Getting It Together

I like to think that I wasn't naive about the challenges inherit in having an infant. Yet, I find that it's about 150 times harder than I imagined. This week we had a reunion of some of the families from my Bradley class (During class we were couples, but now, we're families. Funny how that happens. ;) ) and one thing we talked about was how we spent so much time getting ready for the birth and not nearly enough time getting ready for the actual baby. I have the gigantic Dr. Sears Baby Book which I was determined to read cover-to-cover (ha!), but by the time Elizabeth was born I had only read about baths and diaper changes. Nothing on sleep and breastfeeding. You know, the important things.

I think I thought she would sleep more during the day and when she was a wake it would be a breeze to do things with her in the Moby wrap, but

A. She doesn't always want to be in the Moby wrap,
B. I don't always want her in the Moby wrap (It's hot, tight on my chest, and sometimes hurts my back.),
and C. There are some things you just can't do, or are extremely difficult to do, with the Moby (like dishes, cleaning bathrooms and carrying  a laundry basket).

Like right now, Elizabeth is in her bouncer because earlier when I sat down at my computer to write this post (Which was about an hour and a half ago. We've had to eat and change diapers since then.), she didn't want to be in the wrap. Now she doesn't seem very happy in her bouncer (Although she slept in her bouncer from 9 pm to 4 am last night!!) and after every sentence I type I have to reach down and give her her pacifier back. She seems so happy once she gets her pacifier, but that dissolves within 60 seconds. This is how things don't get done.

Life is tricky lately. But very, very blessed. Look! Baby smiles:

I'm trying very hard now to get back to doing things, and the first of the month always seems like a great time to start fresh. Sweet baby girl is priority #1, but it's time I start tackling my very scary to-do list. Really, it's for my own sanity and happiness. So today I got a planner. It's still blank (I've been trying to fill it out all day, but you know...), but I'm about to  map out some daily goals and menus. Hopefully life will start to find more of a productive routine, and be filled with more pasta dishes and less hot dogs and nachos. Although Lee does grill some pretty fabulous hot dogs.

P.S. We are back in the Moby now and seeming much happier!