So many lessons in the lessons

Motherhood is really an amazing experience. I don't mean amazing in the sense of puppies and rainbows. It's not glamorous and it is definitely hard. Sometimes really hard. I mean amazing in the sense that no two days are the same. That when you feel like you are in the thick of a problem, before you know it, it's over. And then there is some new challenge to get through. I really feel like motherhood should be something you put on a resume. It requires a lot - patience, fortitude, optimism, strength, courage, and determination. I've been to college, grad school, worked some tough, demanding jobs, and this, I must say, is in a class all it's own.

I hope I don't sound all negative and worn out. Because I don't feel that way at all. I just think it is so interesting how there is this whole other side of life that you just cannot experience until you are in it. You can read books, you can talk to other mamas, you can imagine what it might be like... but it just won't be anything like what you've imagined. That is at least how I experience it. It's harder, it's tougher, it's better, it's sweeter. It requires a lot, but the payoff and celebration are huge.

I just wanted to get that "on paper" because I don't want to forget how this feels. They say once your kids are growing up, you forget what the early days were like. I guess if god didn't design in that way, you'd never go for number 2! So while I don't mind forgetting the sleepless nights and inconsolable cries, I want to remember that I went through this and what it felt like.

So, moving on - what have we been up to? The good, the bad, and the ugly -

The Good

-Maya's skin is SO much better. I am so happy.

-She is finally sleeping in her crib! Last night was night one, and she did really well! Woohoo!

-I am quite positive that I found a nanny. What a relief. She will be living here 4 days a week (and 3 nights) once I go back to work. Since I only go back in January, we'll start having her come two days a week (and stay over one night) in about 2 weeks, just so we all can get used to the situation. The lady I found is in her mid-fifties, from Bolivia, and very warm and nice. I really got good energy from her. She was extremely well organized, came with all her paperwork and references (all very positive), can drive, and will be happy to clean and cook. Can I say "score!"?

The Bad

-Sleeping. We still haven't got this thing figured out. I would say that on average, Maya is up 3-4 times a night. This may be normal, but it makes for one exhausted mama! I wouldn't mind so much if she got up to eat, went back to sleep for a few hours, only to wake to eat again. But what she does is get up to eat, then go back to sleep for an hour, and then wake again. It may just be a phase that she is going through, but she is a restless sleeper. My mom says I was the same way. The silver lining is that she goes down at about 8 pm (after much struggle), so H and I have some free time at night... and even if I bring her into bed with us in the morning, I can rest with her until about 8-9am. So even though my sleep is extremely fragmented, I still end up with anywhere from 6-7 hours of sleep a night. So that's not too bad.

-I can't get this girl to be happy in a carrier. I am so sad about this. I've tried her in the Moby numerous times, and unless I am doing something very wrong, she just isn't happy in it. I think she just feels too constricted. I'm going to try some other carriers - Beco, Ergo - to see if she likes those more.

The Ugly

-I am having Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with all of H's family. Sigh. It will be fine, but it makes me sad not to be with my mom or my sister. My mom is in Israel and my sister is visiting our two best childhood girlfriends in Texas. I'll be eating Tofurkey with the hippiefied portion of H's family - kill me now.

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And, just because a post isn't a post without pictures, here are some sweet gems that my sister took of Maya at lunch the other day. So presh, if I do say so myself!









Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!