I've been working some still, and let me tell you, it's awful to be gone from my baby all day, let alone all day and all night and most of the next day when I had a birth this weekend. By the time I got home Saturday afternoon, Pinecone had forgotten how to latch on and nurse properly, and I was feeling so sensitive and disconnected from my family that I cried over everything S said in relation to PC. I felt like he knew her better than I did, but I'm the mom, and I'm supposed to be the one who knows her so well.....
We decided to take advantage of his 12 weeks of FMLA by having me work part-time. PC came sooner than we expected, and we didn't save up the money for his 12 weeks, so if I keep my clients due this summer and then go on full-time leave when he goes back to work in October, then we should be able to financially make it work. I am all for this idea because I want him to have this time with PC, and when I am home, he can be working on homestead projects that have been weighing on us for years. Really, with a 9-5 government job, when else can he have 12 weeks to get stuff done around the place?
But I hate being on call with Pinecone here. The phone rings, and (gasp) I have to answer it. There are only a few births on the horizon, but this last one shook my confidence in our plan. We've decided to see how the next few weeks go, and if we need to make a change in plans, we will. And I'll keep my eye on the prize ..... come October I'm on leave indefinitely.
Such a joy to make plans for Christmas to go spend it with family, without worrying about who I have due and who will cover my practice. I just get to go enjoy my holiday like every other normal person.
But really, this post was supposed to be about how wonderful my husband is, not my work life. But they are connected. He is so wonderful with PC, he understands her needs, and cares for her like a pro. Our current schedule includes me doing night shift, then him taking over at about 6 am - giving her a bottle while I sleep in. He does lots of massage of her belly and her limbs. Then in the Baby Bjorn she goes and they go out for a walk with the dogs. He wakes me up when she's ready to eat again, around 9 or 10 am. When I'm home she's mostly with me, but bounces between the 2 of us depending on whose hands are free. When I'm gone, he's full-time baby-man. And he's awesome. He's reading all the baby and attachment parenting books I brought home from work. He's talking about ways to stimulate her mind. He keeps complaining that he needs a sling!
I knew he'd be a great dad. I just didn't realize how great he'd be to a newborn.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I can imagine how hard it is to be away from her, but how wonderful that your DH is so capable! It sounds like you have a great plan where both of you will get some quality time with her while she's still tiny. :)
Wow, Evergreen, I'm impressed with your spouse! To find a man who's amazing with a newborn is a rare and wonderful thing indeed.
I can only imagine how hard it is to be away from Pinecone, though. I'll be thinking of you and sending you wishes for your upcoming births to go fairly quickly so you don't have to spend too long away from her. Of course it is good to know she's in good hands, but it is hard on the heart to be parted from this little being you have wished for for so long.
Good luck figuring it all out - I have been thankful a thousand times over for the precious, uninterrupted time I have with Charlie right now and your post brings that back yet again.
I can relate to your feelings about your husband! It is amazing to watch the man you love finally becoming Daddy, isn't it? We are so very blessed!
Melba
I imagine it is so hard, but how wonderful that your DH is having this invaluable bonding time with her. So many men find it hard to bond with newborns. I think yall are doing great :)
Sounds like things are going really well! It's wonderful that Pinecone will have this time with him now to cement that relationship before he goes back to a 9-5 job. And beyond fantastic that he is so capable and willing and into it! Get that man a sling!
Post a Comment