Tuesday, December 3, 2013

5 Weeks

Baby - Owen is so solid and heavy now, he feels so much like a real person. I know that sounds weird, but it’s like I can see him transitioning from newborn to baby. He definitely stays awake more now and can entertain himself on his activity mat. Wait – did I say that last week? Well, it’s even more obvious this week. He clearly laughs and smiles now which is SO rewarding and we all love it. He has been clusterfeeding a LOT lately, but then slept for almost five hours last night. Awesome. He did amazingly at Mommy & Me today. I swear he loves it there. He just sleeps, eats, and lays on his blanket. No fussing. So sweet and calm. He has grown out of Newborn clothes and into the Newborn Honest diapers (which didn’t fit him at first). Annnd he is just…doing everything he’s supposed to be doing ☺

Me - I am doing SO much better. First of all, breastfeeding. I am back to feeding him on both sides. Which means no more pumping AND feeding, which is such a relief. While it can still be painful at times and my nipples are not fully healed, I am feeling so much more confident about it. At the Mommy group today I fed him like a champ and felt so proud. Physically, we took a really long walk to the beach this weekend and I felt sore afterwards. Sore in my perineal area – ouch. Sore in all of my other neglected muscles – good. My body originally lost a lot of weight and seems to have plateaued. I attribute that to the Holidays and I’m okay with that. In total, I am still up a little over 10 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Finally, I have started looking forward to things in the future and feeling excited about things again. This weekend is my 32nd birthday and I will be going out to dinner with B whilst my sister watches Owen at home. Big deal!

Other Stuff- We have taken Owen out to restaurants twice now. I realize other families take their babies out before one month, but that is how long it took us, and I’m trying to be ok with doing things on our own timeline. Owen did great at both meals. I’m thinking I will miss this stage when he can sleep through an entire meal. At the Mommy & Me Group today, we had to say what we had to give up to be a mother. I think I answered that in my post about breastfeeding. Being a mother seems to take away a part of my independence and identity. But, I’m realizing it replaces that with something else entirely.

What have you given up to be a mother? This pertains to those of you who are already moms, are currently pregnant, or who are still trying.

11 comments:

  1. So glad to hear everything is going well. Happy Birthday! I hope the new year brings you lots of happiness and new adventures :)

    So far I haven't had to give up much in becoming a Mother, except for the foods that give me heartburn and of course my yerba mate! I'm sure once baby is here the list will be a lot longer...

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  2. I'm so glad breastfeeding is going well now. That is awesome.

    As for what I've given up to be a mom... Sometimes it feels like everything and sometimes nothing. Well, I guess it never feels like nothing. ;) Right now isn't really the time to be answering as I lie in a hospital bed after being admitted for a mastitis infection that became sepsis. Sometimes we really do give everything I guess.

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  3. Owen has gotten so big!! I'm thrilled to hear that BF'ing is getting better. Praise God!

    It's hard to remember, sometimes, what I've given up to be a mother. Today, as I've had to remind Little K of the rules yet again and enforce consequences, I can easily see how much of my heart I've given up to be a mother. Wanting my child to be happy in the long term means having to make her unhappy now. And sometimes it really sucks. It's hard being a parent, no matter how you look at it.

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  4. Cute jammies! I still haven't taken M to a restaurant. I know if I timed it right, she'd sleep the entire time, but I'm still worried about her wailing and disturbing people. Something to get over! I feel like I've given up the usual stuff -- sleep, time to myself. And the freedom to just do what I want (or do nothing for extended periods of time)!

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  5. I am so glad to read it's going well, particularly that you feel more settled in breastfeeding and that you are slowly healing.
    Seeing Owen change every day must be super amazing.I'm not sure I told you before, but you look super good in the before - after pictures you showed us. Just let your body do it's thin.
    As for givng up things to be a mom... for now it's mostly caffeine (I dream of a creamy coffee every now and then, or black tea) and when I see Brie or sushi I want a piece. But that's about it.

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  6. OH EM GEE. owen is so handsome! truly, what a cute little guy.
    I wanted to comment earlier, but I really really appreciated your post on breastfeeding. Yes, I won the BFing lottery, things have gone relatively smoothly. BUT it doesn't mean I don't have thoughts and doubts about why I thought it was a good idea to be the SOLE source of nutrition for my little guy. it's time consuming. I miss no-bra time ALOT. I have big ol boobies to deal with when I do sneak out for a run. It's hard to not have selfish feelings, but I really don't want to act on them. I love feeding him. I love that when he's upset, I have the answer. And, even though i'm away for school (and back to work next week) quite often, I am still with him every time he has a bottle of pumped milk.
    The moral of this LONG comment? GOOD FOR YOU TO PERSEVERE! Owen is thriving and you are coming into your own mamma! keep up the good work.

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  7. I think I've finally figured out how to follow your blog:) lol...I'm not very computer savvy sometimes, I admit!

    I agree that having a baby changes your identity. I am no longer a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal. I am now a "mom" which is so much better. It's getting easier as I go, but becoming a new person is quite a change!!

    Glad your nipples are healing. Mine are not fully healed either. I wonder if they ever will heal. Did you doc ever put you on antibiotics? I was on them for about a month and they didn't help me at all. Wondered if you tried it with success.

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    1. ok, Katy, how do you follow this blog?? cause i can't really figure it out except to come over here and check it every once and a while - which is even less of a once and a while with baby on board :)

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    2. Um. I am even less tech savvy, because I'm not sure how to tell others how to follow MY blog. So sad. I just copy and paste into "add new blog" in my blogroll. I thought I added some kind of Google Connect button, but I don't really understand Google Plus. Yep. Sad.

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  8. Owen is getting so big! Love the hair! And I'm really glad to hear things are feeling more managable and you're taking on new things in your own time.

    What have I given up? When I think about the looong three+ years that have brough us here, I feel in many ways like an unrecognizable version of the person I was 'before', and I'm not even sure I'd be able to itemize all the things. I think repeated loss and disappointment will do that to you. But in wierd ways, I've also learned a lot, grown a lot (whether I liked it or not!), had a lot to be proud of. Like you said, you *do* lose things, but new and unexpectedly wonderful things will take their place. For me, there's no point in wieghing the losses and the gains, because I know when this little one gets here safe and healthy, it'll all have been worth it. It's a constant process of adjustment, isn't it? And really, that goes for all of life.

    Sorry, that was probably a more philosophical answer than you were expecting to that question! But all those little things, like foods or familiar routines? I don't miss or notice their absence at all.

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    1. Nope. That's exactly what I meant. You hit the nail on the head.

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