So far, having a baby is hard work. It's also awesome.
Both Alison and I are getting less sleep than ever, which is tough, but to be expected. I'm coping with it better - partly because I just do, but mostly because I'm not having to stay up hours at a time with a baby sucking milk out of me. Fortunately, Ali is managing to get some naps during the day, so she's holding up pretty well. Myself, I'm finding the lack of routine a bit harder to deal with! With a demanding baby and demanding wife, I'm having to accept that whatever I'm doing at any given time has to be dropped if needs be. Cups of coffee are microwaved over and over before I finish them; my computer lies open on the floor for days, waiting for me to return to it; and phone calls end abruptly. I'm getting to grips with it by setting myself fewer, more achievable tasks. That way I can get to the end of the day and know I did something, rather than just feeling like I ran from pillar to post trying to keep up with a baby who can't even crawl.
So, it's difficult, but it's also really cool in it's own way. It's amazing to see this little tiny person that we have quite literally made, and who has almost limitless potential to become practically anything. I'm looking forward to seeing her grow and develop and learn everything as she goes. It's really weird to see her at the moment and know she can't do anything but eat and sleep and poop, and even then only do those things by reflex and instinct. Yet in time, she'll learn and her brain will figure out how to move her head and limbs in a controlled fashion, and how to eat and talk, and think and everything. Brilliant!
Thanks to you all for your good wishes and comments and texts and cards and stuff. We're very touched! I'll get some more pics up sometime soon. I've got some really good ones of Beth and Alison. Bye for now.