Obviously...

I'm not doing so well at regularly blogging right now. Can't imagine why.

Some of it is just that there isn't much going on in my life other than the obvious, taking care of G. And that isn't really very different day-to-day. Life at six weeks is about the same as it was at four weeks. I'm trying to get as much sleep as possible, and keep us fed and the house somewhat presentable. Beyond that... I've got nothing.

I am thinking about some bloggy changes. Not quitting the blog, just some changes...

I have lots of ideas of things I'd like to do, both online and in real life, but naptime is too short. And I have to remind myself that I've still been recovering from the c-section. At what point is that excuse too old to use anymore? Probably today, since I'm officially no longer "disabled" as far as work is concerned and I should have been back at work today. I still have another 6 weeks through FMLA, but if I couldn't take unpaid leave I'd have had to be back today.

Honestly, that seems completely crazy to me. In no way are either of us ready for me to be working full time again already. I am so grateful that I have the flexibility & didn't have to return so soon.

Six weeks. It's flown by. I'm sure the next six weeks will too.

I'm so blessed.

One Month

G had his one month well baby visit yesterday. He's not gained as much weight as they would like, so I'm being encouraged to supplement with formula. I am discouraged about that.

G also has a small heart murmur which the doctor said is not uncommon, and with most kids it disappears by their first birthday, but still, I'd rather he not have one at all.

And, G has now decided that he hates his father and only wants me to hold him. I feel so bad for L and also would like to rest my arms and back at times.

I sound really negative with that, so let's focus on the positive. G is starting to smile, especially if you tickle his chin or cheek. It's absolutely enchanting.

He also is quite strong, and turns himself from one side to the other when we put him to sleep. I fully expect him to completely turn over in the not so distant future. He also tries to stand and is more successful at it than I'd expect from such a young baby.

His face is still a mess - too many hormones have him quite rashy. I hope that clears up soon so his pictures start looking better.

Nursing is absolutely one of his favorite things - and he seems to be quite the foodie in that he smacks his lips and nibbles at me as if he's proclaiming over an exquisite morsel or fine bottle of wine. And then he's had enough of that and he dive-bombs right in for his meal. It's one of the funniest sights! And sounds too, because he's very vocal about it - lots of coos and grunts and other noises.

I'm finding more time to read than I'd expected (what with all the nursing) but less time to write or do anything else that requires more than one hand. We're still not on any real routine, but I'm hoping that soon it will happen. I seem to be able to manage maybe 3 tasks in a day besides taking care of him. Typically that means dinner, a load of laundry and one other thing.

I'd hoped to make a dash to the library today during lunch, leaving G with his father, but G decided he wasn't interested in eating anywhere near a time that would allow that to happen. Maybe tomorrow, or else I'll be paying some late fees.

Thankful Tuesday

It's been awhile since I did one of these...

• For a healthy son!
  
• For a healthy mamma. :)

Really, it seems like I should just leave it at that for this week lest anything else seem to detract from the magnitude of those two, especially considering how things ended up working out.

July Books

I finished more than I would have expected in July but most of the credit for that goes to G being very very late & the bedrest I was on for the first week. Lots of nursing time doesn't hurt either; I've been able to read more than I would have thought while he's eating.

For anyone who wonders, it was the Polly Evans book I read during labor. I'd been holding off on reading it for ages, saving it for a special occasion. I suppose that qualifies.

Laura Lippman - Every Secret Thing

Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt - Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman

Michael J. Collins - Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs: The Making of a Surgeon

Margaret Frazer - The Apostate's Tale

Stephen Booth - One Last Breath

Stephanie Barron - A Flaw in the Blood

Earlene Fowler - Delectable Mountains

Polly Evans - Mad Dogs and an Englishwoman: Travels with Sled Dogs in Canada’s Frozen North

Ellie Mathews - The Ungarnished Truth: A Cooking Contest Memoir

Clay & Sally Clarkson - Educating the WholeHearted Child: A Handbook for Christian Home Education

Leo Babauta - The Power of less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential … in Business and in Life

Donald S. Whitney - Simplify Your Spiritual Life

Bryan Chapell - Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus’ Name

Janet P. Penley with Diane Eble - MotherStyles: Using Personality Type to Discover Your Parenting Strengths

Elizabeth Pantley - The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

Kathleen Huggins - The Nursing Mother’s Companion

Holly Pierlot - A Mother’s Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul

Sally Clarkson - The Mom Walk: Keeping in Step with God’s Heart for Motherhood

Getting it Together

So the baby is a little over 3 weeks old, and we've been home not quite 2 weeks. We've had both sets of grandparents visit, but they've all gone back to their homes now. We're on our own.

And so far it's ok. G is such a good baby - he doesn't cry that much. Tears are mostly reserved for times of extreme hunger. And ok, for him any hunger is extreme, but hey, he's a big boy & has to keep fueled. Tears also frequently accompany diaper changes because apparently those are EEEEEVVVVVVIIIIILLLLLL. The real fury is reserved for the most hated event of all - bath time! He SCREAMS in rage when I have the nerve to bathe him. Unsurprisingly, I bathe him as infrequently as possible because I hate doing something that gets him into such a temper. I'm hoping he'll grow to love bath time, or else there will be a lot of screaming in our future.

Breastfeeding is improving; I went almost a week without having to give him any formula supplement, and if it wasn't for our first outing over the weekend, and a lengthy doctor's appointment for me today, I think we'd still be continuing our formula-free streak. I just couldn't pump enough before my appointment, so I was pretty sure he'd be hungry before my return and my little bottle wouldn't last him. And I ended up giving him a bottle as we drove home from our outing; I don't think he'd gotten as much food as normal throughout the day as we were at the relative's house, and then our long drive home had him in a fit. Hopefully we'll get better at eating away from home soon. He still usually refuses to eat unless I'm using a shield so I hope to get him weaned off of that soon.

I managed to cook dinner tonight for the first time in a LONG time. I picked the menu carefully; it required no last minute work from me and was a very simple one to put together. The bonus was it was cheap, healthy and very tasty too! I love finding new recipes that are great. I'll share the recipe eventually.