Ompf! It's been a busy. Over the last several weeks I feel that we've really settled into our new lives. I have my energy back, the stitches have healed, the flow of visitors has calmed down and receded now,I've gotten better used to Lincolns cues and needs and I've worked out something of a routine.
Every morning at 6am Lincoln wakes me up with a very heavy nappy, I change him and then take him back to my own bed for the first morning feed. Usually we fall back to sleep having a cuddle and if Jones is on a late shift he's home for the morning too so we'll have a little lie in together for another hour or so, me catching up on sleep after the two wake ups during the night. Then it's time to start my day. After dressing Lincoln in fresh clothes I take him downstairs where he snoozes in his moses basket or sits in his bouncer for an hour while I have breakfast and get myself ready. I throw a load of washing in, give the kitchen a once over, if Jones is home I'll make him breakfast. Then it's another feed for Lincoln before me and him leave the house and Daddy goes to work.
I don't drive yet, simply because of a lack of funds and higher priorities, but this has never held me back, as long as there's a bus route or I can walk I easily get out and about. Twice a week we visit family, a walk to my parents house, sometimes a walk to the park with Stacey and her kids, or a drive to the shopping mall with one of my other Sil, (sister in law). Sometimes just popping here and there for a cuppa. If I need any groceries, I'll walk to one of the local towns. I like the exercise of walking a lot and being in the pram settles Lincoln.
Lincoln will have around 3-4 feeds and corresponding changes while we're out depending on how long this is for, then we'll head home in time for another feed/change. If Lincolns asleep when we come through the door I'll take advantage and have another quick shower before prepping dinner and tidying the house. Then it's playtime, Lincoln goes on his play-mat and we do Tummy time, sing nursery rhymes, and I read Lincoln a few pages of a book, currently Harry Potter.
If Jones is on a late shift, I eat dinner alone, do another feed, then if he's grouchy I'll take Lincoln out for an early evening walk around the block. I'll give Lincoln a bath late afternoon/evening, and a baby massage that helps with his colic/wind. Another feed and cuddle while I towel dry and brush his hair, A nice fresh sleepsuit and then between 10pm-12 I usually get a few precious adult hours while Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to me. I watch some pre-recorded cooking shows, maybe an episode of Poirot, or Miss Marple. I knit a bit, look up recipes and generally just chill a little before Jones comes home.
Daddy then plays with Lincoln before he has his midnight feed and I immediately hand him back to Daddy after he's finished, because this is their time together, he has a cuddle while Lincoln sleeps on him, giving me hands free and a good relax as we exchange details about our day. If Jones is on an early shift he's home by five so we get to eat dinner together and either catch up on our shows or watch a movie with Daddy holding Lincoln or if we're lucky Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to the sofa while we have a 'couples' cuddle - we have to make the most of these now days :-) :-) haha!
On Jones days off we've managed to fluke some glorious summer time weather and taken Lincoln out for family days. So far we've had a BBQ, two picnics, a day in Stratford upon Avon accompanied by a stroll along the riverside, a day in Cannon Hill park, an afternoon de-weeding the garden, and a pub meal and walk around Bridgenorth. If its raining our days are more boring huddled indoors but we've definitely found a balance between what our lives used to be and what our roles now are as parents.
Its not all sunshine and daisies. Sometimes I feel frustrated especially if its raining all day and I can't get out of the house much. I often feel like I'm just constantly feeding, Lincoln likes short, frequent feeds on the boob and its tiring, the hormones released while breastfeeding are known as relaxants and it makes me sleepy, occasionally if we've not been able to get out for the day we'll both have a mid-afternoon nap! But I always remind myself how much easier it is to feed him on demand from breast rather than a bottle and its so much better for him in this early stage.
I'm happy that we've found ourselves a daily routine, and simple though it is, in time, the more settled Lincoln becomes the more I'll be able to do. At the moment I'm still not bothering with makeup on a daily basis, or any overly complicated hairstyles, but give it time. And then I hope to incorporate some fitness routines into my days. I'm just happy enjoying these first months of being a new mom and getting to know my baby, bonding with him every day.
6 weeks into Mom-life and loving every day no matter what.
