I forget sometimes that this blog is a family blog, not just a Brinley and Ellie blog. It is about time I do a good family update on all that has been going on with us!
This guy is so busy. All. The. Time! His days start at 5:30am and end when Ellie is in bed for the night, which usually lands somewhere between 10:30pm and midnight. He goes to work for 3 hours before his classes start and is usually home from everything by 5:30pm. He has a two night a week night class that ends at 7pm, but thankfully, he hasn't had regular classes in the past month so that has been very helpful on me. I haaaate night classes. It sends me into a frenzy. My mental capacity can only handle parenting until 5pm.
School is going great, at least that's what he tells me! He is taking 5 classes and fortunately, only 3 have finals. We can't really believe that finals week (which is really 2 weeks long), is looming over us again (starts after Thanksgiving) and that the semester is over less than a month away. He writes his last final on December 11th!! Eeeks! He is still extremely busy with his school work but since he has been waking up earlier to get more done, he doesn't really do as much homework late into the night anymore.
It amazes me the type of schedule he keeps and all that he has to do during the day. He works 20-25 hours a week, is a full-time law student in his third year, writes for 2 law journals, actively searches for jobs, and his recent hat, Elders Quorum First Counselor. We really try and make time for each other but now with a newborn constantly needing our attention, our nights are full of, get that baby asleep so WE can sleep! We are looking forward to the holidays so we can get away on a couple of dates!!
He helps me out a ton with doing my grocery store runs and taking Brinley on dates a couple times a week. We sometimes hit the park up after work on days when Brinley and I have the car. We pick Ryan up and head over top play for 30 minutes. Brinley loves it when they go on grocery store dates, or picking up take-out for dinner, or running over to the mail box, or on their adventure walks around the complex. She loves her daddy so much and I am so grateful for the time he spends with her. She appreciates him so much when he frees up and hour of his day for her.
Me:
(lets be honest, this is how I look 99% of the time!)
Oh man. Where do I start!? Ellie has been in our family for over a month now and I think we are in a routine. Well, at least we
manage during the day. Between doing a load of laundry practically everyday, feeding Ellie ever 2-3 hours, and entertaining Brinley endlessly, I am busy. BUSY. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out, but other times when the house is quiet and both girls are napping, I tell myself, "I can do this! I AM doing this! Go me!" hahaha but seriously, sometimes you need to give yourself a pat on the back for just making it through the hour without any meltdowns.
My body is continuing to recover. Thankfully, my milk supply is regulating itself and I rarely have moments of engorgement. When I do, it is usually because Ellie is sleeping over 4 hours at night and I wake up before she does to pump. Speaking of pumping, we are running out of freezer space! I am pumping everyday (usually) and store 4-6oz. I'm not pumping to use exclusively, but I am pumping because I need to! For whatever reason (tmi, stop reading Dad), my right side over produces. I pump that side and usually get 5-6oz. It is incredible to see. Why I didn't have an electric pump with Brinley blows my mind and really depresses me sometimes. I could have saved myself SO MANY tears and anxiety and stress!!! Ahhh, well, your first baby is a tester baby anyways :-) Nobody has a clue what they're doing the first time around! My c-section incision feels great and the bleeding has basically stopped. I have my 6 week appointment the Monday before Thanksgiving, so that will be exciting to check off!
It has been 6 weeks already? whaattt??
I have to say, I could not have made it through this baby #2 transition without my wonderful friends here. I am so overwhelmed sometimes with the wonderful women that surround me. We are always finding a way to get together (without kids!) and laugh and hang. Our recent find is going to Chili's because they don't close until late!! Wooo!!! We have befriended one of the waiters and he always takes care of us! We have so much fun and I feel like myself again. I haven't laughed this hard in years and I am so grateful for them. You know who you are ladies!
I am definitely looking forward to the holidays to be with family. We haven't been back to Charlotte since last New Years (
here,
here and
here) and I miss it tremendously. We love that city and hope to end up there someday. We leave for Charlotte next Tuesday for Thanksgiving and we'll see how that drive goes with a 6 week old baby....ummm...
stop stressing prematurely, Meagan! I'm sure it will go fine, but I can't help but have a slight anxiety attack just thinking about it! We will be the first house guests in my in-laws new house! We are excited to spend time with them and also see my parents. We are all doing Thanksgiving dinner together! I am excited! My parents and Ryan's parents get along great so we are so happy and relieved to have them both in the same city. It will make our 8 hour drives to Charlotte all the more exciting and rewarding!
Life is always busy and always crazy, but we are a happy little family. I am doing my best staying on top of my scripture study and "alone quiet time" to recharge my spirit. It is hard to find those moments, but when I do, it is nice to turn off the social networking and read some inspiring General Conference talks.
Brinley keeps me laughing and Ellie keeps me lactating, so what else can I say??
