a little inspiration

You: : Are so rolly polly and squishy.  Everyone loves to cuddle you. (You weigh over 15lbs already!) : Have big smiles and sparkling eyes for everyone. : Still love to sleep! : Are getting so firm and strong.  You do baby crunches trying to sit up and mini push ups when you are on your belly. : Are ticklish by your collarbones and on your jaw.  You giggle so sweetly. : Are so curious.  You already get distracted while nursing and really prefer a quiet lay down for eating. : Look like you'd really like to eat some food at the dinner table. : Are holding onto small toys and getting them to your mouth and infront of your eyes to inspect them. : Suck loudly on your fits after attacking them.  You also suck the fingers and like them better than the pacifier now. : Are all healed up from the lip and tongue revision.  Nursing is much better for me and you have the hiccups a lot less.  And your weight gain has been amazing. : Like to eat your dr...

This boy is quite a conundrum to me.  I spend a lot of time trying to find a better way to deal with each and every thing with him.  We read books and articles, ask other parents for advice in what seems like an endless cycle of never ending work.  I've never worked harder for a relationship.  In fact, I wouldn't dream of working this hard for anyone who wasn't my child.  After a couple very serious events I finally called in for help.  Today was our first session with a counselor and also turned out to be an ideal day of parenting for me.  Play and work happened side by side, everything went smoothly, even the bumps.  No one yelled and no one fought.  It was amazing. That isn't to say that other days haven't gone that way.  Last week we had six days straight without too much drama.  The last three days have been closer to hell.  This is a much improved ratio already and I am hoping (beyond hope, really) that it is hi...

This morning Emerson and I had a chance to have some "school" time.  Our good friends got him a science experiment kit and we've been exploring chemicals and reactions. After that, since Sissie was asleep we decided to draw some letters and color and cut.  These kind of activities don't often last long but somehow this morning we were both in the groove and we sat together for nearly and hour.  The results weren't all that unique but the time was so special I am still surprised about how much fun we had.  Emerson can spell out his name with only a little sound-it-out help and he easily reads letters.  Recently we told him what signs with a circle and line through it means and he tells me all the time what they say.  Senor almost fell down the other day when E said, "Why is there no smoking allowed here?" It was awesome. Anyway, now we have little door decorations.  It's about time we started acting like we live in this house. ...

You: :Are smiling in recognition now.  I rolled over in bed the other morning when you woke up and you gave me the biggest smile. :Adore your big brother.  He gets lots of smiles and even some giggles. :Are starting to laugh but really reserve it.  You seem more reserved than your brother was. :Just went through an upper lip and tongue tie revision.  It was hard but you are nursing better and having fewer hiccups already. :Have been grabbing things.  I found you with your blanket held in each hand inspecting it the other day. :Make the cutest bubbles and are starting drool more. :Stay up and engaged longer. :Still have the ever changing eyes. :Sleep wonderfully at night and during the day in the car seat or Dolcino. :Are starting to bat at the toys hanging on your floor gym. :Are super snugly.  All the ladies working at the Y want to hold you while I take classes. :Have the most calm and curious temperament so far. :Seem to be...

You: :Are so bright it hurts sometimes.  The endless why's and how's often leave us stumped or frustrated, but we know it is because you are working out how every. little. thing. works in this world. :Love and adore your baby sister.  You are an amazing big brother to her and she loves you to the stars and back again. :Have a fantastic imagination.  I hear you while you play of on your own making up the best stories. :You are obsessed with eating (and being eaten) and guns and swords and shooting swords right now. :Love having bedtime with Papa, reading or making up stories and getting your squeezing massage. :Argue just about everything.  Even when you get your way. :Love playing with the kids on our street and having wild adventures with them. :Still eat applesauce and yogurt and powder just about every day. :Sometimes wish we'd go back to Baltimore so you could play with your old friends. :Are making tons of new friends here.  I am...

We all made it through the procedure on Monday morning.  I will not was that it was easy.  I do feel very strongly that it was the right choice.  Dr Hahn did also find a posterior tongue tie so we had both the lip and tongue lasered.   Papa held her while they did it and I was glad.  Afterwards she nursed and went to sleep pretty fast.  I was a shaky mess.  It was a lot uglier to watch than I expected as they had to go pretty deep.  I've had surgery in my own mouth a couple times, but I had never watched .  Emerson has had several mouth/lip traumas in his short life which have been hard, but nothing like taking a happy baby and holding her still through something that hurts. Anyway, she is doing really well now and has been smiling and very much like herself since the evening afterwards.  Nursing is better already and I am betting with time will get even better. Here she is wearing pants I made after seeing this post. ...

Hectic- things here are hectic.  The last few weeks I have felt like I am running from one (small) parenting crisis to another.  Losing your kid twice on one week makes for not feeling stellar about yourself.  (At least I didn't misplace the baby too, right?  Right!?)  These days E keeps us dancing.  Each time we feel like progress has been made he pulls the rug out from under us. People said that kids will keep you on your toes but, whew, I had no idea. Every day we evolve new strategies.  Many days feel "by the skin of the teeth."  Thank goodness this baby is a piece of cake.  Here's hoping she follows his pattern and doesn't start making me nuts until after he starts school! As for her- have a I mentioned she has an upper lip tie ?  And maybe a posterior tongue tie?  This basically means that nursing has been difficult and uncomfortable since day one.  We have been extremely lucky that it hasn't ef...