The weather is beginning to cool off, so it's incredibly tempting to be outdoors right now. The fall garden isn't finished, the roosters haven't been slaughtered, the fence needs staining and mending, and I have a million projects I want to begin in the yard.
The baby is 5 months old now, so it's really difficult for me to get things accomplished outside. I've tried strapping him in a stroller, but he'll get fussy or I'll have to stop what I'm doing, de-glove, and nurse. There's nothing like being soaked with sweat and then nursing a baby to make you BOTH want to take a bath. Then, by the time I finish nursing, I've cooled off and it's difficult to get going again!
I've tried to put him on a blanket in the grass, but he's crawling now. The last time I attempted this, he ended up choking on grass and was bitten by an ant.
I usually spend his nap times catching up on inside housework. Every now and then, I run outside to water the plants or feed the chickens, but getting involved in an "outdoor project" during nap time is out of the question. They don't make baby monitors with enough range, and most of the projects require the help of my husband (who is at work.) Perhaps I should reverse that to "most of the projects require me helping my husband."
My husband suggested that I pump and hire a babysitter for the weekend.
#1: The last time I tried pumping (2004) it threw off my milk supply for a week. I don't think a garden is worth suffering any amount of engorgement.
#2: I don't even own a working bottle.
#3: Even if I had someone watching the baby (with bags of breastmilk,) I'd still have to stop and pump every 3-4 hours. Anyone who has smelled wet chicken feathers will understand why I don't think I could stop culling chickens to pump. No amount of Germ-X could make that a safe choice.
#4: Mercy on the poor soul who would have to rock my ninny-baby to sleep without a big boob in his mouth.
I keep telling myself to just accept that I must hibernate inside until next spring, when the baby will be walking and (hopefully) able to toddle in the grass while I work. We are considering that this may be our last child, so I am also trying to be content in holding him all day and savoring every minute of babyhood.
2 comments:
Oh, I know the feeling! Don't worry, you will get to it all eventually. And it won't be long before you can leave him for the morning or afternoon and have a break longer than 3 hours.
I just stumbled across your blog, and I have to say, as a first time mom, this posting made me laugh out loud!! I feel like I nurse my little guy (3 1/2 months) EVERY HOUR..and I too am not into the whole pumping thing. Thanks for the laugh and I am glad I found your blog!
Post a Comment