Week One

She is a week old. 

So many differences between this recovery and the last one, except the weepy stage. 

Why do I get weepy??? I thought with a better recovery I wouldn't get weepy but it doesn't matter. I cry at the drop of hat. B likes to do these group hugs with Brad and I, she did one this morning and I bawled from her sweetness.

We got newborn pictures. A wonderful photographer who didn't have a time limit. She patiently waited for the kiddos to have happy faces. 

 This picture of my girls melts my heart.

Before Lil C was born her entire pregnancy I had one major anxiety, "how can I love another like I love my first?"  Honestly, this fear was in my mind and heart even up to the day she was born. I confided in my cousin this fear, because I didn't dare say it out loud and make me seem like a horrible mom. My cousin whose kids are 13 months apart, and let me add the second are twins told me, "You will. When you hold one your heart will want to burst and when you hold the other it will want to burst too. They are a part of you and that makes them each special." When I first held Lil C I knew exactly what she meant. Our Miss B and Lil C have different stories. Different pregnancies, different deliveries, and already at this age different personalities. And yet, they are both the most cherish gems in my heart.

As I said so many differences, one being how relaxed I am with this baby. The poor first child. With B I was a wreck. I worried about nursing, how often she had a wet or dirty diapers (really I charted and wrote everything down including which side she nursed and how long). And it turn the stress didn't help. My milk took a full week to get in. She didn't latch that well. I would cry because I couldn't nurse.  It eventually came but I never was a great milk provider. With C, I didn't worry as much. I can't really explain why, maybe the fact that I have a two year old who is still very much alive and very healthy; who asks to eat apples and bananas and for milk (Let me tell you how successful I feel when I hear, "Mommy, nana pwease." Don't worry she asks for candy just as much. I had confidence with this second child. And in turn, she latched right away. My milk came in three days. She has plenty of wet and dirty diapers. No, I am not writing anything down. I nurse her when she acts hungry. I have learned this young of baby doesn't need a schedule, not yet anyway. Yes, I was already trying to get B on a schedule at one week and that added stress to my life when it didn't work. now, I realize newborns are just learning about the world. The last thing she needs is a schedule. Just as B got on one so will she.

I have noticed since I am more relaxed so is this baby. And, let me reiterate again, poor first child.

And before I forget just a few differences between the two before I forget:

B hated being swaddled; C loves it.

B More high strung (I think this is due to me); C relaxed.

B took a bottle very well; C, I have yet to introduce it. 

 B would be up every 2 hours at night; C usually only wakes twice a night. 

Similarities

~They look like their daddy. I think C has a little more of me in her but she is still very Brad. And so, they both look a lot a like. 

~Both love the swing

~Both love to be sung to 

~The dog's barks never startle them 

 People ask how is B. She is still doing well. She still loves her sister to pieces, and doesn't quite understand giving C her personal space. She loves, LOVES to hold the "bebe". B still gives Brad and me plenty of kisses and hugs. However, and I mean a big HOWEVER. B has started throwing tantrums, and I mean they are EPIC. They have subsided since my parents have been here, and B who loves her Pop Pop, has been getting dotted on from sunrise to sunset. I am prepared for the tantrums of epic proportions when they leave. Good thing we can go up to see Grandma and Grandpa, and Grandma lets her play in the hose, which is the greatest thing in the world for this 2 year old. 

Anyway, that is the update of our life. I feel blessed, and it makes me cry (seriously, though it does). 

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes, and cards and emails. 

Also as you know our dogs are a very important part of our life. Sydney loves when the babies are small like C, (you know before they can poke and pull on her fur). She sits by her sniffs her, kisses her. Dixie, is completely aloof. She cares when the baby can finally give Dixie attention :) Honestly, if B didn't have Dixie I think things could be a lot worse.

She has Arrived!

Our sweet "Lil' C". 

Thankfully, a very uneventful delivery, except for the part that she was posterior, which left her bruised and swollen, but nothing long lasting or life threatening. It just added a little hurdle. 

It was a total of 6.5 hours from the time my water was broken to delivery. I told the doctor I will only push for an hour this time (I pushed for 3.5 hours with B). However, she came out after 10 minutes of pushing. They placed her on my chest  and I couldn't believe I had just had a baby. Everything about this experience was so different than our B's. For one, my doc was in town and he really is a wonderful doctor to work with. The medical team we had just rocked.

 In labor. 

She came to visit me. She just brightens my day. I missed her terribly while in the hospital, but I enjoyed my bonding time with my littlest gal.

 

As I said the medical team rocked.  My doctor and my nurse in the maternity ward. I got the nurse for both days. The nurses do 12 hour shifts and 3 or 4 a week, so we had her all day.

 

Her visitors. 

 

But the most important visitor of all. I love her face as she studies her new sister.

 

 

 

So far, B loves her... a bit too much. Constant kisses and constant in your faceness. But I'd rather she be like this than hate her or me. Our first night home, I did the bedtime routine with B. We read a ton of stories and sang a ton of songs. I thought after the crazy couple of days she had she may just need "Mom time" (and I did it preemptively before she starts acting out and it's too late), sometimes you just need your mom. I am trying to make the transition as painless for her as possible. I will let you know how it goes :)

Getting ready to leave.

 

PS Daddy dressed B. 

 My girls.

Waiting for Baby

After a whirlwind month, we came home and got into baby mode. But things started getting complicated. My blood pressure decided to inflate, as in 160/100 high. So careful monitoring began. Multiple doctor visits, non stress tests, and blood work each week. I was told at any of those appointments to be prepared to be admitted and induced. I had preeclampsia with B so they are trying to avoid that with this one. I had an appointment on Wednesday, and I was really really hoping they would admit me and induce me. The worrying and the multiple appointments are getting old. So we had everything ready. The child, the dogs, the bags were all ready. We even had one last family date night at the farm the night before. And guess what?? My blood pressure improved, it hasn't been that good in weeks!  But they moved up my induction date and I can handle that. 

But onto our date night:

She loves "an-ee-mulls".

Me, hoping my last photo pregnant.

 What it looks like when I look down. I actually had to stick my foot out really far, I can't see my feet when I look down.

And we ended the evening at the ice cream shop, with ice cream and french fries.

She loves all things dessert. She is my child after all.

Here is to hoping my next post is introducing our newest addition :)

San Diego

We finished the month of May with a last minute family vacation to San Diego. Brad had a conference in San Diego, and it was my last week to fly so we thought, "why not?" 

We enjoyed the zoo and the Safari park.

And Sea World. 

My one pregnancy shot with this little gal. 

Pennsylvania

We had an unplanned visit to Pennsylvania in Mid-May. When my Grandfather passed away, Brad got the Little Lady and me tickets to go back so I could attend the memorial. I try to avoid mushy love stuff, but really he is the greatest person on the planet for getting me those tickets. I was so happy to be home. To be with my family to mourn and to laugh and to reminisce. 

Funerals, as sad as they are, an event that bring people together. My grandfather's memorial was on Mother's Day. This was the first time my grandmother had all four of her children, all eight of grandchildren, and two of her great grandchildren with her on Mother's Day. I don't know a better Mother's Day gift my grandfather could have ever given her.

The night before we had a wonderful evening with my family. We celebrated my aunt's birthday. It's been years since she celebrated it with her siblings and her children.

 Here is the memorial. It really was beautiful, touching, and hilarious. It is exactly how I would want my funeral to be. I am sure he loved it, however, he would prefer to be the one telling the stories.

My dad officiated the funeral, and he did a wonderful job. All my dad's siblings talked and told stories about their dad, and they were funny. Then while my dad was on the phone talking to someone, I learned I was to say a few words. Luckily, I had made that blog post earlier, so I had material. 

 As nervous as I was, I am really grateful and honored that I got to speak and tell my stories about my Pop. Of course, I was the most emotional out of everyone, I blame this on pregnancy hormones. But as I got up there to speak, I was touched by really what a wonderful grandfather he was, and how lucky I am to have/had him as my Pop, and well, a over hormonal human being can only take so much emotion before it comes out in tears. 

His death, has been harder for me now than it was when the news first hit At first, I knew he was really sick, and this was for the better. But now that the dust has settled, I have forgotten his sick days (because they were so few compared to his healthy days) and I only remember him vibrant and so alive. It's the little things that get me. We make this garlic parsley butter that goes on corn on the cob (my SIL actually introduced me to this) which I in turn introduced to my family. And my Pop who loved butter, LOVED this stuff. He would put it on his hamburger bun. As I made it, I smiled at the thought of it; visualizing him sitting at the end of the table with his very own little bowl of garlic butter as he would spread it on his food, then teary eyed because I knew I would never see it again.

I am glad to hear my grandmother is doing well. She has been continuing on with life, sad at times I know, but as a whole doing very well. Nanny, now you can get on a plane and visit finally ;) My Pop always talked about driving here (he loved to drive) however, I can't blame my grandmother for avoiding a 2,000 mile drive - after my grandfather got a prosthetic leg he hated flying and I mentioned he was stubborn, right?

It's June, already?

Playing Catch up. May flew by. We were busy from start to finish. Made the 8th month of pregnancy go fast though. 

We started the month on a romantic getaway to (be prepared to be blown away)... Boise, ID. 

My dear friend got remarried after being widowed for 15 years, and she is like family to me so we went up to support her. 

We tended our neighbor's kids last month so they repaid the favor and offered to take B for a weekend. This was our first time away from her. I am fairly certain it was harder for us than for her. But it was nice to just have one on one time with each other and not have to drag a diaper bag around. 

Here is a picture of my work gals and the bride.

Stay Tuned....