Just a brief update to say that we are alive and well, and we are still waiting for Baby #2.
Suffice it to say that I have been exhausted and weary. Ever since my fall on the stairs one week ago today, I've really been struggling with my back and my foot. It's not easy for either to get a reprieve with all this extra weight I am lugging around.
Other than this, we are patiently waiting for the big moment to arrive. I am a bundle of nerves- constantly reading about labor and childbirth techniques, especially since I am still hoping to go natural. I am anxious over the long car ride, fearing that we will leave too late and Brian will be forced to deliver our baby in the car. (My sister encouraged us to pack a couple of towels and a large garbage bag... just in case... and told me she'd talk Brian through it if this nightmare scenario happened.)
I already have my appointments scheduled if I go past my due date. My midwife wanted me signed up early, because apparently there are many women in this practice due around the same time I am. So, if I am still pregnant, I have an ultrasound scheduled for next Thursday to check my amniotic fluid (which with Caleb was very low and I had to be induced), and then for Friday for a follow-up with my midwife. I am truly hoping to not need these appointments!
We have been laying low otherwise, and I feel badly for Caleb, because it is just impossible to go gallivanting about town doing fun things. I am tired, and simple trips are wearing me out. The heat and humidity, of course, do not help.
Please keep us in your prayers! We appreciate it!
Friday, July 31, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
Nearing the Finish Line
Well, folks, here we are. We've finally arrived at 39 weeks. My mom is here. My long to-do list is basically done. (Of course, daily chores go on and on.) My suitcase is nearly ready, with the exception of things like my glasses and makeup bag and the like.
On Friday night, I took a stumble down the stairs. Brian was throwing the bags of recycling out, and I was trying to help him carry the excess down the stairs. I don't know what happened, exactly. All I know is that my foot missed a step and went sideways. I fell on my rear, so I ended up hurting my foot badly, and my back, too. It hurt! I didn't even know what to do, it hurt so badly. I thought I broke it or sprained it at the very least.
Brian set up Caleb's pool on the deck, and I soaked it in freezing cold water while he drove down to Rite Aid and picked up an Ace bandage for me.
I wondered how in the world this would affect labor if I lacked the ability to walk around. The next morning, I dragged my battered self to the chiropractor, where he declared my back to be in pretty bad shape. I got an adjustment and went home, where Brian demanded that I soak my foot again in Caleb's pool. During that time, my parents arrived.
I'll fast forward a bit to say that my foot is doing much better. It still hurts, and forget about touching it, but I can walk on it and I don't believe it will be a hindrance in labor. I have to treat it gingerly, but it could be much, much worse. If I am on the floor with Caleb, I feel a mess, between my huge belly, my sore foot, and my aching back. It's a wonder I can get up at all without a forklift.
Other than this, we are doing well here, just waiting. I am loving having my mom here, of course. Moms make everything better. (My dad went back home, but will be back to pick her up.) Today, we teamed up and she made homemade pasta sauce, and I made the meatballs. We threw them together and had a wonderful spaghetti and meatball dinner. She's been a huge help in the kitchen, helping me keep it clean and orderly. She vacuumed under my stove and washed my kitchen and hallway floors.
Caleb has done very well with her. We gave him a dry run today and left him with her alone... the first time we've ever left him with anyone. We figured it would be a good practice session before the hospital. I had another chiropractor appointment, and then I had to go grocery shopping, while Brian had to get his oil changed. Caleb did great! He wasn't upset at all; he seemed to have fun with my mom and didn't even fight her when she needed to change his diaper. (He often, but not always, fights me.)
I was very encouraged by this, and so far my plan is working. I expect he may struggle over the course of the two nights Brian and I will be at the hospital. We were, after all, only gone a little over an hour this morning, so this will be a huge difference.
My midwife is out-of-town beginning tomorrow through Sunday, which is my due date, so we shall see what will happen with all of this. I am hoping the other midwife in the practice will come for the delivery should I go into labor this week, but it is in God's hands. I pray daily, several times a day, in fact, for God to orchestrate everything according to His plan.
I am nervous, of course. This is the most nerve-wracking time of pregnancy. I am anxious to be done with it all and back home again with our Caleb. I am a flutter of different emotions, so excited to meet our new baby, but dreading the lack of sleep and nightly nursing sessions, and being back up early again to take care of Caleb. I do hope it won't take too long to get into the new routine. I want to be the best mom I can be- to both of my children.
Please keep us in your prayers as we wind down these final days as parents of one! We so appreciate all your prayers on our behalf!
On Friday night, I took a stumble down the stairs. Brian was throwing the bags of recycling out, and I was trying to help him carry the excess down the stairs. I don't know what happened, exactly. All I know is that my foot missed a step and went sideways. I fell on my rear, so I ended up hurting my foot badly, and my back, too. It hurt! I didn't even know what to do, it hurt so badly. I thought I broke it or sprained it at the very least.
Brian set up Caleb's pool on the deck, and I soaked it in freezing cold water while he drove down to Rite Aid and picked up an Ace bandage for me.
I wondered how in the world this would affect labor if I lacked the ability to walk around. The next morning, I dragged my battered self to the chiropractor, where he declared my back to be in pretty bad shape. I got an adjustment and went home, where Brian demanded that I soak my foot again in Caleb's pool. During that time, my parents arrived.
I'll fast forward a bit to say that my foot is doing much better. It still hurts, and forget about touching it, but I can walk on it and I don't believe it will be a hindrance in labor. I have to treat it gingerly, but it could be much, much worse. If I am on the floor with Caleb, I feel a mess, between my huge belly, my sore foot, and my aching back. It's a wonder I can get up at all without a forklift.
Other than this, we are doing well here, just waiting. I am loving having my mom here, of course. Moms make everything better. (My dad went back home, but will be back to pick her up.) Today, we teamed up and she made homemade pasta sauce, and I made the meatballs. We threw them together and had a wonderful spaghetti and meatball dinner. She's been a huge help in the kitchen, helping me keep it clean and orderly. She vacuumed under my stove and washed my kitchen and hallway floors.
Caleb has done very well with her. We gave him a dry run today and left him with her alone... the first time we've ever left him with anyone. We figured it would be a good practice session before the hospital. I had another chiropractor appointment, and then I had to go grocery shopping, while Brian had to get his oil changed. Caleb did great! He wasn't upset at all; he seemed to have fun with my mom and didn't even fight her when she needed to change his diaper. (He often, but not always, fights me.)
I was very encouraged by this, and so far my plan is working. I expect he may struggle over the course of the two nights Brian and I will be at the hospital. We were, after all, only gone a little over an hour this morning, so this will be a huge difference.
My midwife is out-of-town beginning tomorrow through Sunday, which is my due date, so we shall see what will happen with all of this. I am hoping the other midwife in the practice will come for the delivery should I go into labor this week, but it is in God's hands. I pray daily, several times a day, in fact, for God to orchestrate everything according to His plan.
I am nervous, of course. This is the most nerve-wracking time of pregnancy. I am anxious to be done with it all and back home again with our Caleb. I am a flutter of different emotions, so excited to meet our new baby, but dreading the lack of sleep and nightly nursing sessions, and being back up early again to take care of Caleb. I do hope it won't take too long to get into the new routine. I want to be the best mom I can be- to both of my children.
Please keep us in your prayers as we wind down these final days as parents of one! We so appreciate all your prayers on our behalf!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
My Birthday
Today is my birthday, and this fortunate girl had two handsome men escorting me about town!
We began the day by going to breakfast. It has become sort of a tradition that Brian takes me out for breakfast on my birthday. I usually always order the same thing, but this year I got something different, since I was afraid that the breakfast meat might have some sort of sodium nitrates/nitrites in them, and that is a pregnancy no-no, so I went with a simple fried egg and cheese on a roll with a side of hash browns. Brian, wonder of wonders, got French toast, and since there was no children's menu, we simply got Caleb a chocolate muffin. He loved it, so no complaints there. (He did already eat his regular oatmeal/yogurt at home.)
Then, Brian had a big surprise for me later in the day. He had secretly purchased a new patio table and chairs for our deck. Our old plastic thing was looking rather hideous. (No, I'm not exaggerating.) My husband is too, too good to me! (He got me a couple of other things I wanted, too, but the table was the major surprise!)
We began the day by going to breakfast. It has become sort of a tradition that Brian takes me out for breakfast on my birthday. I usually always order the same thing, but this year I got something different, since I was afraid that the breakfast meat might have some sort of sodium nitrates/nitrites in them, and that is a pregnancy no-no, so I went with a simple fried egg and cheese on a roll with a side of hash browns. Brian, wonder of wonders, got French toast, and since there was no children's menu, we simply got Caleb a chocolate muffin. He loved it, so no complaints there. (He did already eat his regular oatmeal/yogurt at home.)
Then, Brian had a big surprise for me later in the day. He had secretly purchased a new patio table and chairs for our deck. Our old plastic thing was looking rather hideous. (No, I'm not exaggerating.) My husband is too, too good to me! (He got me a couple of other things I wanted, too, but the table was the major surprise!)
(Sorry, three of the chairs were still stacked when I took this photo, but you get the idea.)
And finally, here I am at 38.5 weeks. We're in the home stretch!
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Church Baby Shower
It was a nice time of fellowship, even though it was very, very hot. The shower was meant to be outside at a state park, but since it downpoured in the morning, a family from church spontaneously opened their home, which was beyond nice of them.
I always, always, always feel awkward opening gifts in front of people, especially people I do not know VERY well. I hate being the center of attention, too. I was glad that Caleb was busy pounding on the balloons attached to my chair, and I was hoping that took some of the spotlight off of me. Wouldn't you rather look at a cute toddler then a woman appearing as though she swallowed a watermelon whole? Yes, I figured.
I got tons of disposable size one diapers. I guess they are not aware that I primarily use cloth. (Don't worry- no one from church knows about this blog, and our last name is not attached to it. I did that on purpose since Brian is a teacher.) I do like to use some disposables in the beginning because, let's face it, newborns are going pretty much all the time, and it just makes it a bit easier early on when mama is exhausted. However, I received way more diapers than I will probably use, so perhaps I will donate the rest.
It was a fun time with our church family, who has been very good to us. I truly think more than wanting to give us gifts, it was a time to simply celebrate a new life about to come into the world. What a blessing, and what a joy!
Friday, July 17, 2015
Becoming a Big Brother
The time has almost come for a huge transition in Caleb's life. We want to be as sensitive toward him as we can, because for a toddler, it can be very difficult. He's used to receiving all the attention he wants, and he'll have to learn to share.
We've tried to tell him about the new addition to our family who is soon to arrive, but how much he understands, we don't know. Probably not much. He knows something is in my belly, but he has never been around any babies, so I doubt he can grasp the full picture. My midwife thinks little ones don't really understand this sort of thing until they are three. When we first bring our new baby home, I'm sure Caleb will show lots of interest, as he does with most things. He may, however, be surprised to see this little one is here to stay. And when we simply can't get him what he wants, when he wants, I'm sure he'll let us know just how he feels.
The first hurdle to get through is simply leaving him here while we go to the hospital. Even Brian is starting to get a little emotional about it and feeling sad that Caleb might be scared and confused while we are gone. I keep talking to Caleb and telling him how sorry I am to be leaving him, but there is nothing else to be done. (If I had a home birth, then Caleb would have to leave, for I surely wouldn't want him to hear me yelling through labor pains.)
I know that when the day comes and we have to head off, even though my mind will be filled with a thousand other concerns, kissing my little Caleb's face and hugging him tight will be my number one priority. I dread leaving him. Yes, even leaving him with my mother will be hard. Not because I don't trust her. The truth is, he doesn't know her or any members of our family very well at all due to the long distances. That makes it doubly hard to leave him. He has never been without us, ever.
(Please don't go interjecting comments like, "Oh, it will be good for him" or "Oh, he'll be fine". Really. I've heard it all before already. Yes, I know he will by all means survive the ordeal, but of course, it will be at least a little bit difficult for him.)
To help with the separation, I ordered a recordable book for Caleb. Though pricey, we felt it was well worth it. There's a brief story, and Brian and I plan to each take turns reading it while the book records our voices. My mom will be able to play it for him while we are gone. We thought it might be a comfort to him when we are not here. I actually got this idea from my sister, who did this with her second, Lindsey, when the twins were born. Lindsey was two at the time, and now six, and her book still remains her favorite. We are hoping Caleb will love his book, too.
My sister purchased some new books for Caleb with the thought that I could read to him during nursing sessions, so he won't feel left out. Here are two of the books she sent up:
We are so excited to meet our new baby and introduce our children to each other. How exciting to soon be a family of four!
For now, here's a glimpse of our new little one. This ultrasound was done this morning. All fluids are looking good and so is the baby, praise God!
(Sorry, I am no good at taking photos of pictures!)
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Starting to Slow Down
Folks, I think I've reached the point where I finally need to start slowing down.
I have been in go, go, go mode, pretty much non-stop. But it is all starting to catch up to me, and I am feeling it. My mom keeps telling me to leave some projects for her to take care of, and I think I am finally in agreement.
I am tired and worn out. Just a quick trip to the park wears me out. Thank the Lord Brian is there with us. I just can't chase after an active toddler with a bowling bowl strapped to my belly.
My to-do list is looking pretty good. Brian and I plan to still clean the downstairs bathroom and make it lovely for my mom before she comes, and of course I need to clean our upstairs bathroom (and maybe make Brian scrub the tub for me), and keep up with the regular chores, but other than this, I need to start sitting down more.
Things I haven't done yet? Move out the stove and vacuum behind it, and wash the kitchen and hallway floors. My mom said she'll help with both of those. Are they must dos before the baby? No, of course not. But I have cleaned the entire kitchen otherwise, and when I do a job, I like to do it thoroughly. I might as well finish the whole thing.
Of course, even though I have scrubbed everything down, crumbs still manage to sneak in after all the hard work. I just wiped a few out of the fridge! It just isn't fair!
Ah, well. That's how it goes! The big projects are done, and my packing list is made. I have started to pack, but many things, of course, will wait until last minute. With my checklist, I have no worries that I will forget anything.
Meanwhile, Baby is very active. I love the movements that assure me our little one is all right. I have read too many articles on things that can go wrong, even at the very end. Every movement is like a blessing from heaven. I am constantly touching a limb that is poking me, and I love it so much!
I have been in go, go, go mode, pretty much non-stop. But it is all starting to catch up to me, and I am feeling it. My mom keeps telling me to leave some projects for her to take care of, and I think I am finally in agreement.
I am tired and worn out. Just a quick trip to the park wears me out. Thank the Lord Brian is there with us. I just can't chase after an active toddler with a bowling bowl strapped to my belly.
My to-do list is looking pretty good. Brian and I plan to still clean the downstairs bathroom and make it lovely for my mom before she comes, and of course I need to clean our upstairs bathroom (and maybe make Brian scrub the tub for me), and keep up with the regular chores, but other than this, I need to start sitting down more.
Things I haven't done yet? Move out the stove and vacuum behind it, and wash the kitchen and hallway floors. My mom said she'll help with both of those. Are they must dos before the baby? No, of course not. But I have cleaned the entire kitchen otherwise, and when I do a job, I like to do it thoroughly. I might as well finish the whole thing.
Of course, even though I have scrubbed everything down, crumbs still manage to sneak in after all the hard work. I just wiped a few out of the fridge! It just isn't fair!
Ah, well. That's how it goes! The big projects are done, and my packing list is made. I have started to pack, but many things, of course, will wait until last minute. With my checklist, I have no worries that I will forget anything.
Meanwhile, Baby is very active. I love the movements that assure me our little one is all right. I have read too many articles on things that can go wrong, even at the very end. Every movement is like a blessing from heaven. I am constantly touching a limb that is poking me, and I love it so much!
Monday, July 13, 2015
Double Stroller Time
When my sister was pregnant with her twin boys, her friend happened upon a yard sale, where she found this double stroller for $15. She bought it on the spot, thinking my sister might want it, and she didn't want her to miss out on the deal. My sister was thrilled, and promptly reimbursed her friend the money. "Best $15 I ever spent," she said.
When my twin nephews were born, my sister had 4-year-old Emmy, and 2-year-old Lindsey. So she definitely needed the double stroller!
Sometime ago, I believe last fall, perhaps, my sister said she was done with this stroller, and asked if I wanted it. She didn't have the room for it any more. I was not pregnant then, but hoping to be so. We didn't want to miss out on a free double stroller in case we would need it down the road, so we took it. We figured we'd have to put it in the garage, but since yucky rodents get in from time to time, I was a bit nervous. I had wrapped it with two big garbage bags, and taped those bags together, until I was satisfied nothing was getting in. Then, before we had put it away, I did indeed get pregnant. So the stroller sat in our downstairs hallway, waiting for the day to be unwrapped once again.
Today I cleaned off this stroller and got it all ready to go. It is in decent shape, considering we are now the third owners. There are some dirt marks here and there, but they are mainly on the outside. The inside is fairly clean.
While this will take up more room in the back of the car, it is good to have. Caleb is still little and sometimes needs a stroller. Less than he used to, of course, but some distances are too long for him to walk, or it is simply easier to have him confined, for example, in clothing stores and such.
It is a strange thing for Brian and me, entering this new stage of parenting. Seeing two car seats in the back of the car. Getting a stroller that carries two all ready to go. I almost think that going from one child to two is a greater thing to get used to then having the first! I am so used to thinking of one child; now two will soon occupy my thoughts.
Am I nervous about caring for two? You betcha. But I know that like anything else, I'll find my new rhythm and routine. It might take some time, but I am glad I have the time to take.
Baby #2, we love you and we are waiting for you! We can't wait to kiss your face!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Combining Fun & Hard Work
On my to-do list for today, I had scheduled to install the car seats during Caleb's nap. Then, I opened up my BabyCenter.com update today for 37 weeks, and it said this:
This week's activity Figure out how to install your baby's car seat. You can't bring your baby home without a car seat and it's harder to install than you think, so don't wait until the last minute.
Wow! I'm so glad to see that my plans are right-on!
Brian and I headed outside, and honestly, this is one grueling job. It didn't help matters that it was stifling hot in the cars. It takes the two of us to do this work, because I know how to connect the car seats to the car, use the latch points, etc.. I basically hook them up, and then Brian tightens them while I sit on the seats, pushing my weight into them so he can make the belts as tight as possible.
First we had to uninstall Caleb's seat, which had been in the middle, and move it behind the driver's seat, and then we had to take the car seat mat out from Caleb's second seat, which is in my car. Since we did that, we had to re-tighten that car seat, which is much more of a pain in the neck since the car is so old, and we have to use the car seat belts instead of the more modern latch points.
Then, we moved the mat over to Brian's car, and installed the car seat base to the infant car seat. By the time we were done, we were sweating and exhausted.
But... it is done! Another huge item off our to-do list!
Now I am beginning to pack for the hospital with the items I am able to pack ahead of time, and this week I'll be doing a few remaining cleaning projects, and I plan to do some more baby laundry this weekend after our church shower. Things are really moving along!
After we took a bit of a much needed rest, we headed out to Lake Wallenpaupack. We wanted to go for a brief walk to enjoy the fresh air and the view. We all enjoyed it, but it was a bit uncomfortable for me at times, being so large. I had packed Caleb's water and snack, but I had forgotten to pack any snack for myself, and I hadn't eaten anything in hours. I warned Brian that my blood sugar was probably going to drop at some point, so he made it a priority to stop for a snack. Sometimes, I need someone to take care of me, because I forget to do so!
On the way home, Brian had Caleb cracking up. The Yankees had just scored a home run as we were listening to the radio, and Brian started to yell, "It is high! It is far! It is gone!" while pointing his finger in the air. Caleb was in hysterics over it! He thought it was the funniest thing ever!
Here are some photos from the day:
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Not An Easy Time For Someone Like Me
One of the hardest things in the last weeks before birth, for someone like me, is the wondering and waiting for the big moment.
Spontaneous, I am not. That's Brian's department. And it is the reason why we balance each other so well. If he married someone like him, unstructured and without routines, he'd be a mess. If I had married someone like me, think "drill sergeant", then we would have very little fun in our home. Together, we make a good team.
When you are waiting for labor to happen upon you, and you are not the spontaneous type of person, it can be rather difficult, and frankly, agonizing.
And it simply doesn't help that the hospital is fifty minutes away.
I met with the other midwife in the practice yesterday, because there is a good chance my own midwife may miss out on delivering our baby. She's out-of-town from July 28-August 2, so I wanted to reconnect with this other midwife, whom I hadn't seen since she came to check on me the morning after Caleb was delivered at the hospital.
She and I discussed contractions and the onset of labor, and what to look out for. This makes me very nervous, because I didn't have this experience last time. I went to the hospital, was given cervidil, and then labor began. I didn't have to worry and wonder about when to leave.
After talking with her, it is more worrisome than I thought. It can start and then stop again and be inconsistent for a while. She said many couples have headed to the hospital, only to turn around again. Or perhaps they arrive and are told to go home. This would be beyond frustrating, being that it is such a long drive.
The good news is that she doesn't think I will go into labor before thirty-nine weeks. Of course, she can't promise this in blood, but it was a comfort to hear it, seeing that I want my mom ready and stationed here with Caleb before we have to head off.
Meanwhile, my sister is on-call, meaning as soon as my contractions start, I am calling her for advice/direction/guidance/opinions. While not an expert, she knows tons more than I, and her local friends often call on her for various questions in the ending weeks. She took childbirth classes for all three births, something I could not do here, so her thoughts would me much better than mine any day.
To say I am very nervous about this is an understatement. What if we wait too long and the baby starts coming in the car? And don't ask me how I could even sit in the car during intense labor. I was nearly out of my skin last time, with the freedom to move about the hospital room.
Needless to say, I will be grateful when this is all over. I can't wait to come home from the hospital, with our new baby in our arms, ready to be reunited with Caleb.
Soon, it will all be behind us. And it will be well worth it.
Spontaneous, I am not. That's Brian's department. And it is the reason why we balance each other so well. If he married someone like him, unstructured and without routines, he'd be a mess. If I had married someone like me, think "drill sergeant", then we would have very little fun in our home. Together, we make a good team.
When you are waiting for labor to happen upon you, and you are not the spontaneous type of person, it can be rather difficult, and frankly, agonizing.
And it simply doesn't help that the hospital is fifty minutes away.
I met with the other midwife in the practice yesterday, because there is a good chance my own midwife may miss out on delivering our baby. She's out-of-town from July 28-August 2, so I wanted to reconnect with this other midwife, whom I hadn't seen since she came to check on me the morning after Caleb was delivered at the hospital.
She and I discussed contractions and the onset of labor, and what to look out for. This makes me very nervous, because I didn't have this experience last time. I went to the hospital, was given cervidil, and then labor began. I didn't have to worry and wonder about when to leave.
After talking with her, it is more worrisome than I thought. It can start and then stop again and be inconsistent for a while. She said many couples have headed to the hospital, only to turn around again. Or perhaps they arrive and are told to go home. This would be beyond frustrating, being that it is such a long drive.
The good news is that she doesn't think I will go into labor before thirty-nine weeks. Of course, she can't promise this in blood, but it was a comfort to hear it, seeing that I want my mom ready and stationed here with Caleb before we have to head off.
Meanwhile, my sister is on-call, meaning as soon as my contractions start, I am calling her for advice/direction/guidance/opinions. While not an expert, she knows tons more than I, and her local friends often call on her for various questions in the ending weeks. She took childbirth classes for all three births, something I could not do here, so her thoughts would me much better than mine any day.
To say I am very nervous about this is an understatement. What if we wait too long and the baby starts coming in the car? And don't ask me how I could even sit in the car during intense labor. I was nearly out of my skin last time, with the freedom to move about the hospital room.
Needless to say, I will be grateful when this is all over. I can't wait to come home from the hospital, with our new baby in our arms, ready to be reunited with Caleb.
Soon, it will all be behind us. And it will be well worth it.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Checking Off the To-Do List
Here we are at 36 weeks, working like dogs trying to finish the many remaining items on our to-do list.
Last week, we got a lot done. Brian did a lot of clean-up downstairs, an area that basically gets ignored most of the year. We really don't spend time down there, for various reasons, but junk can build up easily. We are starting to store Caleb's old toys there for future use, and it is a battle to keep the place neat and not overly messy.
We set up the bassinet in our bedroom, and I was much relieved that no sign of mice had entered the bassinet box that had been stored in the garage since Caleb was done with it, but I will admit to taping the box to death so nothing could find its way in. I felt victorious when we opened the box to find no evidence that our rodent enemies were there. I washed the part of the bassinet that surrounds the baby, and I chose to leave the canopy in the box since the curtain was sewn onto the rod and I could not disconnect it (and it smelled musty).
We've got Baby's swing washed and set up in the living room, and Baby's bouncy seat also washed and set up. I've done tons of Baby laundry, with more still to do, but a little bit at a time :)
Brian's car is currently 50 minutes away for a safety recall and some other things that need fixing, but once we have his car back, we need to clean it out, move Caleb's car seat over, and install Baby's car seat. (Out of all the preparatory baby jobs, setting up car seats is my very least favorite. I'd rather wash ten loads of cloth diapers than install those seats.) My car was just fixed, and Brian's was fixed earlier from our flat tire.
Yesterday we bought a new camera, but I'm not sure yet if it works well as I am having some trouble with it. I am hoping it doesn't need to be returned because we bought it 50 minutes away and have no plans to go back to that area any time soon. (Please God, let it work correctly!)
We still have many cleaning jobs I want to get done, just because I know things get harder when a new baby comes and I still have one very demanding toddler. The downstairs bathroom needs a good cleaning before my mom comes to stay (not because it is used, but because it sits unused).
And of course, who can forget packing for the hospital? I have not started yet, but we brought the suitcase upstairs to our room just to have it ready, and I am making a packing list in my mind for the time being.
So, in a nutshell, the last item that absolutely MUST be done before Baby gets here is the car seat installation. Everything else COULD wait if it absolutely had to, but I still want to get as much as I can done. I know that after Baby gets here, I will be exhausted, and I want to take some advantage of resting. (Something I rarely every do.)
I have been getting increasingly more tired. We ran around to a few stores yesterday, and I was getting as cranky as Caleb. It is just not fun carrying around this extra weight any more. As much as I will be greatly relieved to have Baby wait to come until my mom is here, I will also be greatly relieved to be relieved of this extra weight. I can't wait to have my stomach back!
Though, of course, I will miss the movement inside of me. So active is our Baby these days, and I often find myself rubbing a protruding limb in my belly, trying to connect with our child in some small way.
It's almost here! We are so looking forward to the arrival of our second child!
Last week, we got a lot done. Brian did a lot of clean-up downstairs, an area that basically gets ignored most of the year. We really don't spend time down there, for various reasons, but junk can build up easily. We are starting to store Caleb's old toys there for future use, and it is a battle to keep the place neat and not overly messy.
We set up the bassinet in our bedroom, and I was much relieved that no sign of mice had entered the bassinet box that had been stored in the garage since Caleb was done with it, but I will admit to taping the box to death so nothing could find its way in. I felt victorious when we opened the box to find no evidence that our rodent enemies were there. I washed the part of the bassinet that surrounds the baby, and I chose to leave the canopy in the box since the curtain was sewn onto the rod and I could not disconnect it (and it smelled musty).
We've got Baby's swing washed and set up in the living room, and Baby's bouncy seat also washed and set up. I've done tons of Baby laundry, with more still to do, but a little bit at a time :)
Brian's car is currently 50 minutes away for a safety recall and some other things that need fixing, but once we have his car back, we need to clean it out, move Caleb's car seat over, and install Baby's car seat. (Out of all the preparatory baby jobs, setting up car seats is my very least favorite. I'd rather wash ten loads of cloth diapers than install those seats.) My car was just fixed, and Brian's was fixed earlier from our flat tire.
Yesterday we bought a new camera, but I'm not sure yet if it works well as I am having some trouble with it. I am hoping it doesn't need to be returned because we bought it 50 minutes away and have no plans to go back to that area any time soon. (Please God, let it work correctly!)
We still have many cleaning jobs I want to get done, just because I know things get harder when a new baby comes and I still have one very demanding toddler. The downstairs bathroom needs a good cleaning before my mom comes to stay (not because it is used, but because it sits unused).
And of course, who can forget packing for the hospital? I have not started yet, but we brought the suitcase upstairs to our room just to have it ready, and I am making a packing list in my mind for the time being.
So, in a nutshell, the last item that absolutely MUST be done before Baby gets here is the car seat installation. Everything else COULD wait if it absolutely had to, but I still want to get as much as I can done. I know that after Baby gets here, I will be exhausted, and I want to take some advantage of resting. (Something I rarely every do.)
I have been getting increasingly more tired. We ran around to a few stores yesterday, and I was getting as cranky as Caleb. It is just not fun carrying around this extra weight any more. As much as I will be greatly relieved to have Baby wait to come until my mom is here, I will also be greatly relieved to be relieved of this extra weight. I can't wait to have my stomach back!
Though, of course, I will miss the movement inside of me. So active is our Baby these days, and I often find myself rubbing a protruding limb in my belly, trying to connect with our child in some small way.
It's almost here! We are so looking forward to the arrival of our second child!
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Letting Go: The Painful Job of Weaning Caleb
*This post will be about the task of weaning Caleb. If reading about nursing bothers you at all, then please skip this post, though it will by no means include anything of a graphic nature.
When I started my nursing journey with Caleb, we were both novices. I remember at the hospital after I had him, he didn't really show a ton of interest, and I worried about it, but that it is fairly normal when newborns first come into the world. Once we came home, he was fine, and we happily went on to nurse every day. I never once pumped, and he never used a bottle.
I figured we'd nurse at least until he was one year, which is what is recommended, and after that, some time he would magically decide he was done, and we would move on. That never happened, and then I kept reading articles about the benefits of nursing until 2 years of age (which, apparently, is done more in other countries than in the US), so I figured we'd keep pressing on if he didn't give it up. However, once I got pregnant, the whole process began to be very painful for me, and it became a huge sacrifice on my end.
We just finished wrapping up our nursing journey at 2 years, 2 1/2 months old. But if it were up to Caleb, he'd still be nursing.
We had it down to one session first thing in the morning, and one more right before bedtime. Each and every other session had naturally phased out on its own, but those two were the ones to hold on tight, and I knew they weren't going to go away as easily. For months, I figured I would need Brian home in the summer to help me distract Caleb, at least with the morning session, and that's exactly what happened.
This past Thursday was the last day I nursed him as usual. Friday morning, Brian, instead of me, took Caleb out of his crib, and instead of bringing him to our room, took him to the living room and brought up the cat to distract him. (Yes, we keep the cat-creature downstairs at night, because we don't trust the beast. He will jump on the counters, and I cannot live like that.) It seemed to do the trick. I hung back for a little while, and he didn't seem to miss me or the nursing, so all seemed fine.
Nighttime was another story. It is quite difficult to distract Caleb at night, because, after all, he is only going to bed. Caleb started to see things were different in his routine before we even got to the nursing time, and he began to be visibly upset. I kissed him and left the room so that Brian could put him down without me present, which I thought would help matters. It didn't. He was upset, crying, and looking around for me. My heart was breaking in the kitchen, and it was THE FIRST TIME I NEVER LAID HIM DOWN FOR BED. Yes, you read that correctly. I always laid him down because Brian held him for stories and I nursed him and put him down. That's simply how it was.
That night, he woke up whimpering in his sleep, something he only very rarely does, and he woke up during his nap the next day and would not go back to sleep until I came in to stroke his forehead. So rare are these things, that I wondered if these were the repercussions.
Fast forward to yesterday. We still skipped the morning session, and he was fine. But at night, it was a scene. As soon as we had gotten him dressed and sat down for stories, he was agitated. He was refused to settle in and look at the books as he normally does, and he was slapping himself in the head. It was clear he was remembering the night before when I walked out on him. I decided then that I would stay the entire time and lay him down myself, but without the nursing. Perhaps he needed to see that I wasn't abandoning him.
We continued with the stories as best we could with our agitated boy, and when the time came, Brian handed him to me, and we walked over to the crib. Caleb was crying and very upset. We started to sing our goodnight song to Caleb, but I couldn't continue and left Brian to take over for me, and I began to sob right alongside Caleb. As I held him cheek to cheek, and my tears bathed his face, he started to calm down. I whispered "I love you" over and over, and his agony gradually subsided. I laid him down in his crib, with some more tender words and soft touches, and Brian and I were able to leave the room peacefully, as usual.
When we came out to the living room, Brian held me while I sobbed. It was so heart-wrenching! I never wanted to force it on him; I had always hoped that weaning would happen when he decided he had had enough, Since that day never came, and here I am with only four weeks left to go in this pregnancy, we had to decide that enough was enough.
Last night, he woke up whimpering twice in his sleep. I listened to every sound over the monitor, but let him be. He eventually fell back asleep on his own.
I wanted to give myself a little time to recover before I start nursing Baby #2, and for Caleb to have some time to adjust before he sees me nursing Baby #2. Some mommies nurse two children at once, and I even have diagrams in some of my baby books that show how you can do so. I knew it would be too much for me, however. It is a drain on a mother's body with a ton of nutrients going out to her baby as it is, and I felt like it was time.
It hurt, though, so much, to see Caleb "suffer" so. Of course, this day had to come. But it doesn't make it any easier. To a toddler, it is a big deal. People so carelessly toss comments into the air such as, "Oh, it will be good for him" or "He'll get over it." Of course he will. Duh. That doesn't mean, however, that it isn't a significant event in his life, and one that does cause him pain initially.
I don't know how it will go tonight. Perhaps he'll be fine. Perhaps he will be upset again. Either way, I will be there to hold him and kiss his face, telling him I love him.
When I started my nursing journey with Caleb, we were both novices. I remember at the hospital after I had him, he didn't really show a ton of interest, and I worried about it, but that it is fairly normal when newborns first come into the world. Once we came home, he was fine, and we happily went on to nurse every day. I never once pumped, and he never used a bottle.
I figured we'd nurse at least until he was one year, which is what is recommended, and after that, some time he would magically decide he was done, and we would move on. That never happened, and then I kept reading articles about the benefits of nursing until 2 years of age (which, apparently, is done more in other countries than in the US), so I figured we'd keep pressing on if he didn't give it up. However, once I got pregnant, the whole process began to be very painful for me, and it became a huge sacrifice on my end.
We just finished wrapping up our nursing journey at 2 years, 2 1/2 months old. But if it were up to Caleb, he'd still be nursing.
We had it down to one session first thing in the morning, and one more right before bedtime. Each and every other session had naturally phased out on its own, but those two were the ones to hold on tight, and I knew they weren't going to go away as easily. For months, I figured I would need Brian home in the summer to help me distract Caleb, at least with the morning session, and that's exactly what happened.
This past Thursday was the last day I nursed him as usual. Friday morning, Brian, instead of me, took Caleb out of his crib, and instead of bringing him to our room, took him to the living room and brought up the cat to distract him. (Yes, we keep the cat-creature downstairs at night, because we don't trust the beast. He will jump on the counters, and I cannot live like that.) It seemed to do the trick. I hung back for a little while, and he didn't seem to miss me or the nursing, so all seemed fine.
Nighttime was another story. It is quite difficult to distract Caleb at night, because, after all, he is only going to bed. Caleb started to see things were different in his routine before we even got to the nursing time, and he began to be visibly upset. I kissed him and left the room so that Brian could put him down without me present, which I thought would help matters. It didn't. He was upset, crying, and looking around for me. My heart was breaking in the kitchen, and it was THE FIRST TIME I NEVER LAID HIM DOWN FOR BED. Yes, you read that correctly. I always laid him down because Brian held him for stories and I nursed him and put him down. That's simply how it was.
That night, he woke up whimpering in his sleep, something he only very rarely does, and he woke up during his nap the next day and would not go back to sleep until I came in to stroke his forehead. So rare are these things, that I wondered if these were the repercussions.
Fast forward to yesterday. We still skipped the morning session, and he was fine. But at night, it was a scene. As soon as we had gotten him dressed and sat down for stories, he was agitated. He was refused to settle in and look at the books as he normally does, and he was slapping himself in the head. It was clear he was remembering the night before when I walked out on him. I decided then that I would stay the entire time and lay him down myself, but without the nursing. Perhaps he needed to see that I wasn't abandoning him.
We continued with the stories as best we could with our agitated boy, and when the time came, Brian handed him to me, and we walked over to the crib. Caleb was crying and very upset. We started to sing our goodnight song to Caleb, but I couldn't continue and left Brian to take over for me, and I began to sob right alongside Caleb. As I held him cheek to cheek, and my tears bathed his face, he started to calm down. I whispered "I love you" over and over, and his agony gradually subsided. I laid him down in his crib, with some more tender words and soft touches, and Brian and I were able to leave the room peacefully, as usual.
When we came out to the living room, Brian held me while I sobbed. It was so heart-wrenching! I never wanted to force it on him; I had always hoped that weaning would happen when he decided he had had enough, Since that day never came, and here I am with only four weeks left to go in this pregnancy, we had to decide that enough was enough.
Last night, he woke up whimpering twice in his sleep. I listened to every sound over the monitor, but let him be. He eventually fell back asleep on his own.
I wanted to give myself a little time to recover before I start nursing Baby #2, and for Caleb to have some time to adjust before he sees me nursing Baby #2. Some mommies nurse two children at once, and I even have diagrams in some of my baby books that show how you can do so. I knew it would be too much for me, however. It is a drain on a mother's body with a ton of nutrients going out to her baby as it is, and I felt like it was time.
It hurt, though, so much, to see Caleb "suffer" so. Of course, this day had to come. But it doesn't make it any easier. To a toddler, it is a big deal. People so carelessly toss comments into the air such as, "Oh, it will be good for him" or "He'll get over it." Of course he will. Duh. That doesn't mean, however, that it isn't a significant event in his life, and one that does cause him pain initially.
I don't know how it will go tonight. Perhaps he'll be fine. Perhaps he will be upset again. Either way, I will be there to hold him and kiss his face, telling him I love him.
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