Themed Weekend: Spring Cleaning

spring-cleaningTwo weeks ago today, I was laboring at my kitchen table. Trying to eat the enchiladas that I had just made for dinner. Not knowing that I would be holding my sweet baby girl in my arms 3 1/2 hours later.

Now, I'm sitting here on my couch with a sleeping newborn on my chest. Typing one-handed. Glancing down in awe and wonderment every so often at this beautiful miracle that has overtaken my heart. 

In the past two weeks, I've accomplished a lot. But not the kind of accomplishments you might think. I haven't cleaned the house or baked cupcakes (or even left my house for that matter). But:

  • I DID have a baby. 
  • I AM breastfeeding every 2-4 hours through the day and night (despite the pain). 
  • I HAVE  been out on walks in the neighborhood. 

That's sweet success in my book.

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Amazingly, our house is pretty clean right now - thanks to my hard-working husband. The floors are mopped. The sheets are freshly laundered. And the dishes are put away. 

While I can't ship my husband off to your house to clean this weekend (Sorry! He's all mine!), I am going to provide some tips and products to help you in your quest for a clean home this weekend. Stay tuned!

Now I'm just trying to figure out what I'm going to do when my husband goes back to work on Monday...and leaves me alone with two gorgeous little girls...

one who is extremely active and wants to play all day long...

 big-sister

and one who wants to nurse all day long...

 little-sister

Any suggestions?

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20 comments on “Themed Weekend: Spring Cleaning”

  1. My suggestion is to just do your best but don't sweat the small stuff. Nicki sent me this poem a while back...

    On judgment day
    If God should say
    Did you clean your house today
    I will answer, I did not
    I played with my kids
    I forgot.

  2. Those first few days when it was just the 3 of us all day long I just decided if I accomplished one thing a day it was a successful day. That one thing definitely included getting a shower!

    Those first few weeks we also relied a lot on PBS which we later had to wean off of. It's great if you're able to get together with other friends who have kids who can occupy the older one or if you have a friend with a older daughter (like 7 or so) who might like to come over and play for a couple of hours so you can get something done or just sit and relax.

  3. Well, if the weather is warm enough I say go to the park and let the little one nurse while the older one plays. But you know your kids best. You'll figure something out. :)

  4. You're doing a great job mama! I can honestly say that I was 100X more terrified of being alone for the first time with two kids than I was with just one. Terrified really doesn't even cover it.

    My suggestion is this:
    Figure out what parts of your old daily routine can and should be modified to make your "new normal" easier. For instance, I was still letting Clark eat breakfast in his high chair every morning and it took me a week or so to realize he needed to start eating in a chair he could get himself in to because I my arms were now full of baby sister. I also learned how to nurse in a carrier which was enormously helpful! It took a TON of trial and error, but made life much easier!

  5. I had a 3 1/2 year-old daughter when my youngest daughter was born. We made nursing time story time. She actually looked forward to nursing time and would have books lined up for feedings all day long. It is just as easy to play a board game or do puzzles. Good Luck!

  6. aww!! congrats first of all.Now to the hard stuff.What works for me is having a set schedule.she would not be able to have a pattern until she about 3to 4 months.Until then ask as many close family you are comfortable with to help you a bit.Congrats again :)

  7. I agree, very successful week! :)

    My suggestion? A housekeeper. I know it's a luxury, but there are sooooo many other things I would do without in order to afford a housekeeper twice a month. Babies are a full-time job, and on the weekend when my husband is home, I want us hanging out together, not scrubbing the sink. If it's at all possible, that's what I prioritize in the budget.

  8. One tip given to me was to have a basket of books right by the couch or chair where you usually plop down to nurse. Then ask Big Sister to snuggle in for some reading time. Sometimes she won't want to, and that's fine, but when she's feeling needy, being close and reading books together sure helped us both feel better.

  9. my sling was a life saver when my 2nd daughter was born, and i made lists of 2/3 things a day I needed to do, that way I wasn't as overwhelmed!! I don't wnat to be annoying but it will get much easier soon... ahh i said it!! lol Congrats again!! Sounds like you are doing fantastic!

  10. perfect topic for me this week - we're having my nieces and nephew over for a sleepover next weekend and I have to get my house all cleaned up and ready for them!

  11. My best suggestion? Learn to live with a little mess. I just decided that only the things that HAD to happen would. The time for recovery and with my little ones was too important to worry about the kitchen floor not being mopped.

    For those things you have to do? Slings and asking for help.

  12. "Any suggestions?" Hahahahaha! No.

    If there was an answer to how to meet all your children's needs and keep them happy and keep mom happy all the time, I'd have a dozen kids. I'd venture to say that you're going to have a few rough moments, but you'll do a darn good job of it and figure out what works for you and your family, and have happy well adjusted kids to top it off.

    By the way, thank you so much for your sweet comments on my blog recently. I am so blown away that you took the time (and had the clarity of mind) to do that after just having a baby! It's been over a year since my last baby and I'm still waiting for my clarity of mind to return.....!

  13. Ooooh! This weekend post comes right in the middle of my nesting efforts. Perfect!

    And when you figure out how to handle a 2-year-old and a newborn all by yourself all day long please send the info to me. I'm still trying to imagine how it's all going to go down.

  14. Sling, sling, sling!

    (And are your nipples still sore? Please call your local LLL Leader: go here http://www.lllofaz.org/ and navigate to your area on the left. It could be normal, or it could be something that could improve with attention.)

  15. Babies are portable and easily amused. She gets precedence when she's nursing, but otherwise she can go wherever you want to go with the active one. In your arms while you play bubbles outside, in a bouncy chair next to you while you play ball, on your lap or the floor while you play house or kitchen. She won't notice that she's not playing, she'll just know that she's near Mommy and Sister and that's where she wants to be.

    Also, enlist big sister to help with little sister so she doesn't feel left out when you're nursing. Ask her to bring you a blanket or some water or a book (even if you don't really need it; she doesn't have to know that, but it involves her in the process). And cuddle big sister as much as you can when you're not holding little sister so that she doesn't think her place in your arms has been replaced. You've got room for both of them in your heart, your arms, your lap, and your family. <3

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