And we're at 12 weeks!

You guys probably don’t even remember me as it has been SO long since I’ve written but I’ve been a little busy these past few weeks..Nothing major, I just have a 12 week old consuming my every waking (and sleeping) moment. So you guys really understand what being a new mommy is, I’ll set up the scene for you as I write this blog. Its 930am, my son is in the crib taking a nap (yes - a nap at 9:30AM) and I'm sitting in bed, still in my pjs, hair up in a messy bun with my teeth still un-brushed. I would say this is a pretty typical morning in the Shustik house and I am semi embarrassed to say it out loud. I see some new mommies in full hair and makeup with their high heels on and I seriously have so much respect for them. How the hell do they do it!?!? I have finally come to terms that leggings and a sweater are decked for me and if I have blush and chap stick on, I’m all dolled up and feeling fab…it’s pathetic. This is what brings me to what Shai and I have described our new life as..It’s the NEW normal. I used to wake up, leisurely make my way to the gym, meet a girlfriend for lunch, play with Tyler, hit up Bloomingdales and call it a day. Now, it’s a miracle if I eat a meal sitting down and make it into a store without my boy crying that he's too damn hot in all his layers. But I have to say, I wouldn’t change this life for anything in the world. Having a baby changes everything and while there are definitely some moments where I dream of my old fabulous life, where if I got hungry, we simply go out for a meal, I then look at my son and nothing in the world matters but him. Yes, I have become one of those sappy mamas’s who is obsessed with their child and he's all I talk about all day every day.

 For those of you who don’t stalk me on Facebook or instagram (and why wouldn't you) you should know my son is a rock star. He was actually born with a Mohawk! For all of you always ask me what we use in his hair, most days its au natural but for special occasions daddy styles it with Aquafor. He has big beautiful blue eyes (my dream come true) and is a spitting image of his handsome daddy. Apparently I was just the carrier because if you guys didn’t see Shai, you would think he was adopted. We look NOTHING alike, however according to Shai he pouts just like his mama. Yes he will be manipulating me his whole life with that little pout just like I do to Shai. He is the love of my life and because of what an amazing little boy he is, Shai wants 6 more of him and in an ideal world, he would like me to be pregnant again tomorrow. While I want at least 2 more I don’t think I'm ready just yet as having a baby is a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices and lot of sleepless nights!

Lately Shai and I have been down each ohers throats, more like me down his, because I am just so overwhelmed with all the little things that need to get done that need to keep my baby boy alive and well. Shai and I finally worked out a system this week and it has helped us so much. I used to do all the middle of the night feedings, plus the first one in the morning, wash all the bottles and spend the entire day with him, which don’t get me wrong, its amazing but is also exhausting. I was starting to get cranky and become that annoying wife who bitches at her husband when he walks through the door..ugh! So my problem-solving husband and I sat down and made a plan that would work better. J is now down to 1 feeding in the middle of the night so we do the 7pm bottle together, I do the 3am bottle and once Jagger is up in the morning, Shai feeds him, dresses him for the day and lets me sleep till about 8ish. Let me tell you, this has been life changing!! I feel so much more rested and happier and Shai and I are finally in sync. See it’s all about compromise and seeing what does work and what doesn’t and making the best out of the “new normal”.

I can truly say these last 6 weeks have been incredible (I'm the first to admit that the first 6 are uneventful and scary). He is smiling ALL the time and we have little conversations all day long. While I realize its just random noises he makes, I swear we get each other and we will sit and gossip all day long). I sound like a crazy person don’t I?  This is why it's very important as a new mom to keep yourself busy and socialize as often as possible so you don’t go stir crazy. We go over to Liat’s all the time so all the boys can “play”. Did I mention that we literally live 4 steps from each other now as our apartment downstairs flooded 2 weeks ago...Don't ask. So when she moved into a 3 bedroom when baby Ryder came along, we moved into her apartment until our new apartment is ready in June. Yes my life is constant chaos and by the time J is 6 months he will have lived in 3 different apartments already! Anyway, I also go to my moms group through Big City Moms once a week which I HIGHLY recommend to all new moms, and we have play dates as often as possible. Anything to get us out of the house and talking to other people besides each other all day!

 I can literally go on for hours about all the changes we have made in our lives for him, but it’s all irrelevant. The point is baby changes everything and you need to be ready to be truly selfless. No one matters but him and he has brought more happiness in 12 weeks than anything in my 29 years of existence. So to those new moms out there feeling overwhelmed and stressed, just remember how lucky you are and start counting your blessings. Before we know it they will be out of the house, married and want nothing to do with us…Kill me!