Tuesday, May 01, 2007

What Day Is This?

I think in fragments these days. The sleep deprivation is getting to me. I get three straight hours a night between 1 and 4 and that's about it. Elizabeth is a night owl. Her witching hour begins at 9:30 and lasts until after midnight. She must be held, jiggled, fed, burped, and entertained with old Lost episodes during this period OR ELSE. She is also an early riser who wants to chit-chat at 5 am. If I didn't have two other kids who need attention this really wouldn't be a problem, but the whole sleep when the baby sleep thing is null and void unless you only have one child. I am not complaining, though. I knew this was my fate when I saw that tadpolish blob on the ultrasound screen in September. I kind of even like spending all that alone time with her, although it would be nice to condense into just one hour maybe.

The husband took all of last week off and "helped out". He was good keeping the boys entertained and trimming trees and mowing the lawn and running errands and moving furniture around so I shouldn't gripe........bbbbuuutttt......

Before I had kids of my own my WV friend started her own family and told me her husband was so in awe and grateful to her for giving birth to their son that he was like a new man, lavishing gifts, taking care of the baby, cleaning the house. She was kicking herself for waiting ten years to have kids. That lasted seven days and then her husband settled back into his old life and she wasn't that cool anymore. Apparently this is a phenomenon that most men go through. Mine does everytime, this time though, I was cool for only five days. By last Tuesday I was on my own during the night, pretty much, which was ironic given that the one person who wasn't supposed to be doing much (major surgery remember?) was doing it all while the rest of the house enjoyed uninterrupted slumber. Of course, he can use the old b***stfeeding argument, but, rocking a crying baby doesn't take bodily skill. I did get a pair of diamond earrings during the awe inspired phase out of it though.

The boys are doing really well with Elizabeth. Jacob kind of goes about his business as usual, but he was excited to share the news with his classmates and enjoyed passing out pink chocolate cigars to them his first day back at class. Adam is an absolute riot. Who knew a two year old could help out so much? He fetches diapers and wipes and always deposits the dirty ones in the diaper gen*e. He helps burp and pat and coo and sing and I crack up when he sniffs the baby vapor from the top of her head. He loves her immensely, probably more than me at this point. I have tried to sit in the chair with just him and he refuses. Sissy has to come too.

As for Elizabeth, I can tell she's gaining weight. When we brought her home she weighed five pounds, 15 ounces and we had to go out and get preemie diapers for her. The newborn ones fell right off her skinny rump. We only had one preemie outfit that belonged to Jacob that she wore the first couple of days until we had to twist my mom's arm to go out and buy some girl ones. She is already starting to grow out of those and into the three newborn things I have. We have gotten lots of clothes as gifts, but most of them are of the 6-9 month variety so they aren't doing us much good at the moment. I am eager to hit the Carters store once I am cleared to drive. How weird it will be to shop from the left side of the store!

I still have tons more to blog about, hopefully I will get into some sort of routine with the children soon so I can finish my birth thoughts....lots happened in that hospital....they almost lost my baby, they tried to pump me with the wrong blood type, it was loads of fun. So stay tuned, maybe I will get it churned out before summer.

9 comments:

JNas said...

I still can't believe that you have a little girl!!! I acn't wait to hear the rest of the scoop!! Try to get some rest ;}

L said...

I loved the newborn phase with my second. He was just so sweet. Ahhh! I am actually envious of you.

Lori said...

Oh my gosh! I can't wait to hear the rest!

Kelly went through the awe phase as well. I never got earrings though...maybe we *should* go for #3...

I told you that Adam would want his sibling to share that chair time! How sweet...I bet he feels so special being a big brother and helping as much as he does! :)

Good luck for the next few weeks. That sleep deprivation is a bitch and probably the main reason we are sticking with two....you'll make it!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

WHA??? Almost lost your baby??? Do tell.

3 kids... fun, ain't it? It DOES feel old hat, but the whole pink thing puts a new spin on it.

Hope you get some sleep and keep enjoying your kids.

Lynsey said...

You cannot leave us in suspense like that, what do mean they almost lost her? Oh no...panic. attack. coming. on.

Sadie said...

I can't wait to read more!

I get to live vicariously through you and somewhat scratch my baby itch. But, you know, I still get to sleep. ;)

OneHungMan said...

Men have no way of winning when it comes to kids, particularly infants. YoungHung was never interested in titties, so he was on the bottle from day one. This worked out well for Mrs. Hung who came up with the theory that she didn't have to get up each time to feed the little boy. OneHung understood and did more than his fair share.

It all ended one morning when OneHung woke up the heavily-sleeping mom and informed her that she needed to get up. When she asked why (because the baby wasn't crying), OneHung explained that since he had to get up for work, she needed to be up as well. If they were both going to help with the nightly feedings, they were both going to get up early in the AM.

Having said that, Andria, OHM realizes you have two extra children to take care of, while the Hungs didn't. The point being that it's all well and good for the mom to expect the dad to do things, but moms need to realize that dads have jobs to do as well, and if those jobs don't get done, then bills don't get paid.

Andria said...

you are definitely the first person i have ever encountered with the same spelling as my name! yay! i bet your name is misspelled often... and pronounced incorrectly also.
i better get a pair of earrings or the equivalent when i give birth... i'm just saying. ;)

Shane H. said...

Adam calling her "sissy".....that is just too sweet. I must admit, my hubby was a real trooper when it came to middle of the night feedings. (both of mine were bottle fed) I'd take the midnight one and then hit the sack. He'd take the 3am one. So, I got about 5 - 6 hours of sleep each night. I don't think I could have made it if he hadn't.