This is survival

So the first few weeks after the baby is born I consider the 4th trimester. The baby just sleeps a lot so you are paying more attention to all the changes in your body. The leaky, sometimes painful boobs, your deflated flabby tummy, and oh yes, now that the stomach isn't the size of a watermelon all those fabulous stretch marks come into full view.
So you spend that time recovering, getting the belly to go back to normal size, getting excited as your jean size slowly (and it is slowly) creeps back down to your pre-pregnancy size. You mourn the loss of being pregnant, and celebrate the fact that you are feeling more and more like a normal person again.

Just when you are able to squeeze your pre pregnancy jeans closed and this feeling of happiness and pride begins to set it, the 4th trimester ends and you enter survival mode.

Survival mode is grabbing a sleeve of Oreos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because it's the only thing laying within arms reach and you can't put your crying baby down. Survival mode is bringing the swing into the bathroom so you can take a shower, only to have the baby start screaming as soon as you put the shampoo in your hair. Survival mode is feeding your baby when you know he just ate 5 minutes ago and isn't hungry, because it will make him happy, stop crying, and go to sleep. it's going to the grocery store, even though you don't need anything, because the car ride will make the baby sleep.

And then in between these periods of crying and screaming, it stops. The baby sleeps, opens his eyes drowsily and gives you the most amazing, precious, dimpled smile, and your heart melts. And it gives you just enough strength to go through it all again. Because that cute little smile is worth it. Nobody can resist such a sweet innocent face. Nobody.

I'm thinking this will pretty much be life for the next moth or so. I heard the crying for no reason tapers off near the 3rd month. Can't wait to see what's next!