I've been writing this post in my head for about three months, so here goes:
1. The first two weeks of being a mother are incredibly difficult and incredibly rewarding, and every time someone asks me if we'd consider having another baby, I think back to those two weeks ...
2. I cannot believe how many raised eyebrows I get over the whole cloth diapering business. It's not that hard, people! Civilization has been cloth diapering for a lot longer than we've been throwing them away.
3. Buying organic cotton disposable diapers is a slippery slope. It lets your in laws know what brand of disposable you would buy in the instance that you are traveling/going to a day-long event, which leads them to buy a huge package of them and leave them at your house. (I'm considering hiding them so we won't think about using them. Fer crissakes, just do the damn laundry, Jo.)
4. Breastfeeding is very hard. This has been my biggest disappointment after having to have a C-section. From the start I was dead-set on breastfeeding exclusively (much like I was dead-set on having a natural child-birth ...) But you know what they say: Man plans, God laughs. I've tried myriad things but haven't been able to produce more than two ounces at any one pumping session. I still haven't exhausted all of my options, so I'll keep trying. Still, though, it makes me feel like a huge failure.
5. Before, and even while I was pregnant, I never thought I'd want to be a stay-at-home mom. And while it's not economically feasible for me to stay home, it's all I think about sometimes.
6. Cooper has the most amazing little personality. At almost 3.5 months, we're finally getting him figured out. He learns new things at an astonishing pace, and he's growing so fast. He was never really tiny, but it's incredible how big he's gotten so quickly. And he's so quick with a smile. These things are really what makes parenthood worth it.
7. If I ever had a hard time keeping up with the chores before we had Cooper, I am now in a permanent state of behind-edness.
8. Also, I still feel like I have pregnancy brain. "Behind-edness?" GOOD LORD. USE YOUR WORDS, WOMAN.
8 comments:
Haha! I love this post. Honest mommies like you make me feel much better (or at least more prepared) about entering into motherhood. Thanks for the laughs and for your candidness, lady! :)
www.nataliecottrell.blogspot.com
So impressed by your honest post. You're right, motherhood is AMAZING but it's not EASY! It's why I made certain decisions early on that I was judged on too, like choosing to bottle feed from day one. It just fit me and our lifestyle...wish I could offer you more support for the breastfeeding thing, but since I have no experience, I can't offer any advice. I would just say that as long as you provide for your child, you are NOT a failure. It may not be exactly HOW you had planned to provide for them, but to them, you are the center of their universe and it makes no difference to them. Also, I totally agree with numbers 5 and 7. Brady and I have a lot of praying to do if we're going to make some major decisions that affect us both financially, but that are necessary now that we are a family. Anyway, just look forward to 5 o'clock and the weekends!!!!!
Oh, breastfeeding. I struggled a great deal with breastfeeding, and pumping was torture. The lactation consultant had me start eating oatmeal daily, and I started drinking Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk Tea. I believe both those things helped production. Also, I tried very hard to drink tons of water.
As for cloth diapering...I am curious, but I am scared. I know people have been doing it forever, but it seems so daunting!
Oh! And she had me start taking Fisol brand fish oil tablets. Safe for breastfeeding and helpful for the brain. Your brain. I don't know about the kid.
Hugs to you, Miss Dallas.
Lisa: I'm going to do a cloth diapering post soon! They're so different then how they used to be, and specialized detergents have made it so much easier.
Hey lady! I've been keeping an eye on your blog, patiently waiting for your return. :) I can't wait to read your cloth diapering blog. I should write one on with disposable ones are shit. The breastfeeding thing is something that I treaded lightly with myself on. I had a very close friend that was dead set on exclusively BF and after 2 months, she was at the same place. Only producing 2oz at each pump. You're doing better than I did, I lasted a week. :) Whatever you decide to do, Coop will love and adore you no matter what. :) Plus, I still think you're pretty cool. :) Thanks for the new blog!
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It took a WHILE before my words started coming back. I still struggle though. Drives me NUTS.
Pumping isn't an accurate measure of actual mil output. Always check Kellymom.com for breastfeeding advice. Most doctors never learn much about breastfeeding. I still like to double check all things nursing on kellymom.
Cooper is getting so big so fast! Such a handsome boy! I <3 yall!
On an odd note, my captcha to post this comment is "mated." hahahahhaha!!
Love the honesty! :)
He is the cutest baby!!!
Stupid blogger wont let me sign in with wordpress.
www.manyheartsonefamily.wordpress.com
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