Playing Catch-Up.

This is a new blog following my pregnancy one: http://www.apeainmypodd.blogspot.com/ , where my last post was Autumn's birth story. If you missed the birth story you can read it here. I have retired the pregnancy blog and you can read all about our new adventures here.

I wish I would have started this blog right after Autumn was born but honestly, I didnt have the time- or energy, to get it together. Now that I am officially 6 weeks post partum, I think this is when your life is supposed to return to normal- or what can be called normal now... Which, I must say, is nothing close to the normal that im used to. Im not complaining, by any means, well... ok, I might complain just a little here and there, but its only due to the sleep deprivation that having a brand new baby might bring.

I just cant get over the fact that my baby is already six weeks old. SIX! can YOU believe it? It seems like just yesterday I was doing this:

and looked like this:

(ugh-just looking at that belly makes me feel bloated.)



Anyway, yes, 6 weeks as of yesterday and im pleased to say that now I look like this:

 

(winner)

I am officially back to my pre-pregnancy weight- though I must say that things dont really fit- or look- the same. But im happy the weight melted off so easily, thanks to the breastfeeding, couch sitting, and eating-whatever-the-frick-I-feel-like diet.

The first couple of weeks were a little rough- my mom was a HUGE help, feeding me turkey sandwhiches and keeping me sane in the 5 times a night feedings. Breastfeeding SUCKED from the start, and it took a while to figure everything out. Skyler has been an awesome daddy and is just great with her. We are finally figuring each other out and Autumn is (SORT OF- knock on wood) getting on a schedule.

Now on to the important stuff- my babaaybaaay. She is an absolute doll. I cant stop staring at her. I stare at her the way Skyler and I stared at her the first night home- sitting on the edge of the bed while she peacefully slept in her bassinet. Rephrase- PERCHED on the edge of the bed with eagerness whispering "when she wakes up, ill get her", "no, ill get her", "ok we'll both get her."

She. Is. Precious. Every day it amazes me that SHE CAME OUT OF ME and that she came out so perfect-flawless, and shes mine all mine.  and now:

isnt she precious?

She is literally one of those baby's whos cheeks you just want to SQUEEZE. And trust me, I squeeze them all the time. I have to brag she is one stinkin cute baby- and looks a ton like my baby pictures. aww.

At six weeks old Autumn:

• is smiling with a purpose
• is trying hard to laugh
• Lets out an occasional coo, lots of snorts, and other miscellaneous noises.
• Wears size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes
• Weighs a whopping 10 lbs. 11.5 oz.
• Eats every 2-3 hours
• Sleeps in to a fairly decent hour, 8am-11am, it varies
• Loves to take a bath
• Is obsessed with her ladybug dangle toy
• Hates her car seat
• Can hold her head up for a good amount of time
• Prefers to sleep on her tummy
• Recognizes Mommy, Daddy, and Granny-ma Lamb.

I had to pack up her newborn clothes last week. I did it really fast so I wouldnt get sad. I left out a couple longsleeve onesies because "they are the stretchy ones" and "maybe she can wear them for another week or so" but selfishly just because I wasnt ready to let go of the fact that she is no longer a newborn.

see how tubby I am?? 

Breastfeeding is going well. Clearly. You see that tub-tub tummy? This kid knows how to eat, im not joking. So much so that she gained like 3 pounds in two weeks. nom-nom-nom. I never knew that breastfeeding is so unnatural. I thought it was supposed to be, well, NATURAL, but it is definitely something learned. After battling with nipple shields, bad latches, an overactive letdown and a case of thrush, we're finally getting it down enough where I can feed her in bed in the middle of the night without turning extra lights on. I dont REALLY mind the no-sleep thing anymore. It absolutely sucked at first but now my body is used to functioning on oh, I dont know, four or five hours of sleep? Im not going to lie, there are some nights when I groggily pick her up and latch her on to my boob with my eyes closed. Ok so im half asleep. Ok half asleep enough so that two minutes into the feeding I fall asleep sitting up and wake up to her passed out on my boob. But it works for us.

I have mastered changing a diaper on a very wiggly, crying, kicking baby. I have mastered the slippery baby bath. I have mastered the "ssshh"/back patting/putting paci in mouth while im half asleep. I can successfully do more one handed or with my FEET than I ever even imagined I would need to do... such as turning on a nightlight and pushing back covers WITH MY TOES while holding a sleeping baby, a blanket, my phone, and water, with her sucky backwards in my mouth. And last night I re-learned the 12 days of christmas song when I ran out of nursery rhymes to sing to a 6-week-growth-spurt-fussypants babe that didnt want to go to sleep.

So far, motherhood has come pretty easily to me, like I always thought it would. Im sure there are a lot of things I have to learn but for now its working for our little family.

I have to share some pictures of this little chippy girl.

my granny-ma gave me these!!

the first time she ever put a toy in her mouth! sloberrrr.

my seahorse face.

Smiling girl!!

I have to keep reminding myself she will never be as big as she is right now. One day she wont want to cuddle the way she is cuddling right now. So im trying to embrace every second, every smile, every little everything that this precious girl brings.

I will never feel these moments again. So I am taking them in with every part of myself.

They say that becoming a mom changes you, and now I know that it truly does. Everything is for her now- its not about me. Autumn gives life more purpose. And I am more than grateful.