The New Stepping Up

Is it tiring to be a parent during quarantine, you may ask.  Well, between two full time jobs, one full time student and one infant that needs full time daycare (all operating out of the same 1,000 or so square feet), it can be a little draining.

Luckily, the littlest one of us has mastered the power-nap. We get a good hour and a half in the morning from him reliably, but from there on out, it's short little bursts. Now, here's the beautiful part: he naps for much longer if he's in a lap.

So, during quarantine this is actually taking one for the team:

Carrie has a 3:00 conference call? Boom! Hero.

Ed's got a lesson plan to submit by by 11:00? On it!

These are strange times. You have to find what works. We're getting there.

Routine, Interupted

We had just started to get a routine underway. Wyatt was going to bed around 10:00 PM and woke up at 6:00 AM. Ed and I woke up with him. I would feed Wyatt while Ed made coffee.

The set-up of our home makes it so we all share a bathroom even though we do actually have two bathrooms. We're a close family like that (I guess).

Wyatt would hang out while we got ready. I think at one point all of us were hanging out in the bathroom, including the dog. Again, a close family.

We would take turns entertaining him until Robyn or Debby showed up around 7:30. They would take over with baby snuggles, and we would finish getting ready for the day.

But three weeks into it, the routine has changed. COVID-19 has disrupted life as we know it. Schools are closed, and there are mandates to work from home. A new routine will need to form. But before it does, I wanted to document what was started because it was nice. I liked it, and I look forward to when it will start again.

Three Months (And What A Three Months)

It's hard to believe we're three months into this endeavor already. Though time has been a little funny around here these days. 

It's a little surreal that Carrie and I were able to take maternity/paternity leave off with this guy and after a few weeks, here we are in the limbo that is a quarantine and back to it for another undetermined length of time. This time around I think time is going to get a little funny for everyone else, too.

We still love the blobfish comparison, even if it's a little tough to see the changes at only three months. We sure see it here.

Seeing Wyatt develop mentally and physically is still pretty amazing. The smiles and giggles are becoming consistent and genuine. 

This is the time that I really started to bond with Owen. Seeing his little mind develop into perceiving the world around him, especially in humorous ways, is moving him into the exploration of the human condition. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing the tables turn. We have been trying to get him laugh, but there will be a day when he tries to get us to laugh. We can't wait.

In addition to his mental development, this guy is chugging along in physical development. He's already getting his melon off the ground with surprising endurance. I predict rolling around will be right around the corner.

Aunt Georgia

My aunt Georgia came into town for a couple of weeks. Her trip corresponded with my mom starting to watch Wyatt during the week which meant that Georgia was able to help.

I have so many wonderful memories of time spent with my aunt Georgia. My brother and I would stay with her in Montana over summer breaks, and she would always spoil us rotten. Once Ed and Owen came into the picture, she started to spoil them too. Generous and thoughtful are two of her strongest character traits. 

Without fail, Georgia has sent the kids a card and small gift for every holiday. In between holidays, she writes letters to let them know she's thinking of them. The first card Wyatt received was from Georgia. 

I'm so happy she got to spend time with Wyatt and get to know is developing personality.  

International Women's Day

Breastfeeding is hard. You would think something that is so natural would be easy, but it's not. Moms-to-be are warned, but it's not until you have the tiny screaming human in your arms and you just can't get them to latch, does the reality of the difficulties hit you. 

Breastfeeding never quite worked with Owen. Looking back there were numerous factors that made it so it didn't happen: trauma from an emergency c-section, a hospital that didn't prioritize breastfeeding, and Owen's health problems to name a few. I remember feeling guilty and a little ashamed I couldn't make it work. But in hindsight, it really didn't matter that he was mainly formula fed. Owen is strong, healthy, and knows he is loved. 

Breastfeeding has worked out with Wyatt, kind of. He's a 100% breastmilk baby but not 100% breast fed. It was/is still difficult this time around, but I was more prepared and have more support.

I don't have it in me to exclusively breastfeed. I want Ed's help for the cluster feedings and late nights. I don't like to breastfeed around people or in public. I take the extra time to pump, and I breastfeed when it works for me and Wyatt. I have come to accept that's the kind of mom I am.

So in honor of International Women's Day, I am celebrating the fact that I have provided breastmilk to my little chunk of a child for 12 weeks. If I can keep going, great. If not, I'm proud of what I accomplished, and I know Wyatt will be healthy just like his brother.