Operation Find Our New Rhythm

Today marks the first day of trying to get back to "normal".

I make no bones about the fact that I'm not a big fan of the postpartum period.  The pain and discomfort, the hormonal and emotional upheaval, exhaustion, lack of sleep, trying to accustom a new baby to a nursing routine, the overthrow of any rhythm to our days we'd had before... Just a few of the reasons I don't care for this part of child-bearing.  The only thing that makes it all worth it is this sweet, cuddly little soul that snuggles against you with such dependence and confidence in your ability to care for them.  Clearly, this single aspect is wonderful enough to override the others that I'm perfectly willing  to do it again and again.  (And though immediately after Levi's birth, I intimated that I might want to nix the idea of a fourth time, I think I'm already ready to retract that).

Still, it makes me eager to get back into some kind of rhythm, get back to "normal".  Of course, with a newborn, that necessarily means that normal changes.  We now need to fit in regular and frequent feedings into our day, extra diaper changes, another little body to carry up and down the stairs when we go to get dressed, have naps, etc.  With that in mind, I fully expect what I am calling "Operation Find Our New Rhythm" to take at least four weeks, maybe six, seeing us through and even past what would normally constitute a maternity leave (all the time I allow and hope that the "postpartum time" will run).  Nor do I remotely believe it's going to go according to plan.

Instead, I'm taking it a week at a time.  This week?  My goal is to start some light yoga exercises.  No P90X for awhile for me.  Instead, I'm going back to a maternity yoga routine I found on Netflix, hoping to ease my body back towards rigorous exercise after the rigors of childbirth.  After I get the ok from my midwife for a real exercise routine, my intention is to up the ante with Zumba, and then maybe after the new year start P90X again.

It also means trying to accomplish more than survival cleaning.  Our last day in the hospital my sister-in-law and mother-in-law gave us a wonderful gift: they came over and cleaned the house.  We came home and home had never looked more beautiful!  And then we started living here again...  I've not been able to accomplish more than just a bit of picking up here, vacuuming there, getting through just enough dishes to load/unload the diswasher.  Without Nick's help, there would have been a constant pile of dishes by the sink waiting for attention.  Today, I hope to start my cleaning routine again and over the course of the next week or so, get the house more in shape.  I suspect it will be more difficult than I want it to be, seeing as my two toddlers can destroy a room faster than I can clean it.  Still, the point of this week is to start.

Eventually, I'm hoping that we can implement a few new routines that I hope will make our day run more smoothly, as well as prepare us for school activities.  I want to add in some preschool with Eliza and complimentary activities for Simon.  If we hadn't had a baby at the beginning of school time, I would have liked to already be started on this.  But Mr. Bundle-Of-Joy joined us in late August.  We're totally in love with him and have no regrets.  Preschool will just have to start in October.

So, here's to getting started, and hopefully easing into a new normal.