from her car because she thought he was leaving his prime parking spot. As soon as he got inside, Max started to cry and wanted to eat, so he ran BACK out to car to get the bottle and – ahem – couldn’t figure out how to use the bottle warmer. He says it took him 15 minutes, all while Max was screaming. After that, he ran into my dad, uncle and grandpa and needed to do another big diaper change (OMG I can’t even TELL you where he changed him… ) while the men looked on and giggled.
The craziest part is that Mr. OMG-I-need-to-eat-every-three-seconds (that would be Eddie… not Max), didn’t even eat while out due to the all over hectic-ness.
And the funniest part is that Eddie kept thinking Max would be a total chick magnet but he only had older women oogling over them, like grandmas.
I realize this doesn’t sound funny at all, but I was DYING. It was hilarious and on complete sitcom level. I wish you could hear Eddie tell the story. He had plans to take pictures of them at all of their men’s day out stops and instagram the whole thing.
NEEDLESS TO SAY!
When he finally picked me up, he was absolutely exhausted and since hasn’t stopped talking about his “newfound appreciation” for a newborn’s everyday care, especially when out and about. HAHAHAHA
That brow. Oh that brow.
Real life: work wise, I feel like a complete trainwreck. My killer memory is gone and without the large chunk of time I’ve always had to spend on work, it feels like nothing is my best. Everything is completely half-assed. With blogging, I’m still getting through recipes I made before Max came along, and once those are gone I have to find a way to be more efficient. My dad has always said, “the more you have to do, the more you get done” so let’s hope that’s the case. I’m really torn because I wish I could do it all – have him with me all day long while snuggling and be able to keep up with everything work related like I did before. Uh, and this doesn’t even include CLEANING THE HOUSE. Like what is that?
It’s a joke, that’s what it is.
Finally, after my last update I got to thinking how funny it is that I’m writing these weekly posts because if I’m lucky enough to have another baby, how could I ever give this much attention to this time period?!
Oh oh oh. As a mini update, remember when I told you that this was what I was using for a diaper bag? After eight weeks and taking it out multiple times – I LOVE IT. It fits a ton and is super soft and I just love the look at it. Truth be told, I’m a little jealous and want to use one as a bag for myself! I think it would be a great bag to travel with too. I’ll keep you posted on it. Right now I’m going to go squeeze little baby cheeks.
38 Comments on “life with max: eight weeks in.”
My hubby never got to experience a true day (even several hours in a row) on his own with a newborn but OH that made me laugh! I had some of those diaper blowouts on my own, at home, that were crazy ridiculous. He is such a cutie pie, Jessica. Enjoy every single second. And seriously, your blog is nowhere near as important as your little guy – cut back on posting for a while until you feel you can handle it – your readers will keep on coming. You deserve a full maternity leave too!! Big hugs from a stranger. = )
Oh, my goddess, do I agree!! We will be here, sorta patiently waiting, but as long as we get cuteness loads, I’m good! He is yummy cute!! I miss baby stages…
No, no, that story IS hilarious! I can totally picture all of it. :) And….cuuuuuuuuuute overload. xo
I am dying at this story. Why are all helpful hints seen as nagging. I always give up and forgo all advice which I know leads to incidents like this one and we don’t even have kids! So so funny!!!
Love ALL of this. I cannot wait to see how my husband deals with a newborn while “out and about.” Love the baby posts. Hope work/life/house stuff doesn’t stress you out too much.. you’re doing amazing things just showering and keeping that cute baby happy!
LOVE these updates. I do a lot of mentoring for working moms, and I can tell you that it is hard, but worth it. My two cents: don’t be afraid to ask for help, figure out what works for you (even if that changes daily, and even if that’s not what works for anyone else), and be kind to yourself.
This is my favorite blog about asking for help, hope it helps you like it did for me:
http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2013/02/help-is-not-four-letter-word.html
Bless your heart, you are so nice! Sink or swim, baby. That is how I got my husband into child care. You think this was a disaster? Send him out with two kids under two in what he referred to as the “family sports car.” A more practical vehicle was purchased within a month. Brilliant men can be such fools.
You brought tears to my eyes when you talked about how you missed Max from yesterday. How quickly this time goes and it is so great to hear how much you are loving every minute! Belly laughs come soon and they never stop! Thanks for all of your great recipes and inspiration; we’re making something out of Seriously Delish for Valentine’s Day!
Insert all the crying-laughing and heart-eye emojis here! I LIVE for your Max updates and pics!!!
Oh my I love this!! Seriously, men have NO idea. They are all the same. “I got this, I got this” attitude when reality is, they don’t!! Love it. I don’t think my husband ever took out our daughter when she was a newborn. He would have died in those diaper explosion moments and trying to figure out where everything is in the diaper bag. So funny. It’s a story you’ll remember forever and share with Max when he’s older!
HAHAHA best dad story ever. Omg – men are just too funny when it comes to babies and egos and the whole listening part. Totally think we’re ‘nagging’ but it’s just cause we’re around the baby all the time so we wanna hand off the tips! LOL reading that was seriously hysterical and really reminded me of something on a tv show. Oh man – love these posts!!
Omg. I was cracking up throughout this entire thing. Max really does look like such a sweet guy, adorable. His facial expressions are incredible!!! Is it weird I just want to play with him?! Such a cutie pie. OMG you HAVE to tell us where Eddie changed Max! You can’t leave me hanging like that! Dying to know.
I do have a large Sutton nylon in Black that I travel with, mainly on long weekend trips home front college, and it is seriously the best! I’ve used it as a carry-on for domestic and international flights and I can’t get enough of it!
Okay, now onto the good stuff: Max!! There is just no way he’s eight weeks old!! I love getting my “Max-Fix” everyday through yours and Eddie’s Instagram posts! From a person who has said multiple times that I don’t want children, if they were as cute and as lovingly cuddly and go-with-the-flow as Max is, I would have a million!
omg literally lolling abt that mens day out. too funny!!
He is soo cute! Every photo you’ve posted of him is almost like he’s waiting for the photo to be taken! So photogenic! lol
OMG. Eddie’s “men’s day out”! I’M DYIIIIINNGGGG.
SUCH a typical guy response to your planning. I’m secretly smiling that all that chaos happened to him after you tried to tell him what would happen.
LOVE these posts. Max is just the CUTEST thing ever.
It’s totally a guy thing {I think}! We had that same scenario at our place not too long ago. At least at the end of the day there is a funny story and a newfound appreciation for what it takes to care for a baby! :)
That’s such a fun story of “guys day out”. The good news it will get easier for him as Max gets older, but we have a 2.5yr old and I still like to give “helpful hints” to dad when I’m not going to be around. Sure, he’ll be fine either way but I’m just trying to make it smoother for him….especially since moms learn all these things from trial and error…mostly error.
As for buying clothes for your own little one….we had the same generous family that outfitted- or should I say continues to outfit him without any assistance from me. We actually had many new things still on hangers with tages after the first year. Now at 2.5 yrs old my little guy continues to be the best dressed kid…I think at last count he had 14 pairs of jeans/khakis/cords, about 15 tops/sweaters/button downs. And I do laundry pretty regularly, so managing his wardrobe has become quite a task, so he can wear everything equally. So my advise would be buy the things that are too cute to pass up, or just tell the relatives where you saw super cute clothes so they shop there…enjoy!
I wanted to freeze my son at every age…. But at the same time, I couldn’t wait for the next thing…. when he would give me hugs, say “I love you”, draw me pictures… Every new thing is exciting for a little child and it’s so much fun to experience the world through their eyes!
Can I just hold him for a minute?He is so cute!!!!
He is so cute! My Sam is 6 weeks old and my husband had a very similar experience – the deer in headlight look – when I went out to dinner for a few hours last week! Every day I stop and think of how lucky I am to have this time because it can’t be the same if I have a second baby. Keep up the good work!
I love these updates. I’m not a mom but it’s so sweet to hear about how your little guy has changed your life and what your loving along the way. :) Love his little zebra pjs!
I love reading these updates. It’s so real life but also so much intense love and truly savoring the moment. It makes me sad when one or both are missing from baby talk! As for work, we noticed HUGE differences in our first baby when she hit two months and then 4 months (I know, not what you want to hear when you wish things would slow down! But it was in a good way, especially because she was a tricky baby). Maybe it’s not the case for everyone, but her contentment increased and she was better at sitting in a bouncy seat or playing on a mat (and I got over an hour a day out of a play mat from my son up until he was old enough to roll out from under it!) and just generally a little easier, at least for an unpredictable baby. They change so fast that your schedule and work will get easier and change (and then maybe go backwards again too) in a shorter amount of time than you can even look ahead to!
The boys day out part had me laughing out loud! As someone who cares for infants all day and deals with parents, there is nothing more comical than dads and babies! I have had fathers come in and grab the wrong baby, I have had fathers who walk out with the diaper bag and empty car seat not realizing they never grabbed their baby, fathers who have never changed a diaper…8 months in, the list goes on and on. I had one baby who was picked up by his mother 99% of the time, his father was one of those guys who refused to change a diaper, and anytime the father would pick this baby up, the baby would laugh and give me this smirk the entire time his father was getting him ready to leave as if to say “what a noob, do you see this guy!? Wish me luck ladies!” And those belly laughs that you’re waiting for are coming any time now, they’re truly the best!
Eddie’s guys-day-out had me giggling! HAHAHA
Nope, it was a hilarious story to me, too.
I can’t wait to see how my guy deals with a little one. Might have to start following Eddie on Instagram because those men’s day out adventures sound like they will be a blast.
I love, love, love your baby updates. I am due in a couple of weeks and your insights will make me appreciate my time with baby boy while I have it.
PLEASE post more of your favorite baby products. I totally developed my baby registry around the products you recommended and I hadn’t heard before about many of the items you recommended. Please tell about what is working for his age now or what didn’t work so well.
Keep enjoying your time mama!
your baby posts are my FAVORITE. Please do more!! I second Kelsey’s comment above requesting more posts about your favorite baby products. I also used your list to help develop my registry. Due in June with my first baby, a boy too :)
Also, that story about your husband is priceless!
HAHAHA!! This post cracked me up! Babies can be sooo much work. When i was married and taking care of my two babies, my husband didn’t help much because he was too busy brining home the bacon. You can image how hard reality hit when we seperated and he had a 4 month old and 2 year old to take care of! It can take a little time for them to figure it out, but it sounds like Eddie is a awesome daddy. And its ok to laugh (a lot) when they have to deal with the occasional poo-explosion. It comes with the territory ;)
He’a CEWPEE PIE!!! My word, could he look more like Eddie right now? Wow!! I am looking forward to see him growing up and how he changes. Precious.
I think that story is HILARIOUS!
And I’m SOO with you on losing your killer memory. I used to be able to keep like 10 things on the front of my mind. Now if I get interrupted at all, I never return to what I was doing…totally forgotten! My son is 19 months and I thought it would get better but sadly it isn’t. We are started to think about a second baby and I don’t know how we are going to do it!
I don’t know why you wrote: “I realize this doesn’t sound funny at all, but I was DYING.”???? I was dying too, with tears streaming down my face I was laughing so hard, just picturing this all happening to him and the baby!!!!! Maybe it’s because I’m not a mom, but I thought it was hilarious!!!!!!!!!! :)
Personally I found that story HILARIOUS and I could absolutely see the same thing going down in our family. I love love love the way you write about Max. I feel like you are in my head the way I feel about my son. I cannot even get over how lucky I feel to spend time with him and I miss him every single second we are apart. Like right now. While he’s napping. Like 12 feet away in his room. He will be five months Monday and I also need that pause button. Like asap. I haven’t bought him a single article of clothing or toy either (other than one I couldn’t resist while pregnant) and he has more than enough. I’m back at work now (about 6 weeks in) and it is tough to juggle everything. House cleaning is a joke for sure. I basically do nothing but play with and feed my baby and myself by inhaling food and try not to get fired.
Jess you need this for that little munchkin:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AwesomeSauceDesigns?section_id=14105002
Love, love, love the pictures! Such a sweet little man.
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My husband would be the exact same way. Kuddos that he was all for the outing though.
That is my boyfriend with *everything*!!! Men don’t get it till they do it themselves. Stubborn suckers ;) You’re doing a great job as a woman, mama, blogger, and everything else you do!