Still Impatient

I think that I wrote a blog a few months ago about being impatient. Yes, that's me: Mrs. Impatient Universe. I could probably blame other people and things for my inability to take things slowly, casually, with ease... but the truth is that I am simply an impatient person. This is probably my biggest character flaw considering that I am a mother and elementary school teacher. I reflect on the times that I rush Izzie to do things and I feel ashamed of myself. Why should she have to do everything "quick, quick, candlestick" so that I can fit in more things and thus be able to say (not that anyone is paying attention) that I have been "productive?" To my knowledge, there is no reward for having everybody ready, on time, always.

I continue to work on this part of myself.

MWM Turns 30

Jekyll & Hyde / Mommy & Baby

It seems as though we're both having mood swings. He goes from happy to fussy in a matter of moments (darn that gas!), and I go from calm and serene to weepy and nostalgic in the same amount of time. I don't only miss my Henry (and the lost opportunity to nurture him), but I also miss Izzie as a baby. A small part of me regrets that Isaac is likely the last newborn that I will hold for a long time, and yet, I look forward to the day when he is old enough to really smile, giggle, walk, talk, and play. There are times when he doesn't want to eat - or be held - or even to burp (the thing that he needs most); just as there are times that I don't want to put his snuggly body down, all whilst I dream about him being a toddler.

Mommy / baby mood swings?

Newborn-dom

My newborn is beautiful, precious, and delightful. But if it weren't for sleeping, eating, and making yucky diapers, he'd do nothing at all.

Take this morning, for example: He was changed and fed, but wide awake. I burped him and sat him on a blanket on the floor where he could see everything. He got bored... or uncomfortable. So I moved him to his bouncer. There, he got bored... or uncomfortable. So I repeated the events that started the whole process: changed his diaper (although it wasn't really wet), tried to feed him (not hungry), tried to burp him (went from fussing to crying), so he ended up back on the blanket where he laid quietly... for about two minutes.

Sigh. Newborn-dom is one part sacred, one part psycho. No, wait, maybe that's just new-Mom-dom. :)

MWM Turns 30

Life Has Changed... Again!

My life has changed... again. Now I am the mother of two young children. Now I am feeding two mouths, bathing two bodies, and entertaining two impressionable minds. I am praying, shopping, cleaning, and cooking for a family of four now, and I am enjoying the sounds of two completely different voices, cries, whines, and grumbles. Now I am recognizing two unique smiles and laughs. Now I have a sense of being complete as a family (that is, as complete as we can be without our precious Henry). Now I am the partner in a marriage, and head of a household of four, as I had always envisioned in my mind.

Of all of life's changes, this one feels long-overdue and yet completely unexpected. I may as well savor it, for the only certainty is that it will change again.

MWM Turns 30

My 3 Year-Old Has Lost Her Mind!

Since the first overnight that we spent in the hospital with baby Isaac, my 3 year-old daughter Izzie has been acting in ways that are... out of character for her (to put it mildly). She's had at least one major meltdown each day, began wetting the bed at night, chose to sleep on her floor for a few days in a row, has been louder and much whinier than usual, etc. My husband and I have done everything that we can to maintain normalcy for her, as she still attends pre-school, visits the park every few days, and gets to play outside with her friends. So why all the fuss?!?!?!

Is it because she's 3, and toddlers are unpredictable? Is it because she suddenly has a crying, feeding baby brother in the house? Is it because it's summer and Mom is home now?

More important than pin-pointing the cause of the frustration would be to ask the obvious question: How do we make this better? Time? Patience? Routine? Candy?

Help! My 3 year-old has lost her mind, and mine is sure to follow!

MWM Turns 30

Television

Now that I am on Maternity Leave, I am a little disappointed in the lack of quality programming on TV. Regis & Kelly is completely ridiculous and couldn't be less relevant in my opinion. Shows like Tori & Dean, Pretty Wild, and even 19 Kids are about families and what they do everyday. Why would I want to watch other families when I have one of my own? Re-runs, old sitcoms, 24-hour news channels... all a bit of a letdown now that I have the time to watch here and there.

What would I like to see? I'd like more educational programs (Nova-esque), career reality shows (teaching, for example), and down-to-earth cooking shows.

Three months until I am back in the classroom. I suppose that until then I should just enjoy the peace and quiet that being "off" - and having the TV turned off - provides.

MWM Turns 30

Nursing is a Challenge (For Me)

Breastfeeding has come easily to each of my living children, but it doesn't come so easily to me. For one thing, it can't be planned, steamlined, or proceduralized. For another, it can't be shared with my husband or other caregivers. While most women probably find joy in feeding-on-demand, I struggle with having a lack of control or persuasion. Isaac is hungry when he's hungry, eats for a different amount of time each time, and seems to prefer different sides at different times... for no reason at all. Sigh.

I love being able to nurse my son, but it is an exercise in patience for a control freak like me. I will keep at it, though, because this opportunity to nourish Isaac all on my own will soon pass.

MWM Turns 30

p.s. Suggestions welcomed!