Have you ever wondered what it is really, no REALLY like entering this new world of parenthood? Episode 3 and lots of emotions – “Not my best moment as a mother today, but the 4 month sleep regression is taking it’s toll” to “Santa Claus is coming to town…” to “The transition between the highs and lows of parenting”……..
Happy reading….
Wednesday 13th January
“Minute by minute by minute…”
The transition between the highs and lows of parenting: one minute you’re trying to battle a screeching 5 month old to get dressed; the next your eyes fill with tears of love as your baby looks up from feeding and beams at you. Now weaning has begun I know it’s only a matter of time before she no longer needs me in quite the same way. I’m often guilty of taking breastfeeding for granted: get the online shopping order done; check Facebook; watch Mad Men; but caught for a feed off-guard (upstairs and without my usual ‘survival kit’) I realise what a privilege it is. Skin to skin, with only a blanket to hand, I watch her and we both relax. Afterwards she looks at me smiles and then calmly cuddles me. This is the most complicated, amazing job in the world.
Saturday 9th January
“I’m one card short of a full deck…”
A very honest friend pointed out this evening over dinner that our conversation had become like Groundhog Day, as we’d apparently discussed the same topic – with me asking identical questions – a few days before. I had no recollection of this, but that’s sleep deprivation for you! My cause wasn’t helped later when I offered pudding (ice cream with smarties as I’d forgotten to make a desert) then having dished it up, left it to melt in the kitchen while we watched a film. Whilst a little embarrassing, this did give me (and our guests) an insight into the kind of crazy my husband endures on a daily basis – usually without complaint.
Friday 8th January
“And it really doesn’t matter if I’m wrong I’m right…”
Phase 3 is in play. After a week of very little sleep and following a night spent not feeding LO to sleep or letting her in bed with us for fear of being judged a bad mummy, we are trying the, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” plan which seems to be better for everyone. We’ve concluded that as she’s a 99% happy baby why force change. She’s also has a cold to add to the mix (thank you branded plug-in vaporiser, chest rub, nose drops and paracetamol tincture – you did well!) so think she just needed a lot of cuddles. The result has been some success in some daytime naps in the cot on her own, no tears and settling herself – one step forward, two steps back – but it is a success none the less. Tomorrow: weaning!
4th January
“Turn and face the strange…”
Change is afoot as we head towards that critical 6 month phase. Firstly, where has the time gone? The tiny bundle who could be held in one arm is now 8kg of babbling, smiling, rolling fun! So it’s decision time on weaning and moving her into her own room. Apparently it could be MY snoring waking her up at night (pah)!
Phase 1 of the grand plan is to move the base of the cotbed up so I can reach her more easily, followed by a week of calm naps taken at a prescribed time each day to familiarise her with the new surroundings. No more feeding her to sleep (naughty mummy) for now she has grown she is capable of self soothing.
Phase 2 of the plan is to re-explain phase 1 to our LO after several hours of refusing to nap in newly raised cotbed. So on day 1 I resign and nurse her to sleep through sheer exhaustion. Battle lost. Better luck tomorrow.
25th December
“Santa Claus is coming to town…”
Normally I like to think I’m a cross-between Delia and Nigella in the kitchen, but this year something weird has occurred.
Having consumed (and forgotten about) the cooking sherry pre-pregnancy, this year’s trifle (made at 10pm on Christmas Eve after a) our LO gave up her festive screamathon and b) the shops had closed) had the option of gin, limoncello or a random German market schnapps as a base for the sponge.
After trifle preparations, I began making brandy butter (apparently an essential part of the big lunch which I’d omitted from the supermarket delivery) but ended up in a too wet/too dry cycle and added enough cognac and icing sugar to re-plaster the kitchen! I then managed to repeat this cycle with the gravy this morning – as a result I now have about 1pt of solid brown gelatinous accompaniment to the turkey, “one slice or two?” – where’s my cooking mojo gone?
However, all turned out well in the end: presents were unwrapped, guests were fed, naps were taken. After waiting for so long, it really has been a very special first Christmas!
23rd December
“Comin’ in on a wing and a prayer…”
Not my best moment as a mother today, but the 4 month sleep regression is taking it’s toll. Unable to reach clean water for the top and tail bowls, I resorted to using some (cold) green tea I had to hand, left over from an earlier attempt at rehydration. Perhaps it could go down as an organic cleanser?
20th December
“Trump, trump, trumpety trump…!”
No – bigger did not appear to be better, and the 11pm ‘dream feed’ did not result in a luxurious 8 hour sleep (3.5 hours followed by the worlds wettest, loudest expulsion – baby not me!).
I hope you have enjoyed reading My Life as a New Mummy and I look forward to sharing more of my daily experiences soon. Keep smiling and happy parenting!
