The Magic Number 3

Earlier this week, Sawyer celebrated his 33rd day of life.  Why is that worth mentioning?  Well this year Wes turned 33, I turned 33, and Colin turned 3.  Now that's a lot of 3's!  I'm not a numerologist (A, this is for you!) but if I were I think that would be pretty interesting.

Those aren't the only 3's in our lives right now.  The power of 3 takes on new meaning when you breastfeed a newborn!  Never in my life have I been so connected with the clock.  I could tell you what time it is at any given moment.  I am basically a slave governed by the old tick-tock.  I wake up in 3-hour intervals, I plan my daily activities around a 3-hour schedule, and I eat in accordance with the 3-hour cycle.  

Any nursing mom understands this is just a way of life.  It's not good or bad, it's just how it is.  When you plan to leave the house, you generally try to feed your infant minutes before leaving to allow for the longest possible amount of time to be away.  I find myself counting frontwards and backwards 10 times a day, trying to determine what time the next feeding will be, when the last feeding was, and the best time to do things or how much time is available.  And that's not even taking into account those precious first weeks of life when the interval is shortened to 2 hours!  

I can tell you that the second baby, in terms of feeding, is much easier.  You have a concept of what's going on and what to expect.  Since you already know you'll be occupied every 3 hours (often on the dot), you just plan accordingly.  The apprehension of being in the right place at the right time, so to speak, is gone because you realize you take your equipment with you wherever you go.  As long as there is a car and an empty parking lot, you're good.  It becomes a way of life and although tiring at times, it's all worth it when you think the the incredible bonding and closeness you feel with your newborn (not to mention the nutrition you're providing).  This wasn't meant to turn into an infomercial on breastfeeding, by the way!

So Mr. Clock, as Britney Spears so eloquently put it, "I'm a slave to you."  And I'm okay with that ol' ball and chain - at least for another 11 months!  Oh and one thing is for sure, my children LOVE to eat and would never dream of missing one of these said feedings!  Only 1 hour and 7 minutes left until the baby bird starts pecking and I'm otherwise occupied with a sweet smelling lad attached to my bosom.  

This open mouth position is what I see 90% of the day.  And yes, for you old schoolers, that is a Run DMC shirt he is proudly sporting!