Going to bed... Sophie 10 weeks

Ahh, getting to bed. Such a challenge every night. Things seem to go well throughout the day, one child is napping while the other is awake. Or usually only one is upset or crying and just because they fell, or their hungry, or they want mommy. Easy fixes. But then comes the evening. Somehow the evening from about 530 to 9 is just a rush against the clock. Everyone gets crabbier and grouchier by evening time. Sophie becomes a little more demanding and is awake more. She likes to tank up before bed, so her nursing increases. Jack is tired from the day, so he begins to get a little more grouchy. Hes the busiest child I think EVER, so he is constantly into things. Mom and Dad are exhausted from chasing children and working, and our patience seems to wear. Jack is getting into the tupperware for the umptienth time, and I am putting it back for the million and one time. I am struggling to make dinner. Sophie is on and off crying. I am making green beans and boiling potatoes... and then stop to nurse Soph. Daddy chases Jack and they play baseball. And then they play basketball. And then the ball goes under the couch. When Jack can't get it with his bat- Daddy! Daddy! Get the ball. But of course he just points under the couch and says, "uh huh!" since there are no words really yet. Back to the stove for Mommy. Stop Jack from eating dog food for the millionth time. Jack bites Daddy. Time out. 1 minute on the clock. He gets up. No- you need to sit. He gets up. No- you need to sit. I check the potatoes and the green beans, make hamburger patties, nurse Sophie. Jack you can get up. He smirks, and leans in for the hug that he knows is coming. I think thats the only part he knows. We carry everything out and have dinner outside. Peace and quiet for about 10 minutes. Success. Jack is back in a good mood. Then we walk. Walking can go good or bad as you read in my previous post. But either way, tension continues to rise. Jack never walks the way we want, making the walk take longer. Sometimes he throws a tantrum, wearing the patience even lower. Then the bugs start to bite- agh! so annoying. Hurry, hurry home! Tonight, I am slinging Sophie and Daddy is carrying Jack and the train. The dogs are annoying and won't walk straight. Ellie is being OCD and wants to walk a different way than the family. We finally make it home. Make the bottles, grab the diapers, grab the pjs, grab the towels and get the kids in the tub. Jack splashes the whole bathroom and pours water on Soph. No Jack!! We get the kids out, they shiver. Hurry, hurry to dry them off and get diapers on them before they pee on the bed. Seems like we can't get it done quick enough. Always a race against the clock to get them to bed by ... ah... say 9ish. Then the lights are out and the fan is on... time for some spongebob and relaxing. OH, but not yet. I nurse Sophie on the bed as Jack rolls around, kicks me in the back, hits Sophie on the stomach stating "Cry" over and over. (That's what he calls her) Yes Jack, that's Cry. Kick, hit, scratch my back. Ugh. Isn't this kid tired after walking a mile?! Seriously. Patience is lower, and lower. Please go to bed Jack. Rolls around more and pesters the dogs. Hits them and they growl. Then they jump down and run away. Have to get the dogs... they aren't allow to sleep alone or more problems will ensue. And then......... silence. All that craziness, I can't believe we make it. And then beauty. A sleeping toddler curled up in my arms, and a beautiful baby girl suckling on my breast. Such a wonderful and beautiful family all laying in bed together. So peaceful. And I relax...... and love the moment. Ah, how I love going to bed. :)

Every night we walk... Sophie 8 weeks

Every evening we walk together. I want to remember this summer and memory forever. Its me, Tom, Sophie in a sling, Jack pulling his alligator or pushing his mower, and Tom walking the two yorkies. I wonder what we look like to the neighbors? Ha, the whole family out walking. Sometimes Soph nurses in the sling 75% of the time, which means a boob hanging out. Sometimes Jack has a screaming melt down, and we are standing on the other end of the neighborhood with a screaming toddler. Sometimes they are both crying. Sometimes Jack insists on pushing the stroller and pushing his baby sister. Sometimes, he can't control the stroller and its all over the grass and its so frustrating. Sometimes, Jack insists on walking Ellie and holds her leash and she pulls him down. Sometimes Jack walks too fast, and falls flat on his face... actually, more often than not he is falling down. Sometimes Jack has his own agenda and goes into the yards, or up the driveways. Sometimes Jack takes his mower and mows EVERY neighbors yard. Sometimes Jack spots a plane and points up, stating "Car". Sometimes we stop and chat with the neighbors or meet a new neighbor. Sometimes its so hot and Jack's little face is sweating. Sometimes Jack can walk the whole mile. Sometimes, Jack gives up and Daddy has to carry him the rest of the way. Sometimes the neighbors see us coming and shout, "Jackie Boy!!!" And sometimes, its perfect. There is just this perfect moment. Sophie is sleeping peacefully in the sling. Jack is walking beside his daddy, learning about the trees, and the houses, and the cars (his favorite word!). Our family is all together, all relaxed, all enjoying each other's company. Even if we look like a huge freak show walking down the sidewalk. I want to remember these walks for forever. :)

Sophie is doing better. We have had very little crying and I just continue to hold her more and more. Its amazing what you can do in the "fourth trimester". Ha, feels like that because she is still attached to my stomach and cuddled up against my chest in the sling. It's nice though. I love holding her and she is definitely a mommys girl right now. Today, she seemed to cry for no reason. But i just slapped on the sling and set her in it. I sang a little, and bounced and rocked a little and just walked around the house... and off to sleep she went. Its such an amazing feeling to have her figured out and to be able to rock her to sleep in my arms. I love this baby girl. :)

Jack's weekly updates state that his next milestone is "meeting friends". haha! Off to the park we went this morning. He has absolutely NO interest in making friends. He does notice the children and watches them... but I don't think he has any interest in making friends. Its sort of hard to make friends when you can't talk either. It's an interesting conversation when all you can say is "car". :)

Kids are sleeping well. Soph still sleeping from 9 to 4am with one or so nurses. She comes into my bed at 4am so I am not exactly sure how much she nurses after that. She generally sleeps until 7 or 8am which is working for me. She also appears much more alert suddenly. She seems to get bored, and demands a little more entertainment. This means the nursing is slowly slightly, and I think we can make it 2 hours here and there. She also has started enjoying her swing and bouncy chair and can sit for short perio.ds alone. This affords me some time to spend with Jack, or pick up a little around the house.

Seems like things are going well. We have a busy social week this week- visiting Gigi and Papa, Big Nonna and Grandpa Paul and the nanny is visiting. Hopefully we can squeeze in a pool visit. We also had a busy weekend, visiting Court and Troy and seeing Kristin and Joe's new baby. Evan was soooo tiny at just 8 lbs. I am pretty sure that Sophie is about 11 or 12 lbs. She fills out her 3 mth clothes well.

Having ribs and green beans for dinner, need to hop off and finish up. Then we will go on our nightly walk again... wonder what tonight will bring. :)

Sophie 7 weeks- Irish Festival

Sophie turned 7 weeks yesterday, and it seems as though we are turning a corner with her, and I am really starting to figure her out. Friday, I mastered the sling. I bought it awhile ago, expecting to walk around and nurse handsfree. It didn't work like that, so I didn't try again. Then I was reading up on Dr Sears and the high needs baby- and I decided to try it again. I thought if all these moms can do it, so can I. So I watched some youtube videos on how to wear it and tried it again, and its AWESOME. I "wore" sophie to the Irish festival and nursed her about 75% of the time we were there. Looks like she just needs to be held tight and close to me- and always have the boob ready. With the introduction of the sling, we are able to go on evening walks now and I went to the mall with my mom (Mimi) and my grandma (Gigi). I am less stressed, because I am not constantly worried she is going to cry. I am much more relaxed, because I know that I can whip out my secret weapon any time she needs it. We have had significantly less crying if I just hold her. I think she is just a "high needs" baby and not colicky. It appears that holding or nursing her usually soothes her. Her sleep patterns have also continued well. She is sleeping until 4 or 5 am, after we put her down at 8 or 9 pm. Last night, we put her down at 10pm and she slept until 6am. Go soph! I cant decide if she is just getting older and more aware (she is looking around some on the walks, then nurses, and then falls alseep... all on one walk) or if I really have figured her out. It was nice to be able to do a few things with the kids and not be so worried about her being upset.

Jack is almost 16 mths. He still calls Sophie "Cry". He is so sweet and gentle with her- its precious. Only occasionally does he throw things at her. ;) I swear he said "bye" this week, and Papa said that he said grass, while holding grass, and handed it to him and said "here". We bought a potty seat about a month a go, but absolutely no interest in that. He doesn't appear to know that he is going to the bathroom, making potty training seem very far away. He continues to eat well and eat everything. He loves meat (steak! ribs! chicken!) and prefers that over anything else. He likes Gigi's green beans and loves his tomatoes. He still refuses eggs, sweet potatoes and unknown foods. Unless... I am eating it and hes not supposed to have it. For example... I was eating a green onion straight and he really wanted to try it. So I let him and he ate a whole green onion! Ever smelled a 16 mth old's breath that smells like onion!? HAHA! He recently learned how to turn the tv on and off, which makes watching tv really fun- when your show is constantly interrupted. He also likes to hit the button on the garage, to open and close the garage door. He also can communicate well with uh huh and shaking his head no... he goes to the fridge to request food, juice or a bottle, and knows which one he is asking for. He loves to swim and jump in the water, and its even more fun when he has a cup!

I feel like I am starting to get the hang of things. I made it to a la leche meeting today with the two kids and no help. Granted sophie slept the whole time and jack was very well behaved- but hell, i did it. We were also proud of ourselves for making it to the Irish Festival. Even though Tom chased Jack the whole time, we spent 60 dollars for overpriced food and for Jack to play on a playground that is normally free, and I was so distracted by nursing Sophie it was difficult to engage in conversation with my friend Courtney, we still did it. We were out and about with two kids- and we were out until 10:00. Parental accomplishment. Seems so small- but so big. :)

Sophie 6 weeks

So Sophie turned 6 weeks on Tuesday. Seems like the crying has peaked - or we have her figured out. Seems like she was crying every evening and we had/have to do everything we can to keep her from crying. Pick her up, lay her down, carry her, bounce her, rock her, swing her, exercise her legs, feed her, change her... etc. The dr said colic. We feel its mild. Also, the bfeed baby should be less likely to be colic-y, so i did some research. Some worry about cows protein in the moms diet, so I am eliminating dairy from my diet. Not easy to do- no milk, no butter, no ice cream, no cheese... but if it works, totally worth it. I also am cutting out the wine (boo, no one glass in the evening!) and carbonated/caffeinated beverages to see if that helps too. So far, she seems a little better. But I am also better at predicting her and reading her. I am ready for the 5:00 melt downs and ready to hold her and nurse her all evening if she wants. We have had some good evenings lately. I have been holding her and feeding her a lot, and she seems to cry less in the evenings, or at least we can figure her out. We know she doesnt like a wet diaper. We know that she insists on being carried. We know she likes to eat every hour in the morning (from about 8-11) and then nap all afternoon, and then eat every hour from about 5-8ish. Then we do the evening bath and put her down. Shes been sleeping till about 4am every night and we put both kids down at 9pm. That is REALLY good I feel like! And then she can make it till 7am.

We have been putting Jack down drowsy, and hes been sleeping in his own bed. Like I said earlier, Sophie is sleeping in her own bed... so we feel bedtime is going pretty well for us.

Last week, we went out to dinner for the FIRST time with all 4 of us. It was a success! Sophie slept the whole time. Jack scarfed down ribeye. We ordered one big one and shared it between the 3 of us... and we couldn't feed jack fast enough! UUUHHH! He would hollar- more more more! He loves his steak and he loves meat! YUMMY! Big eater. Mommy got to have 2 margaritas... fun fun! The first in over a year! And Sophie took her pre pumped bottles nicely. It was a fun night.

Last night, Daddy and Mommy went out for the first time since Sophie was born. It was GREAT! We went to bonefish and the kids went to nanas and buddys for the night. THey did good and we got away for 2 hours! Came home and did baths and everyone in bed by 10:00. I feel refreshed after getting away for the evening and ready for a new day.

Who knows what we will get in to this weekend? Wish it wasnt so HOT HOT HOT all the time. It makes it hard to even go outside. BUT... the Irish fesitval is this weekend... maybe we can check it out if it isn't too miserable. Sunday is Dani's wedding shower 1 hour north. That will be interesting to take both kids too... but fun. I am looking forward to the challenge of getting out and hanging out with some people. Plus parties always wear out Jack, so I am really looking forward to that part. :) Also, I hired my cousin to come help with some lawn work today. He pulled weeds, sprayed and mowed for me. SOOOO thankful for his help. This gives Daddy and I more time to spend together this weekend.