my 14 month old "angel" has turned into some sort of...creature? i mean seriously- tantrums & screaming & fits like i've never seen.
or rather, i have seen- but those were always someone else's kids & i judged them. it's karma.
i know it's a mixture of everything- age, baby, teeth, being cooped up, wanting mommy- everything! but still- it's killing me.
thank God the husband was home this week- i might have jumped out a window if not for that. however he is off to work tomorrow- so it's just me. omg. scared.
anyway- i desperately need to post brynn's birthstory before things start getting gray on me (memory wise)- i'm going to shoot for that tomorrow or tuesday- yes? ok.
but for now i'll leave you with a few pictures of the girls- these are a few days old, but that can't be helped:
officially pissed. sorry kiddo.
and miss alex- don't be fooled- she is only this happy for like 1 hour per day. the rest of the day = angry screaming crying snotty face.
hmmm- so yes.
things are going well.
i'm tired- but good. alex is good- a toddler terror, but still good. brynn is doing well- back up to birth weight by day#5 and getting bigger. she lost her umbilical stump yesterday- much sooner than alex did- so that was nice.
she nurses like a champ- like, A LOT- but the nips are doing much better. God bless the inventor of the Nipple Shield. that thing saved me!!!
she sleeps well (during the day) and pretty ok at night- 2-4 hour stretches. the only thing is i pretty much have to be holding her or VERY near her. no swaddling & into the crib for this kid- so different than alex.
so right now we're co-sleeping & we go down around 9-10 & she's up about 3x per night.
once the hubs is back to work i'll need to be out of bed by 5-5:30 to start the day. alex gets up around 6-6:30 and brynn does whatever she wants.
i think things would be a LOT easier if it wasn't for breastfeeding/pumping. i know it's great for her & all- but it kills me. she's attached to the boob or the boob is attached to the pump. and not pumping is NOT an option.
i have an INSANE oversupply & i've already dealt with 3 clogged ducts because i tried not pumping at night. in fact- i have one right now- and it's hell. so blah.
i'm thankful that i have the milk i need & i can't complain- but it's hard to pump & nurse with a 14 month old & a newborn who demands to be held. but i can do it- i have to right?
ok-i promise i'll try to update more.
thank you all for your congrats & well wishes. they made me teary (probably would have even if i wasn't a hormonal mess for the first few days)!
14 comments:
Alex looks so much older with her hair out of her face ::cry::.
*hugs* I hope things get better very, very soon and the big sister adjusts quickly!
I can only imagine how crazy things are. I'm so nervous about # 2 getting here in March! Ack!
Hang in there!
With all you have going on in your household don't feel like you HAVE to breastfeed. I'm all for breastfeeding if you can, and I'm still breastfeeding my 11 month old. But for sure you have to do what works best for your family and for your sanity. I almost stopped breastfeeding cause of plugged duct, if I was dealing with a 14 month old and plugged ducts, it would have been a total deal breaker. Hang in there and good luck with it, but just know that it doesn't make you less of a mother if you don't breastfeed or supplement.
P.S. Your girls are absolutely gorgeous!
Congrats on the awesome supply. I know it has it's own challenges though. Try to nurse with baby's chin where your duct is. It may call for some gymnastics and strange maneuvers, but baby's suck is strongest on the bottom of her mouth and it'll draw that clogged milk out better. Does that make sense? Also, the shield can cause clogged ducts so if you don't HAVE to use it... I had to use if for weeks. It's a pain, but I know it's necessary sometimes!
So proud of you, you're doing great! Good luck when the hubster goes back to work! You totally have it! :)
Your family is so beautiful. seriously. you make me want to have another baby. I hear you on the toddler terror thing. Liv keeps me busy without another baby. Tantrums galore. They will grow out of it right? right. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and sending you positive mommy vibes.
Congratulations on the beautiful baby girl. I love the first picture of Alex in this post. Did you do any editing to her eyes or is that SOOC? Beautiful either way! If you did edit, in all your free time these days, I would love to know how you did it!
I hope you get some rest!
The girls are both beautiful. I knew Brynn would be after the first stunning child, but still. :) And you have officially made my uterus ache.
Hang in there, I know it's going to be incredibly hectic for a while, but you can do it!
Oh T, they are both just so beautiful! I had oversupply issues as well, and it was AWFUL. Eventually (and I mean...like...when he was 7 months old) I get my supply regulated. What did help me somewhat was block feeding, have you tried that? Basically I did two feedings/pumping sessions in a row on one side, then two on the other, instead of going back and forth. That way he still got the hindmilk instead of all foremilk, and my supply did drop a little.
You probably already know about that, but just in case, I wanted to throw that in there. Good luck! They are beautiful little girls!
Hang in there T.Bird, you're doing great!!
The age gap between my children is more then your girls (2 years 18 days), but I know how you’re feeling! In some aspects it will get easier; but to be honest in other ways it’ll get harder (when they both run in opposite directions). You’ll have moments when you want to throw yourself down and have a temper tantrum but in the next moment your children will do something that makes all the difficult moments worth it…MANY, MANY heart melting moments are coming your way (if they haven’t already). Though they’ll agitate each other to no end, your girls will be best of friends and be there for each other…even at a very early age.
Breast feeding is very difficult while carrying for a toddler; you have to do what is best for yourself and family, whatever you decide don’t look back. I called it quiets after three months with my youngest, I couldn’t keep my supply up, I/Hayden was always being interrupted during feedings and Benjamin quickly learned that when mommy was feeding baby brother he could get into trouble…and I do mean trouble! One time he pulled a stool over, climbed onto the counter, somehow reached onto the top of a cabinet got down a bottle of baby aspirin, opened it and drank it. He was fine, poison control said it happens frequently but we needed to keep a close watch on him for changes… talk about a heart stopping moment and feeling like the shittest mom ever!
God gave women amazing strength, take one day at a time, don’t be afraid to put the girls in their rooms for a few minutes of “me time”.
P.S. Baby Merlin’s Sleep Suit was my saving grace with Hayden; expensive but it got him sleeping in his crib and 6-8 hour stretches at night.
You are totally superwoman, even on days when you don't feel like it. Prayers & hugs for everyone!
You family is beautiful! The adjustment is always difficult but in many ways you'll probably find that the adjustment from none to one was a lot harder than one to two. Once Brynn gets a little bit older and her feedings are spaced it will get a lot easier.
Can't wait to read her birthstory. Be blessed, my friend!
I can't see the pics (work computer, bleh) but I wanted to offer a high five to you and your boobies for doing what you're doing; and congratulations tbird! : )
I know what you mean about the pumping... I feel like I spend half of my life attached to the pump. It's frustrating. BUT it's worth it, right? Hopefully... lol.
Hopefully Alex will settle down soon. Not quite sure how you manage to both toddler-wrangle AND newborn-dote. You must be supermama!
Alex is adorable, as always. And Brynn is BEAUTIFUL!
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