2 weeks- Survival Mode

14 days...yep that's 2 weeks. Mollie arrived in our lives 2 weeks ago today! There are so many things you can read up on and be 'prepared' for, but at the same time I feel that us women are a bit duped by each other as not being really upfront with other moms on how HARD these first couple of weeks are on the mom, baby and even dad. I didn't realize 14 days could feel so short, but at times feel so long ago!

I had a great conversation with my mom and friend Jennifer yesterday about how these first couple of weeks are a total whirlwind. The baby is trying to adjust to life in the real world, you are adjusting to caring for another human being 24 hrs a day and yet at the same time, try and live your life as 'normally' as you can nd actually maybe try and FEEL normal. Well, I know our 'normal' is a new normal and could not be more excited about that. When you choose to bring a life into this world, that's what you are signing up for- and I looked down at Mollie this morning and had a happy cry wondering how I have gone this long in my life without her in it.

It didn't even dawn on me that after she would be born that my body would have to take a while to readjust and my hormones would take a while to plateau. During a 9 month pregnancy your hormones are so high, then WHOOSH you have a baby and your hormones go way low. Now..add that to very little sleep, if any and it really doesn't make for a delightful combination- no lie you feel quite like an emotional zombie.
Once you have your long awaited baby there is nothing like it in the world..even the hard times in these past 2 weeks have shown me that unconditional love to our child really does exist and is at times a bit overwhelming and emotion gets the best of me..haha, time & time again! My tear ducts have gotten a great workout:)

I have greatly relied on some of my mom friends these past 14 days with random breastfeeding questions, sleep questions, burst of tears for no apparent reason other than the fact I felt as to having no clue what I was doing! But as I was told by our fabulous pediatrician the day after Mollie was born 'The first two weeks are all about survival- YOU are in survival mode as is the baby.' I have literally said that to myself multiple times each day since then and it has greatly helped. I also heard, "Each day gets better & it will get easier." Again, soooo true, but about day 4 I could seriously not see how that was possible. Having that motivation by friends and family were a huge help.

So on that note, I want us ladies to be encouragement for each other, be able to lean on each other more and most importantly TALK about these hard times that come with a new life..I knew it would be a blessing and love would be abundant with a baby, but I feel like I was not prepared for my body/insides to feel as bad as it did for a whole week plus, that nausea would be my stumbling block and the vicious cycle of lack of eating/sleeping would completely DRAIN me, that my emotions would take over often and I could just cry and cry. The list goes on..this is a juggling act. There is always a ball up in the air & not sure it will ever come down when you have children! The trick is to learn to juggle- I am currently taking lessons, but no pro yet:)