How is life with your baby?
It's sooo much better. She is 8 weeks as of yesterday. Things were really, really rough the first few weeks. Isobel is an extremely fussy baby, but since being on some meds (yeah I hate that, but the ped thinks she has stomach issues or reflux), she has been in such a better mood - almost a different baby. She still has her fussy time of night, but it's not nearly as dramatic, and she is happy most of the time when she is alert now.
Before I could not even set her down for two seconds to pee or get some water for myself without her screaming bloody murder. I couldn't even feed myself, take a shower, pee, etc, and I was getting extremely weak, pale, and fatigued. I thought I would have to go back to the hospital for an IV, honestly. It was bad. Things are so much easier now that she is content to stare at the ceiling fan or some toys for up to 20 minutes if I need to fix a meal, clean a little, etc. I do wear her in a wrap or carrier when I can, but she doesn't always like it, and there are some chores I really can't wear her for (i.e. doing laundry or dishes - it's just too dangerous IMO as I am clumsy).
Now that she is getting older, she is babbling (as of about 5 weeks old), her vision is getting better, she is smiling and almost laughing, and making funny faces. She is so adorable. I've taken some cute videos of her "talking" and smiling. I love it. She seems more like a "real person" now that she is interacting and not just crying all the time.
Isobel has been sleeping through the night pretty consistently for a few weeks now. She generally sleeps 5-7 hours and wakes up at the butt crack of dawn or just before it. It is always a struggle to calm her down at night. It still takes me about 30 min to an hour to fall asleep most nights, and she goes to bed right around the time Justin gets home from work, so I don't get to see him often until morning. She generally takes two nap during the day, too, for anywhere from 1-3 hours. She naps longer if we are out somewhere because the car ride puts her to sleep.
How are you doing physically?
I have lost around 40lbs already, possibly more! I only gained 15lbs during my pregnancy (lost 10 initially & gained back 25), so I am significantly smaller than I was even pre-pregnancy!
: I have a ton of stretch marks, and a bit of a "pooch", but I don't plan on wearing a bikini anytime soon. 
I was able to fit into my pre-preg jeans (which were tight before) by 2.5 weeks PP, and could fit into even smaller jeans by about 6 weeks pp. I am getting plenty of arm strength from lifting the baby. Haha. I take her on walks through the neighborhood and through stores quite frequently. It calms her down a lot, and I get some exercise and a chance to relax my brain a little. Sex is pretty much back to normal, but things are still a little pinchy/sore sometimes, and it is very difficult to find time for it, honestly, as DH is usually home when I'm asleep and I'm usually up when he's asleep. When we're both awake, the baby needs constant attention. Argh. It's very tough.
How are you doing emotionally?
Much better overall. I was diagnosed with PPD by my Nurse Midwife, and am now seeing a Psychiatric Nurse she referred me to for counseling. She put me on Zoloft, too, which I wasn't thrilled about (I have a history of depression and had weaned myself off of meds a two or three years ago as they started to make me feel numb). Anyway, my relationship with DH has been very difficult, but is getting better again. He feels like "a third wheel", because Isobel freaks out on him frequently (always wants Mommy), and for the same reason we rarely get any alone time. He's been rather depressed too, and there have been a lot of tears (mine) and heartache (both of us).
Having a child has been the single most amazing, wonderful, and difficult thing we've ever done - all in one.
: It's up & down from day to day and hour to hour, honestly, and I really worry about how things are going to work out once I go back to work. I worry how Isobel will react with the babysitter, and I also worry about how the heck I will get *any* sleep, let alone find time for myself or DH.
What else is going on?
Hahaha! What else do I have TIME for? j/k - seriously, though I want to become a doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding educator now, and potentially later a nurse midwife! Woohoo! I am so excited. I really think it is something I can finally be passionate about, and it was my own birth and the kindness/awesomeness of my midwife that inspired me. I am currently researching all my training and certification options, and trying to come up with a business name so I can get started.
It's sooo much better. She is 8 weeks as of yesterday. Things were really, really rough the first few weeks. Isobel is an extremely fussy baby, but since being on some meds (yeah I hate that, but the ped thinks she has stomach issues or reflux), she has been in such a better mood - almost a different baby. She still has her fussy time of night, but it's not nearly as dramatic, and she is happy most of the time when she is alert now.
Before I could not even set her down for two seconds to pee or get some water for myself without her screaming bloody murder. I couldn't even feed myself, take a shower, pee, etc, and I was getting extremely weak, pale, and fatigued. I thought I would have to go back to the hospital for an IV, honestly. It was bad. Things are so much easier now that she is content to stare at the ceiling fan or some toys for up to 20 minutes if I need to fix a meal, clean a little, etc. I do wear her in a wrap or carrier when I can, but she doesn't always like it, and there are some chores I really can't wear her for (i.e. doing laundry or dishes - it's just too dangerous IMO as I am clumsy).
Now that she is getting older, she is babbling (as of about 5 weeks old), her vision is getting better, she is smiling and almost laughing, and making funny faces. She is so adorable. I've taken some cute videos of her "talking" and smiling. I love it. She seems more like a "real person" now that she is interacting and not just crying all the time.
Isobel has been sleeping through the night pretty consistently for a few weeks now. She generally sleeps 5-7 hours and wakes up at the butt crack of dawn or just before it. It is always a struggle to calm her down at night. It still takes me about 30 min to an hour to fall asleep most nights, and she goes to bed right around the time Justin gets home from work, so I don't get to see him often until morning. She generally takes two nap during the day, too, for anywhere from 1-3 hours. She naps longer if we are out somewhere because the car ride puts her to sleep.
How are you doing physically?
I have lost around 40lbs already, possibly more! I only gained 15lbs during my pregnancy (lost 10 initially & gained back 25), so I am significantly smaller than I was even pre-pregnancy!
: I have a ton of stretch marks, and a bit of a "pooch", but I don't plan on wearing a bikini anytime soon. I was able to fit into my pre-preg jeans (which were tight before) by 2.5 weeks PP, and could fit into even smaller jeans by about 6 weeks pp. I am getting plenty of arm strength from lifting the baby. Haha. I take her on walks through the neighborhood and through stores quite frequently. It calms her down a lot, and I get some exercise and a chance to relax my brain a little. Sex is pretty much back to normal, but things are still a little pinchy/sore sometimes, and it is very difficult to find time for it, honestly, as DH is usually home when I'm asleep and I'm usually up when he's asleep. When we're both awake, the baby needs constant attention. Argh. It's very tough.How are you doing emotionally?
Much better overall. I was diagnosed with PPD by my Nurse Midwife, and am now seeing a Psychiatric Nurse she referred me to for counseling. She put me on Zoloft, too, which I wasn't thrilled about (I have a history of depression and had weaned myself off of meds a two or three years ago as they started to make me feel numb). Anyway, my relationship with DH has been very difficult, but is getting better again. He feels like "a third wheel", because Isobel freaks out on him frequently (always wants Mommy), and for the same reason we rarely get any alone time. He's been rather depressed too, and there have been a lot of tears (mine) and heartache (both of us).
Having a child has been the single most amazing, wonderful, and difficult thing we've ever done - all in one.
: It's up & down from day to day and hour to hour, honestly, and I really worry about how things are going to work out once I go back to work. I worry how Isobel will react with the babysitter, and I also worry about how the heck I will get *any* sleep, let alone find time for myself or DH.What else is going on?
Hahaha! What else do I have TIME for? j/k - seriously, though I want to become a doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding educator now, and potentially later a nurse midwife! Woohoo! I am so excited. I really think it is something I can finally be passionate about, and it was my own birth and the kindness/awesomeness of my midwife that inspired me. I am currently researching all my training and certification options, and trying to come up with a business name so I can get started.
: My husband has recently deployed for a little while so it's just me and London around the house these days. He is 11 weeks old now and weights 14.5 lbs. so he is chunky little man, I LOVE IT! He loves his sling and it immeidately puts him to sleep so sometimes it works against me when I am trying to keep him awake so he will go to bed on time. We are still trying to stick to the schedule that he put himself on. He also LOVES his mobile. That will entertain him for a good 45 mins as long as I make sure to SPRINT across the house every 2 mins to wind it back up 
He started sleeping through the night at about 7 weeks old. It's AWESOME. He has always been a good sleeper though. He goes to bed between 6:30-8:00pm and doesn't wake up again until 5am. Then I change him and he eats and its right back to sleepyland until 9am. I love that little boy.
I have lost all of my baby weight, however my body is just ALOT different now. My goal is to lose about another 20 lbs. I gained alot of weight doing infertility treatments, so if lose those 20 lbs I will be the same size I was almost 9 years ago when DH and I started dating.
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