I can't believe that this time last week, I was in labor.

I'm sad that my pregnancy and birth experience are over.

I ADORE Reid and I'm so glad that he's here, I look at him and love him more than I ever thought was possible. He was circumcised yesterday and I actually had to walk outside after we handed him over to the pedi because I was a mess- I was crying at the thought of my baby in pain. When they handed him back to me, I just held him, cried, and kissed him over and over. He was totally fine, but it was hard.

I'm really upset that my dogs are here. I wish it was just me and Reid. The dogs are so much work. People always told me that my feelings towards my dogs would change after my baby was home, but I had no idea that it would be this drastic. You all know how much I love my puppies. I posted about it in my DDC if you want to read.
http://www.justmommies.com/boards/index.ph...owtopic=1265603

Maybe I'm just emotional because this is my first day home alone with Reid. It all feels so real now. I'm emotional, but I don't have any ill feelings towards the baby, not at all. He's great- he sleeps pretty well, he only cries when his diaper is being changed, he breastfeeds well. I'm just emotional. I feel like I want to cry for no reason at all.

Last night two of DHs friends came over to BBQ. I said it was okay, i like having people over. DHs best friend, Mitch, started going on for no reason at all, "I just want to say this while I can. I sure hope that you don't parent Reid the same way you raised Jack (our pomerianian). You'll be the mother of the 8 year old who just doesn't understand why her sweet little boy is always getting in trouble at school and being called to the principles office because he's being a little s***. You'll be that 1 in 5 mom who thinks that her kid can do no wrong" I tried to protest for a second, then I just stopped, looked at him, and said with tears in my eyes, "Mitch, I can't believe you said that. That is so mean" and then just sat there looking down at Reid trying not to cry. DH took Mitch aside, I'm not sure what he said, but it hurt me so badly. I know, I should just say F him and move on, but it really hurt me that one of our close friends would say something like that. Why would he do that?

Okay, I'm sorry, I just had to vent and get that stuff off of my chest. I am kind of excited to be home alone with Reid today, just the two of us, if only these dogs weren't here...

My dad, step-mom and sisters are coming this weekend, I'm excited to see them again.

[HopeWishWait]

[soImarriedAnerd]

A huge hormonal roller coaster is normal post pregnancy and I hear its one heck of a ride. Its your body returning back to pre-pregnancy. I am glad your enjoying your little man!!!
(FYI-Troy loves the name Reid-saw it in your siggy, and wants it for a middle name for our number one choice for boys name right now----London Reid Small) So thanks!

[LisanAndy]

Oh my hun I know what you mean. It's so overwhelming, it's all knew. I came home from the hospital and took care of Taylor and about 3 days later my sister, BIL, mom, and dad came to visit. They asked how I was doing and I said oh I'm fine. Well my sister and BIL left and a few mins later my parents were heading out the door and I broke down in tears. I said I don't even know why the heck I'm crying, I just can't stop. My mom reassured me I was doing fine, I was a good mom, it's normal to be teary after the baby gets home, it's all so knew, and pretty soon you'll sink into a routine, ect. Those words stuck with me all these months and I'm so thankful for that huge hug from my mom and from my dad before they left. Andy was such a big support to me as well. Talk with your mom when she gets there, I KNOW she'll make you feel better. Like I'm sure you already are, cling to and talk with your hubby. It helps to just get it out sometimes. I still have to do that. Major hugs Breanna!

[**Jenn**]

Oh hun, I so know where you are. You love your little boy more than anything but your also kind of mourning not having him all to yourself anymore. When you're pregnant he is 100% yours. No one can butt in. It's hard to share what not even a week ago was totally and completely yours. Your hormones are also all over the place, and breastfeeding makes the hormones linger for longer than you think. It's like now that he's here, it's finally real that it's totally up to you and Will to make sure you raise and good and decent man and when someone voices their doubts about your ability to do that it cuts like a knife. Don't listen to anyone! You will do a great job. As Reid grows so will your confidence on how to parent him--setting limits will be like second nature. Just remember that you cannot spoil a baby no matter what anyone says. If you want to hold him while he sleeps, do it! If you want to carry him around all day, do it! If you want to co-sleep, do it! Just because you're weapy doesn't mean you're not a good Mom, you're not even a week post partum. It will get better!

And if it makes you feel better--breastfeeding hormones still have my crying for no good reason. Heck, I cried at a Thomas and Friends DVD the other day!

Bre, you will parent Reid how you feel is correct and appropriate... Does Mitch have kids? If he doesn't he hasn't a clue what he is talking about. If he does, his parenting doesn't have to be the same as yours... goodness knows the world would be boring if we all parented or were parented the same way!

You are a fantastic mummy, and don't you let anyone tell you otherwise. Not a single person in this world could be a better mummy to Reid. No one. YOU are his mummy, and YOU are the mummy he needs and adores and has grown inside for the past 9 months.

[misfitinmn]

I have to say, Bre, I can totally relate on the dog thing. The first few days (err...weeks, really) that I was home with Ben, I can't tell you how many times I screamed at our poor dog. He didn't understand that I had a baby to take care of, and he was confused about why I was home all the time, so he naturally wanted my attention and I naturally didn't feel like I had any to give him. I NEVER EVER EVER would have guessed that I would have EVER considered getting rid of my dog before Ben came along, but in those first weeks, I did! Now we've all settled into a bit of a routine, the dog understands that I need to care for Ben (though he's still a pest at times, but he was even before Ben came along!), and I don't yell at him nearly as much. AND I don't want to get rid of him anymore! He's definitely not my baby anymore like he was, but I still find time in my day to love on him, where in those first few weeks I just wanted him gone.

I was a total mess the first few weeks - I was so worried about being a good mom and knowing how to raise a little boy...I cried constantly! But, again, it's better now, and I can't believe how things have ironed themselves out! I would have never guessed 4 weeks ago that I'd feel this much better.

We're here for you whenever you need to vent - and remember, you're a great mama and Reid is so lucky to have you!

[Frozendesire]

I don't have much to add... it's VERY normal to be emotional right after having a baby, it lasts for days... weeks! I know I was just over all more emotional after having my own child. It just never really went away. And now it's even worse now that I am pregnant again hehe.

I'm sorry your friend said such rude things. He doesn't know what he is talking about and plus how does "parenting" a dog measure up to parenting a baby boy!?

Don't feel bad about the feelings you are feeling towards your dogs. Things are just different now. They are no longer your main focus, or care ya know? And that's fine! I hope you can find a good home for your Pompom.

You are and will be a wonderful mother! I have no doubt!

[*krista*]

I've never had a child before, so I have no idea what you are going through. I really cannot believe that DH's friend said that, though! Who says something like that??? What the heck?! I don't know if he just didn't know how badly what he said would hurt or what, but that was just mean!



Try not to let his comment bother you, you are already a great mom! Besides, raising dogs and raising children are two VERY different things.

[Alison81]

I was really emotional the first few days home with DD. I remember some of my friends came over one morning, she must have been 4 days old, and cooked breakfast for me. I sat there crying, eating my breakfast. I was crying because I kept thinking, why the hell are they being soo nice, all I did was have a baby?? Our first day home she wouldn't latch on, and just cried, and I had to cup feed her (from a medicine cup, to avoid nipple confusion). My mom took her for an hour so I could take a shower, and I cried the whole time in the shower, thinking I was a horrible mom. I would also cry over anything and everything people said to me. It's the massive drop in hormones, which is why some people get PPD. Although, the comment that friend made was really uncalled for, but men do not understand the way women feel after giving birth. Physically your body is changing, emotionally you're going through changes adjusting to a new baby, and hormonally, you're body is going nuts.

It WILL get better. Right now Reid is still adjusting, you are still adjusting, the dogs are still adjusting, everyone is, and it might be crazy for awhile, but I wouldn't tell you it gets better if it didn't. As much as I love cuddling with a newborn, and all the newness, that first month is extremely hard in so many ways. And nothing can prepare you until it finally happens. And once you are less emotional, than you can tell that friend to F off!

[Mars]

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Aw Bre your friend is being a douche. He doesn't have a clue! *hugs* Hang in there.

As far as your dogs... this post (& the other one) has me horrified. My family already talks about how they feel bad for Rilo for when we have kids because he won't be "our baby" anymore and that totally breaks my heart. So reading how you feel really scares me. I'm hopeful though that Jack just needs some time to adjust, and hopefully will follow Jayla's lead a little bit and calm down some. I definitely think you don't need to make any big decisions like that right now, give it a couple weeks to a month and think about it first.

(((((((((((BIG SQUISHY BOOB HUGS)))))))))))))

[JediRach]

When my friend had her baby she felt like her dogs were driving her nuts and even asked me if I wanted to take one. I told her to wait 2 weeks. If she still wanted to get rid of her dogs I would talk to Guy about taking one of them. When I asked her about it she said that once the dogs had adjusted to the baby they acted a lot better and didn't bother her any more. Now her son is almost two and she just recently thanked me for telling her to wait. She can't imagine not having them with her and they are so good with her son. I'd give it a couple of weeks and see how you feel then.

[*kyle*]

Oh Breanna... I don't really know what to say hon, I haven't been there... YET. But I know how much you love Jack and Jayla... and I believe that a lot of that love will come back once you get settled in to motherhood. I think the dogs need time to adjust too. From their point of view, they don't know what a baby is or why he is so important. In the end they will act like the animals that they are... but they are yours and you are theirs. I hope things get less rollercoaster-y for you soon.

[ShannonMVT]

Lots of Breanna. I hope that things get better soon. I haven't gone through it myself but I know it is normal to be emotional...your whole life has just changed and it takes everyone some time to adjust.

[ScottishBrit]

I felt the same way about my cat. I love him to death but i didn't want him around, Now he makes me mad cause he's always meaowing and waking her up.....He still makes me mad. I hope that will change one day..

Bre, my likkle cupcake (mmmm cupcake!), how are you feeling today? And likkle Reid? And daddy Will?

[lauren in hi]

It is hard. It is the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life, and the coming home and dealing w/ reality part is so much harder than L & D, hands down. I honestly think I was having PPD w/ Abby, and hopefully it won't happen again this time. And it's hard when people criticize you (I dealt w/ this constantly w/ my MIL & still deal w/ it today)...you just want to yell at them that it's hard enough trying to adjust to having a newborn in the house, not getting enough sleep, taking care of pets, etc. etc. without them sticking their totally unwanted and unsolicited advice in your face.

It will become easier in time. I'm sorry your friend was being a buttwad, and I'm glad Will said something to him. That was completely & utterly disrespectful. I mean, who SAYS things like THAT???

((((HUGS))))