Komboskini

I had been having some trouble breastfeeding. In short, Teddy was startling himself awake, and then chewing on his fists and fussing. I had learned to interpret this as, "Oh, the baby's hungry. I must feed him." Except that he wasn't hungry. Clever Daddy figured this out and swaddled him. Since then, we've been working on expanding the two-hour spacing for feedings. Mommy and Teddy both get more rest and are happier.

But during the five hours of struggling to get the little one to eat (as opposed to fuss and stick his mittened fists in his mouth), while maintaining good posture and relaxed shoulders (especially tricky with no contacts in so you can't see the baby without hunching over), I developed a pattern of chanting: the Jesus Prayer for nursing and "Παναγία Δέσπινα" for burping, both from the CD Panagia With Us All. Now I'm addicted to my system for the most part.

As I nurse little Teddy, the part of his anatomy most visible to me is his ear, and I feel like I am pouring goodness into his body and soul.

It also helps me relax my shoulders and sit up straight, so caring for my baby is nourishing my body and soul as well.

"Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control" (I Timothy 2:15, from Teddy's Orthodox Study Bible).

He eats a lot...

Today we went to the first-week check-up at the pediatrician's office. The doctor looked at the notes.

"Hmm. He's at 9 lbs., 14 oz., and his birth weight was 9 lbs., 10 oz. So he's gained 4 ounces over a week. Usually we like to see babies gain about an ounce a day ..."

My husband pointed out that when we had come in for the 24-hour visit on Saturday, the baby weighed 9 lbs., 3 oz., so he'd gained 11 ounces, not three.

"Oh!" Eyebrows went up. "Well, I'd say he's doing pretty well, then."