[blparent] Update

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Bernadetta,

Thank you. It's been quite the journey already, but I wouldn't trade it
all for anything as long as I can have my baby, smile.

People keep insisting I need a break from him, but honestly, I love
being with him. Not every minute is stellar like when screaming because
he's teething, but nonetheless, I have yet to feel like I need a day
off. Ross and I did finally get a sitter and go to a movie, but I just
don't feel the need to be away from him. Ask me again in a few months
though, giggle.

Yes, so far, in my experience with Penny and Declan, the most difficult
thing in terms of blindness has been organizing closets. I know exactly
how I want things, but I do need help initially to figure out sizes and
what matches. Clothes that are sets are kept together on hangers, and I
use safety pins to keep them together in the laundry, but individual
onsies and pants and stuff, it just overwelms me when I don't know the
color or size. I can usually tell by touch if something will fit, but I
would still like to organize by size. And I literally have tubs of
hand-me-down stuff that I need to go through. Sigh... It gets
frustrating.

I'm glad to have such a base as this list so we can share and learn from
one another. I hope in some small way, I provide something for someone
as so many have been so supportive and helpful to me.

Bridgit

Message: 18
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:51:31 -0400
From: Bernadetta <bernadetta_pracon at samobile.net>
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [blparent] Update
Message-ID: 4df90bab-1818-4bf0-af3b-31a4d9344ce2 at samobile.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"

Bridgit,
I'm extatic to hear that Declan is doing so well!
That's great that you have reliable milk donors; I have to agree with 
you that nursing really is the best optin if it's possible. Breast milk 
does make a difference, despite what many skeptics may feel about 
formula being just as good.
I loved the video! Even The music score was very neat. You guys really 
presented yourselves very well and the editing job was just right, in 
my oppinion. I can tell from the clip with the scale that you guys use 
the same one we've been using. While Listening to you talk about your 
experiences with childbirth and caring for  Declan as a visually 
impaired parents, I was able to relate to you in almost every way 
except for the Diabetes. Ross made a very good point when he said that 
most parents interact with their children on a nonvisual level withotu 
even realizing it a lot of the time. I've been using that explanation 
ever since my son was born, and everyone I've brought that up with 
seems baffled.  I can't understand why it's such a shock for most 
people to realize that they dont' rely upon their vision as much as 
they think they do when, for instance, bathing a child, feeding him or 
playing with him. I also happen to think that the most challenging 
aspect of being a blind parent is organizing the baby's clothes. 
(grins). That's been a real pain for me as well.
Anyway, enjoy declan while he's a baby now, because time really does 
fly by. Gabriel just turned one last month, and I find myself pining 
for his babyhood as he grows out of it, seemingly by the minute.
I hope Declan continues to be a happy and healthy little boy, and I 
wish you all the best of happiness and luck. Keep us posted more often. 
We love to hear your updates.

Bernadetta