2 Months!

This was written on my phone while feeding my baby at 4 this morning.  Multitasking is the only way to get anything done these days!

 Dear Lil Lobster roll,

Two months! We have made it to the point where we know each other inside and out, I know what each pitch of your piercing cry calls for... Actually your cry is rare, only using it when you are beyond starving or a little more gassy than you can handle. Otherwise it's all coos and smiles from you little girl.

You are an amazing sleeper, already giving me a few nights of 8 hours straight, and tonight you even put yourself to sleep. That's right, I swaddled you up and laid you in the crib so I could deal with your brother (he had lost his "Jessie" dog in his sheets) and you were so quiet in your crib I decided to leave you there and see what you'd do. You cooed to yourself for a few minutes, turned your head back and forth, and within 10 minutes you were out cold. Of course I'm speaking too soon but I feel you're the break we deserve after dealing with years' worth of sleepless nights with gobbles.

You have such a little spunky personality already baby, rolling with the punches, which may include sloppy puppy kisses, extra playmate time, or being toted around in a sling or stroller, all while watching the adventures of your older brother.

You are growing like a champ too... I wish we didn't have such a big box of size 1 diapers as you could probably be in 2s. And your 0-3 clothing is slowly becoming a memory. 11 lbs 14 oz, up from 10 lb 1 oz at your 1 month. And 23" long already, you are growing way too quickly.

We have just over a month until I go back to work and of course our time together has gone way too fast. I am so grateful to have spent so much Mamma-Lobstah time with you because I feel like we've created our own special bond, just you and me, which will last a lifetime. Every morning when I place you in the changing table and we pick out your outfit, your uncontrollable smiles lights up the room. You stick your little tongue out and curl it up and we crack up together. I know as you get older we'll probably argue a lot as all mommies and daughters do, but I hope no matter what we remain this close forever. I love you so much little girl.

Love,
Momma

Seriously Mommy?  Is this the beginning of embarrasing outfits for the rest of my life?

Happiest girl in the land

Enough tummy time Mommy - I'm relaxin'

I'm 25% Irish and proud of it!  I'm sure I'll have a taste for Guinness in just like my momma... in 21 years :) 

These Days

The weather the past two weeks has been absolutely gorgeous.  We've taken full advantage of it by spending so much time outside.  Mostly by choice, others by taking looong walks with the puppies because we've gotten the boot for showings.  C'mon people, it's buying season, put in an offer already so I can start packing!

Last week we broke out the big wheel (the kind that I can push from behind) and Gobbles rode up and down the street while I carried the Lil Lobster Roll in the sling.  He's gotten down the steering part (it really helps that he's recently learned right and left, so I can direct him), but is still kind of lazy with the pedaling.  I say lazy because he understands the concept, but insists I push him when we go up the street, and just lifts his legs up and lets himself fly going down.  Don't go into the street, Mommy!  Thanks for the advice buds!  Another thing my son loves to do - bark out orders as though he's in charge after having received those orders himself.  His teachers at school have pointed this out also, that when he is told to do something he immediately turns around and gives another kid the same directions.  A micromanager in the making?  I hope not, I hate micromanagers, but alas I'm sure he's inherited my control freak gene.

We also love our share of people watching and socializing with the rest of the kids on the street.  Gobbles tells me about every person that walks by - Oh he's running!  Oh they're laughing!  Look Mommy, he's talkin on the phone!  There are so many kids on the street and they're always out playing.  We walked up to the lemonade stand a few of the girls were having while the boys were playing wiffle ball in the street.  Gobbles has taken a liking to one of the kids on the street, Ryan, and ever since, any boy between the ages of 6 and 10 is named Ryan.  While we were getting lemonade and the little girls were cooing over the Lobstah, Gobbles starts nudging my leg - Look Mommy!  Ryan's running  - No Gobbles, that's Aidan - Look Mommy!  Ryan's hitting the ball! - No Gobbles, that's Cathel - Oh Mommy! Ryan's Dog is barking! - No Gobbles, that's Liam's dog.... And yes, as I was saying this I caught on to the ridiculous Irish-ness of my street. 

I keep trying to encourage Gobbles to play with his wiffle ball set, or his basketball net, or kick his soccer ball, but the response is typically the same.  Color with chalk?  Push the lawn mower?  Read Books?   It's ok though, as I said to his pal Lil Buddy's mom back on our last playdate - Gobbles might be in the band instead of playing sports, and that is ok too!

Speaking of the recent playdate, it was so much fun because I think it's the first playdate where Gobbles and Lil Buddy actually interacted with each other.  Sure Gobbles played play-doh and Lil Buddy was shooting hoops, but when it came time for lunchtime they sat down at their table and actually chatted up with each other.  While the moms were getting our own lunches together, hubs sat in the living room and caught snippets of the conversation:

Gobbles: I hava cream cheese and jelly and YOU hava cream cheese and jelly sandwich.
Lil Buddy:  And I eating cheese...
Gobbles:  I have some your chips please?
Lil Buddy:  Oh!  And the letter K!  (A sticker randomly stuck to a notepad, and yes, it was the letter K).
Gobbles:  I have a magnadoodle.

Sure, they each seemed to be having their own conversation with themselves, kind of like their mommas when we drink too much together, but they were interacting, it was so cute. 

And speaking of drinking too much, yes, my boy made up a song about mommy having some wine on a Saturday night.  The lyrics are simple, but he made it up on the spot which made for a buzzed momma to nearly spit out said wine in hysterical laughter.  Da Boozin' Da Boozin Ahh, Da Boozin, Da Boozin Ahh-Ahh.

Meanwhile, the Lil Lobster roll has just been taking it all in and finding her voice in this crazy household.  At her one month appointment way back 3 weeks ago, she weighed in at 10 lbs, 1 oz and 22" long.  And I can guarantee the 2 month appointment will bring an even heavier growth, since she is looking like such a little porker these days (and the 6 week growth spurt nearly broke me - hourly feedings for 2 days straight!).  Nearly out of size 1 diapers and working her way through her 3 month clothing, this girl's not letting anything hold her back!

My little girl started smiling at my silly voice around 6 weeks and is digging her tummy time throwing her head back and forth.  She is such a wiggly worm it's tough to leave her anywhere already for fear that she is going to roll, a few months earlier than her brother who was content just to chill and look at the ceiling fan.  The carseat is not her friend, and she'll let you know with a hi pitched wail, probably very similar to the sound she'd make if she were really hurt - the Lobster Roll wants what she wants when she wants it, and no pacifier plug can stop her from telling you!

Well the kids are BOTH going on hour FOUR of a fantastic Friday afternoon nap, so I should probably wake them, at least the little one for feeding, come back and finish this tonight with a photo dump!  At least now I feel somewhat caught up in spilling little memories from the past few weeks.  I'm sure I missed some, but hopefully I can blog again sooner with less hiatus this time.  This little girl is growing too fast!

Oh! Spoonsie the bear came to pick me up from school!  There must be a showing!

Multitasking at the playground

I could slide all day!

Smiling for the first time!

Now I'll flash my gang signs!

After expressing myself so much i'm sleepy.

My vest is the coolest!  For when it's "not THAT cold"

My brother uses me as a canvas for all of his sticker creativity

A little half smile for you... or is this a dirty look?

Don't tell my brother I stole his puppy!

Don't tell my sister I like my puppy better!

A lazy day outside... Just keeping my puppy from running away!

Why do my parents insist on sticking me in this ridiculous pile of balls?

AHHH!  Don't get me Gobbles!

I want to use my hopper so badly but I'm just not big enough yet!

Finally! Mommy used a real camera to capture my baby blues!

Helping momma work off the weight I put on her!

Gobbles rendition of a Pear.  My boy's got talent!

We really do love each other mommy!!

Suprise!  Bonus pic taken today... the tail end of the epic 4 hour nap! 

Mother of Two

Friday, March 2

So last post I let it all out, all of the struggles I was feeling being a mommy of two (with many other stress contributing factors).  Today, it's all about the joy.  The joy of my adorable kids and their interaction with each other.  Quite fitting that I'm writing today for two reasons.  One - it's Dr. Seuss's birthday, and two - it was picture day at Gobbles' school.  They always do both individual pictures and sibling shots, so I asked if it was ok that I bring up the Lil Lobster Roll, even though she's not technically enrolled yet.  Those pics will come soon...

Gobbles has been pretty accepting and even helpful with his sister, as long as we don't push too hard.  Sure, he's asked to put her on the floor on more than one occasion and will try everything to change the subject of conversation if we're gushing about her for too long, but overall he's a wonderful big brother. 

He has helped give the Lobstah baths, throw out diapers, and most importantly grab burp clothes for me when I'm nursing.  Mommy feeds the baby from her belly.  Good Burp, Lobstah.  Mommy you use the milk machine to make bottles.

**At this point in writing I was interrupted by a request for showing with less than an hours' notice.  Then the chaos of the weekend ensued.  Etc.  Now it's Wednesday, March 7**

Monday night the living room got a little too quiet while I was making dinner.  I had left the baby on her playmat and Gobbles was playing, so I put down what I was doing to peek in and check on things.  Before I could round the corner I hear Mommy I hold Lobstah's haaaannnd?  (Whenever Gobbles asks a question his last word is always drawn out).  There I witnessed my two kids in a peaceful moment.  The first time Gobbles initiated contact on his own.  He was holding her hand and examining her tiny fingers.  I laid down on the floor next to them and said, "See how small her hand is?  Go ahead, give her a kiss".  Of course I overstepped my bounds and Gobbles dropped her hand and got up to go play with a balloon.

Of course the peace won't be there every day... last night as I was burping the Lil Lobster Roll, Gobbles was playing with a ball, bouncing it around the living room.  Out of nowhere - whoosh, bonk! - the ball bounced squarely off the side of my baby's head.  Now, this ball was soft enough that it didn't do any damage, but it definitely shocked the poor child.  Hubs and I both jumped into discipline mode and Gobbles got time out until he was able to muster an apology and a hug / kiss for his sister.  I have a feeling this won't be the last time he's going to get a lecture about how he treats her....

The house is crazy these days, filled with energy and joy and chaos and tears and tantrums and dirty diapers.  I know one of my best memories of this crazy time will be of a brotherly moment that occurred this sunday - I well up with pride whenever I think of it.  We were driving and Lil Lobster Roll was wailing in her carseat.  I looked in the rearview and said to Gobbles, "Can you sing a song to make your sister feel better?".  His little voice piped up Mommy, I fill Lobstah's bucket (at school he's learned that it is important to be a "bucket filler" by passing positivity to your peers, essentially "filling their bucket").  From the backseat, my son's singing filled the car,

Bucket filler, Bucket filler

Every day, Every day.

I can fill a bucket.

I can fill a bucket.

You can tooooo.

You can toooooo.

I only wish I had recorded his cute little voice singing it, as he was so genuine in trying to get his sister to stop being sad.  The best part about it all?  It worked.

See - Once in while we've got a smile!

Yikes, If she touches me I'm not sure I can smile so big

Mom - she's still too close!

Really tooo close!!

The promise of a snack and the END of the photo session is the only reason I'm smiling!

MY Boppy!



how much stress can you cram into one time period? I'll let you know when I burst...

Boy oh boy how quickly I've forgotten. I remembered, on paper, that getting a shower was a luxury, sleep was in two hour increments, and nursing makes one thirsty. But I don't think I was prepared for the emotional effort necessary to cope with all of that, plus keeping the house clean for showings, looking for a new job, recovering from having my stomach cut open, running after an energetic two year old, taking out two puppies, one of whom is wearing an Elizabethan collar while recovering from his own surgery, oh, and caring for a newborn. Did I mention that February is "year end" at hubs work so he did not get home until well after 8pm every night?

But, somehow, we've survived. Despite feeling like a "single mom" the last four weeks and venting out to hubs my feelings on exactly that, our marriage has survived as well. Unfortunately, the house has not sold yet, Cannoli is still wearing the lampshade, and I haven't found a new job yet. So I'm still slated to return to the job from hell in less than 7 weeks, and have to add that to the balancing act of all the above. I'm exhausted thinking about it. Actually, I'm just exhausted, thinking or not...

I feel like I'm getting Lil Lobster Roll's relationship with me off to a bad start. My mind is constantly on the next "to do", and since she cries most of the time she's not being held, I'm allowing her to sleep the day away once she falls asleep just so I can get stuff done. For instance, we have a showing tonight and the house hasn't been vacuumed in two weeks, the beds need making, diaper trashes must be emptied, and toys need to be cleaned up. Wrangling two kids and two dogs out of the house during dinnertime is just what I want to be doing in the rain. I'm only blogging because it's something I can do one handed while the baby chills in the other arm. Don't know if we'll make it to the vacuum.

And it almost brings me to tears thinking about the fact that Gobbles has been going to daycare almost every day so I can have the time to do crap like this. The plan was during my recovery he'd go, then we'd spend mommy and kids time at home when I was well enough to move around. I've been back on my feet for over 2 weeks and he's still going. I have been picking him up early and spending the afternoons with him, but the guilt over sending him in the morning, despite his begging to go see his friends, is slowly killing me, and I know I'll regret it when I'm back at work. I keep telling myself that as soon as the house is sold, or it's nice out, or Lil Lobster Roll gets into a better feeding routine, that is when we'll spend days at a time together.

All so we can have more room for our little family. So the crib doesn't have to be in the same room as the guest bed. So the dogs' water bowl won't be underfoot as I try to do dishes, soaking my feet as I accidentally kick it even though it's been in the same spot for ages. Gobbles has outgrown the high chair, but during our morning routine of getting ready, he sits there in it in the middle of the kitchen while we serve his breakfast and make lunches. The dream is to have him at a kitchen table so that we can still spend those precious 30 minutes with him each morning.  Besides, only 2-3 more months until the Lobstah needs the high chair anyway...

But is it all worth it?  Our lives have been on hold in some ways since the house went up for sale in June.  Going back and forth to the POD for stuff has gotten old, and I'm tired of lettinh strangers into our house only to tell us it shows excellently but too bad your price is based on what you paid at the height of the market... it will be when the kids don't have to lug their bikes up from the basement to take them outside and muddy towels won't line the floors of the kitchen since that's where we wipe off dirty puppy feet. 

Ok, this post has gone off in a direction that I did not intend.  I'll post it because it always feels better to vent, and tomorrow (or Friday??) I will post about the joys we've experienced in the last 5 weeks.  Despite the tone of this, I am so happy with our little girl and the dynamic she's brought to our family.

Until tomorrow... 

 

Little Sister

Lightning crashes, a new mother cries

This moment she's been waiting for

The angel opens her eyes

Pale blue colored eyes...

-Live

Dear Lil Lobster Roll,

You have arrived!  My pretty little girl, I still can't believe you are here!  And with your own thunderous entrance, already trying to outdo your big brother.  While we waited and waited for his arrival, you showed up 8 days earlier than expected, early Sunday morning, the 22nd of January.  You certainly made things convenient for us, with Mr. Gobbles already at your grandparents house so Mommy and Daddy could have one last night out. 

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with your Godmother and Uncle and got home less than 2 hours before my water broke.  We got to the hospital just after midnight while the world was sleeping, so excited with anticipation to meet you.  Your daddy settled in the chair next to me while I settled in the bed and took each contraction with excitement that you were getting closer.  After 6 hours of labor you decided to throw a little curveball.  I had mentioned to the doctor that you were transverse a couple weeks before, but was told you turned.  This doctor was not from my regular practice because they shared weekend coverage with another team, so he decided to take a quick peak.  Indeed, you had turned, but not in the direction we wanted.  You were completely breach and we were told to prep for surgery, as you were coming via c-section.

Your daddy and I barely had time to digest the news before I got an epidural and was being wheeled away.  Within minutes of Daddy sitting down next to me in the OR dressed in his scrubs, we heard a high pitched screaming - it was you!  My little girl, you were such a peanut.  7 lbs 8 oz, almost 2 pounds less than your brother when he was born, I could not believe it!  The doctors took awhile sewing me back up so your Daddy was the first one to hold you after they cleaned you up. 

He held you by my head the whole time and we marvelled at your perfect features.  Your beautiful blue / hazel eyes, which may or may not darken like your brothers' did.  Your full head of dark hair - almost as thick as your Mommy's when she was a baby ;).  You have your Daddy's nose and upper lip, but my pouty lower lip.  Big hands and long toes, the latter from your father and the former from God knows where, but in common with your big brother.  All in all, you really look more like your brother than anyone - save for the extra rolls he had, you guys look exactly alike.  I'm so proud to have two beautiful children.

Here's a side by side comparison, no doubt you're brother and sister:

Gobbles - 2 days old

Lil lobster roll -8 days old

My lil lobster - you're not even two weeks old and we are already seeing sparks of your personality.  You have spunk, girl, demanding to be fed at less than an hour old while Mommy was still in recovery, and latching like a champ.   You let it be known to the world when you are hungry with your high pitched cry and frantic search for somewhere to get milk.  But then, after you are satiated, you are the most mellow child I've seen.  Relaxing and chilling in your seat or someone's arms, not even bothered when you blow up a diaper! 

Now that the dust has settled, we've had a few days to ourselves, and Mommy is starting to feel better, I look at you and am just amazed and elated that I have such a wonderful little girl.  I know in the future we'll go through phases where you'll be embarrassed of me, challenge me, and disagree with everything I say, but none of that will stop you from being my daughter, and I'll love you always.  You already own your Daddy's heart and your big brother has begun wringing his hands when you cry, trying to get you to stop.  Sure, he told us to put you on the floor a few times, but deep down he loves you very much too.  You have brought so much joy and happiness to our family already my little peanut, we are beyond thankful that you have entered our lives.

I love you baby girl!

Love,

Momma

Teeny Tiny Feet!!

I can finally dress my baby in babylegs!

The going home outfit was a little too big - we anticipated you to be another 9 pounder!

Love my babies!

Curious and inquisitive

I'm sure we'll have many family pictures with this squabbling

Will the blue eyes stay this time?

Just add a little space between and the kids are happy :)