today I had a conference for work and was gone allllll day and most of the evening...this is what I missed the most:
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
weaning? not me, not yet!
but one of my favorite bloggers, Her Bad Mother, has a beautiful post about her experience weaning her son--click here. For me, I feel the time is soon approaching, but I'm both dreading it and looking forward to it, mostly dreading it. I've already come to the realization that in addition to loving my times nursing Chloë, I also feel it's my way of making it up to her for not having kept her inside for her full 9 months. I know, I know, it was not my fault, but I still feel guilty over her lost 6 weeks. So for this reason--and because I'm crazy about her and love her little hands grabbing my breasts, and how intense she gets when she first starts eating, and how playful she then becomes after she gets her fill, by letting these tiny smiles escape her lips as she continues to suckle--for all these reasons, I almost wish I could nurse her forever.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
we marched for dimes today!
today we marched for dimes, we marched for babies.
back in July when Chloë was born and spent two weeks at the NICU, I knew I wanted to do something to thank everyone who helped us through those times, and also to help others who may have to deal with a similar experience. I wanted to show my appreciation for all the support from family and friends, but also all the doctors, and nurses. I wanted to make sure as few people as possible have to endure what we did. Back then I didn't know about March of Dimes, but now I'm so glad I do.
Josh and I are so blessed with our gorgeous little pumpkin, and we are so thankful she came home to us after a brief (what seemed like an eternity at the time..) stint at the NICU. We are so indebted to all the doctors and nurses who helped us, and we have so much love and appreciation for all our friends and family who stood by us, from near and far, while we went through our rollercoaster of pregnancy and delivery.
today as we gathered at the park before our walk began, I felt little pangs of hurt, remembering the days right before Chloë was born, and those days soon after she came out, tiny, tiny, but breathing on her own (!!) They were little, tiny pangs of hurt, because 99.9% of the time, I almost don't remember how hard it was for us to have our pregnancy robbed from us (I know that sounds dramatic, but that's exactly how it felt!) cut short, and how jipped I felt we didn't get to experience having a baby the same way most people do: 9 months with a bun in the oven, a couple of days in the hospital, and leaving the hospital as a family, coming home together. We didn't get that, and each day that goes by I forget a little bit more, the sadness I felt for having missed out. So, today, they were just little pangs of hurt, surrounded by tremendous joy for being able to march for dimes and give back in some small way.
Josh, Chloë and I are so thankful for everyone who supported us today on our walk, and we are specially thankful for Shannon who walked with us!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
ice cream--we all scream for ICE CREAM!
this afternoon we went to Sweet Life Cafe for some ice cream, and little did we know that Ms. Chloë would devour Josh's ice cream cone. Now, Josh is not one to share, but once we saw the look of pure joy on our little pumpkin's face, it was all over. Now, I'm not sure if babies are supposed to have ice cream or what, but Chloë looooved it! Should she wake up in the middle of the night with some unknown rash, at least we'll know it was all worth it!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
winter wonderland
So after much procrastinating we finally got the basics finished in Chloë's playroom. We're going to leave as much open floor space as possible right now so she can practice her non crawling--that's when she gets into crawling position and proceeds to move one limb at a time, thus not getting anywhere--and her rolling around. Josh is still iffy on the purple and yellow mats, but I think Chloë will be really digging it, especially when she crashes head first on the floor.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
blue toes
this weekend was a busy one..despite all the activities, which included doctor's appointments, spring cleaning, yardwork, and broomball for a friend's birthday party, we still managed to get Chloë's playroom painted, and it is in its final stages of being done. All painting has finished, and we're just waiting for some things we ordered to arrive, and then we'll post some pictures. Meanwhile, here are Josh's blue toes--he stepped in paint.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
she fooled us
A couple of weeks ago I came down with a pretty annoying cold. I refrained from kissing Chloë (I thought I was going to DIE!) and was manic about washing my hands and sanitizing all the time. My cold came and went, and within a few days I was fine. Chloë seemed fine the whole time, and I was celebrating that she never got my cold...Well, she fooled us. Fast forward to this week and my little pumpkin is so congested she woke up this morning with dried snot all over her face. She's been coughing up a storm, and this morning was wheezing from all the congestion. Considering wheezing is, well, wheezing, and she's a preemie, we have a doctor's appointment (I know, 2 days after her well check this Tuesday!) at 5pm today.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
9 months well check
Today Chloë had her 9 month well check appointment. All in all, she's doing incredibly well, except for a minor cold. Here's what happened at the appointment:
--She got her Hep. B shot! AND didn't even cry (ok, she was attached to my breast, nursing away..but still, deserves props!)
--She had some blood taken--again, DIDN'T cry (ok, again, still nursing...)
--She had a urine test--I won't even get into details how that is done on babies..let me just say, there was a bit of a leak and pee was everywhere in the exam room, as well as the doctor's leg.
--She smiled, and talked, and charmed all the nurses and Dr. S.
--She is now 15 lbs. and 27 inches, with a pretty large head measuring 17.5 inches. She is 3rd percentile weight wise, 25th percentile height wise, and get this, 75th percentile head wise--yup, look at the BIG BRAIN on Chloë!
And here are the milestones we've ticked off our to do list:
--can sit up unassisted
--can stand up while holding on to furniture
--can roll over tummy to back, back to tummy
--can 'talk' and has a large repertoire of sounds
--can pass toys back and forth from her hands
The list goes on, but these are the highlights!
Next on our list--finger foods!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
apparently she rolled over...
...from her back to her tummy! But no one saw it..Josh went in to get Chloë this morning, and said she was on her tummy, on the opposite end of the crib, her head up, arms propping herself, looking at him. I was probably overly excited at this new milestone since it's taken forever for her to turn over..she always gets her arm stuck and get 'finish' the roll from back to tummy. Now if we can only see it in action...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
9 months? already?
Chloë is 9 months today. I can't believe 9 months have passed since my little babe was born...today when I put her to sleep, I held her in my arms a little longer than usual, and I tried to take in each moment. The way her tiny fingers grab onto my chest, and slowly let go as she falls into deep sleep, the way she lays on the nook of my arms, nursing, but not really eating, and as I laid her in her crib, I stared at her a little longer, and kissed her head. I really can't believe 9 months have come and gone.
so coy...
all smiles!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
oh, the joys of pumping
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
11:15am
Department of State, Washington D.C.
This was the scenario:
Three hours into a Defense Trade Association Group meeting, I had to be escorted to the ladies' room where I had to pump some breastmilk for my little babe. The handicapped stall was the chosen spot, and so while a security guard waiting outside (my visitor badge required that I be escorted at all times) I proceeded to get pumping. Nevermind the awkwardness of knowing there was a guard waiting for me to finish, bathrooms are disgusting places to pump. In an attempt at making it a little better I laid down my nice black jacket on the floor so I could place my pump and parts on it, and then after setting up, I was immediately faced with performance anxiety. After a short pep talk, I was able to get the milk flowing, As the post title says--oh, the joys of pumping--it never ceases to amaze me.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
chloë wants kyra's food; kyra wants chloë's food
Chloë kept trying to steal the cookie meant for Kyra for herself...
But Kyra also looooves Chloë's food...so, it all makes sense.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
saudades*
Today was my mom's last day visiting. She left a couple of hours ago and we all already miss her. it was a wonderful trip, full of laughs, and adventures. Chloë also seems to think she is THE funniest person she's ever met. I've never seen her laugh so much!
* saudades in Portuguese is a unique word. in its simplest terms it means missing someone, but more than that it involves a mix of happiness and sadness, and the hope that what/who is missed will return. saudade has also been described as the love that remains after someone has left, whether for a short while, or a little longer.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
mr. skip!
today we went for breakfast at Sweet Life Cafe to see Mr. Skip (click here for more about Mr. Skip.) Chloë was very, very sleepy, as the timing almost interfered with her naptime, but she was absolutely fascinated by Mr. Skip. When he sang her favorite, Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star, I thought she would doze off right then and there, as that's the song we put her to sleep with. She lasted a good 20 minutes before melt-down mode began. We rushed home, and she fell asleep soon after we plopped her in her crib.
Mr. Skip!
A very sleepy Chloë.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
the world according to mom
Her Bad Mother has dared us mom bloggers everywhere to go where no moms (usually) dare to go...she has dared us to truthfully, and candidly strip the veil on motherhood and discuss the things we love and, perhaps not so much love, about being a mother.
So, here I go--the top 5 reasons why I love being a mother:
5) knowing that the love of my life and I made her--the other love of my life--together; knowing that she is essentially the result of our love for each other, and so even before she came out into this world, she was filled with just the best love ever. EVER;
4) sharing in her excitement and joy for every tiny, little new thing she sees and discovers, whether it's the little piece of lint on the carpet, or her reflection in the mirror, and her photograph on my cell phone;
3) loving someone more than I could have ever imagined;
2) the absolute thrill she gets from seeing me after a few hours--it's like Christmas times ten--no, times infinity!--the way she just shrieks and smiles and stretches her little arms out for me to hold her;
1) and topping the list is absolutely, without a doubt, nursing her. I just love, love, LOVE, nursing my little babe, anytime, anywhere, even when she chomps on my nipples, and pulls and pinches my breasts, I love that I'm providing her with food from ME. I love that we just sit there, so close, so tight, and she just looks into my eyes and drinks, and sometimes smiles out of the corner of her tiny little perfect mouth. I LOVE HER--and I love being her mother.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
babies at play
Jess and Reagan came over for a playdate on Monday and the girls had fun staring at each other, and at one point Reagan fell onto Chloë's lap-at first Chloë was amused, but within a few seconds she burst into tears. It was all very cute, despite the tears.
Chloë kind of amused by the situation.
Chloë totally not amused anymore.
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