Smells like yogurt

by Veronica on August 14, 2012

in Evelyn

“It smells like yogurt.” Isaac announced this morning. “Smells like yogurt, Mummy.”

“What does mate?”

He looked at me like I was stupid.

“The yogurt does, Mummy.”

Of course. Yogurt smells like yogurt. Isn’t that obvious?

The interesting thing about this exchange was that there was no yogurt to be seen when this announcement occured. I can only imagine what he was actually thinking about.

I’ve got the new mother guilts. Guilt is such a useless emotion, but there it was yesterday, as Nathan cleaned up the backyard in preparation for Spring, and I sat inside with Evelyn on my chest, a cup of tea next to us and a good book on the Kindle.

Logically, this is how the newborn days ought to be spent – but it feels terribly unproductive. Again, logically, feeling unproductive is silly. No amount of cuddling the baby can be considered unproductive.

I didn’t say this was sensible.

It isn’t going to stop me doing exactly the same thing today if I can manage it.

School mornings and having a newborn are brutal. I don’t think mothers of new babies should be allowed to set alarms to wake them up. A baby is a perfectly good alarm and falling back asleep together after the first morning feed seems more than sensible.

Instead, when you’ve got an older child who needs a certain amount of time to get ready, you spend the first morning feed trying to mentally will the baby to hurry up, because if she feeds for another 10 minutes, you’ll spend the next hour running late.

God forbid that the babe also needs a clothing change, or pukes in her cot when you put her back into it.

In any case. School mornings are brutal.

Evelyn is still so tiny. She’s gaining weight beautifully and is losing the scrawny newborn look, but she is still so so tiny.

Last night, I caught myself cursing how big all of our 0000 suits are.

A month ago, I’d been cooing over these same suits, exclaiming how tiny they were.

Perspective shift.

 

 

Sharon A. August 14, 2012 at 9:18 am

OMG, school mornings with a newborn are the PITS!! I really feel for you there:) They say with each subsequent newborn, you have to drop your standard that little bit more. I always hated being told that, but sadly for me, it was true, lol! But you can always raise it a bit as they get bigger. Also, beware of school pickups, babe! In the afternoon, it’s prime time for a poo in the cot that goes alllllll the way up their back. So make sure you check early, and I mean for the whole first year. Sorry.

Kathy August 14, 2012 at 9:30 am

Oh sing it, sister … School mornings kicked my butt from when C was born in Feb 09 til at least term 4 of that year. I never got it quite right and it was my least favourite part of the day.

Jessiebean AKA Thrifty Mama August 14, 2012 at 10:57 am

Oh I am not the best without a newborn (not for long now though- c’mon baby!)…but I have a sort of routine now- I am rather resentful of the whole school thing and having to bend to their timeframes. resist the evil mummy guilt! A large part of your job is sitting on your backside for now.Easier said than done!

tiff August 14, 2012 at 11:42 am

school mornings were almost the death of me when I brought Ivy and Noah home from the hospital. It is no mean feat getting kids to school on time when you have a baby. Sometimes that would be my whole day. I’d come home exhausted. Cups of tea and baby snuggles are the best.

Kate August 14, 2012 at 1:01 pm

She’s beautiful, Veronica. Thanks for sharing her with us.

Marita August 14, 2012 at 1:30 pm

Love the baby photos. I hear you on the guilt, so silly but it shows up anyway.

Sarah August 14, 2012 at 1:48 pm

Im still finding school mornings brutal & we’re five months in. It’s unnatural to get up & rush around when you have a tiny one to look after.

Sim August 14, 2012 at 4:00 pm

I’ve been doing the school run since my youngest was born as I have a step-son I was taking to school every morning. It was a horrific introduction to motherhood as I didn’t get a chance to stay in my pjs all day or let my bubba and I sleep all afternoon. The more children I have the worse the guilt is – as I’m constantly ferrying children from one activity to the next and feel like I’m neglecting the other ones.

river August 14, 2012 at 9:28 pm

I remember that! The tiniest of newborn clothes that were too big on the newborn!
And sitting around reading with a newborn on my chest. That was bliss.

Kaitlyn August 16, 2012 at 3:40 am

I didn’t know 0000 was a clothing size. Absolutely mad!

Rachael August 16, 2012 at 4:04 am

She’s here. Congratulations.

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