interesting
that a few of you felt that i was setting my sights too high with my last post. as i wrote out the list, my aim was to cultivate a relaxed attitude and just treat myself as well as possible — but i can see how trying to grasp for mindfulness in the midst of 2 am feedings might sound a bit ambitious.
so far — we’re doing okay. it would be crazy for me to suggest that newborns are easy, especially after last night [not sure i got a single 2 hour stretch of sleep]. however, there is something nice and simple about newborn care — there are no mind games, challenges, or tantrums, just basic human needs that i feel capable of fulfilling.
of note, i am not attempting to play the supermom card in any way, shape, or form. i am overwhelmed by the thought of what SAH-parents do every day, and do not mean to suggest that the newborn period is an easy one. however, for me there were harder times — in fact, probably 12-18 months was my least favorite phase. [fine, more like 10-20 if we’re being honest].
and therefore: i think the ‘rules’ are fairly reasonable. we’ll see how things go!
so far:
❉ we’ve been going everywhere. at this age, i think annabel had been on stroller walks by this point, and to the pediatrician. cameron has been:
– to a’s swim class [josh went in the water, not me!]
– to brunch
– to the playground
– to south pointe park [oceanfront park in south beach]
have carseat, will travel
he’s actually much more portable than, say, an 8 month old. i am not terribly concerned about germs, because a) he stays on me or in his seat, and b) we have an almost-2-year-old who attends day care part time at home, so our home is probably as dangerous of a place as any with respect to infections. and in fact, annabel has already had a cold. so far cameron and i are not showing any symptoms and she is better, so i have my fingers crossed we are out the woods there.
i’m not the most graceful at public breastfeeding, but i don’t really care this time around. we use a cover when possible and it’s not as stressful as it was with a.
❉ annabel: i am sure that periods of adjustment are still looming. however, so far this big sister has been a rock star.
yes i knooooow.
she has had nothing but sweet things to say about her baby brother and is always trying to bring him something: a paci, a blanket, her doll, food 🙂 she calls him ‘baby cameron’ and greets him with an enthusiastic multisyllabic “hiiiiiiiiiii!” every morning. i realize things may change when josh [her favorite, let’s be honest] goes back to work. but right now i have been really REALLY impressed with her sisterly behavior.
❉ cameron: has a sweet disposition and seems a bit more relaxed than annabel was at his age. however, review of meticulous records kept with annabel [that i’m not keeping this time around . . .] reveal that he doesn’t sleep as well as she did. most nights are punctuated by every-2-hour wakeups, after one mercifully ‘longer’ stretch of 3-3.5 hour or so starting at 7pm. naps are great IF you’re holding him, otherwise they are short. ahh well, he’s 12 days old and therefore allowed. i’m not trying to control his schedule in any way other than attempting to prevent ‘snacking’ – i think he’d eat every hour if i let him!
he has his ped appointment thursday, but i am pretty confident that he is thriving.
❉ me: i would be lying if i didn’t admit to being tired, because i totally am DESPITE having a ton of help. however, usually i wake up each day in good spirits even if i’m ready to tear my hair out at 3am. breastfeeding has been successful so far, although i did not pump today [got a lot yesterday in one session post-feeding, but then cameron seemed to be starving the rest of the day, so i’m going to go a little slower].
i’m physically feeling pretty good despite the sleep deprivation and have started taking c. for morning walks [45 minutes or so]. i am already freaking STARVING 24/7 and, like last time, can tell that losing the pregnancy weight is not going to be an issue. my clothes are a long way from fitting ‘normally’ but i feel like i’m doing really well for just 12 days out to be wearing any pre-preg jeans at all.
❉ 2 under 2: i am completely unqualified to use this phrase or hashtag, because josh has been home since c’s birth, we still have our nanny, and annabel goes to day care in the mornings. my first big alone challenge will be the weekend of march 15-16, when i’ll be on my own for the first time with both. TIPS WELCOME. wish me luck . . .
mother of 3 // MD // south floridian // ESFJ // upholder.
into: planners, great food, running, reading, writing, mornings, podcasting, and coffee.
12 Comments
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
So glad to see an update from you!
I have nothing to add re: having 2/doing the newborn stage again because I have just barely started to gestate #2, but I did want to leave a quick comment to say that I totally agree re: the newborn phase being much simpler and easier in a way than later stages. I also struggled with 10-20 but now that Will is almost 2 it’s been more enjoyable in the last month or so. I wonder if we’re in the minority because most people I talk to hated the newborn stage and loved 12 months and up!
I hope tonight is an easier night for you!
Sounds like you’re doing an awesome job! I hear you on the every 2 hours… and my little guy is 11 weeks old! Gah. Once you get into the swing of things with pumping, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the Symphony vs the pump you used with Annabel.
Rockstar Annabel looks so much like you in that picture. You just need the sunglasses too.
Yes, yes, and yes…I truly appreciated the baby stage the second time around, as I knew the whole "will" and "opinions" and "preferences" stage would come soon enough:) I love the baby stage, despite the sleep deprivation (who am I kidding…I’m still sleep deprived, 21 months out!). Anyway, I liked your list and didn’t find it overly ambitious, more a reminder to yourself to cherish + enjoy.
Obviously…Annabel wins again for stealing the show in this post. And I am thrilled for you that the adjustment is going well. Take it from someone who has been through the opposite….it’s huge that she’s doing great!! xoxo
Thank you so much for such a real take on things! I’m hoping I feel similarly when baby #2 arrives in 2 months. It’s amazing that with a two year old, I also feel that the newborn stage must be so much more simple (remind me of this when I’m ripping my hair out in the aforementioned 2 months).
I hope to be out and about more and hope I have a similar experience as you. Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job, mama!
Let me know how you feel about the q2h wakeups when they’ve been going on for 2 months. 😉
I actually LOVE the toddler phase, complete with tantrums and mind games. I can actually have a conversation with my daughter now, and with a little thought and effort into how I put things, can get her to do things she didn’t want to to before and diffuse (many) tantrums. It’s amazing when I try some trick I thought of to get her to do something, and it actually works. I wonder if this means I’ll like adolescents too. Hmmm…. Different strokes, I guess.
Am so jealous about you getting out and about. I was pretty confined to my house for the first 3-4 weeks after my c-section, and suspect if there ever is a #2, the same thing will happen, unfortunately.
Glad everything is going well, and happy you’re enjoying mat leave.
Annabel is such a rockstar big sister!
Such Cuteness! Don’t worry you’ll do fine, but yes, no cookies or gold stars for NOT doing it on your own if you can wrangle the help (grandparents? more sitting?). We had LOTS of grandparent help when L was born, and when they left, B just went to daycare while my husband was at work, so that I wasn’t alone with both kids…ever, I think!
I’m so glad you DO have the support and help in place to enjoy it, though the 3 am feedings do get old after a while…
Sounds like things are going really well, and I have to say I really appreciate your attitude toward babies being babies. I read a lot of blogs where people make a huge deal about sleep issues or whatever and your attitude is refreshing!
Congrats Sarah! He is so precious and Miss A is the perfect big sister!
I’m so glad to hear A is doing well! I’m most nervous about how Wyatt’s going to react. We’ve tried everything to prepare him but he still freaks if I hold another baby — even his doll! But everyone keeps saying he’ll surprise me so fingers crossed!
That picture of A with the glasses kills me! 🙂
Oh my gosh! He is so cute! Look how alert he is. Oh, you are making me miss those baby years. I know they are tough (which is why my brain cannot recall but a blur of them). I also suffered from postpartum depression and had a knot in my hair for three months with both of my children. I would love to be able to redo it. I feel like I missed so much.
Enjoy it! I thought pumping was hard, so I am useless there.
You will do great with both of the kids! It will be a fun whirlwind!
I am so glad Anabel is adjusting so well and being so adorable!
Jenni