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22 May 2014

My First Day Alone

Matt will be home in about 12 minutes.

That's right - today, 12 days postpartum, my maternity leave ended. I didn't want to be staring down the barrel of a full week on my own, so Matt and I decided that if he went back to work on a Thursday, I'd only have to make it through two "test" days before weekend relief. And it's a holiday weekend, so we get a bonus day. Then the following week is only four days. Lots of starts and stops.

Things must be going well because I'm blogging and he's not even home yet, right? Right! Things are going magnificently! I only had two expectations for today: 1. I won't cry. 2. We'll spend lots of time in prayer. We Matt vacuumed, did dishes, and finished laundry yesterday so I wouldn't even be tempted to push myself. We're planning on a frozen pizza (sale plus coupon!) for dinner. I definitely helped that Abigail was in a very good mood (ie, willing to listen and playing nicely when I needed to nurse), and that Eleanor has decided the Ergo is acceptable (she wasn't so sure the first time I used it).

Although last night I didn't exactly get the sleep I would have liked for my first day alone (we're still trying to figure out the best arrangement anything that works), I managed to roll out of bed by 7am and get both girls and myself dressed and fed with only minimal tears from Eleanor. We said a family prayer for patience and wisdom (me) and focus and discipline (him). I did feel tempted to cry as Matt walked out to the car, Abigail blowing kisses and shouting, "Bye, Daddy!" through the open window, but I held myself together. Once he had driven away, Abigail voluntarily retreated to her room for some independent play, so I strapped Eleanor into the Ergo and very slowly worked my way through a few chores. I unloaded the dishwasher. Abigail still playing, Eleanor still sleeping. I stuffed and put away the clean cloth diapers. Abigail still playing, Eleanor still sleeping. I made a meal plan, hunted through the flyer to find the best coupon plus sale match-ups, and I made a grocery list. Now Eleanor was hungry and Abigail was ready for some attention, so I nursed Eleanor in Abigail's room while reading Abigail some books and playing dress up jewelry. Eleanor willingly did tummy time for a few minutes while I made some lunch, then we all took a short walk around the apartment complex. When we got home, we called Matt to give him an update assure him we were still alive. I put Abigail down for a nap (thank goodness she's back to napping), nursed Eleanor again, and then her and I took a nap on the couch! All three of us napped on my first day alone! It was wonderful!

Typically when Abigail gets up from a nap, she likes to snuggle, but Eleanor was hungry, so we did watch an episode of Blues Clues together on the couch, so I could satisfy both girls at the same time. I really don't want to be dependent on the TV to get through the day, and I definitely don't want Abigail watching it every day, so I do need to figure out an alternative. But today? No TV wasn't an expectation. So while I've identified room for improvement, I'm not beating myself up over it.

After the show we had a brief snack and Abigail headed back into her room for more independent play! So now I'm blogging! It was a slow, peaceful day, for which I am very thankful. It was a weird mix of boring yet my hands were full, though. I was nursing Eleanor with one hand and reading Abigail a book with the other - my attention is completely occupied - but playing with toddler toys and reading toddler books all afternoon is really mind-numbing.

Well, Matt is home, so I'll wrap this up quick. While I am incredibly thankful the first day went so well (and I hope tomorrow is just as boring), I do hope to find a more enriching balance. I suspect it won't happen until Eleanor isn't nursing every two-to-three hours and is able to hold her own head up a bit better.

Sawako said...

I don't know if you meant it that way and please don't take it negatively, but it's very dangerous to sleep with baby on a couch (again, I don't know if that's what you were doing). Couches have lots of spaces where baby could get trapped, which is not the case with a bed set up for co-sleeping.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you did well! You're in a new stage of life, and it's wonderful that you have a wonderful, supportive, understanding husband making the transition with you. I find new baby time is the best time to pick up and/re-examine my Mothers Rule of Life, which it sounds like you are. And don't be afraid to cry! Your hormone crash is still a crazy landslide! Don't feel defeated if you can't get through a long stretch without tears welling up every time you pick up a toy or pour another cup of coffee! ....those words are meant to be encouraging...I don't know if that's how they sound...I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about "those times." :-)

I've found, regarding sleeping/napping arrangements, that i am generally well attuned to the movements of my baby, even while asleep. We co-slept with the first two, but when number three came along, we had a twin or double bed, and after two nights of trying co-sleeping, I knew I was too exhausted and there wasn't enough space to make it work, so I put him in a Moses basket on the floor next to the bed. I guess that's my way of saying "trust your instincts!" :-). TB

Amelia Bentrup said...

Sounds like you did great job. Two kids is the hardest, in my opinion!

Congrats on surviving your first day!!!

(p.s. Not to be negative, but I also agree that co-sleeping on the couch is generally not considered to be safe...all the "co-sleeping experts" agree on that. I love taking naps with my babies (especially when they are new), but we just cuddle up in bed together. )


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Friday, September 7, 2012

Hope has never been a big babbler -- sometimes she goes days, even weeks, without vocalizing much at all -- so it's a total treat when she gets in a chatty mood. I like to believe she has "Ma" down pat.

This video is from Labor Day weekend. Enjoy! Oh, and go STATE!

Debbie said...

Love it! Love the long hai, the hair bow, the "ma, ma, ma" and HER!!! xoxoxo

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A Life Well Lived

by Thursday, July 02, 2015
The greatest life well lived is a life filled with meaning. Many have been preoccupied with pursuing their own agendas in life with the aim to fill that void – so much so that we have dismissed the very reason why God placed us on this earth for.

It would be so regretful to look to the end of this life’s course to find that everything accomplished was futile because you have not discovered the reason for your existence and lived a meaningful life. To utter the words of Quoheleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, “Everything is meaningless.”

When God created man, He placed all these things to bring fulfillment upon his life:
1) God fellowshipped with man,
2) God made man a social creature,
3) God gave man work, and
4) God gave man dominion over the earth

Today, many seek meaning through relationships with friends, work, climbing the “ladder”, etc. They try to find fulfilment through all but not the very first reason above. They have not realized that fellowship with God is what brings true meaning in life.

May you discover the very reason for your existence. Step into the shoes of Jesus, and start to live His life. You will see His goodness, His glory and the emptiness of your life fulfilled by Him.

“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
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Monday, January 18, 2016

Parties For Teas, Parties for Birthdays, Happy Dazes, Yellow Heals

Dinner Partys, Tea For a crew, students and teachers, to live for a year, rooms with views, all over the place. Dinner in the yellow room, desert in another place, trips to the room for dinner. Jokes and laughs, trips to Italy, passport on hold, trips to take for the credits in school. Lauguages to take, in the land of the people, speck that same way. Rules to learn. Classes to take. Year of the monkey, 2016, tips to share.

Castle for sale, in Italy, my house dreams, to share, dates with rite knights, battles to fight. Lady to save, moons to catch, tears to seas, sailing the seas, ship of dreams to share. Hand out to help, the lost, the displace, in China, new job. Houses for the homeless in China to start. Right? Fighting to live, to take a stand for good not evil, ready to shine in the lights of dazes in the sunlight.Starting with the stones and gems found buried under the piles darkness  found in the herds of sheep on top of the ground once. Dogwood  butterflies  for the dogwood trees in the woods.

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Oh Yea??

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My Niece

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  • debra raskin

    debra raskin gave props (12 Jan 2008):

    Red Rose

  • Nicole Demchak

    Nicole Demchak said (6 Feb 2008):

    That's my girl!!! Glad she knows who you and Margaret are...

  • judy fouse

    judy fouse gave props (7 Feb 2008):

    So sweet.

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Monday, September 27, 2010

Orange County Register Opposes California Health-Insurance Exchange

The Orange County Register has editorialized against the two bills that would establish a health-insurance "exchange" under ObamaCare in California.  I had a lengthy interview with the writer last week and the editorial quotes me at length, for which I'm grateful.

These are the bills which we urge Governor Schwarzenegger to veto by September 30.  The OCR, rightly, calls the exchange a "poison pill."

Read more here.

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Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系 vijuaru kei, literally "visual style" or "visual system") is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its own particular sound, related to glam rock, punk and metal. However other sources state that visual kei's unique clothing, make-up, fashions, and participation in the related sub-culture is equally as important as the sound of the music itself in the use of the term.

Visual kei emerged in the mid 1980s, pioneered by bands such as X Japan,D'erlanger,Buck-Tick and Color. The term visual kei was created with one of X Japan's slogans "Psychedelic violence crime of visual shock". Color vocalist "Dynamite Tommy" formed his record company Free-Will in 1986, which has been a major contributor in spreading modern visual kei outside Japan. Under Code Production, a sub-label of Free-Will founded by Kisaki, since its formation in 2003 has had a definite influence on newer independent visual kei bands, particularly in Osaka.

In 1992, X Japan launched an attempt to enter the European and American markets, but it would take another 8 years until popularity and awareness of visual kei bands would extend worldwide. In the mid 1990s, visual kei received an increase in popularity throughout Japan, and album sales from visual kei bands started to reach record numbers. The most notable bands to achieve success during this period included X Japan, Glay, and Luna Sea; however, a drastic change in their appearance accompanied their success. During the same period other bands, such as Kuroyome, Malice Mizer, and Penicillin, gained mainstream awareness, although they were not as commercially successful. By 1999, the mainstream popularity of visual kei was declining; X Japan had disbanded, and in 2000, Luna Sea decided to disband.

In 2007 the genre was revitalized, as Luna Sea performed a one-off performance, and X Japan reunited for a new single and a world tour. With these developments, visual kei bands enjoyed a boost in public awareness, described by some media as "neo-visual kei". New bands still use visual kei to describe themselves. Some examples of mainstream bands are Versailles, Nightmare, and The Gazette.

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