No....could it be? .......Truly? Nah.....
But, yes.
We have.....
.......R O U T I N E..........
I heard somewhere that you have to do something 32 times before it becomes habit. Well, in BabyLand I think that taking a nap at the same time for a week should count for something! Maybe not quite a habit, but I daresay a "routine." (Breathe a big sigh of relief.)
So, we wake up between 8 and 8:30. Feed Eden. Change and dress Eden. Do mild morning activities like read a few books, play a bit, and then feed Eden again and she will fall asleep. Sometime around 10.
Now, if we can only move this back a couple hours so that I can feed her twice before I go to work. That would be fabulous. (Here is where all the other mothers can start laughing maniacally.)
I, on the other hand, am basking in the glories of knowing that I will be able to pee, take a shower, brush my teeth, wash the dishes, make the bed, and even take a few minutes to (*gasp*) read or blog or something decadent before she wakes up again.
Not that I mind the waking up. Breastfeeding mothers everywhere rejoice -- nursing after a baby's long nap is wonderful, wonderful.
Alas, I think the routine leaves us after that blessed 3-hour morning nap. As far as I can tell, there is one little nap, another long nap, a poop or two, Long Happy Play Time, maybe a walk, and a little bit of Fussy before the peanut falls asleep again for good when we go to bed around 10:30 or 11. (Although, last night, she was out like a light at 9 p.m. and slept soundly until 4 a.m. I'm going to chalk that up as an outlyer and not a credible data point. I'll let you know if it persists, but don't hold your breath.)
But the most glorious part of all of it is sneaking into her room and peeking at her blissfully peaceful face as she rocks back and forth in her swing. She is so beautiful in her sleep. It is the most wonderful thing to watch her sleep and know that her little tummy is full, and that she feels save and loved. My baby.
11.14.2008
11.02.2008
Back to...reality?
Yesterday we went to visit some friends who welcomed home their first baby, little Elijah Stone, last Thursday. He was three days old. So tiny! While we were there, another couple they knew stopped by with their 6 week old. My little Eden is only 10 weeks old, yet we were the oldest "couple" there. It was classic....three new babies sucking at three swollen boobs while three tired, ecstatic, hopeful and confused mommies sat side-by-side on the couch and swapped experiences and encouragement with barely a breath in between sentences. What relief and comfort to sit there with two other new mommies who know exactly what I am feeling and are exactly where I am at.
(And, for the record, Eden was NOT the biggest one there. The six-week-old had her beat by a long shot.)
Today has been hard for me. Having Hilary here for a week was wonderful. I had an extra pair of arms to hold Eden. Something to do everyday. Someone to play Scrabble with while I nursed. Now that she is gone I am all of a sudden home alone with mountains of laundry, piles of dishes, dust bunnies all over the floor and no food in the fridge. I imagine that my life for the next 6 or 8 years (or more) will consist of a lot of mountains, piles, dust bunnies and quickie meals. All I need is one gummy grin from the little pumpkin and I melt, and I know that nothing in the world is better than this little girl that has made us a family. But having a little one in the house is a lot harder to get used to than I thought it would be.
Learning to be a mom, on the other hand, is absolutely awesome! Eden is growing so quickly, in every way but "out." She is so long, so smiley. She's trying to figure out this rolling over business. Loves to cuddle. And has started gazing at me throughout an entire nursing session. Talk about melting your heart. Those big, blue eyes look up at me without breaking away and it's rare that I escape without misty eyes.
As much as I dread the emotions I will face when I go back to work, I have a feeling that will help a bit. While I am at home, there is absolutely nothing that I do that is even remotely close to who I was before Eden came along. Everything is new. When I go back to work, I will be in familiar territory. Except that I won't really be the same Molly. *sigh* I'm not much for transitions.
I wish Bryan and Rosy and their friends (whose names already escape me) the very best with their new little ones. Being a new mommy myself brings a whole new perspective to my relationship with other women. Because, now, I've been there...and I know that new mommies just need a little mothering themselves, too.
(And, for the record, Eden was NOT the biggest one there. The six-week-old had her beat by a long shot.)
Today has been hard for me. Having Hilary here for a week was wonderful. I had an extra pair of arms to hold Eden. Something to do everyday. Someone to play Scrabble with while I nursed. Now that she is gone I am all of a sudden home alone with mountains of laundry, piles of dishes, dust bunnies all over the floor and no food in the fridge. I imagine that my life for the next 6 or 8 years (or more) will consist of a lot of mountains, piles, dust bunnies and quickie meals. All I need is one gummy grin from the little pumpkin and I melt, and I know that nothing in the world is better than this little girl that has made us a family. But having a little one in the house is a lot harder to get used to than I thought it would be.
Learning to be a mom, on the other hand, is absolutely awesome! Eden is growing so quickly, in every way but "out." She is so long, so smiley. She's trying to figure out this rolling over business. Loves to cuddle. And has started gazing at me throughout an entire nursing session. Talk about melting your heart. Those big, blue eyes look up at me without breaking away and it's rare that I escape without misty eyes.
As much as I dread the emotions I will face when I go back to work, I have a feeling that will help a bit. While I am at home, there is absolutely nothing that I do that is even remotely close to who I was before Eden came along. Everything is new. When I go back to work, I will be in familiar territory. Except that I won't really be the same Molly. *sigh* I'm not much for transitions.
I wish Bryan and Rosy and their friends (whose names already escape me) the very best with their new little ones. Being a new mommy myself brings a whole new perspective to my relationship with other women. Because, now, I've been there...and I know that new mommies just need a little mothering themselves, too.
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