This is a prime example of my mental status....
I have sent out several packages in the last few days: baby gifts, Christmas presents, etc. My in-laws called tonight and told me that they received a small package that I sent them. Inside the package was a gift intended for my girlfriends' children. Oops. My in-laws have graciously agreed to forward the correct gift to the correct family. The problem is, I don't know who received their gift. Hopefully, it was the same family who was jilted...otherwise this could get complicated. Boy, oh boy, do I need sleep. (should I really be working???)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Gramma and Granpa are GRRREEEAAAT
Steven's parents visited for one week earlier this month. Things have been so crazy around here, and I've been a bit behind with blogging. They were amazing, such a huge help to me. Steven was out of town for a couple days while they were here, which is why they were even more helpful! They were great with both our children, allowed me to get out quite a bit, allowed me to NAP. We had such a wonderful time together and also celebrated Christmas. Thank you for making the trip and loving us so well. We love you both!!!!
It takes a village....
These are some of my wonderful coworkers who help with Abigail while I try to work! I love these ladies!
Work
These are the items I brought home at 10:45 last night. This is that amount of stuff that is required to bring my baby to work. Insane.
Abigail 5 months
I'm a bit behind on my blogging these days. Lets just say I'm swamped. Its not even Christmas that is swamping me, just life! It takes me one week to do the laundry, another few days to fold it, and another few days to get it put away...and by then, I am behind again. These are crazy times, a season of life!
Abigail is now almost 6 months and every week is doing more and more. AT our last check she was 12#3oz. She is rolling over pretty consistently, blowing raspberries, laughing occasionally ( I LOVE this!), and pretty happy in general. Sleep at night has been a challenge as she seems to have her days and nights mixed up. She wakes up every two hours between 12 and 6. Its brutal. I think we caused a bad pattern with her coming to work, traveling, and having very little consistency. I'm so exhausted that I can't imagine doing what it takes to get her back on track...its easier to just deal with what we have for now. I know it will get better, and I can't imagine being any more physically exhausted than I am right now. Abigail is a delight, so that makes it all worth it!
Abigail is now almost 6 months and every week is doing more and more. AT our last check she was 12#3oz. She is rolling over pretty consistently, blowing raspberries, laughing occasionally ( I LOVE this!), and pretty happy in general. Sleep at night has been a challenge as she seems to have her days and nights mixed up. She wakes up every two hours between 12 and 6. Its brutal. I think we caused a bad pattern with her coming to work, traveling, and having very little consistency. I'm so exhausted that I can't imagine doing what it takes to get her back on track...its easier to just deal with what we have for now. I know it will get better, and I can't imagine being any more physically exhausted than I am right now. Abigail is a delight, so that makes it all worth it!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
In the trenches
I love being a mother and I absolutely love my children. With motherhood comes many challenges. The hardest as of yet is sleep deprivation (when the teenage years come, this will seem like small potatoes!). Right now I am in the midst of a season of extreme sleep deprivation. Thankfully, I learned a lot last time...it won't last forever. It feels like forever right now, yet I know it won't be. I can see why they use sleep deprivation on prisoners as a form of torture. Its awful!!!
I tried leaving Abigail home yesterday with my in-laws while I went to work. Abigail refused the new $18 Adiri bottle we ordered from Ebay, the acclaimed remedy for babies who refuse bottles. After a recent NY times article, they are so popular that you can't find them anywhere, except of course, Ebay. We were gentle with introducing it, yet Abigail screamed when she saw it, even when we weren't offering it to her. I have to applaud her for her spunk. This has to be a virtue, right??? So, after half of my 10-hour work day, my in-laws brought her to me. She was then awake for the rest of my shift (5 hours), slept 20 minutes on the car ride home, and has been waking up every 2 hours since midnight. She's been in this 2 hour wake cycle for the past week, probably due to one or two nights of a bad pattern. I'm so exhausted that I am usually asleep before my head hits the pillow, this morning I have been awake since 3:30 and can't get back to sleep. My body is too wired for sleep. Since Abigail is on the small side and recently wasn't gaining well, I don't think I should do any sleep training. Let alone the fact that she would wake up the whole house in the process. Besides, every day is different for Abigail, especially since she'll continue coming to work with me for now.
If my in-laws weren't here this week, I don't know how I would be making it. They have been wonderful, providing breaks for me, allowing me to get errands done that I can never get gone, and most blissfully...napping.
This is a season, this is a season, this is a season. Please Lord, help me keep going until the tides shift and I can sleep again.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Happy 60th, Dadio!
This is belated....my Dad turned 60 near the beginning of this month and we went home to celebrate. My mom celebrates the same big birthday in a few more weeks. Nana and Papa, Happy Birthday, we LOVE YOU!
Auntie Kim, we love you!
Auntie Kim is a delight to have in our family! She is full of enthusiasm, authenticity, and compassion. She loves both of our children so well, and is so excellent with them! I love this photo...she engages with all that she meets so intently.
Abigail update
Abigail is doing much better. We take her to our doctor next Monday to check on her progress. I can tell she is growing and seems to be thriving more! YAY! Its been challenging having her at work with me for many reasons, also a great blessing. I'm so thankful to have such an understanding workplace!
Our main concern was her vocalization. Around 3 months she started doing the typical cooing/aahing. When I started back to work, she stopped completely. Our doctor was concerned, as were we. I did my best to work with her and encourage her speech. Last week at church, we had one of the pastors pray for her. This past Saturday night while visiting my parents, it was as if a switch went on and she began talking again, and hasn't stopped! We are overjoyed, Praise God! It is music to our ears...
Our main concern was her vocalization. Around 3 months she started doing the typical cooing/aahing. When I started back to work, she stopped completely. Our doctor was concerned, as were we. I did my best to work with her and encourage her speech. Last week at church, we had one of the pastors pray for her. This past Saturday night while visiting my parents, it was as if a switch went on and she began talking again, and hasn't stopped! We are overjoyed, Praise God! It is music to our ears...
Monday, November 05, 2007
Drama
I went to the pediatrician today for Abigail's 4 month check-up. We have been worried about her on the days I work as she has refused the bottle up until now. She will take maybe 2 oz a day from a spoon or a cup with much coaxing (and then nurse all night when I return). Believe me when I say we have tried everything. My nanny is great, she has been trying, too.
Today we learned that she is gaining weight, but not enough. My doctor told me that I either need to stop working or figure out a way to feed her on my work days (i.e. bring her to work). I spoke with my boss, who is AMAZING and incredibly flexible. She is willing to let me try bringing her to work. So...we're going to give it a try starting tomorrow and Wednesday. For those of you readers who pray, please pray. Pray that she will eventually learn to take a bottle and that we can figure this out. Also, pray that she will sleep at my workplace. She will have her own room (my office) which is quiet. I'm not quite sure how I am going to get any work done...I'm SO BLESSED to have such an amazing boss.
Today we learned that she is gaining weight, but not enough. My doctor told me that I either need to stop working or figure out a way to feed her on my work days (i.e. bring her to work). I spoke with my boss, who is AMAZING and incredibly flexible. She is willing to let me try bringing her to work. So...we're going to give it a try starting tomorrow and Wednesday. For those of you readers who pray, please pray. Pray that she will eventually learn to take a bottle and that we can figure this out. Also, pray that she will sleep at my workplace. She will have her own room (my office) which is quiet. I'm not quite sure how I am going to get any work done...I'm SO BLESSED to have such an amazing boss.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Pumpkin #1
Ben is pretty excited about candy. He hasn't really had much of it before. And all he wants is MORE. How, as a parent, do you limit candy without being a party-pooper?
Our little pumpkin
Today Ben was asked by both grandparents what he and Abigail were for Halloween. He replied: "A Punkin' Patch," which is technically true, as both he and Abigail went as pumpkins. I also made them each pumpkin hats :) These are the pumpkins we carved for Halloween this year, as part of a pumpkin carving contest by our Realtor. We didn't get too creative...it was a miracle that we carved pumpkins at all! We had nice weather for Trick-or-Treating, more photos to follow.
Boo at the Zoo
Ben, Abigail, and I met Jim and Kirsten at the zoo this weekend while Steven was out of town. It ended up being a crazy trip for me as Abigail screamed much of the time. (I pushed her a bit by also going to the last farmer's market for the season beforehand). Thankfully, Jim and Kirsten were very helpful to me and made it possible for us to stay. We enjoyed seeing Luke again and meeting newborn Rebekah (almost 2 months old). Congratulations to you all on her safe arrival!!!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sleep, o sleep, why do you elude me???
What I wouldn't give for one night of 8 hours sleep without any interruptions. I think it would greatly improve my mood and general outlook on life. I think I would pay over $100 for that privilege (which is saying a lot given our tight budget!). Abigail has been in a funk lately with sleep. I'm not sure what the deal is...I think a bad precedent has been set on the days I work. She will not take a bottle, drinks 1-2 ounces in 10 hours, and then nurses all night. On the non work days, she thinks she can continue this pattern. Last night she woke up every 1-2 hours. Blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine. I am deeply thankful for both of my children...and I shouldn't complain about a loss of sleep. Maybe I'll be able to see the bright side soon (once I get more sleep)! I did learn one thing from last time: nothing is forever. I know in a few short months this will be nothing but a vague memory.
Monday, October 22, 2007
An unfortunate incident with the hammock
Ben and I were sitting in the hammock, enjoying a little bonding time. He was a little reticent about the whole thing. Pam took some photos of us and decided to join us on the hammock...which was fine for the hammock, but not fine for the tree it was anchored to....BOOM, we crashed to the ground. It almost knocked the wind out of me and I bit my tongue pretty badly. Fortunately, Ben wasn't hurt as he was mostly sitting on top of me. I'm hurtin' today and will be visiting the chiropractor later on...
After we fell, Ben insightfully said "Ben don't like that phing..."
After we fell, Ben insightfully said "Ben don't like that phing..."
Auntie Pam
We visited Auntie Pam yesterday at her home. Ben absolutely loves her (as do we). We had a really nice time catching up and eating a couple meals together. Pam is my dearest friend and we don't often get to see one another. It was a real treat for me.
Pumpkin patch
We met my parents in Michigan on Saturday at a Pumpkin Patch. It was a good one, only about 1.5 hours from Chicago. The weather was perfect, 70 and sunny, a beautiful day. Ben enjoyed a pony ride, a brief visit to a bounce house (not really his speed), feeding goats and cows, climbing on the pumpkins, and most of all seeing Nana, Papa, and G.G. We went out to lunch afterwards at our traditional lunch place halfway between our homes. It was such a fun day! There are lots more photos if you click on this one to see the others.
Ben's silly hat
My friends and have started doing "preschool" on our own with our children. We are rotating the responsibilities each month, meeting on Friday mornings with our kids. There are five children in the school and it is mostly structured play time. They make a craft, sing, read a story, and have playtime. Ben has REALLY enjoyed it. Last week, I got 1 hour to myself in the morning while he was at school and Abigail was sleeping. It was heavenly. I sat on the couch, watched Oprah, and knitted. It was the first time in months I have done anything like this...and it felt good. Last week, Ben came home with this adorable silly hat. He was so proud!
Ben's morning routine
Steven gets up with Ben every morning and makes breakfast/entertains him until Abigail and I get up (usually 45 min or 1 hour later). As I am up with Abigail often during the night, this gives me a precious few minutes more of sleep. They have a routine of making oatmeal and eggs. Lately, we have been eating with Ben at his little table to make him feel more special (its also easier to clean up). Thanks, honey, for giving me an extra few minutes of sleep!!!
"Date" with Ben
One morning last week, I asked Ben what he wanted to do that day. He said "Go on a date with Mama." I almost choked up...it hit me how little time we get together alone, and how Ben misses it, too. So last week we went out for ice cream (at Ben's request), just the two of us. It was so special! We both had pumpkin ice cream (my favorite!). Ben especially enjoys going out at night, as we don't do it very often with him. He is fascinated with traffic lights and points out every light as we go by. "Oh, its RED!" He even likes to point out the times that I turn right on red, saying "Mama, you have to wait for it to turn GREEN!" How do you explain???
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Fall is in the air (sortof)
We visited Cosley Zoo today, a petting zoo nearby, with our friend Caden. They had a pumpkin patch and corn husk maze set up in addition to the usual animals. It was a brief trip, they had a great time. For more photos, click on this photo to go to Flickr.
Silly glasses
Ben found both of these glasses in my bag and asked for us to put them on. He then suggested we take a picture. I love his imagination!!!
our little organizer
Ben lined up all of these spoons one morning while making breakfast with Steve. Hmmm.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Abigail 3 months
I'm too sleep deprived after a rough night last night to post anything. We love her to pieces, thats all I can say...
Independence is the name of this stage
Our son picked out his own clothes yesterday. I guess he likes orange :)
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Our growing playgroup
These ladies and our children have been in a playgroup for well over a year together. We used to go to each others homes to catch up on life (as much as you can with a baby or toddler). We've gotten so big as many of us have now had second children...so instead of going to someone's home, we had to find a bigger space. Today we opted for the zoo. It was a beautiful fall-ish day, cooler but not cold, and sunny. We had a great time and most importantly, we got out of the house!!!!
Abigail 13 weeks
Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen!?!?! She's increasingly alert and smiley, sweet as can be. Sleep is going okay, pretty erratic at night. Every few nights, she'll sleep through the night and the following nights she'll wake up 2-3 times. She naps well, which is great. Its hard to remember what life was like without her!
Ben is still adjusting, overall, I think he likes her. The biggest adjustment has been the shift/change in my relationship with him. I miss spending time with him and at times am not as patient as I would like (especially when he climbs all over me while I am nursing). We love our children so much...I think we'll keep them around for awhile longer :)
Ben is still adjusting, overall, I think he likes her. The biggest adjustment has been the shift/change in my relationship with him. I miss spending time with him and at times am not as patient as I would like (especially when he climbs all over me while I am nursing). We love our children so much...I think we'll keep them around for awhile longer :)
Papa and Peanut
My parents were in town this weekend to help out with childcare (and to visit, of course!). We took a walk in the early evening to the park before putting the kids to bed. I love this shot...the rare time that my dad has a beard. I like it, it looks distinguished...although he probably won't keep it for long. I love you, Daddy!
Zoo trip with Jim and Sally
Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sally joined Ben, Abigail, and I for a zoo trip. They had never been and enjoyed seeing many of the exhibits. Ben's favorite thing (as usual) was the wave and the carousel. We had a great time together, thanks for joining us!!!!
Crazy shopping trip
Last week, I visited Costco with Sally, Francis, George, Ben and Abigail. The whole trip seemed pretty daunting to me, Sally talked me into it :) Sally was amazing!!! She had George in a backpack and was entertaining Francis and Ben while pushing the cart. I was pushing Abigail in her stroller. Sally kept getting sympathetic looks for everyone who thought all three were hers :) It turned out to be a fun trip without too many meltdowns!
Night on the town
Jim and Sally (Kim's parents) were in town this past week. We had the privilege of getting together with them several times while they were here. One night, Abigail came with all of us to go out for a nice dinner. It was such a pleasure to enjoy a nice meal together while Abigail slept peacefully in her stroller. Thanks for including us during your visit, we so enjoy spending time with you!
Welcome Back, Jeff and MiYoung
Our friends were temporarily in California for a year, while Jeff had a federal clerkship. They just moved back and have already been an enrichment to our lives. Since their absence, they had an addition to their family, beautiful baby Sophia! Their son, Asher, is just a little younger than Benjamin. We missed you guys, welcome back!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Back to work
Yesterday was my first day back at work. After much deliberation, I decided to return to my former job as a CNM at Midwest Midwifery. It was so good to be back!!! I missed how organized it all is at Midwest and remembered many favorite patients. The day went pretty smoothly for me, it was great to actually finish a task, have my mind on something other than getting my kids to nap or changing poopy diapers, and have adult interactions. On the flip side, I did miss my children desperately. I will most likely be working 1-2 days per week. We are still figuring out our childcare situation. My parents and my grandmother came over the weekend to help out with the children for my first day. Boy, Ben and Abigail gave them a run for their money...it took all three of them to take care of the two of them :) Abigail is stubborn (like me, I suppose), and refuses to drink from a bottle. She took a few sips from a spoon yesterday and did a lot of crying. Lets just say we were both happy to see each other at 6:30 pm.
I'm thankful that I am able to work part-time and don't have to work full-time. Working has its pros and cons...hopefully with good childcare it will be mostly positive for all of us.
I'm thankful that I am able to work part-time and don't have to work full-time. Working has its pros and cons...hopefully with good childcare it will be mostly positive for all of us.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sweet smiles
Abigail is 11 weeks today! Wow, how time flies. She's doing pretty well. Since returning from our trip, sleep has been a challenge. She was sleeping through the night pretty consistently shortly after birth. For the past week or so, she has been waking up 2 times, every 2-3 hours. Its been tough on me. Fortunately, learning from last time, I know it can't last forever. I just hope we can figure it out soon. She is now 10#, 23 inches long. She continues to have reflux, which is much-improved on meds. She is smiling often, beginning to study her fingers (I love this!), and is starting to flail her arms as if to touch something. She's so much fun!
Is this an early sign of OCD?
The other day after a long silence (that can never be good with a toddler), I came onto our back porch to discover half a box of wipes on the windowsill. Ben's reasoning was so "the bees don't get in." Hmmmm.
I LOVE these guys so much!!!!
These are the most important people in the world to me. They enlighten my days, bring me joy, give me gray hair :), make me laugh and cry, challenge me, and bless me. I'm so thankful for my precious family.
Sweet, sweet boy
This is a classic Ben smile. It melts my heart. He continues to be a great delight to us all. His verbal abilities continue to amaze us, he can be hilarious! He had so much fun on this trip, especially with both Grandparents. He was mystified by the tides (as are we!), saying "Where'd the water go???" We told him that the moon pulls the water away, which was hard for him to understand. Every morning when he woke up, he'd say "OH! The waters in (or out)!" Oh, to see the world through the eyes of a child...
He had his two year check-up yesterday and got a clean bill of health. He is now 30+# and 37" tall.
He had his two year check-up yesterday and got a clean bill of health. He is now 30+# and 37" tall.
Cousins
At the end of our trip, we attended a wedding of Steven's cousin, Darrien, back in CT. All the cousins got to be together again (Meghan, Ben, Zachary, and Sara). We found out that we have a new cousin on the way due in February to Paul and Martha! YAY!
Family Photo
(i'm frustrated with our computer as I can't upload multiple photos to an entry...I don't know why???)
Our family
The Bassetts came up for the day on the weekend of Labor Day. It was fun for both of our families to spend time together. The Bassetts brought some sweet corn, burgers and hot dogs to grill. We all took a walk after dinner to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful, cool night and a gorgeous sunset. This is the stuff that memories are made of....
Fisherman
We were joined in Cape Cod by my parents and Graham and Kim. It was great to be together, we had a wonderful time! The boys frequently fished on the flats when the tide when out. They had some bites, but didn't bring home any fish for dinner. My brother Graham chartered a guide one day and caught many fish. As a result of his trip, we did have some wonderful fish for dinner!
Can you make it stop???
For the last 30 minutes or so of our 2+ hour trip, Abigail began crying. Benjamin plugged his ears with his fingers to drown out the noise (we didn't prompt him to do this!). All I can say is: what goes around, comes around.
(Benjamin screamed for 17 out of 18 hours of driving on our road trip to Cape Cod when he was 3 months old)
(Benjamin screamed for 17 out of 18 hours of driving on our road trip to Cape Cod when he was 3 months old)
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