Three Week Update (And Bonus Birth Story)

My Smiling Buddha 

Zoe is three weeks old.  I've only been alone with both kids for a few 3-5 hour stretches - and I'm not very good at it yet, but it's beginning to seem like someday in the (hopefully not too distant) future it might not be totally overwhelming.

My mother came for a week, my sister (Aunt Fanny) visited for a few days, jb has taken some half-days and Uncle Daniel is usually around for a few mornings or afternoons each week.  So, I've had back up around most of the time.

Zoe is still a big sleeper and a relatively easygoing baby. I think she is going through a growth spurt because she has wanted to nurse constantly over the last couple days.  I hope so because she hasn't been gaining weight as quickly as our ped wants to see - so we have a weigh in on Monday and I'm hoping she has tanked up.

We have spent many nights up in the middle of the night with a crying baby - but it has been our two year old baby, not the newborn.  Leo is still struggling - and he and jb have had nightly cereal and tv pow-wows at around 3 am.  We are choosing our battles.  It's either that or screaming.  And there's still screaming.  He's reverted to his phase of aggressive hugging and has even pushed a couple of his friends.  He is easily frustrated and emphatic about exercising his right to the word "No."  The strangest development is that he is constantly spilling or spitting out his drinks.  He will look right at us and pour a glass of water or milk onto the floor.  Today he spit milk on me and Zoe.  It's trying.

Thankfully, the outbursts have been fewer and further between and we are seeing the sweet, calm boy we know and love peek through more and more.  Last night he slept through the night for the first time in a few nights - so it feels like we are at least headed in the right direction.

I'll leave you with a birth story that blows ours out of the water.  Friends of ours who also have a toddler and were also due with baby #2 in June were also planning to deliver at the Birth Center (that's a lot of alsos!) - but they didn't make it in time and their (adorable) baby was born in their car in a parking lot.  Everyone is healthy and safe - but whoa!  This all happened about 10 days before Zoe was born and since we knew that we should expect our birth to be quick - we kept telling ourselves that there was no way that TWO queer, Philly families with all the added above alsos could BOTH not make it in time in the same month.  The universe just couldn't allow that to happen.  And I'm sure that's why we got there with eight whole minutes to spare.

Moments like this make it seems totally doable

Bathtime: Leo loves to help

My family at the park

My baby boy

Happy and awake with Daddy

Showing off her eyes

Oh!  We also had an at-home photo shoot with Dainty Hippo Designs - and she sent us a sneak peek of the pictures!  LOVE them and can't wait to see the rest.