One Month Jelly Bean

Today Ms. Jelly Bean is exactly one month old. Holy jeepers; one full month.

This past month has been such a different experience than the first month with PJ. Bluntly stated: I enjoy Jelly Bean in a way that wasn't possible with PJ.

As a second-time mom, I now know that this precious, exhausting newborn phase disappears quickly and when it does, it does forever. When PJ was a newborn every challenge felt like it would never, ever end. We would always be sleep-deprived. He would always demand to be carried everywhere and all the time. He would always eat every hour. With Jelly Bean, I know that none of that is true and, therefore, I can thoroughly enjoy snuggling with her for hours every day. Hours, people, hours, and with absolutely no shame and no guilt. I Love it.

I can even get a little teary-eyed when I realize she's already outgrown a bunch of clothes, a proof that this special time is already rushing by.

Yup, outgrown.

I barely got her into this one before she outgrew it.

I also know now what type of mom I want and - more importantly? - can be. And I know how to ask for help being that mom. I also have mom friends that I can share war stories with and be greeted with understanding, encouragement, and, often, laughter. I'm also much, much better at ignoring unwanted advice, skirting undesired conversations, and doing what is right for my family.

 

I'm a baby-wearing, sushi-eating, natural-term nursing mommy. And so much more.

Another part of my ability to enjoy Jelly Bean is that she is just an easier baby. She cries less (that link goes to my all-time favorite blog entry about PJ as a newborn); she sleeps more; and, since I had gained experience and knowledge, establishing a nursing relationship has been much easier.

Laid-back Lady

And, lastly, and extremely importantly, I'm doing well emotionally. I am not suffering from post-partum depression this time. Even after a rough pregnancy, another induction, a horrid post-partum infection with an extended hospital stay, and the challenges of expanding our family dynamic from three people to four. It is amazing how different the newborn phase is without a dark, heavy cloud wrapped around my soul.

No PPD! Even the coffee tastes better.

Happy one month, little girl. Boy are we happy to have welcomed you into the Steinbach clan.


xo
 

A Deep, Deep Sleep

Its not a secret around here that I haven't handled the whole PJ (lack of) sleep (non)schedule very well. I even wrote him his first open letter. Sleep still isn't the easiest thing around here, but it sure is getting better. For example, its getting deeper.

Gone are the days when each and every sound startled our little boy awake. Instead, when he sleeps, he sleeps pretty deeply. We can even move him sometimes. And thank, thank, thank God for the timing: we shared a room throughout our US vacation.

So, how deeply can he sleep sometimes? I'm glad you asked. A picture story to illustrate.

While in Pittsburgh, we took a 20 minute walk to one of Pittsburgh's best cafes. The three adults walked, PJ rode daddy's back in his Ergo carrier.

It was a lovely, warn walk through a great neighbourhood.

Little PJ fell asleep, so the Mr. carefully settled down into a padded chair.

Little PJ kept sleeping. So the Mr. stepped away from the Ergo carrier.

Little PJ kept sleeping. We took far too many pictures of him in this position.

Finally we took pity and repositioned him. He kept sleeping.

So we took far too many pictures of him in that position too.

He kept sleeping.

Until he woke up and rocked the cafe.

Sleep in awesome!



xo

Baby Wearing

Our little guy may have been evicted from his first apartment 10 days after his lease was up, but he still demands certain luxuries, particularly the Constant Heartbeat Soundtrack. Thankfully over the past 17 days he has gotten a lot less picky about whose heartbeat it is; we’ve branched out from just mine and the Mr.’s to just about anyone’s. My son, the heart beat whore. Bless him.

Yet carrying him around on our chests isn’t always the most practical solutions. Enter baby carrying with Didymos.

Thankfully PJ seems to enjoy the wrap (as long as he is calm when slipped in) and has been known to enjoy a nap lasting up to two hours. And while he sleeps we can use our two free hands to things like laundry, write blogs, tidy up a little, or just sit or lay with our hands free.

It really is the little things.


xo