Jonathan has commented a number of times since Caleb's birth that I enjoy our babies more each time. I am certainly enjoying Caleb (my thankful journal is full of Caleb related pleasures - including his tooty bottom!). He brings me much delight.
Our first couple of weeks have gone well. Caleb has been an easy baby for the most part. Evenings are starting to get a bit more difficult, but that's pretty normal for any baby! Jon had the first week after Caleb's birth off work, so I was able to rest, and since then we've managed on our own. Many of you made contact with me that first day on my own to see how we were going - I appreciate your loving thoughts - so I thought I'd let you know how things have gone.
We have been going pretty well. That first week solo had times of threadbare patience with the girls, and a couple of weepy days as I yearned for family to share Caleb with (the delight of a baby is for sharing!), but I came into this past week feeling more together and on top of things again. There has been an almost overwhelming amount of laundry (I do cloth everything, pretty much), but so far it hasn't overcome; I've only used 3 freezer meals; and the housework seems to all be getting done (except the kitchen floor - it needs a wash; even the ants are taking advantage!). We've gotten to playgroup the last two weeks, and to our church Christmas Carols event; Caleb has met Jon's work colleagues, and seen one of his great-Grandmas. So all in all, life with another baby is going well.
(For those asking after the breastfeeding, it's going well. My poor nipples were sore for the first few days while getting used to being in use again after 6 months off; I didn't have any engorgement when my milk came in!; I've had one episode of blocked ducts - thankfully it was the weekend so I was able to rest and work on clearing those while Jon held the fort. Mastitis was avoided - potato poultices and vitamin C to the rescue! I had to use my breast pump a couple of times, much to Abigail's delight - she wanted the milk!)
The girls seem happy to have a little brother. They are quite happy to help with him, and have been a help to me. Abigail fetches clean breast pads and cloths for me during feeds, and Sarah will put the wet things in the wash; Abigail fetches and empties the potty for me (we started elimination communication* with Caleb from about 1 week old and he's taken to it quickly), and so on. (Those small things certainly make a big difference; it's nice not to have to get up all the time for everything.) Neither of the girls has responded to Caleb's arrival negatively that we can see, so I am thankful to God for the smooth transition for us all. His grace is good.
I've started having 'mat time' with the girls most mornings - and they seem to have taken to the idea enthusiastically. I'll put a blanket on the ground for us to sit on and we'll do singing, reading, virtue lessons, and letter/phonics practice - things we've always done in the past, but higgedly-piggedly. The girls have also capitalised on the opportunity to get read to even more when I'm sitting and feeding Caleb! We're enjoying lots of the Steve Parish books at the moment (and have been blessed with some of our own - thanks Ruth!) - stories set to photos of Australian animals; Sarah is enjoying a book of action nursery rhymes (mum and dad might remember gifting it a couple of years ago?); and Abigail has cottoned onto a book about tidying up (from the library). Jon organised the toys in his week home, so the girls can easily tidy up the lounge on their own (when prompted) - the book has certainly fueled their enthusiasm!
I've had some small errands needing to be done, so today was the day. I decided that it would be easier to walk the journey rather than getting three kids in and out of the car four times, so I put Caleb in my ergo and the girls in the double pram and we walked down to the local shops to finally get a few things done (single pram tyre finally repaired, Indian shop for gluten free flours, and Bunnings and Woolies to get anniversary gifts for Jon). It was nice to be out walking again. Caleb slept the whole journey.
Today is Jon and my fourth wedding anniversary. That doesn't sound long at all, but having three kids in that time certainly helps it feel full!!! We're also coming up to 11 years of being best friends, so there's a lot to celebrate.
And it won't be much longer til we celebrate the arrival of our third niece/nephew. All the best to Kedesh and David - I look forward to hearing how it goes!
*From about a week old we gave Caleb lots of nappy free time and whenever we observed him 'going' we'd use our cue sound 'peeeeee'. After a few days of that and getting an idea of when he goes, we'd pre-empt those times by holding him over a little potty/bowl while making our cue sound - and he would pee or poop. Now he will often squawk at us when he needs to go - sometimes we're too slow and he wets his nappy, but more and more often now he has waited and contentedly goes in the potty/bowl. EC is the fancy name for how a lot of cultures around the non-Western world deal with toileting a baby/not using nappies.
