1/14: Thoughts from the week
My induction was scheduled for yesterday. Watching it pop up on the iPhone calendar blew my mind because I’m a mom already –that still sounds so weird to say/think- to such a sweet baby, who is already almost a week old.
Breastfeeding is no joke. I have transformed into a 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet –my friend Ashley calls it the Breasterant- and I better service on time, or I have a red-faced angry elf shrieking at me. The hospital offered visits from lactation consultants, who came to see us twice in the hospital, but I was delirious and too happy to just have the baby in my arms instead of worrying about latching techniques. Definitely paid the price for that one. Things are on the mend, and a specialist came to the house to help us out after a few rough nights. Now we’re getting the hang of it. Livi and I make a good team, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure she eats like crazy, even though she gets tempted to snooze on the job. My milk took a little while to fully come in –it goes through a transition phase from the colostrum to mature milk- so addition to feeding, I’ve also been pumping, which we’ll syringe feed to her after her nightly meals just to make double-sure she’s getting enough. During the day, she eats anywhere from every 2-3 hours, or every 30 minutes.
When people say to sleep as much as you can while you’re pregnant, they’re serious. If you’re expecting, go take a nap ASAP. On the other hand, your body really does get used to less sleep. From Monday through Wednesday, I was going on about 3 hours total, and was definitely tired, but ok. I hear it gets better as the baby gets older, and for now, I’m focusing on savoring the time when she’ll sleep on my chest so peacefully.
Being pregnant gave me a new appreciation for moms, and giving birth has taken it to an entirely different level. When I see women with their children, I want to high-five them.
It feels good to zip things up again.
Tom and I are having fun hanging out with each other as we try to figure out the baby’s needs and cues, and are still up to our goofy antics despite how very challenging this week has been. In the pediatrician’s office yesterday, Tom was bouncing her in his arms as she cried –she doesn’t like to just be in her diaper- and we sang her a chant/song about jaundice that we made up on the spot. Also, last night’s lullaby was “Toot it and boot it” sang by yours truly. She liked it.
We also went to see the midwives yesterday for a checkup appointment, and I loved taking Livi with us to see the women who have been listening and taking care of her this entire time. The midwife who delivered her had the chance to hold her, and she just stopped and looked in her eyes. I told her that she was there the day she was born, and it looked like she knew exactly how it was.
Today her umbilical stump fell off and we had no idea. Ashley and Meg were over and we were looking at her belly as we changed her, and I noticed it was no longer there. This freaked me out because we had no idea where it was… and were wondering if Bella had found herself a little snack. Thank goodness it was at our feet on the floor.
There is nothing more amazing than feeling a tiny baby breathe on your neck while they’re fast asleep. She smells like heaven, and my favorite feature is the tiny black peach fuzz covering her entire body. Babies always have a little fur when they come out, and hers is darker and lightly covers her back, forehead, and even her teeny ears. I told Tom I wish it would stay like that, because I think it’s so cute, and he said he wasn’t sure how it would affect her social life.
This has been the hardest week, and the best week, of my entire life <3
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What a beautiful picture! Congratulations on the best week of your life :).
congrats again gina! she is beautiful!!
You nailed so many of the feelings of that first week as a family with a baby. The sleep does get better in time … but just when you get used to one thing, the baby changes it on you. I find this a blessing in my case because it makes me go with the flow more as opposed to be too structured 🙂
Don’t you love the made up songs? My husband makes them up about whatever he is doing at that time and just sings it. They get pretty funny haha.
And she is too precious for words 🙂
I will say this every time you post a picture of Olivia, so I hope you won’t get sick of it: she is absolutely perfect and beautiful. The end.
How exciting!! You two look like the perfect pair. Keep smiling, sounds like you’re doing great!
Beautiful! I loved the fuzz too, but it came off when he was about a month old. Except on his ears, they’re still covered in fuzz at 11 weeks.
She is just the sweetest little person!! Congratulations momma!! You look fab!
She is sooooo precious. I love seeing her photos and am completely amazed that you’ve been able to blog too! I have to say there is nothing better than a baby sleeping on your chest. It’s incredible.
that picture is SO precious! two beautiful girls <3
What a wonderful post Gina. Coming from a girl who is still not completely decided on the whole having kids thing, having a somewhat inside look at what it’s been like for you so far is really helpful especially since we are in the same line of work. I am really looking forward to seeing how your painfully adorable family develops over the next few weeks, months and years.
And holy moly, Livi is the most adorable nickname EVER!
Your postings are making my ovaries twinge! My husband has told me I need to stop reading them cause it is making me want a baby NOW! lol Congratulations on your beautiful baby!
So precious!
Congrats again lady!! One of my nieces was born with the peach fuzz, it’s so adorably funny!
You call her Livi! Adorable. Congrats again!
Congrats to my beautiful cousin and her gorgeous daughter–I love my new cousin already! And I love that picture–precious!
Its so funny because I remember posts years ago where you talked about not being ready for kids. And now she’s here and you’re a mom. Magnificent 🙂
I love love love that you call her Livi – so so cute. You’re doing a great job! I hope you can sleep soon!
Welcome to Mommy-hood. It is the best yet hardest job EVER!
The way I think we get through it around here is to laugh with each other or we woulda fell apart long ago 😉
Yep, motherhood is so taxing yet rewarding. You’re doing fantastic!
she is so adorable!! i love that you sang ‘toot it and boot it’ to her as her lullaby. it’s so weird because a couple summers ago my boyfriend and i, along with another couple, were in arizona and we heard that song for the first time there. hearing it always makes me think of az and it’s such a coincidence you sang it to her!
I love that you call her Livi. Too precious.
Awwh congratulations on a beautiful baby. Although, she doesn’t look like a baby. She looks like a really, really tiny adult. Sooo cute!
“Red faced angry elf shrieking at me.” Bahaha! Hope you get some decent sleep soon!
That made me crack up too. 🙂
Such a beautiful picture! So nice to read about all the details of motherhood too – these are all the things books & magazines tend to gloss over…always makes me worry about the stuff they DON’T say! Makes me hopeful that 1 day I’ll be a mummy too, and it’s good to know that you and the hubby still have time for each other 😉
Reading about the umbilical stump bit reminded me of an episode of Sex & the City – where Miranda freaks out when her baby’s fall off and the cat starts playing with it, haha.
What a little peanut!!! She is seriously amazing Gina! I am so happy for you both and happy to hear everything is going so well!
I’m cracking up! This post was exceptionally funny!! The mention of Toot It and Boot It prompted a one-woman dance party a minute ago haha.
Such a good momma <3
Such a beautiful picture of you both.
Olivia is sooo adorable!
Sounds like you are really getting the hang of it 🙂
You seriously amaze me- taking care of a newborn, BFing 24/7, blogging…you are like super woman! Thanks for sharing this journey with us, love those precious baby pics 🙂
LIVI!! I love that! Also, I make up songs about toots, boogers, meatloaf, and Elmo on the regular…part of being a mom :0
That’s a beautiful photo – she’s adorable. The baby fuzz is the best.
she is absolutely gorgeous! you look so so happy and natural as a mama. congrats again to you and Tom!
Congratulations again Gina, you’re so inspiring!
She’s so beautiful! I want to cry tears of joy every single time I read one of your family posts. So happy for you guys <3
aw, livi! so so so cute!! you look so very happy and the lil one is so precious! absolutely beautiful! and i love her full head of hair!
I breastfed and to get extra sleep did co-sleeping. I know it scares a lot of people but it was worth the bonding time and the extra sleep I got. She got to the point where she could “feed herself” at night while I was asleep. I know it isn’t for everyone though. Congrats she is gorgeous!
Such a beautiful post! Totally agree with everything you said, all the way down to baby fur 😀
She is absolutely beautiful! And you are an amazing writer – I think your posts this week have been your best ever. 🙂
Beautiful photo and adorable nickname… so happy for you guys!!
WoW! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I can only imagine how little sleep you are getting! you are doing an amazing job, and I am giving you a virtual high five! Much much love <3
My favorite photo that you’ve ever posted. Glad you’re savoring it. 🙂
Your baby posts are beautiful 🙂
Gina this is such a beautiful post. I’m pregnant, just at the beginning, and this made my heart swell and feel like I was going to tear up (even though lets be honest that happens A LOT lately :). I’m already excited to meet our little peanut but after reading this it just made my heart grow bigger. So very happy for you guys 🙂
Welcome to mommy-hood, best job ever. It gets better everyday. I feel so blessed everyday I wake up.
So sweet, being a mama really is the best job ever, isn’t it? It really does keep getting better and better. I’m glad nursing is going well despite a little trouble in the beginning. Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing things in my opinion. Aaron still nurses at 15 months. It’s amazing that we as woman can do that!
She is so beautiful! Did the lactation consultants tell you to syringe feed her after breast feeding her? There really is no reason to do that and it might negatively impact breast feeding as time goes on. If she has wet diapers and is content, she is getting plenty. Congrats!
I love that last picture of you- gorgeous!! (both of you 🙂 )
Glad things are going well!
So sweet!!! Beautiful pic! Yup, breastfeeding is serious stuff. I give myself kudos all the time for not giving in to formula. We are on 14 months of it now and I couldn’t think about giving it up, it’s such a great bonding experience! I actually want to become a consultant because of how much I enjoy it now. Everything gets better, day by day. Hang in there, you are doing great!!
What a great photo of you & your little miss! Precious!