Postpartum Vlog: Prairie Moon, Week 12

WHAT WEEK?
12 weeks! 3 months postpartum

HOW BIG IS BABY?
13lbs

WHAT’S SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK?
She is laughing here and it’s just gorgeous! It’s still hard to get her laughing, I try pulling many faces and saying different things, saying Boo and doing hide and seek but when the laugh comes out it’s glorious! I think she is by far our smiliest baby, it’s constant! We also can’t handle how cute her little tongue is, she always sticks it out.

MOST CHALLENGING MOMENT?
There was a day this week where I was doing school drop off, Lovewell content videos, helping Bodhi with his schoolwork, trying to measure things in the house for our redesign etc. So it was BUSY and I felt time poor but it was only for one day and once I got a bunch more ticked off my to-do list everything chilled out. Also the long car trips with Prairie crying are hard, I feel so bad that I can’t comfort her. Even when I pull over, cuddle and nurse her, the moment I put her back in she cries. She knows all too well that it means time away from her mama and strapped down!

SOMETHING YOU LOVED THIS WEEK
I have to say in general life is feeling really super blissful, the middle kids are happy & thriving in their little homeschool community school, Isaac is loving his Bar Mitzvah prep, Bodhi is enjoying having one on one time with us, Prairie is the most chill, happy little babe and work stuff is going great. This weekend we had the most soul enriching time with the Olsen’s at the Beach, we love their kids so much and we all parent in such a similar way. I’ve been craving Olsen time and it couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Esme and Forest really connected and Poet was folded in to the mix with them all. Wyatt and Bodhi have always been amazing friends and B just loved spending time with his pal again. Winter is the cutest munchkin in all the land and she toddled around with the others. I had many pinch me moments and just really thought, friends, soulful conversation, kids connecting and nature are the things that make me the happiest!

MAMA TIME?
My daily hikes are everything to me right now. They really help me feel fitter and also give me great solo time to be with my thoughts. I also love feeling Prairie next to my chest all snuggled in close. It’s challenging walking up- 35 minutes of strenuous activity and then walking down I take a little slower. It’s really been serving my soul and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to carve out that daily time for myself.

WHAT AM I EATING?
Avocado toast, hot reishi cacao drink, green juices, Lovewell chocolate smoothies, papaya salad, sweet potato, quesadilla, vegan cheese dip and crackers, vegan sushi and pasta!

WHAT’S WORKING?
The kids have now been in their homeschool for 2 weeks and they’re just thriving. My littles have really bonded with a few kids at their school and they go running into the home whenever we pull up, a sign that they’re having a great time there! Having Forest and Poet in school 3 x per week (and they get to be together!) means I have time to work without feeling bad about being on my phone. I also get more concentrated Bodhi time and can get these hikes in! Wednesdays are our fun family activity day. So there’s been quite a bit of structure to our week which helps me be able to plan play dates and other activities. Loving the predictability of the week. It’s so nice having mum here too and seeing how the kids positively impact her and vice versa. My heart feels very full.

MY BODY?
I’ve dropped a couple of pounds since my daily hikes, I’m still 5lbs away from my pre pregnancy weight (116lbs) but I really love my voluptuous thighs/hips, things are a little rounder, certainly softer and I love this shape, my little wrinkled belly button will forever remind me of my 4 beautiful babes. It’s nice to start feeling stronger again and I really appreciate my body for being able to grow these babies and feed them too and boy is there demand for milk right now! Poet is constantly wanting to nurse (I’m trying to limit her to 3-4 x per day) and Prairie is always nursing on demand, so I’m feeling extra appreciative of all my body does to nurture these babes!

CHECKING IN:
This is the last postpartum journal entry for awhile, I’ll do another at 6, 9 and 12 months as well as updates at 18 months & 2 years. Thank you to everyone who came on this journey with me, I loved reading your comments and input. The time has really passed rapidly and I’m embracing all the amazing ways in which Prairie is growing. She is my dream baby and I thank god/universe/source for bringing her in. Her addition in our lives has brought indescribable happiness. We recognise that we are blessed beyond belief. I want to wish all of you abundant health, happiness, peace and inspiration in your lives.