The Real Babymoon

I've been living my real Babymoon for the last 13 days. It's been my honeymoon time with my sweet new baby. Our 3rd little bundle of joy (another girl!) was finally born on July 12 at 6:18 pm, and I'll write a post with her birth story soon, but for now I've just been enjoying my little baby moon. I don't have a blog nickname yet for our sweet daughter, because I just need to get to know her better.... if I had to give her a nickname so far it would be "sleepy head", "poopy pants", "angel baby", or her Daddy likes to call her "Third" (shout out to Orson Scott Card and anyone who has read Ender's Game).

The Officer with his precious Third daughter

The last 13 days truly have been a honeymoon. For the past 13 days I have been expected to sit around and nurse and burp a (pretty easy) newborn. Seriously, that's about it. The Officer has taken care of Belle and Bug all day every day (the much more difficult job right now), and all of our kind wonderful friends from Church, College, and the Officer's work friends have been bringing us dinners almost every day. Our families are wonderful, and someone is always willing to hold the new baby girl so Mommy can get a little nap or shower. Yes, all Moms know the negative sides to the postpartum time, but so far this one hasn't been too bad, and I am oh so very grateful. My physical recovery has been really easy this time around (way way way easier than the first). Also, I guess it took me a third child to realize how very quickly this newborn phase passes, so instead of stressing and worrying about things as much as I did as a first-time Mom, now I'm snuggling and holding my little lady before she does the unthinkable and becomes a toddler!

There are few things in life better than a newborn asleep on your shoulder

The first 2 weeks of her life have really been bliss. Our sweet third daughter has been a very easy baby so far. She sleeps a 7 or 8 hour stretch each night (I know I'm spoiled), and is pretty happy most of the day. To make up for a long night of sleeping, she eats almost all day. So I spend most of my day attached to little lady, which right now I'm not complaining about.

Three children under the age of 4 is definitely going to be a busy life. A life full of joy, but a very very busy life. The Officer has been off this whole time, and the thought of him going back to work next week makes me want to cry. What will I do without SuperDad?! He has been taking care of the big girls and allowing me to spend almost all of my time just taking care of my newborn.  I have been thoroughly enjoying all of this bonding time with my youngest, but having her attached to me at all times will not be ideal when I also have to meet the needs of 2 demanding toddlers. So my little honeymoon with my newborn officially comes to a harsh end next week, and then it will be back to reality. It will definitely be tough next week, but good thing my reality consists of 3 adorable little faces.

Mom to three little kids is a piece of cake right??? I just need to read books all day

Teaching me patience

So, this baby has decided not to arrive. I was due July 2, and so far this baby is 10 days late. To say that I have been anxiously waiting for this baby to come is an understatement. My last post was about waiting for this baby, so obviously that's about all that is going on in the Mik house these days.  Raising children is such a great (and often difficult) opportunity to practice virtues. I haven't even seen this baby's face yet, and already he (or she) is trying to help me practice some serious patience. Oh sweet little baby, I'm trying.

Baby Mik about 25 weeks ago

Belle arrived 10 days late, so maybe I should have expected this, but then Bug came early, so this time I was ready for an early baby. The Officer and I have been prepared, packed, and waiting for this little baby for over 3 weeks, so we are more than ready for this baby to meet us. Now I'm 10 days past due, and I'm scheduled to be induced Sunday night. It's definitely not a huge deal, but I had really hoped I wouldn't need to be induced. Induction usually makes for a longer and more painful labor, and I really didn't want another Belle marathon labor. In the end though, Belle and I both survived, and she was more than worth every second of it. If you happen to speak to me in the middle of the night when I'm awake to go to the bathroom for the 5th time, you will find a very discouraged and pretty uncomfortable Mama, who thought she would be holding a baby a few weeks ago. But today I am being patient (for now).

I am very aware that there are many women who never get to feel the sweet kicks of an unborn baby, so I'm grateful I still can enjoy those. My Doctor did a stress test on the baby on Wednesday, and everything looked great, but of course I was surrounded by other women having stress tests and ultrasounds because there are problems with their pregnancies. Again, grateful. I also have great friends and family who have been visiting me while I wait. Plus, 41+ weeks of sympathy from the Officer is nice. I can't complain about the foot massages, and he doesn't mind my complaints and laziness while we wait. Last night the Officer and I finally went out on a long overdue date night, so that helps a lady stay cheerful.  I'm not sure that I will ever have patience mastered, but I'm working on it, and this baby will come. Well, this baby is getting evicted on Monday, so my patience ends there :)

2 days overdue and enjoying fireworks with my family