Earlier this morning...
Ivy: I'm awake!
Me: Ivy, maybe you should go back to sleep for a little while.
Ivy: Nope! I'm awake!
Me: Ok, I'm going to sleep for ten more minutes.
Ivy: Nope! Hold me!
Me: Are you hungry? Need a diaper change? Tummy ache?
Ivy: Nope! I just want to stare at stuff.
Me: And you don't want to stare at stuff from your bassinet?
Ivy: Nope! And if you leave me in here I'll do the grunting thing, then the scrunchy face thing, then make the pre-cry noises. It's not worth it. Trust me.
Me: Fine. You win.
Ivy: Of course I do.
Before we left the hospital, I had a final check with Dr. N. "I feel great!", I arrogantly declared, then asked when I could get back to an active lifestyle. "Listen to your body", he said, then warned, "You're going to be fatigued." HOGWASH, I thought. Fatigued? Me? No way. I'm invincible! I have a baby! I'm so happy! I want to run five miles! Cut take to an hour later and I'm crying uncontrollably. For absolutely no reason at all. It didn't take long for the sleepless nights and the mass hormone exodus to catch up to me. Fatigued? Yes. Thankfully, my mom was here and was an immense help, as was (is) Stephen. And now that we're establishing a routine, I'm learning to adjust. One of the best pieces of advice that I heard pre-baby was (I'm paraphrasing) that there's a reason the safety videos on airplanes instruct parents to secure their oxygen masks first before helping children. So I'm learning the art of the nap. I'm learning to be ok with having a dirty dish in the sink, Ollie's toys on the floor, and laundry that's backing up. I'm learning that taking a twenty minute walk every day does wonders for my sanity. And I'm learning that taking care of myself is essential for taking care of my sweet babe.
So true. Wish I had learned that as early as you have! Keep taking those walks. Getting out of the house a little every day really does do wonders. Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteMeg,
ReplyDeleteScott (my husband) and I love to read your posts... they crack us up!! Love the dialogue between you and Ivy... so, so, so true. Thanks for the laughs:).
Rachael
Erin, thanks, I'm thinking of the pregnant you.
ReplyDeleteRachael, It's so good to hear from my long lost freshman friend!