15 Apr
Happy 25th Birthday to Me
Oh hello! I’ve missed you all so much. I miss my blogging and your comments and, I’ll admit it feeling like I have any sort of control in my life. You may remember the 25th birthday wish list I posted a few weeks ago? This morning I tweeted a new one, that sheds some light on the way my priorities and honestly, entire life have changed since then.
Things I want for my 25th birthday: a shower, makeup on my face, hair done, sleeping baby, no more headache, blogging time, delicious cake.
Lucky girl that I am, I was somehow able to squeeze in all of those things. I was a fool for doubting a bit when other ladies described how they were able to accomplish absolutely nothing after baby is born, as newborns are known to “sleep all the time”, right? Oh how naive I was!
I’m sure you want to hear all about everything, and I have several posts which I’ve taken notes for on my iPhone (p.s. having my phone next to me at all times, especially when breastfeeding is an absolute must, it’s how I feel connected to the world when I’m doing the same four things over and over day in and day out) but we’re all going to have to settle into a bit more of a routine for me to find time for such things.
This, however, does not mean I will be leaving you high and dry until that time, as I had the forethought to plan ahead and ask a few of my favorite e-friends to write some guest posts for me. You may recognize some of their screen names as they are frequent commenters here on That Wife as well, and it was very exciting to see what they decided to write about as I gave them creative license to cover whatever topic they desired. I think you are really going to enjoy their posts!
Guests posts will last about 2 weeks, and then I hope to be back to semi-regular posting once again, although as I’m sure you all realized it will never be like it was before. I’ve discovered that there really isn’t anything in my life that is going to be the way it was now that T1 has made his appearance, and though there may be a small part of me that feels a little bit sad about that, my little one half-squints up at me with those eyes I’m almost convinced are going to turn blue and I melt.
Thanks to my lovely mother, aka Denise Andersen Photography, for this beyond adorable shot of my little newborn (I believe he is less than an hour old here).
Goodbye for now. My breasts are being called for yet again. Enjoy the guest posts between now and the next time you hear from me!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Happy Birthday! I was wondering when we would see another post! The pictures of your birth are absolutely beautiful
1Congrats on the beautiful baby!
2I can’t wait to see what your guest bloggers have in store!
I love your blog it is awesome! I look forward to hearing from you in a few weeks, enjoy T1!!
I forgot, Happy Birthday to you!!
3Oh, I LOVE that shot of him! I think I was doing video during his little check-up so I’m glad she got this darling shot of him! Happy Birthday!
4Happy Birthday Jenna!!! It is going to be your best year yet! xoxo
5Must be nice to feel so wanted! Can’t wait till you can squeeze in more blogging though - I’ve missed it!
Happy birthday!!!
6Happy birthday! I’ve yet to congratulate you on T1, so a big CONGRATULATIONS! as well. I can’t imagine the adjustment you’re going through, but hope that your little family is healthy and getting as much sleep as possible. T1 is… well, let’s just say he’s giving this girl crazy baby fever!
7Happy B’day love! I wish I could have been more quick to think of a guest post, but right now I’m buried in moving to Colorado with the boy plans, and all that entails, so I’ll just enjoy having new posts to read on here. Enjoy the baby and I’m sure we’ll all be waiting to read the birth story whenever you have time to put it up
8Happy birthday, Jenna! I hope you enjoyed the cake the most. (Although showering is good too).
9Happy birthday! T1 is so precious, what a great shot. Congratulations
10Happy birthday!
Isn’t it amazing how much time they take? When my boy was first born I was shocked and I missed blogging too. And like you having my phone right next to me is essential to make me feel like I have some sort of connection to the world!
11Happy day Jenna! I hope the cake was fantastic
12Happy birthday from this part of the world and congratulations on your absolutely beautiful baby-boy. Enjoy every second!
13Happy birthday, again. Enjoy your “break,” (ha ha) we’ll be looking forward to that birth story on your return
14I have to admit that I am laughing just a tiny bit about your naive comment:)
I hope you are getting some sleep and that nursing is going well.
Happy Birthday! You are so very young!
15How great to see you here, albeit briefly! I’m glad you were able to get your birthday wishes. Congrats again on T1. He is wonderful.
16Happy Birthday! Congratulations on turning older and becoming a mother. And thanks too for sharing the beautiful picture of T1. We look forward to having you back whenever you can make it.
17Happy Birthday, youngster!
I haven’t commented yet but wanted to say congrats on the babe and welcome to motherhood! I love that you’ve already realized a few things about newborn life in a short period of time. It’s truly life-changing and indescribable, isn’t it? I swear, no matter how many new moms tell you what it’s like it will never fully sink in until you are in the midst of it. Hang in there and enjoy every second. You know that the first weeks are the hardest, so just take it slow and one moment at a time (sometimes one day at a time is too much).
18happy birthday!!!!!!!
here is an awesome Mama blog: http://www.damomma.com. You should check it out. Im not even a Mama and I love it.
19happy birthday and congratulations! your little one is absolutely beautiful! i think you make a whole bunch of people want a photographer at their births now!
20Happy Happy Birthday! Hope you were able to get all of the things on your “new” birthday list
21Happy Birthday, indeed! Enjoy your precious boy!
22Happy birthday- and we’ve missed you too
Take your time settling into your new routine with your newest addition to the family. What a keeper he is.
23soo happy you got the things on your modified wish list and a happy 25th bday! Can’t wait to hear more about this exciting time. And more pics of T1′s yummy little face!
24Freaking gorgeous. Pretty sure my Mom has started reading your blog and now wants you to bring T1 to Kate’s wedding (she’s a big time baby lover). Just sayin’.
25Seriously, that is one cute kid! So glad you had a great birthday! Will be looking forward to your guest’s posts, but it’ll be good to have you back. But don’t you dare come back until you feel ready for it!
26Happy birthday!
27I hope you got a mix of your old wishes and your new wishes.
But then again you got a wish you had a while back: motherhood. I look forward to read the guest posts but to be honest even more to hear about your experience of birth but also the adjustment of becoming parents. See you in, well… whenever baby lets you go online
Happy Birthday!!!!
T1 is just too adorable! Rest up and can’t wait to hear more in the coming weeks and months!
28HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jenna!!! I’m so glad you’re turning your blog over for a few weeks, you shouldn’t worry AT ALL about disappointing any of us… you are totally tied up enjoying your sweet baby! And I hear you- you wonder if life will ever be normal again! But it will, and it happens so fast, so even amid all those crazy hormones, and baby trying to work through his new world (and stomach problems and everything else), enjoy every second! I remember crying my eyes out every single day those first few weeks. It was a mix of crazy hormones, wondering if I could really do this, and overwhelming love and concern for my new baby. You just aren’t functioning like a normal person, but it’s all meant to be. My throat hurt every time I heard him cry, nursing was so painful, and I looked like a mess. It was so hard, but it was also so magical… I looked at my sweet baby and I knew we could do this, we were in this together! You will too, and your life will get back to an even BETTER normal than it was before! Hang in there, it is all worth it! Just be sure to let your house get messy, and sleep every chance you get! Take care of yourself, and that angel of yours!
p.s. How is nursing going? Sweet baby trying to figure it all out? Feeling the pain yet? I found that Lansinoh makes the best nursing pads, Target makes the best nursing bras (cute and comfy ones), the Avent hand pump is the best thing for middle-of-night pumping and quick relief from discomfort, a nipple shield (Target) can help ease the pain, and engorgement just happens. I was a wreck because of nursing, so you can cry on my shoulder if you need to.
It really was all worth it though!
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
29Happy birthday!!!! Enjoy all moments with baby. Can’t wait until you start blogging again!
30Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful day! I look forward to your posts again.
31and we miss YOU! Glad to hear from you for a bit
32I won’t lie it will be strange not hearing from you as often, but we all know, understand, and appreciate what takes you away from us.
Your little boy is adorable. Hope you are doing well!
33Happy Birthday!
34Happy Birthday Jenna! I’m glad you were able to complete your birthday wish list! I hope you had a wonderful birthday as a mom!
35I just read your twitter updates…duh I’m a little behind…good luck pumping and getting that milk to come in!!!! Woohooo!!
36Jenna,
I don’t know if you even have time to read your comments right now, but I wanted to let you know that it all gets easier. But, if you’re anything like me, you will find that impossible to believe during the first few weeks. But I promise you, it does. If it didn’t there would be far less families with multiple children! Breastfeeding is difficult even when everything is going right-it takes time to adjust to not only the physical aspects of it, but also to the commitment issue (you are essentially feel chained to the baby). Again, that gets easier. Just allow yourself to express your emotions.
I remember sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room and crying my eyes out. When my husband asked me what was wrong, I said, “I love her so much, but I’m so tired and happy and frustrated…etc.”
But all that aside, as I sit watching my 4.5 month old sleep I can assure you that you are in for such a ride. Watching that baby grow is like nothing I had even imagined. I knew I’d love her, but I didn’t know love like this even EXISTED.
37Happy belated birthday!!!
38Happy birthday! I’m wondering - since your husband is Polish, will your son grow up bilingual?
Jenna Reply:
April 19th, 2010 at 6:16 am
We hope so. I’m working on encouraging TH to speak to him in Polish beginning right now but it’s hard for both of us to remember.
So happy to see a post from you. Happy Birthday!
I’ve been thinking the same thing - I know I’ll be crazy short of time when I have this baby, but I sort of have no idea why that will be. A post sometime about WHAT is so time consuming? I neeeeed to know!
40It’s lovely to see you again (and your precious son too.) Happy Birthday!
41Hope you have a happy bday and can’t wait to hear more. Has the family started saying who he looks more like. I am sure with the hair that is from TH but it is always funny how families start seeing random traits they think they see in babies. He is adorable btw.
Kelli Nicole Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I’m actually pretty sure TH was a little baldy, while Jenna was born with like 3 inches of black hair! It will be fun to see who he looks like as he gets older!
Jenna-sent you an email re: bfeeding-suggesting herbal/medical supplements…really suggest them!!!
43Happy (belated) birthday!! Such a great photo of your little guy.
Hang in there Jenna!
44Happy belated birthday!!
45Glad to hear you had a wonderful birthday
I’ve missed you!! T1 is such a little cutie. I am so happy for you.
46Happy Birthday. What a fantastic little present!
47I’m glad you got your modified birthday wishes! And I hope the day itself was wonderful.
Take all the time you need to get settled into a routine you’re comfortable with; we’ll still be here. And I’m with Cate - dying to hear the birth story!
Enjoy your time with Baby - he really is quite perfect! Those tiny fingers made me squeal a little. Lovely shot from your mom. Thanks for sharing it!
48See…now I know you won’t think it is weird that I begged you for your address pre-baby and it is still going to take me to his one month birthday to actually get his gift in the mail. Because it DOES get better…but you never actually get ALL of your time back.
You’re doing a great job, momma.
49Happy (Belated) Birthday!
50