You guys,
“It goes by so fast,” says all the parents of grown kids.
But they only say that after it’s long over and a distant memory.
It’s the same way I fondly remember my first months living in LA even though I was sharing my space with three dudes and a bunch of cockroaches.
Life with a newborn feels like an alternate reality. Everyone else is out there going about their lives. Meanwhile I’m in this hazy, sleepless, repetitive cycle with my husband and two kids and just trying to get to the other side.
I brought Layla in the front yard for some fresh air and the neighbors came swarming to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ and marvel at how tiny she is. One mother stared longingly at Layla wrapped up against my chest. “I miss that stage. All the snuggles, all day, all night.”
Do you? Really?? Do you miss sleeping for less than two hours at a time? Do you miss jumping at every sound, waiting and praying that it’s just a baby noise and doesn’t turn into a full-blown wail? Do you miss breastfeeding? It takes an hour to breastfeed and I have to do it eight or nine times a day.
Think about it.
And then on top of breastfeeding I need to pump so I can have a backup supply. Breast pumps come with a lot of parts and need to be cleaned after every use and sterilized at least once a day. So when I’m not breastfeeding or pumping, or washing and sterilizing the breast pump, I’m trying to have some semblance of a normal life. And it’s just. not. possible.
But it’s such a short period of time and “before you know it they’ll be teenagers.”
Sure sure sure. Time is funny like that, fast and slow.
Your newborn baby is the most precious, adorable creature and you can’t believe she exists and that you made her. This stage of life is brief and beautiful.
And brutal.
Essay of the Week
I’ve now experienced two child births - with and without an epidural.
This makes me an expert on childbirth.
I wrote about the five things every first-time mom should know about the epidural.
Cleared For Go
Why didn’t anyone tell me Peloton was so amazing??
I got the green light from my doctor to start physical activity so I did my first workout on Friday in our garage.
Then I did another one Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. I’m addicted.
There’s thousands of classes (literally!). I can filter for the type of class (barre and stretching, please!), the instructor (honestly they’re all phenomenal but shoutout to Ally Love), class length (I got 20 minutes tops, people), difficulty (nice and easy), and even music (a Disney playlist, what?!!!).
And here I thought Peloton was just riding a bike. 10/10 recommend.
—
Until next week,
Charlie