29.05.09
Posted in Projects at 4:21 pm by Sarah
I was browsing through my sewing and craft books last week when I realised that Mum’s birthday was on the weekend… so last minute sewing it was.
I managed to find an old jumpsuit that Mum had put together years and years ago and never used. She had given it to me so I could use the fabric. I realised that it could easily be converted into a 50’s style apron and started cutting it up. I added some panels on the side and ties using an old cotton sheet (feels incredible!!) and sewed on some felt applique.. and done!
Kindly modelled by my Mum 
Then my bible study had a craft night about which I was unhealthily excited. The lady organising it had piles and piles of scrap booking materials. We were decorating A5 books .. which doesn’t sound too thrilling… but it was fun searching through the paper and ribbon and stamps trying to find the exact right colour combination and style. Double sided tape was our bestest friend. I found it funny to craft with others because I tend to be quick when I make something and slap it together without measuring much.. I just guess proportions. Others were perfectionists, and needed to measure everything and line it up to the nearest micromil.
Anyway this is what I ended up with – I was pretty happy with it.. considering it doesn’t take a huge amount of effort to make.
Next will probably be some more interior decorating.. been watching too much homeMADE!
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21.05.09
Posted in Micah at 11:15 pm by Sarah
Apologies for all the posts on parenting… but as it takes up 80% of my brain space at the moment… hopefully I can be forgiven.
Micah is now 2 months old. He’s smiling, gooing and responding alot more when you talk to him. He’s gone from 000’s to 00’s.. (although it does depend on the brand of clothes). He settles easier now we know how. He loves his dummy for sleep time. He even has a favourite book – ‘Where is the Green Sheep?’… he smiles and goos whenever I read it to him. Although he is also partial to Paddington Bear!
I am loving how we get to see his personality shine more and more brilliantly. He has a new facial expression every day, a new sound to make, and new hurdles to cross.
Being a parent to a baby in the first few months is similar to the first few months of pregnancy where there is a huge learning curve. Pregnancy is more learning about how your body will change, how the baby will grow inside you etc. Parenting is learning about a new little person who is an individual.. who won’t necessarily react to life in the same way other babies do. You are learning about each other.. learning new skills, like feeding and sleeping and taking a bath.
Thing start becoming very automatic. Changing a nappy becomes a fine art. You must do it correctly or risk a leakage… usually on freshly laundered clothes – yours and his! Efficiency is also crucial – especially with a grumpy screaming child. And you also have to guard against ‘accidents’! Haoran and I calculated that between us we had changed about 700 nappies so far… that’s just crazy talk – and that’s only the beginning!
Also… the time during which Micah is sleeping is incredibly sacred. Choosing how to use that time must be done wisely. Housework invariably needs to be done.. if it isn’t done it annoys me now.. perhaps because of the increased amount of time I spend in the house! Facebooking happens whenever there is a spare few minutes… connection with the outside world is important. I like to get on the WiiFit as often as I can… not so often of late.. Enjoyable pastimes like sewing comes down the list – as does blogging. Time with Haoran.. playing board games and bible reading… is especially special now. This is all interspersed with the great production of Going Out… which is becoming a easier as time goes on.
A good example of prioritising happened this morning when I felt like I was coming down with something.. and felt exhausted after a tough night with Micah. The house was a bit messy and we were expecting a visitor for lunch. But in the end the housework waited while we both slept. And it was worth it.
Socialising is another thing that’s changed. I have tried to limit going out to once a day so as not to unsettle Micah too much and tire me out as well. This doesn’t always happen and it usually ends up badly . Going out with Micah during the evening just doesn’t work for us right now either. I would like to say yes to everything… but sometimes it’s wiser not to in the long run. In the last week or so I’ve managed to get out by myself a couple of times – and Micah even got babysat by the grandparents one evening! And although the time out is appreciated… I still end up worrying about him anyway. I suspect this will be an ongoing feeling!
And so the learning curve continues…
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06.05.09
Posted in Micah at 2:16 pm by Sarah
We’ve hit 6 weeks now… has it really been that long? Well it must have been because Micah has grown heaps in that short time.. and weighs 1.5 kg heavier! The midwife reminded me today of what she said when we first met when Micah was 2 weeks old – that there is a honeymoon period.. and then it gets tough.
I’ve been feeling it over that last week as we’ve been struggling with settling techniques, having a blocked duct and more recently, Micah getting reflux. It’s been up and down with a really good day followed by a horrid one… or just a few bad days in a row.
The good days are heaven. You feel like perhaps you’ve settled into this motherhood thing.. in fact, it’s a piece of cake! Your child is the best baby in the world and sleeps when he’s supposed to and is happy when he’s awake.You have some nice play time, maybe read a book or sing a song… and it’s all happiness and roses.
Then there’s the horrid. The baby is unsettled all day and he screams whenever you put him down. You start to think maybe you’re not so good at this… what did I do wrong? Am I starting bad habits when I pick him up when he’s crying? Maybe he’s sick? And you start down a guilt spiral that’s difficult to recover from.
I often wondered why mums were so cliquey before I became one. Now I am starting to understand. Because there are certain things that you need to get off your chest… things that other mums KNOW about. Not that friends who weren’t mums wouldn’t understand. I just think I would rather talk to another mum than whinge to a childless friend. Because I imagine they are thinking ‘You got yourself into this.. you chose to be a mum.. so suck it up!’.
The best part about whining to other mums is that they remind you of one very important thing: it DOES get better. Once you hit 3 months (or 6 if you’re unlucky) .. things start falling into place. It’s a good thing to remember and push on towards.
And for now, we’ll enjoy the good days and love Micah through the bad ones.
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