Everyday things I want to remember…

~The way Bella smiles at me first thing in the morning. She’s always so happy just to be alive.

~The sometimes annoying middle of the night cuddle sessions when Primo’s teeth hurt. No matter how hard it is to get up, it’s wonderful to have that time to just snuggle. It’s the only time he really stays still for more than a few seconds at a time. I want to remember the way he holds my arm to make sure I don’t sneak out, the way he combs through my hair with his little fingers just like he’s stroking his stuffed animals and the way he grabs my face with his warm little hands and says “Mommy, sing.”

~The look of sheer joy Bella gets on her face when she’s bouncing in her bouncy chair. Man, can she move!

~The way that Primo, every time he sees a phone, demands to “Phone Gapa Jack!” or “Phone Gama Betty!”

~The sound of Bella blowing her first bubbles and covering herself in drool.

~The excitement of throwing something in the garbage for Primo. “Primo fwow a gawbage!”

~The sound of Primo’s sweet voice talking to me all day. Especially “‘I luhyousomuch, Mommy.”

~The way Bella looks at her big brother with such awe. He can make her smile just by looking at her.

~The way he makes silly noises and faces at her just to make her happy, and then declares “Bella LIKES it!”

~The way Primo yells at the Big Guy down the basement…”Hellooooo! Daddyyyyyy! Naaaame!”

~The spontaneous hugs and kisses we all get, just because, and the way he says “Hugga Daddy.”

As I sit and type this I’m sad about the things I’ve already forgotten. This whole parenting-circle-of-life stuff isn’t easy on the emotions, is it?

~The way Primo dances with abandon to any music he hears, whether on the stereo, over the speakers at a store or from an annoying toy.

~The way he says “sake-a-bootie” when he feels like dancing when there’s no music on.

~The feel of the nape of Bella’s neck on my lips when I kiss it. So soft, with a little roll of chub. Just above it, there’s a rough patch where her hair is finally growing in. There isn’t enough time to kiss her!

~The way Primo asks for a “hunded kisses” and then we count to 100 by tens as I smooch all over his face.

~The way Bella’s gorgeous brown eyes light up from the inside each time she smiles her gorgeous big toothless grin.

~The way Primo sings “Ode McDonad had a fawm, E-I-E-I-Oooooo. On dat fawm he had a pig/daddy/blind/ceiling (or whatever pops into his head), E-I-E-I-Oooooo.”

~The way Bella looks me in the eye while she’s nursing. Sometimes she smiles and I can see her little tongue still working away to draw her milk out. Making milk is my superpower.

~The way she kneads my shirt, wrings her hands, and pulls my hair while she nurses.

~The way Primo runs out of his bedroom every evening after bath time to show the parent who didn’t bathe him his pajamas. He runs out with such excitement! He rubs his hands on his shirt and says “Hockey shirt!” and his pants and says “Hockey pants!” “Show Mommy!” and then bounces away for one last play before bed.

~The soft and chunky feel of Bella’s cheeks as I squish my lips and nose into them and the way she leans into me with a grin so I’ll keep going.

~The way Primo demands “Have it!” or “Primo wants it” when he wants something. Then, when I just look at him, he changes it to “Have it peez, Mommy.”

~The way Primo gets so excited whenever we’re going anywhere. It’s all routine stuff and we go out pretty much every day, but he’s excited even to go to Safeway (”see the coffee guy!), Caw-Co (Costco) or “War-mit” (Wal-Mart). He especially loves it when we’re going to a friend’s house or to meet friends to shop, and talks about his friend(s) all the way there.

~The way it feels to be a stay at home mom to two little kids who are just 20 months apart. Many people, including us, thought it was a little too close but it couldn’t have been better. There has been no jealousy, very few problems and more love that we could ever have hoped for. We are infinitely blessed.

What do you want to remember?

Slightly belated…

May 11, 2008

Today, my beautiful baby girl, you are four months old. It’s Mother’s Day, a wonderful day always, but today as we spent the morning having brunch with both of your grandmothers I was struck by how amazingly lucky I am. We are, really. You have two grandmothers who love you more than life itself and who themselves are two of the best mothers on the planet. You have a mother who would gladly give her life for you should it be necessary, and (not to toot my own horn, but you know…it IS Mother’s Day) who does everything possible to make sure you and your brother have the best experiences and the happiest childhood memories. I have a mother and a mother in law who I adore and who I am able to look to for great examples of mothering, a husband who not only is a great father but a strong supporter of my attachment mothering techniques, and two of the most amazing children ever born. We are all happy and healthy and life really could not be better than it is on this very day .

You, my Bella, are perhaps the most beautiful baby that ever lived. Anyone who meets you comments on your big bright smile, your huge brown eyes and your calm nature. I still am in awe of your ability to roll with anything we can throw at you. (We don’t actually throw things at you. It’s a figure of speech.) With an extremely active 2 year old brother, you are dragged around town to play dates, playgrounds and shopping trips and around the province to visit friends and grandparents and you hardly bat an eye. Most of the time you sleep the whole trip and have no idea where you are anyway. As long as you can see me and access the two food sources on my chest at will you’re a happy go lucky little baby regardless of what going on around you.

This month you have been laughing some of the best laughs I’ve ever heard. I had forgotten since Primo was a baby how wonderful baby laughs are. You actually crack me up, which is quite the feat for a baby. You get the hiccups when you really get going, and then that makes you laugh even harder. It’s pretty hilarious. Daddy was the first one to make you laugh. He was putting your jammies on and touched your armpit. You looked him in the eye and giggled and it made his week. You are a pretty ticklish baby - your tummy and chest, sides and armpits, inner thighs and feet all make you giggle. I try not to tickle you too much because I think it’s mean since you can’t tell me when you want me to stop, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. A few seconds won’t traumatize you, I hope.

Though you’re an easy smiler and will give one to anyone who gives you one first, you smile most at your family and it’s obvious that you think your brother is the cat’s meow. You could watch him play all day and he loves to make faces at you to get a grin that’s just for him. You also love the dogs and watching them wrestle is an endless source of entertainment for you.

You have a great little mop of hair on top of your head now and no longer look like Grandpa Kent from the top. Just in the last couple of days you’re finally allowing the hair on the back of your head to grow in instead of rubbing it all off while you’re going to sleep. I put little barrettes in the top of your hair now and have found a few brands online that stay in. They’re so stinkin’ cute that it’s becoming an addiction.

On the subject of sleep, you’re still doing it! You sleep from about 11 pm until 10 am, usually with one nursing in there - sometimes two - after which you just go right back to sleep. I am shocked that babies as perfect as you exist and I hope this doesn’t bode poorly for your teenage years. People keep telling me that a good baby means a crappy teenager. Please always be this nice, okay? And even when you’re crazy hormonal remember that your parents love you and would do anything for you, including kicking some serious butt should you need it so maybe just don’t bother. M’kay?

You are an incredibly strong little person and have been since birth. You can stand up for several minutes while holding just my hands. It is my wish for you that you are always strong and take steps to take care of your perfect body and give yourself the best chance for a long life of great health. I’m doing my best to start you off right with no less than a full year of breastfeeding and, when the times comes, organic and whole foods. Your dad and I will do our best to take care of ourselves, too, because we want to play with your children some day!

You’re currently bouncing in your chair (your favourite - just like it was your brother’s) on the deck in the shade and, no surprise, grinning at me and cooing. I suppose it’s time to stop writing and spend some more time kissing those little toes of yours because before too long they’ll be covered in mud as you join your brother running around the yard.

All my love,

Mommy
xoxo

Actually, there were many. He sat and snuggled me more today than he has in a month. He reserves most of his snuggles for his beloved Daddy. I even got snuggle time with both kids at once several times today, and a couple of family snuggle times, too! (During one of which I was inspired, as you can see, to take a crappy family picture with the point-and-shoot turned back on us.) lIt was a great day for all of us!

We spent the morning with a friend and hit the chiropractor, Beaners for a haircut (forgot my camera…aargh…but that might be good because he sat in a pink car for his haircut!) and Costco (where I go broke weekly). We came home for lunch and a quick play in the yard before nap time. (Yes, he’s napping again! And sleeping at night! Knock on wood…).

(I really love parentheses. And apparently they must be italicized. Who knew?)

At nap, we do a mini-version of the nighttime singing routine I wrote about here where I just sing the ABC’s, one other song of his choice and do our regular “I love you SOOOOOOO (big squeeze) much” routine which, like everything else, he makes me repeat four hundred-ish times.
Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my best boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my favourite boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my kind boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my thoughtful boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my helpful boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my generous boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my intelligent boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my amazing boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my awesome boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my cool boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my great-big-brother boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my athletic boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my smart boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my handsome boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my wonderful boy.

Primo: More Iluhyousomuch.

Me: I love you SOOOOOOO much, my Primo.

Primo: Iluhyousomuch, my Mommy. (Big Squeeze)

God, I love being a mom.

How the hell do you get a kid who’s teething molars to open his mouth at toothbrushing time?

How the hell do you get a toddler to lay in a big bed instead of playing all night and/or freaking out?

How the hell do you get a toddler to stop freaking out when he wakes up alone, causing your poor sleep-deprived husband to have to sleep with him from 1:30 am on every night just to get some shut-eye?

How the hell do you make supper when your toddler gives up napping and you have a baby to nurse or bounce all afternoon?

How the hell do you get out of the house with everyone dressed and fed in time for work with two or more kids?

How the hell do you get back into real clothes when the workout clothes are getting old and the maternity clothes look stupid?

How the hell do you not eat the chocolate chips out of your freezer?

How the hell do you get a kid to take a bottle?

How the hell do you get your dog to stop barking at everything that moves in the park beside your house?

How the hell do you get a big bad dog to stop peeing on your floor because he’s too busy barking to pee outside?

How the hell do kids know when it’s nap time and take that as the time to take a huge crap in your room and then cry at the door?

Parenthood. Gotta love it!

For the first and only time ever in my lifetime, my birthday was on Easter Monday this year. I’m 32. That’s pretty old. Good thing I have kids to keep me young!

I plan to spend my birthday money and gift cards on a Cuisinart panini press/griddle thingy. Paninis are my new addiction, and I’ve been making them on a cookies sheet sandwiched with another cookie sheet in the oven. I also have enough for some spa services, which I’m pumped about, and the BG is getting me my choice of a couple of services as well. I’m thinking facial with microdermabrasion, a pedicure and a massage. Any suggestions? I’ll spend my leftover money on the kids, of course. We really need to get them a good climber this year for the yard because what we have is way too small. The ones that will last us more than two years are between $500 and $1000 so we’ve got some saving to do.

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We spent 5 days at my parents’ house and visited with tons of family and friends. Primo and my niece were old enough to enjoy the festivities for the first time and everyone had a blast. We feel better than we have in ages because my mom slept with Primo every night so we got to stay in bed and sleep in every day!

Here’s a mini-summary of our weekend, in pictures…

On Good Friday, my nieces came over and we all coloured eggs. It was Primo and his same age cousin’s first time and was rather hilarious! Especially when Primo bit into a hardboiled egg through the shell!

I spent some time relaxing and playing on the computer. (I killed another laptop. Apparently mine are sorely over used.) Primo sat beside me and played on the most annoying laptop in the world, and showed us all that he knows all of his numbers from 0-10 and all of the shapes except rectangle!

Bella sported her very first Easter dress and the cutest ruffly butt you ever did see. Primo had a great outfit too, but refused to sit for a picture!

I couldn’t help but take more pictures. In this one, she had just woken up from a nap and was stretching when she spotted me taking her picture and flashed a grin.

On Sunday afternoon, my brother brought his girls over to my parents’ house and we went to the park for an Egg Roll. The kids rolled raw eggs down the hill and tried not to break them. They had a blast!

After our Easter treasure hunt, we headed out to the back yard and played for the afternoon. Primo loved Trac Ball, but couldn’t quite figure out which ball to use. The dogs’ soccer ball actually worked quite well!

One of the treasure hunt prizes was sidewalk chalk, and it was a huge hit with all the kids. The girls drew on the sidewalk. Primo drew on the house, the fence, his cousin’s back, the bikes…

We got home Monday evening and spent the rest of my birthday visiting with a friend who came from out of town to meet Bella and bring her the cutest outfit of all time, putting kids to bed (which still takes many hours) and watching tv snuggled up on the couch.

Tuesday morning, my friend and former teaching partner whom I adore came over and brought me a belated birthday latte in a new cup along with some gorgeous flowers in a cool jug and some wheat-free baking stuff. Thoughtful people are few and far between, and my special friend is one in a million!

Of course, pretty flowers and a pretty girl must pose together.

Hope you all had a great long weekend!

Dear Primo,

Go the heck to sleep, okay? You have a very expensive and lovely brand new double mattress all to yourself. I wish it had bars, but sadly it doesn’t. Just imagine they’re there and go to sleep, would you? Please, for the love of all that is sane. You’re cranky and your mommy needs a break.

Love, Mommy
xoxo

---

Dear Bella,

Thank you so much for being such an easy baby while we deal with your brother’s teething and sleeping issues. You make me want a hundred babies. I keep reminding myself that your brother made me feel that way too, until the teeth. I hope you don’t feel ignored because he takes so much attention.

Love, Mommy
xoxo

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To the bitch working at the smoothie store in the mall,

You are a big fat hairy bitch and I’m so glad I made you give me my money back and wasted your chicken and your smoothie. You can suck my butt. I hope your smug attitude was worth the business you’re going to lose when I tell all of my friends and colleagues about your poor customer service.

From, The Customer Who is Truly Always Right

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To my big white puppy,

QUIT peeing in the house already. If you’d pee when you go outside instead of barking at every blade of grass that moves in the park necessitating the bringing in of yourself, you wouldn’t still have to go when you get in. Moron.

Love, Your two legged mama who loves you but hates cleaning up pee

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To my sweet husband,

Thanks for spending your lunch break today trying to get Primo to nap. You’re in there right now and, whether it works or not, I appreciate even this small break and your effort. You’re a great daddy!

I love you much!
Your tired wife

---

There’s more, but I need to use the rest of this break to make a reward calendar for staying in bed without screaming.

The kid-naming contest has come to a close.

Please allow me to introduce you to:

Primo

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PRIMO
–noun
1. the part of a piano duet played on the upper half of the keyboard.
2. the first or leading part in an ensemble.

–adjective
3. Slang.
a. first-class: dinner at a primo restaurant.
b. highly valuable or most essential: the primo player on the team.

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and his sister

Bella

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BELLA
-adjective
1. beautiful.
2. delightful to the senses

Perfect, don’t you think?

Both names were suggested by the amazing JJ and, as she said in her comment, she won hands down. Email me, JJ, with your choice of prize and your mailing address and I’ll send those off. FYI, I’ll adjust the (sur)prize if you choose that one and replace the “baby” stuff I had in there since Fa probably doesn’t need a onesie.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Another cool thing about Primo and Bella (the names, not the kids) is that they start with P&B. So, if we have that third child that we’re considering, s/he will need an e-name that begins with J. Because then? We’d have PB&J, and we’re just that dorky.

Comments are now closed on the kiddie naming contest. The Big Guy and I will deliberate and get back to you. Thanks to all who entered!

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My poor little nameless boy has gone from four months of cutting eye teeth directly into the two year molar. I’ve seriously never met a kid who’s teeth hurt so much. He’s up for hours every night in pain and has literally devoured his headboard. It got so bad he was spitting wood chunks onto the floor so I covered it with many layers of duct tape. So he spent a week spitting duct tape onto the floor and is now down to the wood again. Even the heaviest of pediatric OTC drugs don’t work for him. The homeopathic ones don’t touch it. I sure hope his are through before the little girl starts teething!

I have got to take a picture of that headboard. It’s ridiculous.

---

We took our weekly cruise around Costco today with friends & their kids. Then we were stupid or delusional enough to think that taking three toddlers and three babies with only three moms to a restaurant for lunch was a good idea. Duh. It was actually fun, but the boy’s mouth was so sore and he was so overtired that he was a bit of a crankpot by the end. The girl slept all morning while my boobs were bursting at the seams and then, as Murphy’s Law states she would, she woke up hungry just as the boy’s food arrived. Thank God I had friends there who could help him while I fed her. It was a gong show, but a fun gong show with friends in the same situation so it’s all good.

There was a couple in their mid-fifties or so at a table not far away with a girl in her late teens or early twenties. I saw them looking at us often and didn’t have time to try to read the expressions on their faces, what with the aforementioned gong show happening all around me. Nor did I care if they didn’t like me nursing my baby at the table (quite possible flashing a boob while I tried to stab pancakes with the boy’s fork, but probably not). When they were about to leave the restaurant, the mother came over to our table and asked if she could speak with us. We, of course, said yes. She told us that we all looked like wonderful young mothers and that when she saw my daughter latch on to my breast so readily it brought back great memories for her. She said it was so nice to see us all out together and she was really glad we were doing it because it goes so quickly and we must enjoy it. She was there taking her youngest daughter to lunch. She’s currently in college and was once the tiny baby nursing in a restaurant.

I hope some nice lady was as encouraging to her as this woman was to us. The next time you see a young mother nursing or just mothering well in public, please compliment her. It feels awesome.

It’s Family Day in Alberta but unfortunately the Big Guy works for the feds so he’s off gallivanting around the province making money. The kids and I went to visit a friend and deliver a baby gift and stopped at that Big Store I Hate to return some stuff.

(As an aside, we’ve got a new Big Store I Hate here and it’s much more tolerable than the old Big Store I Hate. Almost pleasant, but that would be pushing it.)

Then we came home for lunch and a photo shoot before nap time. Here are a few of the pics from today…

And this one wasn’t from today but I haven’t had a chance to share it until now. His cape is from here and I highly recommend that you get one (or make one if you’re more industrious than I) for every kid you know! (Get 15% off at Ellie Bellie Kids with the code 15off and save yourself the sewing!) He just loves it. He asks me to tie it on and runs around yelling “SuperBoy!” except he actually says “SuperHisName!”

See, I need a name for him. See below.

Click on the button to enter to e-name my kids.

I forgot to mention that there’s a good chance we’ll have one more so names that only work in pairs aren’t the best idea.

Maybe another week and I’ll be able to make a decision?

I might have to let the BG decide.

If you haven’t entered, please do! If you have, give us some more! We need choices people.

This morning I got up and pulled out my winter running pants for the first time this winter. You know, since I was hugely pregnant for the whole winter. I only ran for 15-20 minutes but it felt abso-freaking-lutely fantastic! It was super icy and I just about wiped it many many times but caught myself mid-way into the splits every time. No broken hips. This time, anyway. My stretching sessions felt better today than they have in months too. Twelve hours later I’m already feeling it. What do you thing the odds are that I’ll be able to go again tomorrow?

During my second stretch of the day I discovered I can still put my toes in my nose so I haven’t lost too much flexibility.

It’s convention time again and again they gave me three back to back sessions to present (yoga, kickboxing, hip hop) but this time with no break at all. Not so fly for a mommy with a one month old baby who’s exclusively nursed. That’s why I was so pumped (heh - pun intended) that she took a bottle! She’s taking them no problem now every night or every other night so I can relax about my mom hanging with the kids all day this Thursday. If I can move my arms to type a post after convention, chances are that post will have the same title as this one.

I’m extending the deadline to name my kids, so please help! Not that the entries I’ve received so far aren’t great, because you guys rock, but we need some more. Actually, I’m just too indecisive to decide on anything yet. If you haven’t entered, please do! And get your friends to enter too. The more the merrier. And the longer I extend this the more cool prizes are ending up in the random (sur)prize package(s)!

Happy weekend!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

Imagine naming somebody else’s kid.

Such power!

So enormous is the prestige that comes with such an honour that there need not be extra incentive.

But? In Blogland? There must be prizes!

You’d have to be a little kooky to let some internet stranger name your kid(s), but I’ve rarely if ever been accused of being normal.

So…in the interest of not typing “the boy” and “the girl” for much longer, I give you…

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.muchmorethanamom.com"><img src="http://www.muchmorethanamom.com/images/namekids.jpg" alt="Name Someone Else's Kids at Much More Than a Mom" /></a>
(If you’d be so kind as to highlight, copy & paste the code above into your own post to let people know about this contest, you will be repaid in big slobbery internet kisses and a whole hellofalotta karma.)

It’s pretty easy really. Gather your creative juices, give your brain buttons a little rub-a-dub-dub* and leave a comment with your suggestion(s) for what my littles should be called on the internet. Enter as many times as you like. Feel free to include real names, silly names, names that aren’t names…whatever floats your boat. Remember, I have one boy and one girl and the chance of me calling my son Jane, even if it’s only on the web, are pretty damn slim. You can suggest a name for one or both kids. Or two or three for both. Or for one. I’m easy.

…

Kind of but not completely off topic random story: When the girl was born, the operating theatre staff wanted to know what the names were that we had chosen for a boy or a girl. They asked before she was delivered while they were prepping me and we didn’t yet know what gender she was. I’m probably missing some important details here because I was completely stoned and exhausted by the time we got to the operating theatre but the gist is…we refused to tell them but if it was a girl she’d be named after my grandmother. I wasn’t quite stoned enough to tell them what my grandma’s name is when they asked, though. One nurse said she’d just call her “Bertha.” Another said “No, Gertrude!” And the whole crazy group of them decided that if she was a girl her name would forever be “Bertha Gertrude” to them.

…

Back to the topic at hand.

If I choose a name that you suggested (no randomness here - I get to pick) you will win your choice of…

1) The Frantic Woman’s Guide to Feeding Family and Friends by Mary Jo Rulnick (Brand new, paperback)

2) When To Worry: How To Tell If Your Teen Needs Help and What To Do About It by Dr. Lisa Boesky, Ph.D (Brand new, paperback)

3) Hawaiian Playground CD from Putamayo Kids.

4) Latin Reggae CD from Putamayo Kids

5) A random (sur)prize package! You get no say in what’s in it. I’ll just send you a few somethings if you choose this one. It’ll be good!

Because I might choose one name from two different people, the first person to respond gets their first choice and so on down the line. If that happens, I’ll ask the winners to choose two of the prizes in priority order. Now I’ve confused myself. Anyone else?

If two people enter the same name and I choose it, the first comment to include that name will be the winner.

This contest is open for one week or until I say it’s closed. Because it’s my blog and I can do that. Probably? I’ll choose a winner next weekend, February 17th-ish.

*Not nearly as pornographic or fun as it sounds. It’s what I say to my students before they write or start a math activity…we just rub our temples or scalps…but you can rub whatever works for you.

I’m visiting the folks right now and just realized that, hey! Guess What? I have a blog!

Just kidding - I didn’t forget. I just don’t have much disposable time.

Everything’s going really well with the girl. (We have GOT to do the naming thing. I’m tired of using the girl and the boy. I just need to decide what the prize(s) will be.) She sleeps through the night. Ahem. I can’t believe I just risked screwing it up by telling you that. She sleeps at least 6 hours (midnight to 6 am) and often 8 hours. Crazy stuff. We thought people were lying when they said their babies slept, but it turns out that that’s not so. You can understand why we thought that, I’m sure, because our 21 month old still doesn’t sleep. He has only had one or two proper naps in two weeks and the other days he just plays in his crib for two hours. And he’s still waking up at night with his dog damned freaking teeth, so he’s not getting enough sleep any way you look at it. He has bags under his eyes, but there’s nothing we can do about it. A two hour time out in his crib does seem to take the crankies away and he comes out ready to rock again so I suppose it’s all he needs. As long as I get my two hours, what do I care whether he sleeps or not?

The BG goes back to work on Monday and I still haven’t figured out how I’m ever going to leave the house without him. I’m sure I’ll figure it out quickly when I actually have to do it, but it might be…interesting, to say the least.

Thanks for the tips on the scabbed nipple. With two pumping sessions it kind of healed itself and her lip just fixed itself too so it’s all good. I think I have enough milk to feed a small country (and no time to pump it so it just sits in there) because she often gets a mouthful and let it run all over my clothes because there’s too much there for her to swallow. She’s growing like a weed so she’s definitely getting what she needs.

Speaking of eating…Have you read this? It’s American, not Canadian, and our standards and inspection blah blah things are much higher and we don’t even have “school lunches” here, but still. I’m totally for the vegetarian thing. Ugh.

How is it that I’ve gone from having a daughter 16 days ago and having “Not one thing for her to wear!” to having an armoire full of newborn to 6 month clothing most of which she’ll not even have a chance to wear before she outgrows it? Hmmmm…

(E-naming contest coming soon! You’re consumed by thinking of creative online names for my kids, right?)

Mwah!

(I started this yesterday but with the constant interruptions of life it wasn’t ready until today! She also didn’t want to steal the thunder of her brother’s 21 month birthday.) So, actually…eleven days already?

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My dearest little daughter,

I can hardly believe that you’ve been in my arms instead of my belly for ten days now. We waited 42 weeks to finally meet you and even then had to coax you, and now only ten days later it’s like you’ve always been a part of us. You’ve fit into our family, our home and our lives so easily that I can’t imagine life without you, and yet it seems like you just arrived.

I’m really glad I took a few minutes to type up your birth details when I got home because we’ve hardly had a moment since. (Not because of you - you sleep like an angel, but your brother is having some teething issues that keep him from sleeping and that on top of your nursing all day long just makes things busy. Wonderful, but busy.)

I’ll never forget the moment you left my body and somebody shouted “It’s a girl!” I immediately broke down into hysterical tears of joy because I couldn’t believe our luck. God has given us a perfect little girl in addition to our perfect little boy and made us the perfect little family.

From the moment I held you in my arms you have been nothing but sweet perfection. You latched on perfectly and actually ate within two minutes of hitting my chest, and with no help needed from me. I spent the first 48 hours of your life wide awake and wired just holding you - you never were out of arms for more than a few minutes for a diaper change or other necessity (I really didn’t want you in the plastic bucket that the hospital so kindly provided us with) and I wonder if that early skin to skin bonding helped with your peaceful nature or if you would have been that way anyway. Either way, I’ll take it. You pretty much sleep through the night - you nurse only once or twice and go right back to sleep. Last night you slept from midnight until 8 am when I finally made you eat to ease my exploding boobs. You’re co-sleeping with your Daddy & I - right between our heads in a very safe little co-sleeper - which makes it very easy to respond to your every need immediately and makes us all sleep more peacefully. You sleep more than any baby I’ve ever known, only waking to nurse or study your surroundings every so intently. You have the most thoughtful dark brown eyes and they captivate your daddy and I every time you look at us.

You were named after your maternal great grandmother (your first name is her second middle name) and also after me. (Your middle name is my name, which is pretty obvious I suppose.) Your great grandma is one of the kindest and most genuine people to ever walk the earth so we were honoured to be able to name you after her. She is 97 years old now so you can imagine how thrilled I was to have a daughter to name after her while she’s still around for me to tell her about it!

Your brother loves you more than you can possibly imagine. He wants to hold your hands and rub your back and is always excited to see you. When you make even the tiniest peep he tells us to “Cuddle!” you or tells me that you need “Milk. Boobie. Bra.” He often wants you to sit on his high chair tray while he eats so that he can hug you, and we do put your little bottom on there for a moment because it’s just so incredibly cute. We have two dogs that love you too - they love to give you big wet smooches and you don’t seem to mind at all. Chloe, our cat, just watches you from a distance and finds you rather entertaining.

At your one week checkup you had already surpassed your birth weight at 7 lbs 11 oz and you had already grown 3/4″ to 21 1/4″ long. There’s no concern about your health at all! Not even so much as a plugged tear duct, which is pretty cool. Even your skin is perfect.

We’re so lucky to have you and can hardly wait for all that we’ll experience together as a family of four!

Love, Mommy
xoxo

Today is your Grandma Betty’s birthday!

Ready everyone?

Happy Birthday Grandma Betty!!