The Seven Week Itch

The little ones were 7 weeks old on Tuesday and I'm starting to feel like the novelty has worn off. Forgive me if that sounds a bit harsh and unlike a Loved Up Twin Mum.

I had the same experience after Z was born and I wonder if the 7 week itch is a common phenomenon? 

I'm feeling better in myself (finally!), my jeans fit again (admittedly my fat jeans) and I'm back on the booze (well, I've had a few glasses of wine) and the (perhaps slightly premature) feeling is that maybe me and the babes should part ways? I can go back to doing my thing and they can get on with their lives, gain a bit of independence etc.

I wonder if we were in the wild, this would be the moment I abandoned them? And people watching the nature documentary would think 'gosh, that's a bit harsh - they're so tiny'. But if I were a big grizzly bear for example, I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty.

But I do feel a bit guilty. I've reached my limit of relentless monotony. I've got to the end of my tether when it comes to nappy changing, nighttime feeds and pacing and jiggling. I'm ready to face the world again, but the babies still need me. They don't understand that it's nearly Christmas and I'd like to be enjoying the party season, lashed everyday on something mulled. They don't realise that I'd like to wear some clothes that don't include easy boob access. They really don't get my need for 6 hours straight sleep.

So, I think it's time we call it a day, they can go their way and I'll go mine. Or at least maybe I can have a little fling. I'm off for dinner tomorrow night while Mr S babysits. I imagine that an evening away, with some booze and banter will be enough that by the time I get home I'm desperate to see their pudgy little faces. And the 7 week itch will be cured. 

It's been 6 weeks since my last blog.....

I'm feeling guilty and the need to confess.  I've done no blogging for 6 weeks, which is a very large percentage of the time since I set up this blog in the first place.

My only excuse is that I've been a bit busy with newborn twins. (and a 19 month old, and recovering from a c section, and keeping up to date with housework, and applying for a new job, having an (unsuccessful) interview, spending time with hubby and drinking quite a lot of wine)

But, here I am, the twins are 6 weeks on Tuesday and things are starting to return to normal.  The generally accepted "6 week post-partum" phase really holds true - it takes that long for you to heal and the babies to get used to being in the world, and then suddenly, the "new baby" cards stop arriving, people start expecting a lot more of you, the babies get through the brutal 6 week growth spurt, and here you are - the babies aren't newborn anymore and you've got no more excuses for not blogging.  Pah.

I've been wracking my brains for some ideas of blog content in the last week as the non-blogging guilt has been mounting.  I'm still not entirely sure of what kind of blog this is going to be.  Work related?  Humourous? Factual, advice based?

Things I have learnt in the last 6 weeks (that maybe I knew before and have forgotten since the last newborn episode)

1. Poo gets worse

When you have your first baby, you are horrified by all the poo.  After you have changed a toddler's pooey nappy, newborn poo is nothing.  It's practically pleasant.  You could smear a breastfed newborn's poo on your face and not notice compared to a speck of toddler poo - which is basically a smaller quantity of grown up poo, and they insist on serving things like chickpea curry at nursey.  In the words of Z, "blurgh"

2. Sleep deprivation gets easier

Whe you have your first baby, you are horrified by the lack of sleep and totally shocked by the pace.  With your second baby (or in our case babies), you are chuffed every time you get 2 hours uninterrupted sleep.

3. Breastfeeding is hard work

I'm currently managing to successfully breastfeed twins - and that's pretty much all I do.  I watch a lot of shows on Netflix.  And people bring me tea, and I sit very still and feed.  I now realise why I was unsuccessful in feeding Z - I actually left the house, and saw people, and went places, and had fun.  That said, I've nearly lost my pregnancy weight 6 weeks in, and it took me a year to shift after Z, so the boredom has it's pros.  And if you can lose half a stone in 6 weeks by sitting on your bum watching telly it can't be all bad.

4. Receovering from a c section sucks

Everyone's experience is different, but having had a normal delivery with Z and a section for the twins, I would definitely not choose a section.  The recovery for me has been pretty brutal, not least because I've been unable to lift my toddler and I miss him. That's the hardest part of this whole thing.

6. Emotions run wild

There's only been a few occasions so far when we're ALL crying, but the 'baby bike's are certainly harder to deal with with twins, and with a toddler who has decided he hates you. The more standoffish he is, the more needy I become. The less he likes me - and repeat. On the other hand, the babies are delicious, it's nearly Christmas, we have a beautiful family and I'm off to Space NK to treat myself to any product that can make me look less grey. There are ups and downs.

So I'm not sure what kind of blog this is, but I'll keep going and find out later. Perhaps when I'm getting more sleep.