Week Three

We survived!!!!!  One hour into Monday erased all my judgement for those stay at home moms in Atlanta who had full time nannies.  Meeting the needs of two kids alone is hard work! 

Nurse Carol came to save the day late Monday morning.  I was not at all surprised to find that Cameron had grown to a hefty 10 pounds 4 ounces.  It was a visit for Cameron, but Alexis was the main topic of conversation.  Nurse Carol was full of suggestions and encouragement on life with two!

On Tuesday I was greeted by my friend Kelly who showed up to take Alexis to school and come back for adult conversation. That night we were surprised with dinner company from Kelley, Wade, and their two little kids!

Wednesday we woke up to four inches of snow.  NOT my favorite, especially considering it meant we had to cancel our play date.  My disappointment resulted in a morning of horrible parenting.  That's okay because Kelly and the crew came to our rescue with company.

Thursday Alexis was picked up again.  I put every ounce of energy into getting Cameron and I ready for a trip to Target where I spent waaaaaay too much money on diapers and wipes.  I now have some motivation to potty train :) Later this afternoon I began day one of The 30 Day Shred.  I wet my pants.  Thank you, Cameron.

Friday I finally ventured out into the world with the two kids!  I was pretty excited about that.  Alexis attended her weekly YMCA preschool readiness class.  An hour later I picked her up and we had an uneventful trip to Chick-fil-a.  That place is a gift from God.  He knew I could not mother two children without a Chick-fil-a.

Here are some pictures from our week:

Pre-Bath

Post-Bath.  He insists on making eye contact almost every waking moment!

Add caption

Alexis shares her baby elephant

She wants Cameron to play with her sooo bad!

So, she settles for reading a book while he sleeps

Please draw your attention to the MAN doing three things at once

A sucker treat- for being the big helper of the week.

The First Two Weeks

Cameron Grant Riser arrived two weeks ago today.  Born January 12, 2013 at 5:19 am 8 pounds 13 ounces 22 inches long.  He left the hospital weighing 8 pounds 5 ounces,  four days after birth he was 8 pounds 11 ounces, and  twelve days after birth he weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces!!  I have been very busy, but luckily not at night :)    Cameron eats every 2-3 hours in the day, starting at 7am.  Between 5pm and 10 pm I let him cluster feed to store up for the night.  He goes to bed for the night between 9 and 10 pm and sleeps a six hour stretch. 
He is a calm and observant baby.  He cries only during baths, when it's time to eat, and when his sister hits him in the head.  He sleeps a total of 20 hours a day with three distinct wake times.  One in the morning, afternoon, and night.  I try very hard to follow the Eat, Play, Sleep pattern during the day, although he prefers to sleep through some of his "play".  Right now I'd say we have a pattern to our day vs. a schedule.  It is predictable and I like that.


Here's a peek into the first two weeks:

Happy Birthday!

Meeting for the first time

Love

Eating together

First Bath- He HATES them!

Big Feet

Life with Little Brother

This is where he sleeps at night

A trip to the Children's Museum

Excelling at Tummy Time

Sleeping through Tummy Time

Alexis sharing a book with Cameron

Lucky Ducks!!

40 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 40 Weeks.  1 1/2 cm dilated, 75% effaced, -2 station

 

how big is baby: The fundal measurement is 37 week.  The midwife guesses his weight at 7lbs 3 ounces.  She says he is long and in correct position for birth.

 

weight gained so far: 39lbs.  I gained 5 lbs this week!!!!!  And I am SWOLLEN!

Belly Button in or out:  Halfway in and Halfway out

 

stretch marks: No, and everyone who has seen my belly (nurses and midwife) comment on how "pretty" it is.  I got lucky there...thankfully it's winter so my swollen legs and all their veins aren't showing.

 

sleep:I get up twice every night around the same time to pee.  The rest of the night I spend flipping from one side to the next.  Lots of nights I wake up to mild cramping.

best moment of the week: Showing up at Labor and Delivery at 11pm on New Years Eve for monitoring.  I was on my way to get ice for my finger which I had burned on hot glue and in the process tripped over the dog.  It is standard procedure to get monitored for 4 hours.  My favorite part was Josh's sarcastic response to lighten the mood "I guess I should stay here so one of us can get some sleep"  Kate, my sister, thought he was serious!!!

 

food cravings:no

 

looking forward to: Getting this show on the road.  If I am still pregnant on Thursday Jan. 10th at 4:15 pm the midwife will strip my membranes.  Hopefully that will get things going.  Her advise to me today was: plan something everyday, stay busy, pretend like you'll be pregnant til he goes to kindergarten.  In other words- Forget about giving birth and having a newborn.  Easier said than done, but I will give it a shot.  

I really do believe in the natural route;  however I'm finding I was more an advocate for it at 20 weeks than I am now :)

37 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 37 Weeks

how big is baby: The fundal measurement is 36 weeks

weight gained so far: 34lbs

Belly Button in or out:  Halfway in and Halfway out

stretch marks: No!  Although, I do have my fair share of varicose veins.

sleep:I'm restless at night.  Who isn't at this point?

best moment of the week: Anytime someone mentions "baby" to Alexis she comes over and lifts my shirt up to show them.  This happened in Bath and Body Works this morning!

food cravings:no

looking forward to: Going in to labor on my own.

Not looking forward to:  The lack of sleep that comes with a newborn

Lexie's Life Schedule- 25 Months

8:00-8:15- Wake up

8:15- Breakfast.  Her favorite is a frozen waffle with butter.  Sometimes (rarely) we get out of the routine with a hard boiled egg and some fruit.

Monday morning we have a play date with Sophia (16 months old) She lives across the street. After that we go to the Chiropractor for a weekly adjustment, then we go to the gym.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Friday we head to the gym after breakfast and then onto a play date or to do errands.
Thursday is school from 9-11:45
The 2nd and 4th Friday of the month we have MOPS.  Alexis has her own kids program, while I hang out with other moms.  We usually meet up with Daddy for lunch at Panara or Chipotle afterward. 
Saturday is never the same anymore.  Josh and I usually get a workout in.  It's fun to have one spontaneous day.
Sunday is church from 9:30-11:15.  Once a month Josh and I teach in the toddler room.  The rest of this day we try not to do any work or plan anything.  We just hang out at home.

12:15- Home for lunch

12:45- Watch a show usually Super Why

1:15- Read books and then nap time

4:00/4:30- Wake up

4:30- Play or do a learning "project" with Mommy

5:00- Independent play in the kitchen or living room while Mommy prepares dinner.

5:30- Daddy's home!!!

5:45- Dinner

6:15- Play, Play, Play or another outing- the park or frozen yogurt :)
Tuesday is swim from 6-6:30
Wednesday is small group from 6:30-8:15 or so

7:30- Bath Time

8:00- Read books, turn on the fan, lay on the floor, say Bible verses, pray, get in the bed, turn off the light, sing lots and lots of songs, go to sleep.  Alexis is very attached to this bedtime routine.  She notices if she is being rushed or if there is one minor change.


What a life she has!  In a couple of months this busy toddler's schedule will be turned upside down with the arrival of  her brother Cameron Grant.  I'm trying to get her in school one more day a week. It will be a huge adjustment for this family to learn how to stay at home again.

Alexis is learning colors, letters in her name, coloring in the lines, how to count to 20, and how to sit still for a long book.
We are also working with her on sharing, saying "yes" instead of "yeah", general manners, how to introduce yourself, and how to obey- which is always the first time you're asked anything else is not obedience!

That last one is the biggest challenge. 
This is the way I've been teaching it 90 % of the time: 
1. State what I want- (Please go put your shoes in your room)
2. Alexis does something else
3.  I say "you did not put your shoes in your room,  Mommy will help you practice."  I take her and the shoes to her room... then say "this is how you obey!"
4.   Take the shoes back to the original spot.
5. Give her a chance to succeed at obeying.
6. Lots of praise if she does it.  Time out if she does not.

It's exhausting, but it works...for now.

26 Weeks Pregnant

how far along: 26 Weeks

how big is baby:We don't know.  The external measurements show 21 weeks, same as my appointment four weeks ago. 

weight gained so far: 22lbs

Belly Button in or out:  In

stretch marks: Nope

sleep:I'm restless at night.  We need a king size bed for the next 3 months.

best moment of the week: They all involve Alexis!  She brought a truck and a yellow block over to my belly and said "won't chu play with me baby broder?"

food cravings: Mostly anything I don't have to prepare

looking forward to: Seeing the baby on an ultrasound next week.

Not looking forward to:  Pitocin.  I hate that drug.  

Top Ten Favorite Baby Tools

Listed in no particular order...here are some of my favorite things:


Diaper Genie- Keeps the bad smells away.

Baby Bjorn- Josh and I used this everywhere!  Anytime we were out and at home too.

Infant Travel Bed-  We traveled so much when Alexis was a baby and this came in handy.  I used it in the airport and at restaurants. It doubled as a small play area.

Coffee- For the caffeine.  I drank 16 oz a day while pregnant and an unlimited amount while nursing...It never made a difference in Lexie's behavior.  For that I am thankful.

Pacifier- When babies are little they need to suck.  I wasn't thrilled about being the sole source of sucking.  My babes will always have this available!!!!

High Quality Nursing Bra- Most of mine came from Target, BUT I had one high quality Medela nursing bra that made all the difference in how I felt.  Worth every penny.

Video Camera- To capture all the "moments"

Break Away Sheets- These are useful in case of a major spit up, throw up, or diaper leaking episode.  They snap on the railing of the crib and act as a barrier between the baby and the crib sheet.  Our crib sheet has never been washed due to this lifesaver.

SwaddleMe Baby Wraps- We got a couple as a baby gift and I thought they were the silliest things I'd ever heard of until I tried them.  The baby stays nicely wrapped up.

Nurse Carol- A visiting nurse provided through the local health department. I wouldn't even consider having a baby without a Nurse Carol.  She came once a week when Alexis was a newborn to check growth and help with anything else that was going on.  I'm looking forward to seeing her again soon!