My two sisters in two different states had two baby girls within two days of each other in September. It was a very exciting weekend! Although I wasn’t there for either of the births, I did get to go out to each of them and squeeze those babies while they were still fresh and floppy. My Philly sister lives a very urban life; doesn’t use her car, but rides the trolly system, shops at the market for a few things at a time, lives on the third floor apartment of a hundred year-old row house with their cozy cat in the window, etc. My other sister lives in a Phoenix suburb, drives everywhere, fills her SUV’s back with two weeks of groceries, and has two crazy little dogs and a backyard. Both lifestyles work great for each of them and it was fun to live in their world for a week, help where I could and, of course, get me some baby love!
Newborns tend to level the playing field. They don’t care where you live as long as you keep them fed, changed and warm…except for that witching hour that many babies have for at least a season of their new, little lives, when a switch flips and they FLIP OUT! Dr. Karp’s book, The Happiest Baby on the Block blames it on the missing fourth trimester. It’s quite the hot topic among you mommies of newborns out there. And my sisters highly recommend both the book and the techniques for shooshing the fussing that tends to make you want to lose your mind!
Love yourselves–you mommies of newborns and find the support and encouragement you need to make it through these intense times. Kindermusik classes are a great way to learn more about those little, developing nervous systems and talk with other moms who may identify with you and your nervous-er system!
Miss Lisa also just posted on Facebook about bringing infant massage workshop to SoundSteps, so make sure you stay tuned in on Facebook and share these links with other mommies out there who need to know they’re not alone.
This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett, who can’t help but love a good baby cry…as long as I get to hand the baby back to her mama. 🙂