Nobody really prepares you for anything involved with becoming a parent. Sure, they tell you that it is "going to be the best thing that ever happened to you," or "you better sleep while you can" or something of that nature, but it doesn't really sink in until you look up and there is this little person that you are totally responsible for. At least that is how I felt as we started this process.
Cooper was born at 3:09 pm on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. He came into this world as an 8 lbs. 3 oz, 21-3/4 in. ball of blue-ish gray, waxy mess! That was the first thing that you noticed. There is not a word, or words, in the english language that can really describe the way babies initially look. Even now that I have seen it I can't really explain it. However, it doesn't change or effect the way you instantly fall in love with them. The 30-45 minutes in the delivery room before all your family and friends come in is absolutely the best time in the world. All of the doctors and nurses, while they are still in there doing stuff, seem to disappear and it's just the three of you. One family, ready to take on the world.
The three days that we spent in the hospital were crazy. You're exhausted, excited, confused, delirious, happy all at once. Did I mention exhausted? The way as a parent that you can instantly require significantly less sleep amazes me. I think that in the three days we were in the hospital we slept a total of 12 hours. You spend so much time just looking at your little boy thinking "I am responsible for that. If I screw this up, it could really screw HIM up!"
On day 3 they come in, take the baby to the nursery, and leave you there... wondering how that dreaded circumcision is going. Then, they bring him back to you and basically say, "Ok, it's time for you to leave. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!" So, that's exactly what you do. You get in the car, strap the baby down, put Mommy in the backseat to supervise and then you drive like Chris Farley and David Spade drove the stolen cop car in "Black Sheep." I really had to make a conscious effort NOT to drive too SLOW!
When you get home, there is this sense of "what do I do when ____________ happens?" It doesn't matter what ___________ is, you don't really know what to do for anything! You just kind of figure it out as you go.
There is an immediate sense of pride in your child as soon as he is born that is just unreal. You know that you would do anything for them and that they will, someday, have to hear stories about it while they just wish you would hurry up and let them get on with what they are doing. Bottom line... I never imagined that I could feel quite the way that I do.
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