I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since Brynley joined our family! In some ways it has gone by soo fast, but in other ways the time has really gone by slow as I sometimes find myself wondering when we will get through the hard times of adjustment. By 3 weeks, I finally think things are going MUCH better and I am feeling better and more confidant, but still exhausted and still wishing for more sleep. The only thing I can do is pray for MORE energy haha! Here's what Miss B has been up to the past week. I won't be doing these each week once Brynley turns a month old, I just wanted to capture each moment of her Newborn days!
- "DAY FIFTEEN"
- We had a LONG night trying to get Brynley down and settled between feedings last night
- I think I finally went to sleep around 6:30 this morning, but then Ryder and Brynley were both ready to get up so I figured it was time to start the day!
- This was my first real day alone with Scot out of the house (I am so blessed that he works from home)
- The start of the morning was off to a good start, but between 10a-12p really HARD! Brynley was hard to settle down and I was occupied with her for 3 hours, and Ryder got bored playing by himself after an hour, so it was all I could do to stay afloat
- I finally got both kids down for naps by 12:30p, and I decided to take advantage and took a "cat nap"
- I had another friend from MOPS bring food over for us and am continually blown away by the support of all of the moms at how generous and sweet they are to bring food over!
- I was so happy to get a craft and play activity in with Ryder
- I was also able to figure out a pump/nurse feeding schedule, trying to either offer Brynley to nurse before pumping or to schedule pumping in before waking her to eat around her scheduled feeding time (I am trying to make sure Brynley eats every 3 hours at this point so she gains weight)
- I ended up getting Mastitis in my left breast and thought I had the flu by the late afternoon
- Panicked, I called my mom and she said it sounded like Mastitis. I called my midwife and found that if my fever grew to a temp over 103 that I needed an antibiotic, but otherwise I followed the advice of my mom who advised warm showers and compresses to help with the mastitis
- After this wonderful addition to my already packed full schedule, I have started pumping more often to get all of the milk out until my body is used to the milk production
- We played dressup this afternoon and Ryder pretended to be a fireman
- He has really been into anything fireman related, and used his bowling pins as a hose to put the fire out
- I think he has also decided to have a "fireman party" for his birthday this November
- Highlight of the Day: Brynley is back to her birth weight! 7lbs 10oz
"DAY SIXTEEN"
- I managed to get a shower while Ryder took a bath in our master bath so I could keep an eye on him
- Brynley hung out on the bouncey chair while I was in the shower and I came out of my shower to see Ryder petting her baby head and loving on her, trying to soothe her when she started to cry
- We went to bed last night by 9pm after putting Ryder to bed
- Feedings after we went to bed were at 12:45a and then 4am. Brynley was really hard to settle after each feeding though, so I felt like I only got 40 minutes of sleep between each feeding!
- Once Brynley was back down, I couldn't believe my sleepy eyes when Ryder came down at 5am to sleep in bed with us. I almost started crying.
- By 7am, we were all awake to start our day
- I took Ryder to the library for Fire Safety and to have some one on one time while Scot watched Brynley. This was the first time without her, and it felt weird being away but much needed to spend the time with Ryder
- When we got back, Ryder went down for his nap, but Brynley was especially fussy and seemed to want to eat around the clock every hour for 3 hours straight! (growth spurt?)
- Ryder was very scared of Sparky the fire pup and refused to let me take his picture with either the dog or any of the firefighters. Even after I told him it was like a real life "Fireman Sam"
- Ryder also was not in the best mood by the time we made our way to the firetrucks, but I still managed to get a picture. Turns out he just really had to go potty!
- Daddy and Ryder decided to make a healthier version of popsicles made with real fruit
yum!
Highlight of the Day: When Scot got off work and was able to come outside to talk and enjoy the afternoon with his family. It was only around 4:30 in the afternoon and it was the first time that it really hit me that I am a SAHM and this is just one of the perks of not having to be at work, coming home around 6pm
"DAY SEVENTEEN"
- Lots of eating about every 2 hours last night (growth spurt?)
- Another morning of unsettling between feedings and just fussy in general
- Look who discovered a paci and settled down for a few minutes (AMEN!)
- We had a photographer come take Brynley's newborn photos today!
- We got some awesome pictures and I was emotional at how great some of them will be
- I got to take a 40 minute nap after the photo shoot after getting both babies down finally
- Brynley's right eye continues to get gummed up. Found out you can squirt a little breast milk in and it clears it right up. I was hesitant but gave it a try and guess what?
- IT WORKED! (Still a little gummed up but much better. MUCH)
- Another MOPS friend brought dinner over. I'm so blessed to have such a network of support
- We weighed Brynley again and she now weighs 7lb 14 and 1/2oz
- I got to enjoy a glass of much needed wine!
- Highlight of the Day: I decided to get on the scale just to see and could not believe it! I lost the 30 lbs I gained from pregnancy. I now just need to tone up and would love to lose another 10 or 15lbs and keep it off until Spring, but we will see.
- Baby Steps. baby steps.
- Can't wait to start working out at the gym again! Only 3 weeks until I can start going again
- "DAY EIGHTEEN"
- We had a better night, but it was still really hard to settle Brynley between feedings
- I am the only one that can comfort her once we lay her down after her feeding, and I do it about 3 times. I hold her, rock her, go to put her down and she cries and then we start over. I offer her more milk, she cries, I offer the paci and she takes it a second then spits it out. I hold her and she falls asleep so I assume she's going to sleep. Nope.. finally she's settled and we can sleep
- It was our first trip to the grocery store today as a family.
- Brynley slept in the carrier and I was able to push the cart around and it felt good to be doing some of our "normal" pre-baby activities and just to get out of the house
- Highlight of the Day: During "tummy time", Brynley rolled from her tummy to back twice!
- She's really strong and holds her head up really well
- Brynley is still wearing Newborn size diapers, but they're getting more snug
- I'm sad because I feel like at this point we mostly bottlefeed. Even when it's me doing the feeding. During the night, Scot bottle feeds while I pump. When I offer the breast, Brynley doesn't seem as interested anymore.
- I need to try to nurse more but it's hard to nurse, pump, then bottle feed
- "DAY NINETEEN"
- It was another LONG night! I only slept 1 or 2 hours total because I had to hold Brynley most of the time after feedings. She never got soothed except for when I held her
- To say I'm exhausted would be an understatement
- I think it was because we let Brynley sleep too much yesterday while we were out running errands
- Brynley seemed to really like sleeping on her tummy while Scot watched her and let me nap
- We took a walk this morning(after chugging some coffee) and Ryder seemed to have a blast!
- It was really windy and cool like Fall was in the air, but I worried that it was too cool for Brynley so I kept her snuggled in her carrier and she seemed pretty comfy to me
- I went in the car while Scot and Ryder played soccer since it was so cold. I was amazed at how well Ryder did kicking the ball into the goal and I think we will be signing him up for soccer soon
- I'm so glad to have Scot here this weekend to help give me a break during the day. I got to nap for almost 3 hours which I desperately needed after the night we had
- Ryder helped me to make cookies when I got up from my nap
- I missed him and wanted some Ryder time and he soaked it up
- While Scot watched football, Ryder played super power heroes and looked like a scene from Risky Business. Just another day around here
- It was a dinner of edamame in his underwear. Again, just another night around here!
- I'm so happy with the breast milk supply I'm starting to freeze
- I had an emotional night when putting Brynley to bed because I felt like she always needs me to soothe her and once settling Ryder for the night and tucking him in, then pumping, then feeding Brynley, I'm exhausted and ready for bed myself, so it takes every ounce of energy right now to settle her and get her down for the night.
- I got over it and realized how silly I was being, and that this is my job right now
- Post pardum pregnancy hormones are not fun
- Sleep deprivation is not fun
- The sweet smell of a cuddly newborn is fun and its what I remind myself when I complain of the above two things
- "DAY TWENTY"
- We started our day around 6:45 this morning and Brynley was much easier to soothe between feedings thank goodness
- Maybe she was having a growth spurt or just going through a fussy phase
- Scot thinks it was the chilli we ate the past 2 days, and was maybe what made her fussy
- I'm still having anxiety once everyone wakes up and Scot heads to the gym, that I have to wake up and pump, feed Brynley, get Ryder fed and settled all at the same time
- My anxiety yes, but we are figuring it out and starting to get the hang of it
- Either that or I am just getting used to lack of sleep and getting the hang of pump/feed/settling everyone at the same time
- It's October so I made our schedule for the month and got Ryder's "lessons" out to attempt each morning
- He also starts preschool next Tuesday and will go twice a week (so excited for him!)
- I will attempt MOPS this Thursday and am hoping I can manage it
- Today was "Farm Animals Day" so we colored pictures and learned the letters "C" (for cow and chicken) and "P" (for pig) and I let Ryder make a sticker page. He seemed to enjoy it!
- Highlight of the Day: Spending one on one time coloring and playing with Ryder
- Anytime I am able to have time with my Ryder, I consider a major accomplishment
- Today was no exception and I was able to have a craft and then played for awhile before Brynley woke up. I took her in Ryder's room and finished her feeding there (even tried nursing and it worked)!
- I am learning that each day is different and that I can't form to a set schedule at this point and I am coming to terms with it. I'm learning I am not in control and I'm okay with that
- I got everyone down for naps and settled by 2pm (anyday naps at the same time I consider a victory!)
- "DAY TWENTY-ONE"
- Brynley is THREE weeks old today!
- We had a great feeding schedule last night. Bed by 9:45pm, then feedings at 2am and 5:30am and Brynley went down much better both times
- Why am I more tired though, since I'm getting more sleep??
- Ryder came down around 6:15am (after going to bed late last night. Note to self and SCOT: "Going to bed later than normal bedtime for Ryder never works and he still wakes up early!)
- I tried getting him to lay in bed with me, but he was ready to start the day, so finally by 7:30 I rolled out of bed and grabbed lots of coffee
- I love this picture!
- I was testing out her crib (which she still hasn't used yet) to start taking month pictures
- We had a fun morning taking Ryder to the park and playing ball
- I fed Brynley her bottle while the boys played
- It was the first time I felt "portable" like we can really do this
- The sun did me GOOD!
- I feel like my hormones and crying spells are finally getting better, and I think the fresh air did just the trick
- When did Ryder turn into a 6 year old haha
- Highlight of the Day: getting more smiles from this sweet girl!
- and getting both kids down for naps by noon today
- I got a nap too! (see, different times each day and I'm just learning to go with the flow)
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