Postpartum Vlog: Prairie Moon, Week 7

WHAT WEEK?
7

HOW BIG IS BABY?
10lbs/4.5kg! I went to check how much the other babies weighed and they were 2.5lbs more than Prairie at this same age. Mark asked me if I thought that was concerning (hehe for those who know Mark that’s a very normal question from him!) but she’s about the 30th percentile which is where she was when she was born so for her that’s a really normal weight gain.

WHAT’S SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK?
Being here in LA has meant adjusting to a different time zone, Poet was up and at em numerous times throughout the first few nights, coughing and waking Prairie up a bunch. Aside from some jetlag woes it’s been so lovely being back here with the gang.

MOST CHALLENGING MOMENT?
Mark's grandma is really sick and will be transitioning over soon, really any day now so that’s taken an emotional toll on Mark, he’s had a really hard time with it and feels a bit rocked. We love you Geri!

SOMETHING YOU LOVED THIS WEEK?
I have loved so many different moments of this week! All being together playing, swimming in the pool, cuddling on the couch, going to our favourite restaurants. All the smiles, coos, and snuggles from Prairie have made us all feel so joyous too.

MAMA TIME?
The first couple of days I really settled us in with my unpacking regiment which usually consists of a whole heaping of kombucha, true-crime podcast binges, making a huge pile of “to give away” clothes, and a general bummer feeling of “we need more closet space” ha! Those few days led me to enlist the help of my friend Amber to redecorate our home and offer up suggestions on how to maximize space and where to upgrade furnishings.

This all feels like Mama time to me! Such an exciting project to embark on.

WHAT AM I EATING?
I’m eating avocado and cream cheese bagels (vegan), teriyaki vegan chkn, vegan sushi, drinking lots of juices and smoothies (thanks Lovewell), pizza!

WHAT’S WORKING?
Our cheap 8-year-old Fisher and Price swing has been working its magic! All our babies have loved that swing and Prairie is no different, I wrap her up in a blanket and put her in there and I get to have a second to either have a bath, get some work done or do some chores around the house. She falls asleep in the swing and other than being with me and Mark it’s her favourite place to be, I think it’s because the kids sit in front of the swing and make her smile, song her songs, etc. It’s very cute.

MY BODY?
My body feels tired, soft, and a little depleted. I’m looking forward to having the time to work out again. Poet has upped the nursing now (all that yummy new milk!) so I know that with her added nursing I have to replenish myself even more. I’m feeling pretty tired given the jetlag and Prairie having a little bout of diarrhoea so she’s been a bit fussier in the early morning hours. I’m trying to enjoy this sleep now (even if broken) because my babies really suffer from the 4-month sleep regression!

CHECKING IN
Feeling a bunch of things really! happy, grateful, tired and inspired. I’m excited to dive into work opportunities, to redesign my house, to focus on building financially (finally learning about investing!), planning for the future and getting to a place of feeling really fit and healthy. There’s a lot to look forward to and yet so much to enjoy presently too. When the news reports are bleak and the outside noise is scary, when we see separatism and judgements from all sides it can be hard to find the silver linings but they’re there when you look for them. Hoping that wherever you’re reading this you’re able to find moments of happiness, relief and respite in the uncertainty of everything.