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Wales
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Edited Date/Time
11/21/2017 6:54am
So, my girlfriend is 20 weeks pregnant and we found out on Monday that she's a girl (woop!).
This is my first, and her second (she has a 4 year old son) so I'm really excited about our baby girl coming into this world but at the same time I'm really nervous as I'm not expecting it to be a walk in the park either. I know it's going to be really difficult with two kids, and man these pregnancy hormones are something else aren't they? Talk about a roller coaster of emotions!
I know there are a great deal of fathers in the community here, so just looking for some advice really or any experiences you may want to share about your firstborn.
Here she is in all her glory anyway, she's a right wriggler!
This is my first, and her second (she has a 4 year old son) so I'm really excited about our baby girl coming into this world but at the same time I'm really nervous as I'm not expecting it to be a walk in the park either. I know it's going to be really difficult with two kids, and man these pregnancy hormones are something else aren't they? Talk about a roller coaster of emotions!
I know there are a great deal of fathers in the community here, so just looking for some advice really or any experiences you may want to share about your firstborn.
Here she is in all her glory anyway, she's a right wriggler!
Advice, take lots of pictures. They grow up awfully fast.
Life is good and life is a blessing. I'm pumped that you're getting to experience this side of it! Oh yeah... Newmann's advice is spot on... pictures a ton of them
My two girls have been my greatest joy in life. You will feel it as soon as she is in your arms.
It can be a bumpy ride at times, but they do grow up so fast. Your life will forever be changed for the better.
I know its cliche coming from old timers, but man try to truly cherish every moment, even the tough ones. You will turn around and they are adults and halfway across the globe.
Congrats to you both.
The Shop
She's due on 20th September, and we can't believe we're half way through the pregnancy already. I think it's just becoming a little stressful at the moment because we haven't actually had the chance to buy anything baby related yet and have so much to sort out in the house to make way for our little addition!
With technology and camera phones everywhere these days I'll definitely be taking as many photos as possible come the day
Thanks again for the kind words guys, and JRT I really appreciate your generosity! Luckily for us my girlfriend's sister gave birth to a baby girl only 2 weeks ago, so we'll be covered in terms of newborn baby clothes when she grows out of them, thankfully! Just need to get the bigger things like cot, pram, car seat, etc.
I think like you said, reality really kicks in once I'm holding my girl in my arms, and as stressful as it will be leading up to that day I cannot wait to finally meet her.
And by "the ride"...I mean the exhaustion, the worry, the frustration, the fear...but also the pure joy, bliss, happiness, pride, and satisfaction that comes from raising kids.
It's literally a roller coaster "ride"...one second that little critter will have you frustrated beyond belief...and then literally the next second you will be laughing and beaming with pride...enjoy that. It's a blast. So when you feel tired and frustrated...take a step back...because in a few moments you'll be feeling pure bliss and joy. Don't let the "bad" times wear you down...they are only temporary.
I will say, after two girls in a row-then two boys-there is NOTHING that compares to holding your own infant daughter (holding an infant boy is close...I love my boys more than words, don't get me wrong...but holding an infant daughter is just different). I could have easily had all girls...and been totally happy. My boys are so rad though...completely different than my girls...but where my girls melt me every single day (and they do)...my boys make me laugh every single day.
Two pieces of advice I received when I was expecting my first daughter...they've served me well, so I'll pass them along to you (then shut up about it):
1) There is no success you could possibly achieve in this world, that could ever compensate for your failure to raise that little girl the right way. Possibly besides your relationship with her mom, there is nothing more important than that.
2) Treat her mom the way you'd want her boyfriend/husband to treat her. The example you set-by how you treat her mother-will be the model she looks for when she settles down. You want her to find a man that respects her? Respect her mom. You want her to find a man that honors her? Honor her mom. You want her to be with a man that speaks kindly to her? Speak kindly to her mom. etc. etc.
Congratulations!
Gotta be hard coming to that point in their lives when they take an interest in boys though, I'll try not to think about that bridge until I get to it well into the future though!
With the first I remember being partially grossed out by it...but at the same time amazed-and RELIEVED-that their bodies actually work the way they are supposed to (they call it the "miracle of life" for a reason!)...if stuff was going in the top, and some other stuff coming out the bottom, then that's a good sign everything in between is working right.
When they get a few months old...let them cry themselves to sleep...you'll feel like the most awful person in the entire world (close all the doors, go on the other side of the house so you can't hear...whatever it takes)...but as soon as a child learns to "self sooth", bed time becomes a breeze! So make sure she has a full tummy, a clean diaper, and then let her cry herself to sleep...by the 3rd night, she'll have it down...and bed time will breeze! A baby that is used to being rocked to sleep (as tender and precious as those moments are) is one that will ruin your evenings when they get a little older.
Also...there is a cycle that baby's need to be on...Feed, Wake, Sleep. At first they sleep all the time...but you need to gradually begin directing them to the feed/wake/sleep cycle. When they wake up, feed them...then keep them awake...then put them to bed. At first newborns think the day time is when they need to sleep...then they are up all night. So you'll gradually want to begin-after feeding them-to keep them awake for longer and longer periods during the day...then put them to sleep. At night...they wake up, you feed them, and put them right back to bed (so they start sleeping more at night, than they do during the day).
Pit Row
My little girl is 11 now and she looks like she's 16. She had her first little hopeful suitor ask her on a date yesterday (shot him down in flames, too... that's my girl!!!)
The best thing I can suggest is to pick something, anything, that she will relate to you and only you. It can be a nickname you give her, a special tune you hum when putting her to bed, whatever. You'll be surprised how much a kid will remember.
It's going to blow your mind how much you love that kid. Nothing else compares.
My baby!
There's nothing better in life than kids!
My girlfriends boy is a proper mummys boy, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if jealousy kicks in as soon as baby arrives as he's so used to getting all the attention on himself!
Thanks again for the kind words and advice, means a lot
But keep your fingernails short, newborn poop is tough to get out from under nails.
Best of luck, you're going to love it.
True story
I'm the opposite of you. Two boys first then had two girls. My kids are age 7,6,3, and 8 months.
I do hate footed sleepers to this day.
Two babies under 1 year old is tougher than just one of them. Believe me.
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