Motherblog...

It's raining. I wish I could just lie down and go to sleep and slip into the deep rain sleep. As it is, I must stay up for a bit, so Ian can get solidly to sleep and Stella can finish her latest meal. I'll have to pump pretty soon, too.

Life is good. Stella fills me with sudden intense joy on a regular basis - especially when she smiles. It doesn't matter that they're "Gee, this is an excellent poop I'm having!" smiles, I still get excited when I see them.

Our personal network of friends and family continue to float us on a cloud of crazy freakin' love and more support than a hundred dollar bra. We've been fed, clothed and carried through the past six weeks (not to mention the pregnancy before that), and the love just keeps comin'.

There's a clinic appointment tomorrow morning - we're becoming more adept at leaving the apartment. I'm trying to figure out which baby carrier will be the wisest choice for extended solo travel. I'm thinking I'll use the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder. I've got her in it right now and I think it'll work. It's got a lot of padding, so I think it'll be extra warm, too.

It wouldn't be a complete post without some reference to my bodily fluids: I AM SO ANNOYED, because I think I've gotten my period. What a fucking drag! I'm expressing all this breastmilk - that's all she's getting, but I still end up getting my period at 6 weeks. How much does that suck? For those of you who don't know, if a woman breastfeeds exclusively, on demand, her hormonal balance will create a circumstance where she may not have menstrual cycles for a while. This is called lactational amenorrhea. Because I am not able to nurse Stella at my breast, it appears that I'm going to miss out on this perk of exclusive breastfeeding. Suck ass.

Anyway, I gotta get ready to pump. I'll try to check in again soon.

Love,

Atena Oyadi

Comments

[Vonetta]

i am happy to fax, email, snail mail you all the long distance lovin' I got. I wish I could gve more actual support.
Happy to hear you guys are doing so well.
On the bodily fluids tip, since you are only six weeks pp, you may not be menstruating but it may be left over from birth. It happened to me few times during my first two months pp. Nothing to be alarmed about. You are definitely pumping often enough.
Well I am getting soft baby kisses blown at me, so that my cue to get offline.
love always,
Vonetta

[yaf air]

Hey tena,

I'm glad to hear that your little one is bringing you so much joy. I've been sitting for Amy and Sherwin, and they have a bunch of clothes for you guys. I will call soon... can't wait to to meet Stella.

xo, rf

[Libby]

I'm glad to hear things are going so well, we can't wait until we eventually get down there to see your new family!

On the bodily fluids, I've had 3, exclusively BF from the start (for almost a year before solids w/ Bea) and I've missed maybe 2 periods in the past five years (excluding pregnancy.) With Jack it started the evening after my 6wk checkup, so it isn't you. Some of us just get the sucky end of that stick. I've got a friend who went 9 years w/o one, so she madeup for us both! Besides, it doesn't make the baby any less snuggly.

BTW, that baby needs some tie dye ;) You guys should email me her size. Laterlib