Motherhood: #NailedIt
Right about now my kids are laughing hysterically in the background as they read that title.
“When are we going to eat breakfast again, Mom?”
2025, kid.
This motherhood gig of six has its perks, especially if you have a teenager. Y’all have got to get you one of those. Just make sure his iPod is unplugged from his ears so he can hear you. If I can get the two littles bedded down {and by “bedded down” I mean, one locked in his room for naptime and the other sa-winging away in the magical swing} then I can run one gloriously fast errand with just three kids in tow.
It’s like heaven.
Those are also three words I never though I’d attach together 13 years ago: “three kids” and “running errands.” Perspective is so darn funny.
There’s been a whole lot of Netflixing, sending kids outside to terrorize the neighbors, rainbow loom bracelet making and fort making these past few weeks. At this very moment, I’m eating the last piece of baptism cake (because someone HAS to) while the five older ones reconstruct the upstairs gameroom. Gianna is sleeping. At this point, I have zero idea if the house is still standing.
But I have cake! I also got a shower. At 4pm. Aaand, I’m wearing pajama pants trying to act like they’re “real” pants.
It’s called reality.
Yesterday I got moving and put together by 8am which is one of only a handful of days since Gianna arrived. Mostly? It’s just survival mode. The fog has started to lift a tiny bit as we hit six weeks today. Example, I’m no longer using the spray bottle. Ladies, I know you follow me. A wise friend once told me that at six weeks the fog starts to clear and at 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, you feel like yourself again. At nine months you like walking in your closet again. Maybe.
Gianna really has been a dream baby, though. She eats so so well. Thankfully, her crazy cluster feeds have happened during daylight hours (thank you JESUS). She only wakes once between 11pm and 6am to feed. Miracle. Perhaps after Luke God said, “Eh, let’s give ’em a break.” I like the way He delivers. Cloth diapering is going oh so well. I can see how it becomes addictive. The kids beg to hold her – all the time – and she gets one million kisses an hour.
No shortage of love.
At six weeks today, she must be inching toward the 8lb. mark and her newborn clothes no longer fit. Le sigh. Already growing. She just started smiling this weekend, coincidentally, just a few hours after her baptism. We were at Mass later that evening and she was giving those things away for free. I have zero idea what the priest said because I was too busy soaking in that first social milestone. We’ve even heard a few coo’s, too. She took her first bottle of breastmilk last weekend and sucked it down like a champ. There was a small victory dance from me since the last three babies wouldn’t have anything to do with one. Well, Luke did until we got home from the NICU and he was all, give me the good stuff!
All in all, it is blissfully normal here and for that this former NICU momma is incredibly grateful. With every milestone and every tick on the growth chart my heart swells with gratitude and thanksgiving. Life is precious, y’all, and we are living it to the fullest here.
Lol! So true on all aspects! Yesterday I didn’t get out of my pajamas but I did manage to fold 4 loads of laundry! #winning! Nursing is going well with Briar but just to make sure I keep my milk supply up I am enjoying my nightly Summer Shandy – #winwin Now if I could just get all this construction done in my house I too could feed my kids real breakfast!
She is precious! I am so glad that you are enjoying life and the new normal with 6 kids. I noticed that you added an owl 🙂 I was wondering when you would. Great looking family and love your blog.
Yes! I got it added. Thanks for noticing 🙂
I just had to smile because at this very moment, my ten-week-old is asleep, “sa-winging away,” as you put it, in that very same swing. Gianna is beautiful. Congratulations again.
Woman, I love you. You’re so joyful. What’s your secret? Because right now I need all the advice you can give.
Girl, I wasn’t so “joyful” last Friday when I had to pull the car over TWICE to yell at my kids. Not a bright shining moment there. My best advice is to ban your children from the bathroom when you’re getting ready. No really. It’s when I collect myself to handle the rest of the day.
Ha…8 lbs! Max will be 6 weeks on Friday and he is probably 12 lbs by now! He was 11 lbs. 13 oz. at his 1 mo. check-up. I have a little giant over here 🙂 Gianna is a beautiful baby! And I know what you mean about a lot of love…these younger ones are so LUCKY! Max is hardly ever put down! Congrats and I’m glad life is going well.
Boys. They always gain it faster! I’ve been thinking about you, Danielle. How awesome to add a boy to your growing brood. Y’all have such a beautiful family.
So happy for you! I didn’t get a chance to comment on the previous CD-love post, but we love on them too, going on #3 in a few weeks with mostly our original set plus many others that I seem to have accumulated.
Hang in there, momma! I remember so well how hard these early weeks are (though I think by the grace of God I often forget!) but they go by so quickly… BTW, love the last photo. She is such a beautiful baby. You all are so blessed!