Recovery & adjustment
Things are going pretty well so far. Recovery isn't that bad, considering the only medication I've had is ibuprofen & I haven't had any since being home. The stitches are going to take some time, though. I'm a little stiff all over, but nothing like I was after Logan was born. It feels great to stretch, touch my toes again & lay flat on my back (this feels sooooo good). My milk came in the day we came home & the engorgement isn't even as bad as I remember going through the first time. I hate to say it, but the second go around is a piece of cake.

Emotionally, I'm doing great. I don't even think I have the baby blues (granted, this is only the third day postpartum). I got a little choked up being wheeled into the recovery unit when they played a lullaby for Carter, I shed some tears when Logan came to visit us in the hospital for the first time & after typing & reading Carter's birth story to really take it all in, I got a little weepy - but that's it. I still don't have any patience for Logan's tantrums & whining, but that's not anything new. I think based on our efforts to make sure stress levels were under control before Carter was born (marriage counseling & no visits from Grandma & Grandpa L for a few weeks), I might not only escape postpartum depression, but even the baby blues. We'll see!

Logan is doing great as a Big Brother! He is very interested in Carter & has been excited to see him every day. He gets even more excited when Carter wakes up. He likes to help with diaper changes & burping & anything I ask his help with. He's incredibly sweet & caring for his little brother. Last night I gave Carter a sponge bath while Logan was in bed. Carter hates to be cold & wet & cried pretty loud about it all. Logan was so concerned he broke down the baby gate we have in front of his door. I was so surprised that he was so worried about him! He's already been trying to play cars & catch with him or asking if he's coming to the store (Carter & I have been staying home while Logan & Bill go out). He even loves to hold him periodically. It's so heart warming. I'm relieved that so far, there isn't even a hint of jealousy & I hope this trend continues. Other than being a little stir-crazy because we've been off our regular schedule & routine, Logan has been his usual self without any new/different behavioral issues at all. Yea!

Carter is a perfect baby, so easy going & content. He rarely cries other than during diaper changes - which are the most difficult part of caring for him. He tucks his legs up so tight, it's a wrestling match to pull them down to get his diaper on. It makes me squirm because his circumcision is still healing & I'm afraid he's going to get hurt. Nursing came easy for him, just as it did for Logan. I thought he would be a spit up kid too because he was spitting up a lot in the hospital, but apparently he swallowed a bunch of gunk & since he came out so fast, he didn't have a chance to have it squeezed out of him. He narrowly escaped needing to have his stomach pumped. He's also a little jaundiced, but I hope this resolves itself in the next day or two. Overall, he's very snuggly & cuddly, sweet & precious. He's just so small, all of his newborn clothes are too big on him. I am thrilled that I get to enjoy his newborn days like this.

Bill has been a big help in keeping Logan occupied & taken care of. He still gets up with him in the morning for breakfast & has been doing all of his diaper changes. He does get a bit of a break because all of my friends from MOMS club are bringing dinners over every other night for the next two weeks starting with tonight (how awesome is that!?). He's taking the whole week off to stay home with us, even though I don't feel like he has to (it's really nice though).

Our transition has been so easy, nice, normal - I could go on with how great it's been. We are so lucky that it's been this way & I couldn't have asked for anything more. We're probably going to be in our regular groove by the end of the week if not sooner. I really feel an intense amount of joy - I don't think I could be happier. Seriously.