Madoc 3 Months

And one in color...

Mona Lisa

Not kidding. Chase was doing a painting and I asked her what it was a picture of. She replied, "The Mona Lisa, Mom," as if surprised I didn't recognize it.

Chase Birthday Cake

How old are you?







































All done?

Happy 3rd Birthday, Darling Chase

I can't believe it has been three years since I drank a cup of tea at St. George's Hospital - awaiting Chase's arrival. People had told us having kids would change our lives forever - and it sure has.

I still remember the look of awe and amazement she gave me when they handed her to me in the hospital. I remember the overwhelming feeling of responsibility and wanting desperately to protect her from everything. Three years later, she has transformed into a lovely little girl. So amazing, in so many ways.

I will have to spend more time on this, but now I must go as her little sister needs me...

So Many Things...

Chase is talking non-stop. All the time. Telling stories. Giving instruction. Teaching me "how to be smart." Seriously.

And she just keeps coming up with the most amazing things - like today, she was painting, and I said, "Chase, that's really nice. What is it a picture of?" And she turned to me and said in her most serious voice (like, really, mom, how could you not know?) - "It's Mona Lisa," she said to me.

Madoc Weight

So Madoc now weighs 15.5 lbs. She's 12 weeks old. That puts her into the 95th percentile for weight. And all she's been doing is nursing. Whoa.

The Library Woman

"The library woman told me not to sing too many songs. But I sing songs every day. With lots of words." - Chase

Chase's 3rd Birthday

Chase's birthday (March 18th) is coming up!
I'm trying to pull it all together...

Activity: Kiddos are going to paint on a giant canvas, then break for cake, then the canvas gets cut into squares while kids are eating cake. Then kids put their hand-prints on their square and have something nice to take home (and hopefully frame).

Invites and cake decoration created (above).

For family...
Shoes (size 10)
Tops (size sm/6-7)
Pants (size sm/6-7)
Still loves the Einsteins
Enjoys art, reading, story telling, building with blocks
Trying to get her in to science this summer

What Do I Smell Like?

"What do I smell like?" - I ask Chase because she is digging her nose into my cheek.
"Like silver." - Oh really? I am not convinced as Madoc just spit up all over my neck.
"Like silver and ribbons." - Chase continues.
"And Madoc? What does she smell like?" - I ask.
"Madoc smells like corn." - Chase decides.

Birthday Wish

"Do you have a birthday wish?" - me
"Yes, it's a star." - Chase

"Mom, do you have a birthday wish?" - Chase
"Oh yes, it's to spend the day with you, your sister and your dad." - I smiled.
"No, mom, no. Your birthday wish is an oval." - Chase said in a serious tone.
"And Dad's birthday wish is a triangle." - Chase continues.
"And Madoc?" - I ask.
"Oh, Madoc's wish is a diamond." - Chase is quite confident.
"Lucky girl." - I say.

Spring Cleaning

It's almost that time of year. And I am ready to really go through our stuff. Sell things on Craigslist. Maybe even have a yard sale. We've got to clean. I have such a hard time with clutter. I really dislike it. And my closet needs a major overhaul.

Ode to Monsters

This morning Chase told me one of the monsters was in Madoc's room. She said we needed to give him toys and make him happy. She also told me we needed to have a monster party. Sounds like fun!

Monsters

Two nights ago Chase ran into our bedroom, crying that there were monsters in her room - and there were monsters in Madoc's room. She was terrified. She spent the rest of the night curled up close to me.

Last night, she didn't want to go to sleep. She was so scared. She was also so tired that her body finally gave in and she fell asleep in her bed after reading many, many books.

After she went to bed, I slipped downstairs and did a quick google search on fear of monsters. Apparently, fears start as early as three and can last until a child is eight. The article I read indicated that even though it can be a very scary time for the child, it is a good thing, because it shows that the child is capable of understanding abstract concepts. The article indicated that monsters can be brought on by stress (like the birth of a sibling) or by seeing something scary (and she had just watched a little einsteins about dinosaurs). The article offered ideas up like creating a "monster spray," and indicated it's important to validate the child's feelings, rather than simply telling them monsters don't exist.

So I had a couple ideas up my sleeve, when she came into bed at midnight. I let her finish the night with me, as Hubs is out of town, figuring we'd chat about it in the morning. So when she woke up we started talking about the monsters, and she said her Komoto Dragon had put the monsters back in their cages.

And then she started telling me about Icky, her Komoto Dragon. He wears a hat. And has a purse with puzzles and games. And he keeps the monsters in their cages.

So Icky spent the morning with us. He brushed his teeth next to Chase. Washed his face. Had breakfast. I think Icky might be with us for a little while.

Grandpa Mark & Fern Visit

Thanks for coming!

So now I have just a little more time - it was so great to have Grandpa Mark and Fern out to Denver. I can't believe it had been a year since I last saw my father. Time flies.

Chase attached herself to my father for the duration of his visit. Madoc enjoyed spending time with Fern. She was quite happy and content - until a dirty diaper struck or she decided she was hungry or sleepy.



























































The blocks that Chase plays with were mine, when I was a child. He made them for me. So it's super sweet to see Chase play with them, too. And so when he arrived with roofing and gate blocks, you can only imagine how happy she was. Below (bottom right) is a picture of a cafe she built with Fern.














Chase also enjoys lining up her animals and toys. I have thought about spending a week recording all the positions her animals go in - but then something comes up and I forget.




















And of course a trip to Denver isn't complete without time at the zoo. Here's Chase on the carousel with Grandpa Mark.














And a ride on the train with Fern.

A Good Night?

So I had this idea. I decided to put Madoc in her own room last night.

Madoc has been sleeping pretty soundly, once she falls asleep (which is always between 7:30-8:00 p.m.) She has been sleeping until midnight/1 a.m., pretty much every night. From there, she wakes at 2:30/3 and then again at 4:30/5 and then again at 6:30/7.

I also decided to spend some time with my dearest husband, before my Dad comes into town; hubs also has to go to New Jersey for the week. So I didn't get to bed until 9. And Madoc decided to wake up at 11. And Chase decided to come into our bed at 12. And then wanted to cuddle until 1, which is when Madoc decided she was hungry... oh the joy!

Piolia

In Other News

Good thing I'm getting more sleep... the next couple months are going to be busy.

My dad and his wife are in town this weekend, then Chase turns 3, then my mom comes out for a week, then Hubs celebrates his b-day. Then we go back East as part of the Baby Tour, and then down South. Then it's back to Denver for a little R&R, and to celebrate my b-day, before heading to Portland, Oregon to catch up with family and friends.

I'm tired just thinking about it!

Sleep And Summer Camp

Happy to report I've been getting more sleep lately. Thank goodness. We've got a bit of a routine going now, so life seems a bit more manageable.

I just signed-up Chase for Summer camp (for the month of June) - it's about 4 hours a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. The first one is all about dancing, the second is all about musical instruments. She's going to love it.

Swim class is going really well and Madoc is huge and doing well.

New Shoes

I realized last week that I have not had a new pair of shoes in 3 years. Whoa. It's time to go shopping.

Hospital Visit

So I went to the hospital early this morning, for a procedure I'd rather not actually blog about, but I did want to say that my visits to the hospital in the US have really impressed me. I went in at 6 am and was out by 9:30 a.m. And everything went "smoothly." Although I don't remember any of it - I slept right through it.

I have now been to hospitals in the UK, Switzerland and China, and let me tell you, I was happy to be in America this time around - Switzerland would be my second choice for sure. There is something so comforting about US hospitals... is it because everyone speaks English?

Pictures Worth Posting

Go Dogs Go...

Weight

Should I be concerned that I lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks? Or that at 10 weeks I can fit into my "good" jeans? I'm probably about 5 lbs more than I was when I found out I was pregnant. I guess that's what happens when you cut out dairy - among other things.

By the way, my pediatrician recommended cutting out my muli-vitamin because it can cause upset in babies while nursing. Interesting.

Princess Time

Daddy Time

2 Mo. Check-Up

Madoc's 2 month check-up went very well. She has sky-rocketed to 95th percentile in weight and length (compared to Chase falling from the 27th percentile to the 9th percentile, poor dear!). She can actually wear 4-6 month clothing right now...

And, in an effort to get more than 3 hours of sleep per night, beginning last week, I started giving her 2 oz of formula before bedtime, after nursing. And it has made a difference. Instead of being up every other hour, I am now up every 3 hours. Thank goodness. But for some reason I just can't shake my sleepy head.

And of course, she received many jabs today, poor thing. She is sleeping right now - as is Chase, who was utterly exhausted after watching her little sister endure the shots.

Madoc Update

With her 2-month appointment scheduled for next week, there will be more, formal updates next week. From what I can tell, the nursing is working - she's into 6 month clothing at 2 months.

Updates

I've been laying low since my inlaws left Denver. Mostly trying to figure out how to begin Spring cleaning. And how to get "all those things done." Like getting Madoc's passport photo taken.

Speaking of passports, I was looking at old posts (the other day) from when Chase was two months old. At that point, we had been to 5 countries - no wonder nursing didn't work out so well. Chase was so flexible, so easy to travel with, we just couldn't help ourselves.

Madoc is already showing signs of being a little less flexible. If she isn't in bed by 7:30/8 pm, she gets really fussy and seemingly inconsolable. I can get her to sleep by carrying her in the sling, but she will sleep from 8:30-12 midnight if I do it right. But that means I have to go to sleep at 8:30 too, or I miss prime sleepin' time. She also gets fussy after about 3 a.m., I've noticed, and doesn't sleep well until about 6 a.m. And somewhere between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., Chase usually comes in and takes up what little space is left in the bed. So sleep is, well, not easy to come by.

Speaking of Chase, she continues to love and adore her sister. Every morning she tells her how beautiful she is. She tries to play with her at every opportunity. She is super sweet.

Awesome Web Site

http://www.kidscantravel.com

Yei Yei & Nee Nee Visit

Facebook

It's like a secret society. A place where people go, but don't talk about. It's weird how many people are on it - and how frequently they're on it. Strange how I have only been a member for a week and already have 81 friends. Seriously.

I'm one of those people who like to keep in touch, so this is too much fun!

School Secured!

So it's official ... Chase will be going to our first choice preschool in the Fall. We are SO lucky she got in - there were 89 kids that didn't! It's just two days per week (just a couple hours on Wednesday and Friday afternoons) - but she's in!

Facebook

Well, I finally broke down and joined Facebook. I've been trying not to. And I have to admit, it's pretty cool. It's amazing how many of my friends are on it. From all over the world. It's crazy.

The Girls

Madoc Weight Gain

Still gaining 1.5 oz/day. She's up to 11 lbs! Whoa!

We now know she's not on me all the time for food; she's on me to calm the reflux. Same reason she's still waking every hour and a half at night. I hear it just takes time for that to pass.

At least we've got the feeding part down.

Keen Sense Of Smell

Today Chase told me Madoc smelled like cheese. She was actually referring to the smell of the A&D ointment. Funny how she likened that smell to cheese. I guess that's what happens when one has a mom who loves Stinking Bishop (and other fabulous soft, smelly cheeses).

Salon Here I Come

I'm heading to the salon this weekend.
I asked Chase what color I should dye my hair and she said "blue."

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Went to my 6 week appointment today - I lost 30 lbs. Granted, the baby weighed 7 lbs. But you gotta LOVE IT.

Baby Riddle

So I figured out that if I hold little M in the proper position (on her side with legs outstretched at a 45 degree angle) for about 15 minutes after a feed that she will sleep more soundly (as her tummy has had time to digest a little). I also found out she likes to be outstretched as sitting positions (car seat, swing) trigger her reflux.

I'm pretty sure she doesn't like spicy food and Almonds seem to make her quite irritable.

Break Glass In Case Of Emergency

I broke down and asked Hubs to buy some formula yesterday. Not to use immediately. But to have in the house *just in case* - whatever that means. But I have to say I feel better and calmer with it in the house. I am also more motivated to pump because I don't want to break the seal.

Last night, Hubs fed little M with a bottle (not formula, don't worry mom), and she went to sleep at 10, but this time awoke at 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m. Hmmm. We're going to try it again tonight to see if we can stretch time...

Madoc's Meds

The prescription stuff seems to be helping, when combined with gripe water and infant gas drops. Or is it the fact I cut out dairy and other offending foods? Poor little M! Even with all this, I still can't put her down without her putting up a major fuss. She is a highly sensitive creature. But thinking back, I didn't actually put Chase down for about a year...

Madoc's Sleep Sked (6 weeks old)

Asleep at 10:30. Awake at 12, 2, 4, 6. Chase awakes at 6:30 a.m. A baby should come with a warning label that reads, "do not to operate heavy machinery."

Keen Observation

"Madoc's nose gets bigger every day" - Chase

Sleep - And Lack Thereof

I must admit I had forgotten how wrecked I am with no sleep.

I tell myself (hourly) it will get better. And it is.

I'm not up *every hour* anymore. Now it's just every other hour. And Hubs has been kind enough to walk Chase back to her bedroom and cuddle with her in the wee hours of the morning so that I can attempt to get just a couple more hours of sleep (if I can get little M back to sleep).

A friend suggested putting M in her car seat to sleep (to keep her upright and aid in digestion/reflux), and it sort of works. Although it sort of doesn't. She seems to sleep much longer when she is cuddled up to me. Of course I worry about co-sleeping, and try to keep putting her back in her car seat, but when she wakes for the fourth time I usually give up and say a little prayer before falling asleep cuddling up to her.

Actually - And Other Big Girl Updates

Chase used the word "actually" for the first time today. I don't remember exactly what we were talking about, but she used it like she's been saying it her entire life.

The other thing I noticed is she is now able to use the water colors without mixing the colors together. Amazing. She carefully washes her brush after she's done with each color.

And I don't think I've mentioned how fascinated she is with words. I hear, "What does this say?" all the time. She also *writes* letters and notes all the time.

And finally, she is SO proactive in sharing. I am amazed. She shares everything. She sets aside animal crackers for Hubs. She shares her dinner. Her breakfast. Her snack. Her toys. Maybe that's what kids do that have been uprooted so many times - because they don't have a chance to have ownership over anything.

Good News/Bad News

Good news: no dental work needed (for now).

Bad news: our Mandarin tutor is moving to Ohio in March. It's going to break Chase's heart!

Goings on

Dentist appointment this week. Fingers crossed I don't need another root canal.

Infant Reflux

After a chat with the pediatrician, it appears Madoc has infant reflux, which is basically really bad heartburn and discomfort after eating. As it turns out, many infants have reflux problems in the first couple months and it usually goes away. So we have our fingers crossed it will pass. Until it does, we have a prescription from the pediatrician and I've been told it would be a good idea to try eliminating dairy from my diet (good times) to see if it makes a difference. I also need to avoid tomatoes, citrus and gas producing foods. Hope that works! I've heard cutting out caffeine could be helpful as well, but I would be unable to function (as I'm still not sleeping much at all).

Madoc Update

Just returned from weighing Madoc. She is now close to 10 lbs, which puts her weight gain at 1.5 oz per day (they would be happy with 1 oz per day), so feeding is going well.

However, I'm still unable to put her down during the day, as she gets really unhappy - and she is still squirming around, holding her breath, turning bright red and then gasping for air. So I called the pediatrician, who thinks she may have a reflux problem. So we're going to start her on a little antacid and see if it doesn't get better - as she should be a happy bunny if her tummy is full.

Congrats To Hubs!

For his new job! (Same company, different role, with travel.)
We've managed to keep it together whilst he's in NJ, but we miss him!!!

Inauguration Day

Chase and I watched the inauguration this morning.
Chase, throughout asked "What's he saying? Where's Obama? Who's that?"

And, while I tried my best to explain it, I knew I wouldn't be able to impress upon her the importance of this day. After the inauguration, I asked her if she wanted to be President, to which she said, "yes." You go, girl.




















CNN Coverage...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama promised to tap the virtues and resiliency of Americans as his administration ushers in an era of accountability and improved dialogue with the world.

Barack and Michelle Obama wave to throngs of supporters en route to the White House on Tuesday.

He thanked those who sacrificed so much so "a man whose father, less than 60 years ago, might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

An estimated 2 million people crowded the National Mall and surrounding area that encompasses the Capitol, White House and Lincoln Memorial. They sang, danced and waved flags as Obama's swearing-in approached.

"This is America happening," said Evadey Minott of Brooklyn, New York. "It was prophesized by King that we would have a day when everyone would come together. This is that day. I am excited. I am joyful. It brings tears to my eyes."

Many in the crowd seemed moved as Aretha Franklin belted out a rousing version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" before Joe Biden was sworn in as vice president.

Wearing a navy suit and red tie, Obama repeated the oath of office, his hand on the same Bible used in President Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration.

When Obama took the podium, however, the jubilant crowd grew somber and quiet, hanging on his every word. There was only scattered applause -- punctuated by an occasional "That's right" or "Amen."

Obama acknowledged the challenges facing the country and boldly asserted, "Know this, America -- they will be met." He promised to end petty squabbles on Capitol Hill, bring "old friends and former enemies" into the fold, and invoked the Bible, saying, "The time has come to set aside childish things."

He also vowed to leave Iraq to its people, responsibly, and to finish forging "a hard-earned peace" in Afghanistan. To Muslims, he promised "a new way forward, based on mutual interest," and to terrorists, he leveled a threat: "You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

He vowed to tackle the nation's economic woes forcefully and guaranteed accountability among those who handle taxpayer dollars. But the economy is not all that is reeling, he said, referencing "a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable."

The challenges are daunting, he said, but anyone who underestimates this nation has forgotten about its past perseverance.

"Greatness is never a given. It must be earned," he said.

His words resounded with spectators and revelers who let out deafening cheers after his address. Spectator L.J. Caldwell likened Obama to some of the most heroic figures of the civil rights movement.

"When you think back, Malcolm [X] fought. Then we come a little further, Rosa Parks sat. Then come up a little further and [the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.] spoke. Then today, President Obama ran and we won," said Caldwell, of Somerset, New Jersey.

After the address, hundreds of thousands remained on the National Mall as Obama went inside the Capitol and signed his first documents as the 44th president of the United States. Among those were his Cabinet nominations. The Senate approved most of those nominations later in the day. Watch Obama's grand entrance »

"I was told not to swipe the pen," Obama quipped after signing a proclamation of national renewal and reconciliation.

Obama then lunched with lawmakers at the Capitol's Statuary Hall, telling them, "What's happening today is not about me. It is about the American people.

Americans, he said, "have come together across races and regions and stations. Now we have to do the same. Now it falls to us, the people's representatives, to give our fullest measure of devotion to the cause of freedom and liberty and justice, decency and dignity."

Later, the crowds flocked to barricades along Pennsylvania Avenue as Obama's motorcade crawled by.

Many said before the festivities that they did not have tickets and would be happy to catch a mere glimpse of the nation's first Africa-American president.

At St. John's Episcopal Church, where the Obamas kicked off a packed day of festivities, 9-year-old Laura Bruggerman waited with her mother, Wendy, and father, Jeff, of Bethesda, Maryland. The affable crowd tried to let shorter onlookers and children to the front for better views.

"I want to see Obama. I think that would be really cool. I could tell all of my friends that I got to see him," the youngster said.

Some spectators were more than a mile from the swearing-in ceremony, watching on giant TV screens erected along the National Mall.

Security was tight in Washington. The effort involved the Secret Service, 8,000 police officers from the District of Columbia and other jurisdictions, 10,000 National Guard troops, about 1,000 FBI personnel, and hundreds of others from the Department of Homeland Security, the National Park Service and U.S. Capitol Police.

The ceremony also drew celebrities like Dustin Hoffman, Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg.

"It's behind the dream. We're just here feeling it with the throngs of people. It's amazing grace personified," Oprah Winfrey said, sitting next actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Obama and congressional leaders formally bade farewell to Bush, and the now-former president took a presidential jet to Midland, Texas, shortly afterward. »

As Obama and his wife, Michelle, made their way to the White House, they stepped out of their limousine amid another round of boisterous hoorahs.

The first couple beamed as they walked down Pennsylvania Avenue, waving to the throngs kept back by police barriers. They walked a few blocks before returning to their vehicle to finish the two-mile parade that took them to the White House.

Obama and his family planned to watch the inauguration parade from a reviewing stand, and they will close the night by attending 10 official inaugural balls.

After a day and night of events celebrating his historic presidency, Obama and his family will officially take up residence at the White House.

And.... interesting coverage from CNET...

January 20, 2009 11:27 AM PST
Inauguration Day, by the numbers
Posted by Caroline McCarthy

Updated at 1:30 p.m. PST to reflect streaming problems at CNN.com and CBSNews.com.

From what early numbers are indicating, the historic swearing-in of President Barack Obama was not the biggest traffic day for the Internet. But for many social networks and digital-media sites, Inauguration Day shattered traffic and usage records regardless.

Here are the ones we've heard from so far. We'll be updating this list as we hear more:

Akamai. The content delivery network has some numbers out that indicate traffic on the Web peaked right before noon Eastern time, with about 5.4 million visitors per minute flocking to online news outlets. While this is 22 percent above normal online news consumption, per Akamai, it's not a record. Obama's victory in November pulled in nearly 8.6 million visitors per minute, and the 7 million mark has been broken by both a hotly contested World Cup soccer game in 2006 and last year's March Madness college basketball playoffs.
CNN.com fail notice

Visitors attempting to access CNN.com's live stream of the inaugural address got this message instead (Click image for larger view). CNN was just one of many Web sites that got overloaded during the speech.
(Credit: Screenshot by CBSNews.com)

CNN. It was a big day for the Time Warner-owned news outlet's Web site. It's been continually updating its statistics, but at press time, CNN.com said it has served more than 18.8 million live video streams, including 1.3 million at the same time right before Obama gave his address, since 6 a.m. EST. That's a record: Election Day served up only 5.3 million live streams. Apparently, it wasn't all smooth sailing, though. CBS News reports that CNN.com had a note posted for potential viewers who came to see the historic moment that said, "You made it! However, so did everyone else." (See screenshot at right.)

Facebook. The social network, which partnered with CNN for a live feed of "status" updates (sort of like Facebook's equivalent of a Twitter post) pertaining to the inauguration, has put out some usage numbers and is still updating them. As of 10:15 a.m. PST, 600,000 status messages had been set using the CNN app, and an average of 4,000 Facebook status updates were set every minute during the inauguration. They peaked the minute Obama began his speech, with 8,500 status messages set in those 60 seconds. "Millions" of members logged into the social network during the live broadcast.

Mogulus. The live-streaming service powered online inauguration video streams for C-Span, USA Today, and other newspapers owned by USA Today publisher Gannett (which has a minority stake in the company). Inauguration coverage broke Mogulus' network record, according to early numbers, with 105,000 concurrent viewers and more than 1 million visitors total.

Hulu. The video hub, a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corp., declined to provide any viewership statistics for Inauguration Day.

Our colleagues at CBSNews.com report that they, too, ran into trouble with their live stream of the inauguration speech, saying that many people could not load the stream around the time of the address due to overwhelming demand.

Disclosure: CNET News is published by CBS Interactive, which also publishes CBSNews.com.

From Chase's Mandarin Tutor

Chase's Mandarin tutor sent me his today... Chinese proverb says "daughter is mom's little cotton-padded jacket." Now you have two cotton-padded jackets and it means you will always be warm.

Madoc -1 Month!

Has it seriously been a month already?

Following are my favorite quotes from Chase about her new baby sister...

"Madoc is so bee-u-t-i-ful."
"I love her tiny feet."
"When Madoc gets older I will teach her to run, and jump, and dance."
"Madoc is too little for yogurt."

Chase And Cooper

Cooper came by with his motorcycle last night and took Chase for a ride. He even let her drive!

Turning Point?

I hesitate to even write this; I'm a little afraid that I'll jinx it.

But last night Madoc slept in her little co-sleeper next to our bed, instead of in our bed. I still woke up 4 times to change/feed her. Chase still arrived ready for a snuggle around 2 a.m., but Madoc slept. There was no party at 2 p.m. as usual (thank goodness). Hubs and I even had a quick cuddle (after nearly 3 weeks!) because Madoc was asleep and Chase was busy playing Leapster in her room at 6 a.m. (Thank you Jeff & Vickie!)

And this morning I was able to leave the house, on my own, and head to the coffee shop, without Madoc screaming. She slept all_the_way through coffee...and I arrived home just as she was waking. It was amazing.

Sleep, a cuddle and fresh air? What more could a gal want in life?

I'm Welcome

Hubs asked Chase what she should say after someone says, "thank you."
She responded, "I'm welcome."

LOVE IT.

Cinderella

So I was telling Chase the story of Cinderella with a magnet story book. I got to the end, where the prince finds Cinderella and she goes back to the castle to live (and dance) with the prince (happily ever after) and she said, "I don't like it."

I said, "oh no? What don't you like?"

Turns out she wanted Cinderella to stay at home, do some more cleaning and have a tea party with her little mouse friends. Forget the prince.

Chase And Linus

Update

Still up at all hours. Special thanks to my mom who flew out to help us. I thought I could handle two kids (let's hope I can), but it has been great to have the extra help. Lesson learned from last time - it's best to ask for help rather than pretend I don't need it.

The other thing I learned is it is best to have family out after the hormones have had time to mellow out. The first two weeks were tough - and the hormones didn't help.

Now I feel much better, except I could really use a solid 8 hours of sleep.

Madoc's 2 Week Visit

Good news. Madoc's 2 week doctor appointment went really well.

She is 12 oz above her birth weight -she's gained 9 oz this week alone. The doctor said they hope kids are at their birth weight at two weeks, so 12 oz over is a big deal. She grew one inch since birth and her head circ is looking really good. The doctor said, "whatever you're doing, keep it up!"

Oh, you mean the no sleep thing? Will do.

This is actually a huge accomplishment for me, as my attempt to feed Chase did not go as well (perhaps due to so much stress and an international move). I can't believe this time around it is actually working. Knock wood it continues.