I know I always say this, but how is Kaiden no longer a newborn?! I’m honestly blown away by how fast he’s growing.
To everyone who told us the two month milestone would be a huge positive turning point, you were right! While Kaiden’s still my sweet little baby, he’s growing up in so many ways, and it shows. This also makes life a little bit less chaotic for me and Vishnu. A little bit!
Overall, our family of three is doing well. Parenthood is lot more exciting now that Kaiden recognizes us and is a bit more interactive when he wants to be! Sleep deprivation is still a thing, but it’s truly getting easier (never thought I’d see the day).
STATE OF KAIDEN
Vishnu and I joke that Kaiden already looks like a little boy because of his hair. He has SO much! But don’t let his long locks fool you, this little guy is still our baby (and always will be!).
In just one short month, we’ve seen a few key changes in Mr. K. He now tracks with us using his eyes and by moving his head which leads us to believe he recognizes us and knows we’re his mama and daddy. He also started cooing a week or so ago. It’s THE CUTEST thing ever! Vishnu and I spent a good 45 minutes on Saturday morning trying to get him to coo over and over again. He’s also starting to understand that his hands and feet are a part of him and it’s obvious he’s taking an interest in them. And you guys, his adorable gummy smile melts my heart. I can’t wait until it’s a more regular occurrence!
In terms of eating and sleeping, things are going ok. I think we have our expectations set too high because we often find ourselves baffled in the eating department. Our pediatrician told us K should be eating 4-6 ounces a feed, and we’re no where close to that. He definitely drinks enough throughout the day, but his feeding schedule is very intermittent. A little here and a little there. We’ll get there sooner than later I hope.
And of course, this eating pattern impacts his sleep. The less he eats the shorter his naps which makes for an interesting day for mama! Thankfully, his nighttime sleeping is getting better. He usually wakes up twice after we put him down (between 7:30 and 8:30). The other night he got up four times…you should’ve seen me and Vishnu that next morning. Zombies I tell you!
Short and simple, Kaiden is a sweet, adorable, lovable, snuggable two month old, and we can’t get enough!
STATE OF MAMA
Kaiden isn’t the only one who’s experiencing change! I’ve felt a positive shift in my emotional state over the past month. Phew! While I’m so thankful not to have experienced PPD or PP blues, I did have some lingering anxiety after delivery. What really helped me move past that is just rolling up my sleeves and taking motherhood by the horns. Sure, I’m not perfect nor do I strive to be (it’s impossible!). However, the more I “do” the more confident I am in my ability to be a good mom. And just keeping at it with this attitude helps tremendously.
I want to dedicate an entire post to the postpartum body, however, I will say that adjusting to this new body was hard at first. At almost nine weeks post-delivery, I’m still no where close to where I was pre-Kaiden, but I’m honestly ok with that. This body accomplished so much in the past year, and it continues to every day. I’m also starting to incorporate regular workouts into my days, as well as focus on living a more active lifestyle…thankfully, that’s inevitable with a baby. More to come!
Up until now, self-care hasn’t been as big of a priority as it should’ve been. I kid you not, finding time to shower is a challenge. And washing my hair? Ha! But I’ve realized that in order to feel good on the inside, I have to take care of myself from a more holistic perspective. Kaiden is my biggest priority right now, but at the same time, I need to carve out time for myself and not get lost in the day to day. This includes dressing in something other than pajama pants and a white tee, actually drying and straightening my hair (even if I have no where to go), putting on a little makeup, making plans with friends, blogging, reading, baking, etc. This week alone I have lunch plans for three out of the five weekdays, and I can’t begin to tell you how happy that makes me.
None of the above would be possible without Vishnu’s support. I’m SO thankful for him. He’s not only an amazing father, but he continues to encourage, support, and challenge me every day. There is absolutely no one else I’d rather be on this journey with…he’s my rock!
STATE OF DADDY
Speaking of Vishnu, he’s doing well. The thing is that he goes to work, comes home, takes over Kaiden responsibilities so I can prepare dinner, gets up for middle of the night feeds so I can pump, and does it all over again. He’s so committed to this new role, and I love him for it! I know it’s not easy, as his job is one that requires him to have his ‘thinking cap’ on at all times. He’s still perpetually tired, but he’s handling it like a champ.
The one thing I’m encouraging Vishnu to do more of is indulge in some self-care himself. I booked a massage for him this past weekend because I knew he’d never do something like that for himself. Next up is getting him to go out sans Par and Kaiden for dinner and drinks with a friend. He deserves some time off!
The next few weeks (September-November) will be interesting for us as a family because Vishnu has to work every weekend. The 12 hour Sunday shifts will be ok, but those 24 hour Saturday shifts will be a challenge for sure. Hopefully Kaiden will be sleeping through the night at that point. A mom can dream!
Other than the above, Vishnu and I are still navigating how to prioritize our relationship while in the throws of this new journey. It’s not easy, that’s for sure! I plan to blog about how things have shifted for us over the past few months and will share any tips and tricks, as I imagine we’re not the only ones walking around in a bit of a baby trance.
Annnnnd that’s month two in a long winded blog post! 🙂
P.S. After rereading this post, I was overcome with gratitude for my little family and our safety. With that being said, my thoughts, prayers, and heart are with those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. I can’t imagine the devastation and loss being experienced right now and wish there was more we could do. Vishnu and I contributed what we could financially, and I encourage everyone to do the same. Every little bit helps. There are so many great ones to pick from, so find please select one (or more) and give as much as you can.
self-care definitely is a priority..you are such a good wifey for looking for V.