Just wanted to make a little record of how Hazel's doing with Jack. She loved him in the hospital, then majorly freaked out when we brought him home. She wouldn't even touch him for the first few days, but finally the third morning home she announced "I like Jack," and from there on out she hasn't had any hard feelings towards him. She even wanted to feed him once.
She has, however, been extremely frantic for me. I've been trying to pass Jack off to Todd or the moms and give all my attention to Hazel when I'm not nursing, and that has helped, but she's been very possessive and clingy. It's getting better day by day, and it's of course understandable, but in the meantime, it's made me a little weary and it's been hard for me to rest and recover because she wants me up and out with her. 
Hazel boycotted her nap for five days in a row when we brought Jack home and that was almost the end of me. She's a three-hour napper, so it was a significant chunk of sleep she was missing, and she does not function well without it. Mornings tended to be okay, but the afternoons were a nightmare of meltdowns. One day while she was supposed to be napping she took down her name letters and destroyed her treasure collection instead of sleeping. I was devastated. Hazel has never exhibited destructive behavior before and I didn't know what to do. That day I hit a wall and locked myself in my room to cry for a while. 
But she's napped almost every day for a week now and I almost feel like I have my Hazel back. I was honestly afraid I'd lost her forever, but I don't feel that way anymore. Meanwhile, Jack has been super calm and sweet. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he shuffles around in bed and grunts and breathes a little harder, but he doesn't even cry until I've tried to sleep through it all for 20 or 30 minutes, and then it's just a little cat meow. He's really mild and warm and cuddly and I'm in love with him.
10 comments:
oh hun, i have been where you are. the first few months (i know...months??) are hard just from the sleep deprivation alone, but add a 2 year old in the mix, and it can get crazy. i'm glad you have a cuddly sweet boy to help it all :) call if you want to drop hazel here for a playdate sometime...or we could come take her to the park for an hour so you can nap.
I'm so glad Hazel is doing better! And the fact that Jack doesn't really cry...what a blessing! Can't wait to see him!
he is so cute, angie!!! so glad that he is here and healthy! i think it is always good even when the older sibling is acting up and needing serious attention that they love the baby...better that they take it out on something other than their new sibling, right? ;-) she will grow to love him more each day and her "normal" will change and it will all be good. wish we were there to meet him in person!
I'm glad she's adjusting and it will get easier for everyone involved, I promise. :)
The fact that she wanted to feed him is huge in my eyes, Macey refused to be near Miles for months! Macey also displayed some destructive tendencies, call if you want to hear about them (they're a bit graphic), but she finally did settle down. Now she loves him and, if she doesn't think you're watching, you can catch them playing and talking together.
Looks like things are going better and that's great. Your children are absolutely beautiful!
He is SO cute, Angie! I love the green beenie he is sporting....where did you get it?
Best of luck with little Hazel.....those hard days seem like eternity....thankfully they aren't. I still love the conference quote that talks about enjoying motherhood in MOMENTS because that's all we get sometimes!
Lots of love and congratulations!
OH! Thank you for your post! It's wonderful to read and see how you're doing. Sweet kids. Awesome parents.
Megan, my friend Yuki made the hat and a darling blanket for Jack. I think it's adorable, too!
what a cute picture of mom and baby boy. glad hazel is kind of back. hope it stays that way for your sake.
This post is one that your family will cherish in future years...what a great snapshot of your first week at home with Jack Jack. I felt like I was right there living it with you as I read. Good luck with the rest of the transition---pretty soon Jack & the Haze will be bathing together and keeping each other company while you're tuckered out with your third. (haha :D )
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