New Routine

My days are starting to develop an element of predictability. Dave and I try to get in bed around 10pm because we know Eva will be up for part of the night. Sometimes I can nurse her back to sleep, sometimes she's up for a couple hours before I can put her back down. Then I try to catch more shut-eye. In the mornings I try to take advantage of Eva's naps to load the dishwasher or throw in a load of laundry. We have to do at least one load a day now in order to keep up with all the washcloths (we use them as wipes), burp rags, and nursing bras and tops that get spilt on, not to mention the number of outfits she can go through. No doubt about it: caring for a baby is a messy business right from the start. In the afternoons I try to take it easy or nap with Eva.

In the evenings she starts getting fussy, which is frustrating because it's the only time Dave gets to spend with her, and she seems to want to nurse constantly for comfort. I don't know if it's her tummy bothering her or if she's just tired (even after sleeping most of the day), but it would be nice if she would let Dave hold her long enough for me to take a shower or make dinner. She goes through about 10 diaper changes a day, and nurses around that many times, so she spends most of her day in my arms. I've been watching quite a bit of "Baby Week" on the Discovery Health channel the past couple days, and seeing all these people trying to handle multiples or premies makes caring for little Eva a breeze by comparison. That, and a daily dose of prenatal and B-vitamins, helps me battle the baby blues and keep things in perspective.