I can really tell that I’m in a postpartum fog because I’m in denial that my baby is a month old today. Um, what have I done in the past month? I really couldn’t say. Produced a lot of milk and washed a lot of laundry, I guess. One thing I haven’t done much of at all is fill out Susanna’s baby book or take daily pictures. Mommy guilt washing over me as I type, I’ll make this a detailed update to placate my conscience.
When her Under-Five-Fan-Club helped me get her dressed this morning, Tommy insisted on her Red Wings outfit (because red is his favorite color).
Susie feels like our worst sleeper to date. Her longest stretch seems to be about 4 1/2 hours, not the 6-8 the doctor predicted after her one abnormal 5 hour stretch at 2 weeks. And looking back at pictures of Elizabeth at one month, I’m thinking it’s because Susanna is not nearly as chubby yet as Big Sis. (Compare her to the other kids at this age here and here.) She’s slowly setting into a routine of waking up around 5 every morning, taking one or two shortish morning naps, a long afternoon nap over the lunch hour and ending right around when both big kids are finally down (eliminating the chance for Mommy to nap), a few afternoon or evening catnaps, and the long night stretch beginning somewhere between 8 and 10 pm and ending between midnight and 2:30, depending on the start time. If it’s only the early side, she’ll wake up one more time before the 5 am start to the day. But just to keep us on our toes, whenever we think she’s settled into that routine, she’ll wake up every hour all night like she did last night and then try to sleep all day.
There are no skin or diaper signs of a dairy allergy, PRAISE THE LORD, and I’ve been to the Creamery about 4 or 5 times this month. We’re not out of the woods yet, but I’m feeling much more hopeful about getting to keep eating ice cream and pizza this next year or so.
She’s pretty happy and mellow most of the time, and the past couple of days I’ve noticed her bat at her hanging toys in the bouncy seat and watch the mobile turn in her swing. I need to get down on the floor with her while the big kids are building a block city so she can watch them play.
She’s still mostly nursing just on one side, and judging from my pumping, that’s 3-4 ounces at a time. She’s been taking a bottle well–Playtex Drop-Ins. Ask me if I’m being faithful to pump and bottle feed once a day. The temptation to slack off is strong, especially on days like yesterday when Elizabeth broke a bookend in the 10 minutes I was down here pumping and unable to keep an eye on her. She’s interested in her thumb but takes a paci, like Tommy.
Evenings are definitely Susanna’s fussy time. Last night I wondered if it was the fact that the big kids are in bed and that she finally has Mommy’s undivided attention that causes her to squirm, cry, and refuse to be comforted by nursing or fall asleep. It’s more fun, perhaps, to have Mommy and Daddy trade off cuddling you, rocking you, singing to you, and patting you, with no big kids to distract them. Maybe I have a second little drama queen on my hands. Oh, mercy.
I love her.
Oh those fussy times! Ailey was FAR fussier than Sam, and I quickly learned that if I put her in the Moby wrap, she’d settle down during the dinner hour (leaving me time to cook and eat!!!) and even stay asleep unto the evening. Yes, I had her on me, but we were conversing and enjoying one another! Ahhhh! 🙂
I hope things get more and more settled. Not sleeping is always hard… especially when you have to be patient with other kids during the day!
No need for mom guilt – you are a FANTASTIC mother. Will pray the sleep gets better. And seriously, SHE’S A MONTH OLD!?! WHAT??
Christina beat me to saying it: NO MOM GUILT!!! You have a newborn. There are only three goals: eat and sleep and nurse. Oh, and take care of your two other kids, and manage a home! 😉
Seriously though, I’m so sorry about Susanna’s frequent waking. That’s so rough for you. Even ice cream and pizza doesn’t make up for utter exhaustion.