In Tripler at that time it was thought that if a mom and baby were in the same room they would bond better. I was pretty sure we were already bonded by the nine months he was inside me but I didn't mind. I loved it. He could have gone home before me but there was no point. I was breast feeding him and even if Tom could have gotten time off he couldn't do that.
He came in every day that he could and we both took photos of this new life. If I had to leave the room to go for an exam an orderly would sit with him. There was always someone waiting for a chance. He was the darling of the whole ward. The women constantly oohh and ahhh over him. They sent strangers in to look at this beautiful child.
He had hair. He was smart. They couldn't believe how smart he was. I would be napping and a nurse would come in and give me hell for taking his shirt off of him. I'd put it back on swearing I didn't take it off him. They didn't believe me. One afternoon I put the shirt back on him and the nurse stood there and watched him. He reached up and pulled till it came undone and he could get it off him. The nurse said it was impossible. She said babies that young were not that in control of their bodies or their minds but she saw it happen so she knew then I wasn't lying.
One of the ladies admiring the sweetie.