Excerpt from email... Just to update you on how we are.
I'm fine. Everyone is fine. We're hosting TOm's folks from TX right now. They will be here for 2 weeks, but not all at our house. The days seem to melt away from me between wanting some private time, needing to meet Leo's needs, being somewhat resentful and mostly joyful, and never feeling like anything is easy or finished. I'm exercising my ability to let things go on a daily basis, but when I have to do it every day things start piling up around me-- both metaphorically and literally. SO... I'm focusing on the beauty of breastfeeding and Leo's new smiles, knowing that they won't last forever and the laundry will still be there and I won't be able to bend over any better tomorrow to do it anyway. I think if I could be guaranteed 2 hours a day to manage the family affairs, that would be enough. That would make me feel better anyway.
Leo's totally healthy, already at 12 pounds. Mira's excited to read books to him, which I think is an amazing prospect-- my child reading to my other child. How flippin' cool is that? The first of many sibling relations that will be completely new to both Tom and me.
My dad was here 2 weeks ago and I haven't had a chance to talk to him since. Because Leo was late and my dad had to get out here before the end of July, his visit rolled around much too soon post partum for me to fully be present. I hadn't even left the house yet when he arrived. I felt compelled to "do" things, even if they were just grocery shopping-type things, and it was just too soon. HOWEVER, it was the first week Tom went back to work and I was glad to have someone here to rely on. We're having sling/carrier issues. The one I waited for from Marsha was wool, the one we bought to replace it was tight, the one we're using now isn't good for spinal development, and the one Grammy sewed today is too long (although easily fixable). But it also isn't an 'active' carrier, meaning that I can't do very much with Leo in it. So, we're hoping for a miracle sometime soon I think.
I'm feeling tons better physically, wanting to go for walks but not being able to make that happen yet. Hoping my bleeding stops sooner than tomorrow and wanting to have sex. Good signs. I can't eat dairy for Leo's sake, so I think my pg weight will come off quickly once I start walking. I'm not concerned about that, mind you, but it would be nice to choose from more than 4-6 items of clothing for the rest of the summer!
Tom got a new job doing construction work, which was accompanied by a $7/hr raise. I didn't go to the food bank last week for the first time in, oh, 8 months. It was a nice relief. I had delusions once of still going there even if we could afford not to, just because it's mostly organic produce and I like knowing that we are helping to not waste food on the planet, but the relief of not going will be too enticing I think. And, even though they provide copious amounts of refined sugar and chemical food coloring to everyone under 4' tall that sets foot in the joint, I know Miranda will be excited not to go!
That's the basic function of things aorund here,
Leo's totally healthy, already at 12 pounds. Mira's excited to read books to him, which I think is an amazing prospect-- my child reading to my other child. How flippin' cool is that? The first of many sibling relations that will be completely new to both Tom and me.
My dad was here 2 weeks ago and I haven't had a chance to talk to him since. Because Leo was late and my dad had to get out here before the end of July, his visit rolled around much too soon post partum for me to fully be present. I hadn't even left the house yet when he arrived. I felt compelled to "do" things, even if they were just grocery shopping-type things, and it was just too soon. HOWEVER, it was the first week Tom went back to work and I was glad to have someone here to rely on. We're having sling/carrier issues. The one I waited for from Marsha was wool, the one we bought to replace it was tight, the one we're using now isn't good for spinal development, and the one Grammy sewed today is too long (although easily fixable). But it also isn't an 'active' carrier, meaning that I can't do very much with Leo in it. So, we're hoping for a miracle sometime soon I think.
I'm feeling tons better physically, wanting to go for walks but not being able to make that happen yet. Hoping my bleeding stops sooner than tomorrow and wanting to have sex. Good signs. I can't eat dairy for Leo's sake, so I think my pg weight will come off quickly once I start walking. I'm not concerned about that, mind you, but it would be nice to choose from more than 4-6 items of clothing for the rest of the summer!
Tom got a new job doing construction work, which was accompanied by a $7/hr raise. I didn't go to the food bank last week for the first time in, oh, 8 months. It was a nice relief. I had delusions once of still going there even if we could afford not to, just because it's mostly organic produce and I like knowing that we are helping to not waste food on the planet, but the relief of not going will be too enticing I think. And, even though they provide copious amounts of refined sugar and chemical food coloring to everyone under 4' tall that sets foot in the joint, I know Miranda will be excited not to go!
That's the basic function of things aorund here,