Well hello again friends. It's taken me a while, but only because I know I have so much to say. And ironically, the longer I have waited to get around to updating, the more information I have to report. Odds are good I will leave out a substantial portion of what's going on with us, but given that most of you have children of your own, the details I can probably leave to your imagination as they tend to be the same in the first few months anyway.
So, let's sum up.....I went in to the hospital to be induced on November 6. I had already started progressing and my delivery went quickly and smoothly. I mean,
really smoothly. We met our tiny (6 lb 14 oz) angel just before 2 PM and she was perfect.....absolutely perfect. It was strange because to me she looked SO much like Mia that between the epidural and the surrealness of the situation, I felt like I was in a dream. She had her cord wrapped around her neck when she was born - just like Mia (quickly resolved), she was super calm and quiet with WIDE eyes - just like Mia.....she was beautiful - just like Mia. I think it really took me until a week or so after we got home to grasp the concept that this was, indeed another child....my SECOND child. Now, I am fullly aware that there are two of them, make no mistakes about that. We had a slight "glitch" if you will, with little Arabella's first few days. She showed signs of respiratory distress during the first night and was admitted to the NICU for observation and to be put on oxygen. She responded well and was able to leave with us 2 days later. Because she was in a totally different ward than I was, I was forced to get up and walk far more quickly than I did when I had Mia. The nurses told me this would help with the healing process, which I thought it did....at first at least. I think when I got home, about a week and a half into this little adventure, I started to realize that maybe I was doing too much too soon. I started to be very sore and in a lot of pain from the delivery, so I made a conscious effort to slow down some and have since started feeling less like a train wreck survivor and more like myself.
Because Bella was in the NICU for the first few days of her life, she was introduced to both formula and a bottle way sooner than I had planned....but we all know how
our plans go in these situations. Thankfully, she was still able to nurse once we got home. Because her suction was less barracuda-y than Mia's, she never gets the full amount and is still hungry after she nurses, so in the beginning, I would have to supplement her feedings with formula and then pump to empty myself out....again, not as I had planned. Now, I mostly pump and bottle feed her and have been able to cut the formula down to 2 oz or so a day - none on some days. This is a more ideal situation. I would love to be able to give her ONLY breast milk, but as I faced with Mia, I havent been able to get on top of the demand. Every time I manage to pump a little extra, she seems to be a little hungrier. It frustrated me at first, but only because I was/am sleep deprived and forgot that the whole reason I was pumping was for her.....so if she drank it, it was ok ;-) Amazing how simple concepts escape you sometimes when you are completely exhausted.
Let's talk about sleep. We're going to talk about it, because I would LOVE it if I could get some at some point. She spoiled me the first week or two with a few 5 hour stretches (which at the time I was grateful for), but in the last few weeks it seems my longest stretch is around 3 or 4 hours. And that is IF I go to sleep as soon as she does....which I never can because of the whole pumping ordeal. Good times. Those closest to me remind me that I went through the same thing with Mia.....She's a good day time sleeper but kind of a crummy night sleeper, but to be honest, I dont remember that. Although, i guess that makes sense given that my first kid has slept for 12ish hours a night for almost 2 years.
Since you have been bombarded by pictures of my growing belly for the last 9 months, I guess I should tell you that to my surprise, it's gone. BUT it has left it's friends - my ginormous ass and thighs, which were onced dwarfed by it's presence, but now very much visible in it's absence. I still have 15 lbs to lose, but in my dellusional state, I feel like I can mask it pretty well with sweaters and leggings. I refuse to buy anymore jeans that I hopefully won't be able to wear for long, so.....leggings it is. I have one pair of capris I can fit into but seeing as how we've been stuck inside due to ICE the last 4 days, I'd say it's not exactly
capri weather.....of course. I have been working out for a couple weeks now, but just this week started with the love of my life - Jillian Michaels. I very much consider myself a workout DVD connoisseur and she ranks at the top of my list. Although, I have recently discovered a new craze - Barre - and it is pretty awesome....or at least that's what my muscles told me when I couldnt get out of bed due to soreness the other morning ;-) I'm hoping that in the next 3 weeks I can at least drop enough weight to fit into my fat pants so I dont have to go to work with no bottoms on ;-)
I feel like there was so much more I was going to say.....But honestly sleeping and eating pretty much covers the basis these days ;-) Aside from not sleeping at night, she really does have an awesome demeanor. She naps well during the day, allowing me to shower and workout.....even update the blog every 5 weeks! And she almost never cries unless she's hungry. Big Sis Mia has really stepped in and is a huge helper in the diapering department, as well as making sure she has her paci and that her hair is combed (you know, ALL that hair ;-)). I am thrilled to report that I dont believe we have done any real damage to our first born by bringing another baby home, and aside from a hellacious couple of weeks in the bedtime department, things are back to normal and we are all healthy and happy.
Having 2 kids is definitely no joke, and the 4 unexpected snow days certainly validated my need to send Mia to daycare during this time. She is BUSY....and bossy! She talks ALL the time. I swear she thinks the world will stop entirely if every moment is not filled with conversation or song. She is also (as we have learned) listening to EVERY thing we say. If you follow me on fb, you probably know some of the things she says.....I realize I'm partial, but I think she's hilarious. I'm pretty sure that's a trait she got from me ;-)
Well, here are a few pictures from the last 5 weeks......I only have 3 more weeks of maternity leave.....I'm super sad about leaving my baby, but in a weird way, I'm ready for things to get back to "normal" - or our new normal at least. For now I am trying to soak up every minute and every snuggle. I know now how precious they are and how fleeting.....
Our very first family photo :) Welcome, Arabella!! We love you already
My precious girl in the NICU on day 2 :-(
Heading home as a family of 4!!
Mia was so glad to have us all home....I heart this pic, big time.
new momma's know the value in this picture.....liquid gold.
please direct your attention to the slippers. LOVE THEM.
My baby holding my other baby.....she is the best big sis ever :)
if the sun is not up, most of her sleeping is done RIGHT here.
Mimi decorating her Christmas tree
She did so well
snuggled up to head out! Also, where she does her best sleeping ;-)
our first AWAKE smile!!
seriously, does it get ANY cuter than this?!
I feel like the attiTWOde comes across correctly in this picture :)
Didnt have any interest in the makeshift sled mommy made, but didnt want to go inside until every icicle was broken off her slide. what a weirdo ;-)
Mia always used to do this too :)
Our little helper :)
Hmmmmm ;-)
We got Bella's Newborn session out of the way too and this time, since we have a moody toddler to include in a pic, we did them at our house. I think they turned out AWESOME :)
There are two that I intentionally omitted since I JUST sent out her birth announcement and our Christmas cards, but I'm sure you'll see them popping up on FB in the next week or so ;-)
I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas!!
