Joy

Oh the joy of Christmas is so evident this year as I see the celebrations through Jackson's eyes.  After about 10 days of being house-bound with RSV, we've embarked on our Christmas festivities, and I'm not sure I've ever looked more forward to the get-together we hosted with my mom's side of the family.  I was so ready for company and to be with people and celebrate (after canceling two Christmas dinners we were suppose to host for friends and a Bible study).  Tonight I've reflected on the joy I've witnessed the last 3 days, and here are a few snapshots:

• My father in law's impatience and excitement for Jackson to open his last gift tonight: a tricycle "lowrider" and hearing Jackson's giggles and "wee" as he was pushed on it through their house;
• Our quick visit to see my great aunt and how incredibly proud she was to hold Ella Kate (as I helped) and to see Jackson.  One of my prayers was that she would live long enough to meet my children, and at 93, she's done just that and has enjoyed every minute of knowing them;
• Jackson's sheer joy at having 16 people in our house Friday night--half of whom were children--and how much he adores my mother;

• how my Dad's sister couldn't wait to give Jackson a ball when she arrived at our Christmas lunch yesterday and how his face lit up as he pronounced it "ball";
• how loved Blake and I felt by our friend and babysitter Bess' gifts to our family which included a "gift certificate" for an overnight baby-sitting date;
• how excited I am by the North Face sweater pullover my in-laws got me (silly I know, but we're on a budget these days, and I've really wanted this top!);
• seeing my step sister-in-law 8 months pregnant tonight after their years of trying to have their second child; and
• how my friend Chasie wanted to serve and love Blake and me by keeping our children this morning, so we could have a child-free breakfast together.

What an incredible season this is for so many reasons. I just cannot get over how much fun this Christmas has already been simply because of our son's joy as he sees friends and family, opens boxes and bags with toys, tries new foods and treats, and stays up past his bedtime to play.  I love our sweet little family of 4 and that next year Ella Kate will be almost Jackson's age and getting to have this same experience.  What a good God we celebrate!


p.s. I'm thankful for the two boxes of forgotten cookies my mom made for me (that I've already consumed:) and for my bright-eyed baby girl.

Wordless Wednesday: RSV

p.s. I'm thankful that we seem to be over the worst of RSV. 

Favorite Things

I have so many random ideas for a post, but none are particularly compelling. So here are a few of my favorite things right now:

• the fig preserves, arugula, gouda, and prosciutto pizza at Community Pie;

• how Jackson's vocabulary is expanding so quickly and never knowing when he'll blurt out a new word (recent additions include shark, football, Nanee, book);
• our Christmas tree;
• that my husband is currently making pink origami stars for our daughter's bedroom;
• having holiday traditions and time with family to look forward to and knowing that Jackson will enjoy it all so much more this year;
• the incredible way God continues to bless us and our friends, especially the long-awaited answered prayers;
• that we have already sleep trained our daughter and I'm getting at least 3-4 hour stretches between feedings;
• how much Jackson and Blake enjoyed their recent "boy day" together while Ella Kate and I visited my home town;
• how excited Jackson gets when he gets to play with play dough, gets his twice daily milk, or any other treat that isn't permitted all day long;
• friends and their sweet children who brought my sick kiddos toys and cards today;
• that Ella Kate doesn't cry for what seems like no reason any more & is so sweet and pleasant;
• that more days than not both children sleep until 7-7:30;
• that Jackson currently loves praying (although he has no idea what we're doing but will continue to sign for more as soon as we say amen);
• a surprise visit from my friend Chasie and her new beau;
• Tootsie Roll pops; &
• how thoughtful and generous my mom is.

p.s. I'm thankful for a season dedicated to celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Four Months of Ella Kate

Our sweet baby girl is four months old, and I love having a daughter.  Ella Kate is a mama's girl, and her eyes (which are still blue like mine) are often glued on me.  She's gotten a lot of mama time too because she's refused a bottle for most of the last three months, which means I've never been away from her for more than 3 hours.  It seems like she may be particular like me.

With the exception of some hysterical times in the evening, Ella is really pleasant. She's already rolling both ways and get so frustrated that she can't crawl yet.  Her neck and head control are awesome, and this last week she tried prunes, rice cereal, and sweet potatoes and liked them all.  I decided to start solids a little earlier because she won't take a bottle, and I wanted to figure out a way to get food in her since a close friend is getting married next Saturday and I'm anxious about leaving her with someone with no effective means to feed her.  Thankfully it's working, and she's taken a bottle the last two nights as part of her "dinner."  I can't believe she finally took a bottle, and she took it from me! She was in the bouncy seat, so I think that helped because it's nothing like how I normally feed her.

It's funny that lately things have been a little harder with two children than in the earlier months. I think the sleep changes that come around this age have been part of it.  She's recently added back in a feeding at night, and I haven't adjusted that well to having to get up twice to feed (and often additional times for crying/paci, etc.).  We went through some tough napping days, and it's so hard to try to help an overtired baby fall asleep when a 21 month old year also needs you and/or is being extremely loud.  I continue to be thankful for the Ergo as taking a walk is an easy way to get a nap (or at least a calm baby).  Baby girl loves snuggling and looking around the neighborhood. 

Ella loves watching her brother, and he likes bouncing her in her bouncy seat, taking her paci (and bringing it to me like he's helping:), and hugging her.  Pretty much any time I leave them alone I come back to him hugging her.  It's really sweet.

p.s. I'm thankful for gorgeous fall days.

Wordless Wednesday: Roasted Green Beans

Wordless Wednesday: Smiles & Family

Wordless Wednesday: My Diaper Changer?

I

So Much Easier

Ella Kate has been with us for almost three weeks, and for the first two weeks, we just couldn't quit saying how much easier things are this go round.  Of course, part of the reason a newborn is easier is because we have some experience under our belt.  We know how to swaddle, soothe a baby, install car seats, and generally know that we can keep another human alive.  I think the other single biggest reason things are so much easier this time is that breastfeeding is totally different this time.  Stop reading right now if that is way too much information for you because it's only going to get worse!

I had skin to skin with Ella Kate for over an hour after delivery, and she nursed right away with a perfect latch.  A lactation consultant stopped by, observed Ella nursing, and said she couldn't improve on it.  Jackson was too exhausted to nurse for hours after birth and had a terrible latch for weeks (and even after months I often had to correct his latch).  We had numerous visits with lactation consultants, and we had an awful night nurse who stressed us out more about Jackson's inability to nurse.  He had trouble breathing for several hours along with dilated kidneys, and I believe all of the testing/exams wore him out so much that when he was returned to me he was always too tired to eat. As a result I had to pump in the hospital and at home in an effort to stimulate my milk production.  It was extremely stressful and painful. I really wish someone had recommended finger feeding him formula to get his energy up, so that he could nurse; my new pediatrician said that this method leads to a more successful nursing experience in instances like Jackson's.  At the end of our hospital stay a lactation consultant finally told us about finger feeding, and we did that for several days.  Jackson had jaundice, and we had to return to the hospital our first 3 days home to have his bilirubin levels tested.  We also had several weight checks and appointments with the pediatrician. 

Jackson also nursed very frequently in those first few months and for a very long time.  Every other hour for an hour was not unusual, and I felt extremely confined by his feeding pace.  I shed tears more than once about it all, and I thought about quitting breastfeeding frequently (like every time he latched the first two months because it was so painful; after two months we finally got a better latch going most of the time).  I later realized that he had a lazy suck (for lack of a better term), and when I switched to pumping and bottle feeding he gained a pound in ten days and was so much happier.  Pumping was exhausting, however, and I quit around Jackson's seventh month.

For the last ten days I've had an Ella on a pretty consistent 3 hour day-time eating schedule, and she never takes longer than 30-40 minutes to eat--and frequently eats in 20 minutes.  What a difference! I often have to wake her to eat, and for the most part she just intuitively knows how to latch.  Not having to latch and re-latch makes this so much easier and means I can nurse her in the dark and in bed, and while I felt some pain the first week or so, breastfeeding is now already pain free! All of this means I don't dread every feeding session and because she's eating well, I can often put off a feeding for a bit if I'm in the middle of something.  I've definitely wished a few times that someone else could handle the night feedings because the lack of sleep is so hard, but all in all this has been such a positive, redemptive experience.  And today Ella Kate weighed in at almost a pound more than her birth weight.  Ella Kate cries a lot less and must just know that she has to be easy, so her mommy doesn't have a nervous breakdown :)  Of course, one of the major upsides of things being easier this time is that I still have a lot of time to spend with Jackson.  Since Ella is only up every third hour or so during the day he gets a lot of "normal" time for now. 

p.s. I'm thankful things have gone so well this week now that Blake is back at work.

Wordless Wednesday: My Boys, My Girl

p.s. I'm thankful for my neighbor who came up and took some photographs for us. 

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy do we really get to keep her?

p.s. I'm thankful for my husband and how helpful he's been the last 13 days.