Ponderances

As I'm watching various news avenues roll out headlines about Kate Middleton giving birth, her exit from the hospital and such, I am so sympathetic to how difficult it must be to live up to the pressure given her. I understand that as part of the royal family, she has some duty to the country's citizens, but I kind of wish she hadn't made a public appearance and taken care of herself. In light of my previous post, I can only imagine what bodily functions she was having to endure as she stood there, prim and proper and not in sweat pants, her hair fixed and make up on her face. I really wish the world would have given her a few more days to truly recover before pressuring her to show herself. And that she would not have to give in to the pressure that comes with gaining back your pre-pregnant body and being the "perfect" Mother, always put together and without flaws.

I am learning that there may not be such a thing as going back to your pre-baby body for some people. I met with a nurse practitioner last week who ordered blood work since I can't seem to lose any weight or inches and she told me she didn't necessarily believe that you couldn't go back to your pre-baby weight. I think that may be true for some people, but for others, we are left with the scars and reminders that our bodies have done a magnificent thing in bringing life in to this world. While it is something I would like to truly grasp, I am still struggling with how I feel in my after-baby clothes that still don't fit the way I would like.

In other news....our little girl made her first flying trip over the weekend. We visited Memphis for my Mamaw's 90th birthday. There were quite a few family members that little bug got to meet (aunts, uncles and cousins, in addition to Mamaw). She did well on the flights. The only thing we really struggled with was the concept of not being able to move around while on the plane. She wanted to get down and crawl and walk around on the flights.

We made some sweet memories on this trip. Ones we will document well and remember forever. I'm so thankful for the time with our wonderful family!

I have recently been pondering the idea of loving others. I believe that God has called us to treat other people the way we would want to be treated if we were in their situation (whatever that may be). I have been taught that and I plan to teach my daughter that concept. I think our society has gotten very far away from this idea and I think we need to pull together and re-learn this tried and true practice. If we did this, I wonder how much less crime and injustices would be done in our cities, states, countries, even our world! There are so many more important things in life than to get caught up in being hateful toward each other. Sorry to get all philosophical, but I just felt the need to share.

I have been thinking a lot about the birthing experience lately. I'll spare the gore and gutsy details, but I have been wondering if the memories I have of myself after delivery are normal to most women.

I had probably an average laboring and pushing time. After delivering my baby girl, I barely remember anything but feeling like a zombie for the next week or so. Call it exhaustion, call it starvation (I had trouble eating...lots of nausea), but I am kind of embarrassed that I wasn't more "with it". I can only imagine what our visitors thought of my demeanor. I had taken make up and hair products with me to the hospital because I have seen so many "just after birth" photos where the Mommies have their hair done and at least a little make up on as they take pictures with their new babies.

I.barely.took.a.shower.

There was no way I was doing my hair or putting make up on. I had so little capacity to even walk from the bed to the bathroom and back. I'm guessing it was all because I didn't realize all the trauma that a woman's body experiences during this time.

There are maybe only 2 or 3 photos of me after she was born. I wonder if this is the way most Mommies feel just after labor and delivery (and the hospital stay).

I did not have any drugs (other than pitocin) and I wonder if I had if I would have felt differently. I'm not saying I regret this part of my experience, I guess I just expected to have good photos of the 3 of us even though we were still in the hospital.

I wonder now that I know what to expect if the next one will be different and if I'll remember more.

Just some thoughts.