My parents very thoughtfully arranged for us to have a postpartum doula come and spend some time with us to help with the adjustment to having a new baby around the house. Doula is a Greek word that means “one who requires only a large piece of cloth to demonstrate how unprepared you are to be a parent.”
I am, of course, talking about swaddling. Swaddling is the practice of wrapping your child up like a baby burrito, to keep him feeling secure and contained like he’s back in the womb. Like everything else baby-related, it’s harder than it sounds, especially at three in the morning. When done properly, it quiets him down in seconds, so obviously you can see the value, especially at three in the morning. Not since losing my virginity have I wanted so badly to be good at something I was so bad at.
I feel better knowing I’m not the only person who has a lot to learn about babies. Jean’s cousin Laura and her boyfriend Craig sent Conrad this bouquet of cookies:
I mean, come on. Even I know he can’t eat cookies yet.