I am so thankful for my mom.
I knew they would come, but today was a very emotional day. Kate wasn't quite herself, and I find it hard sometimes to keep up with her constantly changing. It seems like each time I get her figured out for a few days, she changes again:) I know that's normal, and I know that with all the hormones flying around in my body, my emotions are also very normal. But, some days are just harder than others.
Kate used to take long naps, we're talking a few hours at a time, and it was great. I could get things done and feel productive while she slept. Slowly, her naps have become shorter and these last few days, she's only been sleeping about half an hour at a time. She still doesn't go to bed at night until around midnight, so I started to really worry about her getting enough sleep and where she's sleeping and got myself all worked up. She's also been having some breastfeeding issues lately and hasn't been eating as much or as predictably as she used to, so I got worked up about that too.
When I start to worry about all of these things (along with Matt working nights this week - leaving me alone for nighttime), I start to frantically search the Internet and books and my husband's brain for answers and advice and assurance that we are doing the right thing. I so want to do things right for Kate and I think that somewhere there must be a 'right' answer. Fast forward a few hours (and a lot of tears), and Matt had to get to work. I had calmed down a little bit, but called my mom anyway and asked her to come over.
She is wonderful.
She came, she held Kate, and she gave me the encouragement and support that I needed for today. She didn't have any magic answers or easy advice, but she reminded me that each and every baby is different. You can't live your life by a book, we have to just do what is right for us. And I need to take it a little easier on myself. It's so easy to want something that doesn't exist, and it's so nice when someone can remind you that you're doing just fine without it.
Hi Laura! Congratulations on Kate. She is just beautiful! I saw your link to your blog on facebook and wanted to let you know that this post was so encouraging to me! I had a baby on November 3, so I think he's just a little bit older than Kate. I feel the way you felt in this post the majority of days. I am ALWAYS saying "just when I get him figured out, he changes!" It seems I'm always finding something to be frantically searching the internet about. And just like you said, I'm always trying to find the "right" answer. I feel like I'm always asking people about what their baby is eating/sleeping/etc. because I think there is some secret everyone else has found and that I'm the only one doing everything wrong! Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for writing this and let you know that you're not the only one feeling this way. :)
ReplyDeleteAmy Schuiling