Back to work: looking after myself...

I don't get enough sleep. I drink more coffee than I would like. I probably don't eat enough vegetables. I don't take the time to stretch or strengthen my muscles.

And I'm now working and Jimmy is still breastfeeding.

And I have a cold. It's not a bad one, the one I had while Grandma was here was worse, but I've still had to take time off work. There is a little of the changing seasons involved, putting another stress on my body, but it is the second cold I've had in a month and that's not cool.

So, what can I do? I can start by looking after me. As far as balancing my needs and my role as a mum, I think I have a fairly healthy balance (but I could still do with more sleep). Adding work into the mix has shaken things up and I need to rethink things.

Last week we started with Jimmy's night-time breastfeeding, mostly in response to two sleepless nights were I swear he spent more time feeding than sleeping and I don't sleep while he's breastfeeding, it just doesn't happen anymore. With Michael's help and support Jimmy is down to one night time feed, which happens around 3-4 am (I'm not including the bedtime breastfeeding or the first-thing-in-the-morning breastfeeding). The first few nights were rough, but now Jimmy is happy to have hugs when he wakes around midnight and he goes back to sleep. I'm calling it a win, but that 3-4 am breastfeed needs to go too... but it can wait a few more days.

Next on the list is my bedtime... I remember being good about sticking to a bedtime in highschool, but my parents might tell a different story. Whatever routine I had went out the window in the first few years of university and I just haven't managed to stick to a reasonable bedtime. It's always after 11 pm and it hasn't been working. Not for a very long time. Longer than I would like to admit. I went to bed a little after 10 pm last night, and it was good. A 10 pm bedtime is the dream, there is something magic about that number, at least in my head, and I'm beginning to think I really, really need to make it a priority and goal.

So, reducing Jimmy's night-time breastfeeding and going to bed earlier will help me get more sleep (and reduce my coffee intake somewhat). Now, for the veggies...

When I was at home, looking after Jimmy, we ate the same things, not always balanced but I think I was eating more as a stay-at-home-mum than I have been of late. There's point in the afternoons when I start getting sugar cravings, or protein cravings, and I'm hungry. I have been using coffee to fill this gap. Coffee with creamer... and it's a little gross. Tasty but gross. And when I get home and open the fridge, I see our jar of kimchi and all I can think about is hot rice, runny eggs, soy sauce, and kimchi. After eating about three bowls of rice, kimchi, and boiled eggs yesterday I think I have the craving quenched, but the combination now set to become my work afternoon tea.

Hopefully these steps (a little weaning, earlier to bed, a little more veg and protein) are what I need to start look after myself as the new normal stops needing the "new". A little more energy will make everything a little easier and get me out of bed early enough to do some stretches and see me through the afternoon slump.

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a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2015

Jimmy: More noodles! Arrrr!

We celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival and saw the Luna eclipse (!!!!!) with some friends. It was pot-luck. There were noodles and they were good and Jimmy probably ate half of them, opening up his mouth to receive said noodles when he was beyond feeding himself but still hungry.

Arrr! Thanks for taking the photo Michael!

Back to work: getting into the swing of things...

We're keeping our heads above water, so to speak, the return to "normal" has taken a little adjusting to but we're getting there...

There have been nights with not enough sleep, mornings with Jimmy making a fuss about not wanting to go to school, teary drop offs, big hugs in the afternoon, lots of coffee consumed, tears shed, I fell off my bike and grazed my knee, there has been a distinct reduction in photos taken, and autumn is in the air...

Well... autumn has only just arrived, but there are signs of it everywhere from Halloween decorations to sunflowers everywhere and the tallgrass doing its thing...

Our new normal is still a work-in-progress but we're getting there. Hopefully the decreasing hours of daylight wont throw us out too much, hopefully none of us get sick, and hopefully a few more posts because there's a backlog that goes right back to the County Fair (oooops!).

Watch this space, more soon, mostly photos. (Note to self: take more photos.)

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a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2015

Jimmy: Just being Jimmy on the tennis court.

Thanks for the lovely photo Michael! We were all goofing around on the tennis court, enjoying the autumn fall weather, after what has felt like a very long summer. It was nice to be outside and not sweating.

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a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2015

Jimmy: Not sure what all the fuss is about, but Grandma, Daddy, and Mummy are around. Life's pretty good.

On her last day in the USA Grandma wanted to go to Legoland Discovery Center, Kansas City. So, we went. It was a blast and lots of funny faces were made.

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a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2015

Jimmy: Grandma!! Grrr!

Yes, Grandma has landed! And Jimmy is smitten. Jimmy also has a nasty cough, Daddy has a really sore throat, and my whole head is sore and oozing snot. Grandma arrived with a cold but has since recovered and is keen to play tourist, but you can imagine what kind of hosts we've been. Fun times...

But we have managed to have some fun and show Grandma some of Manhattan and Kansas, including Tuttle Creek Lake, where Michael took this lovely photo.

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a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2015

Jimmy: Mummy! Grrrr!

This photo, taken by Michael, pretty much sums up this week for Jimmy: happy, cheeky, and wanting Mummy close whenever we're at home. It's sweet. It's tiring. It's hard on Daddy, because Jimmy is only interested in having Mummy help or assist or do anything. Not to worry, Daddy does get a look in, especially if Daddy is doing something in the kitchen, but many meals have been taken with Jimmy on my lap. It's all down to Jimmy realising that daycare school is the new normal and he's trying to make up for our separation... Sweet boy... Until! he unleashes his scary face!

Grrrr!

Scary, right?