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!
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
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