Month: March 2014

Ruby turned two months yesterday. As of Friday, she was 9lbs, 6oz and 21.5 inches. She gained 10oz in 2 weeks and is only in the 10th percentile, which has the pediatrician trying to push formula on us. I’m continuing to pump 1-2 times per day so we always have extra breastmilk in the fridge when she seems to need a bit more (most often in the evenings). She seems completely fine to me. Enough wet diapers and often doesn’t want more when we offer. She takes the bottle well when she needs it. I was always in the below 10% as a baby, and at one year old I had only doubled by weight at 17lbs. I need to follow my intuition instead of assuming the doctor knows best. Her well visit otherwise checked out very well and she received three more immunizations, one oral and two shots.

Ruby continues to have some gas/tummy issues and still spits up often. I’m trying to burp her much more frequently and keep her upright. I’m trying some different breastfeeding positions. She needs to be asleep often otherwise she gets very overtired and doesn’t fall asleep easily. She has grown into the swing and will nap in there for longer periods of time now.

Night time sleep is going pretty well, and sometimes I even get a 5 hour stretch of sleep! More often 3 – 4 hours, occasionally shorter. She sleeps on me or swaddled in the rock n’ play sleeper or next to me in bed.

Ruby is beginning to make little coos and adorable squeaks and her smiles are so great. Theo is warming up more and more to her and often comments on how “she can’t talk”. He is yearning for a 2-way relationship! She’s getting there 😉

Jay returned to work on Thursday and worked through the weekend. I’m now on day 5 of solo parenting (although thankfully Grandpa Joe arrived Sunday and is here through Thursday!). A real wake up call without Jay around everyday. This is not going to be easy but with time, more routine and (eventually!) warmer weather I think we will survive.

We’re happy to have you Ruby Tuesday!

The number 1 most commonly used phrase I hear from Theo hundreds of times per day is, “I have a question!”. He says this about EVERYTHING and to EVERYONE. I find it absolutely charming and adorable. Although, often he really has a statement to tell you so we are often heard saying, “do you have a question or a statement?”. Then we get to hear him decipher which is which.

Also, when I ask him a question, instead of a simple “yes” I often get “sure”. Writing it does it no justice as it’s in the way he says “sure” that is so sweet.

Me: “Theo do you want lentil soup for lunch?”

Theo: “Sure” (sounds kinda like “ssshhore”) with the sweetest little intonation.

Tuesday was gorgeous and sunny and warm. A few of us from Theo’s preschool headed straight to the playground after pick-up. Everyone was happy and it was such a reprieve from this awful winter. It was a true sneak peek of what’s to come for the summer. I simply cannot wait.

Theo is officially 3 1/2. We love him more and more every day and adore the person he has become. My one-on-one time with him is even more special now that we are a family of four. He makes me laugh on a very regular basis and his curiosity and interests truly bring me joy. I’m learning from him. Most importantly, I’m learning how to be a mother and a better person.

What can I say about this 3 1/2 year old?

Theo’s number one interest is learning how things function. He can tell you about electricity (“wood is NOT a conductor of electricity, it’s an insulator“), and he can tell you about combustion. He loves to do science experiments. He is quite dexterous and is already adept at using our computer in many ways. He loves reading books and painting and writing his name. He doesn’t always love to finish things that he starts, like Candy Land, even when he is winning. He is learning to ice skate. He absolutely loves to help Daddy with any household tasks, such as watering the plants, running the dishwasher, using tools to fix things. Everything has to be done by himself. He also likes learning about airplanes and helicopters. He can tell you the different parts of an airplane. Theo loves hershey kisses and will often declare that it is “hershey kiss day!”. He has grown so much since he turned three and I can’t wait to see what the next six months has in store for his development.

Did I say things were going well? That’s not entirely true. Of course, there are many wonderful aspects, but let’s not kid ourselves. This is really, really hard. Balancing two kiddos needs without feeling any shred of guilt or inadequacy must be virtually impossible. I have no idea WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WHEN JAY GOES BACK TO WORK.

Last Wednesday night Jay was doing laundry and picking up a few groceries during dinner and bath time. Probably a poorly executed decision on our part, but things needed to get done after enjoying our afternoon in the city at the Children’s Museum of the Arts. After all, I better get used to doing all of that on my own. Luckily I had my homemade enchiladas to quickly heat up, but then I attempted to give Theo a bath while simultaneously nursing a fussy Ruby. That didn’t go well. Luckily Theo is able to bathe on his own (at least play) while I sit in there, but there was no way he was really getting his hair washed or anything like that. He always gets a bit uneasy when I’m hanging around with a crying baby, and frankly, I can understand. Once out of the bath he did help me get his pajamas on, but that was after I gave him a talk about how much I love him and how I know this is difficult to get used to… that I’m trying hard to balance everything and care for both of my children and I really need his help now. Insert: guilt.

Jay got home soon thereafter to take over teeth brushing and we all hopped in Theo’s bed for stories. That worked out well as Ruby was napping (surprisingly not on me) so I could really read with Theo and he was out pretty quickly, although later than would be ideal due to all of the above. There have been many nights where Ruby is fussy right during story time and I’m nursing her and soothing her in the other room while Jay is handling stories and bedtime. Sometimes I can nurse Ruby, or she can sleep on me, during stories but Theo will often say “can you put baby Ruby down?” or “can you put Ruby in the Rock n’ Play sleeper?”. Again, insert: guilt.

Ruby has been fussy pants in the evenings on and off and I’m often uncertain as to whether she is getting enough milk or if it’s something else. Is she just hungry? Is she having tummy issues? Is she cold? Need swaddled? Dirty diaper? Overtired? All of the above? Enter: inadequacy.

Then Jay and Theo went to Cleveland on Friday morning. I had the whole weekend to spend one-on-one with Ruby and to not feel like I had to balance everything. It’s been really nice, don’t get me wrong. Sleeping in with Ruby leisurely, watching movies on my computer DURING THE DAY and just not dealing with all that big kid stuff. Man did I miss them and all those big kid things. Ruby certainly gave me a run for my money this weekend. I haven’t showered in days, barely ate and just barely brushed my teeth each day. We also endured a couple lengthy crying sessions and instances where I swear I tried everything.

I know what you’re thinking. This is all normal baby stuff. Get over it and put your big girl pants on and enjoy every freakin’ moment because it’s so damn fleeting. Well, that is true. And that is what I’m doing. Eating up every moment with this sweet, tiny baby girl. It doesn’t make it any less hard, though. And that’s the truth, okay?

I have to say, though, with the challenges came learning. I learned Ruby’s cues more deeply this weekend. I was also reminded of how much Jay does for me and for our family.

Anyhow, the other half of my family should be home within the hour and I can’t wait to give them both big hugs and kisses. I know Theo had a great time seeing, for the most part, his whole family. Towards the end he started to miss Mama and he called me to say he was “sick home” again. This is the longest we have ever been away from each other. A good thing, of course, but I can’t wait until the family is reunited… craziness and all.