Endurance

12/3/12 I wake up this morning with my left cheek pressed against a corner of a pillow and just an inch away from your face, I can hear you breath while your mouth is slightly open.  My right arm wraps across your swaddled body and rests heavily over your left leg. You give me a brief wiggle to push me off.  Your shrug shoulders  and  slight grunt gives me the indication that you are ready for a diaper change.  This is the start of our day together. A visit to your Pediatrician Dr. Patty Wong for your two-week check up is today's priority. As i struggle to climb out of bed with you cradled in my arms, I think about your upset stomach keeping me up several extra hours last night,  while  your daddy sleeps through the night to prepare for his first day back at work this morning.  With a stiff neck and heavy eye lids, I mentally prepare myself for a  challenging morning.  As my frazzled  feet grabs the ground, I hold you tight against my chest, making sure you don't fall out of my arms.  I stare  at your newly developing face and suddenly out of no where, I feel rested and ready to spend another lovely day with you.  With a fully loaded diaper bag, we are prepared to leave the house for the second time in two and a half weeks to make our 1:30pm appointment.  For me, squeezing  into the backseat of Daddy's black BMW is less painful  and a bit easier compared to the first time we left the house. I sit myself next to you while your daddy safely tucks your fragile body into the infant carseat.  You begin to cry, increasing in volume and intensity, as if you knew we are headed to a doctor's appointment.   Within a few minutes of checking in and just a few feet away from us stands a nurse who calls out, "Juliette Sheahan".  The soothing melody that exerts from the pronunciation of each syllable is like a favorite song programmed on repeat mode. I can listen to it over and over again and love it more each time.  Stripping you down to your bare naked body, you are placed on your back on a medal  scale lined with tissue.  Weighing in at 8 lbs and 7 oz, you are four ounces heavier than your birth weight and almost a pound heavier than your first check-up appointment two weeks ago.  Your height is now 3/4 of an inch taller, giving  you a total of 21 inches and 3/4, and making you an overall healthy baby.   Regardless of the sleepless nights, undeniable tension between your daddy and I, and all the overwhelming newness that arise every second of the way, we drive away feeling proud and accomplished that we have a chance of getting good at this parenting thing.