I could sit and watch him all day!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Happy Father's Day!
To my darling Kent, and my own sweet dad.
How did I get two such amazing men in my life?
Xoxo!
How did I get two such amazing men in my life?
Friday, June 15, 2012
Mommy Daughter Day.
Lately, it has been all about Oliver!
Greta has been a champ about having a new brother around. She loves to "kiss his sweet head", talk to him softly, and push him in his swing. I haven't noticed anything like resentment from her about the changes that are going on around here. But I can tell that she does miss the one on one attention. We've had some run in's the last week or two that have me scratching my head and wondering where my sweet girl is? Her storms clear up quickly to sunshine again, but when you're in them...watch out! Usually they blow in when I am distracted with something else, and we have had a lot of "something elses" with Oliver being part of our family now.
So today I wanted to have a day with just us girls. No storms just sunshine!
Kent worked from home, so he was able to watch Oliver while us girls did a few of Greta's favorite things.
First we wore our dresses, and of course no ladies outing is complete without her purse. (I was happy to be without the diaper bag, and Greta felt very special carrying her kitty cat purse. Which she wears by sliding it up on her shoulder and walking with her arm straight up in the air so it won't slide off again.)
We went to our favorite breakfast spot and had her standard order of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and apple juice.
We put pennies in the fountain and talked to the bronze animal statues.
Then we went to the library and picked out two new Leslie Patricelli books, along with two of her old favorites.
It was wonderful to take our time, to have no one to listen to except for her, to be able to look her in the eye and ask questions, and see how she shined under the attention.
It's funny how much having a second child changes things. Because one month ago all of this would have been par for the course, everything we did during the week was always just Greta and I. But today it felt so spectacularly special.
(I think I missed her one on one attention too!)
Greta has been a champ about having a new brother around. She loves to "kiss his sweet head", talk to him softly, and push him in his swing. I haven't noticed anything like resentment from her about the changes that are going on around here. But I can tell that she does miss the one on one attention. We've had some run in's the last week or two that have me scratching my head and wondering where my sweet girl is? Her storms clear up quickly to sunshine again, but when you're in them...watch out! Usually they blow in when I am distracted with something else, and we have had a lot of "something elses" with Oliver being part of our family now.
So today I wanted to have a day with just us girls. No storms just sunshine!
Kent worked from home, so he was able to watch Oliver while us girls did a few of Greta's favorite things.
First we wore our dresses, and of course no ladies outing is complete without her purse. (I was happy to be without the diaper bag, and Greta felt very special carrying her kitty cat purse. Which she wears by sliding it up on her shoulder and walking with her arm straight up in the air so it won't slide off again.)
We went to our favorite breakfast spot and had her standard order of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and apple juice.
We put pennies in the fountain and talked to the bronze animal statues.
Then we went to the library and picked out two new Leslie Patricelli books, along with two of her old favorites.
It was wonderful to take our time, to have no one to listen to except for her, to be able to look her in the eye and ask questions, and see how she shined under the attention.
It's funny how much having a second child changes things. Because one month ago all of this would have been par for the course, everything we did during the week was always just Greta and I. But today it felt so spectacularly special.
(I think I missed her one on one attention too!)
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Lately...
So, when I get behind with blog posts I like to do a lump it all together post and call it something like "Lately..."
Where I put up a slew of pictures and maybe a small summary, so as to remind you that we are still alive and well.
Which we are! To sum it up, the last few weeks we saw a Very Special Birthday, a visit from our Virginia family, trips to the park, and our dear boy growing bigger and stronger each day. (No joke, my 4 week old will stand up when he's hungry.)
...I am over most of my recovery and now I'm beginning the next phase entitled Making Sense of My Life.
Tomorrow will be my first day where the children outnumber the adults. To prepare myself I am sleeping in my clothes and having a protein drink next to my bed in order to cross off the two things I find there is no longer time for in My New Life (eating and getting dressed.)
It will also be the first day I begin developing my System and Schedule (the two things every mom needs to keep herself and family sane).
Once I figure them out it's watch out world! But until then I may be doing a few more of these posts entitled "Lately..."
Xo!
Where I put up a slew of pictures and maybe a small summary, so as to remind you that we are still alive and well.
Which we are! To sum it up, the last few weeks we saw a Very Special Birthday, a visit from our Virginia family, trips to the park, and our dear boy growing bigger and stronger each day. (No joke, my 4 week old will stand up when he's hungry.)
Tomorrow will be my first day where the children outnumber the adults. To prepare myself I am sleeping in my clothes and having a protein drink next to my bed in order to cross off the two things I find there is no longer time for in My New Life (eating and getting dressed.)
It will also be the first day I begin developing my System and Schedule (the two things every mom needs to keep herself and family sane).
Once I figure them out it's watch out world! But until then I may be doing a few more of these posts entitled "Lately..."
Xo!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Longest Day
Oliver is 2 1/2 weeks old now*.
So, what have we been doing the last 2 weeks you might be wondering? Some of you with newborn experience don't wonder, but you would be right in guessing that we live in a perpetual cycle of feedings, burpings, changings, and holding our sweet child upright in times in between so he doesn't spit up his entire meal and hasten the process all over again.
I can best describe the last two weeks as one giant day with periodic naps in it.
As I write this I'm looking around me wondering where on earth May went and shocked by the audacity of June who springs itself on us so unlooked for.
My recovery has been slow, so we haven't yet quite made it in to society. But we have enjoyed a number of drop in visitors who have come to help us celebrate our new arrival with well wishes, trinkets, and meals (THANK YOU!).
My mom and dad, have taken turns staying with us these first two weeks to help play with our Greta Girl, manage the house, and take care of our sorry looking selves (WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!).
This week we are joined by Kent's parents all the way from Virginia!
And Oliver greets all the family in the same way. Snuggles, and spit ups. You can't call yourself acquainted until you've been spit up on by Oliver.
Here, Grandpa and Peggy are becoming such friends. (Note the change in outfit after the first picture...Oliver greeted them with gusto.)
*And an honest 11 pounds (on an empty stomach)...I find this humorous because I keep hearing of 2 month olds that weigh 11 pounds.
So, what have we been doing the last 2 weeks you might be wondering? Some of you with newborn experience don't wonder, but you would be right in guessing that we live in a perpetual cycle of feedings, burpings, changings, and holding our sweet child upright in times in between so he doesn't spit up his entire meal and hasten the process all over again.
I can best describe the last two weeks as one giant day with periodic naps in it.
As I write this I'm looking around me wondering where on earth May went and shocked by the audacity of June who springs itself on us so unlooked for.
My recovery has been slow, so we haven't yet quite made it in to society. But we have enjoyed a number of drop in visitors who have come to help us celebrate our new arrival with well wishes, trinkets, and meals (THANK YOU!).
My mom and dad, have taken turns staying with us these first two weeks to help play with our Greta Girl, manage the house, and take care of our sorry looking selves (WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!).
This week we are joined by Kent's parents all the way from Virginia!
And Oliver greets all the family in the same way. Snuggles, and spit ups. You can't call yourself acquainted until you've been spit up on by Oliver.
Here, Grandpa and Peggy are becoming such friends. (Note the change in outfit after the first picture...Oliver greeted them with gusto.)
*And an honest 11 pounds (on an empty stomach)...I find this humorous because I keep hearing of 2 month olds that weigh 11 pounds.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Oliver -Day 4
Snoozing and eating were the extent of his activities today.
Each day with him is better than the last...
Monday, May 14, 2012
Oliver's Story
Our sweet little boy is here! Cue the trumpets and the birds!
Today is his third day with us, and all I want to do is tell everyone who will listen how perfect he is! His hands are so soft, and fuzzy head so dear. He loves to snuggle, which is such a treat, and his appetite is through the roof! Last night he was eating every hour sometimes two and taking in an alarming amount each time.
But let me slow down now that you know the most pressing particulars (he's here, and he's so perfect I could cry) and go back to how we met 2 days ago.
Friday we were scheduled to have an ultrasound, non stress test, and midwife checkup. Just to make sure that his 6 days lateness wasn't taking its toll. He passed the ultrasound with flying colors, but was pretty chilled out during the non stress test (where they hook me up to monitors to measure his heart rate and how he responds to contractions and movement.) We watched him for a while and his activity didn't pick up like they were hoping so my fabulous midwife bumped us to the head of the line for an induction next door.
This was it!
They started me on Pitocen around 2:00 that afternoon. We waited and worked through some milder contractions for most of the day and evening. None of them were effecting much change or progress so we ate a lot of room service and I bounced on a giant rubber ball most of the day. (Oliver was facing sunny side up, so I spent a lot of time on that ball trying to flip him over.)
Awww, if only giving birth was as easy as that. I was actually thinking those exact words when Kent took this picture.
But alas, where is the curse in that? It was about midnight when I began to have a devil of a time. I have no qualms with the epidural, sign me up in fact. But given that he wasn't facing the right way or quite low enough they really wanted me on my feet walking and swaying my hips in hilarious fashion to try and work him on down...something I couldn't do in bed with an epidural. Which meant a hold on the pain relief I held so dear and the most painful hour and a half of my life. One minute on, one minute off, of the most sickening pain. (I won't try and accurately describe it, because besides it being indescribable, what's the point?)
Happily, that hour and a half did the trick and we were barreling toward the finish line now! In comes the saint with the white lab coat and horned rimmed glasses, to give me that most blessed needle.
Such a nice man.
One more hour and then my water broke, it was time to meet this boy.
The Lord was truly merciful to me when he saw fit to gear me with what my midwife and nurses call One Fabulous Pelvis. I've never had so many compliments on my pelvis in my life, and until that point, there was never a compliment that I would be so grateful for. Because this baby was big. Like for serious. Thank you Lord for that endowment. I gladly accept my flat feet and flimsy nails for all my rock star pelvis. Because it was a half an hour of pushing (blessedly brief) before the room erupted in a collective Holy Smokes! This kid is huge!
10 pounds 11 ounces, 21 3/4 inches long, and a 15 1/2 inch head! (That's a big head by the way...you do the math.)
All his apgar scores were perfect, and all I could find myself saying was "He's ok! ... Isn't he?" He really was, and he was finally here!
It was relatively fast, but not easy, and two days of feeling pretty miserable in every possible physical way have followed.
But like any mom tells you, you soon forget all that. Oliver is here and he's better than we could have ever imagined.
Being exhausted, weary, and beat up never felt so good.
Today is his third day with us, and all I want to do is tell everyone who will listen how perfect he is! His hands are so soft, and fuzzy head so dear. He loves to snuggle, which is such a treat, and his appetite is through the roof! Last night he was eating every hour sometimes two and taking in an alarming amount each time.
But let me slow down now that you know the most pressing particulars (he's here, and he's so perfect I could cry) and go back to how we met 2 days ago.
Friday we were scheduled to have an ultrasound, non stress test, and midwife checkup. Just to make sure that his 6 days lateness wasn't taking its toll. He passed the ultrasound with flying colors, but was pretty chilled out during the non stress test (where they hook me up to monitors to measure his heart rate and how he responds to contractions and movement.) We watched him for a while and his activity didn't pick up like they were hoping so my fabulous midwife bumped us to the head of the line for an induction next door.
This was it!
They started me on Pitocen around 2:00 that afternoon. We waited and worked through some milder contractions for most of the day and evening. None of them were effecting much change or progress so we ate a lot of room service and I bounced on a giant rubber ball most of the day. (Oliver was facing sunny side up, so I spent a lot of time on that ball trying to flip him over.)
Awww, if only giving birth was as easy as that. I was actually thinking those exact words when Kent took this picture.
But alas, where is the curse in that? It was about midnight when I began to have a devil of a time. I have no qualms with the epidural, sign me up in fact. But given that he wasn't facing the right way or quite low enough they really wanted me on my feet walking and swaying my hips in hilarious fashion to try and work him on down...something I couldn't do in bed with an epidural. Which meant a hold on the pain relief I held so dear and the most painful hour and a half of my life. One minute on, one minute off, of the most sickening pain. (I won't try and accurately describe it, because besides it being indescribable, what's the point?)Happily, that hour and a half did the trick and we were barreling toward the finish line now! In comes the saint with the white lab coat and horned rimmed glasses, to give me that most blessed needle.
Such a nice man.
One more hour and then my water broke, it was time to meet this boy.
The Lord was truly merciful to me when he saw fit to gear me with what my midwife and nurses call One Fabulous Pelvis. I've never had so many compliments on my pelvis in my life, and until that point, there was never a compliment that I would be so grateful for. Because this baby was big. Like for serious. Thank you Lord for that endowment. I gladly accept my flat feet and flimsy nails for all my rock star pelvis. Because it was a half an hour of pushing (blessedly brief) before the room erupted in a collective Holy Smokes! This kid is huge!
10 pounds 11 ounces, 21 3/4 inches long, and a 15 1/2 inch head! (That's a big head by the way...you do the math.)
All his apgar scores were perfect, and all I could find myself saying was "He's ok! ... Isn't he?" He really was, and he was finally here!
It was relatively fast, but not easy, and two days of feeling pretty miserable in every possible physical way have followed.
But like any mom tells you, you soon forget all that. Oliver is here and he's better than we could have ever imagined.
Being exhausted, weary, and beat up never felt so good.
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