Seven Months Later

It's been a little over seven months since DH and I set a new 'course.' He brought it up the other day and so I thought I'd take stock of our progress.

Mentally, I feel like I've made some headway. I'm much more thoughtful when it comes to 'stuff,' both in terms of getting rid of excess possessions and the acquisition of new ones. Yes, I bought four pair of stretchy pants at Target two weeks ago, but that's because I read jeans are bad for your alignment (and, therefore, overall well-being). They also look pretty good and are comfortable as hell for sitting in the floor (also better for you than chairs), playing blocks or trains or reading with my 2-year-old.

I forgot to mention that DD turned two, two weeks ago. That's for another post but I'll just say that "play witt me" are my favorite three words right now.

26#, 9.9oz. of T.R.O.U.B.L.E

I made her an 'Easter bunny' cake. I dyed coconut and then put a chocolate bunny and a couple of peeps to hold the candles on top. It was adorable, as was the look on her face.

Anyway, now that we've moved back home (and twice in 4 months), we've definitely gotten rid of a lot of excess stuff. There's still more but we're down to the potentially interesting/valuable stuff and will sort through and try to sell whatever we decide we can't display. We do have some room in the attic to store stuff but it really needs to be reigned in, as well. If we can keep it to seasonal and necessary, as opposed to mountains of yarn and fabric I'll never make into anything or boxes of old and never 'might need it' computer parts, we'll be able to breathe easier.

Did you notice my new kitchen in the cake photo above?!?

It's so nice to have something, well, nice. It's just a house but hopefully one we'll really get to enjoy, as long as we're here. Then, if and when the time comes to sell, hopefully it will be one that will make a nice return on our investment.

We've talked about some sailing classes but I'm back working part-time and we're just trying to get through the final bit of unpacking and returning to 'normal.'

Working part-time means my parents keep DD and DS, part-time. DS has taken his time getting used to taking a bottle (although he does fine for me and for DH), so it's been a little stressful for my folks. This is only the fourth week, though, so I'm sure things will settle down. DS has the best smile, not to mention the dimples! His eyes are still just barely hazel but are heading toward brown. They're the biggest, brightest, smiling-est eyes. We even had to trim his hair to keep it out of them. He's working on rolling over and makes the most interesting noises. He's a big fan of his hands and feet and he thinks his sister is pretty cool, too.

3 and 23 (months, that is)

Last week DD turned 23 months old and DS, 3 months old. They grow and change so fast, as anyone with kids knows or anyone, period, has probably heard from people with kids!

DD's vocabulary continues to grow and she's hit the parrot stage big time in the past week or so. The funny thing, is she'll repeat anything. The scary thing is, she'll repeat anything. Definite points for NOT baby-talking or using 'baby' words for things. She's getting way better at saying real words which, in turn, makes it easier to understand what she's trying to say more often. Nothing frustrates a toddler more than not getting what they need (or want) or a toddler parent like not knowing WTH they want or why they're screaming. Sometimes we have to ask her to repeat herself, but at least (I think) she knows we're trying.

She received a box of Lego Duplo blocks from DH's parents for Christmas and was only vaguely interested in them for two whole months. Then, pretty suddenly, she drug them from her room to the living room and started playing. Assembling and disassembling them over and over, then showing us what she built (most structures are called "big car" but that may be partly my fault for asking) . Sometimes she asks for help to put pieces on top, since she mostly stacks them as high as she can reach. It is definitely fun to watch her level of concentration expand.

She still loves DS and gives him hugs and kisses and pats all the time. She frets when he cries and tells him "it's okay." She likes to lie on the play mat with him and she brings him her toys. She tries (maybe too often) to feed him her snacks and give him drinks from her milk or water cup, "Baby need that?!?"

DS is the sweetest baby. He's focused and alert, as all babies are as they start to clue in to the world around them. He smiles and coos and he has, in fact, farted and then laughed. Maybe DD did it, too, but I had to tell DH that this was definitely his boy. DS wants to get moving so bad, you can see the frustration building sometimes. He can grab my thumbs and pull himself up to sitting and then to standing (I don't pull him up, just hold him steady), he can roll on his side, he can wiggle his way around his bassinet or anywhere else you put him down. It is only a matter of time before he's rolling over and then, next thing I know, I'm chasing two.

I'm really enjoying my time with them.* Getting to see DS develop has been just as much fun as it was the first time around with DD. Getting to spend the time with DD has been priceless. She may not remember (once she's older) me being home with her, coloring her 'house' or in her color book with her, playing with her blocks or reading with her, but seeing her grow and change every day is something I will remember and cherish.

Our first two 'babies.' Almost 6 and 10 years old.

*As you can tell, by the month-long posting delay. I really did have this all ready to go and never hit 'publish.' 

A Birth Story

Happy belated 11 weeks birthday to my baby boy...

This is his birth story.

I had a couple of light contractions, but felt they were 'stronger' than Braxton Hicks, around 7:30pm on Wednesday, December 5th. I decided to track them, since they seemed to be fairly regular. Easy with a smart phone, although DH and I decided we didn't like the first 'free' app I found and ended up using a different one later.

Almost 37 weeks, DD 19.5 months

We went to walk the dogs, which always got the B-H contractions going, so things were all over the place. We got home, got DD to bed (none the wiser), and then tracked contractions for about an hour while we watched 'The Office' or something. They were definitely early labor contractions, 5 minutes apart but only about 45 seconds long. We called the Birth Center and spoke with the midwife on call, Sarah. She suggested a bath and trying to rest, basically "wait and see."

At around 10:30pm the contractions became more intense but with the same duration/spacing. I was able to sleep until about 12:30am, when I woke up to even more intense contractions. I was really having to focus on relaxing through them with several deep breaths. I timed them for about 45 minutes, then decided I had to wake up DH and tell him that we should probably go in to the Birth Center.

DH was a little skeptical that it was that urgent, especially after they'd told us labor with the second would be about half the first (11 hours vs. 22). He'd figured we would have time to sleep, get up early, and beat traffic to Chapel Hill to have a baby around 8am. Fortunately for him, he didn't argue with me, just took a shower and helped me pack. LOL The contractions were about the same duration (45 seconds), but getting a little closer together and I could tell my body was really working. We called Sarah again and then called my parents to come stay with DD.

We left around 2am and arrived at the BC at 2:35am... I won't tell you how long the drive actually/usually takes. DH was timing contractions as he drove and said he could predict the start, they were so regular... by then about 2 minutes apart and 45 seconds long. When we arrived, I had one contraction in the hall, where Sarah came out to meet us when she heard me. She showed us into the green room, the same on where DD was born, and I had two more contractions while Sarah was trying to get us in and check me. By the time I was on the bed and Sarah was trying to see where things were, I had a "pushy" contraction. I was at +2 and 10cm! Our dear boy was born at 2:50am!

Our DS! 9# 15oz, 20.75" on 12-6-12

DH was able to determine that we had a little boy and then they waited for the cord to stop pulsing so DH could cut it. They commented about how big he was but I was shocked when the nurse weighed him. It all happened so fast, it seemed "easy" compared to my long labor with DD. Having him positioned better (DD was facing the wrong way) definitely helped!

We got to know each other and then slept for a couple of hours there at the Birth Center. We were up and paperworked and out of there by 9:15am.

My parents had taken DD to their house when she woke up, so we got home and then DH went to get her. First thing she did upon seeing her new baby brother was pat him and kiss him. It's been that way ever since! She definitely wants her Momma time and will ask her Daddy to hold the baby so I can hold her, but she smothers him with hugs and kisses. The dogs like the new puppy, too. ;)