Witching hours and more

It's really nice doing this a second time around. I have resources already on hand and sort of know what to expect. For example, the baby has been fussy for awhile. What do you do? Put on the Moby and he's good, out like a light. Or go for a car ride, somewhere close, to change things up for awhile. Then 6 pm hits, right when you want to sit down to dinner after a long day, and the baby is really fussy again and he can't be soothed. You remember the "witching hours" and do what you can to get through to bedtime. It usually involves a lot of nursing, bouncing, and passing back and forth. The witching hours don't last forever. You don't worry about bed sharing or all the other little things that I tried to figure out the answer for the first time. You just do what works and comes naturally to you and go with it. Things change so fast and you know this. Max won't be a newborn for much longer. He'll soon be at a new stage and if this is my last kiddo, I'm making sure to enjoy all of these moments while they are here.

Since Max's birth, we've had 11 meals delivered, 12 if you count the delicious thai from my sister while I was going into labor. More meals are on their way. Isn't that wonderful? I love my old and new friends and our family.

Adjusting to managing two through the day can be tricky, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I had my first full day with both yesterday but we just kept busy and kept it simple. My dad popped in unexpectedly to hang with us for awhile and treated us to an afternoon out. Then we had delicious mole enchiladas delivered by friends just as hubby was getting home from his long day.

Happy weekend all!

Mini Monster

That's what I've been calling him the last few days. He's been a little more fussy, especially in the wee hours of the morning, like after 2 am. Might be time to start reading this special gem. I remember this period with Maggie but not being as tolerant then. I guess I'm just thankful that I went to bed at 9 last night and got some good hours of sleep in. I'm spending early morning hours like I did with him in my tummy - awake on the computer catching up on stuff, except this time he's loosely swaddled and sleeping contently in his little chair next to me. He's too cute and life is too short to be mad at our mini monster.

Uphill

After a week that wasn't too pretty, I'm feeling much better and have avoided taking antibiotics for this infection. However, I've done a lot of pill popping, sleeping, nursing, hot showers, pumping, cold and hot compresses, liquid consumption, shivering, and sweating! And now it's a beautiful 80+ degrees outside this weekend so the sweating continues :-)

My friend said it perfectly the other day - having mastitis a week after having a baby is totally complicated. You have so much to do to just take care of yourself yet somewhere in there you also have to REST. It is complicated, especially when you feel responsible for taking care of your other children and things at your house. We used help each day this week - family is invaluable. Anyways, we agreed that the upside to this problem is that our milk supply is the bomb, it just needs to even out.

Here is what I have to show for almost 2 weeks in~

Ick

Engorgement, then mastitis. No fun. I know there are worse things in the world and this is par for the course, but I am so ready to go out in the world and I can't yet. The weather is so nice and it would be great to get out but being in bed with the baby isn't so bad. I know this time will vanish quickly. Thank you hubby, Shay, and others helping me out so that I can be on the mend.

Good news is our little guy had his one week visit today and he now weighs 9 lbs 7 oz! Not so little for a newborn, huh? I knew he was gaining weight but wow! He's a content baby and oh so cute. This time around I feel more relaxed and know what to expect, good and bad. Ok, back to the herbs, cold compress, nursing, and rest...

Marvelous Max

Maxson Oliver Meza is here! He came into the world this past Monday at 9 pm, 9 lbs, and the date was April 9! Had a great birth that came on all on it's own! and have been taking the week to stay home, get rest, and adjust to being a family of four. Can't wait to write out his birth story but my snippets of alone time are far and few between right now. I had a great 2nd homebirth with my labor time cut in half (~ 4-5 hours). We think Max looks a lot like his sister Maggie when she was born. He's a great nurser but my you-know-whats have taken a beating this week :-) I look forward to resuming my routine once I gain a little more confidence in getting out of the house, especially without hubby's help. Many thanks go out to all of our family and friends that have supported us through this so far with cards, comments, meals (this is HUGE), gifts, and special visits.

Argh

I'm not sure it's possible to not get your expections up for when to expect a baby, but I was getting excited this past week thinking we were near and now it doesn't seem so. I was hoping with the full moon yesterday that things would really get going but nope! I really do appreciate family and friends staying in contact, but it is also wearing to not have news and to repeat the chain of events over and over. Today I woke up teary-eyed and frustrated so I'm working on adjusting my mindset to post due date and the fact that I could go many more days. My midwife assured me the baby will be born (as opposed to stay inside FOREVER) and I believe it was this many days after Maggie's due date that my water broke as well as the same day that I had a breakdown in the morning and had called an acquaintance for support, so maybe that is a good sign. Today my plan is to get out of my mind, enjoy the sunshine, and my family.

Two foot pig

Excuse the preggo top, it was hot during our backyard picnic!

I'd like to say it's new baby week but since that hasn't happened yet, it's Easter week. I'm loving the occasional rain and green everywhere. The spring garden is started and we're getting more plants for our front yard. Maggie loves to help garden so for Easter, since it's been back in the recesses of my mind until a few days ago, Maggie is going to enjoy some new gardening supplies with just a smidge of candy (jelly beans and a cadbury egg) in her Easter basket the morning of. She did all things Easter at her daycare this week and yesterday we hammered out the egg hunt with our mommy's group as I waddled around after her.

For the past few days, I've had small bouts of contractions/cramping but no real labor yet. I can't complain but I am getting anxious. This time off being home and free to do what I want has been amazing and I just keep checking things off the the big to-do list. I know all of our family and friends are so excited to meet the new baby, but he still seems snuggly in there despite all the rolling around and hiccupping. I don't think I have any more room in there though and I'm feeling pretty big and have quite the appetite when not feeling nauseous.


I finished Maggie's pig and while he is dang cute, I noticed as I was sewing his eyes on that I made a mistake. He's got two feet, not four! The instructions were vague and even though they said sew the legs up individually, I just proceeded on. To my 3-year old, she doesn't know the difference. All that matters, and it makes my heart sing, is that she loves her piggy and tells everyone that I made it for her. So two legs it is because for the life of me I can't find the end of the yarn to re-do them.