Ivy came home from the hospital two weeks ago and let me be the first to say- three kids is a challenge! We are doing our best to regain our footing, but when shit hits the fan (and it does. Often.) we settle for baby snuggles instead 😉 Since adding our third little love to the Hammons crew, we’ve managed a trip to the mall, a few Target runs, breakfast out, and I even made it out for a pedi/mani. Ryne and I went on our first date night post-baby for margaritas at a local bar, where the people seated next to us guessed that we had been engaged for four months. Nothing like real clothes and your first night out in months to make you look (and feel) in love 😉
Here’s the update two weeks postpartum-
MAMA
Weeks postpartum: 2 weeks
Recovery: Probably my easiest. I did tear and needed a few stitches, but they seemed to heal up faster than with the other two deliveries. I think it helped that I stayed in the hospital the extra overnight. My stomach is quick to resume its normal size and shape, but my hips will be wider for a while, which means I’ll be living mostly in sweat pants and athleisure. The postpartum life is very, very glamorous.
Weight: I came home from the hospital 7lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight. As of this morning I weigh 125.4 lbs – 3.8 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight.
Mood: The baby blues hit me harder in my first week postpartum this go around than in my other postpartum time frames. The rollercoaster of hormones and sleep deprivation combined with a school-aged kid and a toddler was more overwhelming than I expected. Happy to report that I’m feeling more myself now and life is becoming more manageable and normal every day.
Breastfeeding: I am finally out of the engorgement phase, but still working through some lopsidedness. Again, very glamorous.
BABY IVY
Sleep: Napping most of the day on mommy’s chest or in daddy’s arms. Waking every 2-3 hours at night. Sometimes she goes right back to sleep. Other times she wants to rock for half an hour, have a seven course meal, and be read a small novel before she’ll sleep again.
Belly button stump: Fell out yesterday! The earliest of all our kids. There is still some residual scab in the belly button, but at least we can finally put a diaper over it.
Weight: Ivy lost 10oz in the hospital, so I pumped after each feeding until my milk came in. She had gained back a whopping 2oz by her first appointment with the pediatrician (3 days after birth). And she weighed 7lbs 7 oz at her 2 week appointment this morning!
Clothes size: Only fitting in newborn sizes. Still swimming in 0-3 months.
BIG KIDS
The kids are absolutely smitten with baby sister. Quinn asks every night if we can move Ivy’s crib into her room and seriously doesn’t understand why we won’t make that happen for her. Conrad dotes on Ivy’s every squeak and grunt by bringing her paci’s and saying “Shhh. It ok, Ivy.” Too cute for words!
DAILY SCHEDULE:
6:45-7:15am – Quinn and Conrad wake up for the day. Ryne and I tag team making each others’ coffees and the kids’ milks. Ryne packs Quinn’s lunch while I feed Ivy. We try to jump in the shower, but that usually doesn’t happen.
7:50am – Everybody loads into the car, absolute chaos ensues, and we’re off to drop Quinn at school.
8:30am-12:30pm – Conrad, Ryne, and I have breakfast together. Ivy eats again. We venture out to run a few errands (a Starbucks run is a must). We head home for a deli sandwich lunch before putting Conrad down for his nap.
1:30pm-2:30pm – Ivy eats again. Our best efforts are made to sneak in that shower we didn’t get earlier. Or we nap. The nap usually wins out.
3pm – Ryne leaves to pick up Quinny from school. Ivy and I snuggle up on the couch.
3:40pm-5pm – The kids play on the driveway while Ryne and I post up in some lawn chairs. Ivy eats. Conrad is probably missing a shoe at this point.
5:30pm – A sweet friend or family member usually bring us dinner, which is a HUGE help since it takes us 45 minutes to get anywhere or do anything and left to our own devices the kids would probably have cereal and milk for dinner, which the kids would probably love.
6:30pm-8:30pm – Bath. Lotion. Pajamas. Milk. Books. Teeth brush. Bed. WHY DOES THIS TAKE TWO HOURS?! I don’t have the answers. But it does. It takes two freaking hours to get our kids to bed.
8:30pm-9:30pm – Ryne and I say screw the dishes and laundry. We grab a snack and reconnect on the couch after a long day of chasing kids and wiping butts.
11pm, 2am, and 5am – Middle of the night feedings.
And it starts all over again the next day.
