mama confessions: {twenty-four hours}

For the past six weeks I've been a 

stay-at-home-mama.

For those of you that think it is all bon-bons and watching soap operas...

 I have learned this is actually a myth.

As a SAHM I barely have time to eat a meal and the one daytime show I do DVR {love me some Ellen} I usually only get to watch in 15 minute spurts throughout the day.
Which is okay with me, because...

Every day is different.  Every day there is something new to learn about motherhood and Baby Mac.  Every day in every way I am molding this little person I have been entrusted with.
  Overwhelming...yet so amazing!
{and tiring!}

Here is a glimpse of a recent day spend with Baby...

12am-6:15am -- Cormac is very noisy in the bassinet next to me. I am a light sleeper and even more so now.   I must have slept, but don't remember anything but reaching my hand over, putting my hand on his tiny chest, and shhhh, shhhh shhhing him back to sleep every time he got too noisy.  Several times I get up, carry him like a zombie over to the nursery and breastfeed him.  I am excited, yet nervous, about the inevitable transition to the crib!

6:15am -- Mac wakes up!  I change him and rock him a little while, and miraculously he appears still sleepy.  I put him down in his crib when he is officially sleeping and tiptoe away.

6:45am -- With monitor near, I shower, get dressed and put on a little makeup...just enough to feel presentable enough to run errands later and not frighten people!  My wardrobe these days, when at home, is sweatpants and a t-shirt.  Not glamorous but very comfy! :)  Here is me today:

7:10am -- I make a pot of coffee, have a cup and a banana, and flip through my Food and Wine magazine, all the while distracted by the monitor that is strangely silent.

7:20am -- I sit shocked that Baby is still sleeping!  I creep into the nursery to check on him, and though the creaky door gives him a little start, he remains asleep.  I tiptoe away. I do a lot of tiptoeing these days.

7:30am -- Check monitor for defects. "Is this thing on?" Seems to be functioning properly.  Definitely not typical for Baby to sleep this late, which I hope means he likes the crib.  Flip through new West Elm catalog for home decor ideas {for when I have free time to do house projects. *har,har*}

7:40am -- Loud grunting and heavy breathing come through the monitor.  I give him a chance to quiet.  He does.

7:50am -- Major breathing and rustling noises ensue on the other side of the monitor as Cormac tries to break free of his swaddle.  I give up trying to relax and head up to the nursery.  He's wide awake...but my swaddle has foiled his attempts!

7:55am -- Wakey time!  I change his diaper and sing him several songs while he smiles, coos and stares at me.  Babies make you feel like you should be on Broadway.

8:15am -- We go say "good morning" to Daddy and then I feed, snuggle, play with and sing to Baby in our bed for a while.

8:45am -- I take Baby outside for our daily "nature walk" -- which is where I walk him around and point out every flower and tree in our backyard and talk to him about the outdoor adventures we will have someday!  Mostly he just stares at the sky a lot...

8:55am -- Daddy comes outside to kiss us goodbye!

9:00am -- I fold some of the neverending pile of laundry while Cormac watches quietly and sucks on his pacifier.  {p.s. don't let anyone scare you away from pacifiers!!!  They will not cause nipple confusion in full-term babies.  They are awesome to have when you need them!!!}

9:20am - Cormac looks tired.  Falls asleep.  Pacifier falls out of mouth. 

I put him down for a nap in the swing.  While he naps I reheat the cup of coffee I meant to drink hours ago and toast a bagel.  I get to eat half the bagel and then...

9:40am - Mac wakes up! I change him, put on his first onesie of the day, feed him and then it is tummy time!  He scoots around and turns his head a few times.  My strong boy!

9:50am - Spits up all over his onesie I had just changed him into.  This happens at least ten times per day.  I decide this is a perfect time for "Baby Massage"!  It is not as traumatic as he makes it look here:

I mean, who doesn't love a massage?

10:00am - Dress Baby in a clean onesie and put him in the stroller for a walk around the neighborhood.  I don't usually take the camera on our walks, so I snag a few pretty flower shots while we get "our" exercise.

Mac takes in the beautiful summer morning!

10:40am -- We arrive home to a surprise visit from Nana!  She and I chat, I feed Mac who afterward takes another short nap, and then I am able to leave for a little "Mama Time" away from baby while Nana watches him.  So nice!  Definitely not part of my normal day, so I take advantage!

12pm-1:30pm -- I head to the nearby coffee shop for a latte and some lunch.  I bring my book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child with me and read a few chapters.  {New parents - Get this book!} I chat with one of my girlfriends on the phone.  I actually eat a full and uninterrupted meal!

2:30pm -- I feed Baby and work on soothing him to sleep.  Have some problems but finally he drifts off to dreamland.

3:00pm -- Put him in swing for a his long afternoon nap.  He starts making noises after ten minutes and I decide to let him go back to sleep on his own.  He fusses for about 10 minutes but it works!  While he sleeps I blog and fold some more laundry.

4:45pm -- I hear him let out a yowl, check him, but he has already fallen back asleep.  Phew!  Time for Mama to take a nap, too!  So I sleep on the couch for a while as he continues his nap.

6:00pm -- He wakes up.  We snuggle on the couch a little, then I feed him again.  For the next couple hours he is really alert and so fun to interact with...thank God for good naps!

6:30pm -- Daddy comes home!  We hang out, talk, and play with Cormac for a while.

7:00pm -- I start making dinner while Hubby takes care of Baby. Some nights I am so tired that I tell Hubby he needs to make a sandwich...or we have Hamburger Helper!!!  Tonight is another simple dinner: I grill some chicken breasts and make some rice.  Oh, and Mama has a glass of wine!

7:30pm-- Daddy feeds Baby Mac the "relief bottle," which is a small bottle of formula.  This gives me a break from my job as Milk Factory and also allows me to pump.  p.s. I highly recommend the relief bottle to breastfeeding mamas once you feel confident

7:45pm -- Dinner time!  Usually we take turns eating while the other holds Baby.  Tonight, however, Mac gives us a special treat -- he hangs out quietly in the swing while we eat.  Thank you Sweet Boy!

8:15pm -- Baby is asleep after a little soothing.   I finally can breathe a long sigh of exhaustion and relief.  I also feel a sense of pride...like I've accomplished a mission or something!  :D Mama and Dada get some time together to watch TV.  I pump, blog, get ready for bed and then read for a while.

10:00pm -- Bedtime for Mama!

11:00pm -- Cormac wakes up...thankfully Hubby takes the first shift and feeds him the rest of the "relief bottle, if necessary!  Mama sleeps on...

12:00am -- It starts all over again!!!

It took six weeks but I am finally feeling like I have some idea what I am doing - and I love it!   It truly does get easier and more and more fun to spend time with the little one.

Still waiting for the free time and bonbons to magically appear...

;)
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