Mar
26
Lately I am feeling about a thousand miles away from this emotional territory—so far away, in fact, that re-reading those words is almost like reading someone else’s journal. Who was that constantly fussy, pain-in-the-ass baby I was writing about, I wonder. Surely not the low-maintenance grinning butterball *I* know.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but things are going very well at the moment. Dylan is, in many ways, an entirely different creature than he was a few weeks ago. The smiling helps, for sure, but he’s also eating much more comfortably (I’m currently using a soy formula, the turbo-barfing stopped on its own but I think the soy helps with the gassiness. I mean, if anyone’s taking notes on this thrilling subject, or anything), he’s settling into a schedule of sorts, and while he is not sleeping through the night—WOE—he is at least allowing me enough sleep to make it through the day. I’m almost getting used to that 3:30 AM wakeup call at this point. Well, in the same way you’d get used to someone whaling you in the kneecap with a ballpeen hammer, which is to say I don’t particularly enjoy it, but, you know, it’s survivable.
God, those early weeks sucked. You guys, THAT SUCKED. I’m sure there’s plenty more suckage ahead, but thank god I’m standing over here and not back over there. In the dark. With the ice weasels.
(Those of you who gently reminded me that things would get better, thank you. You were right.)
Lastly: can someone please reassure me that the world does not need pithy one-sentence status updates on the minutiae of my life, and thus it is okay to not have a Twitter account? What is wrong with me that I am all itchy over the notion that I’m missing the boat, even though it’s a boat I have no desire to be on?
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75 Responses to “Uptick”
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I also write here:
It’s fine. No missed boat. Just update here and we’ll all get our fix. Hugs.
OMG, those first weeks do suck big donkey balls, don’t they?
Cheers to making it to the “other side”.
I’m glad things are so much better :)
Screw Twitter. Seriously. It’s a waste and you know that.
I feel exactly the same way about Twitter.
Don’t join. Don’t. Please - ’cause I’d totally have to follow you, which would mean signing up myself and…I’ve already done that about 5 times and then deleted my account because the LAST thing I need is another on-line time suck.
I bought an exercise video you recommended (because I want your arms), I should be doing that NOT Twittering.
Don’t do it! (But let us know if you do…)
“Twittering”? Dude … no. Also: NO. Do not fall into that particular abyss. You have many, many better things to be doing with your time. Like sleeping.
OK, I twitter, but only because I have friends who read it. I have to echo that it is a useless time-sucker. It’s a way, for me, to text message, without sending it to multiple people.
That said, and (what I said was stupid, shhh, don’t tell me), I am SOOOOOOOO happy you are feeling better about the whole *shebang*. I only have one son, and it sometimes makes me feel lucky (don’t hate) and other times makes me feel sorry that I can’t empathize/sympathize.
The baby gets better. You know that. You will continue to know that. Thank you for taking us all on your ride.
Glad things with Dylan are better.
I have a twitter account and every time I check it I get a headache from all the ‘twitter’. Let the boat sail away you’ll be a happier person for it!
Your boys are ADORABLE!
I think Twitter is stupid and a complete waste of time. I think it makes people *too* connected.
I feel the same about twitter! I feel like I’m missing out but the thought of joining gives me a headache.
Personally I’m all a’twitter over those two adorable boys there. They are so cute!
Sundry Twitter….I think would be a GOOD thing!!!
I totally know how you feel. I almost tried to do a twitter sidebar on my blog so that people would know what I’m up to ALL THE TIME instead of once a day. Luckily I’m not technically savvy enough to make it work so it’s out.
I’m so glad that you’ve over that uncomfortable hump. Those pictures are beautiful, the last one would be a perfect image header for the site.
What I loved about those entries is that even though you and everyone else (myself included, even though I doubt I’ll be procreating in the near…well, ever) knew “this, too, shall pass,” you didn’t gloss it over in favor of “My Dylan poops RAINBOWS!” You didn’t hold back (and I also commend your readers for never once going the ParentDish holier-than-thou commenter route). You’re a wonderful writer, Linda.
I love twitter, but it is ok if you don’t have an account. But if you get an account, I would follow you.
My main thought on twitter is it is like DVD extras for someone’s blog. Also, I use it mostly when I travel.
I’m really happy you are finally on this side of the fence, looking backwards at the suckage. I have no idea what it would be like with two kids (I hope to find out someday!), but I’m thrilled to know it does get better. Thanks for telling it like it is.
I am very glad the suckage meter is down and baby life is looking up….
As for Twitter skip it! Who needs 40 character updates. I mean that isn’t nearly enough for real updates and would result in several in a row and ABC news this morning is stating that “Excessive texting a sign of mental illness” http://www.news-medical.net/?id=36652
Four blogs, two kids, pets, home, husband and job to go back to is there really time to Twitter.
God those first weeks are a huge drain. I mean, it’s so exciting to have that little newborn and all but it’s hard to do the rest of your life while they need so much from you. I’m glad some semblance of normal and do-able has resumed in your house! You can sit back and really enjoy the boys now.
On twitter: I tried, I really did. I tried to be faithful and write about my every move, emotion and event but I can’t do it either. And honestly, who really cares if I’m in line at Target getting all pissy at the cashier because she’s on her cell phone (probably twittering) instead of cashing people out?
What Twitter is, is INTENSE PRESSURE to come up with a witty one-liner every twenty minutes.
It’s almost impossible, during the first few weeks, to believe that they’ll end. I don’t think I had even a tenuous grip on that concept until my third childbirth experience—and even with my fourth, still sometimes had to convince myself intellectually of something that made no sense to me emotionally.
Those pics of your boys are so beautiful I actually teared up a little (pregnancy hormones may have played a factor) but nonetheless they are priceless. I’m glad things have gotten better and again, thanks for always being so honest and raw with your writing.
1.) The first 6 weeks were absolute hell for me and the nights when he was particularly bad always made me totally forget the good times. Which is not right; it does get better, doesn’t it?
2.) I got SO sick of twitter after about 2 weeks. It was just so… boring. I’m more long-winded I guess and prefer *actual* blogging.
Those pics are beautiful. Now it’s the big boy gazing adorably at his little brother; soon it will be the reverse, and those will be great pics, too.
Thanks for voicing what I’ve been feeling about twitter. I purposely haven’t even gone to look at it, because I KNOW I’ll get sucked in, and I have a similar situation to yours — two kids, job, hubby, blog, pets, home, community activities. I don’t send text messages or hang out in Facebook, either. I just CAN’T MAKE TIME for Twitter. (And unlike your other commenters, I say — don’t tell us if you start twittering, because then I’m afraid I will get sucked in!)
NO TWITTER! I just don’t get it….
I’m so glad that things have gotten better for you. Your kids are adorable!
I’m with you on Twitter. I can hardly remember to update my actual blog, so any Twitter account I created would constantly be reporting whatever it was I was doing the afternoon I created it.
Twitter has no point. What, you don’t have ENOUGH updating to do with your eleventy billion blogs? Don’t bother.
Your babies are delicious.
LOVE, Love, love, love those pictures. And glad it’s better!
Stay off the twitter boat. A total timesuck. I speak from experience. Please send lifeboat.
When I had my daughter, a friend told me that if you can survive the first six weeks, it’s like a curtain lifts and things just get better. So much better. And it’s so true!! They are the hardest time of parenting (so far, I’m only at 21 months). But it’s harder than the tantrums, because at least they are some sort of feed back besides crying, farting, pooping and sleeping. Anyway, I also wanted to say don’t get discouraged about your body. Riley was WAAAYYYY older than Dylan when you started working out, and that still took three months. I joined WW after my daughter, and they said “It takes nine months to grow a baby, and it takes your body nine months to recover” So while it’s awesome that you’re exercising and eating well (and setting a good example of a strong woman for your boys!), don’t be too hard on yourself, it will come. Dylan might be a year old, but it will come. And you’ll look back on pictures and wonder why you were so hard on yourself, you just gave birth, afterall. :)
I completely agree with you about Twitter! It creeps me out that someone might know EXACTLY what I’m doing and/or thinking at ANY POINT in the day. Too freaky.
Also, I’m not that interesting and it just seems like another thing to keep up with, so I say “No”!
Oh, thank God I’m not the only one who feels that way about twitter. Only I DO have an account…I just never remember to use it. And seriously? WHY would someone want to read it anyway?
I don’t think I’ve even heard of twitter but then I don’t have a blog, I just leach off of everyone elses, lol!
I am so glad that the baby is getting easier, you just have to make it through those first couple of months, and then just when you think you’ve got the whole thing worked out, bang, they are teenagers, and shoot me now. Didn’t think I’d survive those years, or that they would either, w/o me killing them. Anyway, glad that there is rainbow poopage……
And so cute the two of them, wait till Riley sings to Dylan, this is the stuff memories are made of, be ready with the video.
(Re: pooping rainbows, what melanie said)
STEP AWAY FROM THE TWITTER.
i have so many pictures of my babies gazing adoringly at their older sisters. those are the time that the bond gets deeper and deeper. it is clear that it is happening for riley and it is precious to watch.
i twittered for about 30 minutes before i decided no one really gave a shit what i was eating at any given second.
twittering + baby barf = major electronic suckage.
I *totally* agree about Twitter and am confounded by its popularity. I can’t get too uppity though because I watch The Hills. :-)
Hooray for escaping the suckitude! I’m so happy everything is improving over there.
Oh, and Twitter? Thank gawd! I thought I was the only one that felt that way.
Your kids are both so cute.
Dude, Twitter is stupid. One of my friends uses it on a LiveJournal account, and I always just skip right over it, because you’re right, no one cares about having updates in one sentence format. These entries, on the other hand, are fun to read, so keep it up over here, and forget Twitter.
OMG what beautiful children!
Just curious- when do you go back to work? I know you took extended leave with Riley.
Welcome to the other side! As you know and mentioned it will suck from time to time but it is so much better. And soon, fun!
Those shots make me melt. They adore eachother.
Oh my God, I’m having the same Twitter crisis. I hate Twitter! I don’t have the ENERGY to follow Twitter! I PUBLICLY DECRIED TWITTER.
And now? I feel like I should be Twittering. I know people who are Twittering! Entire WORLDS are going on in Twitter! Why am I not on Twitter? My friends are Twittering! I SHOULD TWEET, TOO.
Well, really, I’m not on Twitter because deep-down, I hate the idea. It’s absurd, and I can’t see it as much more than a timesuck. I mean, I waste enough time dorking around on the Internet as it is — do I really need Twitter? No. No, I do not.
I’m so glad it’s getting better. SO glad.
Hmm. I wonder if your son could be allergic to dairy. This coming from the mom of a son with multiple food allergies. I’m not trying to pull you into my camp. I would never want you OR ANYONE to have to deal with food allergies. But just keep it in mind and watch for it.
Twitter is, unfortunately, the new way of the world. I did think of you yesterday when I saw someone Tweeting about issues with a Workplace product. ;)
I love when you talk about ice weasels. I see them as tiny and malevolant, wielding ice picks, for some reason. It’s a chilling vision.
Secondly, the boat is okay, but it can get addictive and hard to get off. I made my account and didn’t use it, didn’t use it… suddenly I’m using it twice a day and feeling silly but obsessed. Ugh. Stay off the boat!
What’s twitter? Nevermind, I don’t want to know.
Also, those pictures MAKE ME WEEP.
Hey, life is cool on the non-Twitter island. One less thing for me to obsessively track, even though I do love me a spreadsheet.
TWITTER IS DUMB! You do not need it. For christs sake! :) Really good photos of the kids :) Glad the little one is less of a pain in your arse.
I’m so glad things are better for you! I was tempted to drive over the 520 bridge and wend my way thru the Eastside suburbs, calling your name until I found your house, just to barge in and comfort you!
Also, it tickles me that you refer to “the ice weasels.” Thank you for that. I sometimes feel like I’m the only one I know who makes references to pre-”Simpsons” Matt Groening comics that NOBODY GETS. I have a kindred spirit out there!
DON’T JOIN. I can’t afford to follow yet another hilarious person.
(Seriously, I’ve gotten to the point that if I could only choose one thing on the internet, it would be Twitter. It’s like time-suck crack. And THAT is embarrassing, folks.)
((Of course, let us know if you do, so I can follow you.))
I am de-lurking (Hi! Remember me from Work It, Mom!? I hired you and then I left!) to say:
Don’t do the twitter.
The other day, I went through and stopped following a bunch of people, and then I stopped going there more than twice a day.
It’s ridiculous.
Weaning myself down to zero.
Hooray, it’s so nice to read this!
I have no idea what Twitter even *is*, so I’m no help there. But congratulations on the springy, happy new baby experience!
I like Twitter, but if you don’t have the desire to do it then you aren’t missing out. If you join though, tell us.
I am so glad that you are out of your darkness and into the light. It feels better.
bah to twitter. i love you but i won’t follow you there. also, glad you are feeling that sunshiny light at the end of the early-weeks tunnel.
First I have to say that I love those pics of your boys with their blakents. LOVE!
Second, I’m with you on Twitter…I feel like I SHOULD be doing it but don’t WANT to. Right now I’m content with just reading other people’s tweets. And I would so read yours if you ever decided to do it.
I’m glad things are getting better and better as time goes on. Thank God it improves over time or our species would have been extinct many years ago!
Twitter? No way. Just one more thing that can occupy time that I am already running short on. I’d rather catch up on episodes of the Real Housewives of NYC.
Ohhh, those photos! I don’t even have kids (and in general don’t get all ga-ga over baby photos) but the two of them, making eye contact, oh so precious.
So tell, do they do that all on their own (does Riley go stare at his brother all on his own volition) or did you prompt him to pose for the photo? Either way it’s still adorable.
I also ponder Twitter, but when you have more than one blog, wouldn’t many of your entries be “blogging” or “child wrangling”. Just as mine would be “staring vacantly into space” or “mocking things”?
I am very glad that you are doing better. I was getting somewhat concerned.
So you’re golden for like 12 more years… you know… when the real hell starts.
Twitter sucks. Vive la resistance!
AVIOD TWITTER. Like the plague. Once you start you can’t stop. It’s like interweb crack.
I don’t get Twitter. It seems like it would only be worth reading if someone was incredibly funny and smart (both of which you are!) but wouldn’t it be a total anchor for the person Twittering? Wouldn’t you have to do it ALL THE TIME to make it worthwhile? Ugh!
On the flip-flop, anyone who would want to devote time to reading about my completely boring existence needs to seek treatment immediately. SO = PASS ON TWITTER.
Glad things have improved with the baby! He sure has grown and is getting cuter by the day!
I love twitter.
Wow, now I feel awful about hopping back on Twitter! In my defense, I have local friends who do it too.
That picture of Riley and Dylan makes me want to have another. Then my common sense kicks in and reminds that it would be better NOT to have 2 babies in 13 months.
i’m gonna chime in on the positive side of twitter, but only if you have an idea of how you’d like to use it.
i think it’s really fun and useful because i’ve roped all my local friends into it. it literally moves people around chicago.
it’s also useful as a tool to build an online brand…something i’m not sure you’re all that worried about (although you certainly HAVE one already).
I’m glad you’re feeling better! I so know where you were coming from in that post. It’s such a big life change, so it can’t all be roses, right?
Amen to the Twitter thing. Not interested. I don’t want to feel that chained to the computer since I already sit at one for 8+ hours a day.
YAY! I’m so happy for you. You sounded so overwhelmed and exhasuted there for a while.
Yay for smiling babies! (And adorable brother pictures.)
And I am totally feeling you on the Twitter thing. I barely even use a cell phone for Pete’s sake, and yet I feel practically Amish when I hear that “everyone” is on Twitter.
WTF is twitter? I suppose I’ll just keep my head in the sand. Your post has officially got me thinking about having another kiddo. That and the fact that the moms in my daughter’s playgroup are popping them out WEEKLY. Shit, just as I was getting back into my size 8’s.
Twitter is not THAT bad. I mean it’s like a condensed blog, without the Google ads. For those who don’t know it’s twitter.com. Update about that Jesus walking his cross “Nice tevas, Jesus!” in 140 characters or less. Be smug in your incredible sense of humor, like I do. It’s not something to take serious, like most of the internet. All these “group” sites are like high school. If you’re not “in”, then you’re just not “cool”. The last thing I need to be is a 27 year old hipster. I personally use it so I can Remember dumb things I saw, did, etc. That’s all. Sorry bout the long as Hell comment.
I didn’t think I would like twitter, but I do. I don’t have 24/7 access to the internet, so I like to read through everyone’s tweets when I get home from work. It helps me feel like I didn’t miss out on things all day.
I am totally with you on the twitterless wagon. I was on for a day…and then jumped the hell off. ANNOYING!
Also. Ice Weasels???!!!!
Holy crap.
You bring me much amusement.
Thank you.
It’s ok to not Twitter : )
Glad things are feeling better.
Hey, you made it past the first 4 weeks! And then some. I know it sucked to be in it, but look at what was on the other side… a happy, smiley, beautiful baby boy. And toddler. And MAMA. I’m glad things are better now.
Cheers to being in a happy place. :)
*chants with Leah, “Viva la resistance!”*
I mean do we seriously need something to shorten our collective attention spans any further? Next it’s going to be micro-Twitter. with posts that are 20 characters or less.
The only time I feel left out is when I get together with my Flickrite pals at a Meetup and everyone is chatting about crap they heard from someone on Twitter. Count me out, for good. Absolutely no desire whatsoever.
OMG these photos are crushing my heart. Yep, it’s all worth it.
SO GLAD you’re shooting out the other end of that newborn tunnel! Just wait until the awesomeness of interacting, sitting, crawling, talking, walking, and your boys PLAYING TOGETHER! It seriously seriously gets so much better even!
Nobody needs to walk around all day thinking up whitty one-liners - it’s not natural and will make you go mental. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need anything else to make me mental! After all, I already have a husband, 2 toddlers, a puking cat and the stupidest yellow lab in existence. Twitter would send me over the edge!
Down with Twitter!!!!
I don’t even know what twitter is, and if I don’t know about it, it isn’t important. Unless its some kind of new porn, then it is important. Now THERE”S a boat you shouldn’t miss.