Bobby's Sunday Summary

Well, his week has been a mostly good week. Bob is starting to sleep in larger chunks now. This was making Susan very happy, at least until last night when for some reason he work up every hour until 3 a.m. It was not a fun night for any of us. Lucky for us Alice is always ready to tall us at 6 a.m. that it is morning time, and we cannot sleep any more because it is morning time. So unless Alice goes to bed very late there is no hope of sleeping in, ever.

CSA share---May 26

Today's Haul

1 bag baby Asian greens and lettuces
1 bag curly leaf parsley
1 bag turnip greens
1 bunch green onions
1 bunch radishes
2 ears popcorn

They say you can cook the radishes and greens into something delicious. I'll try that this week.

I don't know how many times I've wished for fresh parsley or green onions to complete a fancy new recipe I'm testing. Now that I have fresh parsley and green onions, I can't find any recipes that call for them. Grrrr!

Turnip greens are great sauteed in a little oil and garlic.

The popcorn was a pleasant surprise. I may have to stop by the Moore Family Farm booth at the farmer's market this Saturday to stock up. I've been looking for something corn-y to send to friends and family for their birthdays...something soooooo Illinois.

6 week photo shoot with Mommy...again?

So, uh, I didn't do this on purpose. Well, I meant to take the pictures of Bob and me at 6 weeks post-partum, but I didn't realize until just now that I did the same thing with Alice when she was only 6 weeks old. Kinda creepy, but great for comparing these two little cuties. I've been wanting a side-by-side comparison for some time...I guess my subconscious finally got around to it :)

The two babies managed to have a few facial expressions that matched, so I've posted those here. They aren't the most flattering (sorry, kids), but they match-ish, which is more important than cherubic grins for this exercise.

The babes looking stern/serious:

The babes a little dazed:

Up the babes' noses (I did warn you this might not be flattering):

Siblings? Yes. Clone babies? Hardly.

Bobby's Sunday Summary

This post is mostly going to be some videos of what happened this week. Some of the big news is Bob's first laugh.

It was similar to Alice's first laugh, Sorry the video of that is having some problems getting into a format that I can post here. For now it is very very fast. I will try and fix that soon.

Alice also had some bonding time with her brother. She loves to play this with mom, but she is now playing it with her brother.

Bob's Blessing

Robert will be given a name and a blessing at the beginning of our regular church meeting on Sunday, June 5th. All are welcome to attend. Friends and family are also welcome to join us afterwards for a little reception (hopefully outdoors!). Email me to get the time and place...I just don't feel right throwing that kind of personal info into cyberspace, y'know?

Free Furniture

Random and assorted bits of furniture that I'm tired of storing for "some future use":


1. 2-drawer nightstand, light oak finish, almost new ***CLAIMED***


2. 3-tier stand, heart-shaped, solid wood, a little worn, rough finish, but will clean up nicely


3. Captain's chair, maple finish, a little worn but still strong, can be refinished. 2 kitchen chairs, walnut finish, a little worn but still strong, can be refinished.


4. Square table, wood, maple finish, about 3' x 3', a little worn but still strong, can be refinished ***CLAIMED***


5. Bathroom cabinet (typically goes above the toilet), maple finish, just like new ***CLAIMED***


6. Rolling office chair, black fabric, adjustable height, practically new ***CLAIMED***


7. Futon mattress, white, doesn't have a cover, has a few food-related stains. No photo available.

Pick-up only (no delivery or shipping). If left unclaimed, they're all headed to Habitat for Humanity's Re-Store on Friday. Leave me a comment, email me, or just drop by. Our phone is on the fritz again (curse you, Comcast!)

Bobby's Sunday Summary

This week Alice has been sick, sort of. She got a shot this week and has reacted badly to it. She got a fever and has been irritable most of the time. This has not been that pleasant. On top of all of that her leg, where she got the shot, has really been hurting. She spent a day and a half not walking because she said that it hurt too much. She is fine now.

Robert has been getting bigger every day, and is starting to sleep more at night so we are all feeling a bit better because of that.

Saturday was a busy day. Alice was still feeling pained by her leg, so I had to cary her around a bit, but she started walking on it too. Susan had to work in the family history center in the morning and there was a baptism that afternoon, so I spent much of the morning filling the font. After I filled the font I took Alice grocery shopping. The we went home for lunch. Susan got home, we finished lunch and then it was time for me to head over to the baptism to put in hot water to the font and set up chairs. After the baptism my brother Bill invited us over to his house for dinner. It was very nice because we had not planned anything for dinner yet. Over all it was a long busy day, but a good one.

Dual Check-up

Alice and Little Bob both went to the doctor today for routine maintenance.

Alice was uncomfortable with the new "procedures" that came with a 3-year exam: blood pressure, vision screening, and hearing test. She didn't cooperate well with the medical assistant who seemed very, very new at all this. We filled out a preschool physical form, too, in case I can get my act together in time to enroll Alice for Fall 2010 (that decision is another blog post entirely!). She's growing (still the 50th percentile for height, 75th for weight) and meeting all the important developmental milestones: chatty, imaginative, active, familiar with colors, numbers, and letters. She did have to get one shot (poor girl) and couldn't stop screaming "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" while the nurse got it ready and did the deed. I was snuggling Alice on my lap, wrapping as much of my body around hers as I possibly could. She wasn't struggling, but I thought the big hug would bring comfort. She wanted escape, not comfort. In the end, a teary Alice clutched her lollipop and stumbled out into the lobby with me. She was stunned. Her mantra for the next ten minutes was a raspy and defeated, "I...don't...like...shots." We came home, dosed her with ibuprofen for the oncoming fever, and read stories in the Snuggle Chair until she said weakly, "I'm a little tired. Let's snuggle in my room." She was asleep 3 minutes later.

Little Bob waited patiently for his turn at the doctor's office. He's growing well, too. He's on the big end for length (75-90th percentile), and definitely big for weight (97th percentile). He's on track developmentally, too: periodic smiles and holding his head up. No shots for our little man this time.

So here's my question for y'all with kids. Does your pediatrician smile and engage your child(ren) on their level? Are they warm? Do they reassure you and your kid(s)? Do they explain what they're doing? Do they talk directly to your child(ren)? Do your kids respond well to that? My pediatrician doesn't seem to be comfortable at any time, even after a couple of years going to her. She's very dry and business-oriented. I'm looking for someone more like Mr. Rogers. Any recommendations in the C-U area?

"Daddy Being Shocked by Pokies"

Glut 'o' Photos

I love this little man in just a diaper. It's my favorite "outfit" for him.

CSA share---May 12

Another growing season is upon us. Today was the first pick-up for our farm share. The idea is we pay the farmer up front for a weekly subscription of fresh produce throughout the season. One share provides $14-16 of fresh, locally-grown, organic produce every week. I feel like I got my money's worth this week:

1 lb bag all purpose white whole wheat flour
1 sm bunch asparagus
1 sm bunch green onions
1 bunch radishes
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
small bag of baby spring green mix (Asian greens / lettuce)
1/ 2 dozen eggs

In the end-of-season survey last year, I begged them to grow fewer radishes this year. I also begged them to provide an egg-share option, but to no avail.

"I'm a vegetarian!"

I wish Alice would let me take pictures of her by herself. She's grown camera shy, somehow, and runs away whenever I try to point-and-shoot. The picts in the last couple posts were taken in secret.

*sigh*

Today, she put a pair of black stretch pants on her head, threw on her giraffe-print sunglasses, and slung her pink, flowery purse (from the Barney family) over one shoulder before skipping into the living room and declaring, "I'm a vegetarian! But not the kind that takes care of animals. I'm a mom vegetarian. You're my kid."

I believe she meant "veterinarian."

Who needs dress-up clothes when any ol' pair of pants on your head will do?

First (recorded) bath

Baby Bob enjoys a good bath. He doesn't even mind the cold feeling afterwards as long as you don't dilly dally getting him dressed. Alice enjoys slathering him with baby shampoo. Lots and lots of shampoo. She's also eager to keep track of when he pees in the water. Funny girl.

Girl Hunter Fairy Princess

Alice got "dressed" one morning by putting a t-shirt over her Tinkerbell nightgown, "I'm wearing a shirt and a skirt!" She was very proud of herself.

Minutes later, she dons her red stockings and proclaims, "I'm a hunter!" (where on earth did THAT come from?!)

She spies her purple tea party hat and plops it on her head, "I'm a GIRL hunter." (okay, this makes sense)

And then she slips on her fairy wings, "I'm a girl hunter fairy princess!" (oh, man)

Astonished, I proclaim, "A girl hunter fairy princess! Wow!"

"Yes, and you're Cinderella. I your fairy godmother."

Bobby's Sunday Summary

Happy Mothers' Day.

Sort of. Last night Robert had a bad night. He had a lot of gas, then he pooped, and it was a big one, and for some reason he then decided that he didn't want to sleep any more. So Susan spent the first 2 hours of Mothers' Day staying up with a fussy baby. Then at around two she asked me to rock him back to sleep. I tried but he was still having some issues and would not stay asleep in his crib longer then 15 min, so we spent until 4 together in the recliner with him on my chest. Susan fed him a few more times. At 5:50, Alice decided to wake up. We spent an hour or so in bed as a family, no one really sleeping but everyone, except Alice exhausted. I was going to use this post to tell all of the wonderful things I love about Susan. But I think this shows enough of them already.

One Month

Our new camera has arrived :)

Baby Bob turned one month today! Woo hoo! He's 11.5 pounds, holding his head up nicely, and smiling at everyone but me :( He sees me and thinks, "Man, I'm hungry!"

Baby Bob has enough head control that I can finally tell if he's interested in something. He actually loves to watch Alice. Sometimes she can be a bit overstimulating (how many hugs and kisses must a little brother endure while he's simply trying to eat?!), but he responds to her voice and moves his head to watch her play.

Here, Alice is playing doctor with him (she looooooves to give shots):

Here, he's hanging out in the baby seat. He tolerates it well enough as long as he's up on the kitchen table in the middle of the action. No smiles for Mama, just some hopeful lip-smacking and a little arm-flailing in anticipation of a surprise mealtime. Yeah, right. Every 2 hours is often enough.

Here, he's asleep in his crib.

Yes, that's a pink blanket. My friend gave me a funny sideways glance today and asked me if I needed more baby blankets. Thinking of the huge pile of nifty, handmade baby blankets of all colors and sizes that I have in my closet at home, I said we had plenty. Then I finally picked up on her subtle cue that a pink blanket on a baby boy might not be her choice, no matter how practical and perfect a lightweight, semi-stretchy, medium-sized, waffle weave blanket is for swaddling a one-month-old infant just tight enough that he can move a little without wriggling out. I told her why I had selected that specific blanket and she informed me that WalMart usually carries that exact type of blanket in green and blue shades.

The conversation made me laugh, actually. I liked seeing her reaction to the pink blanket on a boy. It reminded me that this was the friend who first pointed out my non-conformist tendencies. The revelation surprised me at the time and ruffled a few feathers ("Are you trying to label me?") but I had to admit that she was right. The truth is, I'm SO non-conformist that simply labeling myself as a "non-conformist" makes me want to buck the stereotype and start conforming.

I'm hopeless.

So maybe that blanket isn't really as practical as I make it out to be...maybe I just like it because it's pink on a boy. After all, it rarely left the crib when I was using it to swaddle Alice ("Pink on MY girl? No way!")

Utterly hopeless.

Checking In

I don't know how much time I'll have to blog today, but I thought I'd give you a quick update. Life is getting better with two kids. Alice has mellowed out significantly and Robert has settled into a bit of a routine. I can't always predict how either of them will behave at any moment, but their activities and feelings are all familiar to me (at least until one or the other makes the next developmental leap). It's a comfortable place to be, even if it's still a lot of work.

Robert has one long sleep most nights (4-5 hours, whew!) and remains a content little babe all day if I feed him every two hours, avoid the no-no foods (i.e. dairy, chocolate, peanuts, broccoli, and citrus) and give him lots of snuggly bouncing rides. He's getting fat, which pleases me to no end. There was a day or two last week when he wanted to eat much more than I could give him. I worried about my supply, made a quick trip to the breastfeeding clinic, and learned that he had gained two pounds in two weeks! He's obviously getting enough. I would post pictures, but we've recently had to purchase a new camera and it's on its way. Expect a glut of pictures in 5-7 business days :) I've recently started Robert on cloth diapers, too, and discovered that heavy eaters are also heavy wetters. Yikes! He's leaked through almost everything I've tried so far, even when I change his diaper every 2-3 hours. This could get tricky.

Alice adores the little man, despite her jealous moments: "Mommy, I want you to hold ONLY me." "Mommy, I'm hungry, too. Feed me first." "Daddy, you hold Baby Bob so Mommy can play."

My friends and family continue to offer heaps of support. Robert is 4 weeks today and I feel almost in control of my life again. Or maybe I finally gave up the desire for so much control? Either way, I'm feeling better about everything.

I wish I could spend more time processing this transition. I wish someone could have warned me how difficult it would be. Everyone said it was hard, but couldn't offer any specific examples about how. I've wanted to process (i.e. blog about) several specific incidents and feelings over the last few weeks, but they all get forgotten by the time I'm coherent enough to think and write it out.

There's one incident I haven't forgotten, though: finally feeling affection for Robert. It happened just a few days ago. I was shocked. I hadn't thought that anything was missing from my relationship with the little man, but suddenly it was OBVIOUS. Loving him since birth is not the same as being in love with him. Now, I'm in love. How could it be that I had taken care of him so long without affection? Why didn't I notice it? I did all the same things then that I do now (feed, change diapers, snuggle, rock, sing, smile, and play with him) but the feeling and motivation for those behaviors has changed. It's totally different. It's totally better.

Pictures coming soon.

Bobby's Sunday Summary

This week was a long one. The audio on my phone died last week. I got a replacement pone, because it was still under warrantee, but it was still a bit of a head ache.

For some reason Robert has decided that he is going to skip the feeding that I have been giving him. Neither Susan or I are complaining about it, but it is a little odd that the only feeding he has been skipping is the one I have been giving him. Almost like he doesn't like me feeding him.

Other then that it has been a lot of adjusting to Robert and his needs, but I think we are doing OK.