"Forget about the groceries, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, laundry. Just take care of yourself and the baby", "sleep when the baby sleeps", "drink lots of fluids, avoid stress and get plenty of rest." These were pieces of advice I got from my OB, boss, nurse and other moms. Easier said than done. I am not the neatest person in the world but a disorganized house will stress me out more. And one does get tired of take-out dinners.

Before Evan, the prospect of sleepless nights was what I dreaded the most about taking care of a baby. Little did I know that that was just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, you do get to adjust to your new sleeping hours, not to mention it does get better as the baby gets older. As I've said in my previous entry, the "clinginess" is another challenge because you can't get anything done. It comes a close second to isolation.  

If I was in the Philippines, a clingy baby wouldn't be much of a problem because there are nannies/relatives to hold the baby for you AND have a maid to do the household chores as well. So how does one juggle both in nannyless/maidless/relativelss america? Here is how I attempt to do it:

My little "lechon de leche" (roasted piglet). After our sunbath exercise session which Evan loves, as taught by tita Tanya. Tanya challenged me that with this exercise Evan should be rolling over by 3 months. Her Anton did it by 2 (he was already learning to stand at 6). Evan at 5 weeks. He is wearing a one size bigger diaper already today.

1.) Hit the shower first chance I get. Nothing is more depressing than being stuck inside the house in last night's sleepwear all day. With this I'm always ready to head for outdoors (either the grocery, park, long walks) when the going gets tough (i.e., cranky baby).

2.) Chores are done in installments during Evan's quiet time (usually after feeding).

3.) Quiet times are extended by moving Evan around the house the first sign that he is bored (the sofa with the lighthouse blanket that fascinates him, sit him on the bouncer and have him look out the window, his crib with the mobile, Lanie's cradle/swing etc.)

4.) During "clingy" moments Evan does the chores with me. I put him on a carrier (loves it) while I wash his bottles, dust around the house, vacuum, sort the laundry - anything that doesn't require bending.

5.) Having memorized the daily tv news after a few weeks of watching all editions of it the whole day (morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, local, national, 9:00 evening etc.) I discovered that I can actually do other stuff while breastfeeding. Like read magazines, books (much harder with my short attention span these days), eat (my breakfast, lunch, snacks - uninterrupted), talk on phone and ta-dah! blog (like right now). This is where my nursing pillow comes in handy.

6.) Swaddle him early so he's settled down and calm by his bedtime (we're working on 10pm; as of now it's 10:30-11:30.)

7.) Make a point to get him take a long nap after lunch. For some reason he hasn't done long naps anymore this week - the whole day. Swaddle if necessary. I make this my nap time too.

8.) For peace and quiet fast - breastfeed. After all the pediatrician did say you can't breastfeed a baby too much.

9.) Look forward when he's 6 weeks. It's the age limit of our healthclub's daycare. Woo-hoo! 

10.) Finally my mantra "when nothing gets done today, it's okay."

Other tips anyone?

A couple of new Evan photos in his album.

Currently listening to: silence
Currently reading: Artist's Magazine
Currently watching: tv news (again)