EAT LUNCH. (aka bad kid)

So Griffin has been going thru this mini-teenager phase where he talks back CONSTANTLY. Since he's not always the greatest at verbalizing his feelings though, sometimes it comes out sounding funny. This morning he was mad at me for taking Drew's wallet away from him and he screamed "EAT LUNCH, MOMMY!" which in that context totally sounded like a cuss.

Apple Car

Life on maternity leave is odd. I am bored- like REALLY BORED- a lot of the time. But because my day is consumed for the most part by nursing and changing diapers, I don't really have big chunks of time to do things for myself (like update the blog). When I do have a predictable hour or two, I am generally doing dishes or the laundry or making dinner- which I dont mind at all (actually, I enjoy it). But people keep asking of I am "relaxing with the kids" or if I am "being pampered at home" or if I am "having fun without the burden of work" and I have to assume that those people have never parented two children under the age of three... and likely have not experienced a maternity leave at all. Because while it has certainly been a time to heal and a time to bond with my family, I cant exactly say it's a lavish vacation!

I think I am being a bit negative about it lately because this is Drew's last week of paternity leave and I am FREAKING OUT. I know I will figure it out eventually- that the three of us will find a groove- that it could eventually even be enjoyable. But right now all I can see is that we've made the care structure work with BOTH of us home. And that I feel helpless in parenting Griffin while Evelyn is attached to me- which is so much of the day. So I am sort of dreading Monday since it will mean SUCH a huge change when life in of itself is already so different.

But I am already making plans. Griffin will still go to school a couple of days a week which will give me time to catch up on house work. I thank god I made all of those freezer meals- I didnt need them so much after being discharged from the hospital, but I will DEFINITELY need them as a single parent of two! The weather (which has been MISERABLE all month) is slated to change and we should have much warmer weather from here on out. That means I can take the kids for long daily walks. The local coffee shop has story time for kids on Wednesday mornings and the library has toddler story time on Fridays. And Drew will be home by 3:30 every day. It will be ok. It will.

All the nervousness aside, we have had our moments of beauty lately. This weekend we had a rare gorgeous day and we took full advantage of it by taking the kids on a long walk. We ended up at the playground while I basked in the sun as the boys ran around and Evvie slept in the stroller. I even ended up with a bit of a welcome sunburn! Ah, the benefits of vitamin D! We've also been doing a lot of laughing. Drew recorded Avatar to watch with Griffin. Griffin misheard and now thinks the movie is called "Apple Car". Also, because Griffin is a sponge, he has figured out that his boy part is now and forever to be referred to as his "wiener" even though we originally taught him "penis". He's been demonstrating that by standing up in the bathtub and loudly announcing "DITTIN WEINER!!!" as he points to his crotch (in case anyone involved in bath time was wondering).

Griffin is also TOTALLY Drew. He gets mesmerized by Super Hero or Star Wars videos and then all of a sudden no one else is in the room. He was watching the big Darth Maul fight and I kept saying "I love you, Griffin" to no response. Finally I said "HEY! Griffin! I love you!" to which he responded "I love Daddy". Oh, snap.

Evvie has been doing great. All of this feeding is making her grow like a weed. We had to take her back to the doctor last week for a minor eye infection and found out she had gained over a pound in a week! She's also spending much more of the day awake and alert (and making awesome facial expressions) while closely watching her mama, daddy & brother. Griffin's new favorite thing is is announce "I'm big brother, Evvie!" and then explain some random Star Wars fact to her. Pretty cute, actually.

Progress!

My doctor's appointment went REALLY well today. Everything is healing up perfectly and he thinks I'm actually ahead of schedule as far as pain and mobility. I'm cleared to start driving again (FREEEEEEDOM!!!) and to start exercising (SLOWLY and in moderation...) I'm so excited. Now if this damn snow could just go away, life would be grand!

Two Weeks

Life is good.

We've sort of settled into a routine, and while it isnt easy by any stretch of the imagination, it is still wonderful. Evelyn is still an incredible sleeper, and we feel insanely lucky. I remember being delirious with exhaustion through Griffin's newbornhood,  and while we do still get up with Evvie during the night, we're very much rested for the most part! I hope this lasts!

sure doesnt mean we dont need naps though

Evvie had her two week doctor's appointment last week and she looks perfect! She's already gained back her birth weight plus some (that took FOREVER for Griffin to achieve!) and she had her second round of blood taken for her PKU tests. Now we don't have to go back until June! I have my first doctor's appointment since the surgery today. Minus some occasional achiness, I've been feeling GREAT lately, so I'm hoping I get cleared for some activity!

how 80s is this outfit?

Griffin has been going to school two days a week. We thought it was important to still send him occasionally so he stayed familiar with it, and to maintain some sort of routine for him. He likes seeing his friends, and we like feeling like we're on vacation! Since Evvie sleeps so much during the day, it's almost like we're childless every Tuesday and Thursday (except for feedings and diaper changes every 2-3 hours, of course). We've gotten to catch up on housework, check out new stores, go out to lunch, watch movies... all the things that Griffin would normally never tolerate. It's SO nice for Drew and I to have some time to reconnect and enjoy each other considering that when both kids are home, our hands are really full and we're like ships passing in the night! I will really miss having those days with him once he goes back to work at the end of the month.

chillin' with mama

 On the days Griffin is home with us, the house is loud and chaotic, in the most endearing way. Our day starts around 6am when he wants to crawl into bed and watch cartoons with us and is filled with running and laughter and play for the rest of the day. We spend our time juggling the kids... Drew plays games with Griff while I feed Evvie, or I read to Griff while Drew rocks Evvie. Griffin has occasionally been a bit of a handful (mostly because he is two, but also because his life has completely changed) so we're doing our best to help ease him through while maintaining our patience (and sanity). It's slow going, but things are better every day.  We also try to get Griffin out of the house a couple of days a week. It's been hard recently because it KEEPS SNOWING (ugh!!!) but Drew has taken him swimming, to the playground, to Home Depot (I know, I know...) all of his favorite places. Griffin is really going to miss Drew when he goes back to work too!

rare time spent in her actual bed with her new friends

Meanwhile, Griffin still ADORES Evvie. Whenever he sees her, he coos "hiiiii, Ebbieeeee..." in the sweetest way. I need to get a recording of it so I never, ever forget how it sounds.

I love this outfit so, so much. And the slippers... THE SLIPPERS!!

We also have an official daycare plan! Drew and I have both reworked our schedules- he will go in early (5 days a week now instead of 4) and I will go in late, so that we can continue to send the kids to our current daycare, only part time. It will still be expensive ($150 more a WEEK than we were paying before), but we love and trust the center, it is exceedingly convenient,  Griffin can stay where he is familiar with the people and the surroundings, and it beats the HELL out of all the other options we found. We are THRILLED, even if it does mean we will be pretty strapped for cash for the next few years!

So, all that being said, life is good right now! REALLY good!

first lessons

Early this morning, we had both kids on the bed with us. Griffin crawled over so his head was right next to Evvie's and he started whispering about Super Heroes. I'm not sure exactly what he was saying but I heard "Hulk... Iron Man..." So I said "are you telling her all about your favorite guys? That's good, because she doesnt know! You'll have to teach her!" So he paused and then says "(Captain) America good, Evvie..."

In other cute news, Drew was holding Evvie earlier while I was in the other room and he must have had a difficult time getting her comfortable, because I heard him say "I'm sorry, Evvie... I've always been awkward around beautiful women..." Adorbs.

One Week

                                   
Well, we're officially parents of two! Evelyn Matilda Keefer was born a week ago yesterday and our lives will never be the same. I know we haven't seen her true personality yet (all newborns really do is sleep), but so far she's been wonderfully sweet and good natured. She VERY rarely cries (when she does, she's given us fair warning first & we just haven't moved fast enough!) and she is a champion sleeper and eater. Of course, its not fair to compare her at this stage to Griffin considering that when he was a week old, we were still dealing with his jaundice, my infection & illness, and the fact that my milk still hadn't come in. Thankfully, none of those things apply this time!

And speaking of Griffin, he ADORES the baby. We really wouldn't ask for a better older brother. He gets excited to see her every time they're in the same room, he loves hugging & kissing her, and he's been INCREDIBLY helpful. Drew and I are literally moved to tears occasionally at the sweetness of it. We feel so very lucky.

That being said, Griffin IS still two, so it is intense trying to parent them both together. Griffin doesn't realize his own size and strength, so we have to ALWAYS be on guard when he's near the baby. Even normal things like playing with certain toys can get dangerous depending on how close he is to her! He is also full of energy, so there is lots of running and chasing and playing. PLUS, he has decided it's time to be potty trained (he kept asking to go on the potty- its not like we'd say no!) so we've invested in his own potty & we're starting that process! It takes both of us to parent the two of them for sure- so my worry is not about Evvie herself, as much as taking both of them on alone when Drew goes back to work in a few weeks!

I am feeling great, for the most part. I had a few achey, exhausted & nauseous days when I first got home from the hospital, but now I'm almost myself! The problem with that is that I HATE spending lots of time "relaxing"- I'd much rather take care of things around the house that need to be done, and I'm really supposed to be "taking it easy" still. Yesterday I couldn't take it anymore so I decided (against Drew's advice) to do laundry, dishes, make dinner, make the bed... and I'm feeling it today.  Lesson learned. I haven't changed out of my pajamas or left the bed yet today- instead, I'm all caught up on HGTV. I guess it's not SO bad.

Like Griffin, Evvie has her own birth story which I intend to write in a few days. And hers (thankfully) was MUCH different than her brother's. Until then, we'd just like to say a HUGE thank you to Drew's mom, Betsy. She came in and took care of everyone for a week, and just left on Sunday. We would NOT have been able to manage without her, as among other things, she was instrumental in keeping Griffin feeling loved and secure while we were away! We miss her already!

the first time Griff met Evvie!

dad and his girl

Griff did such a good job being gentle

my babies!