ooh breathe, just breathe: eleanor's first week

Saturday, September 29, 2018

eleanor's first week

well Eleanors' first week surely went by way fast (too fast! slow down already!! just bring more sleep, k thanks). and no surprise this blog is a few days late... some things never change! to say things have gotten busier would be an understatement. it feels like we have an appointment of some sort every day (and quadruple the amount of laundry... how in the holy F do we accumulate so much laundry!?) but slowly we are figuring out the new normal and cherishing every moment (even all of the diaper changes... and man is this little one stinky!)

we busted free from the hospital mid day on friday after getting lab work back showing her bilirubin level had come down from the day before. we loaded up the car, pulled out of the lot, and ty turned on the radio- im a huge music fan, and even i had never heard the song that was playing.

"Home"
by x ambassadors and bebe rexha

Home

A place where I can go

To take this off my shoulders

Someone take me home

Home

A place where I can go

To take this off my shoulders

Someone take me home

quite fitting i think. lets do this.

the morning we left the hospital... so beautiful

the view was a bit different later on that morning...

they brought about 6 of these up to the roof

E didnt seem as impressed with the scenery

i loved my view the best though

time to go home!

ready or not (appears a bit more confident this time around...)

we were a bit more nervous when we brought hen home

similar to when we brought henry home, tys parents were at our house waiting for us. they stayed for a bit and then left before henry got home from school so that we could start to adjust to this new family of 4 we had (or 6... cant forget miss chips and duke!) we had a few visitors in the hospital which was great, and had plans for some people to stop by the house over the weekend. we certainly felt all the love for our new little bundle of joy and appreciate all the gifts (and yummy foods!!)

we also had a big gathering of family at our house on sunday evening. everyone had arrived except my brother and his wife (the brother/wife who live close by). i heard the driveway alarm go off and went out to greet them. it was not their car that had pulled in though, it was my moms. i thought that was kinda odd (my mom was there already) but sometimes they borrow their car for whatever reason. so i waited until they got out of the car and my mind suddenly played a very weird trick on me... it was not johnny i saw in front of me out of the drivers seat, but how could it be nate (his twin)?? they live in chicago, theyre not supposed to be here.... yet here he stood, and kat got out of the passenger seat. what an amazing surprise, and i completely lost it right in the driveway. overwhelming emotion (damn hormones! what do i have to blame for crying at the dining room table writing this now though?!). it was such a lovely surprise and evening with all my family here to see us and meet eleanor.

everyone seems to want to know how henry is adjusting to it all... honestly, it couldnt be any better. he is such a proud big brother. wants to show her off to the world. is trying desperately to be helpful (and he is most of the time), and we are trying hard to balance allowing him to help and not push him aside or make him grow up too fast. were being very diligent about giving him his special time with both of us, and so far it all seems to be working out well. the first night we were home he said: "guys, if she wakes up crying in the night ill take care of her so you guys can sleep" haha. the next night at bedtime: "mom, you know whats so hard about being a big brother?" what buddy? "you dont let me help take care of her at night" but you need to get good sleep so that you can help out with her during the day. "oh yeah, ok. goodnight". and my personal favorite henry quote so far: (pulling up his shirt to examine his chest)- "i wish i had boobs mom so i could feed Eleanor". me too kid, me too.

eleanor certainly has her days and nights somewhat mixed up, but were working on it (how do you keep a newborn up during the day? answer: you cant). i have exclusively breastfed and so far it is going much better than with henry (knock on wood). she feeds anywhere between 1.5 to 3.5 hours apart, and we have had one night of cluster feeding which was basically awful (but expected). the lactation consultants in the hospital told me not to pump for 4 weeks, which is definitely different than with henry. it is hard to be the only person to be able to feed her, but we will get through it. i try to rest when she is sleeping but i am not good at it (some days are better than others). and late night feedings/not sleeping doesnt fare well for my bank account... oiselle in particular had spectacular timing with their "what the fall" sale. oops.

all in all this week has been amazing. eleanor is amazing and beautiful and perfect in every way. after 5 plus years you forget just how small and needy (and stinky!) they are. ok, on to all the week 1 pictures! (well not all of them, ive taken quite a few). maybe ill have her two week update on time next week (dont count on it).