Little by little with our wee Lyra
Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 12:54 ;)
All of our friends and family have now returned to their homes, and so have we. We left the apartment on Wednesday and are comfortably tucked back into Rebel Heart.
I missed our floating home. It is so much easier to keep an eye on both wee ones here. While the apartment served the exact purpose we needed for the weeks before Lyra's arrival and the few weeks postpartum we were there, it felt good to know that getting back into boat life was not hard to adjust to at all.
;)
Many people have asked to read Lyra's birth story and are curious about our experience with the Mexican health system in general. I have drafts of these topics but they are slow going while I care for myself, my smallest girl, and my big girl. I took four weeks to write Cora's birth story, and then I only had one kid!
I will get to it when I can. I promise!
This is his "I-have-a-newborn-face."
Eric and I were able to go out to lunch today with just Lyra. (Many thanks to our friend Olina for watching Cora for several hours!) We were laughing at how with Cora, going to lunch without her was a treat, and now just going to lunch with only ONE kid is a treat :)
Friends have also asked if Lyra is a "good" baby. I don't like to say she is a good baby, because it implies that there are "bad" babies. Lyra's first few weeks of life have certainly been easier than Cora's. Breastfeeding is easier (but still it was painful to get started.) Her sleep schedule is easier (but still is a newborn sleep schedule). Just having the experience under of our belt of what to expect, is easier.
If you've been following my blog since Cora (or before), you may remember the Tale of Frank and Larry. Luckily things aren't quite as bad as the Frank and Larry days right now. It feels more like Eric and I are college roommates who are taking extremely different majors and have completely different study habits. So we see each other in our dorm, but rarely get a chance to talk except for things campus related (read, "kid" related to maintain the analogy.)
I guess this time, instead of Frank and Larry, we are Sarah and Lisa.
;)
Sarah is taking early childhood development, and is up all night observing newborn breastfeeding and sleeping habits.
;)
Lisa is majoring in physical fitness and researching how to keep toddlers healthy, sane, and entertained. Right now Sarah and Lisa are BFFs who hope to take a few classes together next semester when their schedules may be more in tune.
Sarah and Lisa. Well, it IS better than Frank and Larry.
;)
As with Cora, I am babywearing with Lyra. I didn't know much about babywearing when Cora was first born, but I am well-equipped now to rock babywearing as Lyra grows. I've been mastering a ring sling and am starting to learn how to switch wearing her with the rings on different shoulders, oh, and have already successfully breastfed several times in the ring sling.
Babywearing + breastfeeding = amazing hands-free freedom.
In parting, a few amusing things from both gringos and Mexicans about baby Lyra.
From gringos:
1. Walking next to a stranger on the street the other day. She looks at Lyra and asks how old she is. "10 days," I reply.
She gasps, "Why did you fly down here so soon after having her?" (First of all, like my travel schedule is any of her business....)
"I didn't. She was born here."
Eyes pop out like saucers. "Oh...I...see." And she quickly walks ahead, horrified.
2. A man walks by as we are standing outside a restaurant. "Oh, a new baby, huh? When did you guys arrive down here?" Knowing what he meant, I just went right ahead.
"She was born down here."
His mouth forms a small "o" shape. "Well, congratulations. Is she... healthy?"
(What the? Who asks questions like that?)
From Mexicans
1. Many, many of the locals we have befriended down here are so proud that we have a Mexican in the family. It is awesome to see them so happy and proud of it. We are often greeted with, "la mexicana!" and "una pata salada" (The term for someone born in this region. It means a "salt water foot, or someone born on the coast.)
2. I can't walk out the door each day without some Mexican woman (and once even a man) telling me to cover up Lyra because her head or feet, or both, are cold. Mind you, the average temperature down here is in the 80s each day. It is part of Mexican culture to wrap up small children to the extreme. Case in point: when Amanda was down here she saw a small boy with a winter hat, winter coat, and mittens on, in the middle of a lovely 80 degree day.
Yesterday at the grocery store, a woman actually started tucking Lyra's feet up into the ring sling for me as I washed my hands. Ergh. No thank you!
~ Still, all the comments are much easier to handle since I'm no longer pregnant (or as hormonal).
;)
That's the current report from casa Rebel Heart.
Reader Comments (10)
Love your blog. Glad your enjoying the Mexican hospitality.
She's growing growing growing! The family pictures are lovely.
Isn't it amazing how stupid people really are...when Eric was born, you would not have believed the questions I got...sounds like you have it pretty much under control...love & miss all of you...Grandma Nancy & Grandpa Lou
Love the update, thank you! And the close-up picture of sleeping Lyra is just precious.
Awesome! So glad you guys are back on the boat. I babywore Eli when we had our trimaran and it made life so much easier. Just ahh....be careful not to bonk the baby when you're loading groceries into the skiff or hauling around fuel cans. Not that I ever did that, or anything ;-)
YAY! I'm so glad to have checked in and see that you guys are doing well. Hopefully your schedules will sync up soon. Lyra is beautiful! Ah, the gringo responses are hilarious.
Awesome, awesome....AWESOME! Thanks for the great update!
Are you sure that is Eric's "I-have-a newborn" face? Having 4 daughters myself, I wear that look permanently....and I think it is gender based! Heehee.....I kid....I am blessed, as he is as well.
Love your new baby post! Enjoy her so much because you know they just won't stay tiny long ;O) I miss my "babies"
Glad to hear everything is going great! The comments about covering Lyra up made me laugh out loud...It is such a cultural thing. I had my mom on me about covering up every inch of my kids before going out AND throwing a blanket on them too. (I would often comment to her about them not being able to breathe with so many layers on them) Abrazos!!! Glad you are back on the boat, getting back into the rhythm of your lives. Yay!!
salt water foot. LOVE IT. that's pure awesome! oh the stupid things people will say... reminds me of the stupid things you heard about just living on a boat and having a family...