This time around we didn’t get many sleepy baby pictures because Killian chose that day to be more wide awake then he has been before or since. I was mostly interested in some family pictures (which we got) and sibling pictures (which we got on a makeup day since Helen Jeanette also chose picture day to be uncharacteristically out of sorts)–I’m still waiting for those proofs. I’m happy with he family pictures we got, although none of them have big genuine Helen Jeanette smiles, I’m hoping the sibling pictures will.

Yesterday Killian was 1 week old and today marks 1 week since we brought him home. Today was also his due date and it’s kind of crazy to think I could still be pregnant right now and it wouldn’t even be much of a stretch!

This last week has been a bit of a blur and also really long at the same time. All 4 of us are trying to establish the new normal.

Helen Jeanette has been very positive towards Killian, smiling and saying ‘baby!’ every time she sees him. Just this morning she started calling him ‘Key’ which I love. Despite all this her little world has just been rocked and she’s definitely displaying some confusion and has been testing all the rules and throwing a lot of tantrums. We’ve been a little lax with things (such as how much juice she’s allowed, usually 1 juice box a week) but we’re trying to get back to a routine, even if it is a different one then before Killian. I’m optimistic that she will settle into life with a new brother and be happier then ever soon. She continues to be a sleeping champ and has only woken up in the night once since we brought Killian home, despite the fact that his crib is right on the other side of her wall.

Killian is a very sleepy and hungry baby. He loves to sleep on us during the day but at night he is happy to be swaddled and have a pacifier between feedings. When Helen Jeanette was his age she could go for 4-5 hour stretches at night but Killian wants to eat every 2.5 hours and he usually loses his pacifier and cries for it at least once between feedings. He’s a pro at generating laundry in the night (or day) by spitting up or peeing everywhere.

Chris was home for a week and spent a lot of time playing with Helen Jeanette and got a good amount of housework/cleaning/organizing/baby proofing done. He went back to work yesterday but he continues to get up a lot in the night to retrieve pacifiers or change diapers. He’s an incredibly supportive husband and father.

My recovery this time around has been slightly complicated by a uti and some intense engorgement. Neither of these are a big deal but they are very uncomfortable and led to several nights where I couldn’t sleep (in addition to night feedings). I took the weekend to try to beat the uti naturally, went to the doctor for antibiotics Tuesday, and am going back today for a shot since the antibiotics didn’t work. I’ve had someone home to help me every day and I’m trying to give Helen Jeanette the attention she craves but I’ve also spent a lot of time reading and cuddling/feeding Killian.

Overall things are going well and we are so excited and thankful to be a family of 4.

Helen Jeanette helping bathe Killian.

Something about a new baby brings out my selfie instinct, it’s sometimes the only way to get a picture that isn’t also a boob shot.

Today was our first day with just the 4 of us (although we still had people stop by and bring dinner) and I think things went well! We certainly didn’t accomplish much but we made it through without anyone getting hurt or falling asleep and neglecting babies.

There are several things I had forgotten about the newborn stage.

1) How long it takes to breastfeed a new born. I feel like I’m not doing anything else. A good session can easily take an hour with burping and diaper change and then he might want to eat again an hour after he finishes. So far his cluster feeds have been in the middle of the night which is not ideal, but hopefully tonight will be better.

2) How no matter how tired I am I need to decompress for a period anytime I lie down. Chris has a talent for falling asleep immediately and when he’s as tired as he has been the last couple days he can also sleep through a lot of noise. I am envious of this talent. It may work out though because Chris has his deepest sleeps in the early night hours and I have mine in the early morning hours, so he can generally let me sleep in.

3) How the first couple times when I’m in public without the baby it seems like people are being rude. In reality they’re just not going out of their way to be super helpful since I’m no longer pregnant. I’d gotten so used to pregnancy attention I forgot what it’s like to receive regular attention from strangers!

We’re still learning a lot about the differences parenting two babies (2 under 2!) but these are the things I had already known but forgotten. Possibly many more left to remember!

This afternoon/evening was a bit of a rough start at home but we’re optimistic that with a little sleep tonight things will go better in the morning!