Our New Normal

Catherine is 4 1/2 months old now, and I frequently find myself wondering when will our life go back to normal. When will we actually have time to just relax instead of feeling like there is always some project hanging over our head?  When will we actually have time in the evenings to ourselves, without a little baby hanging out with us?  When will I have time to shower regularly again?

I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that maybe THIS is the new normal.  It's hard for me to accept that--I have so many things I feel like I need to do, but have no time to do them.  I think I'm still trying to fit my two-child reality into my one-child schedule. And it doesn't work very well.

So I guess what I really need to do is cut back on the alleged 'extras'.  But what are they?  Piano lessons?  That's my adult interaction and Seth's friend interaction for the week.  Cake decorating?  My creative outlet.  Scrapbooking (just to be clear--my idea of scrapbooking involves sticking pictures on paper and writing what is happening.  That's it.)?  Well, that's our family history--I'm supposed to do that, right?

And people wonder why I don't leave the house.  I don't need to--I have enough going on here to keep me busy for years!

Shout, 'Hooray!'

Last Sunday in Primary (I'm the chorister) they pulled up 3 or 4 kids to sing a birthday song to.  As I was coordinating the song with the pianist, I heard the presidency member announce that one of the leaders was having a birthday, too.  I smile brightly and look around the room, waiting for one of the teachers to come up to the front.

It wasn't until she said my name that I realized it was me.  

It was a very odd sensation to have completely forgotten my own birthday.  Part of it is just how busy life has been for the past month--I'm living day-to-day instead of anticipating what's coming up.  But part of it is just realizing that I don't care as much anymore.  I enjoy celebrating my family's birthdays more than my own.

But all the same, I'm glad they reminded me so I could be excited for my birthday this week.  And I got a Twix out of it, which possibly made up for my having to stand in front of the entire Primary and be sung to.  Twice.                                  

Thoughts at 3 Months Post-Partum

Infant clothes should come in one color and one color only:

Poo-splosion orange.

Either that or I need to invest in Shout stock...

I'm fairly sure there is currently more of my hair 

on our bathroom floor than there is left on my head.

Amazing how quickly 4-5 consecutive hours of sleep 

becomes a great night's rest.

It doesn't matter what brand of diapers you buy--

your baby can poop out of anything.

There has got to be a safe way to 

permanently attach a pacifier to a kid's mouth.

I have very seriously considered putting a belt around

my baby to keep her dang arms swaddled.

When my first baby slept longer than usual, 

I would wake up terrified that he'd died in his sleep. 

With number two, I just praise the Lord 

for an extra hour or two of sleep.

Why didn't I realize how easy this baby thing was 

when I only had one?  

Cause it's a heck of a lot harder with a toddler to care for, too.

Is my brain ever going to function at full capacity again?

Why am I sitting here typing this when both kids are napping?

I need a nap, too!

At 34 Weeks

-I'm getting heartburn while standing up. It's even more fun when I lay down.

-I can't get my wedding band off.

-I have to wear my Vans with gel soles at all time while cooking or my feet feel like I've been standing for hours.

-I have exactly two outfits that I can still fit in for church, and exactly one pair of shoes that is still comfortable.

-I've come to terms with the fact that for at least 30 minutes after I lay down to sleep, baby will keep me awake with a stunning dance routine.

-Any waddling you see is not from a big belly--it's from Braxton Hicks and/or pelvic pressure. I'm not looking forward to this baby dropping (if there's even anywhere left for her to drop. Sure doesn't feel like it).

-I'm nesting like a mad woman.

-I'm stressing over the logistics of taking care of Seth while we're at the hospital.

-Asian food sounds terrible to me. Even P.F. Chang's. Probably has something to do with all the heartburn...

-I'm cherishing my time with Seth. I hope he forgives us quickly for messing with his life.

-I'm currently sleeping with three pillows: two under my head for heartburn, one between my knees. Jon's never been so grateful for a king-sized bed.

-There are small piles of pink clothes on the nursery floor waiting for me to deal with them. Does it make me sound like a wimp if I say I'm very intimidated by those pink clothes?

-I'm realizing that if this baby comes ten days early (like Seth did), then we'll have a new baby in less than a month. My brain is not ready for that. My aching body would be happy to deliver tomorrow.

-I swear my face gets puffier every morning.

-My ribs hurt ALL THE TIME. This kid is in my ribs ALL THE TIME.

-I'm grateful that I can still shave my legs in our stall shower without having to sit on the ground. With Seth I was already at that point by now.

-This baby is coming next month. I can't get that through my head.