Therapy

I guess the 'baby blues' is nothing a little retail therapy can't help cure. That, and a fantastic 6 week old cutie that sleeps through the night. And a little me time.

All of which we were able to experience this weekend.

Let's start with my cutie, the little peanut born just 40 days ago. She's been a great night sleeper, almost from the beginning . . . minus the first 2 days when she had the day/night mix up going on. Since we 'righted her' she's been very good . . . stretching her night time dozing longer and longer with each passing week. By week 4 (and nearly back to birth weight), I could let HER wake ME up through the night, which was a treat after a month of waking up every 3 hours. Then at 5 weeks we were going from 10-11pm bedtime until about 4am . . . again, another treat.

Then Friday night, Kate went down around 10:45pm and slept until 5:45am. Saturday she was out by 10:30pm and not up until 6:15am. Last night, out by 10:00pm, up at 6:30am. This, my friends, is what we consider sleeping through the night. SLEEP. Now there is some true, natural therapy for you.

I cannot believe that between 6 and 7 weeks, Kate is sleeping through the night. And I thought Meg was easy.

Incidentally . . . I'm finding that I think that more and more . . . that I thought Meg was easy. If Meg was easy, then Kate is a cinch. Sure, you read about the crying and fussing here over the past few weeks, but I think that is all very much to be expected with a newborn. And I think we are out of that phase. So . . . does that mean that at nearly 7 weeks, we are moving from crying and complaining to sleeping and cooing? One can hope.

In between some of Kate's long night time naps, Mommy and Daddy got out and did a little shopping this weekend. Ahhh . . . retail therapy. I now own two skirts and two pairs of shorts that fit. Plus a couple of capri pants. And a few more shirts. Now I don't have to do my own laundry every other day so that I have something to wear. THAT made me feel better, for sure.

I think what made me feel better this weekend was that I had some time to do what I wanted. It's really hard now . . . because in order to do what I wanted, Jim had to go along with me. I needed help. He had to watch the baby for the 3 or 4 hours that we wandered and shopped. He took care of Kate when we got home so I could clean out my closet . . . out with the maternity, in with the 'fat girl' clothing (for now) . . . another task that had been haunting me for weeks. Jim had to take a back seat to what he might have needed to do this weekend so that I could do what I wanted. Jim doesn't mind doing that . . . I know he doesn't . . . I just hate to ask. Asking for this kind of help is hard . . . it feels selfish to me. But, at dinner on Friday night, I asked . . . and Jim was more than happy to oblige.

During our dinner date (with Kate), Jim and I also talked about other ways that Jim might be able to help me feel better about things at our house. I relinquished a few of my normal duties to him, and I think the relief of getting stuff off of my perpetual 'to-do' list lifted a little weight off my shoulders. Again, asking for help. I guess that I just feel like I should be able to do it all. Maybe someday I'll be able to do it all again. But right now, I do need help . . . and getting it makes me feel so much more happy.

In turn, I'm sure I was much more pleasant to be around this weekend. I'm hoping to carry that into this week. (And I'm sure Jim is hoping for that, too.)

Thanks to a weekend of therapy, I'm hoping to start this week fresh and with a good attitude. What's on tap? Meg has music class each morning this week . . . 'music camp' for toddlers. I have to say . . . just the idea of this stresses me out. Will Meg behave the way I expect -- the way she normally does? After the last two weeks, it's hard to say. (Did I mention that Meg BIT her sister yesterday? Oh, yes. On the toe. We are not back to ourselves just yet.) And then there is the stress of Kate coming along . . . will she sleep or at least be good during the 45 minute class each morning? Mmmm, another hard one.

**Deep Breath**

I'm going to try and take it in stride. Just relax. Ask for help from other mommies, if I need it. Many of them have been in my shoes, so I know they'll understand. I am not going to let this weekend of therapy be ruined by a few dancing kiddies.

Wish me luck.