She’s here! She’s here! I am thrilled, grateful, full of joy and so, so much love. There truly are no words to describe how happy I am to finally have this tiny baby girl in my arms.
However…
between constipation, engorged boobs, sore nipples, painful pumping sessions, lack of sleep, not being able to move around comfortably, swollen feet and hands, stitches, burning sensation in my abdomen, multiple bouts of crying throughout the day, not being able to drive for two weeks, an over active pre-schooler, mounds of laundry, an insatiable thirst and crazy out of whack hormones, postpartum days really suck.
On the other hand, there is a very supportive and helpful husband, an understanding 4-year-old, in-laws to look after Lucas, a sweet and curious dog, friends who visit bearing gifts, meals, sound advice and laughter, doctors and specialists who know better, breast feeding support groups, pain medication, cabbage (if you have ever breast fed, you’ll understand), time and moments like this:
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How I Beat The Post-Holiday Blues
Our first Christmas in our new house was a memorable one and the 75+ degree temperatures have been weird and wonderful. I loved having my in-laws, sister and her boyfriend staying with us and still can’t believe all of my recipes turned out exactly the way they were suppose to. I think spent more time in the kitchen over the last week than I have all year (more on this in another post)! And nothing can compare to a child’s excitement over Santa’s arrival. Lucas was a ball of energy all week!
But now it’s over.
Just like that.
For me the worst part of Christmas is the aftermath: the tree has been taken down, most of the gifts have either been exchanged, returned for the correct size or put away, the last of the pie has been eaten, family and friends have gone home, the mailbox is no longer bursting with greetings and thank you cards have been started.
It’s sad.
So much excitement and anticipation goes into prepping for the holidays and then all at once, it’s over and the warm fuzzy feelings disappear.
Here are some ways I like to combat the post-holiday blues:
- Create a scrapbook or fun collage to commemorate holiday memories.
- Begin (or in my case, resume) an exercise program. I went for a walk this morning and it was mind clearing and felt great.
- Daydream about summer and our next family vacation. We’re thinking Mexico and yes, with a new baby!
- Do something productive… as if I haven’t been productive the last few months, making a baby and moving, etc., but I spent some time getting Lucas signed up for swim lessons, soccer and researched karate classes. I also packed a bag for the hospital and renewed my domain name. All of these tasks have been on my To Do list for weeks and I’m glad to have them behind me.
- Treat myself. Like me, chances are you have been cooking and baking for family and friends and buying for others, so now is the time to schedule a massage or hair appointment, or some quiet time alone to curl up with a good book (or my brand new Kindle Paperwhite!!).
- I know I’m not the only one that feels this way, so I reached out to a friend and we had a great phone call recapping the last few days and planning for the upcoming weeks.
How do you avoid the post holiday blues?
Whatever you do to get through this time, know that these feelings will soon pass and more good times are in store!
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Worth The Wait
Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the “nesting” stage sets in. This uncontrollable urge to clean one’s house and prepare for a new baby includes tying up loose ends and kicking into über organization mode. It’s a burst of energy and can lead to some pretty irrational thinking, or so I’m told. I’m well past this stage and have been fighting it for weeks because I have nothing to nest…. yet (we move this weekend!!).
People, I’m kind of going crazy.
I’m beyond excited to move, but my mind is reeling!!
In fact, my dear sweet husband calmly pointed out recently that I’m not losing it, I’ve lost it.
He’s right.
While I have had the best pregnancy, my hormones are completely out of whack right now and everything is rubbing me the wrong way, my expectations are higher than ever, I’m on edge, have a To Do list a mile long, the holidays are fast approaching, which sends me into a tail spin every year, I haven’t had an uninterrupted night of sleep in days due to a cough I just can’t shake and I have officially entered the waddle stage of my pregnancy.
We had a family/maternity photo shoot two weekends ago and our photographer and friend, Tereza gently reminded me how far we’ve come to have this baby and hearing this was equal parts satisfying, humbling and exciting, not to mention tremendously bittersweet.
I believe she captured all that and more. Thank you, Tereza from the bottom of my heart.
All photos taken by Tereza Harper – November 10, 2013
When Todd and I decided to grow our family, we thought it would be easy, just like when we had Lucas – have sex and get pregnant. Little did we know the journey that we were in store for. Ultimately, it made us a stronger couple and family and we have learned to love more deeply and cherish our gifts. Somewhere in the back on my mind, I knew it would all be worth it in the end.
All photos taken by Tereza Harper – November 10, 2013
The longer you wait for something the more you appreciate it when you get it because anything worth having is always worth the wait – Unknown
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Day 20: Today I’m grateful for people with whom I vehemently disagree but can always have a good, respectful debate that never feels personal or resentful. It’s all about keeping an open mind and listening. #30daysofgratitude
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Collecting Seashells
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, being a mother is the toughest job I have ever had and I’ve had some crummy jobs.
It’s thankless and tiresome and sometimes so frustrating I want to scream, gauge my eyes out and curl up in the fetal position and cry. It’s also rewarding in ways I never thought possible and has taught me so many valuable lessons about love and life and the world around me.
But I digress…
When my husband travels, motherhood is the absolute hardest.
Honest to God, I don’t know how single parents or parents with deployed spouses do it. I suppose they have no choice, so they just do.
Just like Lucas and I have the past five days…. Five days of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, arguing over screen time, bath time, potty talk, picking up toys and getting shoes on. Five days filled with soccer practice, park visits, hours of games and books, reminders to wash hands and brush teeth, one super fun play date, three viewings of Peter Pan and a beautiful afternoon at the beach collecting seashells.
It was when I finally kicked off my shoes, took a deep breath and got sand under my nails digging for shells with my son that I realized, five days is nothing, I’ve totally got this and I have a great kid! These moments of it just being the two of us are fleeting so I should stop counting down the hours until bedtime and enjoy it.
I may have continued to look at the clock a little more than usual, but we made it through virtually unscathed.
Each time Todd is out of town, I appreciate all that he does to help raise our son, care for our dog, keep our household running smoothly and help my sanity by sharing all of our responsibilities. I am so grateful to have a parenting partner, someone to share the duties, challenges and most of all the love. ______________________________________________________________________________
Day 18: Today I give thanks to my life partner in crime and in all matters of the heart, my husband. I don’t know how (or why) he has put up with me all these years, but I’m glad he has. I love him with all my heart. #30daysofgratitude
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In Praise Of The Lovey
It’s been camping and to Disney Land, attends preschool every day he does and we wouldn’t dream of taking a vacation without it.
It has been gripped tightly on Ferris wheel rides, throughout Christmas pageants, while trick or treating, scary scenes in movies and lovingly caressed during story time.
The poor thing has been dragged through airports, zoos, parks and tossed up in the air, gotten stuck on walls and in the refrigerator.
It has cleaned up the most unspeakable messes when nothing else was available.
Luckily there are four, all equally loved, but only one original.
Once known as his “ya ya”, Lucas first took to his lovey at just 10 months old. It has been a constant source of love and security ever since and is my hero because it has the ability to comfort him in ways I can’t or haven’t yet learned.
Does your child have a favorite item that they cling to when the going gets tough?
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Camping Buddies: #iPPP
As a father, one of the things my husband was looking forward to doing with Lucas, as soon as he was old enough, was take him camping. Over the past two years, he has taken him at least a dozen times. On the very rare occasion, I’ll tag along, but it’s mostly about father/son time.
This past weekend, because they were at a camp site less than 15 minutes from our house, I joined them for dinner on their second day and captured some great shots.
Camping buddies.
The makings of a beautiful sunset.
Daddy’s little helper.
I got it, I got it!
Swoon.
Linking up with Sarah of The Sunday Spill and Greta of Gfunkified for their #iPPP weekly meme. All photos are filer and edit free and taken with my iPhone 4s.
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One To Frame: #iPPP
I have a real camera somewhere, but I haven’t seen it in years.
I got my first iPhone on September 28, 2009 (yes, I know the exact date) and I have been taking photos with it ever since. I was snapping photos with other cell phones prior to that, but a smart phone is slick. It’s easy to use, portable, the new iOS 7 has built in filters and there are tons of cool photography apps available.
I’m not a great photographer but I try. I think I have a good eye and so I take lots of photos. I’m trying to focus on capturing more candids and small moments.
Some of the pictures I take are silly and stupid and deleted immediately, many are for the purposes of the blog or Instagram and tons are texted to family and friends on a daily basis and then there are a very select few that are blown up, framed and hang in my home.
This will be one of those precious few.
Waiting for baby kicks – September 24, 2013
Sharing this pregnancy with Lucas has been so much sweeter than I ever could have imagined and baby kicks? Well, there is nothing better.
Linking up this week with Sarah of The Sunday Spill and Greta of Gfunkified for their #iPPP weekly meme.
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The Happiest Place On Earth
Like most children, at the mere mention of Disneyland, Lucas’ eyes light up. He LOVES going to the Magic Kingdom and on some level knows what an ordeal it is, from the cost, parking, tram ride, lines, waiting, more waiting, crowds and multiple picture taking, it is a real treat to get to go.
Lucas’ first trip to Disneyland was when he was 18 months old and we had just moved to Orange County. In his short four years and three months on this planet, he has already been a dozen times! I suppose that’s what happens when you are born and raised in Southern California. I never want the enchantment to wear off, so I’m careful about only taking him 4-5 times a year.
While it’s fun to go to DL anytime and with anyone, I wish I could have captured the sparkle in Lucas’ eyes yesterday when we went with our good friends. Having a buddy at his level seemed to only intensify the magic and his experience. Thanks, Jen, Tristan and Samantha! I’m thrilled that together the four of us were able to get him on Pirates of the Caribbean, which he is still talking about.
Tristan and Lucas on It’s a Small World
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Labor Day Weekend: Signs Of A Great Vacation
We love San Diego and have missed it desperately since we moved from North County to Orange County almost three years ago. We made a lot of wonderful memories (not to mention friends) in our little beach town of Leucadia and life in general is a lot more laid back in San Diego, so anytime we can get back there, we do! Luckily it’s only a one hour drive south.
We just spent four days in La Jolla as an end of summer, Labor Day weekend getaway and it was just what our family needed.
Our hotel room was steps from the beach, everything we needed was within walking distance and the sand, surf, sea life and sun were in abundance.
More signs of a great vacation:
1. I took a book that I didn’t open once because there was too many other things to do, like people watch, lounge in the sun, follow guitar fish up and down the beach and practice writing our name in the sand.
2. The only shoes I packed were flip flops, there was no make up worn and I left my flat iron at home.
3. When we unpacked, sand was everywhere, and I do mean everywhere, but I didn’t mind a bit.
4. The majority of our dirty laundry consists of bathing suits, towels and cover ups.
5. Tan lines.
6. We took the long way home just to make it last a little longer.
7. For four days someone couldn’t be dragged off the beach if his life depended on it.
8. That same someone fell asleep in the car on the way home.
9. We’re already planning our next visit.
10. We brought home good memories, great photographs and huge smiles.
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Our Wednesdays
Wednesdays are our days.
Big floppy hats, sunscreen and sand between our toes.
No school.
Watching the sun set, s’mores around a bonfire and patiently waiting for fireworks to light up the night sky.
No extra curricular activities.
Ferris wheel rides, beautiful blue skies and window shopping on the Third Street Promenade.
No chores.
Practicing froggy kicks, striking a ninja pose and squealing with delight going head first down the water slide.
No worries.
Feeding carrots and grapes to rabbits and guinea pigs, panning for gold and burying ourselves in corn.
Just fun.
Making silly faces with long time friends and having second helpings of mac and cheese.
Just us.
Popcorn, fruit chews, garden snails and the Indy 500.
Our only care in the world is to make memories, smile, giggle and occasionally indulge in ice cream.
I wonder where Wednesday will take us today?
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