the glimmer of it
Normal. The glimmer of it widened, broadened into a sunny porthole, and finally enveloped us into its light. We’re normal. We’ve hit three months and the “fourth trimester” is over. I’ve learned, or remembered, that she wants a nap after being awake for 1.5 hours. I’ve learned or remembered that the best naps come after crying in the crib for a minute or two when she’s just tired enough, and the shortest naps come after being nursed to sleep. Her digestion has hit a stride and she doesn’t notice what I eat or drink anymore. After lots of setting down and picking back up, setting down and picking back up, day after day, Joan doesn’t take it as an insult to lie on the floor next to Lux and me while we read and play. In fact, she seems to enjoy it now. What a good baby, people gush. Slowly slowly, I think to myself. And she does smile like a loony bin almost all the time now, which makes me happy to no end and even Lux has started noticing how pleasant a creature this baby is. “Is Joan your little sister?” people ask Lux. “Joan Bea” Lux says, looking like she’s been put on God’s solemn earth to correct these uneducated louts.
She still has a cry in the carseat that makes my heart leap into my throat and makes Joe want to break something, but I’m sure that’s going to fade as soon as she can chew on a toy with gusto. And she does this thing where, whenever she hears Joe or Lux talking nearby, she practically falls out of my arms trying to look at them. It’s unbelievably sweet.
And finally, possibly most importantly, I settled into a mother-of-two state of being: not all needs will be satisfied all the time. But, both of them will get what they need, as my friend Lena told me in the first few weeks of two-hood, most of the time.
9 Comments
bridget
so sweet. so glad you are there. what a good feeling.
Abbie
I agree with Bridget- I’m so glad you have settled into two!
Watching siblings like Lux and Joan (Bea!) is my favorite part of working with little children- I can only imagine that as their mother, it is even more magical.
elizabeth
She sounds so sweet and so does he big sister! So glad that you are all doing well.
Laura H
You write so beautifully!! Thank you for sharing.
Mrs. K
Beautiful writing. I just had my fourth baby a month ago. All good reminders. Enjoy this magical three month old stage; I just love it.
I saw your post via Camp Patton. I blog at HomeplaceHomeschool.blogspot.com
Brooke Pulver
This was a great post, thank you. You really nailed the three-four month cusp of a newbie and it was so right on for me as a mother of two little baby girls too. Love your writing!
Laura Voisine
I am just catching up on your blog after being led here on a friend’s recommendation. What a lovely style you have and it particularly lends itself to describing the beauty and challenge that is having and raising little ones.
Blaze
Completed relate to all of this! Especially the wailing in the carseat, were still working on that
My two are both a little older than yours so we are a bit farther ahead but still so similar. My little guy started crawling at five months so I felt like we had a good phase of normal starting when you described but then it got harder again once he was mobile & into everything. Now he’s nine months & just about walking so its always evolving .. I guess that’s why they say change is the only constant in parenthood. But having two just gets more & more enjoyable!
Rachael Ringenberg
Ok that is scary early for crawling and walking!! Woah. I’m not planning on crawling until…eight months? I better get ready.