My First Week as a Mom

OK, so I know I'm a little late in posting my first week as a mom, but hey, I am a new mom to a little man on the move. That is also why it is after 3 a. m. and I am writing this post. I have already found you have to do things whenever you can steal a moment.
As I mentioned before, things happened really fast once we got the call about Brody. They called at around 4:30 in the afternoon, and they had him at our house at around 7:30 that night. It also took about an hour for me to ever get in touch with Eric to tell him the news. I was about a nervous wreck by the time he finally called me back. He said his phone was literally hot because I had been calling so much. My first thought, other than trying to get in touch with Eric, was I have got to get home to straighten up. I was running around like a mad person. That was probably the best work out I've had in a while. I don't know that I have ever cleaned that fast. I'm really embarrassed to admit it, but for the first 24 hours I freaked out. That is NOT the reaction I expected to have when we finally became parents. I had always thought I wanted what they call a "drop in the lap" situation. You get the call and boom, here's your child. I'm a planner. A planer's mind just doesn't work that way, no matter how much you may think you can handle it. I had so many emotions going on that my mind was on overload. Since things fell through with the baby in April, my relationship with God has been strained, to say the least. I have had a lot of bitterness, and in this moment of getting the call about Brody, I really needed to be praying about it, but just struggled with that after the way I had acted toward God. I felt I had slapped him in the face and it was too hard to turn to him after the way I acted. I know God doesn't work that way, he forgives, but I was just finding it hard to ask for forgiveness. I was also struggling with the fact that my child was not coming in the way I had always dreamed about. I had my heart set on getting a newborn, and I was a bit disappointed to not be able experience a baby.
Brody is immediately drawn to men. It really was heartbreaking for me that he wouldn't come to me at first. In fact, I was only able to hold him once that first night. That Saturday morning I had to tell Eric to leave the room so that Brody would have to let me help him. We played a few minutes, and he has been fine with me since then. All three of us played and learned about each other that morning. We quickly learned that Brody loves hats, and loves to take a man's hat off his head and pass it back and forth. By lunch time I was freaking out about what to feed him. Eric and I have been dieting, so I really didn't have much to choose from to feed him. That afternoon my friend Susan went shopping with me to get stuff for Brody. I learned very quickly about taking a toddler shopping hungry and without a nap. I just so wasn't able to think clearly or I would have at least gotten him some chicken nuggets or something at the McDonald's in Wal-Mart. At one point Susan even commented that I looked stressed. I was on mental overload. I had just gotten this child that is already on the move, I was trying to make sure we got everything we need, he was fussy, and it was all getting to me. If it weren't for Susan, I don't know how I would have made it through that shopping trip. She was able to think of getting things I just wouldn't have thought of.
On Sunday I was finally starting to calm down and start enjoying the moment. We took Brody to meet his great-grandmothers, my mom and dad, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. We had a good trip, and he was able to nap going down there and coming back home.
That Monday morning we tried to surprise some friends by just showing up with him, but when I called to see about coming over to "bring them something", they got suspicious and saw where some people had congratulated us on facebook. I finally made the announcement on facebook that day, and I really enjoyed getting all the comments and messages from everyone.
Each day we have seen Brody open up to us more and more. At first the only thing he would say is Uh-oh. We were shocked when we were outside and he saw someone and waved and said hey.
On Friday Eric's mom brought over a high chair. Oh my, that thing is awesome. I can now clean the kitchen without having Brody right under my feet or worrying about what he may be getting into. That morning Eric's brother also brought over Cody and Gavin to meet Brody. Cody and Brody made fast friends, but I think Gavin may not bee too sure about someone stepping in on his territory.
Before all this happened, and we were anticipating getting a child, I was so naive to think it would all be perfect. I never would have imagined my first reaction would be to freak out. It was too much for me to take in at one time. All this new responsibility, making sure I have the things he needs, learning how to use all these new gadgets (carseat, stroller, breathing machine, etc.) The first week we just were here adjusting to each other. This week I am trying to get him on some sort of schedule. We have had our moments, like bath time, changing diapers, and going down to sleep, but he has brought so much joy into our lives. He has such a silliness about him and a giggle that will melt your heart. He has jabbered a few words here and there, and we have been able to get him to say mama and dada. Just in the last day or so, he will say mama when he needs something. I just thrills me so to hear him say that and actually mean it. I had really begun to doubt that I would ever hear a child call me that.