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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It gets easier! But to be honest, the first 5-6 months were hard for me. Really hard. The lack of sleep is like torture. If you’re like me you’ll never sleep as deeply or as long as before being a mom.
But for me, there was a huge step down in difficulty around 5 months and then another around 3 years. And now every single age I like better than the last! My daughter is my best friend.
The best and hardest week of your life, yep. Giving birth, new breastfeeding, your body tore up and healing, no sleep, a new family member, nothing like a few changes, eh? 🙂 No one knows til they give birth and become the all you can eat buffet what it’s really like. It’s the hardest work ever.
Glad you had a LC come over and help you; I was going to ask you how things were going, glad they’re on track and latching is better. Pumping, stimulating the supply, syringe feedings, keeping her awake, oh yes, I remember those days. Hang in there mama. You’re doing an amazing job 🙂
And you and she are both gorgeous in the last pic !
i <3 the last pic. so sweet! some people told me that sleep would get better at 6 weeks, 10 lbs, etc. my biggest mistake was listening to them because every baby is different and my little guy didn't sleep through the night til he was a year old. i never thought i would have made it but now that i look back i don't remember it being that bad. ha! i will admit, though, i didn't help things since i nursed him to sleep and went to him as soon as he started to fuss rather than giving him the chance to go back to sleep on his own. oh, the learning curve with the first born. hang in there pretty mama!
My baby is 21…just when you feel like you’ve got the sleep thing down they get get their driver’s license! Enjoy every minute, they fly by!
LOL – ackK!!
Congratulations Gina – she is beautiful!
Aww such sweet notes from the week – this is so interesting to read about! Have a great rest of the weekend you guys!!
PS… love the name 😉
She’s so little she looks like a doll! What a lovely Livi. 🙂
It totally gets easier! Much more so then just getting used to it…it literally gets better and the baby will sleep longer at some point in the near future:) the most difficult time for me with sleep deprivation was the first 2 months and then my son started only waking up once a night. If you can pump enough so the pilot might be able to take on a feeding during the night, this helps so much! Or if some family could help a bit during the day too. I supplemented with formula when needed and it worked for me and for my baby, since that’s what kept his mommy sane. I truly wondered how anyone could possibly have the strength and power to have more than one child at that time. I’m not sure if you will go through this, but about 1 week post-partum I started having terrible night sweats that would soak the sheets. I wish someone warned me. I guess it was my body’s way of getting rid of extra pregnancy water weight. I felt hot flashes as I imagine menopause might feel like.
I have happy tears reading your about your experience… after following your blog for such a long time, I feel like I’m an aunt and my whole family knows about your baby. The four of you (Bella included, of course) are totally adorable. Best wishes for continues happy times.
I about lost it when you mentioned an umbilical stump as a snack! Hilarious and disturbing, but so honest. I can already tell your new role as a mom fits you perfectly
awww I love that you call her Livi. My cousin’s daughter’s name is Olivia and they call her Liv or Livi too. Such an awesome name. Thanks for sharing this new adventure with all of us! I can’t wait to read more 🙂
She is adorable! Makes me want another…but then you mention the lack of sleep and that brings me back to why I am good with living vicariously! Congratulations!
Love the ‘toot it and boot it’ 🙂 So sweet and precious! For me things became easier after about month 3-finally felt like I got into a bit of a groove. There is so much to learn with the first one but it is so fun to figure it all out with the hubs and experience it all. As sad as I am as each stage passes (2 yrs at the end of the month) it truly only gets better which just does not even seem possible!!
haha Breasterant – I cracked up at that!
This whole post just made me say aloud “I can’t wait until I’m a mommy”. It’s true, I just can’t wait to feel that beautiful bond with my future child.
That picture is so precious of you two! Hang in there– my mom has a daycare center and I can tell you this –newborns turn into 1yrold in .002 seconds. Before, you know it she will be turning over, crawling and walking! There will be more sleep in your future!!
She is adorable! Remember how small she is because they really do grow in no time at all! Glad nursing is going well for you. It gets much much easier with each day. It’s crazy to think how many feedings you’ll end up doing in during that first month… 30 days times ~7 feedings a day… 210 feedings. WOW. No wonder it’s such a great way to bond!
I’m incredibly impressed that you have all these appointment dots in your iPhone for the week after induction! I’m also astounded that you find the time to blog, and at such length. I’m giving you a Masters in Organisation. No college necessary for that one.
There is nothing like being a mom. I am 18 months in and I still feel the happiness you describe. High five girl.
She’s so precious! She’s so lucky to have you as a mother, so excited for this new addition to your life.
its all very awe inspiring isn’t it? what love creates, who you all become… My Olivia is going on 13 years old now. She’s Livie to all of us, except my Dad, who only ever called her Olivia. Such a classic, beautiful name.
Aw, I remember loving and taking pictures of my son’s hairy ears! My gosh, where did the last
4.5 years go? Wait until the day when you’re eating while breastfeeding and a piece of food falls on olivia’s head.One day, a piece of broccoli rolled of my pizza slice and onto Peter’s forehead. Splat. Luckily it wasn’t hot. I just picked it up, popped it in my mouth, and we both continued on with our lunches.
Amy, I just laughed out loud at this! I was ALWAYS eating over both kids while nursing (really sometimes the ONLY time I could get a moment to “myself” to inhale a meal) and my most memorable is dropping a spoonful of baked beans across my son’s back. Well it was across the burp cloth I had LAID across his back, in case of such a thing happening. LOL
Made up songs are the best! I remember my mom singing “Pooooo stinky smells the diaper pail……..” and “Soon you’re gonna get a big girl bed…” Timeless originals that I’ll probably pass on to my own baby (4 months till I get to meet my 1st!)
Ummmm….yes to made up songs. And yes to not knowing the words to songs. Just yesterday Michael was singing “Hot cross buns, see how they run….” to Ella haha
The best and hardest week of your life….absolutely. The newborn stage is very very difficult but at the same time amazing. It gets easier….right now is my absolute favorite stage 8.5 months. So much fun!
Breastfeeding…I felt like a 24/7 milk bar too. It’s crazy how often they eat! I had a spreadsheet to keep track of it the first 3 weeks for side, and how long, etc and looking back on it she was nursing like every hour, non-stop. You get NOTHING done! I was in my PJ’s until 5pm most days, that was usually the time I finally got to shower, and I would just change into other pajamas. I give moms So much credit. Especially moms with more than one kid. I used to get up for work at 5:30am and not get home until after 9…and this is harder, but more rewarding than anything I have ever done in my life. Hardest job in the world. Incredible though.
I always love reading your blogs, but I am really enjoying reading your Mommy blogs. I think because it I remember that time of new Mommyhood and I am relating to your words (I have a 15 month old son.) Not that you need anyone to tell you this, but you have the best outlook on this. You get that the sleeping through the night will come, so for now you are enjoying this time with your wee one. That is the best way to look at it because they grow so fast and it sounds like you are cherishing every moment. Love it!
best thing to do is get the madre to stay over your house for a few nights! if you pump extra, she could stay up feeding the baby while you sleep. then you get your husband to switch with you a few times too a voila! more time to yourself.
Congratulations- what a beautiful, healthy looking baby!! I have really enjoyed reading your family posts- we are hoping to conceive in August of this coming summer, and these posts have made me more excited & feel better educated. I think you followed the Brewer’s diet, but I’m wondering if you made modifications? Also, are there any books you recommend (maybe you wrote a post about this, and I missed it?).
i followed the guidelines, but not exactly. the one thing i was a huge stickler about was 2 eggs per day
she is amazing and so freaking cute!
Too sweet!! She is so precious!! and I’m loving the “Toot it and Boot it” lullaby. Hahahaha. I’m sure she loved it! Are you preparing her for future fitness playlists? Hahaha!
SO Happy for you…
BTW..buying a Vita-Mix on QVC today 🙂
once you go vitamix, you never go back 😉
Breastfeeding is no joke. We had the hardest time for the first two weeks and I told myself just to give it 30 days. I’m glad I did, she will be 2 months on Tuesday and nurses like a champ. Take pictures of your little girl daily, they grow like weeds. The sleep gets better once the feedings can be farther apart, we go 5 hours between feedings at night.
I’m also a new mom, my daughter is 7 months old. This post made me cry, in a good way~! I went through so many of the emotions that you describe. I love how you said that you want to “high five” other moms, I have also had this feeling. Motherhood has given me a whole new appreciation for parents and all they do for their little ones. Enjoy every second!!!
Wow, these family post keep making me tear up. I wanted to say congratulations to you guys! And welcome to little Olivia! I love reading the family post as 10 years ago I had my beautiful daughter and reading aboutyour experience really takes me back there to when she was born, how hard it was but how you never love anything more. Also how until you have a child you really have no idea what being a mom is all about. High five, girl!
My only regret now is I didn’t have a video camera at the time and I so wish I did because the time goes by so fast and all of a sudden they are as tall as you and becoming teenagers, yikes 😀
but all phases are good I think, now my dd is old enough to come to the gym with me and are relationship is totally changing.
You are doing an awesome job, take care!
Mari
thank you, mari <3
i've been taking lots of flip video that we can watch later 🙂
Love your ‘play by play’.
That picture is so sweet. You family posts are still my fave 🙂
You seem like you are such a natural at this already! I remember thinking it was so annoying when people told me to sleep was much as I could when I was pregnant, as of I could bank the sleep hours?! Oh my goodness, do I ever wish I had listened. It’s not about banking the hours, it’s about enjoying a mid afternoon nap whenever YOU want! So perhaps I can offer this advice that I still have a hard time following… sleep when she sleeps because before you know it, those naps will become far and few between!
I remember being happy when my baby girl lost her umbilical stump, but also a bit sad. It seemed like her first milestone and like she wasn’t a “brand” new baby anymore. Isn’t motherhood funny?!
I LOVE this post! Livi (adorable nickname!) is the sweetest, most adorable baby, and I’m so happy to hear how things are going so far. Your song about jaundice and lullaby of “Toot It and Boot It” is TOO funny! It reminds me of in “Friends” when Ross and Rachel sing and dance to “Baby’s Got Back” for Emma. Love it. 🙂
She’s beautiful!!!!
She is so tiny!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I LOLed at Bella’s “snack” – hahaha!!
Glad you’re hangin’ in there!
I just love seeing your daughter’s little face in this blog. I must have to admit, if I don’t have time to read I quickly scroll thru your posts just to see if there is a new picture of her (then I come back and read later 🙂 I love the one in her stroller with the mouse ears. It’s going to be so fun to watch her grow, and watch you grow into your role as a new mom ,as well. How happy you all must be! Congrats!!! :)))
She is so precious! Glad you’re all doing better and keeping your sense of humor! Can’t wait to hear/see more
Your baby girl is so beautiful! In the pictures you’ve posted so far, I can already tell she inherited the shape of your beautiful eyes! Lucky Livi!
she got angelina jolie lips, too and i have no idea where those came from! tom is going to have his hands full 😉 haha
She is adorable! Love the lips. 😉
And it DOES get easier, just like everyone says. Once you really get into the groove, the no-sleep thing isn’t as much of an issue. LOL It IS amazing to me how our bodies can adjust and adapt! For a while I was getting ABSOLUTELY NO SLEEP becuz we were alternating between our daughter being awake, then when she’d fall asleep, our son would wake up. That was rough. But just like anything, it’s gotten better! Hug and squeeze and enjoy these itty bitty baby moments…I miss them already!!
oh that umbilical stump comment made me laugh! When my little girl’s fell off we couldn’t find it either, until bath time. When I took off her pajamas I found it stuck in her armpit! Oh man, it was one of those “laugh until you cry” moments for us. Ha
Oh wow, the picture is so sweet, it made me cry.