What's next? Finding our rhythm...

Tomorrow Dylan will be 2 months old...I can't believe how fast this is going!

Dylan is extra sweet in the morning...here's one of his good morning smiles. 

Dylan's eyelashes have been filling in...so cute!

I read a lot before Dylan arrived. I read about:

*Trying to conceive
(What to expect Before You’re Expecting & Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Plan)

*Pregnancy
(Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy & What to Expect When You’re Expecting)

*Labor & delivery
(Baby Catcher & Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth)

*Breastfeeding
(Unbuttoned: Women Open Up about the Pleasures, Pains and Politics of Breastfeeding, The Nursing Mother’s Companion & Breastfeeding Made Simple) 

*How to soothe your infant 
(The Happiest Baby on the Block)

I read 10 books!!!

And I am still going! I am currently reading the following books…

Bring Up Bebe, One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting and

Everyday Blessings, the Inner Work of Mindful Parenting

I also watched movies…

Babies & The Business of Being Born

I read countless blogs…and probably watched hundreds of youtube videos on topics like cloth diapering (comparisons & how-to’s), what’s essential in the first months, diy cloth wipes solution (which I have been making and using), I actually watched videos of live births of all kinds! Natural, at-home, water births…I cried every time.

I love how expressive he is with his eyebrows! And from this angle, the double chin makes an appearance! 

I was one prepared mommy-to-be in regards to breastfeeding and labor & delivery. However, I did not research what happens after the baby arrives. I mean, I knew the basics of what to expect…sleepless nights and a lot of eating, diapering & napping, but the in’s & out’s of what you do with a developing human who only stays awake for a couple hours at a time has been a bit a mystery to me. (Don’t worry, I ordered a book! The Rookie Mom’s Handbook).

So after my folks left, we started to focus on finding a routine, both for myself and for Dylan. I never thought I’d say this, but all of us being home together 5 days a week is a bit challenging…mostly because Fuad needs to work, and I want to talk to him all day, I want him to come and look at every little face Dylan makes, I want him to play with us…so we're working on work/play boundaries. 

We’re in the process of finding our rhythm, finding routine & structure in the (unpredictable at times) day of a 2 month old.

Something that I know about myself is that I love structure…my 13 years as an elementary music teacher have been filled with days that follow a very predictable schedule & rhythm. I watch the clock constantly in order to pace my 40-45 minute lessons appropriately.

If only I knew how long Dylan will nap in the morning verses the afternoon…then I could better choose which activities I’d like to get done for myself! What if he had an indicator button, and when he naps it tells me "this will be a 2 hour nap"?

For those of you interested. Here’s the basics of what we have worked out so far...

Interesting faces...looks so much like Daddy!

Dylan has been hitting the hay around 8:00pm. We have a bedtime routine of a bath, every other night a massage then I feed him, swaddle him and lay him down, he goes to sleep and stays asleep until 2 or 3 am! After about 2 weeks of this routine, I feel it’s safe to say that once he’s down, he doesn’t get up until he’s ready to eat (knock on wood).

The early morning isn’t as predictable, but we’re shooting for a 7am wake up, he’s usually pretty close, today it was 6ish, and the sun was coming out. I told myself we can’t get out of bed in the dark, and he’s falling withing those guidelines so I’m ok with it!

When ever he gets up in the morning, he’s very alert and sooo very happy for about 2 hours, we hang out & eat, then he’s down for a morning nap, these last about 2 hours, but he has slept longer a few times. During this morning nap, I wash the cloth diapers and practice yoga.

So far the rest of the day is still needing a little more structure, but we eat & play & nap until it’s time to start all over again!

Last week Fuad returned to work in Bangkok, he leaves early Tuesday morning and returns late Wednesday night. That leaves Dylan, Baxter & I on our own for 2 full days and overnight. Last week I was pretty worked up about how it would feel...I'm grateful I asked for help and had some friends join me for dinner (thanks Abby & Liz!) and the next day a friend came over for a ukulele lesson (thanks Beth!) and tonight I have another dining companion (thanks Sara!) So it doesn't feel lonely and since Dylan & I left the house today for a mini outing to the park I'm not stir crazy at all!
I just have to remember that this is a process...and to stay patient (mostly with myself).