Today is Daniel's first day back at work! When we first decided for him to take a full month off for paternity leave it seemed like forever. A whole month with my husband and new baby, what a dream. It was a dream, but like dreams you wake up and it feels like a lifetime ago. I woke up this morning to my hubby heading off to work, and reality hit that it was back to normal life. We had created this little bubble of love and joy to get used to our new addition, but it's back to real life!
I am thankful for a husband who feels called to be a daddy as much (or more) as I am meant to be a mama. That was one of his biggest selling points when we were dating. I could just tell that he would be an encouraging, loving, and caring dad to our babes. He has proved me right over and over again this month, and I know he will for the rest of forever.
Daniel is the best in a lot of ways, but this time it's because he took off a whole month to take care of Sawyer and I. So many people talk about how hard the first month is, and don't get me wrong it is hard! Really hard, mentally and emotionally exhausting, and a complete adjustment. We are such selfish people that having to put aside our own wants and needs for this itsy bitsy baby is tough. It would have been a million times more challenging if I was doing it alone. Daniel has basically done everything for Sawyer and I so that I could recover from having a baby and really focus on breastfeeding and bonding!
Just to put how much he has done for us into perspective, I've changed 2-3 poopy diapers total. Babies poop A LOT.... so I have been completely spoiled this month. I may have to Facetime Daniel for help when she poops while he's gone. I'm also doing my first load of laundry today since she was born. Which is completely insane because I used to do all of the laundry. I also didn't have to lift a finger in the kitchen to make food, make a plate, or even grab a water bottle for the entire first week home. Anytime I tried to clean or help around the house, he would tell me to go sit down and he'd take care of it. I have felt so loved and cared for his entire month off.
Daniel also got to spend so much bonding time with Sawyer. It's a lot harder for dads to bond with newborns that first month because they're not breastfeeding, and they didn't get to experience birth first hand. Daniel worked so hard to establish a bond with Sawyer immediately. He constantly had skin to skin time with her, and spent hours cuddling with her. I feel like they've bonded just as well, if not better, than Sawyer and I. Watching him with our daughter are some of the sweetest moments I've ever experienced.
I'm in awe of my husband. Thinking back to this past month, I would have unlimited babies with him because who wouldn't! I could never have scored a better man, forever boyfriend, husband, and daddy to my babies.
xoxo,
kelsey
