I came across this beautiful poem a while back, and thought I'd share it.
"I'm Rocking My Baby and Babies Don't Keep"
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue, Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton
Showing posts with label being a momma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being a momma. Show all posts
Oct 25, 2011
Oct 7, 2011
When the Stars Do Not Align
When you have your first baby, it seems that the most common advice people give you is the cliche' (but oh so true) "Sleep when the baby sleeps."
When you have two babies back-to-back, those same people seem to realize that you no longer have the luxury of sleeping when the baby sleeps, for you are also responsible for caring for an energetic toddler as well. The advice becomes, "You've gotta get them on the same schedule!"
I'll admit that having Isabelle and Lacey on the same schedule helps immensely. And most days, that's what I strive to do. Because if I can get them to sleep at the same time, I have the choice of uninterrupted showering, cleaning house, reading, knitting, taking a nap, and even blogging! (And judging by the scarcity of my posts over the last several months, I'm sure you can see that blogging hasn't been high on my list lately). It's absolutely true that when the stars align and you have both babies sleeping, you can get a lot done.
Yesterday, the stars did not align. Lacey took a good, long morning nap, and Isabelle wasn't ready for a nap until mid-afternoon. But instead of being frustrated, I chose to see it as an opportunity to spend some much-needed quality one-on-one time with each of the girls. Instead of "Me" time, I got to have "Momma-and-Isabelle" time and "Momma-and-Lacey" time. Isabelle helped me do some chores and fold clothes while Lacey napped, and me and Lacey practiced eating from a spoon and walking while Isabelle napped. And during those times, neither had to compete for my attention. It was exhausting, but wonderful.
Sometimes the stars align and things work out perfectly. But sometimes when the stars to not align, things can work out better. I forget that a lot. And I think yesterday, God reminded me that I cannot control the stars. But I can control myself, and choose to do God's will anyway. I may not have had time to read, knit, watch a movie, or even clean my bathroom. But God provided me with all the time I needed to do His will, and what more could I ask for?
When you have two babies back-to-back, those same people seem to realize that you no longer have the luxury of sleeping when the baby sleeps, for you are also responsible for caring for an energetic toddler as well. The advice becomes, "You've gotta get them on the same schedule!"
I'll admit that having Isabelle and Lacey on the same schedule helps immensely. And most days, that's what I strive to do. Because if I can get them to sleep at the same time, I have the choice of uninterrupted showering, cleaning house, reading, knitting, taking a nap, and even blogging! (And judging by the scarcity of my posts over the last several months, I'm sure you can see that blogging hasn't been high on my list lately). It's absolutely true that when the stars align and you have both babies sleeping, you can get a lot done.
Yesterday, the stars did not align. Lacey took a good, long morning nap, and Isabelle wasn't ready for a nap until mid-afternoon. But instead of being frustrated, I chose to see it as an opportunity to spend some much-needed quality one-on-one time with each of the girls. Instead of "Me" time, I got to have "Momma-and-Isabelle" time and "Momma-and-Lacey" time. Isabelle helped me do some chores and fold clothes while Lacey napped, and me and Lacey practiced eating from a spoon and walking while Isabelle napped. And during those times, neither had to compete for my attention. It was exhausting, but wonderful.
Sometimes the stars align and things work out perfectly. But sometimes when the stars to not align, things can work out better. I forget that a lot. And I think yesterday, God reminded me that I cannot control the stars. But I can control myself, and choose to do God's will anyway. I may not have had time to read, knit, watch a movie, or even clean my bathroom. But God provided me with all the time I needed to do His will, and what more could I ask for?
Nov 29, 2010
How is Isabelle Adjusting?
It seems that the #1 question everyone's asking me since Lacey's birth is some variation of:
And I'm very happy to report that Isabelle is doing great! She did have a rough week when Lacey was born, but she handled it all very well. She went to Blake's parents' house for a few days (she loves it there) while we were in the hospital. Unfortunately, she was cutting a tooth and started showing symptoms of a cold right after we came home, and we were afraid she might get Lacey sick. So we sent her back to Mi Mi's (I felt like such a horrible mom for sending my sick baby away, but I would have felt even worse if I didn't and Lacey got sick). It was a huge change in her routine, but she handled it really well and got right back into it when she returned home.
*I should add that all last week I had tremendous help from my in-laws! Catherine came to stay most of the week at our house, and helped out with Isabelle & Lacey, the laundry, diaper changes, whatever I needed. Ariel also came and helped with housework and cooked dinner for us a few nights! And of course, Mrs. Michelle came over as much as she could and helped out too. With Blake back at work, I don't believe I would have survived the week without their help!*
Anyway, Isabelle has been great. She's totally fine watching Lacey nurse, and hasn't shown any interest in nursing again! She did have one minor freak-out when we put Lacey in the swing and turned on the music: she just stood there and cried big tears, like "That new baby is in my swing, Momma!" Other than that, she's been loving on Lacey as much as we'll let her. She loves to kiss her and watch her, and she gasps in wonder when Lacey's been sleeping and suddenly makes a noise. She still hasn't grasped the concept of "soft soft," but we're working on it.
Today was my first full day at home alone with both girls, and it was a good day. I moved Catherine's mattress from the office to the nursery so I could sit on it comfortably and nurse Lacey, and Isabelle can come cuddle with us (I want her to feel included). It worked out really well - I moved all of Isabelle's toys in there, and she would play by herself for a while, try to kiss/jump on Lacey (we're working on the "jump on Lacey" part), and harass me about reading her stories.
Today went really well. But I do know it'll be difficult for a while. Mainly because newborns do not have a schedule. It was a long time before I could get Isabelle into a regular routine, and until Lacey gets on the same routine, it'll be a juggling act. I know I'll have great days like today, and days when I'll want to pull my hair out, lol. But I guess that's all part of being a mom, and I know God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle.
"How's Isabelle adjusting to having a little sister?"
And I'm very happy to report that Isabelle is doing great! She did have a rough week when Lacey was born, but she handled it all very well. She went to Blake's parents' house for a few days (she loves it there) while we were in the hospital. Unfortunately, she was cutting a tooth and started showing symptoms of a cold right after we came home, and we were afraid she might get Lacey sick. So we sent her back to Mi Mi's (I felt like such a horrible mom for sending my sick baby away, but I would have felt even worse if I didn't and Lacey got sick). It was a huge change in her routine, but she handled it really well and got right back into it when she returned home.
*I should add that all last week I had tremendous help from my in-laws! Catherine came to stay most of the week at our house, and helped out with Isabelle & Lacey, the laundry, diaper changes, whatever I needed. Ariel also came and helped with housework and cooked dinner for us a few nights! And of course, Mrs. Michelle came over as much as she could and helped out too. With Blake back at work, I don't believe I would have survived the week without their help!*
Anyway, Isabelle has been great. She's totally fine watching Lacey nurse, and hasn't shown any interest in nursing again! She did have one minor freak-out when we put Lacey in the swing and turned on the music: she just stood there and cried big tears, like "That new baby is in my swing, Momma!" Other than that, she's been loving on Lacey as much as we'll let her. She loves to kiss her and watch her, and she gasps in wonder when Lacey's been sleeping and suddenly makes a noise. She still hasn't grasped the concept of "soft soft," but we're working on it.
Today was my first full day at home alone with both girls, and it was a good day. I moved Catherine's mattress from the office to the nursery so I could sit on it comfortably and nurse Lacey, and Isabelle can come cuddle with us (I want her to feel included). It worked out really well - I moved all of Isabelle's toys in there, and she would play by herself for a while, try to kiss/jump on Lacey (we're working on the "jump on Lacey" part), and harass me about reading her stories.
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| "I'm playing with my toys, Momma!" |
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| Reading her storybook! |
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| Lacey cuddling on the Boppy pillow after nursing! |
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| My two beautiful girls! |
Today went really well. But I do know it'll be difficult for a while. Mainly because newborns do not have a schedule. It was a long time before I could get Isabelle into a regular routine, and until Lacey gets on the same routine, it'll be a juggling act. I know I'll have great days like today, and days when I'll want to pull my hair out, lol. But I guess that's all part of being a mom, and I know God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle.
Oct 22, 2010
Having Babies Makes Moms Brains Grow!
Saw this on Creative Minority Report this morning and I thought it was very interesting!
Having Babies Makes Moms Brains Grow
My brain is going to be soooo big. :o)
Having Babies Makes Moms Brains Grow
My brain is going to be soooo big. :o)
Oct 12, 2010
No, Baby, Desitin is NOT for Eating!
Well, it finally happened - we had to call the poison control hotline Sunday morning.
Blake and I were busy getting ready for Mass (and Isabelle's birthday party), and Isabelle was playing in her walker. I knew she had wandered into her nursery and was probably pulling her diapers off the changing table (which she did), but I didn't think there was anything else she could get into. I was so wrong.
Blake and I were busy getting ready for Mass (and Isabelle's birthday party), and Isabelle was playing in her walker. I knew she had wandered into her nursery and was probably pulling her diapers off the changing table (which she did), but I didn't think there was anything else she could get into. I was so wrong.
Oct 4, 2010
Thoughts on Sick Babies from a Thankful Momma
Well we had a rough weekend. It started Thursday afternoon when I went to get Isabelle from her nap, and she was burning up and running a fever of 102.something (I can't quite remember). She had a runny nose and was acting so lethargic and pitiful. Ariel came with me and we brought her into the after-hours clinic, where we waited for two and a half hours - the doctor tested her for flu and strep, both came back negative.
Sep 30, 2010
My First Night Apart from Isabelle
So Friday, Blake's dad offered us some LSU football tickets for Saturday's game against West Virginia! We really wanted to go, but what to do with the munchkin? It was an 8:00 game, so bringing her with us wasn't going to happen. We decided to leave her at Blake's parents' house with Mrs. Michelle and Catherine. Overnight. For the first time. Ever.
Maybe it's not a big deal for those of you who are experienced parents, but being away from her for an entire day and night was a big deal for me. I guess part of it was that I felt guilty - like I was dumping her off on Blake's mom so we could go have fun and enjoy the football game. But the reality of our situation is that leaving Isabelle for a night is inevitable. With Lacey's due date quickly approaching (I'll be considered full-term only 4 weeks from today!!), I'm going to have to get used to the idea of leaving Isabelle for a little while. So this Saturday was good practice for both of us.
Maybe it's not a big deal for those of you who are experienced parents, but being away from her for an entire day and night was a big deal for me. I guess part of it was that I felt guilty - like I was dumping her off on Blake's mom so we could go have fun and enjoy the football game. But the reality of our situation is that leaving Isabelle for a night is inevitable. With Lacey's due date quickly approaching (I'll be considered full-term only 4 weeks from today!!), I'm going to have to get used to the idea of leaving Isabelle for a little while. So this Saturday was good practice for both of us.
Sep 13, 2010
God Must Read My Blog
It's funny how right after I write a big blog post venting about how difficult my life has been, I have a really good day.
Last night was rough. I was hurting, coughing, had a headache, and terrible heartburn. I didn't sleep well at all, and when the munchkin woke up at 7:30 in the morning, I thought it was going to be a rough day.
But it wasn't. I had decided not to push myself to do any housework so that I could rest and take care of Isabelle and myself. But for some reason, I had a good, steady supply of energy. So I took care of the baby and did a good deal of housework. Isabelle was so good today - she was playing by herself in her Jenny Jump while I was cleaning the kitchen, and fell asleep in it! It was SO cute. After I put her to bed, she took a good nap while I did more housework and got ready to go swimming. We got to Maw-Maw's late this afternoon and went swimming with Gregory and Ariel, later joined by Blake, Catherine, and Ethan. Maw-Maw had baked chicken with vegetables for dinner, and pie with ice cream for dessert! We had a great time!
Last night was rough. I was hurting, coughing, had a headache, and terrible heartburn. I didn't sleep well at all, and when the munchkin woke up at 7:30 in the morning, I thought it was going to be a rough day.
But it wasn't. I had decided not to push myself to do any housework so that I could rest and take care of Isabelle and myself. But for some reason, I had a good, steady supply of energy. So I took care of the baby and did a good deal of housework. Isabelle was so good today - she was playing by herself in her Jenny Jump while I was cleaning the kitchen, and fell asleep in it! It was SO cute. After I put her to bed, she took a good nap while I did more housework and got ready to go swimming. We got to Maw-Maw's late this afternoon and went swimming with Gregory and Ariel, later joined by Blake, Catherine, and Ethan. Maw-Maw had baked chicken with vegetables for dinner, and pie with ice cream for dessert! We had a great time!
Sep 12, 2010
Taking Life One Day at a Time
Well I guess I haven't updated in a while because I feel like I've got nothing to say. But here are a few things going on in my life:
T.M.I. alert - If you're not comfortable reading about how my pregnancy is affecting certain bodily functions, I advise you to skip this post. But really, it's not THAT gross. ;o)
1. I've had a cough for about a week now, and I can NOT get rid of it. No sickness, no fever, no stuffy nose. Just a cough. (And for a woman who is 8 months pregnant with a baby sitting on her bladder 24/7, this means that I have to wear pantyliners. Just in case. And most days, I'm glad I did.)
2. Which brings me to my next point. I have to pee every 5 seconds. Okay, seriously? I feel like my bladder has the capacity of a teaspoon right now. I can go to the bathroom, empty my bladder, and then just mere minutes later, have to go again. If I wasn't so busy chasing after Isabelle all day, I might just move into the bathroom for these next few months. I have a good deal of counter space, so I could bring my phone, laptop, some dvds, snacks, etc. It could be nice.
T.M.I. alert - If you're not comfortable reading about how my pregnancy is affecting certain bodily functions, I advise you to skip this post. But really, it's not THAT gross. ;o)
1. I've had a cough for about a week now, and I can NOT get rid of it. No sickness, no fever, no stuffy nose. Just a cough. (And for a woman who is 8 months pregnant with a baby sitting on her bladder 24/7, this means that I have to wear pantyliners. Just in case. And most days, I'm glad I did.)
2. Which brings me to my next point. I have to pee every 5 seconds. Okay, seriously? I feel like my bladder has the capacity of a teaspoon right now. I can go to the bathroom, empty my bladder, and then just mere minutes later, have to go again. If I wasn't so busy chasing after Isabelle all day, I might just move into the bathroom for these next few months. I have a good deal of counter space, so I could bring my phone, laptop, some dvds, snacks, etc. It could be nice.
May 25, 2010
"Meh Meh Meh Meh!"
Well, Isabelle has officially said her first "word!"...or that's how I'm choosing to interpret her newest babbling noise. While I don't think she knows what "Momma" means yet, it's just so darn cute listening to her talk - especially when she sees me and starts her little "meh meh" sound! She's been saying it for a few days now, and I've been waiting to post this until I could capture her doing it on camera, but you're just going to have to take my word for it. Every time she sees the camera, she gets distracted and stops!
May 19, 2010
Pajama Day for the Munchkin :o(
Isabelle woke up several times last night to nurse, and this morning she had a stuffy nose. After clearing her nose with the nasal aspirator (she hated it, and now she's starting to put up a fight when I use it), I checked her temperature. 100.8. So I officially have a sick baby today.
I don't think a visit to the doctor is necessary at this point, but I am watching her symptoms for any changes. She seems to be doing pretty good. She's happy and playful with no new symptoms, and her fever has gone down a little. I'm trying to encourage her to nurse and sleep as much as possible today.
I don't think a visit to the doctor is necessary at this point, but I am watching her symptoms for any changes. She seems to be doing pretty good. She's happy and playful with no new symptoms, and her fever has gone down a little. I'm trying to encourage her to nurse and sleep as much as possible today.
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