Tuesday, June 8, 2010

:-P

Day 325 - 24 May, 2010

Wisdom

Should I have let Mac have the cup while I got Aubrey's Washcloth?

Probably not.

Did she love it in spite of what sense would tell us?

Yes, yes she did.

Day 326 - 25 May, 2010

Footprints

My baby is 2 weeks old. Her umbilical stump has fallen off, and she is no longer new. She is already much more expressive, and has many more waking moments.
Because it's been 2 weeks, she went to the midwifery center with me, and got her feet put on the wall. They let me do this even though my VBAC risks me out of the midwifery center (which is rather depressing). Here's my shout out to Nel for being so great, and letting me add my daughter with my son.

Day 327 - 26 May, 2010

Layers

So, composting has proved interesting. Though you can't really see the rotting fruits and vegetables, you can see the main layers.

I think this makes for an interesting picture of the day. Hopefully by this time next year we'll have a garden to add on here with the compost!








Day 328 - 27 May, 2010

Funny Faces

Love this shot.

Need I say more?

Breast feeding advocacy

Day 330 - 19 May, 2010

The Park


There is this park that is just outside of the zoo. It has this great fish slide, and lots of playground mulch and sand for little hands to play with. I got to relax with my littlest one while my son played in the dirt. Gotta love the dirt.


Day 331 - 20 May, 2010

Yardwork

I pulled out the brick we had separating the front garden while my husband did all of the real yardwork. Since I am still supposed to be taking it easy, i watched him hack our wood to pieces, mow the yard, restack our woodpile. This lovely shot is a blooming peony.

LOVE them.







Day 332 - 21 May, 2010

Photoshoot

This is my princess's newborn photoshoot.


I wanted to catch her while she is still new.

Day 323 - 22 May, 2010

Best Friend

For the record, Breast Feeding sucks for the first two weeks.

Thank you lanolin for saving my from having my boobs fall off, or from letting me bleed to death, and all that wonderfulness.

That being said, it is a wonderful bonding experience once the ole knockers are broken in, and the kid finally figures out what to do, and what no to do. I highly recommend it.

It is also great nutrition for the baby, as well as a fine workout for mama.

Do invest in some of this magic goo though.


Day 324 - 23 May, 2010

Speaking of nursing...

This is my view from the living room couch as I am a slave to my baby.

Thank goodness we are weaning away from every hour and a half...

Every three hours, here we come!

Week 1 complete

Day 328 - 17 May, 2010

Say What?!

I overdid it. Yes, me. But I feel fantastic, and have the urge to do. I am treasuring every moment, and really loving these baby moments. I can't believe how much I missed the first time around. My mother-in-law rocks. She really helped around the house, and with Malcolm so that I could rest like I was supposed to. This gave me some sweet moments with my already expressive daughter. What a fun young lady!

Day 329 - 18 May, 2010

Sibling Bliss

Malcolm is already a great older brother. I keep dreading the day when jealousy rears it's ugly head, but for now, he loves Aubrey. He tends to treat her like a doll baby, but I am sure careful will come with time. He understands gentle. IT's amazing that I forget that I have to teach him everything from scratch. There is still so much for him to learn.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A week to change everything


Day 318 - 7 May, 2010

The Due Date

I knew that this day would come, and go without incident. For whatever reason, so many thought I wouldn't even make it to my due date. I had a normal workday, though still exhausted, and think I have decided not to come back this school year.
Afterward, I got my son, and we played and played. I really have tried to get as much fun in with Malcolm as I can this week, before he doesn't have my attention undivided anymore.
My mother arrived at 8:30, and now we're just waiting for the fun to begin.
My photo of the day is our front step, and it's fun circular pattern. I've been watching my step a lot more carefully lately, and so I thought I'd get my shot of it in here. There are so many things that need to be done to this house, that they all add up. After I have the baby, I will at least be able to do the lawn maintainance, and keep the weeds out of the concrete cracks.

Day 319 - 8 May, 2010

T Ball

We watched cousin Michael's T Ball game today, oh what fun! Mac loves anything to do with the cousins, and now he talks about baseball all the time. He is definitely a very physical kid, and enjoys sports of any kind. Really actually anything with a ball, or in the water. Here are some more highlights...



Day 320 - 9 May, 2010

Play time

My mom is a good sport. She's been feeling miserable, but she was still up for some mother's day fun. We relaxed, and played a little bit with the kids amidst barbecue fun. Delicious steaks! This is my dear mother in the photo of the day. Love Her!

Day 321 - 10 May, 2010

Zoo














We did lots of errands today, and ran to the zoo really quickly before they closed. It was the neatest thing to see this peacock running about out in the open in the petting zoo. He was obviously very happy, and this was the closest any of us had been to such a proud peacock. He was even doing the mating shake, and we got to hear that rattle sound of the layers of his feathers. Too bad we didn't see the full dance, but there was no female around to impress.

Day 322 - 11 May, 2010

New Arrival

I had been feeling things happen on and off since Friday, but I started to feel fairly regular littl contractions beginning yesterday evening. I woke up at one in the morning feeling really uncomfortable, and bummed because it reminded me of how early laor was with Malcolm. So, I dozed in a warm bath for a couple hours. Got a heating pad to offer relief while I laid in bed, Took some extra strngth Tylenol and tried to rest.
I think I started puking at 4:30 in the morning. Great.
By the time everyone was waking up at 6 we were making phone calls, and by 7 I knew we needed to get to the hospital. We were out the door right as Tim's mom arrived to get Malcolm.
The photo of the day is my belly wrapped up in monitors.
We arrived at the hospital at 7:30, and I was pushing by 8:30, and she was here around 9:26.
This was an amazing experience. I cannot believe how wonderful natural childbirth is. Painful at points, but really not that big of a deal if your relax. IT's actually very empowering. I could not believe that I had done it when it was all over. She just came right out! I can tell, looking back now, that things had not been right with my son's birth, and the miracle of modern medicine saved us, multiple times. This experience has also opened my eyes to the mercy of the Lord, and the joy in how some moments in life truly draw us toward His grand plan, in different ways. Here are somemore of the day's highlights.




Day 323 - 12 May, 2010

Visitors Great And Small

Malcolm was very concerned about my well-being after he last saw me I was in active labor. He was excited to see his baby sister had decided to come out to play, and he had really enjoyed the time he got to spend with the cousins. Though, I understand that he missed us in the middle of the night. I LOVE this photo.


Day 324 - 13 May, 2010

Homeward Bound

Here's the mandatory car seat photo.

Though when I left for the hospital, we had a string of 90 degree days, when we left it was right brisk.

So glad I brought the fuzzy blanket!

Thank you grandma.

Day 325 - 14 May, 2010

"Get my gun!" - Tim Banks

Really?

for a snake?

Everyone knows you use a shovel...

and this one wasn't even threatening. He is one protective papa. Just because we spotted this beauty near when our two-year-old son was playing, he got right anxious. Needless to say, this was the highlight of our day.

Pretty black snake, huh?


Day 326 - 15 May, 2010

Greek Festival and the Zoo

Am I overdoing it? Yes.

But, I am so excited that I feel so great right after giving birth! The difference between this, and how I felt after Malcolm is indescribable. It really makes me appreciate how close I was to (not to be overly dramatic), well, death. I am loving each moment I have to appreciate the first newborn days, to experience the things going on around me, and all of that.

Greek food is good. I love a good loukoumade.

Here are some more of the day's highlights, from the zoo, to baby's first bath...






Day 327 - 16 May, 2010

Happy Sabbath!

My mom's last day, and my little girl's first Sunday, I had fun playing dress up.

and playing with bubbles with my son.

the joy of parenthood.