I’ll be the first to admit, I had no idea what life was like for a new mother.
It never even crossed my mind before. If a conversation came up, I would have immediately tuned it out and thought about my easy jaunt to the farmers market, my leisurely morning wake up, or what cocktail was on the menu that night.
Confession: I still think about my cocktails.
(Jazz Hands!)
It’s safe to say, motherhood wasn’t really my thing, and despite having a baby, it still isn’t my thing. Instead, I am bumbling and fumbling my way through this life with a tiny human business. I do happen to love the kid though, hard, and I’m fairly certain that’s all that really matters anyway, although a clean diaper never hurt.
As such I decided to share:
A Day in the Life with a Newborn (Ave is 11 weeks old)
5:15 a.m.: bolt awake to the sound of a baby crying. Nudge Hubby to get up. Mutter curse words under my breath, while simultaneously stumbling to the bathroom to pee.
5:19: grab Ave from the Hubby, who has gotten her out of the crib and changed her diaper, and then pop her on my left breast for first breakfast.
5:20 – 6:15: nurse Ave on both breasts, burp her after each round, change her diaper, wait out her hiccups, rub her back and finally put her down in her crib. Say a small prayer she goes to sleep.
6:16 – 6:30: let Oscar in and out three times. Find and clean up the pile of cat puke I heard Sam hacking up while I was nursing Ave. Mutter more curse words under my breath. Water outdoor flowers, raspberries, and garden.
6:30 – 7:58: go back to sleep.
7:58: awake with a start to a shuffling noise, realize it’s only the cat, decide to get up anyway.
7:58 – 9:05: brush my teeth and then head downstairs. Prepare and drink my lemon water. Make and eat two packets of Blueberry Flax Oatmeal with a banana and a yogurt while reading blogs. Unload the dishwasher.
9:05 – 9:15: pour a cup of coffee, sit back down at the computer and send a prayer to the sleep gods Ave stays down long enough to drink it and perhaps even shower since pouring coffee is the kiss of death. Literal translation: I pour my liquid gold an entire floor below her, and Ave wakes up. Somehow she knows.
9:16: I hear noises from above, so I check the baby monitor and notice Ave is wide awake. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She is fully alert, although calm so I decide to shower anyway. I move fast though.
9:17: I realize we need a bar of soap, which is stored in the hallway closet outside of Ave’s room, the one with the squeaky door. I weigh the pros and cons in my mind, and I opt to shower without soap. I use the Hubby’s overwhelmingly man scented body wash instead.
9:24: I jump out of the shower, check the monitor and notice Ave is getting more active, physically and verbally. She is eating her fist. I feel slightly guilty.
9:25: I skip applying body lotion and go right to the lanolin oil (nipple cream). I move as quietly and quickly as possible.
9:26: I check the monitor again and notice Ave is yawning. I feel less guilty.
9:27: I go to the bedroom to get dressed. I open my dresser drawer only to forget what I need. I start to walk away and realize underwear is the object of my desire. I hurriedly go back to the dresser, pull out clothes, sniff check yesterday’s pants, and get fully dressed, undergarments included.
9:28: I check the monitor. Ave is asleep. Aw hell. Do I wake her up to go to the lactation support group which starts in two minutes or do I let her sleep instead? This is a rhetorical question.
9:30 – 9:31: I creep by Ave’s room, trying to avoid the squeaky floorboards and go back downstairs.
9:31 – 10:00: I work on this blog post and decide to live dangerously, by pouring a second cup of coffee.
10:00 – 10:06: I check email, and read and comment on another couple of blog posts.
10:07: I hear movement, I check the baby monitor and watch Ave squirm for a full minute with her eyes closed.
10:08: Ave is back asleep and completely still.
10:09: Ave is moving again. Her eyes remain closed.
10:12: Ave is most definitely awake, and her eyes are fully open. I grab her, wash her face, and change her diaper, all while commenting on how spectacular her poop is, and then we head to the lactation support group meeting.
10:13 – 10:20: drive to the meeting while keeping up a running commentary for Ave in the backseat. I tell her she will get some milk at the meeting and mommy will get some sanity. We both win.
10:21 – 11:55: attend the lactation support group where I weigh Ave and breastfeed her, while chatting with other nursing mothers. It is my happy place.
11:56 – 12:02: drive home while singing “You are my sunshine” to Ave. I make up half the lyrics. My version is less clean.
12:03 – 12:40: nurse Ave some more, change her diaper, use the nose Frida on her and read ABC Baby Me three times. I realize I’m starving so I quickly eat a Kind bar. Ave is yawning so I walk with her for a few minutes before putting her in the crib awake. I am hoping she puts herself to sleep. We’re working on this.
(Mmmm…KIND bar.)
12:41 – 12:55: make an avocado cheese sandwich for lunch all while listening for Ave. Check the baby monitor to see she’s fast asleep. Do a small victory dance in the kitchen and then say a prayer she sleeps for at least an hour or two so she can be a happy baby.
12:55 – 1:33 eat lunch with a cat in my lap and blogs on my computer screen. Work on this post.
1:33 – hear Ave start to fuss. Wait and see if she can fall back asleep
1:38: recognize that is not happening and go get the baby. Use the bathroom connected to her room, all while talking loudly with the door open, so she stays calm and knows mommy is coming.
1:39 – 1:45: decided to try and wear Ave. Spend six minutes assembling this crazy Moby wrap and slip Ave inside.
1:44 – 1:48: she is not digging the wrap and cries to express her frustration. I walk for a few minutes to see if she’ll be ok and then ultimately pull her out. The Hubby stops by for lunch.
1:48 – 2:15: walk with Ave for a few minutes to calm her down before putting her in her rocking chair. She loves the chair and kicks up a storm. I eat some potato chips and dip before she decides the chair is no longer fun. She cries to express her frustration.
2:15 – 2:56: I nurse Ave and burp her some more. I change her diaper and then her socks since she put her foot directly into her shit filled diaper.
2:56 – 3:14: I walk with Ave until she is passed out on my shoulder. I set her in her cradle to sleep.
3:14 – 4:45: work on this post while eating some raspberries to satisfy my sweet tooth. I read some other blogs. I put away the lunch dishes, hard boil some eggs and make a batch of brown rice. I burn the rice. I water all my indoor plants (twenty-four in total) and then the garden a second time. I throw in a load of laundry and I chop up some broccoli, onions, and bell peppers to be used for dinner. I soak the Bok Choy in cold water because he looks rather sad, and I discover I have grapes in the fridge, so I rinse those too.
4:45 – 4:50: I lay down on the couch next to Ave with my book and visions of sleep in my head.
4:50: listen to Oscar hurl on the floor directly behind me. Get up and clean it and then lay back down.
5:00: Ave screams out and I bolt upright only to discover she is already back asleep. I lay back down.
5:10: the Hubby comes home. We exchange a few words before I lay back down.
5:13 – 6:38: read my book before eventually nodding off to sleep. Awake to Ave fussing in her cradle beside me.
6:39 – 7:09: nurse Ave and then pass her off to the Hubby so I can make dinner.
7:10 – 7:55: start sautรฉing veggies and chop up the remaining produce: Bok Choy, garlic scapes, and Brussels sprouts. Vacuum the living room and the hallway while the veggies cook and the Hubby hangs out with the tiny human.
7:56: Ave is getting fussy so I try to nurse her again. She takes to the boob like a fish to water. The Hubby steps in and finishes dinner while I breastfeed.
7:56 – 9:24: nurse Ave on both sides, burp her, change her diaper, give her vitamin D, file her nails and take bites of our now finished dinner in between all of these activities. At one point, the Hubby feeds me while I feed the baby. Put Ave in her crib for the night.
9:24 – 10:10: clean up the kitchen and wash the dinner dishes. Make coffee, help the Hubby make granola, go through the mail from the past few days, put stuff away around the house, vacuum the kitchen.
10:10 – 10:13: put phone on charger with the intent of going to bed, notice some pop ups and get sucked into Facebook.
10:18: put phone down for real, head upstairs to brush my teeth and read my book before eventually slipping into dreamland.
I know, my life is simply scintillating these days, and this was a really good day.
If you’re a mom, does this look familiar? If not, is it what you expected?
Heather says
I think I’ve blocked those days from my memory… I remember the good moments or random moments, but I’m not going to lie. I was absolutely ready to go back to work at 6 weeks. It was my sanity saver. I have some great baby memories, but I really started to enjoy parenting more around the 6-9 month mark when they could do more. I think all moms deserve a medal for getting through the the 4th Trimester.
Heather recently posted…Week In Review โ The one with alligators and Spam
Meghan says
Yes the 4th trimester is no joke.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
michele @ paleorunningmomma says
Definitely familiar ๐ In fact I still weigh pros and cons of everything I do once my kids are asleep. Newborn babies have a way to traumatize you even over 5 years later ๐ I never attempted the moby wrap and used slings which were a godsend. On another note, glad I’m not the only one with puking cat issues ๐
michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…WIAW Frozen Everything and My Favorite Meatballs
Meghan says
What is it with the cats and hacking up hairballs lately. Oh wait, yeah it’s summer time which means this is par for the course. ๐ You are definitely not alone.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Holy moly. That’s definitely a lot of craziness, and I guess it’s what I expected motherhood to be life… although its probably a lot more manic in real life than it is in my head. I don’t know that I’m cut out for that motherhood stuff either, so I’m pretty sure I’d be fumbling just as hard. For what it’s worth, though, I think you’re doing an awesome job, and I’m betting that Ave would agree ๐
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…healthy double chocolate greek yogurt pancakes
Meghan says
Thanks Sweets. Considering Ave seems pretty happy these days, I think she’d say I’m doing pretty good too.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Brittany says
Oh me oh my. This was exhausting to read. Being a mom is no joke, and you wear it well. Honest, and well.
Brittany recently posted…Rekindling the Run
Meghan says
Always honest. You know me, I like to keep it real.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Kate says
Wow, I can almost feel your exhaustion. I love that you’re go to a lactation support group and I’m happy to know that’s a thing. How cool. She sure is precious.
Meghan says
The weekly lactation support group meetings is my happy place.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
GiGi Eats says
Apparently BOUNCY CHAIRS and other things are BABY SOOTHERS! When Ave is older, you need to put her in one! ๐ My sister’s baby is OBSESSED!
Meghan says
I need all the baby soothers!
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says
Wow…. I don’t know what else to say apart from that. Kids just aren’t on my radar, but I have no doubt about the hard work it takes dealing with a newborn. It was tough enough when we had to look after my friends dog for a week when she was away… :-S
That wrap looks cool… But I can imagine getting it to work is tougher than putting together flat pack furniture!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Exploring your talents #5TTT
Meghan says
You’re right. It was easier to put together Ave’s crib than the wrap. Ha! ๐
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Luce@FitSwissChick says
I will take care of the cocktails, that’s for sure.
Love the jazz hands. And I can’t wait for her to be older so I can teach her kitchen dance parties.
I adore you – I would have gone crazy long time ago.
Luce@FitSwissChick recently posted…Currently โ a week in June.
Meghan says
I am going crazy, but that’s what dance parties are for. ๐ We’ve had our share already, and we can’t wait for you to join the shenanigans.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Cora says
Above all I am glad to hear Ave’s poop has been spectacular. We should all shoot for this.
In addition to this… you are rocking the mama thing. I probably would have either completely lost my mind or died of exhaustion by this point. Maybe one day I’ll be able to actually see myself as a mother. I do really like those baby wraps after all. And wouldn’t mind one of those feet pictures of my own….
Meghan says
I pretty much chat with Ave nonstop when she’s awake. It’s supposed to be great for her so we banter all day long. ๐ She squeaks, I speak and sing and chant and make random noises. It’s an interesting sort of conversation.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Danielle says
I’m giggling as I am wearing Lulu for the first time right now. She loves being on my chest so it working out well for both of us ๐ anything to free a hand is amazing! She’s only 4 days old so I’m sure my routine will change daily for a while. For now it’s just feed, bond, change, sleep, and try to figure out how to mitigate the little episodes ๐ sleep is precious but I got a solid 3 hours and can’t complain a bit.
You look great mama, you’re an inspiration! And You Are My Sunshine is our theme song. It’s all over her room and I sing it all day. Love it.
Meghan says
Aw shucks. Thanks sweets. I think YOU are doing fabulous. Just love her and the rest will work itself out.
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I couldn’t love you more if I had to. Your motherly honesty is refreshing. Also, you should watch your Kind bars. Ave was totally eyeing it.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Competitive Women Aren’t Bitches {WIAW}
Meghan says
I love you too!
Meghan recently posted…A Day in the Life with a Newborn
Juli@1000lovelythings says
Your day sounds pretty exhausting. But actually in a good way. I love the picture of your feet. It’s heartwarming <3
I bet this is the ideal kind of post to write for a mom of a newborn. As pretty much any kind of list post ๐
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…30 types of People I hate
Meghan says
Yeah list posts are my besties right now or anything which doesn’t require too much mental capacity. Ha!!
Katja says
Hi Meghan!
Long time reader – first time to comment…. But today I just had to…. I love your blog and your honesty in general – but especially about this crazy wonderful “new mommy thing”. My daughter is 14 weeks old, and I can so relate to it all….. Wondering how long she’ll stay asleep – and if I can in fact get my meal prepared and eaten and/or shower…. I often see myself running around the kitchen like a maniac trying to get as much prepared as possible, since you never know how much time you’ve got…. I am using the Ergo carrier a lot for her long afternoon nap, since it seems to be the only place she’s willing to nap in at that point – at least it gives me two free hands. Multitasking has greatly improved anyways – cooking with one hand, while baby in the other; eating breakfast/lunch/dinner while breastfeeding, you name it…. Oh, and I, as well, love my lactation support group. My little one and I are pretty much the “seniors” there by now, but I keep going back since I enjoy it too much. Nonetheless, as tiring as some of this all may be – I wouldn’t want to change it for the world! Those baby smiles sure make my day – and her happiness must mean that I am doing a pretty decent job at this new mom business I would think… Love my little girl to pieces!!
Katja
Meghan says
Thank you Katja. I love hearing from silent readers and I hope you comment again. ๐
Her happiness and your love for her is everything and all that really matters so I’d say you’re doing an AMAZING job. Keep going to the lactation support group. We have mommies at ours with one plus year olds.
I have yet nurse and cook at the same time, although I need to try it sometime. These days, Ave does not like the carrier. She wants to be able to do and see stuff, not stare at my chest, unless of course she’s eating. ๐ ๐
Thanks again for taking the time to comment, and I am so glad you like the blog.
lindsay Cotter says
i’m going to die when (or if) I become a mom. Can i room with you all? But seriously… you are doing AMAZIN!
Meghan says
You can room with me anytime, and I know you would make an AMAZING mother. With all your Sherpa abilities, you’d knock that shit out of the park.
Suzy says
Is there bacon in that pan of sauteed veggies? It looks good! I’m glad you have that nursing group! Having other new moms saved my life back then, seriously. You’re rocking this motherhood thing, Meghan, but in a badass way, don’t worry. You are my f*cking sunshine.
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Meghan says
There is no bacon in the pan of veggies…this time, although I did eat two hotdogs yesterday.
Big sigh of relief…so long as I’m still considered a badass. ๐
Meghan recently posted…Beet Juice Smoothie Recipe
Kirsten says
Meghan,
Yes, this sounds familiar even though it’s been . . . 13 years since I last nursed a kid, and it was dogs needing to go in and out not cats. Also, no hairballs, though I am sure I cleaned up puke at some point. I was lucky, though, that my MIL took our dogs for a couple of months until we moved into quarters. So I didn’t need to fuss much with dogs, or gardens, or plants. I just had to skedaddle out of the way of the hotel maid service or the nurse’s shift changes.
You and Job have taken to this like ducks to a pond, and Ave’s delight shows what a good job you’re doing.
Kirsten recently posted…Peach Salsa with Golden Plums and Roasted Hatch Chiles (Canning recipe)
Meghan says
Thanks Kirsten. Ave does seem to be a pretty well balanced little human. I think we’ll keep her. ๐
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Ave’s Edition (#40)
Melissa @ Mango About Town says
I need to let you know that I laughed out loud while reading this. Happy to hear you have a feeding train going on because mammas gotta eat too!
Melissa @ Mango About Town recently posted…Jonathanโs Farm CSA โ Week 5
Meghan says
It’s amazing how quickly you can go low too while nursing. It’s always good to have snacks on hand or people around to feed you. ๐