Slowing down

Life is slower. It's been an adjustment to appreciate that there isn't always a need to rush from one thing to another.  Today I spent time talking. I talked to my Mum via Skype. Tyler was at his cutest and smiled and showed her how he could wave his arms around and generally look cute.  I talked to my neighbour over a cup of tea. I learnt more about her in two hours than I had learnt over the last six months. Then I had some mummy friend time. We chilled out and sat around and talked about jobs and babies and weaning and nannying. We sat outside amidst the washing - washing drying outside which fills my heart with happiness and emits a smell which throws me back into another simpler life when I lived at home with my Mum and Dad. I picked up Thomas from preschool and went back outside, playing on the deck, breathing in the fresh air, generally enjoying my day. That's when I realise that life is slower.  I didn't 'do' much, but I kept my baby close to me, I fed him and changed him, held him when he dozed, kissed his perfect face and made him feel safe. If my life needs to be slower right now to make my children whole and happy, then so be it. There will be plenty of years when the pace picks up again, and I'll be ready for it.

 

A 'me' hour...

An hour! I’ve got at least one hour to myself! What shall I do? So many things to do!

I’ll call my Mum and tell her I’ve got a WHOLE HOUR to myself! Then I’ll think of what I can do…

I’ll finish that cake I’d started. Then I can sit down, watch mindless TV, maybe have a snooze, maybe read some more of my new book “Beyond the Sling” by Mayim Bialik, maybe start some coursework…

Well the oven is a bit dirty, I’ll just wipe that down.

And wash the dishes. Then I’ll sit down.

After I’ve cleaned the kitchen floor.

Well, I might as well do the bathroom as well while I’m at it.

Oh, the nappies are dry. I’ll just stuff them so they’re ready to use. Then I’ll sit down.

And write this blog post…

Then I’ll make a cup of tea.

Oh. Hello! You’re back! Great…

I guess it was productive ‘me’ time at least.

Photoblog - February selection!

Here are my favourite photos from February. I didn't use all of them on the photoblog, a couple are just photos I love :)

Where are we now...

Nearly three months on, wow!! I know that time passes in an instant with a newborn, but really? Three months?! I was determined to relish every second this time round, and still it passed in an instant.

We've survived the one week, two week, three week, four week, six week, seven week, eight week and nine week growth spurts - some would say Tyler's whole little life has been one big growth spurt! 15 pounds and counting...

We made it through David spending ten days in Japan.

We got through Tyler's first cold.

Thomas has been amazing. I am constantly amazed by how well he adapted to having a little brother. They share this mutual affection which makes everyone smile.

And me?  Well, I feel like I'm coming out of the fog.  I think to myself "I can do this, it's actually pretty fun!". I've found some friends and like the constant activity which fills my world.  I've signed up to become a Childbirth Educator with BirthWorks. We've booked flights to the UK in April, hooray, it's been TOO long since I had a Mummy cuddle of my own. I'm going to the European DNA working group meeting in Sweden. I've finished a journal article. Life is getting back to normal, a new normal, and I love it.

I am very very lucky :)

Hooray for boobies - a breastfeeding meme

I've been tagged by the lovely Jenny at Mummy Mishaps on this breastfeeding meme. I would never have thought I'd be able to write about this! Yay me! :)

1. Why did you choose boob over bottle?
I didn't manage to breastfeed Thomas. There were many factors involved, a lot of naivety and a ton of physical issues, and I felt guilty for a long time afterwards.  Training as a doula allowed me to explore the world of breastfeeding more and I learnt a lot! I come from a formula feeding family and I honestly had no idea what was really involved in breastfeeding. This time round I tried again because a) I'm stubborn (!), b) breast is best IF you can do it, and c) I really wanted to give it a go, knowing so much more than I did first time round.

2. How long did you breastfeed or are you planning to breastfeed?
Until Tyler wants to stop!

3. What is the best thing about breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding Tyler has healed me of the regret and guilt I felt over not managing to do it with Thomas. I haven't bonded better with Tyler and I definitely don't love Thomas any less for bottle feeding him. Breastfeeding has been really hard for me to establish and with the naivety and lack of family / friends / support system in place when I had Thomas, I'm not surprised it didn't work!


4. Did you have to overcome challenges on your breastfeeding journey?
Yes! It hurt a lot and he fed constantly for the first eight weeks. I needed a support pillow, two hands, Soothies, breast shields, Lansinoh, Motherlove nipple cream and Netflix to get me through!  Now he's only ten weeks and he still feeds a LOT. I'm just used to it now and it stopped hurting so it isn't so bad. Plus I think I've had it lucky really. Fingers crossed, I haven't had over-supply or under-supply (bar my milk not kicking in for four days), or anything like thrush or mastitis or blocked ducts, and Tyler isn't sensitive to anything I eat or drink. Some people have a really hard time!

5. Who supported you the most with breastfeeding?
My husband. He was, and still is, a rock. He tells me how brilliantly I'm doing and in those early weeks he gave me the boost I needed every time I got emotional and pissed off with the whole thing! I've also been really lucky to meet some lovely people here who I've been able to moan at / cry in front of when things have been tough.

6. How did you feel when you first breastfed in public?
Awkward and brilliant at the same time!

7. Have you been questioned for breastfeeding?
Not yet. Let someone try! I know my rights!

8. Has breastfeeding made you feel different about your body?
Not really, although my flat nipples are pretty impressive now! :D I'm still in the early days though and need to get over the postpartum wobbly phase before I really know what my body will look like!

9. What do you wish you had known before making the decision to breastfeed your baby?
That it's really really tough to find nice clothes which are amenable to breastfeeding without showing tons of saggy belly or masses of boob!

If anyone else wants to join in, click on the photo below! :)

#SilentSunday

My favourite January photos

For those not following my 366 photoblog, I thought I'd post my favourite photos of the month here! So here is my selection of favourite pictures from January. If you want to see them all, head on over to my other blog here!