Just like mommy....ummm...sort of

When I asked her what she was doing, she told me matter of factly that she was nursing the turtle...

The moment I realized...

About 11 years ago I went to a local pub with my friend Jackie. It was just a regular Thursday night and I had just turned 21 - we used to go to Nectar's a lot together to start our night and this night was like every other Thursday night. Until...Harrison Ford walked in. For real.

He was with a bunch of people and they all went up to order a drink. My friend Jackie (who had a lot more balls than I did) decided it was time for her to introduce herself to Harrison. I just sat and stared at her. No way. There is no way I was going to just go up to him and introduce myself; interrupt his evening by being an annoying fan. But she went right up to him and told him how amazing he was and what a huge fan she was. I spoke with him for a few minutes as well and told him what a big fan I was and that I hoped he was enjoying Vermont. Then, in one of those made for tv moments, I got caught up in the fun of meeting him and proceeded to give him a hug *and* a kiss on the cheek. Looking back, it must have been the alcohol, because I'm way too shy to do anything like that, especially to a famous movie star.

The point is....that I immediately called Matti, who was just my roommate at the time. I ran to the pay phone (this was before I had a cell phone when I was riding a horse and buggy to college every day) and closed the door so I could tell Matt that one of his favorite actors - Indiana Jones! - was at Nectar's and I met him! Matti didn't believe me at first, then became super impressed (and maybe a bit jealous?), then finally asked the question - "Wait. If you are in the same bar as Harrison Ford, what in the world are you doing on the phone with me?!"

That's when it hit me. Oh my God. I love him. I would rather sit here in this phone booth talking to him than talking to Harrison Ford. I was actually a bit disappointed when Matt convinced me to get off the phone and get back to the pub. I hung up the phone and went back into the pub, but all I could think about was that I would rather be home with Matti...and to this day, I would rather be with Matt than anyone else in the world...famous movie stars included ;-)

On your one month birthday, Emma

You slept through the night for the first time! You went to bed at 9 and woke up at 5:30 to nurse. I nursed you and you went back to bed until 7:30. Let's keep this up!

Just a normal morning at the Paradee household

What am I complaining about??

This morning Emma has been pretty fussy...she's been up since about 7:30 and is fine when I'm holding her or nursing her but when she falls asleep in my arms, the second I put her down, she wakes up. I started timing it and in less than a minute after I put her down she would wake up and cry. The second I pick her up, she's fine and will fall back asleep. After about the 10th time of this (no exaggeration) I had to take a deep breath to calm myself. I needed to get in a load of laundry, make Acadia lunch, clean up after lunch, empty the dishwasher, clean the counters.

That's when it hit me. What am I complaining about??? Am I really complaining because I'd rather do housework than hold a baby? Am I crazy? I almost laughed at the thought of it. In a year, Emma won't want to just lay in my arms all the time. In a year she will be off and running with her big sister. My last baby. Am I really complaining about *having* to hold her too much this morning?

So here I sit...on the couch relaxing with my girl in my arms. She is sleeping peacefully and I'm just watching the rain and listening to her breathing...Cadi is down for a nap and the house is quiet and very dirty...and I am one very happy mommy...

Just like mommy!

Insisting on dressing herself

One or the other

Matt was at his parents house all day today to help them get their house ready to put on the market. He got home around 7:30 tonight after Acadia had gone to bed and smack in the middle of Emma's fussy time. This past week when both girls have needed me, I haven't really had a problem helping them both out. If I happen to be nursing Emma when Acadia asks for a glass of juice, I can (as any mom learns to do in order to get things done) continue to nurse Emma, get Acadia a cup, fill it with juice and hand it off to her. If I need to change Emma's diaper and Cadi needs something, she's normally pretty good about waiting until I'm done with Emma to help Cadi out.

Tonight was the very first time that I literally couldn't be in two places at once, couldn't help them both out and had to chose one or the other. Emma is normally fussy from around 7-9pm. Acadia's bedtime is 7pm. Tonight, Emma decided her new fussy time should start at 6pm which is when dinner is served. We made it through dinner ok, bath time went smoothly and I was even able to get Acadia into her pjs while holding Emma and nursing her on and off. But story time and rocking time before bed was a complete disaster. I couldn't hold Acadia on my lap because Emma needed to be nursed. This was ok for a while - I convinced Acadia to sit on the floor in her room and read to me in the rocking chair while I nursed Emma. I tried putting Emma in her swing so I could rock with Acadia, but the longer I was in there the fussier Emma got until she was full blown screaming. This went on for about 5 or 10 minutes before I had to tell Acadia that I couldn't rock with her. (We hadn't even started rocking at this point - we were still reading.) I told her it was time for bed and she said, "No mommy, rock." I told her I couldn't rock with her tonight and that she had to get into bed. She started crying and the last thing I heard before shutting the door was, "Mommy! Rock!" OMG....just thinking about it makes me want to go back in there and pick her up....it was heartbreaking...I am trying to think about it logically, though - I don't think she fussed long (I honestly couldn't hear, though, over Emma crying) and she's sound asleep right now. Tomorrow she will wake up happy and forget it ever even happened.

So why can't I get the sounds of her little voice saying "Mommy! Rock!" out of my head? Why can't I stop feeling guilty for walking away from her when she needed me?

Some pretty sweet moves

Survived week one!

This past week has gone way better and easier than I had ever hoped. Monday started out rough because I thought Emma and I had thrush. My friend Shannon invited me to her house Monday morning (she's had some experience with this) to check Emma out and show me her supplies for dealing with thrush. I'm so lucky to have such amazing friends!! I packed up the girls and we headed over - Acadia loves her son Aaron, so they played while Shannon and I talked. Turned out that Emma and I don't have thrush, but it was awesome to be able to talk to Shannon about everything, since I knew nothing about thrush.

The rest of the week went really smoothly - we've gotten into a bit of a routine, or I should say that Emma has adapted well to our routine. Matt gets up with Acadia in the morning while I'm nursing Emma or sleeping. I get up while he's getting ready for work, drink my coffee, check my e-mail and start the daily chores - get breakfast ready for Acadia and I, pump, nurse Emma, take a shower, change diapers, clean up, empty the dishwasher, make sure the diaper bag is packed. All of this normally takes about 2-3 hours. Then we're off - either to playgroup, running errands or staying here to play and do things around the house.

Lunch is at noon and Acadia goes down for a nap shortly afterwards. Emma has been sleeping when Acadia sleeps, which is super helpful. This allows me to do laundry, catch up on e-mails, phone calls, relax, take a nap, etc. I've been able to nap twice this week which has been great. I never know I actually need a nap until I lay down :) Then, minutes later, I'm sound asleep.

Once Acadia wakes up, we're back at it - getting her snack and milk ready, nursing Emma, cleaning up after snack, reading books, coloring, watching cartoons. Matt gets out at 4 and is home by 4:30 which is awesome - I love having him home at that hour.

We've been very, very fortunate that we haven't had to cook a meal since Emma has been born. Between friends and family, we've had meals provided for us and will continue to have meals brought to us next week from my friends at MOPs.

I would say the hardest part of the day is the mornings, only because both girls need me then. But once breakfast is over, it's fairly easy to keep up with everything. Obviously there is much more work to be done with two, but I have found the transition to having two MUCH easier than having your first. I love seeing the girls together - it makes all the work worth it!!

Like father, like daughter

Ok. I swear to you that Matt isn't crazy. Well...he isn't that crazy. It's just that there isn't much he doesn't like or think tastes good together.

So while Matt was still on paternity one day, he made Acadia lunch. He made...are you ready for this? A strawberry bagel with mayonnaise and cheese. Seriously. That's what he made for our daughter to eat.

THEN - a few nights later, after dinner we gave Acadia yogurt and she asked us to cut up carrots to put in it! Carrots! So I cut them up and put them in her bowl thinking she would never eat it. Nope! Not only did she eat the whole bowl but repeatedly said "Yummy!" the entire time! Oh my, what did I get myself into?!

Just trying things out

A couple days ago, I was getting ready to pump. I ran into the kitchen to grab some water and when I can back into the living room, this is what I found. When Acadia saw me, she shouted "I did it, mommy!!" with a huge grin on her face. She was very proud of herself! LOL!!

Happy birthday Kimmie!!

Night time reading

A new way to do dishes

I had Emma on the counter next to the sink the other night while I was doing dishes. I looked down for a sec at her and she was just staring up at me with those big blue eyes of hers. I had to run and grab the camera, then I decided to skip out on the dishes for a bit and snuggle...the dishes will always be there!

Angels

I have met so many amazing women in my playgroup - my friend Satu being one of them. She is so crafty, sweet and an awesome mommy and friend. She came over yesterday for a play date and brought the girls both little hearts she had sewn, along with little angel wings for Emma. The wings matched the ones she made for Acadia's 2nd birthday, which she loves! So sweet and thoughtful of her! I love now walking past the girl's bedrooms and seeing the little heart on the door knobs!

Sweet little Maddi

I hosted playgroup yesterday morning. It had been a few weeks since I'd seen my friends from playgroup and it was great catching up with everyone. Emma woke up from a little nap and I asked if Acadia wanted to hold her. Of course she did! She held her for a bit and her friend Maddi just looked like she was itching to hold the baby. I asked Maddi if she wanted to hold Emma and a huge grin came on her face. So sweet...she's going to be an awesome big sister in just a couple of weeks!!

Mr. Ding A Ling

Acadia had her very first ice cream from the ice cream truck this weekend. She was beyond excited when she realized what was in the truck - her favorite summer treat! We let her pick which ice cream she wanted and she chose a Dora popsicle :-)

Waiting for the truck

Her face when the truck got close enough for her to realize what was on it

Decisions, decisions!

Mr. Ding A Ling let Matt and Acadia on the truck for a pic

Enjoying our ice cream!

1st day of church

This past Sunday was Emma's first day of church. I wish I had a better shot of her outfit - she looked so cute! But we were in a rush (as always) and had to run off so we weren't late for church. Mommy got in a few pictures of the girls, though!




Her new backpack our friend Shay got for her with her snack, juice, diapers and wipes for church school

There is a rose at the alter in honor of babies born within our church. Here is the one they gave us for Emma Joy :)

Beautiful!!

Today was Matt's first day back at work so things were a bit hectic today. Imagine my surprise when I went out to the mailbox and found this package from the girls on my mommy board!!! I LOVE the pattern - it's one of my favorites and actually I was supposed to make a dress for Acadia with the exact same fabric until I realized I had no idea how to sew a dress. LOL! I love the "E" on it and the pink fleece is so, so soft.

To my OOFers - you girls are the best ever!! Thank you so much for the thoughtful and beautiful gift!! xoxo