Six weeks ago, we welcomed baby Madelyn into our lives. Having a baby is a life-changing event. For the past 6 weeks, I've experienced all kinds of feelings from joy, fascination, and excitement to exhaustion. One day I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom and the next day, I can't wait to go back to work. The best advice I can give is to rest as much as you can and accept any help that was offered.
For the first few weeks at home, I was happy that Madelyn slept so peacefully during the day. I was able to get everything done from doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, baking and everything else in between. By 7:00 P.M, I am dead tired. Since she slept so much during the day, she wanted to stay up and play at night(when my body and my mind desperately needed to go to sleep).
Since I am still on my maternity leave, I offered to take care of Madelyn at night so everyone can get a good night's sleep. That didn't last very long. One night at 1:00 A.M, I broke down and asked my husband if he could take the baby before I lose my mind. Poor guy didn't know what happened because he thought things were under control.
Lesson learned! Since then, we put together a “baby duty” schedule so both of us can have at least 4 hours of sleep each night. I am glad that we're doing/enjoying this together. In this fast-paced society, we are always in a hurry and there is never enough time in the day to accomplish all the things that need to be done. Sometimes, we forget to slow down and enjoy the little things along the way. It's still hard for me to see dirty clothes in the baskets, things are on the floor, no home-made meals every night. Although, I know I need to prioritize my chores and take care of myself first. That way I'll have the energy and cherish every single moment with my girls. A new baby can bring much joy, but it can also challenge you in ways you never expected. Despite all the hard work, this precious face is worth every effort.