Ari Damon Dacy

Well, it is as they say it is. Becoming a parent is the most incredible, hardest, most wonderful and crazy thing you could ever imagine. And I've only experienced 2 months of it! Ari Damon Dacy was born on his due date of August 22nd, 2010, with nothing less than a most dramatic, leo-worthy entrance.

While the labor & delivery couldn't of been farther from what I had imagined, God saw me through it and Ari, Drew & I all made it out alive (albiet, Drew and I were both thinking....we are NEVER going to do this again!). Ari was born at 9:52 AM weighing in a 6 lbs 6 oz. and a whopping 19 inches, hehe. It was incredible to finally see the physical body of this precious little boy I had been thinking and dreaming of non-stop for the past 9 months. Unfortunately, in the process of being born Ari had swallowed a bunch of gunk and was whisked to the NICU almost immediately following birth. Come to find out, he had developed pnemonia & had to stay a week for a round of antibiotics. Talk about surreal and disappointing....especially after such an intense birth! Driving back and forth every 3 hours to try and breastfeed was also such a test....fortunately, I had my mom here to lean on as well as an amazing sister that had gone through much worse with her first born son. In fact, seeing as Ari was the healthiest and biggest baby in the NICU, I was feeling pretty much on cloud nine and was trusting that in only a short seven days our baby would be safely home with us. And God saw us through that! And while that moment feels just like yesterday, our little Ari D now weighs in at over 10 lbs., 23 inches and is going to be 2 months old in just a short week.

I CANNOT believe how fast time has flown.....and I was scared of being bored to tears checking days off my calandar being at home with him! HA! While I have enjoyed very much learning this new little person and re-learning myself as a mother and stay at home mom, it's hard being home alone sometimes just wondering if I'm letting him watch too much TV or if he's bored and I'm not reading to him enough, ect.....it has been quite a transition! I am still in shock that I am a mother to this beautiful little boy. Sometimes it seems like I don't even remember being pregnant! I swear, it's the craziest thing. And breastfeeding?!?? Don't even get me started. Craziest thing ever. I can see why so many moms just throw in the towel on that one. And it's not been a cake walk for us, that's for sure.....we are still using a nipple shield....lol, tmi, I know....but I just can't believe how much stuff I've learned about and had to do and put up with and research in the past 2 months. I am like a completely new person. It's definately been a lesson in putting yourself to the side, but I would be willing to do anything for my little boy. It's great trying to figure everything out with my husband and laughing and discovering funny things like how we never knew such a small person could have such a loud adult fart! Hehe.

Anyways, I could say so much more but it is really such a blur and just me taking it a day at a time for what it is.....and definitely learning to remember to appreciate the small, simple things in life. For when I can grab a shower or a meal to myself or make it out to run a errand, or talk to a comforting and friendly voice on the phone.....that's the good stuff! I am continually asking God for patience and joy and just a sense of calm so I can look back on this as a fond memory and not just a "boring" and difficult stage of life that I can't wait to move on from. I am truly trying to cherish each day I have with my baby son. I am amazed at how much he has already grown and changed, and I continually remind myself (especially when I am becoming impatient at him nursing for an hour or more or how much time I had to stay cooped up in the apartment in one day....) that he will only be this small for once and that I had better take every cuddle or bonding moment for all it's worth!

Thank you God for blessing us with this precious and beautiful life, help me to be the best person and mother I can be to this little one....help me make the right choices for my life and for my son's life. Thank you for making my life 10,000 times richer than what it already was! Amen.