A Day in the Life of a New Mom

First of all, I’m still weirded it out that I am the mother of a human being. Of course, I’m still mama to Kuma but I can’t just leave Ben at home unattended while I go see a movie. Totally different life now and I’m slowly adjusting.

I’m sure people who don’t have little ones at home wonder, “What does Jen do all day?” Well, let me give you a peek into my exciting world.

Early Morning (between 6-8am): He wakes up, I feed him. I put him back down to sleep. He then proceeds to wake up 15-30 minutes later. Bob gets him, changes him, pacifies him and tries to get him back to sleep. He is the one who gets him because I’m ready to throw myself out the window if I don’t get some sleep. Of course, nothing soothes him so I take him and he sleeps in bed with me.

Morning (between 8-11am): He wakes up, I feed him and change him. He is now awake and is looking around. I have just enough time to put my contacts in and change, maybe go to the bathroom. We go downstairs and I try to talk to him but really, what do you talk about to someone who doesn’t understand you or answers you? I put him in his bouncer seat as I find something quick to eat. Then he starts getting fussy.

I put him in the ring sling and wear him around the house like an accessory. It knocks him out.

Noon to early afternoon (between 12-3pm): He wakes up, I feed him and change him. He goes back to sleep. I sit on the couch, grateful that my arms aren’t full of baby at the moment. I don’t have the energy to clean the house. This is also the time where I would scrounge for something substantial to eat. Cheez-Its, probably.

Afternoon (between 3-6pm): He wakes up, I feed him and change him. I try to keep him up because I would rather he sleep at night than during the day. But that doesn’t seem to work. He falls back asleep. The little shit. I start putzing around the house, trying to see if I can accomplish anything. I make lists that I don’t cross off, I start to clean a table and get distracted. Your brain doesn’t seem to function very well when it’s consumed by baby.

Early Evening (between 6-9pm): Bob is home. Ben wakes up, I feed him, Bob changes him. Now the night shift has started in which Bob will take care of the diaper changes while I take care of the feedings. This also begins his fussy period where nothing makes him happy unless it’s mama that holds him. He fusses when grandma holds him, he fusses when daddy holds him. He doesn’t fuss as much when mommy holds him. I do get to eat dinner though because my mom cooks it for me most nights. It’s very nice.

Evening (between 9pm-12am): We start his nighttime routine in which I feed him in low lighting, we don’t interact with him that much, Bob changes him and soothes him to sleep. I am finally able to take a shower, wash my face, brush my teeth and settle down to go to bed because I know I’m on the graveyard shift with him.

Dead of Night (between 12-6am): He wakes up, I feed him and change him. I don’t make eye contact with him. I swaddle him, turn on the white noise machine and then try to rock him back to sleep. Sometimes it’ll take 15 minutes for him to fall asleep, sometimes 45 minutes. Either way, I’m thinking in my head, “Go the fuck to sleep!” but in the most lovingly of tones.

And then the routine repeats again. Aren’t you jealous? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Of course, there are slight variations to the day. I do venture out every once in a while with Ben, either walking or meeting up with Krissy and Max. But overall, it’s the same.

So, when I post entries and it’s primarily about Ben, it’s because I HAVE NOTHING ELSE GOING ON IN MY LIFE!