Thanks so much for your thoughts and advice left on my previous post.
In thinking through much of it further and in talking with Spencer and a close friend, I am realizing that part of what seems to be compounding my struggle is feeling like I should already have a better idea of what's "normal" for a newborn... the sounds, the sleep patterns, the eating habits. The whole being a "first time" mom to my second child has been wearing on me, perhaps, more than I realized. So my goal, for now, is to really just try to relax a little and to not worry so much. I trust that when the temptation to worry and fret arises, that the Lord will meet me in that.
On that note, our beautiful Eliana is 2 weeks old today! Just caught a few shots of her hanging out in her bouncy seat as Spencer and I finished up dinner...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
2 weeks old!
Posted at 6:04 PM
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44 comments:
Beautiful.
She is absolutely stunning. It's so hard to relax when you have a newborn in the house. My daughter turned 21 months yesterday, and I still worry quite a bit. Don't beat yourself up too much.
She is so pretty!
When you have ANYONE out there figure out how to know everything there is about a newborn (or any child, for that matter) whether it's their first or tenth child, let me know. :)
All babies are different. No one can figure them out. It's all a guessing game. :)
I still cannot get over that hair!!
Every child is different so even if Isaac were with you today Eliana would have different quirks and all that so it would still be like being a first time mom. Hang in there!!
She has Isaac's eyes.
Beautiful child is an understatement...I am absolutely drawn to your little one. Each time I see a new post with that sweet face and those EYES! Omgosh...I just have to go look again...
Absolutely breathtaking.....
Trina
She is absolutely beautiful!! Love those gorgeous eyes...
Stacy
She is absolutely gorgeous and very alert. Don't worry about anything and just take a day at a time. I don't think anyone could honestly tell you they had their newborn figured out. Much of it is seeing if something works and, if not, trying something else.
I remember during the early days with Lilly and struggling with PPD, sometimes just being able to put my finger on one or two exact things that were bothering me made me feel so much better. Rather than feeling so out of sorts, confused and lost, being able to recognize the problem (for that day or week anyway!) was empwering.
I am glad that you were able to put your finger on your emotions. You are doing an amazing job and I hope you are allowing yourself time to feel stressed, irritated, tired, and all the normal emotions that mommies of newborns feel. You don't have to be the perfect mom, happy for every moment of every day, all the time, OK?
I just want to make sure you know that:)
Hugs,
Katie (Gemini)
I just want you to know that it doesn't matter how many kids you have or don't have; they are all different and the worries are always there, whether you have the experience or not. I had my 3rd child a year ago and have had so many scares because every baby is different and just when I think I've got this all down pat, something new comes up that I've never dealt with and I feel like a new mom all over again. You are doing great and your babies are both beautiful!
I'm sure everyone has told you this but I LOVE her hair. LOVE, LOVE!!! Does it take work to make it so styled looking or does it just lay that perfectly. She is adorable. God bless you and your family.
Not only does she have a lot of hair she has beautiful eyes
I don't know if it is just my computer, but in this post, the last picture perfectly aligns with Isaac's photo. Both Isaac and Eliana have the same lips. Or maybe it just looks that way to me. Such gorgeous children.
all babies are different. It takes time to figure them out. But you will. She's beautiful!!
It truly is illogical to think that your very short time with Isaac would enable you to'know' everything about a newborn. You only knew him in a hospital setting, and the circumstances of his 'being' were, of course, so different from the baby you are connecting with now. I think postpartum emotions/hormone levels have possibly more to do with your 'edgy' feelings than anything else. This too, will pass. As everyone else has said, every baby is different no matter how many you have, and the ballgame rules may change with each one! Instead of berating yourself about what you don't know, focus on learning what you can each step of the way and you'll do fine. You'll find Eli to be a very forgiving baby!
Becky
I have a bunch of friends who have babies around the same age as mine and they are ALL different. Yes, we can share some basic info, like which shampoos work best and where the good sales are, but as far as "figuring out" the little guys.... it's a daily process. Eli, for example, is a pretty easy kid....sleeps and eats well and is generally happy. I KNOW that when our second one comes along, he/she won't sleep and will be a picky eater. Lol. So just think of it that way - even if Isaac was here with you, he and his baby sister would have been completely different and you'd be in exactly the same boat as you are now. And remember...you've just been through a LOT, both physically and emotionally....so it's totally ok if you're not always feeling positive. Give it a few weeks and life will start to become much more normal. I think back on those early weeks and it really is a huge blur. :) A happy blur, but a blur.
Being a mom is tough. You will probably never feel like you have the right answers. So the first thing to do is just to realize that and not worry about not having all the answers :) I remember with my last one (#3) that I was so stressed and worried about the nursing with him and I remember saying "I should know how to do this he is my 3rd!"
You are doing GREAT mommy!! The one thing you will never get wrong is loving her!! And she is so darn cute. Oh my goodness. I would just sit and stare at her all day long.
I pray for peace and relaxation for you!!
Take care,
Tonia
Those LIPS! They DEMAND kisses!!
If it makes you feel any better, I've always felt like a first time Mom- and I'm expecting OUR FOURTH in June! You'd think I might have it somewhat figured out by now, but nope. They've all been so incredibly unique.
;)
such a gorgeous child! Wow! Keep being patient with yourself, one step at a time. :-)
http://www.hulsgirls.blogspot.com
I am one of the silent readers of your blog. I started following it a few months before Isaac's birth. I continued reading until just before Isaac's birthday this past year. I was pregnant with my 4th child, due at the end of October and things just became busy. This past week, I have finally started catching up on my blog reading, and I was elated to find the news of baby Eliana! What a wonderful blessing. March is a wonderful month for a birthday (2 of my kids have March birthdays). I am sure Isaac is so proud to be a big brother and proud of his mommy and daddy for being brave enough to through the pregnancy and childbirth journey again. I am sure he is watching over his little sister everyday! Congratulations to your beautiful family!
She is so beautiful! Such beautiful eyes and lips! I am so happy for you and your husband.
@asplashofsunshine- I agree! Eliana and Isaac do have the same lips. I thought that from the day Eliana was born!
Your baby girl is beautiful! What a blessing! I find it wonderful that Isaac had blonde hair and Miss Eliana such a head of dark hair! I pray for you daily! You have been a inspiration to me over the last few years and I continue to pray for your wonderful family! God Bless.`
Kara in Michigan
She is absolutely precious... the hair and eyes...oh my, you are so blessed:) I wonder if she looks like her big brother at all... to me it doesn't look too much like it, but maybe in person she does. You have 2 beautiful children. I am just thrilled for you. I have lost a son as well. Praying that the tummy issues are coming along. My 4th had wheat allergies that were coming through my breast milk... just a thought if her fussiness continues. Blessings<><
Sara
She is just so lovely! I imagine that there are so many new things with taking care of a baby and getting to know her. You're the best mom for her, no doubt!
She really is just beautiful. Everything will fall into place with the eating, sleeping, etc., and you will worry less as time goes on. Things seem to level off around three months. She really is a stunning little lady!
I have two and my daughter is very different from my son. It is like night and day. So don't be hard on yourself.
after having 4 children, not one of them was the same....the first month was always spent trying to figure out "what to do" and plenty of tears from the lack of sleep and frustration of thinking i should know......it will all come in time....i know it is easier said than done, but have faith:)
Such a beautiful little girl! I am hoping (and confident) that she will get her nights and days worked out soon for you!
Love,
Aunt Robin
I didn't get to read all the helpful hints people gave you for curing gas, but I will give you a very useful one for calming a very fussy baby (especially in the middle of the night). I'm guessing, since you seem to be into exercise that you own an exercise ball. While holding your baby, bounce gently on the ball, but with enough motion to soothe. For whatever reason, this works like a charm to calm even the fussiest baby. I just had my 3rd baby last week and already have brought out the ball to calm her. I learned this from a friend who said it was the only thing to calm her fussy little guy, and have since passed this info onto all my friends who were interested and they too have found success.
Hope it works for you too!
she is beautiful!
What a sweetheart! She's gorgeous!
I just had our 4th child 3 days ago and still am worrying like crazy over everything. It comes with the territory of having a newborn, no matter how much experience you have. Hang in there - everything is downhill after the first month of adjustment :)
Not sure if this was already suggested, but have you tried holding Eliana while bouncing on one of those big exercise balls? A friend of mine swears by it; she had a gassy/cholicy baby and it really helped when nothing else did! Hope you find some relief (and sleep!) soon! :)
Wow, I'm just 'tuning in' after an absence from the area. It is interesting that you chose a spanish name, Eliana, and she looks very latino! She could be in my family with those dark eyes and hair! I also have used an exercise ball to soothe my babies- rolling them gently on the ball on their tummy definitely helps expel the gas- just put a drool cloth in front for burps coming out the other end, too! If nothing else, the movement is soothing and they 'forget' to fuss. Good luck.......Carla
She is such a gorgous baby! And just a little tidbit, they forgive and forget like its their job!
She is gorgeous!!!
Ahhh her eyes!!!
Stacy- let me just encourage you that feeling like a "first time mom" the 2nd time (or even the 3rd-I can speak to that!) is one of those things every mom feels with each baby. It doesn't detract from your experience with Isaac, it just reminds us how uniquely made each of our children are. I suspect even women with 10 kids are still baffled by the behavior of a newborn sometimes. They are each so different. And what a gift from God to get to experience that fresh- getting to know your baby! It should never be "old hat." So cut yourself some slack and relax into knowing that you are loving that sweet baby well, and loving Isaac well, and in the end, isn't that the measuring stick for a GREAT MOM? Yes!
Eli really does have have her "own" look, which is wonderful in helping you separate the 2 pregnancies and births. I think it would be much more difficult if there was a true resemblance to her brother. In this case you can look upon this as a completely new adventure with an adorable new little person who is going to thrive and grow despite any reservations you may have as to your "mothering skills". Within a few weeks, or perhaps months, things will get easier....although be prepared for frustrating moments until Eli is 18 and leaving the house for college! No one said being a parent is easy!
Samantha in Va.
What a little beauty!
love them!
Came across your blog through another blog. I too am a mommy to a baby in heaven who was to be my Christmas gift in 2008. I just want you to know that your daughter's eyes are the most beautiful and rich I have ever seen. Soak her up and enjoy every minute.
She is BEAUTIFUL!!!! You are doing a WONDERFUL job. Try not to stress about the jobs that need doing around the house or the calls to be made. Do the important "need my immediate attention" and the rest will get done when they get done.
She's amazing and beautiful! :)
She is gorgeous! The newborn stage is rough!
I have a little one in heaven too. Blessings to you and your beautiful family.
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