this is
week four of
my postpartum
i am too tired and busy to put words together coherently now. if this makes no sense it’s because the children have taken over. week 4 was my first week with both my girls under my care for the majority of their hours. husbeau is working 12 hour days, 6 days a week, which means i’m working that too. he and i shared an extended hug the other night and i told him i couldn’t tell if we were still hugging or if we’d just fallen asleep standing up leaning into one another…
this is the story of most of the parenting world, right? stretched to their limits but somehow digging down deep and coming up with more to give.
so yes, darla was back for week four of daphne’s life which means we were back to being on the go and i have once again been relegated to the holder of found items on walks. it’s worked out pretty well but leaves me wondering how this will all shake out when dap jo becomes more than just an accessory to darla’s life. or rather an accessory to me…which leads me to how we got through this first week of single-parenting a 5 1/2 year age gap….
babywearing!
i know, babywearing is one of those things that crunchy communities talk and talk about leaving the rest of you feeling bored out of your mind. but i couldn’t be more thankful that i somehow stumbled upon babywearing in darla’s first weeks. you see, strollers suck for city life. and i have never, ever been strong enough to carry a baby in a car seat carrier. i don’t know how all these tiny women are doing that! being able to wear daphne is the only way i could fathom being able to keep my active older, well, active.
it allows for naps at the park snuggled with ma and discrete nursing
which then allows for journaling and listmaking.
it allows me to tackle what chores i can.
it allows me to keep the little one close for baby gazing.
more specifically, chunky baby buns gazing. so squishy!
so, maybe you’re wondering how i’m holding up…
^^^ there you go! ^^^
overall i’m doing great. pretty good. really ok. not that bad. breathing, i think.
ha. i kid. things are what they are and what i have to say is that i’m enjoying this time in life. it’s not exactly great. it’s not exactly bad. it is what it is and that’s somewhere in between. what i want to remember is how overcome i am on a daily basis for how beautiful and filled with love my life is now. i don’t know, i guess that’s what i see in that woman’s face up there.
when i get extra tired one of my eyes always sags more than the other. we’re sleeping in good chunks but have reached the point in time when too many nights of broken rest are the same as not getting rest at all. so i’m tired and stretched but i still find a raw beauty in all that.
plus my hair is still most excellent. i’m saving up all my postpartum emotions for when my hair starts falling out. waaahhh.
*wish us luck with week five which sees us prepping to send darla to kindergarten. verklempt!*
Love your photos! And yes I’m terrified for when my hair starts falling out postpartum. Any tips would be appreciated!!
i also have a five year gap between my two littles! Nash is currently 5 months and Nora is starting kindergarten as well. its crazy and lovely at the same time- best wishes to miss darla on her new adventure!
You and your family are beautiful! I remember my hair falling out. I panicked, but it grew back thicker and stronger than ever. Fingers crossed for you!
I’m enjoying your blog. My sister Molly sent me the link since I had my second baby a few days after you did. I can relate to a lot of what you are going through. This one made me cry as I’m stretched to my limit as well, but somehow seem to keep going. My son has been at school during the days, but will be home next week. I’m holding on tight as I know it will be hard.