Well, it has been two weeks since my beautiful daughter Elly was born, and I can definitely say that everything has changed! Also, I can say that it is all wonderful.
Obviously, the last two weeks have been crazy, with Dessa and I trying to share the load of overnight feedings. During the week, she has been doing more, knowing that I’ve got to be up at 6 to get ready for work. On the weekends and some during the week, I’ve been trying to do the same for her. I’m just glad that we decided to bottle feed once we came home so that we can share the load. One ironic part of this is my almost inability to actually fully wake up during the night. With Reagan, I was the one that got up almost every time during the night because Dessa is the heavier sleeper. It really didn’t bother me much. But with Elly, I’m so groggy whenever I try to wake up that I can barely function. I just think it’s funny. Of course, with Reagan I was working mainly at night as an O’charley’s server, so maybe that was the difference.
Reagan is adjusting very well in my opinion. While he’s had his moments of jealousy and insecurity (like when he said he didn’t want to share his mommy and daddy), overall he has been great. He loves helping with Elly, plus he’ll ask if she’s ok whenever she’s crying. The cutest moment for me was when he said, “Look at her nose. It’s so cute. It’s like mine.” One amazing aspect of this whole experience is that Reagan and I have gotten a lot closer. I don’t really know for sure what happened, but I think he just needed more attention and gravatated toward me more than usual. Along with this, I seem to have developed more patience overnight with him. Where before he would be getting to me, I now find that I want to stop and pay attention. Or I think about ways that I can make him more involved. I guess you could say that our relationship is just growing. I do know of one thing that may have been the catalyst. The night that we came home, Reagan and I had a terrible time. He wouldn’t listen at all. I progressively kept raising my voice and getting upset and he did the same. It was just a horrible time between us two. I think for me that was a wakeup call for how I need to approach this whole situation. I realized how stressed out he was, and if I let myself be just as stressed, I wasn’t going to help anyone. That’s just my job as the Dad. I’ve got to be the reflection of the Chief Cornerstone for my family. It’s my job to be the solid foundation that holds us all together (don’t misread me on that. I realize that any foundation I can be is only as strong as the foundation that I have with Christ. That is why I said a reflection.) If I’m steady, solid, and in control, I’ve noticed that it is much easier for my entire family to be in control. Except for Elly, she’s going to scream like a banshee anytime you change her, don’t feed her quickly, or otherwise indispose her, no matter how in control I am. 
I titled this post “Getting Settled In”, and I think that is the point we’re getting to. Things are getting more into a routine. Also, we’re ready to get back into church. While we haven’t decided if it’s time to bring Elly (the doctor recommended 6 weeks away from large crowds), we at least want one of us to be at church each service. We’ve missed so much during the last few months, and quite honestly I’ve hated it. I’ve felt disconnected from my Church, and I do not like that at all.
The only major change on the horizon for us is a new apartment. Next week we’ll start moving into a 3 bedroom apartment, which will definitely be a nice change. Of course, change is a way of life, so you never know what might come. I just know that everything’s going to be alright.
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