Stung

Good news: Mr. A is not allergic to hornets/wasps
Bad news: He had to find out the hard way - twice - on the same cheek

The little devils were making their home underneath our Little Tikes plastic slide. How cruel is that?

Did you know? - That hornets/wasps don't die when they sting? They continue to live. Ugh.

THANK YOU!

Those 2 words don't quite seem sufficient when trying to express such complete gratitude for ALL that some people do. In the past 4 weeks we have been on the receiving end of much loving, hard-working, laundry-pushing, Mr-A-at 6:45 AM-rising, super-sweeping, uber-organizing, yummy meal-cooking, baby-burping, emotion-stabilizing assistance. It's been awesome. I must highlight, however, 4 of the best helpers ever.

Superman DH

Superstar M-I-L

Rockstar Mama

And, I couldn't find a picture quickly, but Lola Fely was our princess-in-shining-armor for the week before the baby, while we were at the hospital (I don't know who was more exhausted - Lola or Mr. A), and after we came home. THANK YOU ALL!!! We love you!

Some cute Mr. A-isms

Our little Mr. A is becoming even more chatty as of late. He likes to give us running commentary on whatever we are doing and he also likes to repeat whatever we say. A few favorites:

• Every time Miss M grunts (which is A LOT for new babies) Mr. A says "Oh! Bless you, baby sisser (what he calls her most of the time, even though he knows her name)!"
• While passing McD's today on the drive - "Mommy, french fries! French fries with Miss Jane!" Miss Jane - you've been outed!


• Every time we go under an overpass (or "tunnels," as Mr. A calls them) - "Ready, Set, GOOO!"


• Any time we see water - "Oh! Mama, WATER!!"


• "Do it by myself!"

Love you, A-bug!

I Forgot...

I love that I caught this moment
That "banner day" I was referring to - Mr. A finally holds Miss M
Isn't swimming the best? It just wears us all out!

It's amazing how quickly we forget so many of the little things surrounding a new baby. Here are a few of the ones I had somehow put out of my memory:

• Just how very tired one can feel when waking up twice in the night and being awake for an hour at a time
• How much laundry has to be done - every day
• How much babies spit up - on everything and everyone
• That sleep is precious
• Daytime talk shows all have the same guests each week- just on different days
• Oprah stops doing new shows in May = boring re-runs for June
• How awesome new babies smell
• How gross spit up smells in new babies' hair
• A homecooked meal never tastes better than when it comes from someone else's home
• Recovering from childbirth is called that for a reason - even if it is a little better the 2nd time around
• Time goes by so very quickly
• Wouldn't it be nice if eating, sleeping, and pooping were our only responsibilities for the day?
• Babies bring a special spirit to our home - can't you see why?!

Banner Day

Pictures to come, but we had a breakthrough yesterday and today. Mr. A finally gave Miss M a "Biiiiig Kiss" and he did it again tonight. We made a game out of it and cheered every time he did it. And, he even held his baby sister tonight (with the assistance of pillows and his dad). That was the first time he touched her. Gotta love progress.

First Week

Our little drama queen has already given us quite a run for our money. I wasn't prepared for the anxiety I would feel over something even as small as not eating as much as she should as often as she should. We are all doing fine now and life seems to have started getting back to normal, but we have had quite a week!

Day 3

With BG and Mr. A

Day 4

Day 8 - Already Crowding Dad out of the bed

A few highlights:
- Mr. A's new favorite word: "STOOOPP!!" said in a very gruff, loud tone to whomever he does not want doing something. It's annoying.
- Mr. A's monumental breakdown at the pediatrician's office when we had taken him in for a sinus infection at the same time we were taking Miss M in for her 1 wk check-up. The pediatrician sat and watched it all as Mr. A threw himself on the floor crying, screaming, and shouting for everyone to stop and only mommy could do something.
- Quote of the week: Pediatrician to me - "Would you like a few tips?" as he watched the breakdown
- Action of the week: I started BAWLING in the pediatrician's office out of sheer embarrassment that my sweet 2 yr old would act in such a manner and in such a locale. The pediatrician had to ask my mom numerous times if I was ok. She reassured him that I was fine. So classic.
- Scary moment of the week: Spending the night in the Peds. unit of the local hospital after Miss M became eerily lethargic, wouldn't eat, and was hardly responsive. She had only gained 1 oz. since we left the hospital the week before and I was terrified.
- Hero of the week: My beloved DH. I believe he had to change his shirt a few times from the tear-stained shoulders he grew accustomed to. He came home just in time.
- Saint of the week: My sweet mother (more to come on her in a separate post)
- Measurements of the week:

• Miss M when we left the hospital: 7 lbs. 1 oz. - normal
  
• Miss M on Thursday: 7 lbs 2 oz. Hmm...
  
• Miss M on Saturday: 7 lbs. 6 oz. Hallelujah. (We're going back again on Wednesday just to make sure the trend is continuing)

- Competent Staff of the week: A nurse at my dr's office who measured Miss M when we went in for her 1 wk appt - "19 1/4 inches" she announced.
Me: "Um - how is it that she has SHRUNK since she was born? Like almost 2 inches??"
Nurse: "Well, the measurements at the hospital aren't very accurate, so we see that happen."
Me: "That seems strange that they wouldn't try to be more accurate at such a crucial time - i.e. a child's birth, but whatever."
What I Was Really Thinking: "Is she for real? How could you accuse a hospital of being inaccurate at the birth of a baby as if they really don't care? And, as far as I'm concerned, this child is most certainly longer than her brother was and HE was 19 1/4 inches. I demand a re-measure."

I'm fine. Really, I am. :)

Perfectly Pink

A few pictures of our newest addition....more to come when I can find the connection cord for the camera...

"Oh, there are 4 people in our family..."

Taking It All In

Sleeping Beauty

The Queen of Everything

Little Miss MCS arrived yesterday. She is sweet as can be, eats well, works it out well, and even patiently endures her brother ignoring her (for now). Pictures to come, but here are the details:

Born: May 30, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz
Height: 21 inches

Love her!

Waiting

This baby sure is taking her sweet time! I was convinced that she would be here right now and was utterly depressed walking into my dr's office today for my appt. She walked into the room and said, "Ok, you need to have this baby." So glad she felt the same way I do. She did what she could so we'll see what happens.

What I have tried this week to get the baby here (even though her due date isn't for 6 more days): Curb walking (twice), big toe pinching really hard (some Chinese herbology theory), the EFX, taking walks around the block (three), and carrying Mr. A up and down the stairs numerous times. Nothing so far, but I'm not Castor-oil desperate yet, so we'll see. I hope this stubborness isn't a sign of things to come!

Too Early

Ok - so we need some serious advice here! Please feel free to post any and/or all advice you might have on a child who wakes up WAY too early (5:52 this am) to get out of his big boy bed. The sleeping in it hasn't been the problem, but the past 3 days it's gotten earlier and earlier. We've got curtains up, blinds closed, even a blanket over the window to make it darker. How do we get back to the 7 am wake up calls we once knew (just last week, even!)? Did we make a mistake by putting him in his big boy bed and not just putting the new baby in a Pack-n-Play for now? Should we just put him back in his crib for a few months? DH and I differed quite a bit on our opinions, but I finally caved thinking it would be ok. Would love your wise/experienced thoughts (and my extra hour of sleep)!!!