Baby Mark

Let's face it- he is more popular than I am. He cuddles and just seems to rub love off on people. Since I am with him all day I captured a smile. It happens sometimes. Now I need to capture the grunt. He likes to talk a lot, I just don't know what he is saying. He sneezes and then says "ahuhmmm."
Here are some things about Mark.
1. Will not take a pacifier. We have tried several kinds. Except he bites on them sometimes. Is he old enough to be getting a tooth?
2. Has a cold. Again. If you want him to be really mad just suction out his nose.
3. Likes to be held. If he notices you put him down he wakes up and cries until you pick him up. and he never seems to stay mad long- he doesn't cry very loud and once you pick him up it ends VERY soon.
4. Makes cute cooing noises.
5. Likes to breastfeed. Will not take a bottle anymore.
6. Gets hyper when dad comes home.
7. Will wait without crying after you give him his medicine. Will wait for up to five minutes for the opportunity to spit out medicine.
8. Hates his car seat.
9. Calms down when he is swaddled.
10. Would rather stare at a light than your face.
11. Has lint traps for hands.
12. Eat too much when he is upset.
13. Needs his nails trimmed every two days.
14. Has gas.

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Seeking workout partner. Willing to go to the gym with me early in the morning or late at night last minute. Doesn't mention anything when the spin class instructor says I am laying a lot on the handlebars. Lies and tells me they see movement when the instructor tells us to pull in our core muscles. (Mine don't seem to move but you don't need to tell me that.) Willing to eat cookies after workout. Understands how new workout clothes can bring you to the gym for a week or two. Willing to listen to Danielle cry after leaving the gym. Likes to lift weights and do elliptical trainer. Will go hiking with children. Willing to drive 30 minutes to go to rock climbing gym. Likes dogs. Doesn't judge when I'm not good at things I am excited to do, like Yoga, Spinning and Rock Climbing. realizes that I am SUPER SLOW runner so is willing to work with that. Although I still have a goal to run a marathon someday. Willing to garden for hours and sit with me while I organize my house. I guess that is more friend than workout partner.

Call or comment for consideration.

Sunday Thoughts: Hot Moms.

I remember the first time that I heard the phrase "girl crush." Claire actually introduced me to the concept. It's like a girlfriend that you have a non-sexual crush on. Like the bro-mance I guess. I love it. There are just some people that never seem to make you mad. They are great.
Claire had friends at the time that she just thought were awesome. One of them is on So You Think You Can Dance now. I bet now a lot of girls have girl crushes on her. I think Claire has always had good taste in girl crushes. Also I miss having her around to poach friends from. No one is better at finding friends than Claire. People like her. She is a pretty dedicated friend too, even though I am still waiting for the blog-published Christmas list I demanded.
Here are some of mine.
1. Wendy King. It is true. Crushworthy: That woman travels A LOT. She has more friends than anyone else I know. She has lots of personality and can wear pink jeans. She is skinny and funny. Worked as a producer. Huge.
2. Jana: Crushworthy: She is the meanest mom. People who read my blog always add her button, and she can make money blogging- who does that? People actually care about if she doesn't updateAlso skinny. She has a PHD from fancy schools and is pretty funny and sarcastic. Had twins and a premature baby. HARD! Doesn't make a big deal out of it and is secretly one of the nicest people around. maybe.
3. Brit Wilkinson. We don't hang out a ton but I read her blog. Who looks like this right after they had a baby? Crushworthy: She went hiking like one week before her baby was born and also less than one month afterwards. She rock climbs. Likes mayonnaise. Colors her hair a lot and looks good with all the different options. Opinionated. Super positive. Also when she got married she got lots of stuff off of her registry. Fun.
4. Newest Girl Crush: Holly Gillis. Crushworthy: Works out seven times a week. In medical school but still bakes and watches my two kids so I can go to the gym. Loves shoes.
5. Sara Berg. Crushworthy: Has a thing with having clean floors. Runs five miles a day- WHO DOES THAT? gets perved on by creepy old men at church. and from neighbors. Had two children AT HOME. Loves organizational stuff. Shows me things that I really want to buy and wish I had found first. Good style. Acts like she isn't crafty but has some suspiciously creative looking ideas at her house. Sarcastic. Good cook too.

There are a few people I didn't include- you know who you are and I have a crush on you, but in a non-creepy way. I didn't include any of my sister in laws. I will have to periodically have a crushworthy section of my blog. And it won't always be about shoes either.

Danielle's Family

Sunday thoughts never happened on Sunday. Probably because on Saturday Danielle decided she would wear panties from then on. She loves panties and went on the potty all weekend. She went twice at church. I am thrilled about this but also sad because she doesn't like it when daddy takes her to the potty. Once she couldn't get her panties down in time and had an accident and it was so sad. The whole weekend really I was just obsessed with potty. This Sunday Mark peed on me at church. In my lap. Through his outfit and blanket and my skirt. and a trickle down my leg in to my new shoes. I had just fed him and checked his dry diaper. A generic diaper that we were trying to use up (I used them for a diaper cake before he was born and figured they shouldn't go to waste. It was my attempt to give up my brand snob ways. yet again those ways were reinforced.) and yet another week where I didn't make it through the three hours of church. Danielle also boycotted nursery. She has never done that. She wanted me to stay with her. Really it seems like her personality is drastically different. No more sleeping through the night and taking super long naps. At least she can't defeat our front screen so I don't have to worry constantly that she will run away while I'm going to the bathroom. Privacy is wonderful.

Danielle drew a picture the other day and I asked her what it was. She told me it was her family- mommy and daddy and baby Mark and Austin and Aida and Lucy and Tess. Lucy and Aida also have beds in her room and toys at our house that they share with Danielle. After I asked her she also pointed to where Ed, Maya, Sara and Mark were. They were also part of the mommy drawing. Good thing too, because I was thinking my stamp looked a little larger than the other stamps on the paper.

Congratulations Steve

So my brother in law Steve is famous. I haven't told anyone yet but he is on Dancing with the Stars. he has actually been on it for years. And in law school at the same time. He came and saw Danielle in the hospital. And here he is in his work clothes. It's a great haircut.
This last week Steve moved on to the finals with Kelly Osborne. I didn't really know if they would be in the finals but Steve deserves it. Good job Steve.

Dear Mayonnaise

Dear Mayonnaise,
I just wanted to leave a quick note to say that I love you. The other day when I had one of the best BLT sandwiches I've ever had I realized how Mayonnaise should really be in the name of that sandwich. BLTMayonnaise doesn't sound quite as catchy, but without you soaking into the tomato it just wouldn't have been quite as good. I love chicken salad and tuna fish when you are there.
I am so sorry about those silly friends that won't eat you. And the ones who like mustard. At times I have strayed. I cheated on you with Miracle whip. It has a sometimes pleasant zip I must admit but miracle whip will never live in my fridge the same way you do. I always come back to you. It has always been about you. I will even support you in your light format. My daughter has never had a sandwich without you (except peanut butter and jelly for obvious reasons.) My baby will eat you someday.
You make me feel good inside, and I think you should know I really appreciate that.
Love,
Janae

Sunday Thoughts

Today we blessed Mark. It was really nice to see the people that visited us from Souderton. I can't believe how far people drove to see our baby. It made me feel special. Right before the blessing Mark was acting a little hungry and I realized I forgot his medicine. I decided to go home after sacrament and give it to him. He threw up on me right as I was going to feed him. His blessing outfit didn't even last two hours before it was soaking wet. I was glad I was at home because it's easier to change your entire outfit when you get thrown up on from home but I was sad to miss church. You don't meet people you don't see because you are at your nice house with your fantastic washer and dryer. At least I made it for some time.
Mark and Sara helped us rearrange our furniture. They clearly have skills because I love it. And they make awesome sandwiches. After everyone left Danielle said she was sad because Lucy went home. All her friends were gone- especially Lucy. Danielle has actually named her bed Lucy's bed because we set it up for Lucy and Aida and Maya before Danielle ever slept in it. After comforting her about her friends I sat in my newly organized room by the fire and talked to John. Sara took some pictures from the day of the blessing and here are some of them- I saved the best ones for Sara but included a rare Janae photo. I tend to hate all photos that I am in but here it is with the first outfit of three I wore today.

Happy Memories

Baby Mark slept six hours last night. I don't know if it will ever happen again anytime soon but I was pretty happy that it happened. I feel like the second child is nice because when they are newborn and never sleep you know it will end. I remember with Danielle being so overwhelmed and thinking- when does this get better? Now I keep telling myself it will get better- because I know it will. that knowledge is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
Mark is so different from Danielle. He loves to be held and loves to watch his daddy. I don't remember it being so fuzzy and happy with Danielle. Should I feel guilty for being confused about why this baby seems so much nicer? I love Danielle, but there is something wonderful about having a baby that you planned and not gaining as much weight and having a baby just rest his head against you and fall asleep. His labor was shorter and easier. My recovery was faster. His cry is quieter. His skin isn't as sensitive. He cuddles more. He won't eat if I seem upset. He doesn't like baths or getting his nails trimmed, but his crying doesn't last long and is only half hearted. He has reflux, but not as bad as Danielle. He has never vomited or pooed across the room. (although he does both, they just don't have as much force.)
I don't know how people manage two children- and I love both of them, but it's hard not to compare. My mom used to tell us that she prayed for easier children after her first three and got them. I know my mom loves me and I hope Danielle will always know I love her.
I remember with Danielle I struggled a lot with Post Partum depression. I was crying over three hours a day and I just didn't feel very alive anymore. It took a long time to get treatment. This time I was more prepared. Last time I didn't breastfeed Danielle- I ended up pumping the whole time. People were very quick to give me advice about latching and how to do things "right." There were lots of reasons it didn't work- Danielle has a bound tongue, her jaw was bruised from forcepts, I have sensitive skin, she had thrush, she had reflux so she didn't want to eat and I was bleeding so bad and it it scary when your baby starts vomiting lots of blood. etc etc there were lots of problems but I felt like they were excuses. The lactation specialists and le Leche league people I visited couldn't figure it out. I just pumped and fed it to her but I felt like I failed. So did a lot of women who told me I just couldn't make it past the pain. It wasn't until my sister was talking about not breastfeeding and called me a hard core leLeche lady that I realized maybe I hadn't failed.
This time after a week I was ready to quit and happy to start pumping. Then I read a story about a woman who couldn't take the initial pain and then tried again after a while. I decided to do it at three weeks. Mark had a cold. It worked. I don't know what happened. With Danielle all the training only made things worse- with Mark things got better. I still can't believe it worked. Some things make parenting nice- like when your first baby finally learns to smile and you realize they really don't hate you just because they cry at you all day long. Or having your hard work finally pay off, even though it wasn't important to anyone but you.

Dear Neighbor

Dear Thoughtful Neighbor,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful note on the white car. I think your penmanship with a sharpie leaves a little to be desired but I appreciate the thought behind it. So we shouldn't park the car on the street because that makes us "Sloppy." Unfortunately our driveway is currently occupied by our uninstalled fence, which you apparently don't find as sloppy as our car on the street. We would have installed it by now but no one even wants to give us a quote on how much it would cost for them to put it in. So far three people haven't shown up or called us back, not counting surveyors. I think I know part of the reason that the economy here is bad- people don't seem to want to work. Winter is fast approaching so you might have to wait until spring. You might ask why the fence can't go in the garage? It is in the garage- sorry. Big fence.
I am not sure how I feel about being called sloppy. I noticed that our next door neighbors stopped parking their car in the street so I am guessing it isn't them. On the other side the old lady hasn't ever raked up her leaves so she probably didn't write the note. Maybe though, old ladies tend to be either really nice or super complainers.
I also wanted to thank you for not commenting on the rest of our house as sloppy. I have only mowed the lawn once since having a baby and I haven't bagged our huge pile of leaves. Maybe you are really trying to tell me not to rake my leaves into the public park across the street. I wouldn't but I don't have a leaf blower like all the rest of my neighbors. Did you not notice the patch of yard where we tore out some trees but can't decide what to put in? I guess a pile of dirt and yard debris isn't sloppy to you but I might have targeted that. I was hoping to have my yard be sloppy enough that one of my sweet friendly neighbors would spontaneously clean it, but so far it is still passable.
Or maybe you actually know that our car is having electrical problems and won't start right now. Sorry, no one in this lovely town can look at it until this weekend.
If only you had left your address so I could explain why I didn't think parking on a public street would be a concern.
Thank you for bringing my property value up with your immaculate yard. And always parking your car in the driveway. Now please stop letting your dog poop in the public park and not cleaning up after them.
Sloppy.
After reading your note I carefully folded it up and returned it to the car.

Six weeks in.

I don't know when Baby Mark went to bed. At one o'clock John said he would hold Mark and read for school. Mark is not awake yet. I am excited to get used to him sleeping so much rather than waking up in a panic.
Does this mean little baby Mark is learning to sleep through the night? I hope so. Mark frequently wakes up throughout the night lately and just wants to be held. As soon as he realizes you are there he falls asleep again. After a few days of this I realize the appeal of having your baby in or next to your bed. I just can't sleep with so much baby grunting. How can someone so small make so much noise in the night time?
I don't want to speak to soon but it seems like the kids are over their colds. We went to church though so maybe it was enough to capture some more germs. Sadly our pictures of Halloween don't really look good, although I did realize I am still baby chubby. I decided to give myself a six week break before starting to work out. Maybe I should have avoided Halloween candy too.
Every day Mark likes to throw up most of what he eats for one meal. I know it is coming because he starts gasping and frantically eating. Shortly after that he seems like he is choking and throws up. Since it isn't as bad as Danielle with her every meal throwing up I haven't thought about it. But maybe at his two month checkup I will ask if throwing up is normal. He is probably just eating too much for his little belly or eating too much over a hidden burp but I have no clue. It doesn't seem like it is painful for him to eat though. I am shocked how much easier it is to have a child who seems like he can tolerate dairy and who doesn't seem to have pain when they are eating. Poor Danielle seemed like she was always in pain. Mark is so cute with his cuddling and tiny little cry. He almost never cries but when he does it is VERY quiet. (of course later today I will regret my words as he suddenly develops lungs). This is my first cuddly baby and it sure is different. He started smiling this week. I love it when that happens.
And now he is awake.

Complicit

I watched it happen. I thought about stopping it and telling her it wasn't a good idea. I made her sit on the new chair so I could take a picture. Then I made her get off the chair. I was going to save a few of them. Instead I reminded her to throw away the wrappers.
Wrappers that I threw away a few hours later.

It was totally worth a dollar.

Freedom

I probably give my daughter too much freedom. For example she once again has been wearing the bug pants for several days. I ask her if she wants to wear her pretty pink sleeper and she says "no sanks". This is also the response I get when I ask her if she wants to go to bed. Danielle gets to pick her own clothes. She gets to select what to eat for dinner. Once she chose to go home from church. Danielle frequently decides to feed the dog junk food. She is very fast. For example just the other day I went upstairs to feed the baby and Danielle opened a bag of candy bars. Austin was really appreciative that Danielle didn't like them but I was a little sad to lose all my butterfingers. Despite all my attempts I haven't been able to replicate the consumption of a bag of candy in ten minutes. I wish I could say it is infrequent that Danielle gets food she shouldn't- but this is one of her recurring toddler victories. I can blame sleep deprivation I hope.

I am a little bitter right now about being sick and never sleeping. I know that eventually the baby will sleep for more than three hours at a time but it doesn't seem like the endless wakefullness will ever end. Mark can't really sleep with his baby cold.
Well I think I finally have pink eye and the cold everyone else has had for a while. Danielle is done with the medicine and Mark is halfway through. Also Danielle has an ear infection. Every sickness Danielle gets can aparently be solved with the use of a bandaid. from stomacheache to pink eye, many bandaids are used. I just hand them to her and let her figure it out. Usually if they ever make their target they are finished with their miraculous healing in ten minutes when she decides to remove them and attach them to the carpet.
Tonight Danielle was being super cute and we played in the garage all night- she was making a "puzzle" out of the rock climbing holds. I forgot that she can play with those things for hours on end. I know what we will be doing all morning tomorrow.