How to Relax on Vaca
August 23, 2014
I've spent a lot of time since July 11th with a newborn on my shoulder. Instead of that big glass of wine after work to relax, I go to my daughter's and hold the baby so she and her husband can eat dinner and maybe get a pre-sleep nap. I sit quietly on the living room couch with the news on in the background and the baby in my arms.
I've forgotten what it is like to hold a newborn on my chest. I'd forgotten the weight of the warmth of a newborn balanced just so against your collar bone, one arm supporting the tush and the other the head. He radiates peace, calmness, and contentment.
At the youngest's college during finals, the school brought puppies to the campus for the kids to play with as a stress reliever. They should have brought babies who had just been nursed and were in milk comas.
I have an aunt who had to wait to have children. When her children had children, she would spend every holiday or gathering with a baby in her arms. Everyone would offer to take the baby so she could eat, or get up, or even perhaps talk to someone besides the baby. She would refuse and remain in her chair throughout the party until the parents were ready to go home.
We taked about that with her recently. She said she remembered everyone telling her that she could put the baby down in the crib. She'd tell them that they could put the baby down in the crib after she left. I thought it was rather extreme at the time. I understand it perfectly now.
Squishy is with us for the second week of vacation. I have lots to do: I am working on completing two watercolor journals; need to prepare some sketchbooks for the demos I'm doing in Vermont; and I have an illustrated quote due. I brought it all wtih me to accomplish this week.
Ha!
You'll find me sitting in the shade in the backyard, babe on chest, book in the other hand. I'm pretty adept at juggling baby and other demands. I just typed this whole post as he sleeps on me in the bed.
I'll put him down when they leave.