Baby plays on her play mat for quite a while considering babies have the attention spans of gnats. She is happy playing while I:
- clear the table
- wash the dishes
- pick up the living room
- soak the pump accessories
- let the dogs in (and dry their paws)
- wipe down the kitchen counters
- make the bed (well, throw the comforter over everything)
But the minute I sit down for a quick blog posting, SQUAWK! She will have none of it. "Pay attention to me right now. And make it snappy!"
Here is the latest on how Mommy and Baby are doing - from head to toe. Most likely this post will take all day to compose even though under normal (baby-free) circumstances it would take all of five minutes.
Mommy from Head to Toe
Head - Haven't brushed my hair in days...weeks. Okay, months.
Brain - A little more rested but quite addled still and riding the mood swing waves. Useless for doing any work or at least anything that could generate an income.
Neck - Stiff. Bad sleeping and sitting postures accomodating baby.
Shoulders - Tense. Sore from holding baby. And she gets heavier. And heavier.
Arms - Aching but getting a little stronger.
Hands - Sore from performing breast compressions, especially my left thumb. Who knew massaging one's own breasts while pumping could really hurt one's hands. You just don't think about all the new muscles you are using in new and unusual ways.
Upper Back - Tense. Sore. Weak.
Breasts - Burning nipples (yes, back again), hot poker stabbing pains in the breasts (yes, back again). And suddenly a dip in milk production. Right breast barely eeks out a few drops but isn't engorged or feeling blocked. Left breast is hanging in there but tired and sore.
Belly - A little flatter every day, says G. Weak. Must strengthen to help back.
Nether Regions I (translation: Vagina) - Stinging on outside - midwife says stiches/tears are still healing (still?!). Stinging on inside - midwife says that cervix is still healing (still). Incontinence? Only when really really full and then only a trickle. Thank goodness for small miracles. I've heard it can be worse. Much worse.
Nether Regions II (translation: Butt) - Fine, thank you very much. Incontinence? No, but risky business allowing the bowels to get too full. Tell that to baby who seems to need immediate attention each and every time I head to the bathroom.
Low Back - Chronic pain but not crippling. I can now walk with only a slight limp. Still have trouble getting up out of bed or getting up out of a chair. But the stiffness and pain and out-of-whackness eases up slightly after walking around for a bit.
Hips - Still loose and a little wobbly.
Legs - Getting stronger. Need to be stronger to help with the unreliable low back.
Feet - Cold almost all the time. Trying to remember to wear socks. It is enough just to remember to pull on a pair of sweats in the morning so I don't freeze during early morning feedings. I was sleeping in my sweats but began sweating profusely, contributing to the overall stank of an unwashed new mom.
Did I mention baby cries for attention the minute I step in the shower as well? She has the "selfish" radar tuned in. Is mommy being selfish and trying to pee, poop, shower, pump, blog, or do anything else remotely not oriented around baby? Well, then, SQUAWK! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!
Baby from Head to Toe
Head - Still has her lovely head of hair. Pediatrician warned that many vaginal birth babies lose their hair within a few weeks but here she is, nearly 8 weeks (!?!) old and looking like she needs a hair brushing. Then again, no amount of brushing will set her punky spikes down until her hair has been dirty for a week. (Yes, we are currently bathing the beauty once a week. I'm afraid to do it solo and we always end up realizing she needs a bath at 10pm, too late to bother her with it.)
Brain - Holy cow, this girl is smart! And I'm not just saying that, really. And I'm not biased of course. She has us wrapped around her tiny pinky. She is the princess and knows it.
Mouth - Thrush free. Can also be seen in a mega-watt smile when not grimacing at close proximity to the breast. Yes, she is still refusing to nurse.
Neck - Strong. While she is still a bit of a bobblehead doll, she actually holds her head up and looks around far more than it bobbles.
Arms - A bit o' pudge.
Hands - Cold. All the time. Hmmm...should she be wearing mittens? Indoors?
Body - Pudging out. G. has been calling her a little TICK. Yes, affectionately of course. And it really seems to fit. Like a tick on a fat man, big and full.
We interrupt this program to bring you a glimpse of the cinnamon bun swirl of a belly button!
Now where were we...
Nether Regions I - Fine now that I know the white stuff is baby girl smegma and not some terrible build up from the lack of bathing.
Nether Regions II - Much much better since we got rid of the thrush. Looking lovely and not a bit pink or irritated.
Legs - Pudge is starting to form on her long, lanky legs.
Feet - Currently dressed up in giraffe print socks. She has the largest sock collection of anyone anywhere.
That is Mommy and Baby, in a nutshell.
Oh...My...GOSH!!! How in the world did she get such a perfect belly button? Seriously! That is the cutest CUTEST belly button I've ever seen.
Posted by: Beret | August 16, 2006 at 08:54 AM
No better way to describe it than cinnamon bun swirl!
No matter if you had abs of steel before the baby, everyone loses every fiber of muscle after a baby. I had to visit a physical therapist for my back pains, and he has me doing very small exercises to start tightening up the deep abs/hips. Think pelvic tilts. They start from the inside and work out -- to hips, butt, tummy, lower back.
Posted by: liz | August 16, 2006 at 06:22 PM
i concur, that is the cutest belly button i have ever seen!! EVER!
i think cold hands are ok. my son's hands were cold a lot of the time. if you put mittens on, they could get sweaty. plus, she needs to explore. check her neck if you think she's cold. warm neck = comfortable baby.
Posted by: may | August 16, 2006 at 06:56 PM
cute bellybutton!
and that sock collection? enjoy it now because soon they will all be lost. she will kick them off all over town and you will find yourself wondering how long she's been sockless on her left foot, and who has seen her like this and wondered what kind of mother lets her baby go sockless in Alaska!
Posted by: Susan | August 17, 2006 at 09:55 AM
that is, by far, the most beautiful bellybutton I've ever seen. :)
Posted by: rockmamainwaiting | August 17, 2006 at 11:45 AM
MOST gorgeous belly button I have EVER seen! How did it get to be such a perfect little swirl? Hmmmm, mysteries.
Sounds like Mom and Baby are doing quite well and better all the time! So Happy for you both!
Posted by: Kim | August 17, 2006 at 01:11 PM
Interesting use of the word "normal." That is old normal. You have a new normal now that you are a mom!
Love the belly button. The perfect swirl.
I am so glad you two are doing well.
Posted by: SaraS-P | August 17, 2006 at 03:01 PM
Love.The.Bellybutton. :-) Beautiful Baby, Aliza!!!
Posted by: Steph | August 17, 2006 at 07:24 PM
her hands are cold because it takes several months for babies to regulate their body temp. it is normal. don't worry about it; it will pass.
Posted by: ls | August 18, 2006 at 04:41 AM