The view from my handlebars...: September 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

26 week check in

I finally feel like my core is starting to be less like jello and more like a washboard. I've been doing exercises to address diastasis recti for 2 months now. It's working slowly but surely.

Albert had his 6 month pediatrician appointment. He passed all his milestones. Sat up well. We got samples of vitamin D drops for him so we're starting to add that to his iron-fortified rice cereal that he has for breakfast. He had a solid poop yesterday and it freaked me out.

Last weekend he started babbling mama-mama and it made my heart sink down into my foot. My baby seems like he's starting to acquire language and it seems so soon.

Balancing work and parenting is really stressful. I want to be with Albert all the time, to meet his needs and enjoy spending time with him. I also want to meet my students' needs, to be competent at my job and create a safe space (virtually) where we can be together, be vulnerable, exchange ideas, grow in knowledge, and build community. This is a very big ask!

My dear husband says it's a challenge to be successful at all three of the tasks listed below:

1) deliver quality content

2) answer students' questions

3) monitor students' attention

He said simply, "pick two."

My Fit4Mom gal pals asked just yesterday whether I have a tech TA to assist and the answer is that I was offered one but I didn't realize I would need it until now. Too late.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

22 week check in

Briefly, things are going well. Albert is long and strong. He is 28.5 inches tall, which puts him in the 99th percentile for length. He is average weight (around 50th percentile) and still has a big head (90th percentile) that is mostly round now.

I had a revelation that "my weight gain is partly Albert and his weight gain is partly me." This has helped me be more at peace with my post-baby body. I also still use the affirmation "my baby is healthy, my baby is safe" which helps me navigate this pandemic.

He is waking 4-6 times at night to eat. I have grown to understand that I am an attachment parent. Back-to-school is going to be difficult since I have been attached to Albert for 5 months, 8 if you count my third trimester where I was working from home.

I picked up my copy of Cribsheet today. I had a bookmark stuck in it. Apparently I had read the chapters on coming home from the hospital, breastfeeding, safe sleep, naps, vaccinations, work-life balance, and day care. I had stopped at sleep training. When I picked it up, I knew it was time for the topic.

Also the bookmark I had put there was my instructions from the chiropractor about the time required to heal from a C-section and I also needed to be reminded that I should do no crunches until Albert is 1 year old. Also that it will take 6-9 months after I stop breastfeeding for the relaxin to leave my body.

My dear sister said that I should give it one year plus 5 months, at least that is the advice she gives her athletes.

What I wanted to discuss today is how we are rearranging the house to accommodate zoom spaces and Albert's new toys and the pack and play now that it is no longer a changing table.