TGIF

[cougarette]

[cougarette]

LOL I dug up this Facebook post from when DS1 was about 3 weeks old. Yeah I still don't know the words. I basically just hum it now:🍷

"I need to brush up on my nursery rhymes and songs. I'm pretty sure it doesn't go "and if that diamond ring don't shine, mommy's going to drink a glass of wine"."

[ssm]

I have been thinking a bit lately about trying to figure out how to lose this extra weight. I'm 7wks pp today. So I texted a friend. She is a beachbody coach, but very into breastfeeding and has done lots of research etc. I was hoping to get some ideas of what I can do to work on things. She pretty much said, no. You can't do anything right now. That was a bit discouraging for me. Other than making some food swaps, sh really doesn't suggest making any diet type changes. Which is partly beachbody rules and partly breastfeeding. Supply is such a delicate thing.

I'm playing around with the idea of trying it anyways though. I pulled out an old weight watchers cookbook and manual. I pulled out my Fitbit...its been dead since April 🙈 But I don't really know where to begin at this point. I set my Fitbit up for 1lb/wk weight loss goal (I read that was safe in the weight watchers book).

So I'm feeling kinda lost and unsure. I want to do this. But I don't want to jeopardize what I've got going. But I want to do this at the same time.

And I fully realize, for the most part, I probably sound like a total crazy person.

[ssm]

Nov 3, 2017 1:52:02 GMT -6 cougarette said:

says my 3yr old as he yells for milk. Good think I'm already up pumping...

[August Blooms]

ssm I think trying to incorporate more movement into your day (not sure if you had a c section) and starting to make healthier choices with your food would be a good start to form good habits so when you can start a program you will have already started those habits.

I’ve been thinking a lot about weight loss too, I still have to lose all the weight I gained with DD which is about 60 pounds total from both pregnancies and it seems like a huge task.

[August Blooms]

Newborn pictures today after another night with both kids in the bed. DD1 woke up just as we got DD2 settled and MIL thought she’d bed helpful and go in her room. Nope that only escalated things, she started crying hysterically and that’s how she ended up in our bed.

[caitost21]

ssm I was going to say exactly what August Blooms said. 7 weeks pp is still early not only for the breastfeeding relationship but for your pp body. It sucks but it will take time. I started increasing my exercise around 8 weeks after DS and didn’t notice a supply issue but did notice an increase in appetite so definitely changing eating habits would be beneficial in that regard.

We also have newborn photos this afternoon. Im trying to think of the timing of everything so that DS is only there for when we do photos with him. Also, I need to figure out outfits.

[ssm]

Nov 3, 2017 5:13:38 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

ssm I think trying to incorporate more movement into your day (not sure if you had a c section) and starting to make healthier choices with your food would be a good start to form good habits so when you can start a program you will have already started those habits.

I’ve been thinking a lot about weight loss too, I still have to lose all the weight I gained with DD which is about 60 pounds total from both pregnancies and it seems like a huge task.

it does feel like a daunting task. And I feel so busy to try to add exercise. It's hard enough to clean, cook, finances, toddler, baby. I sorta feel like I'm always running and always failing.
Moms of more kids, what am I missing?!? How do we get everything done?!?

[ssm]

Nov 3, 2017 5:35:47 GMT -6 caitost21 said:

ssm I was going to say exactly what August Blooms said. 7 weeks pp is still early not only for the breastfeeding relationship but for your pp body. It sucks but it will take time. I started increasing my exercise around 8 weeks after DS and didn’t notice a supply issue but did notice an increase in appetite so definitely changing eating habits would be beneficial in that regard.

We also have newborn photos this afternoon. Im trying to think of the timing of everything so that DS is only there for when we do photos with him. Also, I need to figure out outfits.

it is such a different place for me. Ds1 was FF by 8wks. so it's almost ftm all over again...at least with feeding. Which is 75% of nb care really.

[August Blooms]

ssm I think that for your mental sanity you have to prioritize what is most important and let other things slide. This also means relying on your partner to take on tasks. Is there any family or friends that could come over and keeps kids occupied while you tidy? Can you afford a cleaning once a month for the next few months? These sorts of things. Also know that this phase does not last forever and you will settle into a new normal eventually.

[caitost21]

Nov 3, 2017 7:25:25 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

ssm I think that for your mental sanity you have to prioritize what is most important and let other things slide. This also means relying on your partner to take on tasks. Is there any family or friends that could come over and keeps kids occupied while you tidy? Can you afford a cleaning once a month for the next few months? These sorts of things. Also know that this phase does not last forever and you will settle into a new normal eventually.

Adding a cleaner to our budget after DS was born was a game changer. I second if you can find a way to fit it in budget wise, do it. It allowed me to prioritize myself more and significantly cut down on the nagging/bickering between MH and me. Also giving myself manageable tasks each day has helped keep things going but also kept my expectations of myself realistic.

You’ll get there ssm! I struggle too trying to figure out how to do what needs to be done and also slowing down and letting certain things go.

[cythe]

Since we are taking about PP bodies here today..

Does the jello belly feeling continue to get better? I'm coming up on 3 weeks PP and while I'm content with how things are, and of course it's come a long way since giving birth but I'm just curious if it will keep getting more back to normal or if this is as much as it's going to do on its own.

[parma986]

ssm, I am struggling here too with balance. My DH does so much while I take care of the baby, I feel like I'm not doing enough. We have been snippy with each other for the past two weeks. The toddler seems to be doing ok but I don't know.

cythe, in my experience with my first pregnancy, jello belly continued to improve. 3 weeks is not a long time after what our bodies went through! I think it takes 4 weeks just for the uterus to go back to normal size.

[mkrupar]

Nov 3, 2017 5:36:15 GMT -6 ssm said:

Nov 3, 2017 5:13:38 GMT -6 August Blooms said:

ssm I think trying to incorporate more movement into your day (not sure if you had a c section) and starting to make healthier choices with your food would be a good start to form good habits so when you can start a program you will have already started those habits.

I’ve been thinking a lot about weight loss too, I still have to lose all the weight I gained with DD which is about 60 pounds total from both pregnancies and it seems like a huge task.

it does feel like a daunting task. And I feel so busy to try to add exercise. It's hard enough to clean, cook, finances, toddler, baby. I sorta feel like I'm always running and always failing.
Moms of more kids, what am I missing?!? How do we get everything done?!?

You don't. Seriously. Some things have to slide to maintain your sanity. I pick a few tasks to try and accomplish each day, and ignore the rest until I can get to it. And some days I don't even get to finish those tasks, but I may end up doing something else.

This is probably why my house still isn't unpacked, but I would be in a much worse headspace if I didn't learn to just let it go.

[mkrupar]

And hello! TGIF indeed. I decided to push the kids to a local jungle gym that is just over s half mile from the House. I'm still very much blah from being so inactive the last several months. With the hills in the neighborhood, it is quite the feat to go even that distance. We get to the park and I didn't realize it was fenced in with the local pool, which is closed for the season.

Poor DD was super excited to play, so I pushed them all the way back home, threw them in the car, and drove to another park about a mile away in the other direction.

Next time I'll just walk to the other park.

I have to meal plan, and I may try grocery shopping when H gets home later. It's almost nap time for DD, so that will be the perfect time to get some work done.

[mkrupar]

One more thing for everyone. A PSA-like reminder that we all just did something amazing, and that was to grow and birth another human being. I know how difficult it can be to deal with a body that doesn't look or feel like your own anymore. I just want to say, be kind to yourself. This is all so very new. While 6 weeks is the general standard for going back to "normal" in regards to hormone regulation, it can take up to a year sometimes to really get that sense of self back. I had to remind myself of this the other day. Love yourselves, and remember each day is a new one. What seemed impossible today, may not feel so impossible tomorrow.

[curmudgeon]

Where did my calm sleepy baby go? I am so tired and seems like a nap is unlikely today since he’s nursing every hour. 😭

I had big plans to go out and do some shopping, exchange some clothes for DS1, but I feel like garbage. Tomorrow though. Tomorrow I’m getting a mani/pedi.

[chitownsully]

Nov 3, 2017 10:38:34 GMT -6 mkrupar said:

One more thing for everyone. A PSA-like reminder that we all just did something amazing, and that was to grow and birth another human being. I know how difficult it can be to deal with a body that doesn't look or feel like your own anymore. I just want to say, be kind to yourself. This is all so very new. While 6 weeks is the general standard for going back to "normal" in regards to hormone regulation, it can take up to a year sometimes to really get that sense of self back. I had to remind myself of this the other day. Love yourselves, and remember each day is a new one. What seemed impossible today, may not feel so impossible tomorrow.

Wonderful words of wisdom 💛

[cythe]

H comes home tomorrow - yay!

But he has duty tomorrow, so he doesn't get to come home - boo!

[cougarette]

Nov 3, 2017 11:51:16 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

Where did my calm sleepy baby go? I am so tired and seems like a nap is unlikely today since he’s nursing every hour. 😭

I had big plans to go out and do some shopping, exchange some clothes for DS1, but I feel like garbage. Tomorrow though. Tomorrow I’m getting a mani/pedi.

Ayup. 3 week growth spurt is currently kicking our ass. Except he'll act like he wants to eat and then gets mad that I'm trying to latch him on. 😒

[curmudgeon]

Nov 3, 2017 12:36:10 GMT -6 cougarette said:

Nov 3, 2017 11:51:16 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

Where did my calm sleepy baby go? I am so tired and seems like a nap is unlikely today since he’s nursing every hour. 😭

I had big plans to go out and do some shopping, exchange some clothes for DS1, but I feel like garbage. Tomorrow though. Tomorrow I’m getting a mani/pedi.

Ayup. 3 week growth spurt is currently kicking our ass. Except he'll act like he wants to eat and then gets mad that I'm trying to latch him on. 😒

yessss when he finally latches he makes a horrible face like I just fed him lemons or something and spits it out, then goes back to frantically searching and eating his hands.

[doodlemommy]

Went to get DS’s passport today and it was way faster/easier than I anticipated which was nice! Went out for lunch with my mom after and now just snuggling DS on the couch watching Chicago fire while DD naps

[curmudgeon]

My mom offered to pick up DS1 from preschool today and I am so relieved. Maybe I can get some food before he gets home.

I’m curious about how everyone handles night time wake ups. Does your H get up at all to help with anything or is it all on you? H doesn’t even wake up most nights unless I turn on the lights to see what I’m doing. I snapped at him last night, but I don’t really know how he could help since I’m the food source. I’m just trying to feed, change a diaper, and get back to bed ASAP.

[cythe]

Nov 3, 2017 14:37:11 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

My mom offered to pick up DS1 from preschool today and I am so relieved. Maybe I can get some food before he gets home.

I’m curious about how everyone handles night time wake ups. Does your H get up at all to help with anything or is it all on you? H doesn’t even wake up most nights unless I turn on the lights to see what I’m doing. I snapped at him last night, but I don’t really know how he could help since I’m the food source. I’m just trying to feed, change a diaper, and get back to bed ASAP.

Motn is hard for us, because I stay at home - and because H gets up early *I choose* to do all the middle of the night stuff, especially since there isnt much he can do. If its a particularly bad night or something, he will get up and just sit with me. Rub my feet, support my back if I'm getting frustrated and move to feeding in the bed. Outside of that, not much to be done at this age.

[cougarette]

My H doesn't get up motn either. But he gets up with DS1 and gets him to school. He's also been doing all the cooking and most of the dishes, so I figure it balances out.

Also his job requires him to be driving around all day and I'd rather he didn't do that sleep deprived. When I'm back to work I sit at a desk, so no real danger there.

[doodlemommy]

My H doesn’t get up per se MOTN but we bedshare thus he wakes up anytime baby and I are awake. He will usually ask if we’re good but like pp said there’s nothing he can really do. He will occasionally cuddle/keep an eye on DS if I actually get out of bed to go to the bathroom or something. And he does any MOTN wake ups with DD (who is 3 so it’s not happening often).

[curmudgeon]

That’s what I thought but making sure I wasn’t missing some magical answer. I just look at him peacefully sleeping and want to push him out of bed. But I don’t.

[doodlemommy]

Also since I’m home for a year and only work part time once back and I have an easier time getting up/falling asleep again in general MOTN duties are mostly mine, except for rough nights then we trade off

[trinitrotoluene]

DH is responsible for DS1 motn, and takes DS2 if i need to go to the bathroom or something. For the most part i handled the first year motn, then we started splitting things. We will likely do that again.

[mkrupar]

Nov 3, 2017 14:37:11 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

My mom offered to pick up DS1 from preschool today and I am so relieved. Maybe I can get some food before he gets home.

I’m curious about how everyone handles night time wake ups. Does your H get up at all to help with anything or is it all on you? H doesn’t even wake up most nights unless I turn on the lights to see what I’m doing. I snapped at him last night, but I don’t really know how he could help since I’m the food source. I’m just trying to feed, change a diaper, and get back to bed ASAP.

Any feeding before 2:30am H handles, then I get the ones after that. He decided that was the cutoff he needed to get a few hours of straight sleep before getting up for work. That being said, I still have to wake him up for "his" feeds because he doesn't always hear DS.

We FF, so this is obviously easier since I'm not the good source. Can you pump a bottle or two so your H can do some overnight feeds? Unfortunately, I don't know what you can do differently if you H doesn't have a way to feed baby.