Milestones
1. Two Fridays ago, I had a total breakdown. Lena had spent that Thursday and Friday in a growth spurt, nursing so much that there was nothing left to pump, only sleeping for a half hour to an hour at a time, and then only if I was holding her - no putting her down allowed, not in her crib, her bouncy seat, her swing, nothing. So when Greg came home on Friday night, I lost it - handed him the baby, told him there were two bottles of milk in the fridge and that I was leaving. In the end, he and Lena came with me - we went to the Farmer's Market for a few minutes and then had dinner. I cried the whole time and didn't enjoy one bit of it. Greg took all the feedings that night (I managed to pump instead of nursing, ahead of the night feedings) and let me sleep through, then took care of Lena Saturday morning. Much better. I like my kid again.
2. Two Saturdays ago, I left the house. I had a couple of times before, but mostly just for Lena - to the doctor, etc. But that night we actually went out to see friends for dinner. Lena slept through the whole thing like a little champ - I think she knew Ima needed it.
3. That Sunday, Lena went to her first rally (the Walk for Darfur) - wearing an Obama onesie that Jessy brought her from DC. I got to show her off to all my work folks, all at once.
4. This last Saturday night, Lena spent the night at her Saba's house (my dad) . ALL NIGHT. She was there for a total of 11 hours. She ate 16 oz of milk (four feedings). Greg and I both slept through the entire night, even though we thought we would, out of habit, wake up in the middle of the night wondering why the baby wasn't crying. It was awesome. Saba loved it too.
5. This last Sunday, Greg actually got to go to his basketball game again.
6. Yesterday, I left the house BY MYSELF for the first time in a month. I got a haircut, and bought two shirts that aren't maternity shirts and that I don't look ridiculous in. It was awesome.
7. Today Greg is home (he's taking four Wednesdays off to give me a break in the middle of the week), so I'm going to leave the house by myself again I hope. Having him home in the middle of the week really helps - being home with the baby is still pretty isolating.
I miss work. And not just because it's a little boring at home, because Lena and I are at least getting out of the house a little more here and there. But because being at home for this long shows me that I really and truly do love my work. I am very lucky for it, I know. I hate being away from it, but am trying to heed my friend Abby's advice and use this time to force myself to strike a balance between work and home. Some folks from work came by a week ago - they had a program idea but had no one to actually do the program design this summer. They came over for a brainstorming meeting - it felt good. I don't want to actually go into the office or anything, but it was nice to get a call that I was needed, and it was nice to be able to contribute something more than milk and cuddles to the world.
Greg isn't telling me he's tired anymore, which is good, as now that he's not saying it I can actually be sympathetic to the fact that he is, in fact, tired. I'm planning his first father's day - my mom said she'd watch Lena for a couple hours, and I think I'll take Greg to lunch and for a massage (he deserves it). He's building Lena a secret garden in the backyard. It's so cute.
2. Two Saturdays ago, I left the house. I had a couple of times before, but mostly just for Lena - to the doctor, etc. But that night we actually went out to see friends for dinner. Lena slept through the whole thing like a little champ - I think she knew Ima needed it.
3. That Sunday, Lena went to her first rally (the Walk for Darfur) - wearing an Obama onesie that Jessy brought her from DC. I got to show her off to all my work folks, all at once.
4. This last Saturday night, Lena spent the night at her Saba's house (my dad) . ALL NIGHT. She was there for a total of 11 hours. She ate 16 oz of milk (four feedings). Greg and I both slept through the entire night, even though we thought we would, out of habit, wake up in the middle of the night wondering why the baby wasn't crying. It was awesome. Saba loved it too.
5. This last Sunday, Greg actually got to go to his basketball game again.
6. Yesterday, I left the house BY MYSELF for the first time in a month. I got a haircut, and bought two shirts that aren't maternity shirts and that I don't look ridiculous in. It was awesome.
7. Today Greg is home (he's taking four Wednesdays off to give me a break in the middle of the week), so I'm going to leave the house by myself again I hope. Having him home in the middle of the week really helps - being home with the baby is still pretty isolating.
I miss work. And not just because it's a little boring at home, because Lena and I are at least getting out of the house a little more here and there. But because being at home for this long shows me that I really and truly do love my work. I am very lucky for it, I know. I hate being away from it, but am trying to heed my friend Abby's advice and use this time to force myself to strike a balance between work and home. Some folks from work came by a week ago - they had a program idea but had no one to actually do the program design this summer. They came over for a brainstorming meeting - it felt good. I don't want to actually go into the office or anything, but it was nice to get a call that I was needed, and it was nice to be able to contribute something more than milk and cuddles to the world.
Greg isn't telling me he's tired anymore, which is good, as now that he's not saying it I can actually be sympathetic to the fact that he is, in fact, tired. I'm planning his first father's day - my mom said she'd watch Lena for a couple hours, and I think I'll take Greg to lunch and for a massage (he deserves it). He's building Lena a secret garden in the backyard. It's so cute.