It has been 6 weeks since the birth of Grayson and our family has definitely started finding its groove as a family of 4. And although I sound like a broken record, I will say it again, having a newborn for the second time is SO MUCH easier than it was with the first!! Things really have been going great, but something I am really struggling with is how to balance my time (who DOESN’T struggle with that?!). I thought this was hard pre-second baby, but boy oh boy is it even tougher now!
There are only so many hours in the day and an endless list of “To-Do’s”.
- Nurse Grayson: just @ every 3 hours I am feeding him, then changing his diaper, doing tummy time and then laying him back down for a nap (if I am lucky enough for him to take one!)
- Feed Cody: he seems to eat just as much (!) but luckily I get his food for him and he can feed himself!!
- Change Cody’s diaper
- Whatever “house chores” for the day that need to be done… that list is always endless
- Scheduling Dinner day after day… this gets old FOR REAL!
- Running Errands… never ends!
- Staying connected to the blogosphere and you :)
- Taking a Shower- you laugh but seriously I have made this a priority every day since having Grayson because it just makes me feel good! Come on, who doesn’t need a shower after being spit up on, having nasty dried milk pads constantly touching their skin, and changing dirty diapers all day?! You are probably grossed out right now, but laughing at the same time because you know it’s true!
- Making some time for ME… I know, if you are a mom and reading this you are saying, : what me time?…. I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself, let alone ME TIME!”
- Take the kids out for fun time, play with Cody one on one
- Kiss the hubs… note to self- that man you are living with, you know, the one who you pass in the hallway!!
- Staying in touch with girlfriends and extended family
- The list goes on, but you get the drift! You are living it too!!
It's a race against the clock!
With all of that being said, you have your “I must do today list” and then your “Things I would love to today” list. My challenge right now is figuring out where everything fits. What is priority over another?? The downtime that I have I must choose- do I want to shower or call a girlfriend? Do I want to write a post or go outside and play with Cody? It is crazy how fast the day goes by and how little I seem to get done. In all honesty, if there is a point in the day when both the boys are napping and the house is quiet, the only thing I want to do is have a date with a mind-numbing reality show so I can veg on the couch and think about absolutely nothing!!
I know that in time, I will get into a better routine, but for now I am just taking things day by day. The ironic part is that I feel like I am getting a lot accomplished every day, but when I look at my “to do” at the end of the day, I haven’t even made a dent! UGH!! I think one of the hardest things as a mom is trying to find a balance and figuring out what takes priority on your “to do” list!
There have been a few things I have found that have been helping me through this transition and one thing I committed to that (I think) will make those stress levels come down and make me a happier mommy!
- Mommy Juice: No, I am not talking about a little fruit punch… the real deal! Mommy Juice is the adult beverage called wine and let me tell you- it’s da bomb. I will take any wine, but I was able to sample a bottle of Mommy Juice and have been addicted!! O.k. so yes, I have to stop myself at 1 small glass since I am nursing, but man is it delicious… and might I add… it takes the edge off a little too!!
- Circle and Bloom: This company has Mind-body programs for women’s health, fertility, pregnancy, and more! I am totally into meditation and relaxation for the soul. I have sampled some tapes from Circle and Bloom which uses guided visualization (the body cannot tell the difference between what we are actually experiencing vs. what we are visualizing). I am currently sampling tapes that helps with energy levels- heaven knows I need that! I LOVE to listen to them before bed and I have only been using them a few days so I haven’t noticed much of a difference, but I definitely get relaxed just by the sound of her voice on the tapes. I would highly recommend checking out their site if you need some relaxation!! Now that I have started working out (Monday was week 6 so I got started… I am on a mission!) and trying to get in shape and healthy, I am going to try their 21 day Happy Mind and Healthy Body. I will let you know what I think when I am done!
- Running: NO I am not a runner, but YES I like to run. Kim and I have ran a 5k and 10K together and it was totally exhilarating. I never ran a day in my life until we started training for our races, but I must say I have come to love it. I have found that if you commit to a race and goal to work towards you are more successful at sticking with it SO one of my girlfriends is trying to lose weight before she gets married (you know who you are and I want you to know that I am SOOO proud of you! It’s not easy to do what you are doing!! LOVE YOU!). She started a private FB with just her girlfriends and she has totally put herself out there and posted her measurements and weight and is hoping we can all hold each other accountable. SO I mentioned running and racing and said we should do the Turkey Trot. We are all signed up! Even if I can’t run the entire thing (my goal is just to finish the race!), I am excited to have a goal to work towards and am really motivated to get back in shape this time around. With Cody I thought the weight would just fall off-HA!- fat chance- literally! As of now I have lost 24 pounds, but gained 50 so you do the math! If I lived a little closer I would take the Stroller Strong classes because they kicked my butt in the past! Unfortunately, I live too far, but if you need a little motivation to get into shape, I highly recommend them! You can take your little ones with you and get a great workout! If not, get a partner who can hold you accountable! My partner- YOU! I am proclaiming my goals to you and hope you hold me to them!! Join the race with me… I would love to see you at the starting line! Don’t live in Cincy?? Sign up for a race in your city or set a exercise goal for yourself and keep me posted on your progress!!
I would love to hear how you find/ get balance in your life and what has been your postpartum therapy for the soul??!!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Jennie!! I love you too!! If there is something any woman (with or without kids) can relate to, it’s losing weight and feeling good
About ourselves!
I love you too girl and really am SO proud of you. And you are SO right… regardless of kids or not, we all can relate to wanting to feel and look good! That is why we need to help each other meet those goals! -Jen
before i had kayla, i giggled when my friend told me that she used to forget to brush her teeth when she had her son. then when i had kayla, i found myself doing that too!
if i ever had another baby, i would totally hire a nanny or cleaning service to help with the house chores. i know every person thinks: i can do this myself; why hire someone but seriously, spending $100 or however much it costs to come home to a clean house and/or a warm meal is so worth it when you're exhausted.
it's easier for me now to get "me time" now that kayla's three. hubs and i spend a couple of hours every sunday afternoon (we drop K off at his parents) and we also make plans with our friends whether that be dinner, drinks, happy hour etc.
Kathy, SO true! I remember not getting a shower for days with Cody which is why it is a big priority of mine this time around! It's the little things right?!
I totally agree with the nanny etc. If you read my post about the cuddler I am all about making life easier on yourself. With Cody I thought no one could do anything with him but me. This time is totally different! Although those things cost money, they are SO worth it for your psyche in the long run! -Jen
I feel ya! Boy do I!! So when is this turkey trot and how long is it and how much? We should all meet and walk once a weekend to practice before it… LMK
A- I was going to ask you about that! You should do it!! Follow the link in the post and you can get all the details and sign up!! I am on day three of working out! Sore as heck but feeling proud of myself for making the time to do it … FOR ME!! :) -Jen
Mommy Juice…any brand…is a very. Good. Thing.