Life in Two Hour Increments

Mommyhood has been a really interesting transition for me. I used to be someone who had days, or even weeks planned out in advance. I always worked off a "to do" list, and lived according to "schedule" (which often annoyed my dear husband to no end since he is more of a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of guy).

Well, mommyhood has changed all that. I can't plan beyond two hour increments (and even planning ahead two hours sometimes doesn't work out so well). Our little man is just that - little. Being only 5 pounds, 10 ounces when he was born (and down to 5 pounds, 4 ounces by the time we were discharged from the hospital), we have to make sure to feed him at least every two hours (and if he wants to eat more often than that, of course we have to oblige as our number one priority right now is to get Shaan to gain weight).

And, right now, I'm breastfeeding Shaan (with the exception of one bottle of formula at night, which Manu gives him for daddy-son bonding time, and also to make us feel better that he is getting at least one full bottle a day, since we can't tell how much he is getting from breastfeeding right now). So, that means that I literally have a baby attached to me about 1/2 of the day (I say 1/2 of the day b/c sometimes he doesn't make it 2 hours between feedings, and you count two hours from the time you start nursing, so it's really more like an hour and a 1/2 reprieve between feedings anyways).

So, how has this changed my life, you might ask? Well, each day I wake up and focus on two hour increments. Here are some things we do in between feedings (i.e. things I can get done in two hours):

1. Get a shower

2. Take a walk around the block (but note: we can't walk more than 30 minutes as the baby seems to know when mommy is "out of the house" and gears up faster than 2 hours during walk time)

3. Take a nap (this is key, as they say you need to nap when the baby naps, and now I know why!)

4. Give baby a bath

5. Put baby in the swing (this is usually reserved for "awake" time when the baby will not go to sleep after feeding)

6. Make a "Babies R Us" run for more supplies (we've only done this once, but I'm pleased to say we did make it there and back before junior was ready to nurse again)

7. Check email/Facebook/update Blog, etc.

8. Read (please note that in the three weeks since I had Shaan I've only managed to complete one book in total, but I am pleased that I did finish one book)

9. Change the sheets on the bed where Shaan sprayed us as we were trying to change his diaper

10. Eat (please note that I think Shaan can actually smell food, which makes him hungry, so we usually have to nurse during this time as well - it's similar to "walk" time - we typically don't make it 2 hours here)

I also want to point out that we don't do all of the above every day - I usually feel it's been a pretty good day if we get number 1, 2, 4, and 10 completed (yes, one night I did actually sleep on the side of the bed Shaan did not pee on b/c I was too tired to change the sheets in the middle of the night). It's amazing how mommyhood can make "OCD" people less OCD very quickly - I guess sleep deprivation can do that.

Another interesting thing I want to point out is that it also never fails that Shaan wants to nurse when company is around. I mean, even if he literally just nursed 15 minutes ago, if someone shows up at our door it's like an internal radar that it must be time to feed again. All modesty goes out the window when your first priority is to make sure your newborn is gaining weight - case in point, I've attached a picture of two of my male co-workers who came to visit us in the hospital during a time when we had to nurse (even though they couldn't see anything since I was covered, I think when they realized I was nursing, it mortified them long enough for us to catch this great picture).

John and Jared during "nursing time" at the hospital. :)

I've also attached a pic of us during "swing time" which Shaan loves (as does Mommy). It gives my just enough time to take a shower, update the blog, etc. The swing was a gift from my sister, and boy was it a great gift! Thank you Aunt Holly!

Shaan loves his "swing time!"

Well, as you can tell, Mommyhood has been a big change for us so far, and I know there will be many more changes to come, but we wouldn't change it for the world. Let's just hope Shaan has actually gained some weight - we find out at our next doctor appt on Wed., so fingers crossed!