The End of my Maternity Leave

Wowsa, I can't believe my little Abigail is already 8 weeks old. I feel like it was just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital and into our crazy lives. I was so excited to begin my maternity leave and just spend all day with my little baby.

With Leah, I didn't really know what to do for a maternity leave. I just assumed it would be time to get stuff done and lay around with the baby. I'd feed her and let her sleep in my arms, and catch up on all my trashy TV. I feel like all I did with Leah was sit at home, and I probably did, considering it was January and fing cold outside. Then there was the incident with the stroller. It didn't work right so I had to use a scissors to get the thing to fold in half to take it anywhere. I can only imagine how crazy I looked having to carry a scissors around me, but I had to if I wanted to go anywhere. So to make it easier for me, I didn't go anywhere. It made the winter go by so quickly though, so that was nice. I also remember Jenn laughing hysterically while watching me struggle to juggle Leah in her car seat and the scissors and the stroller. Stupid stroller, it seriously was the bane of my existence.

This time, I knew I was going to not only have an infant to nurture, but also a crazy hyper 4 year old to
entertain 2 days a week. I love Leah so much, but looking back I'd have probably kept her in daycare full time. We didn't really save that much money-especially since she ended up staying home more that 2 days a week more often than not-and I think we all, OK maybe just me, would've been a little less stressed during the days. I mean, come on, Leah didn't want to sit around the house and for the first few weeks I didn't even want to think about taking Abigail out and about. Heck, I didn't want to take 2 kids out by myself at all. Anybody who knows Leah knows that she so much energy that she's always running/moving around and has trouble sitting still-though what 4 year old can? So the thought of me taking the girls anyplace by myself was frightening.


I feared Leah would be board, or not want to go to school when she knew I was at home. I worried that I wouldn't get to spend the time with Abigail that she needed and that she would somehow be harmed from the lack of Mommy time. I love Leah to death, but I wanted to have some Mommy/Abigail time. What I ended up getting was an extremely great maternity leave with BOTH my girls.

The last 8 weeks have had their ups-Ry staying home to help, My Mom coming up and being more help to me than I ever knew possible, countless walks with Abigail, seeing her smile for the first time, taking Leah to the splash pad, random Starbucks dates with Leah, lunch dates with my Dad, shopping (sorry, Ry) and even some naps for me.

Then of course there were a few downs-the A.C. breaking and it being a raging inferno in our house, the garage door breaking and just being a pain, Leah getting strep throat and me getting sick with a temp of 102.

I feel like no mom is ever ready her leave to be over, and it really is done before you know it. I had planned to spend this last week having fun with my girls, and really getting some one on one time with Abigail,  but even that didn't work out the way I planned. Leah was home Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Strep Throat. Yuck! So not only did we have to stay in the house all week, but I had to keep Leah away from Abigail, which resulted in a huge meltdown with Leah crying, "Mommy why won't anybody play with me?"It must've been so difficult for her when I need to spend a ton of time with Abigail and she can't be near us. Poor girl. Rough last week.

So today was my last day alone with little Miss Abigail, and it wasn't exactly awesome. She had her 2 month old check up, so she got shots. Poor girl, I hate that they make me hold my babies arms, so I see her look at me and smile, and then they poke her. Not once, not twice, but 3 times. And she looked at me with those pleading eyes to stop the pain, and in that second I just cried right along with her. And then she slept the rest of the day. We didn't even really get to play, but I did get some snuggle time in with her, and it was quiet. Just Abigail and me. My baby girl.

Even though this wasn't the maternity leave I maybe thought I'd have, I wouldn't change it. Maybe Leah getting strep cause that just sucks, but everything else was amazing and so worth it. I've cleaned, crafted, done countless loads of laundry, picked up a ton of dog poop-and there's more, did some shopping-again sorry Ry, and had so much fun with my girls. If this ends up being my last maternity leave, and it probably is, then I can go out saying I didn't everything the way I wanted. I love me girls and I'm so glad I've gotten to spend this time with them.

I can't believe it's over, but I'm so excited to head back to work and enter this new stage of my life-being a working Mom to two amazing daughters.

Here is a random list of things I learned the second time around:

1. Have help.
Seriously, I know everybody says this, and I didn't do this the first time around with Leah. What a fool I was. There was nothing better than having my Mom here to help with both girls. To take Leah to the park so she could work off some energy, staying with Abigail so I could take Leah out and mini date, making dinner and breakfast-I still dream about her banana cupcakes, and the times she would get up early in the mornings with me for Abigail's early feedings were a Godsend. I wouldn't trade those moments for the world. I'm so sad I didn't spend that time with my Mom when Leah was born.

2. If you thought you were tired the first time, well you have no idea what you will feel like this time.
Sleep, oh how I miss you. Abigail is up all night, then Leah's up all day and I somehow needed to find a way to keep up with both girls on only a few hours of sleep. I think its crazy just how little sleep I actually needed at times to function.

3. The Moby Wrap, or any other carrier for baby, is a must with 2 kids
I don't know how I would've gotten anything done without this thing. It was so nice to strap Abigail in and go. Everything was easier, and Abigail absolutely loved the wrap. Hands free is the way to go for second babies!

4. You still have to eat.
There were times where Leah was up at 6, Abigail at 6:30, feed Abigail, feed Leah, put Abigail down for a nap, play with Leah, play with Abigail, feed Abigail, feed Leah, put Leah down for her nap, and the next thing I knew it was 1 and I hadn't eaten anything yet. I literally forgot to eat. Don't let that happen, its not a good thing.

5. You can get stuff done.
Abigail sleeps. Leah plays by herself-sort of. So I usually had about an hour a day to myself, maybe more in random spurts. I could've taken a nap, maybe a half hour or so, or I could've cleaned, done laundry and maybe even spray painted some wine bottles. So I chose to get things done rather than take a short teasing nap. I need a sleep, a long sleep. Not a little nap.

I can't wait to see what next week is like, hopefully it's not difficult and stressful, but we'll see:)

Amy

Catching up on 2014

Well where has the first quarter of this year gone? Oh, that's right, I've been busy trying to cram in a million things before this baby! I guess I should start to catch up on the pregnancy and birth of a little sweetie-who will probably wake up before I get a chance to finish this post:)

January was so long and daunting for everybody around here I think. With more days at negative temps than I'd like to even think about, some bottoming out at -45. Yuck!!!! We celebrated Leah's 4th birthday at the beginning of the month too. I sometimes look at her and wonder where the last 4 years have gone. I love that little peanut so very much and it seems like only yesterday we were at the hospital having her. She's a crazy lady, with a crazy, feisty personality. I'm really not sure where she gets that from ;) Her birthday was laid back-we went to Grandma and Grandpa Siebert's house-and just enjoyed our girl!

                                                   Leah, the night before her 4th bday

February was also freezing cold and we were all beginning to wonder if Spring would EVER come our way. Ry and I celebrated our 5th anniversary by doing what we do every year-Ry watched while I coached JV basketball. How romantic:) Ry really is a trooper for all the boring he puts up with.

March was also freezing. Seriously we NEVER thought it would get warm out. I remember telling Leah that the baby would be here when it was warm out. But by the end of March as the due date got closer I started to doubt it would be warm even then. I was pretty sure this baby would be born in a middle of April snow blizzard. March was the cramming month where we washed clothes, finished the nursery, stocked up on diapers and made some final decisions regarding the birth and plans for Leah during that time. I felt like I got everything together during this time, and I was so ready for our baby to be here.

                                                                     38 weeks


April. Ah April! My end was in sight! I'm one of those people who just has miserable pregnancy's so I couldn't wait for this one to be over too. I felt bad at times for complaining when I actually felt really good this time around. I don't know why, but this baby was being really sweet to me. I wasn't real sick, my body didn't hurt too bad and I was sleeping great. My only complain My Dr talked with me and we decided to set an induction date for a week past my due date (April 19) but I was so hoping I wouldn't make it that long. I just really didn't want to be induced.

By this point I had stopped working and Leah started her new schedule where she stayed home with me on Tuesday's and Thursday's and then went to school the other 3 days. Monday April 14 was spent cleaning the house, and Tuesday was spent as a Mommy and Leah day. We played. We made some art for the baby's room. We went grocery shopping. We ate lunch out at Noodles and then got some Starbucks just to top off the day. It was special to have a day that Leah and I could be together with no distractions.

                                                    Lunch at Noodles, about 9 hours before labor started

Tuesday night, April 15th I began having contractions. Long story made short-I started contractions around 9, went to the hospital at 12:30 am, baby came at 6:47 am. My sweet, beautiful baby GIRL Abigail was finally with us! Her birth wasn't without complications-as my babies just like to come into this world in dramatic fashion (again, I have no idea where my girls get that from). She had inhaled some meconium, had the cord wrapped around her neck, and just like Leah, she had a shoulder distocia on the way out. After about half an hour with the NICU team they said she was just fine and we finally got to hold our second baby girl.

        Our second baby girl, Abigail Ruth Siebert born on April 16th 2014 at 6:47 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs 3                             oz and was 21 inches long. We are all so in love with this little sweet pea!

Leah was in love with the little lady from the minute they met. Well, sort of :) She was creeped out by Me being in the hospital bed, the strange hospital room, and this tiny little human who was now her little sister. Leah didn't hold her until the second day, but everyday after that she's wanted to hold Abigail, kiss her and play with her. She really has turned into the amazing sister I knew she could be.

                                                     Abigail and Leah-best friends for life!


Being a family of 4 hasn't been all that difficult so far. I say that as we are less than 2 weeks in. Leah seems to be doing just fine, she doesn't wake up when Abigail cries and she hasn't been regressing at all. Ry spends more time with Leah than I do because I'm trying to get in sync with Abigail as far as nursing goes, but we are all getting there. Nights are tough for me, as I'm the one to get up with her. Ry says he sleeps great and sometimes I want to punch him, as I haven't slept for more than 3 hours in a single stretch since Abigail's been born, but I know its all going to be short lived and eventually she won't be needing me at all hours of the night for long. It kinda makes me sad thinking about it. I love my time with her at night where its just Abigail and Mommy. It's our bonding time since Ry's still off work for another week and Leah's home 2 days a week.

This past weekend was a bit of a struggle for me both physically and emotionally. I don't feel like I even really got to this point with Leah, but I hit an emotional road block on Saturday and I hit it hard!

One of my best friends got married on Saturday April 26th-also my 28th birthday. I was a bridesmaid and Leah was a flower girl. It all started with hair at 7:00 am, then I got an hour to go home and see Abigail and pump, then we were at the church from 11-3 for the pictures and the ceremony. Then home for half hour to pump again and see Abigail, then we headed downtown for pictures and the reception. At about 9 pm Leah was tired and ready to leave, and my emotions came out in full force. I suddenly realized how tired I was, (after all, Abigail had been up 3 times the night before, and our day had started at 7 and had not slowed down). My big girl was exhausted and having a melt down, I was frustrated and full because there wasn't a place for me to pump and I couldn't get my dress unzipped and zipped easy enough to pump effectively, and, oh yeah, I missed my 10 day only baby. There's also that tiny feeling in your body when it tells you-hey slow down, you just had a baby 10 days ago. My body hurt like nobody's business by the end of the night. I was a mess and started crying and just wanted to go home.

When we got back home I sat with little Abigail in my arms for a few hours. I hadn't seen her all day long and that's really difficult with a newborn. I can't even begin to describe how much I missed that tiny peanut.

Sunday was a day where I did absolutely nothing. My body was still telling me it needed more recovery time and that I should just rest. So I did. And it was wonderful. My mom had been up the whole weekend to watch little Abigail while we were at the wedding, and while we were gone she also did laundry and cleaned the house. I found myself on Sunday night almost in tears again because I missed my Mom and how helpful she was. It was also nice that on Sunday morning when Abigail woke up at 5 for a feeding, my Mom got up with me and we talked for awhile. It was nice to have somebody else to talk with while feeding that baby girl.

It's been a super long 4 months of the year, and I'm hoping the next 8 months slow down because I really want to enjoy my little family being little for as long as I can!


Amy