Hello from Méabh and me :)
Well I thought I would get a post in before too much time passes. Hard to believe that we are now in week three of this crazy parenting adventure!
I'll not reflect back too much on my side of the birth story-- Niall did a pretty good job. :) Poor guy, I'd say he was slightly traumatized by the end of it all! While labour was definitely the hardest thing I've ever physically been through, the healing process has been much better than I expected. A little over two weeks on and I am feeling great. I'd even be tempted to go to the gym in a week or two if I continue to feel more like myself! With that said, it's the sleep deprivation that gets me. Praise the Lord, of all the days since Méabh was born, today I feel the most rested! She slept really well last night-- I was up twice at 3:30 am and 6:15 am but went back to bed for a couple of hours both times! Now that I've said that, she'll probably give me a run for my money tonight...
I'm not going to sugar coat things-- the first week was so hard. I was so sore and exhausted. We were home Tuesday evening, and the rest of that first week I barely slept at all... thank goodness my lovely Irish mum was here to help get me through it. No one could have prepared me for the emotional roller coaster I've been on! I won't even begin to try and explain it-- let's just say I've cried more in these past couple of weeks than I ever have before. I'm so grateful for Niall and his big hugs. :)
Having Méabh has reminded me of how many wonderful friends I have here in Belfast. I've had lots of girls coming by, all getting a little cuddle with Méabh and having a cup of tea with me. I'm usually out and about a lot, so being cooped up in my apartment for most of the day can be lonely... all the visits help break up the day and make the week feel not so long.
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| Méabh with Rebecca... |
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| ...and Erin... |
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| ...and Sarah :) |
Some of Méabh's firsts...
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| Méabh's first snow day! |
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| first walk in the Ormeau Park |
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| first passport photo-- I just have to laugh whenever I look at this!! :D She was 6 days old... she'll be a very cultured baby ;) |
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| First bath with mom. She loves being in the warm water... maybe because she was born in it?! |
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| snoozing with Nana |
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| She's always looking out that big window :) |
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| Looking a bit tired... but she's so good about letting mom have her coffee dates :) |
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| Ever since giving birth, my taste for coffee is back! It was on and off while I was pregnant and I only had it a couple of times a week. Now every afternoon I'm craving one... |
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| when mom leaves Méabh with dad... |
We had a lovely weekend in Naas with the Maddens but I might let Niall do a little post about that. Overall, we are doing well and learning something new every day. I am happy to have the first couple of weeks under my belt and I'm falling more in love with Méabh as we get to know each other. I'm really looking forward to having my mom and dad here in just a week and a half... woohoo! :)
I'll end with a few random tidbits about Méabh so you can get to know her a bit too!
* she 'latched on' really well from day one... never a problem breastfeeding this kid! As Niall says, she's a Madden-- she knows how to eat! (thank goodness, because I had no idea what I was doing!)
* she makes really funny faces. My favourite one is right after she's been fed. She always stretches her arms back and lifts her eyebrows while her eyes are closed :)
* she loves warm baths
* she gets the hiccups ALL the time... it is slightly annoying for me because it seems like her whole body is being jolted by them!
* I don't have another baby to compare her to, but I think overall she's pretty mellow. She doesn't really cry during the day unless she's hungry.
* She likes noise. We'll have to get one of those sound machines eventually. Maybe it was all the months of hearing loud coffee grinders, espresso machines, and the buzz of the café while she was in my belly!
* She likes movement. Our pram (stroller) is actually arriving today, I'm so excited! I think she'll love going for walks.
Ok, she's whining now so I'll stop there. Thank you to all who have sent prayers, emails, cards, gifts, etc. over here... I will catch up on getting back to all of you eventually, I promise. It means so so much.
Lots & lots of love,
xo
erin
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