Lindsay left yesterday and we're in mourning. Everleigh in particular. Put her down and she howls. And sadly, like her mom, she can't cry for 30 seconds without her eyes turning a horrible puffy red.
Ben finally managed breakfast at 10:15. He tried to be helpful by climbing up and getting himself an oatmeal packet and cutting it open and putting it in the bowl. I begged him not to mess with the tea kettle and finally put the hot water and banana in there. (Kyri was up before the light and had her dad feed her before he left.)
I have a million things to do but I'm kind of limited to what I can do while nursing. Fortunately, I'm mastering typing and feeding at the same time. Meanwhile, the laundry, beds, dishes, and other things are screaming for attention.
I keep remembering "Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in...." (Thanks Judy.) I wish I were a little less Type A and could just relax. However, I'm doing better than with the previous two. (E.g. Still haven't broken down and sobbed yet.) Well, actually Ben wasn't so bad. He pretty much never cried and was perfectly happy doing just about anything. And we only had one. Which is easy. But we didn't know that yet.
The lack of routine for the last two-ish months has had a negative effect on the behaviour of the two eldest. They have had a lot of wonderful people in and out who love and adore them and a lot of new birthday/Christmas toys. I haven't interacted with them much and now about all I have to say is negative. Neither of them seems capable of hearing me anymore; I am like those pitches that only certain species hear. And try consistent discipline when you are breastfeeding. Which is when the two of them are at their naughtiest. I'm working on positive reinforcement every chance I get. But there haven't been many.
Mike has a meeting tonight which means an extra two hours with The Three. Fortunately, God saw fit to override the weather pattern which called for rain. So far only blue sky and sunlight today. Which helps considerably. That and the realization that this will seem like a fleeting moment five years from now.
6 comments:
D3 and I both suffer from that puffy-eye-from-thinking-about-crying syndrome. Which means D3, being a toddler, pretty much always looks like she has spent the last three hours sobbing her heart out.
Lots of sympathy. The blue skies today make everything nicer.
I miss you...
and don't forget - You Are An Amazing Mother.
Love!
You are welcome. I need to keep remembering that saying too.
Youngest sister arrives Friday.
Should be lots of laughs and lots of tears.
Linds is right: you are a great mother. Hang in there.
Judy
Yes, the older ones figure out very quickly that if you're holding a baby you are less likely to get up and show them you mean what you say. I resort to raising my voice, which doesn't help, only raises my own stress level. I wish I had answers for you, but I hope it helps to know I kinda know what it's like ...
Do you have a Baby Bjorn or May Wrap, or something like that? We used ours nonstop with McKenzie. It freed up my arms to get a few things done while still "holding" her. I also used breastfeeding time to sit and read to Dawson - he loved it, and it allowed us some time to connect during an otherwise busy day. A couple of tips that may (or may not) be helpful!
Hilary--Sadly all of my children have hated the Baby Bjorn. I determined to get Everleigh in it sooner, thinking that was the problem. No go. I still try occasionally but generally it gets rather loud when she gets put in it.
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