Ree is six months old – actually she’s almost seven months – and I feel like I’m starting to get my life back. I’m making more plans with friends. I’m going out with H. I’m even going out alone from time to time.
I can focus better at work. I’ve figured out pumping at work and have that schedule down. I can get both kids ready for daycare and make it to work on time(-ish) 4 out of 5 days a week.
It feels good. I’m not partying it up or anything, but for a long time I have just been trying to get by. Even before Ree was born, I was kind of off. Things weren’t necessarily bad. I just was KIDS! KIDS! KIDS! And now I still love my kids more than anything else, and I love spending time with them. But having a few hours a month (or however often it is) to do stuff without them is really satisfying.
This is where I feel like I should write 20 disclaimers about how much time I spend with my kids and all the fun things we do and such, but I’m just going to assume you know what I’m talking about and leave it at that.
One of the fun things I’ve done recently is go, with H, to see Craig Ferguson perform. The show was what I expected. I didn’t laugh hysterically, but it was amusing. He talked about how his wife just had a baby and how tired he is, and I think that was reflected in his show. Some of the material seemed pretty old. It was still good, but I wouldn’t say it was the best ever. After the show, which was at a casino, H gambled and ended up winning $30, and we stopped at Sonic on the way home and got milkshakes, so that was pretty much the best way possible to end the night.
Craig talked a LOT about Nazis during the show. It was kind of weird.
Yay for feeling good! Those early days are always so tough.
I don’t think you need a disclaimer about spending time away from the kids. I love my little Peanut more than anything in this world, but I need to get away and just do things on my own at least once every couple of weeks. I go out for drinks with friends, go shopping alone, or just go for a walk with the dog. It’s insane to be with your kids the entire time with no break or time for yourself. My motto is a happy parent is what yields a happy kid, so do what makes you happy.
Although six months seems so, so far away, I’m glad to hear that eventually you do get your life back. I love my baby and all, but doing nothing but eat, sleep, change diapers and feed a baby all day is getting kind of boring.