I’ve started on another yoga journey for 2018. First of all, we’re doing Whole30 again, which I am quite looking forward to. Last year we did Whole30 in January but I went and got pregnant a few days in, so I didn’t necessarily feel that great afterwards – not bad, just not amazing. I’m looking forward to a clean start to the year as I aim to get my body to a new normal post-baby and post-caesarean.
We are on Day 2 of this Whole30, and Day 2 of Adriene’s 30 Days Yoga. I haven’t gotten to the yoga today yet (and Evie’s still napping almost 2 hours in so I fear her other naps will be short) but I am excited for it. Yesterday I got interrupted several times – Evie waking up, Luna going out, Luna coming in, Evie losing her bink, etc., but I still did it. I am letting control go and trying to realize that uninterrupted yoga is probably a thing of the past for a bit.
Realizing that is like realizing the truth about babies, which I was talking to someone about the other day. When you have a baby, the baby is in charge. Very different no matter what you think from a pet (which let’s be real, is what a baby feels like in the beginning, as they just eat, poop, sleep, repeat.) Evie’s in charge – she sleeps when she wants to, eats when she wants to, and asks to be changed when she needs to, plays when she feels like it, etc. Realizing that (and having the luxury to be home to let her lead the charge!) has made a huge difference in my life.
I am a very organized, planned, type-A person. I’ve read about sleep schedules and how often a baby should eat and nap and poop and how long she should play ad nauseam. But honestly, I am trying to shake the dust and let her lead me. I know at some point we will aim for a schedule and routine, because (as I’ve read) this is good for babies – they do great on a routine!) but right now, I’m letting her set the path.
Anyway, all of this is to say, my yoga journey might look different than it did a year or two ago, but I’m taking it in stride. Letting my losing control to a tiny monster be part of the path. Watching her giggle while I make faces at her in Warrior 2 is so worth it. So, although my leg doesn’t go as high as it used to, and I can’t hold plank for as long as I could before, I am moving. Moving my body. Moving forward. Growing, changing, breathing, becoming something I wasn’t before.
So much of parenting is realizing that we can read every book, every article, talk to every experienced parent, and we STILL won’t know exactly what THIS SPECIFIC LITTLE PERSON wants or needs. I read hours and hours about how to wean babies off nursing – and then one day, Noah just refused it, and he was done. Same with potty training – I read everything, talked to every boy mom because I was SO nervous about getting it right. And one morning, he woke up and literally said “Mama, I’m done with diapers.” Put on underwear and that was that. I super appreciate the universal karma that gave me a difficult husband and an incredibly easy baby. The biggest challenge was, I would say, after Matt left, and Noah would come into my room in the middle of the night to sleep in my bed. For six months he did it. And everyone was like, “do this! do that! break that habit now!” But … I mean … it was a big change, and a trauma for a little guy. If he’s doing it when he’s 12, I’ll ask for advice. But now, at 2 … let me give him the closeness and comfort he needs. Letting them show us what they need and following/supporting them is the best we can do. You’re doing great, little mama!