I finished breastfeeding this past Wednesday, and it's become clear that this really is the best thing for the babies. After pumping one day, I realized that one side was woefully under-producing. No wonder these kids have been fussy. Both babies are calmer after they eat now and are able to "hang out" for longer periods of time. No, they don't sleep through the night yet, but that's more because we need to keep waking them up until they get a bit bigger. But they're gaining weight and that's awesome to see. Plus, their mom is more relaxed and that's better for everyone in the house.
While looking for something to wear to church this morning, I came across all of my maternity clothes, "in-between sizes" clothes, and bigger-sized shirts I wear when I'm nursing. I began purging and didn't stop until my closet was reduced by half. And it felt great. I think a shopping trip is in order.
I find that I'm still less than patient with the three older kids. My top priority right now is to keep the babies happy and well-rested. And that doesn't always coincide with the priorities of their three loud and rather rambunctious older siblings. I really am trying to not be so uptight if they happen to wake one of the babies. But it always seems to start a ripple effect. One baby wakes up. I get said baby back to sleep, just as the other wakes up. And somehow, an hour later, I'm exhausted and it's time for them to eat again. A and I have realized that we are going to have to become more relaxed and laid back if we're ever going to get through this in one piece. I'm sure it will be a work in progress for some time.
We're specifically putting off going to church with the whole family for as long as possible. I did go today with the three older kids for all three hours (which I won't be doing again for a little while since I was on the verge of falling asleep the whole time). I tried to envision our family in church and it looked pretty ridiculous. I keep telling the older three that they have to practice being good and not asking Mom and Dad for every little thing or there's no way we're ever going to attempt church-going as a family of seven. They act enthusiastic about the idea in theory, but their actual efforts leave something to be desired...
Sometimes I feel like things are going well, and other times I dissolve into tears because I feel like things will never reach a semblance of normal. But all in all, I'm pretty impressed with how A and I are handling this life curveball. And in the middle of the night, when I'm rocking one of the babies back to sleep, I sit in awe of the two precious babies that have come into our home and our hearts, changing everything in their path and little by little, making us better people in the process.
7 comments:
Breathe in, breathe out. Baby steps. You're doing so well. I am so proud of you. I know how difficult the things you are asking of yourself are for you to do and you are doing them! What a wonderful family you are growing and just think of how much you will have grown when all this newness becomes old hat!
Yeah, one of the first things I did when we moved was buy fans for every room to drown out the noise here. I was getting too mad when Cash would wake up the babies or they would wake him up. For some reason noise really carries in this place. Now there are fans everywhere and I don't have to be so uptight. You want your kids to sleep through noise, but when it just starts waking them up instead it's just too upsetting. I still cry an awful lot. It's surprising to me because I was never even a crier before.
Church!! You've still got like four more weeks of church vacation, what are you doing there? Of course you're crying ;-).
I'm with Melinda....don't rush into anything. We had a lady in our ward give birth to her sixth child one Sunday afternoon and was at church with her entire family including 1 week old the next Sunday! Crazy crazy crazy!! I usually don't go again until after the baby blessing and you aren't doing that until November so there you go!!
You and A have done a great job, I think. I can't stay all three hours at church with my kids and they aren't babies.
Love the pictures, Nora reminds me of T and A looks like he is ready for family prayers.
I don't know how you do it! You're amazing to me! Your little girl looks a lot like your husband! What cute little angels you have:)
Yeah, I don't even have other children. But there have been days that Shawn's sneezing woke up the boys. So, I'm with Jen... the more noise makers the better. We have two in the boys room and it just makes life so much easier. I can't keep Shawn from sneezing, so this is a better alternative. And Monica is right... church?!? I didn't go back until they were at least 2 months old...
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