I haven’t posted in ages because I’m in babyland, where everything is different. And this blog is supposed to be about my writing, and I just haven’t been doing any.
Here is what my typical day is like, instead:*
Wake up.
Feed baby.
Hang out with baby in bed chatting.
Give baby to husband, have breakfast, feed baby again. Put baby down and try to clear up chaos created the previous day, before baby wakes up.
Feed baby.
Sit with baby for awhile, with mind blank.
Have lunch, feed baby.
Give baby to husband, check emails and internet, put in laundry.
Try to read something, fall asleep, wake up with crick in neck, feed baby, take baby to bed for a nap.
Get up, feed baby, try to write thank-you notes while holding baby, give up and sit on couch. Feed baby.
Fail to watch Judge Judy as baby is fussing.
Direct husband in subtleties of preparing ready-made pasta and sauce. Eat with left hand as other hand is holding baby to feed him.
Fail to watch film as baby is fussing.
Go to bed, feed baby, fall asleep.
Feed baby, fall asleep.
Repeat until morning.
*I don’t include changing baby or the heavy lifting housework in this itinerary because my husband generally does those steps, hooray!
It’s all going well then, Julie. At least you don’t mention
1)Gaze in horrified fascination at waterbed stomach.
2)Weep for a while at hopeless prospect of ever wearing proper clothes again.
3)Check paranoidparent.com 47 times throughout day to see if baby is displaying symptoms of horrifying medical condition
all of which were regular features of my own days with newborns!
Congratulations again on your lovely boy
India x
I’m not even going to discuss my stomach. Ugh.
But thank you for giving me some more stuff to worry about, India.
I know you wonder how something so small can disrupt life so much!
However I guess you are both loving every moment of it.
Life does get easier, after about, let me see, 20 years?
Poor Nathaniel must be starving.
This is making good reading, Julie — you’re preparing me nicely.
Jess x
Sounds like you have a very good baby on your hands. And I agreee with Carol, it does get easier. One day you’re holding this little person & the next you’re wondering where this 4 year old came from. Enjoy it all, it passes so quick.
Poor Nathaniel must be starving.
*snert* at Jessica.
Welcome to life with a newborn. Just think of how much fun it is when you have a couple of toddlers in the house as well????
The good news is, after a couple of months sleep does get better.
Isn’t it great being a mommy?
Julie, I’m sure none of us are visiting your blog and expecting posts on writing right now. We’d much rather hear about babyland and know that you’re all okay.
Re. your stomach – believe me, with the amount of feeding you’re doing, you’ll soon be back to normal!
Sue
Ah, a hubby who changes diapers. Hurray! He’s a keeper for sure.
I just visited my neighbor who had her baby a month ago. Funny how she said all she does is feed the baby. Sounds just like you…
Glad to hear things are progressing along completely normal lines and your new person is feeding well.
Treasure that hubby of yours if he’s changing nappies all day for you! What a star.
You’re doing great, Julie. Just enjoy every minute of that precious babe. It really goes by fast.
And just so you know, I sold my first book when I was pregnant with my first. She is now 8. Since then, I’ve had two more babies and managed to keep writing and selling books, too. Once you’re getting more than a couple of hours of sleep at a time, things will be a lot more manageable!
Have fun!
Wow! Can we clone your husband? He’s definitely hero material. And as much as we love your books, we also love to hear about your little miracle.
Hi Julie
Re writing and inability to think, sounds to me like you’ve got that well-known condition called placenta brain. Funny how it’s hit you so late though. I got it when I was just 3 months pregnant with my first child.
It does go though, eventually. I remember one day my brain suddenly switched back on.
By the way, I agree with the others, your husband sounds wonderful!
We must catch up when things calm down a little.
love
Mary
xxx
Trust me, Julie, this time goes sooo fast so make the most of every minute (especially those precious sleeping ones!!!)
BTW, I bought Spirit Willing, Flesh Weak at Borders the other day, started it yesterday and couldn’t put it down. It’s fabulous!
I, too, just finished Spirit Willing. I enjoyed it very much!
Your life will be much easier when Nate turns 3 months old. He won’t be eating as frequently, and it really does get easier. But don’t even think about trying to write at the moment. Just relax and enjoy him.
Hi Julie – what’s abnormal about your day? Sounds perfectly fine to me! Remember you’ve wanted Nathaniel in your life for quite a while now, I think he’s entitled to 100% of your attention and brainpower for at least the first few months
Besides this qualifies as a Gorgeous Men post and your blog was always supposed to be a fair distribution of writing posts and Gorgeous Men posts
Patrick was a slow eater and used to feed every four hours for two hours at a time – I think you can imagine how many books I got to read while I was breastfeeding. LOL
Hugs – enjoy the time spent with Nate, too soon you’ll be back at school and he’ll be in school himself and you’ll wonder where the hugging time went
Sadhbh
It sounds like you and Nate are doing really well.
I do agree there is a different time zone called babyland. Everything appearsto take a very longtime. Each days seems to last. Enjoy it as it goes realy swiftly.
I can remember when my eldest was that age, thinking I had a life until he was 5…he is now 16 and it all has gone much too fast.
Your babyland days are the stuff of many pleasant memories.
I remember days like that, I just used to feed baby and watch daytime tv! Then when I had more than one baby I learnt to wash up/change a nappy/talk on the phone/watch oder children all at the same time!
your husband sounds fab, wish mine had helped like that.
it’s all good fun though but it seems to go in an instant, enjoy it while it lasts,
Lynne xxx
Ah yes, I remember it well… Though it was Neigbours in my day. These times will whizz by. Hope you are feeling better too. P X
Ah yes, I remember it well… Though it was Neighbours in my day. These times will whizz by. Hope you are feeling better too. P X
Oooh Gorgeous Men, good point, Sadhbh!
You must make husband read these comments, Julie.
He deserves the adulation.
As do you.
Keep doin’ what you’re doin’, babe.
How to respond to kind comments when you are too brain dead to think up witty things to say?!
I agree, my husband is wonderful. Thank you for confirming it, Karen, Kris, Danica, Mary, Lynn, Anna.
And also for confirming what I believe, that although taking care of a newborn is difficult, it is incredibly precious.
Nic and Michelle, glad you enjoyed Spirit Willing!
Sadhbh, you have a very good point about gorgeous men.
Melissa, thanks for the reassurance that baby-rearing and writing are compatible…eventually at least.
I’m so happy for you both! Congratulations. Nathaniel is a beautiful baby, and a big one too – well done you! Reading your routine makes me feel broody and happy about my husband’s vasectomy all at once. Get sleep, enjoy the super soft skin of his forehead on your cheek and enjoy these moments because they don’t stay around too long. And eat – please don’t forget to eat. Ever need a babysitter, I’m an hour’s flight away!!