THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life - March Edition
Updated: Jun 18, 2021
What a month!! So many highs and lows and trying to keep a baby alive. He’s still living so... Success? My life currently feels like a series of baby-related appointments, feeding a baby, and doing my best to stay on top of life’s general goings-ons. While the past month and a half has been pretty challenging and hard, I do feel like I’ve gotten better at all of it.
The beginning of February was probably the hardest time for me thus far. I had mentioned last month that breastfeeding had been painful and that I was seeing a lactation consultant. This situation got much, much worse before it got better, and lead to some pretty dark days for me with plenty of sobbing. All I wanted to do was feed the damn baby... Except my nipples were cracked with open wounds (even the lactation consultant cringed every time that she saw them) and it was excruciating for me to feed him. I dreaded doing it. This is surely the point where other women quit, because I know that I desperately wanted to. But I also wanted to at least try my best to get it to work. I felt beyond frustrated that I could give birth without using any drugs and I couldn’t do this. After a month of going to the breastfeeding clinic four times, using a nipple shield, pumping, being prescribed a special nipple cream, and supplementing with formula... I am finally now at a point where I’m feeding Archie normally with nothing other than the nipple cream. It’s not 100% perfect yet and I’m still sore, but it’s tolerable now and will hopefully continue to get better and easier. What a pain that something that is supposed to happen “naturally” definitely did not! Ugh.
In happier news, the month was pretty fun with various outings and activities. I’m finding that getting out of the house is so key to not feeling like a Mom-prisoner-dairy-person. I need to still be myself. I had my own life and interests before all of this and that doesn’t just disappear!!
My yoga studio just started a family program (Mom+Baby classes, woot!) so we checked out their open house for that! Everyone at the studio was super excited to meet Archie and were impressed that I was back on the mat after only three weeks. (But I mean, did I ever really stop?) Archie is already well on his way to being the best yoga baby ever.
We also went to Expo Yoga, a fun yoga trade show.
Tim’s month off from work flew by and he went back to work. The first few days without him were a bit traumatizing and it was super difficult to do everything all on my own. Especially since Tim had been doing so much. But after a while I got better at creating a bit of a routine and understanding Archie’s needs better as well.
Archie had his first pediatrician appointment and got a perfect bill of health! We also had our last midwife appointment (which was a bit sad!) and he was given a perfect bill of health there as well. As of his most recent weigh-in, he is now at 9lbs 12oz. He seems so much bigger now! The midwife also checked me all out and did a PAP test. I am no longer bleeding and my tears have healed well. I actually looked at my vagina in a mirror the other day because I felt like I needed to assess the damage myself!! HA HA! It didn’t look too bad or mangled at all! My only issue is that I’m still having trouble holding my pee in, so I’m getting way more serious about doing my kegels (even got an app for it).
It was Valentine’s Day! Tim made us a nice dinner at home and bought me chocolates but otherwise it was pretty chill.
Another body problem that I’d been having was a sore, painful, pinchy lower back and left hip. (Seriously, all of this painful stuff being wrong with my body, plus pee problems, plus breastfeeding issues... Plus a lack of sleep, plus leaky boobs, plus a yelling baby... I completely understand how and why postpartum depression happens.) So I saw my osteopath twice to try and fix my body issues. She helped a lot, but an even bigger help, I found, has just been getting back into yoga again and moving my body the way that it used to. Everything is just a big stiff mess!
Archie turned ONE MONTH old!
His interests include: Diaper changes (the changing table is literally his favourite place), car rides and his car seat, and baths.
He’s starting to smile, make baby sounds, and be more responsive, which is really cute.
He doesn’t usually love tummy time.
He knows how to take a bottle as well as a boob, which was a major goal of mine. Now I just need to build up a stash of pumped breast milk. But I’m really not against a bit of formula here and there either.
We’ve already had to stop using his newborn clothes (too small) and move him to the three month size, which is a bit too big, but there’s no size in between really.
Archie now has his own health card, social insurance number, and the government is giving me money for him... So he’s in the system!
We’ve still been going out to plenty of restaurants and hanging out with people, which has been really good and has made things seem more normal.
And then on February 25th...
IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!
I'm an AUNT (again)!
I have a NIECE!
My third niece or nephew!
Her name is Laura Grace Toner and she was born at 5:01am!
Baby and Angela are doing great (they had a home birth!), and I can’t wait to meet our newest family member super soon!
I have also started going back to my yoga practice at the studio full-time, three days a week. Before getting pregnant I used to attend the Level 2 Monday and Wednesday classes at 10am, and so I am back to those! Luckily now that Tim’s project is practically finished, he is able to stay home on those mornings, work from home, and watch Archie at the same time. This really makes a huge difference in my happiness. Being able to have some me-time and not throw away something that is important to me means an awful lot. Plus I’m excited to attend the Mom+Baby postnatal classes on Fridays with Archie!
Speaking of Tim’s job, his latest game; Mass Effect: Andromeda is being released on the 21st of this month, which is pretty exciting! The best part is that Archie’s name is going to be in the game’s credits as a “production baby!” This will be Tim’s sixth game!!
So yeah. My life is super baby-heavy at the moment. I’m sorry if this is super boring!!!
March is a pretty busy month for us! We’ve got tons of more appointments, such is my life now.
Tim’s parents are also coming to visit for a week. This will be nice because they’ll be able to meet their grandchild for the first time.
We also have a Muskoka cottage weekend later in the month and we’re going to stay for more like four days, which will be fun. Archie’s first road trip! The rest of Archie’s aunts and uncles from the Golem side will finally get to meet him as well! We’ll also have all four tiny humans there!
Then at the end of the month Rachelle is coming to visit from Edmonton for about five days!
The baby bubble is a bit of a scary place. But I feel like I’m doing my best to get through this first part like a boss.
THIS MONTH’S SHOUT-OUTS!:
March 7th is Susan Murphy’s 35th birthday!
Wishing you a super special day and that Matt spoils you! You have been so helpful with all of your babywearing advice and knowledge and I am so thankful to have someone like you in my life. We went from Team Fiancée to Team Wives... To Team Moms?! So crazy. I love you and miss you tons and hope to see you soon!! ♥
March 12th is Kristen Smith’s 33rd birthday!
You’re such a special person to me whom I love with all of my heart! Your happiness and life crushing-ness lately has been so inspiring and I am so proud of everything that you have created for yourself! Dallas had better shower you with a wonderful day! ♥
March 19th is Sarah Swalm’s 6th wedding anniversary!
I can’t believe that it has already been six years since Las Vegas! You and Adam truly deserve to celebrate the incredible couple that you two are. Adversity has got nothin’ on you guys. ♥
Comments