My Friends

Back in April, I blogged about a time when Meg was being a total PAIN after returning from a long stay with Grandaddy and Nana. She was driving me batty, and my friends were there to help me through a really tough week. My friends gave me parenting advice, invited us over for play dates . . . and just listened to my ranting. I won't forget that week.

Nor can I ever forget this time in my life, and how my friends have been there for me in ways I could have never imagined.

In case you haven't been able to tell, the last two weeks have been particularly hard as our family adjusts to having TWO beautiful girls. I almost feel like we hit a wall. It's like Meg and I both realized what's really going on around here . . . that nothing is ever going to be the same . . . and neither of us are quite sure how to handle it. Meg is handling it by acting out and misbehaving. I'm handling it by bitching at Jim nonstop, crying, and walking around in a daze. I think we both need to find better ways to cope.

My friends, you've noticed. You've responded. You are all amazing.

Some of you have called/emailed to check on me (more than once). You have let me go on and ON about how hard I think life has become . . . and how I feel like if I can just hold on until Christmas, things will get better. If you've been in my shoes (Keisha, Tricia, and Kristy), you are my rocks . . . the ones that I look to when I really need to hear, "You will make it." If you are currently IN my shoes (Mary Evelyn and Heather), you and I have commiserated together, providing undeniable support and kindness. And if you aren't exactly where I am (Erica, Paula, Becky, Mauri, Erin, Kelly, and Angela), you have still made me feel better by pointing out my strengths and complimenting me on the way I am handing it all.

You all have made me feel better. Like it's human to feel this way. Like I'm actually doing something right.

Some of you have come to play or invited us to play at your house . . . a much needed outlet and much, MUCH needed adult time. Thank you to each of you that we've seen these past couple of weeks. You all have heard me out and helped me out.

The offers to watch Meg for me are fantastic . . . and I do want to take people up on those, when the time is right. The child is so bored around here . . . I'd be happy to let someone take her for an afternoon and give her the attention she so desperately needs and wants.

I could go on and on about you, my friends.

But really, what I want to say is THANK YOU. Thank you for noticing. Thank you for being my friends. I hope I can repay you all in some way . . . some day when life around here begins to feel more normal.

Phases

I wish I could tell you how many times in the last few weeks I've heard, "Oh, it's just a phase . . ."



We are currently experiencing the following phases at the Dahlby House:



Meg is acting out, vying for every scrap of attention that she can possibly get. She's now realized that Kate is a permanent fixture, not to be returned or set out by the curb with big green can on Tuesday mornings. She'll take any kind of attention she can get -- positive or negative -- because, as I'm sure she figures it, beggars can't be choosers. When I sit down to nurse, she suddenly needs to potty. When I eat dinner and talk to Jim, she whines or screams, "Tinker Bell!" to distract us (why she screams that particular set of words we've yet to figure out). I think my daughter likes going to sit in 'time out.' It all can be very exhausting. "Oh," they tell me. "It's just a phase. She'll get used to everything soon."



I have nothing to wear. Seriously. And it's been 6 weeks of this. Every time I get dressed, it's a total chore. I dread it. I have to do laundry nearly every day because I only have one pair of shorts that fit, and it's just too hot to be wearing my capri's right now. I have two or three decent shirts, thanks to Jim's mom during her recent visit, so those get washed a lot, too. "You lost all the baby weight with Meg," they tell me. "It's just a phase . . . you'll be back to your regular size soon."



Kate is not on a schedule or true routine. She falls asleep each night between 9:30 and 11:00pm, then wakes up again anywhere from 2:30-4:00am. Each morning wake up time is different. Each length of time between feedings is unique. Naps . . . well, whenever and wherever. It's somewhat challenging to get anything done with one kid on a great schedule and one that doesn't even know whether it's time to eat or sleep. "By 6 months, it all falls into place," they tell me. "Enjoy this phase when she's so portable."



I'm always worried about two things: that Kate is not eating enough and that Meg might have a potty accident. Neither of these things are in my control. I feed Kate as much as she'll eat as often as she'll eat it, but still I worry that she's not gaining weight becuase she started out so as a slow gainer. I ask Meg about the potty incessently -- probably annoying her to no end -- and she's has very, very few accidents. "Relax, don't worry so much," they tell me. "This is just a tough phase for both of them. It will pass so quickly."



I'm very tired. VERY tired. Sleeping decent amounts, but still so tired every day. I've always been a morning person, and now I hate getting up in the morning. I feel like I'm such a grouch because I just DO NOT want to get up. "You're still adjusting to it all," they tell me. "You'll get past this lack-of-sleep phase and things won't seem so hard."



The good news: despite the phases we are currently enduring, I think I can safely say that we've passed through a few phases. I guess that means there is some truth to what 'they' are telling me. Kate is not crying nearly as much in the evenings the past few days, so maybe we've made it out of the evening fussiness phase. The baby acne phase is now behind us. I'm going to the doctor this week for my 6 week post-pardum, so you ladies know what other phase I'm finally past (which includes the purchasing of many Always products). ** I'll pause here to happily turn around and wave good-bye to all of those phases. **



Phases, phases, phases.



Hey -- how come when things are good, we don't really refer to them as phases? Yet when something is going wrong, it's just a phase. Like phases are always bad things.



For example, nobody refered to this time in our lives when Meg is just learning language and has such funny pronunciation or says funny stuff as a 'phase.' I love this phase with her -- you never know what she'll say. I know it will come and go quickly, as all phases do. And people don't identify the 'sleep on you' phase with newborns . . . you know, the time when your baby is totally content to sleep on you no matter where you are or what you are doing. I've never heard of that phase, though it precious and lasts such a short time.



Like I've said, one day at a time. One phase at a time, be it good or bad. We're getting there.

Need vs. Wants

I've been having a hard time putting my finger on exactly what feels so different around here. It's more that the new baby and our growing toddler . . . to me, it seems like something else has shifted. Something I couldn't quite figure out.

But I think I've got it now.

As a 30 year old grown woman, I'm finally having to truly understand that difference between my needs vs. my wants.

I'm spoiled, I'll admit it. Only child, daddy's girl, all that stuff. I know that I've always gotten my way and did things exactly how I wanted them done. But life is different now. I'm not # 1 in my own life anymore. Meg and Kate are most important, of course . . . and without hesitation. But, little old me, I think I'm having a hard time taking a backseat to the needs of my family.

• I want to go swimming with Meg when we go to the pool, but I need to sit on the side and watch Kate. So, I sit on the side and watch.
• I want to sit on the couch and watch TV in the evening, but I need to keep the girls in their routine (and there is no need for Jim to do it all alone). So, I muster up the strength and energy to get everything done.
• I want to go shopping for new clothes, but I need to wait until some of the baby weight starts to come off (UGH). So, I wear the same two shirts and one pair of shorts day in and day out.
• I want to go to an out-of-town wedding with Jim, but I need to stay home with our baby. So, I send a gift and wish I could go.

It's all about priorities, honestly. They are changing all the time at our house, as with any growing family . . . but now they are changing in ways I guess I didn't see coming.

Time is one thing that I'm now having to prioritize in ways that I've never experienced before. I want to do so many things . . . fun things, rewarding things, things with the family, things for me. And before, these 'fun things' were often what I did first, when time was not an issue. The boring and mundane chores are the things I could usually put off until I felt like doing them. I'd wait until I found the motivation to do stuff like clean, pay bills, etc . . . then all of that would get done and I'd go back to the fun stuff.


Now, with two kids and all that entails, I find that when I have any free time, the boring and mundane necessary tasks MUST get done first. And that kinda sucks for a spoiled little girl like me. When I use up all of my ever-so-limited free time on laundry, grocery shopping, and HD Portraits client work, there just is no time left for the things I used to spend hours doing (like blogging, emailing, playing with photos in Photoshop -- fulfilling my computer addiction I've once blogged about).

I now sit down with my 'To Do' list and decide what NEEDS to get done and what I WANT to get done. Then the needs beat out the wants. In the old days, the top of my list might include stuff like working on Kate's Baby Book and sending photos off to be printed. Now my (long) list is topped with -- oh, I don't know -- showering, washing the girls dirty clothes, and emptying all the trash cans. When you only get maybe 25 or 30 free minutes in an afternoon, it's hard to even get that done.

And -- this new need to prioritize has also changed HOW I do some of these things. I want to spend an hour cleaning the kitchen . . . making it sparkling clean . . . but I need to do a million other things. So, the kitchen gets cleaned to the point where you can't see dirt, and off I go to do the other things that need doing. There once was a day when I wouldn't stand for clutter to collect on our kitchen-area desk. There are many days now when I can barely see the counter top.

Oh, the things I want to do . . .

They are silly things, really. Work on Kate's Baby Book, like I said. Edit my family's photos (instead of the photos for some other family). Return emails with thoughtful writing . . . not just a quick 'hey, here is your answer' note. Clean out my closet. Sew slipcovers for some playroom floor pillows I have.

In the old days, this stuff would be done in a week's time. Now, some of these things have remained on my list for weeks.

All of this makes me laugh at myself for EVER complaining about one child. Having one is a breeze . . . though you can't see it at the time. I remember thinking I was busy before . . . but really, what on earth did I have to do? Oh . . . all that stuff for ME, guess. I could still get that done then, though it made me feel busy.

Now, it just doesn't get done.

I'll cope. I'm coping. It gets easier every day. I'm finding short cuts. I'm working on settling for new ways and methods.

It's hard. All of it. Change is never easy.

I want it to be easy. But maybe it needs to be hard. That way, we appreciate it all that much more.

She'll Be 6 Weeks This Week

So I took some more pictures . . .

The Princess' Darling Adventure

Once upon a time, there was a darling Princess who lived in a darling home in a darling suburb of a darling city. This princess loved her life dearly, although recently it had been turned upside down by the arrival of her darling baby sister. Still, the Princess had a wonderful mommy, the Queen, and a devoted daddy, the King, and they all enjoyed their darling life together as a growing family.

One morning -- after many days of being cooped up in their darling house -- the Queen decided that the Princess needed a special day. The Queen had been feeling sorry for the Princess lately . . . what with all the change she had been enduring with the arrival of darling baby sister. The Queen knew that the Princess would appreciate some very special time . . . an adventure of some sort was certainly in order. After much pondering over coffee and cereal, the Queen decided to take the Princess (along with darling baby sister) to the Mall.

Oh, how the Princess loved the Mall! The Mall was a virtual palace of playgrounds, carousels, fast food, and many stores that held anything and everything a young Princess could desire. When the Queen told the Princess about the adventure, the Princess was beside herself with joy. She could not wait to get into the car and head to the Mall. She was ever so patient as they dressed for their trip and readied darling baby sister for the outing . . . then she was an angel in the car as they drove from their darling house to the oh-so-fabulous Mall.

The Princess had a wonderful time at the Mall. The Queen did not subject her to the torture of the dreaded stroller . . . she was allowed to gallivant and gallop throughout the Mall at the Queen's side. The Princess played with many other princes and princesses at a wonderful fairy-tale playland . . . complete with slides for sliding and animals for climbing. The Queen and Princess (and, of course, darling baby sister) ventured from the wonderful playland to the fantastic 'Mickey Store' (aka The Disney Store) to gaze at toys, games, dolls, and clothing . . . all decorated with many of the Princess' favorite storybook and TV friends. What a glorious day!

After playing and gazing, the darling Princess and her family had a wonderful lunch of the Princess' choosing . . . chicken nuggets from the darling Chick-fil-a. What a meal! And they were able to eat their wonderful entrees near the magical carousel, which they planned to ride later that day. Lunch was followed by a bit of down time . . . seeing as how darling baby sister had to eat, too . . . but the Princess was again as patient as could be as darling baby sister ate.

As their adventure was drawing to a close, the Queen knew that they must ride the magical carousel before returning to their darling home . . . for the Princess had been such a wonderful girl all day, the Queen felt like rewarding her for her darling behavior. The Princess was overjoyed at the idea of riding the carousel . . . although, quite honestly, she had NOT enjoyed her first (and only other) carousel ride. She was still excited to try again, this time with her mommy and sister by her side.

They boarded the carousel -- the Queen, the Princess, and darling baby sister -- and the choices of which festive animal she could ride overwhelmed the Princess. There were zebras, giraffes, tigers, horses . . . so many animals that the Princess knew, recognized, and adored. So what did the darling Princess choose to ride? The 'seat one' -- a bench seat -- because then, as the Princess said it, the Queen and darling baby sister could 'ride wif me.' All three rode tucked in together, arms around one another, smiles on every one's faces. (It was enough to make the Queen cry!)

The carousel ride was spectacular . . . three or four minutes of spinning around, well worth the token the Queen purchase so they all could ride. After the ride was complete, the Queen, the Princess, and the darling baby sister journeyed back to the darling car for the drive back to their darling home. The Princess had such a wonderful time on their adventure, it completely wore her out and required her to sleep the entire ride home and most of the afternoon that followed. While she slept, she had darling dreams about the time she spent with her mother and sister . . . and she was proud of herself for being such a 'good girl' and making the Queen so happy.

And, at least until another darling adventure . . . they all lived happily ever after.

One Month Comparisons

It was inevitable and bound to happen . . . comparison photos of my two girls. C'mon. You know you've been waiting for these.

Some of you may remember that at each one month 'birthday' I photographed Meg in her rocking chair. I recreated the same picture and the same orientation each month, so -- in the end -- a great story was created of how much she grew in just one year. Naturally, I'm doing the same for Kate.

So, here they are -- Meg first, then Kate -- each at one month old.

Meg

Kate

It's hard to tell in these images, but I don't think they look that much alike. Similar, but far from identical. Kate, for one thing, is SO much smaller than Meg was at one month. She our little peanut. And Meg had much more hair . . . which did not fall out and was enough for a hair bow within just a few weeks of being born.

Maybe you can tell a bit more from these pictures . . .

Meg

Kate

Regardless of how similar they may or may not look, they are both precious angels to us. Even on days like yesterday.

And even on a day like today . . . when Meg hosted a playdate and spent more time in 'time out' than she did playing with her friend. *Sigh* The weekend is near, thank goodness.

Some Days are MUCH Longer Than Others

When I heard the garage door open at about 5:45 yesterday evening, I felt a huge sense of relief. I nearly cried. Jim was home, and I finally had some help.

I know that I signed up for two kids. And I love them both to the moon. But yesterday, I might have given away one (or both) of them for little (or no) money. Some days are just much longer than others.

Neither of my girls are doing anything that is uncharacteristic of their age or temperament. Nothing is wrong. It's just a lot of clashing 'phases' that are totally and completely wearing Mommy out.

Meg is a very typical two year old. We ventured to the grocery store Tuesday morning, and we had a BIG pep talk about good behavior before we left. We discussed how when we go to the store now, Mommy can't chase Meg all over. If she wants to walk through the store, she MUST be a big girl and an excellent listener. One slip, and she's riding in the cart. She was pretty good, I'll admit. But there was crying when we had to leave our new ball in the car (I'm definitely NOT chasing a two year old AND a ball through Publix). Then there was some game-playing when selecting bananas . . . which did land her in the cart seat. The trouble with Meg is -- she doesn't really mind punishment. She seemed content to ride in the cart -- even though that was supposed to be her consequence for misbehaving.

**Side note -- Time Out is working as our punishment-of-choice, but only when I have to raise my voice at Meg. She knows where it is and goes almost willingly . . . even if she hasn't done anything wrong. I don't know what to do about that, but that is an issue for another day. I can only handle so much at once.**

The return home from the store started Kate on a crying fit that seemed to last and last. She cried for the 15 minutes it took us to run through the bank drive-thru, the entire time I was bringing in groceries, and about 5 minutes after I finally was able to pick her up. The kid seems to cry . . . a lot. It's become more than just the evening fussiness. Yesterday, I decided I would try to feed her more often . . . anything to try and keep her happy. Maybe she was no longer my 3-hour girl . . . maybe she was extra hungry? Anything was worth a try. The nursing certainly helped (and didn't end up coming back up all over my living room), so I kept up with it today. Hopefully this crying stage won't last much longer. Yesterday was a really long day for Kate, the town crier (today, thank goodness, was better).

I talked to Jim about it all after he got home last night . . . over a glass of wine as he bounced Kate around and Meg watched TV again (TOO much lately, I know). I know that there is nothing that I can do about these types of days . . . and, right now, they are pretty frequent. I realize this is my life. I'm a stay-at-home mom of two. So my baby cries? I shouldn't complain. This what I do.

It's just that it all kinda sucks right now, this job I signed up for. This week, at least. These weeks will come and go. Next week you'll probably hear me raving about my kids. At least, I hope so -- that would give me something to look forward to next week.

Everything is OK. Just hard -- but still, we are making it. One day at a time.

Yesterday was a long, long day. Today was a bit better. Let's hope Thursday is a home run (remember -- Thursdays are usually my favorite day of the week!).

More Pictures Worth 1000 Words

Yes, I'm cheating (again). I want so desperately to keep up with the blog, but a crying little Kate is keeping me away from my computer at times when I would normally write.

So as not to keep you wondering what's been going on at our house, here are a few images of the happenings at Casa de Dahlby. . .

A whole lot of sleeping, on the part of Kate Dahlby. And I think we have ourselves a 'passy baby' . . . which is totally different from big sister, who would never hold one in her mouth.

Oh -- and she is growing, though still a little peanut. Kate weighed in at 8 lbs, 11 oz at her one month appointment, putting her in the 39th percentile for weight (for those of you who know what that means). Meg was a whopping 10+ pounds at one month . . . no wonder Kate seems so small to me!

Lots and lots of visits from wonderful family and friends. Some of them come to see Jim, Meg, and me, too :)

Adjustments. Sometimes, being a big sister is kinda hard.

A little bit of baby acne. I documented it so that she'll always remember :) This was the worst day, last Wednesday. It's nearly gone now.

A whole lot of bonding. Meg LOVES Kate . . . kisses her all the time and constantly wants to hold her. We did have a time out session today for pushing Kate's swing (with Kate IN it), but other than that, Meg has been handling her sister with the best of care.

And finally, a photo session with a dear friend. My photographer friend came to see us just days after Kate was born, and we recently received the photos . . . which are priceless. Karen -- you are the best!

(One thing I have NOT had time for is editing of my own work . . . so many of the images seen here will look better once I finally get around to sprucing them up a bit! Sorry for the poor quality . . . forgive me, if you can.)

Maternity 'Break'

I came off of my maternity leave this morning to do a session for one family . . . a family that has been more than fantastic to me. This mom single-handedly kept me in business this spring, and I'm not exaggerating. When she asked for a session for her now 6-month-old daughter, I couldn't resist.

Please don't get any ideas, people. I'm sticking firm to my 'leave' . . . not returning early . . . which is very hard for me to do!

So Tired

I'm sure that Jim is getting very, very tired of hearing me say, "I'm so tired." He's been listening to it for what seems like forever . . . since about May, when the last part of my pregnancy began stealing sleep from me. Now I'm just so tired from LIFE. I guess that's what it is, anyway. I can't really put my finger on why I feel as bad as I do. I'm not pregnant anymore, so I can't use that excuse. And Kate is a great sleeper. She does still get up a couple of times each night, but I'm only awake for a little while . . . so my tiredness does not seem proportionate to the loss of sleep I'm suffering. In other words, I don't feel like I should be as tired as I am.

What is making me so, so exhausted?

I guess it's things like trying to take a 2 year old and a newborn out to shop at IKEA. It was a grand idea, when we left the house. The mission: get a couch for the playroom. A place for grown-ups to sit while watching kids play. Not too daunting of a task, really.

Outings like that -- even just a grocery store outing -- can still totally wipe me out. I should know better.

Not only is that home furnishings store huge and exhausting . . . tack on the fact that Meg is still working on potty skills, and you have a regular marathon-type event on your hands. We went potty FIVE TIMES in just our 90 minutes or so at IKEA. Yes, 5 times. She actually WENT all 5 times, too (including a # 2 -- I hated that she had to do that at IKEA of all places!). The fourth time she said, "Poo poo potty, Mommy," I looked at Jim and said, "Seriously, this is exhausting . . . I can't take her again." He took her that time, and then I took her again about 15 minutes later.

Amidst all the potty breaks, our mission was accomplished -- we did get a playroom couch. One that is cute enough, durable enough, yet can still be drawn on and ripped without too much screaming from me (since the thing was not that expensive).

Now it's after 10pm, we are back home, and I'm totally about to crash. Did I mention that I took a 2 + hour nap today with the girls? While Meg was down for her nap, Kate and I crawled into my bed and slept for quite a stretch. So, a 2 hour nap isn't even curing me of the tiredness I am enduring.

I'm hoping that as Kate sleeps even better -- not that I'm complaining now -- I'll be able to feel a bit less sleep deprived. But I doubt it. It might be a while before I can get the kind of sleep my body apparently needs to manage 2 children.

*Yawn* Good night, my friends.

Hopkins

Have you watched it?

I'm a sucker for medical shows . . . ER is still (after a million seasons) on my 'must watch' list, and I was a big fan of Grey's Anatomy in the first couple of seasons (it's gone off the deep end, in my opinion . . . but I still like the medical parts). I love documentaries about medical stuff . . . disease, infection, addiction . . . it sucks me in. Something about seeing ailments that others must endure. I don't know exactly what it is that draws me to medical stuff on TV.

I love it all . . . just ask Jim. He watches stuff with me and asks, "Yuck -- why do you watch this stuff??"

So, when I saw that ABC was going to have a summer reality series, Hopkins, I knew I'd love it.

And I do . . . but MAN, that show hits me hard. Because it's reality TV and I know that the people on the show are REAL . . . I can't make it through one episode without crying.

Last night's episode was particularly hard for me . . . one of the story lines followed a family with a 2 1/2 year old son that was in heart failure. The poor family had been blindsided. They had found out very suddenly that something was wrong with their boy, and before they knew what was going on, they were facing a heart transplant for the infant.

Watching the mother hear the news . . . this is a real person and NOT an actor . . . I cried. It was HARD for me to watch. I was just so heartbroken for the parents . . . I looked at their little boy and pictured Meg on the table. It was too much to take.

It was good drama . . . good TV in the producers minds, I'm sure . . . but just too much for me. Because this little boy became ill so suddenly and the family was faced with such amazing circumstances in such a short period of time . . . I pictured us in that situation. What a horrible thought. I don't even like to think about things like that. Should that really be on TV? Who can watch that without breaking down?

And -- what's more -- how do actual families deal with that?

I think my greatest fear, now that I'm a mother, is not of anything happening to ME . . . but of something happening to my girls. How do parents go on? How did this family on Hopkins make it through the 5 or 6 hour heart transplant surgery without going nuts? Without losing it completely? That is the real story. The surgery and all that it entailed was certainly magnificent, and what the family endured was nothing short of a miracle.

Man, that episode last night was just . . . ugh, too much. The good news (spoiler alert!!) is that the boy was ok . . . they showed the surgery, and all went perfectly. They showed him walking out of the hospital two weeks later. Again, I cried.

I do recommend Hopkins -- if you can take the true reality of it all. (Thursdays, 10pm, ABC)

A Day Off

The definition of 'a day off' has certainly changed at our house.

Meg is with my parents for the next two days. They begged to have her for a few days just as soon as the Dahlbys left town . . . they haven't seen her in about 10 days, and they were going into withdrawl.

I dropped Meg off this morning and thought to myself, "Ahhhh . . . a few days off."

Granted, I still have Kate. But having only ONE kid is now considered a day off. Having NO kids -- a break from both -- is just surreal to me at this point in time. What would I call that? Vacation?

Kate and I will spend some time together, just the two of us, for the next two days. It will be peaceful and sweet. I often feel like I can't spend enough time with JUST her . . . that she's not getting the attention Meg got at 4 weeks of age. It's true . . . Kate is not getting what Meg got. She gets my attention, Jim's attention, and big sisters attention . . . so she's getting enough, I'm sure. I also feel like I don't really know Kate yet . . . but she's so young and new, how could I really? I hope to get to know her even more between now and Friday -- when big sis returns.

I'm off to enjoy my day off . . . I think I'll hold Kate while she sleeps for the next hour or two. THAT is a real treat for me.

Ode to Jim

I realized that I owe Jim some 'props' for things he's done lately. Often I mention the things that we argue or disagree about . . . or how hard things are when he's away . . . or what he doesn't deserve credit for . . . but it's been brought to my attention that I should highlight some of the GREAT things he does. I wouldn't want to paint the picture of a less-than-awesome husband. He is nothing short of amazing, despite our tifts or minor relationship hiccups.

So, to honor him, Jim deserves credit for . . .

My push present . . . you know, the gift the husband gives the wife when she delivers a baby. With Meg, the push present was . . . I won't say bad because that makes me sound like the spoiled wife that I am . . . but it wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind. YES -- I do realize that not everyone gets push presents. Beggers shouldn't be choosers. But, like I said, I'm spoiled. This 2nd time around, Jim was a little more prepared for what I had in mind for a gift in honor of my carrying his child for 9 months. He gave me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. I won't go into the diamond earrings story -- some of you already know it -- but this was something I had been wanting for quite some time. Jim actually had them all ready in the delivery room, and he stuck them in Kate's blankets right after she was cleaned up and handed to me. Of course, I was clueless . . . I didn't see them, all snuggly tucked in next to her. In come my parents -- and they take the baby -- and then Jim had to pull the little box out and actually hand the present to me. I opened them a little later (when it was back to just Jim and I), and I put them on instantly. I love them -- and I haven't taken them out for even a minute since he gave them to me. Thank you, Jim . . . you did a great job. Carrying your baby was my pleasure . . . but the earrings sure do remind me of the work I did ;)

The 4th of July . . . we were sitting in some crazy post-fireworks traffic, and Jim decided to take matters into his own hands. After sitting idle in the car for nearly 40 minutes, Jim hopped out and walked to the front of the traffic line to see what was going on. He walked a block or so away, trying to find a better route for people to take that would help drain our parking lot a little quicker. Jim realized that a left turn from the lot was better than the right that so many cars were attempting, so -- and this is no lie -- he walked along the line of cars attempting to exit the parking lot and told each driver to turn left. He explained that there was virtually no traffic going left . . . so if people would go that way, we'd all get out of there much faster. When he returned to the car, I laughed and told him nobody would ever follow his suggestion . . . some strange guy telling you where to go? No way that would work! 10 minutes later, we were out of the parking lot (and yes, we made a left turn like ALL the cars in front of us). It had worked. I apologize, Jim, for doubting you. You are the master.

Baby Care . . . Jim has been nothing short of my biggest helper. He's awesome with the girls. Tonight -- somewhat on a whim -- I went out with a friend and had dinner, leaving him alone with both Kate and Meg for the very first time. And Kate is still screaming all evening. And Meg's baths are still quite challenging. He did it all alone tonight and did not complain a bit. Thanks for the night off, Daddy-O. I totally owe you.

The Playset . . . which is simply amazing. I can't believe he built it -- almost exclusively on his own -- and enjoyed doing it. The pictures speak for themselves.

There are a million things he deserves credit for . . . putting Kate to be each night after her last feeding, getting up with Meg in the morning so I can snooze for 30 extra minutes, making dinner, taking out the trash, working with the contractor in the last few weeks of basement work . . . I can't possibly think of everything.

The main point is: Jim, I appreciate all you do for us, for me, for our family. You deserve credit for it all. We couldn't do it without you.

Whirlwind

I've neglected the blog. Life is sometimes calm, slow, easy. And other times, it's a whirlwind.

Right now, we are definitely leaning more towards a whirlwind. We had a great visit with Jim's family this past week . . . his mom, dad, and grandmother left today. We were sad to see them go. It was so nice to have the house busy (and full of help!) this past week . . . it's quiet around here again as of late this afternoon.

Aside from having visitors, in the past 3 1/2 weeks . . . well, we've done a lot of things. We had a baby. Jim lost his grandfather, traveled to Iowa, and we spent nearly a week apart. Kate wasn't gaining weight, then started gaining just fine. Meg had her 2 year check up and got potty trained. We celebrated the 4th with my family. Jim (with some help from his dad and mom) built a fantastic playset in our backyard over the course of about 5 days . . . a true gift for Meg and Kate. We had a very small birthday party for Meg . . . because I didn't know if I'd be in the hospital with Kate when her 2nd b-day came around, we had planned to have a few friends over this past weekend to help Meg celebrate turning two. I also had some friends over to meet Kate while Jim's family was in town to help host. The basement FINALLY was finished -- just last Friday -- so we are now 'moved in' to our lowest level.

It's been nuts here. Hopefully things will settle down.

Settle down? Wait. I have a newborn and a 2 year old. That won't happen for a while.

Case(s) in Point:

Kate has settled into the 'bewitching hour' . . . which is also know as the evening fussies. She starts getting cranked up a little before dinner time, and she can't hardly be consoled for about 3 or 4 hours. It makes for a long (noisy) evening. When Meg went through this, I remember freaking out and feeding her all the time. With Kate, I can't keep feeding her because she'll projectile everything all over my living room when over fed . . . and I know this is a normal phase . . . so we just walk and bounce and walk and bounce -- occasionally stopping to sway -- for the entire evening. The noise and the crying -- and trying to get Meg down for the night -- makes for a crazy evening.

Oh -- and the potty training --while fantastic, done, and just-too-easy -- has left us with a BIG issue. Meg now HATES her bath. I have no explanation for this dramatic turn of events. She literally FIGHTS me about getting into the tub. This has been going on for more than a week now . . . since her second or third day using the potty. She keeps telling us she has to go to the bathroom when we put her in the tub . . . and for the first two nights, we believed her. So we spent about 30-40 minutes going from tub to toilet, waiting for her to potty. Night 3 came, and we decided we weren't playing that game anymore (by we, I mean ME -- that was getting ridiculous!). Then we thought she was afraid she might go potty in the bath tub . . . but after a few nights of going #2 right BEFORE bath time, we don't think that is the problem, either. Who knows? We are just fighting through this bath issue and hoping beyond hope that it settles down soon. Tonight was OK . . . Jim bathed her, and he's so much more patient than I am these days. Maybe that's the ticket.

So -- for my buddy Paula, who commented that I make having 2 kids sound easy -- my life is nuts. It's not exactly easy. It's certainly not BAD . . . just a total whirlwind these days.

Family

Jim's mom and grandmother arrived from Iowa last night . . . they had a long LONG travel day, complete with multiple hour delays and lost luggage. We were all relieved to finally have them HERE when they arrived after 12 hours in transit.

It was a quiet day here, everyone resting and relaxing. We've spent quite a bit of time talking about Grandpa Gene . . . about the funeral, the wonderful things that people did to show their love for such a fantastic man. Grandma wrote nearly 300 thank yous for the flowers, food, and money that people sent in the days following Gene's death. So much money is being donated to their local library in Gene's name . . . he was an avid reader, so library donations are the perfect tribute to him.

It's been a bit sad. But also quite happy at times. Having both Jim's mom and grandma here -- where they can get away from it all -- has been really great for everyone. I'm glad we can spend this time with them. I'm glad we can provide the escape. The girls were all that Paulette, Jim's mom, needed to perk her up. I guess grandkids can do that to you.

It's going to be a nice visit . . . not exactly what we had in mind when we planned it several months back, but very nice, just the same.

Meg and Kate

I feel like I've been giving Meg so much attention these past few days . . . which I know she needs, with the arrival of Kate and all. So, today Kate and I had an outing. We went to the "Mom and Me" connection group . . . a breastfeeding support group sponsored by Northside Hosptial. I went with Meg -- religiously, never missed a meeting -- and loved it. I enjoyed it just as much today with Kate . . . and I learned a bit about the spitting up issue, which was great. I hope Kate enjoyed her time with just Mommy.

But what did I talk about 1/2 the time I was there? MEG.

I know it's hard, but I can't stop comparing these two girls. If something is different with Kate, I can't help but wonder if something is wrong. I'm positive this will pass . . . that the comparisons will soon stop. Once Kate's little personality starts to shine, I'm sure I'll keep treating her like Meg # 2.

Right?

Kate is the sweetest baby . . . so docile and just so beautiful. I kiss her and snuggle her all the time -- she's a very snuggly baby. Still, I don't know why I always compare her to big sister. I try not to, but some of it must just be nautral.

Right?

Anyway . . .

When I returned home from my morning with Kate, Meg was snoozing on the couch with the babysitter. What a sweetie.

Then I put her to bed, only to hear her cry out for me about 10 minutes later. She wanted to rock in the rocking chair . . . and because Kate was sleeping peacefully (in her car seat!), I was able to rock Meg.

I've sung a particular lullabye to her for her entire life -- from the Backyardigans . . . you can listen to it here . . .


Anyway, today, as we rocked and I sang . . . Meg started to sing along. The 'hush hush' part, in particular. It nearly made me cry. I couldn't belive she was singing along.

She melts my heart. And Kate does too . . . in her new baby ways. I love both of my girls, and I still can't even believe we have TWO.

I Just Have to Say . . .

No accidents today. None.

And we went out to dinner. All four of us, plus Meg's big girl panties. She used the toilet at the restaurant. I was so excited, I did a little dance as we walked back to our table.

Then we stopped at the grocery store for a minute. No problem . . . Meg held it until we got home, then used the potty as soon as we came in the door.

I wish you could see her face, each time she starts to hear that tinkle. It's priceless. I'll try to capture a photo of it tomorrow . . . I never want to forget how proud she is of herself in this monumental accomplishment.

Sure, there will absolutely be accidents along the way. I don't pretend for a second that there will not be a time soon when she is so engrossed in play that she forgets to tell me she has to go. Or a time when we are too far from the potty and her little bladder can't hold it that long.

But, no accidents today. What a kid we've got.

GOING very well

Ahhhh . . . how I love the beginning of nap time. It's 1:23pm, and as I write, both girls are snug in their beds, dreaming about the afternoon to come. The beginning of nap time is the BEST . . . it's the beginning of my 'off duty' time. The feeling is almost as good as when you turn off your light at night and snuggle into your own bed, knowing that you have a full night of sleep ahead of you (well, YOU may have some sleep . . . I am missing that feeling right now . . . but you get the picture). I know I have at least an hour or so to myself before Kate wakes up, and about 2 1/2 hours until I'm on potty patrol with Meg again.

Meg's potty usage is nothing short of fantastic. We are on day three, and yesterday we only had 1.5 accidents. I say '.5' for one of them because she realized that she had to go as soon as she started . . . stopped herself and told me she needed to go . . . then finished on the potty. I don't count that as a full-out mishap . . . I give Meg credit for recognizing the urge and holding it in.

Dude -- that is hard, when you think about it. You know what it feels like to have to go . . . then to go a bit and have to stop and hold it is a difficult thing to do. Meg is pretty great, I think.

Anyway, day three is going great. No accidents so far. We actually left the house! And Meg wore big girl panties! And we didn't have to change them! We made it to the doctor and to Target with NO accidents! It was awesome! (If you were potty training, you'd understand the use of all the exclamations . . . this is a feat worthy of many, many exclamation points.)

Just before nap, Meg declared "Poo Poo!" and actually WENT poo on the potty. It was wonderful. Who ever thought poop could be so glorious? It's almost like it shines, sitting there at the bottom of the little training potty. A little gem that Meg could not be more proud of.

I could not be more proud of her.

People keep saying, "I want pointers!" or "What are you doing?" Here is the drill -- every 20 minutes or so, we do a potty check.

"Do you need to potty?" I ask.
"No, I fine." Meg typically replies.

Sometimes she'll go sit on her potty for a minute -- but I think that is just to humor me. If it's been nearly an hour since our last success, then we sit for a little bit longer . . . and we usually have some action. I think that was the first hurdle -- associating the feeling with actually going to the potty. Many trips to the potty helped us over that one. Hurdle #2 -- relying on her to tell me that she's having that potty feeling. Today -- day 3, mind you -- she is really telling me she has to go. I keep asking . . . and she keeps refusing . . . but when she does have to go, she tells me and she goes.

That's what I'm doing. Two days of taking her a million times, and one day of letting her take me. It's working!

Other than poop, not much is going on here. As a matter of fact, after three days of this, I'm pretty bored with it all and am going a bit stir crazy. Jim worked on the playscape for more than 16 hours this weekend . . . which was most of both Saturday and Sunday . . . meaning I had nobody to talk to about anything (other than poop, of course) for nearly the entire weekend. And I was on 100% kid-duty. Yikes. I want so badly to get out of the house . . . but I know this will all be worth it in the end. One more day. Tomorrow, I have a sitter coming for Meg for a few hours in the AM so Kate and I can go to a mom-and-baby group. At least I have that to look forward to.

We are also looking forward to the arrival of Jim's mother and grandma tomorrow evening. They'll help me keep my sanity over the next few days, I'm sure. I don't think they totally believe me when I tell them we are having so much potty success. They'll see for themselves when they get her tomorrow.

Forgive me for all the Potty Talk. You probably don't really care . . . but if you've potty trained, you know how all encompassing it is. And if you haven't but WILL soon . . . you'll see what I mean. I'm sure I'll talk about it more as the week wears on.

Ahhhhh . . . I hear a baby waking up, so guess I am back 'on duty' for a while.

OH! Side note: Kate now weighs 8 lbs, 1 oz -- which is great. Exactly the right amount of weight gain since our visit last week. No more worries about my 'slow gainer' . . . she's doing great.

In Training

I've spent the entire weekend constantly running to the bathroom. I have my own special place on the bathroom floor, right in front of the toilet. There are towels all over my living room. I've done at least two loads of soiled laundry each day.

Oh, but no worries. Nobody is sick. We are potty training.

Meg has been ready for quite a while now, but we wanted to delay her potty usage until after baby sister arrived. Since the news of Kate's arrival, she'd already been kicked out of her room and forced to share the attention of mom and dad . . . we thought that was enough change, at least until Kate was actually here.

How do we know she's ready? She tells us when she has to go. She tells us when she's gone. She knows NOT to go poo-poo in the bathtub (which has given way to two very messy circumstances of which I will spare you the details). She asks for a clean diaper. Hell, she'll come up to you, declare, "Dirty Diaper," then go GET a clean diaper and lay on the floor in our 'diaper changing area' to await your arrival to change her pants. I'm not even kidding a bit about that. When she did it the first time, I said to myself (probably out loud), "Holy cow, we need to get you using the potty before we lose this window."

Well, with the window open SO wide, Jim and I decide to take the leap. On Thursday, we decided that Friday (the 4th) would be the last day for diapers. I brought the idea up to Jim in the morning, and by nap time our decision was made. When Meg woke up from her normal Thursday afternoon nap, we had a big talk about the potty. I took her to Target to purchase 'big girl panties.' Another clue she was ready . . . she'd seen what she calls Einstein Panties at Target the week prior (panties decorated with characters from Disney's Little Einsteins). She had NOT stopped talking about the panties -- and the fact that we had to go back to Target to buy them.

Buy them we did . . . and Dora panties and Elmo panties, too. Friday we talked with Meg about it being the last day for diapers ALL DAY LONG. My parents, who joined us for 4th festivities, helped by asking Meg all about her new panties. Friday night, with Meg tucked in bed dreaming of her big girl panties, Jim looked up potty training tips on the Internet.

Then Saturday morning came. Over the nursery monitor, I heard Meg talking to herself, indicating she was up and ready for the day.

I said to Jim, "Are you ready for this?"

And we hit the ground running.

The morning was rough. The first pee-pee was free flowing, all over the living room carpet. Luckily, Jim caught her mid-stream . . . it probably could have been worse. There were 3 or 4 incidents immediately following. By 10am, we'd blown through 5 pairs of panties. I think Jim was discouraged. I told him to hang tough . . . it was barely snack time, so we'd have to just see how the day went. Jim decided he'd go work on putting together Meg and Kate's new backyard playscape (a feat worthy of it's own blog) . . . so I was left in the house with Kate and Meg.

I set up towels in the living room, which Meg got a kick out of. I think she thinks it's like a little picnic in the house. Each time we left the potty, Meg retired to her towels and was totally content to sit there and play or watch TV. I pumped her full of apple juice, and we went back and forth to the potty every 10 minutes or so. It was a bit exhausting. I don't know how many books I read to her while she sat, but I must admit . . . it was worth it in the end.

Before 11am, we'd had success . . . pee pee in the potty. As lunch time approached, we were doing great . . . a second successful pee-pee. Each time, Meg ran outside to yell her successes down to Daddy, working hard in the backyard.

And then she pooped. IN the potty. What a big deal we made of that accomplishment . . . complete with M&Ms and any movie she wanted on the TV (so we bribe -- don't judge). By the time nap time came around, I was feeling like this was a GREAT day.

Lunch and nap time passed. The pull-up used during nap was dry when she woke up, which was followed by a great pee in the potty. And by 5pm, she was declaring, "Poo Poo!" when she had to go. We'd run to the toilet each time she asked. Granted, it was usually not poo, but I don't care WHAT she calls it. She could call it strawberry ice cream, if she wants. As long as it ends up in the toilet, the rest is insignificant.

She wore the same panties from nap time until bedtime. NO accidents.

I'm so proud, I don't know what to do. I wish I could tell her -- or that she could really understand -- how proud. She has done phenomenal. It's amazing.

I'm not kidding myself to think that it is this easy. I realize that it will take a few weeks to really get into the swing of things. And we haven't tried to leave the house . . . that is a whole separate issue. But for now, the first hurdle is done. I am realtively sure Meg has grasped the concept, and now we just have to work on consistency.

The idea of a potty-trained toddler is just awesome. Buying only ONE set of diapers will save us some serious dinero. And the idea of it being as easy as a weekend at home in panties and a t-shirt is unbelievable.

The saga will continue . . . I'll let you know how it goes.

Fireworks! Loud!

We did a great job preparing Meg for her very first fireworks display, if I do say so myself. For the few days preceeding our nation's birthday, Jim and I told her all about the fun fireworks that we'd see. And yes, Meg, they will be LOUD.

The prep was totally worth it . . . Meg loved the fireworks -- was not scared a BIT -- and we loved our holiday together as a family.

I'd love to write about the great bbq we attended or the awesome vacation we took, but this 4th was spent right here at home. We enjoyed the quiet. We enjoyed the pool. We enjoyed the company of my parents. We enjoyed the Marietta Square 4th of July celebration, and we used it as a 'learning experience' for what to do in 4th's to come. Meg enjoyed her first sparklers -- almost too much (she touched one and had a bit of a shock!). Kate enjoyed riding in the stroller and the constant hum of people that lulled her to sleep for the several hours we were out.

It was a great day.

The only sad part: the 4th typically means that summer is half-way over. Where did half of the summer go already?

We hope that you and yours had as great of a day as we did. Happy 232nd Birthday, USA.

Things

Things I'll always remember about Kate's delivery at the first days that followed . . .

I was SO hungry the ENTIRE time. I made joke after joke about wanting to have the baby JUST so that I could eat. I couldn't eat before I arrived, and by the time Kate had arrived . . . I was just famished. I'll never forget seeing the dinner tray come in with the tech who cleaned up Kate. I stared that thing down for a good 3 or 4 minutes before they finally brought it over to me and let me eat it. Hmmm . . . hospital food. Cardboard would have tasted good to me at that moment -- I didn't care.


I had an enema! Yes, it's true. While not necessary (I guess they used to do this will ALL women at one point in time), I sort-of requested it before we did the epidural. I've mentioned my 'poop problems' before . . . and I was just worried I'd become uncomfortable as the day wore on. Or . . . worse . . . I'd # 2 on the table as I pushed. The enema was NOT bad . . . it's nothing to fear, if ever you are faced with having one. I was scared, but it had to be done . . . and I don't regret it at all.

Snoozing between contractions and having Jim sit right beside me the entire time.

My right leg was numb from the epidural for hours and hours after delivery. It was like a sack of potatoes each time I swung it over the side of the bed in an attempt to get up and go to the bathroom . . . even once we got upstairs to our 'family care' room. I started to worry about it being so dumb, but it came back FINALLY at about midnight.

Kate was a CHAMPION nurser from the very FIRST attempt. She nursed for more than 30 minutes during that feed, and nearly each feed after was equally as fantastic. Meg was a good little eater . . . but I don't remember it being as easy with her when we were at the hospital. Some of it is me -- I know -- because I've done it before. But she's a vigorous sucker, and I can't take credit for that.

Meg's arrival at the hospital the day after Kate arrived was indescribable. It was a moment that I'll cherish always. To see her little face light up when she saw Kate was truly priceless. And she KNEW, without a doubt, who was in my arms and that she was the little sister she'd been hearing so much about.

The billi-lights . . . seeing her placed on them in the nursery, then wheeling her back to our room. Our little glow worm. I felt so helpless when she cried and we couldn't snatch her up into our arms. After the nurse left the room and we were staring at her 'blueness' -- she started to cry. I sang to her . . . the same song I always sang to Meg. A 'Backyardigan's' lullabye. And it worked.

All the cramping that came after the delivery. I wasn't prepared for that at all. Nobody warned me . . .yet when I mentioned it to those I know who've delivered two, they responded with, "Oh, yeah . . . that's true, there are way more cramps the second time." Thanks.

The visitors . . . in no particular order . . . my parents, Jim's parents, MEG, Jim's sister, Kathryn, Dan, Cliff, Erica, Gregg, Becky, Doug, Jackson, Uncle Wayne and Aunt Evelyn . . . and others.

The nurse we had the day of 'check out' -- Mashawa, a woman from the mid-west with a name that sounded like she was from mid-somewhere-on-another-continent. She was fabulous. Without her, we probably would not have been able to leave with Kate on the billi-bed. She got the pediatrician in our room as early as she could that morning so that tests could be run at appropriate times to allow for an evening departure. She arranged for the medical company to come to the hospital and deliver the bed . . . even though we were not 100% sure we'd need it. If she hadn't ordered the bed when she did, there would have been NO way we could have taken Kate home with us. I thanked her profusely . . . I know she was the one truly responsible for getting us home together as one happy family.

There are many more details of the experience, but those are a few that I never want to forget. So now they will live in enfamy in Blogville :)

Happy 4th, everyone . . . tomorrow I'll post about our fun-filled family day.

MMO and Video

This morning, Jim took Meg to a 'Mom's Morning Out' program for which I had registered her back in early June . . . and I had Kate at home.

Sometimes, I'm so smart, I scare myself. I am SO glad that I registered Meg so she could get out and play today. Having her go play with kids her own age was exactly what she needed. Being cooped up at Grandaddy's for four days (as awesome as it was to be there) is not a 2 year old's cup of tea, I imagine.

And me . . . I've enjoyed the near-solitude myself. Having one kid? Piece of CAKE. Kate has been an angel this morning. It reminds me of the 'old days' -- when it was just Meg and me. Why did I ever complain about things being hard back then? Little did I know . . .

So, instead of spending time on the computer, I'm going to go sit on my butt, hold Kate in my arms (which I never feel I do enough), and relax.

Enjoy the video . . . in lieu of a meaningful blog, it's the best I can do.

NOW PLAYING: Meg returns home to see Kate for the first time . . . shot on June 21, 2008.

Good News

Jim is coming home tonight . . . he changed his travel plans after talking to an exhausted ME at about midnight last night.

I love him. His family has been asking him if he wanted to come home earlier than Friday . . . so last night, he agreed that he would like to come home and be with us. His family is coming to visit next week, as I mentioned before . . . so we'll have a few days to recoup (and Jim can actually work, which he hasn't done in forever!).

And . . . at the doctor's appointment today, Kate weighed in at 7 lbs, 13oz. Not back to birth weight, but not losing weight, either. We're going back on Monday to check her weight again. I think she is OK . . . just a slow gainer. It was good news to know she's on the upswing, that is for certain.

Good News all around this Wednesday morning :)

Mid Week Update

Life is not exactly busy this week . . . but it's not exactly normal this week, either.

Jim's been in Iowa since Sunday. The funeral for his grandfather was today, and the past few days leading up have been nothing short of HARD. At the viewing last night, over 300 people passed through to pay their respects. His grandparents home has been inundated with flowers and guests. Gene was a much loved man in his community, no doubt. Jim has been working on things like cleaning out Grandpa's workshop, closet, car . . . all kinds of odds & ends jobs that Grandma assigns to him. I wish I were there to help. I wish I were there to be with Jim.

His family seems to be hanging in there, really. I am impressed with how together everyone is. That must be what happens in a tragedy . . . family rallies together to make everything happen. It's very cool to sit back and watch them all take such good care of one another.

Here at home . . . well, we haven't been home. We have been at my parent's house in Newnan since Sunday morning. I have to say that life here has been kinda hard, too. A different kind of hard, of course. Not to complain -- but I miss Jim a lot. I guess that I'm realizing how much I take him for granted when he's around . . . cleaning, cooking, taking care of Meg and Kate. My family has been fantastic . . . they've been on 'Meg duty' and I've been on 'Kate duty' and all is going well. But . . . I'm exhausted. We've done nothing but hang out at my parents, and I'm more tired than I remember being in quite a while. I'm staying up late with Kate, getting up with her 3 times a night, then getting up early with Meg. Jim normally does the late night shift with Kate, maybe helps me by putting her back to sleep after a 4am feeding (sometimes -- he doesn't get credit for all the time, mind you), and helps with the breakfast chores in the morning. Without him, it's pretty tiring to do it all myself. But, I'll survive.

Friday is when we'll all be reunited. I am counting the days . . . which are passing slower and slower. Is today really only Tuesday?

Just a quick update for now . . . tomorrow we are going for doctor's appointments for both girls in the early AM . . . then back to Newnan for the rest of the week. At our morning appointments, I'm terribly anxious to see what Kate weighs on her 2 week birthday. She is quite different from Meg in the way she nurses . . . so, naturally, I think something might be wrong. And then there is the spit up issue, which has not resolved itself. If Kate's back at her 8lb birth weight, we will be on the right track. Cross your fingers for us.

Thanks again for the kind notes from everyone -- Jim really appreciates it all. He had me read them aloud to him the night before he left . . . he's very grateful for all of the support.

Hopefully my next post will be about fireworks and fun stuff that happens on Friday. Until then, have a great week . . . and try not to miss me too much ;)