motherhood

Hi, I'm Anna, I'm 5 weeks old and I'm trying to teach my 2yo big brother to use the potty

I've been toying with the whole elimination communication (EC) thing and I think we might be on to something. During Anna's fussy afternoons, we've been laying her down, removing her diaper and she's been peeing. It hasn't solved all our problems but it does give her and us 5 more happy minutes each time.

Yesterday I started thinking that it was a huge waste to let her lay there and pee into a dry diaper so I started putting her on Aidan's virgin potty (he refuses to want anything to do with it). Anna peed into it twice! After that, Aidan ate his muffin snack sitting naked on the potty but still doesn't know he's supposed to pee into it. Or he just doesn't want to. He won't even be 2 until next week and I think diapers are EASY, but I did think he'd show a little interest by now. Oh well, Anna likes it.

I'm too lazy, like Nino (LOL!), to do it all day, but I think I'll keep trying at fussy times. Why not.

A couple of things about me

My blood type is B+. I got the cord blood preservation certificate for Anna today and found out that her blood type is A+. This must mean that my genotype is BO, to pass her an O and not a B. Adam thinks this is hilarious, especially since during my postpartum period my antipersperant/deodorant doesn't work and I walk around the house sniffing myself and saying "I like my smell."

We have no idea what Aidan's blood type is. I checked back at his cord blood certificate and they didn't do bloodtyping there when he was born. I guess it is a recent thing for our cord blood bank. We now know that Adam has at least A in his blood to give it to Anna, and since his mom claims to be O (from one of those self-tests and I don't know how reliable they are), he's probably AO. You could get creative with that one, but it's not in a direction I think of him in.

My Family

Last night Adam and Aidan quieted Anna's fussing with music from the harmonica and kazoo I bought from the 99cent bin at Target.

I bought them for Aidan but after he was unable to get the hang of the harmonica, I left it on the counter where Adam discovered it. I had no idea he knew how to really play the harmonica, but he surprised me (and Anna). I was in love with all of them as they showed their skills and played music (instead of crying). Aidan was adorable dancing and playing the kazoo. He is better at it than I am. He's so cute trying to hum-imitate a whistle or harmonica and those skills are kazoo-playing brilliance.

I am hot sh*t (updated)

Today is my first, real, all alone day with two kids. My two kids!!! The company and postpartum doula are gone and the husband is back to work.

We woke up, ate breakfast, I got to pump my morning 5** in peace (Aidan slept in a little), and I even got to shower alone (thanks Doodlebops). Aidan played itsy-bitsy-spider with me and let me dress him in shirt and shoes of my choice. We did have one totally sweaty, kids all over me and crying moment, but we made it.

Then we went to the mall where I got a new pair of pants to fit my fat, not getting smaller, postpartum belly and ass and we checked out the big sale at babyGap. Aidan played in his stroller and told me stories (in japanese or whatever language he speaks) and Anna slept in the sling.

On our way to my chiropractor, we drove through Wendy's to get Aidan french fries to keep him busy at the chiro office, and I got adjusted without screaming children. After a quick nursing session and diaper change, Aidan fell asleep in the car. Anna freaked out a couple of minutes from home and I was able to sing her back to sleep (she doesn't know any better) in the car without waking Aidan.

When I walked in the door at home, the house smelled awesome from the chef I tried out to cook some dinners for us during the week. I had curry chicked salad wraps for lunch and I get to offer my husband a choice from 4 (hopefully) incredible meals for dinner. This is huge for us. Since I got pregnant with Aidan (yes, Aidan, almost three years ago) I pretty much stopped cooking. Adam "needs" structured meals for dinner and it seems to be a constant struggle for us. Adam is a great cook but it is hard to get meals done during the week. I feel that having meals made is the perfect way for us to be able to enjoy our kids (me during the day and Adam at night) and have structured meals. I want to be able to take care of my kids and be as stress-free as possible. I am trying to avoid getting too frazzled with two kids and take good care of my husband.

Both kids are asleep and I am blogging. I am hot sh*t. I had to write this now because soon Aidan and Anna will be awake and the rest of the day might not be as smooth. I have lots of laundry and sheets to change. I also want to be able to read this when I have tough days. I can do it!

**I pump 5 oz every morning to offer Aidan breastmilk in a bottle when I am unable to nurse him during the day. It's great when both are fussing and I have to be up bouncing the baby.

update: Aidan woke up and after nursing both in the chair, I was able to transfer him to the sofa. Yay for another 1/2 hour+? of naptime.

Cave-ladies

Fussy Baby: crying

Me to Adam: I've been reading a blog about elimination communication (EC) and maybe you should take her diaper off and see if she gets pees or poops and gets happier.

Adam: What?

Me: Yeah, if you think about it, in the cavemen days they probably didn't have diapers so the cave babies probably got fussy when they had to pee to let their mommies know they had to pee. Then the mommy would hold them out to pee on the ground. But I really don't know what EC is. I haven't even googled it or read the links on it.

Adam : Okay so that works until the cave lady and baby are in bed at night and the baby pees all over the place.

Me: (chuckle) Whatever

I walk Aidan into the other room

Adam (yelling): Whoa! Babe?

Me (running back): Did she pee?

Adam: She pooped. And boy did she poop.

I think EC will be at the top of my google searches today.

How?

Anna is 3.5 weeks old and already I've forgotten how tiny she was when she was born. She must be over 8 lbs now and fitting into some of her clothes.

Aidan isn't even 2 years old yet and already he knows how to use the mouse on the computer. He can actually play Dora all by himself or open an internet window (my blog as homepage) and get into my photo album to look at pictures. Adam put my old computer in Aidan's room at the beginning of the year and last night must haved been Adam's proudest moment. Aidan clicked on star after star all night long.

Awesome Day

Aidan absolutely loves his baby sister. He's always touching her head and saying "baby". He's so sweet with her and won't let me leave the room without "hold you" with her. He's pretty gentle, but doesn't realize he should keep his fingers out of her eyes.

We went to the Mall yesterday and shopped then had lunch at Cheesecake Factory. Aidan loves that place. I let him eat french fries and ketchup for lunch. He's surprisingly well-behaved there. Anna spent the whole shopping trip snuggled in the sling. People look and love seeing her all grunty and happy in there. The only time I took her out was to try on a pair of pants at Anthropologie. I changed her diaper and oohed and aahed at her first dress up in a ruffle sundress. All of her clothes are too big and I can't wait to get her out of these "under 7lbs" plain clothed from Baby Gap.

When we got home, we sat outside and let Aidan play with bubbles. That kid LOVES bubbles.

While outside, Anna was awake and kept trying to sit with her head up. She really likes to look around when she's awake. Here she is, alert and hanging out in the bend of my knee.
It has been really nice to get out and feel normal. I can't believe the difference this time. After I had Aidan, I spent weeks/months? trying to feel this good.

I am going to put a new photo album up right now with pictures from Anna's first 2.5 weeks.