I will get them out to you in the snail mail the old fashioned way but before I did I wanted to capture how beautifully they arrived. So special for Susanne to share her talents. It means so much to me.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Snail mail happens
My dear friend Susanne of Pica Press & BULLSEYE created these beautiful birth announcements for Noah
I will get them out to you in the snail mail the old fashioned way but before I did I wanted to capture how beautifully they arrived. So special for Susanne to share her talents. It means so much to me.
I will get them out to you in the snail mail the old fashioned way but before I did I wanted to capture how beautifully they arrived. So special for Susanne to share her talents. It means so much to me.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Nebulize THIS Momma
So the day has finally come. It took 3.5 years for the virus to break through all my defensive moves, but Eric has his first bad chest cold. The doc gave one listen and said since he is not a chronic smoker she was suspect a virus had set it.
Once Eric turned 2 and we put him in day care with all the germ sharing I new it would be inevitable but I also knew that his "preemie" start was behind him and his lungs were strong enough to take it and recover. I had mentally prepared for these nasty colds toddlers are culprits for carrying. But some how he managed to dodge the respiratory germs until now which is pretty amazing considering most babies and toddlers have about ten colds a year.
I do feel a bit vindicated now for all the precautions I have taken because even as a tough and strong three year old he is still a former preemie and the doc could tell with a good listen to his lungs so I can only imagine what this would have been like had he gotten this when he was one or two. Ask anybody who tried to come withing twenty feet of my son. Aside from being the hand-washing nazi, I practically required them to submit recent medical documentation that they were not sick!
We are treating his cough with albuterol that has to be administer through the "nebulizer". Oh, let the good times roll. Eric isn't a huge fan of the "nebulizer" as you might have guessed. Have you ever met a three year old who wants to sit still for ten minutes with a mask on their face. No, me either. We have pulled out every reward we can think of. He turned down chocolate but being able to watch Handy Manny seems to get the job done. Mostly we have had to grab him, pin him on my lap with my legs and hold the mask to his face for TEN MINUTES. We get to have this fun at least three times a day for a week!
He is however getting more accepting of this and it is getting easier. He also gets a steroid medication. Now if you know Eric you know he doesn't ever stop moving. He is MR. Action. Now imagine Mr. Action on fast forward. This medicine jacks him up like I loaded him up with a "shot- in-the-dark" ( shot of espresso in a cup of dark roasted coffee). It is pretty amazing to see.
With all of this he is in pretty good spirits but who wouldn't be once you are breathing easier.
Of course brothers share everything and Noah caught this cold too. His biggest issue is post-nasal drip making him gag and worsening a mild case of reflux. Try as I did, it was impossible to keep Noah out of Eric's line of coughing and goopy nose. At least Noah is building his immunity before he has to go childcare.
All this has me thinking we should start having happy hour in this house because I could use the mellowing effect of a stiff drink! Chocolate seems to help though. Good new is everybody is feeling better and recovering quite well.
Once Eric turned 2 and we put him in day care with all the germ sharing I new it would be inevitable but I also knew that his "preemie" start was behind him and his lungs were strong enough to take it and recover. I had mentally prepared for these nasty colds toddlers are culprits for carrying. But some how he managed to dodge the respiratory germs until now which is pretty amazing considering most babies and toddlers have about ten colds a year.
I do feel a bit vindicated now for all the precautions I have taken because even as a tough and strong three year old he is still a former preemie and the doc could tell with a good listen to his lungs so I can only imagine what this would have been like had he gotten this when he was one or two. Ask anybody who tried to come withing twenty feet of my son. Aside from being the hand-washing nazi, I practically required them to submit recent medical documentation that they were not sick!
We are treating his cough with albuterol that has to be administer through the "nebulizer". Oh, let the good times roll. Eric isn't a huge fan of the "nebulizer" as you might have guessed. Have you ever met a three year old who wants to sit still for ten minutes with a mask on their face. No, me either. We have pulled out every reward we can think of. He turned down chocolate but being able to watch Handy Manny seems to get the job done. Mostly we have had to grab him, pin him on my lap with my legs and hold the mask to his face for TEN MINUTES. We get to have this fun at least three times a day for a week!
He is however getting more accepting of this and it is getting easier. He also gets a steroid medication. Now if you know Eric you know he doesn't ever stop moving. He is MR. Action. Now imagine Mr. Action on fast forward. This medicine jacks him up like I loaded him up with a "shot- in-the-dark" ( shot of espresso in a cup of dark roasted coffee). It is pretty amazing to see.
With all of this he is in pretty good spirits but who wouldn't be once you are breathing easier.
Of course brothers share everything and Noah caught this cold too. His biggest issue is post-nasal drip making him gag and worsening a mild case of reflux. Try as I did, it was impossible to keep Noah out of Eric's line of coughing and goopy nose. At least Noah is building his immunity before he has to go childcare.
All this has me thinking we should start having happy hour in this house because I could use the mellowing effect of a stiff drink! Chocolate seems to help though. Good new is everybody is feeling better and recovering quite well.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Eric the photographer
Have you noticed the Flickr photostream to the right of the screen. I put together a collection of streaming photographs taken by Eric. Some day he will be a famous photographer and I will be able to say "hey check out this amazing photo composition you had at 3 years old!"
A little known fact is that Momma was once obsessed with photography back in the day of film, developing, and dark rooms. Oh the fun we had goofing of in the art department dark room at Great Falls High. I always say I spent half my senior year in the dark between taking photos for yearbook (thanks Mr. Kirk for always post-signing my get-out-of-class-free-card to photograph something for yearbook;) What a sport!)and my hologram class. Yes, instead of physics I shot holograms, which by the way is all physics and geometry, neither of which I was good at by themselves. I continue to digress here by saying that it was between photography and nutrition when choosing a college major.
I am no photographer.
Here is a great picture Eric took of Noah
and another abstract of Rollie, Scoop and Muck
These are photos he took of himself. The red-eye flash went off and give him a tint. I think they are pretty cool photos:
A little known fact is that Momma was once obsessed with photography back in the day of film, developing, and dark rooms. Oh the fun we had goofing of in the art department dark room at Great Falls High. I always say I spent half my senior year in the dark between taking photos for yearbook (thanks Mr. Kirk for always post-signing my get-out-of-class-free-card to photograph something for yearbook;) What a sport!)and my hologram class. Yes, instead of physics I shot holograms, which by the way is all physics and geometry, neither of which I was good at by themselves. I continue to digress here by saying that it was between photography and nutrition when choosing a college major.
I am no photographer.
Here is a great picture Eric took of Noah
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Strange looking ritual or mom-baby yoga?
Momma and Noah just finished up a 4 week series of MomBaby yoga. While bringing Noah to yoga wasn't conducive to the most mind-body-busting yoga I have ever done,and as much as I wanted to jump into viniyasas,inversions, twists, and backbends it did have many benefits:
1) Practice getting out of the house and being somewhere semi on time
2) Time to giggle with the Noah and meet other moms and babies
3) Repair the muscle that pulls apart in the abs during pregnancy
4) Locate the obliques
5) Remember how to slow down and breath
6) Prevent me from jumping doing too much too soon
It was a great kick start but now that those classes are over Noah and I bond and giggle at home or in the park and I go to yoga for some internal time to get crazy and find peace all in the same 90 minutes.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Where's Waldos?
Last weekend was the annual Bay to Breakers run in San Francisco so this is a very pertinent question for Eric to be asking. We took E & Noah over to Alta Vista Park & had lunch at the crepe place on Fillmore street. An entire community of people out of the estimated 70,000 runners dress up like Waldo making him fairly easy to spot. Eric was spotting Waldo all over the city all afternoon. While the run begins downtown at 8am it takes most of the day for many of those Runners (in costumes) to make it from the finish line at the beach back to their homes. So all over the city, far from the race route, in random places you may see Snow White, a man in chaps (and nothing else), 80's dressed jazzercisers, or Where's Waldo. We once saw a clown "resting" after the race on the pavement, feet dangling over the duck pond. Classic. Momma and Dadda have participated several times. You don't run for time. You run for the experience.
Eric was amazed that he could spot real life Waldo's everywhere when he is so difficult to spot in those darn books. I should have gotten pics of Wald but didn't. Instead here are some photos of our Bay to Breakers day activities at the park.
Eric was amazed that he could spot real life Waldo's everywhere when he is so difficult to spot in those darn books. I should have gotten pics of Wald but didn't. Instead here are some photos of our Bay to Breakers day activities at the park.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
I love the way you call me Momma
This is Momma's (that's me) first Mother's Day as a mother of not one, but two beautiful boys.
I am in awe every day as I look at there happy faces and watch them grow, their personalities emerge, that I have been the chance to bring them into this world and guide them along their paths.
Eric is three and a half .He is sweet, sincere, and imaginative. He is also ambitious, determined, head-strong, courageous, and speedy. He knows exactly what he wants and he goes after it after careful calculation.
Noah is now two and a half months. He is sweet and sensitive. He is calm and happy. He is 11 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches. He has a good appetite and smiles at the sounds of our voices and at the smiles on our faces. His eyes are as big and bright as his brothers and I see so much familiarity in is face. I am going to be bold and say that he resembles me and sometimes I see expressions that mirror my mother's expressions.
Today, I caught Noah smiling and kooing at Eric. It made Eric so happy to get some attention from Noah. Eric smiled and giggled back at him. Of course it melted my heart. These boys are going to great pals.
For Mother's Day the boys surprised me with tomato plants and other seeds that we all planted together today. Eric and I spend a lot of time in our yard with our gardening gloves on and I have been wanting to plant tomatoes so this was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's day. Spending the putzing in the dirt in the yard was perfect. This on the heals of getting to go to yoga (by myself - not mom/baby yoga) yesterday AND get my hair done in the city. I was definitely spoiled this weekend.
When Eric was born our lives came to a screeching and sudden halt. I did NOTHING but pump milk and go to the hospital. I didn't listen to music, watch movies, go for runs, meet with friends, have guests over, go out to eat, go to the store, ride my bike.....nothing. There was nothing in our lives besides Eric, hospital, and - for Aaron- trying to work. When Eric was Noah's age we very slowly starting re-incorporated the things we loved back into our lives . Noah being born a blessed full-term big, healthy baby we are experiencing incorporating him into all we do. I must say this is a profound and welcomed difference. Noah gets to come along on the ride and hear so much laughter (from us and his brother) and be with parents who aren't worn down from spending three stressful months prior in the hospital.
Eric is a beautiful miracle of a boy to have arrived at 26 weeks and 2 days and be the thriving little boy he is. Noah is a beautiful miracle to have achieved a goal of full term and be the health happy boy he is. I am filled with gratitude to have experienced both. I am a better mother because of these experiences, not letting the normal hard stuff (like being awake with both kids at 1:00am or Eric having ZERO interest in potty training) get me down because after all it is NORMAL; and as my wise sister-in-law and mother of three says when things seem tough, "It is just a phase and it will pass." I also don't let the small stuff like "spilled milk" or even finger-nail polish on the rug get to me because, well, messes happen and they can be cleaned up. It's ok. In fact when Eric spills something now he looks at me and says "its ok" and I look right back at him say "it sure is!"
Thank you for this blessing of motherhood.
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mama's!
Eric is three and a half .He is sweet, sincere, and imaginative. He is also ambitious, determined, head-strong, courageous, and speedy. He knows exactly what he wants and he goes after it after careful calculation.
Noah is now two and a half months. He is sweet and sensitive. He is calm and happy. He is 11 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches. He has a good appetite and smiles at the sounds of our voices and at the smiles on our faces. His eyes are as big and bright as his brothers and I see so much familiarity in is face. I am going to be bold and say that he resembles me and sometimes I see expressions that mirror my mother's expressions.
Today, I caught Noah smiling and kooing at Eric. It made Eric so happy to get some attention from Noah. Eric smiled and giggled back at him. Of course it melted my heart. These boys are going to great pals.
For Mother's Day the boys surprised me with tomato plants and other seeds that we all planted together today. Eric and I spend a lot of time in our yard with our gardening gloves on and I have been wanting to plant tomatoes so this was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's day. Spending the putzing in the dirt in the yard was perfect. This on the heals of getting to go to yoga (by myself - not mom/baby yoga) yesterday AND get my hair done in the city. I was definitely spoiled this weekend.
When Eric was born our lives came to a screeching and sudden halt. I did NOTHING but pump milk and go to the hospital. I didn't listen to music, watch movies, go for runs, meet with friends, have guests over, go out to eat, go to the store, ride my bike.....nothing. There was nothing in our lives besides Eric, hospital, and - for Aaron- trying to work. When Eric was Noah's age we very slowly starting re-incorporated the things we loved back into our lives . Noah being born a blessed full-term big, healthy baby we are experiencing incorporating him into all we do. I must say this is a profound and welcomed difference. Noah gets to come along on the ride and hear so much laughter (from us and his brother) and be with parents who aren't worn down from spending three stressful months prior in the hospital.
Eric is a beautiful miracle of a boy to have arrived at 26 weeks and 2 days and be the thriving little boy he is. Noah is a beautiful miracle to have achieved a goal of full term and be the health happy boy he is. I am filled with gratitude to have experienced both. I am a better mother because of these experiences, not letting the normal hard stuff (like being awake with both kids at 1:00am or Eric having ZERO interest in potty training) get me down because after all it is NORMAL; and as my wise sister-in-law and mother of three says when things seem tough, "It is just a phase and it will pass." I also don't let the small stuff like "spilled milk" or even finger-nail polish on the rug get to me because, well, messes happen and they can be cleaned up. It's ok. In fact when Eric spills something now he looks at me and says "its ok" and I look right back at him say "it sure is!"
Thank you for this blessing of motherhood.
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mama's!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Happy 2 months & Happy Birthday Dada
Speaking of big boys, Eric is getting more used to having Noah in his world and shows him off proudly to his friends. Eric is still more interested in Noah's gear than Noah. Turning on and off his swing, bouncy seat, or music. Although he does get down and close and talk to him and kiss is forehead from time to time and he likes to hold Noah's hand. He also gets quite a concerned look on his face when Noah is screaming and quickly tells me, "Momma, Noah is hungry again!"
Noah is sleeping for longer stretches now sometimes five our six hours. We have struck a happy balance of nursing and formula. We learned the first month, after Noah hadn't regained his birth weight, that my milk production wasn't keeping up. So we became a little milk factory over here breast feeding, pumping, and bottle feeding. Sounds simple enough right? Well, insert washing pumping supplies and bottles and a a good amount of burping time and you will realize why we never answer the phone around here. We are all amped up on this activity for about a week or so and now found a happy place that we can maintain with a whole let less expectations and guilt. Happy, weight-gaining baby = success. Happy, rested, momma = success.
Love his little tuft of hair here. Sometimes when the sun light hits it just right we think Oma will get the red hair she is hoping for, but Eric teased us with red hairs too and then it turned blondey blond. I imagine Noah will be a blond too.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April fun photos
Here are some pictures of what has been happening around here this month. Noah is doing well. Everyone is getting more acquainted. Noah is putting on weight an is now 9 pounds 4 oz, a good eater, loves to be held, walked in the carrier, and smiles when he is feeling good. The smiles are a real boost during a 3 am snack time! His temperment is sweet and mellow but he can scream louder than any baby we heard when he wants to (signaling gas, hunger, or you stopped moving the stroller Mom).
Pictures....
Pictures....
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Friday, April 02, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Happy one month birthday
It has been one month since Eric welcomed his little brother Noah into his world. Eric has been adjusting and we have all been adapting to our new family dynamic. Eric is very sweet towards Noah and very onrey with his parents, constantly testing us and trying new things to get attention both negative and positive. Doesn't matter to him as all attention in Eric's eyes is good attention.
We have had a break-threw on sleep and finally figured out that despite my constant feedings Noah just isn't getting enough milk from me. Once we started supplementing each feeding with formula he started sleeping better, even in his bassinet, and at longer stretches. Longer being three to fours at a time. He now finishes a meal with a full belly and we are all much happier.
Noah's favorite place to sleep is in our arms and snuggled in on someone. This means good sleep for him but not so great sleep for the rest of us.
Photo shoot time:
Noah has blue eyes and the same mouth and nose as Eric. He is the long, monkey arms that Momma had, and the signature DelloIacono Thies long, narrow feet and long toes. His hair is tufted blonde and seems to get lighter and longer each day.
More quality snuggling and snoozing with Momma.
Aunt Susie and cousins Sam, Maylen, 5 month old Addison come over to meet Noah and play, play, play.
This is the pear tree blossoming outside our front door. We have had some really nice weather and spring is here so Momma and Noah plan to be outside more playing with big bro Eric.
Momma & her boys. Eric is intent on watching Toy Story which is the movie of the month and we have seen hundreds of times watching while Momma nurses.
We have had a break-threw on sleep and finally figured out that despite my constant feedings Noah just isn't getting enough milk from me. Once we started supplementing each feeding with formula he started sleeping better, even in his bassinet, and at longer stretches. Longer being three to fours at a time. He now finishes a meal with a full belly and we are all much happier.
Noah's favorite place to sleep is in our arms and snuggled in on someone. This means good sleep for him but not so great sleep for the rest of us.
Photo shoot time:
Noah has blue eyes and the same mouth and nose as Eric. He is the long, monkey arms that Momma had, and the signature DelloIacono Thies long, narrow feet and long toes. His hair is tufted blonde and seems to get lighter and longer each day.
More quality snuggling and snoozing with Momma.
Aunt Susie and cousins Sam, Maylen, 5 month old Addison come over to meet Noah and play, play, play.
This is the pear tree blossoming outside our front door. We have had some really nice weather and spring is here so Momma and Noah plan to be outside more playing with big bro Eric.
Momma & her boys. Eric is intent on watching Toy Story which is the movie of the month and we have seen hundreds of times watching while Momma nurses.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Catching you up
First off I am posting some picks that are probably only of interest to Momma. Also I am typing this one-handed as I hold Noah so excuse all typos:)
This is the parking garage outside our post-pardum room at CPMC in San Francisco. We are all to familiar with this place given the time spent coming and going from this wonderful hospital and I just wanted to document this scene on Cherry at California street for my own records. Behind the garage you will also see the pedi's office that guided us so well in our care for Eric. I also am posting a second picture from out the window looking off the other direction out towards our former neighborhood of the Richmond district - just for my own fun.
Here are some other scenes to bring you all up to speed.
Happy to be holding Noah post-pardum. The tired look in Momma's eyes will persist on this blog for many more photos but so does the smile. Dadda's eye still bright here but this won't last. As of now - on Noah's one month birthday - we are very familiar with the scheduled info-mmercials that run in the wee hours with personal favorite being the Brazilian Butt Master (seriously? Who is this guy?). We also know what time the morning paper arrives and what time each of our neighbors gets up.
Eric hold's Noah now that he is pink eye free!
Aunt Courtney, Uncle Sean, and Grandma Lorraine visit. Courtney is a natural.
On our first family outing to the Oakland Zoo with our friends the Morlans - Eric is good buddies with Aemon & Noah and Roane are likely to be friends as well.
Cute!
Noah loves his hands up around his face just like he was 90% of the times we saw pics in utero.
More one handed blogging of our adventures to come......
This is the parking garage outside our post-pardum room at CPMC in San Francisco. We are all to familiar with this place given the time spent coming and going from this wonderful hospital and I just wanted to document this scene on Cherry at California street for my own records. Behind the garage you will also see the pedi's office that guided us so well in our care for Eric. I also am posting a second picture from out the window looking off the other direction out towards our former neighborhood of the Richmond district - just for my own fun.
Here are some other scenes to bring you all up to speed.Happy to be holding Noah post-pardum. The tired look in Momma's eyes will persist on this blog for many more photos but so does the smile. Dadda's eye still bright here but this won't last. As of now - on Noah's one month birthday - we are very familiar with the scheduled info-mmercials that run in the wee hours with personal favorite being the Brazilian Butt Master (seriously? Who is this guy?). We also know what time the morning paper arrives and what time each of our neighbors gets up.
Eric hold's Noah now that he is pink eye free!
Aunt Courtney, Uncle Sean, and Grandma Lorraine visit. Courtney is a natural.
On our first family outing to the Oakland Zoo with our friends the Morlans - Eric is good buddies with Aemon & Noah and Roane are likely to be friends as well.
Cute!
Noah loves his hands up around his face just like he was 90% of the times we saw pics in utero.
More one handed blogging of our adventures to come......
Monday, March 08, 2010
Priceless experiences, beautiful scenery: endurance & stamina required
What has Eric been up to lately? Well, more than Momma can mention in just one blog. Prior to welcoming his new brother Noah he was performing figure skating and down hill ski runs in the family room while Momma watched him an the 2010 Winter 0lympics in Vancover from her perch on the couch.
Here are some picks of Momma at 36 weeks pregnant with baby brother Noah Tyler who arrived in perfect form February 27 at 8:03am. Labor and delivery was all Momma & Dadda could have ever hoped for, textbook! A familiar and exciting labor story that I will share more later.
Meet Noah Tyler DelloIacono Thies weighing 7 lbs and 8oz and 20 inches long. Those little feet Momma has been patting from her belly are not so little and he is the signature DelloIacono Thies long toes and long narrow feet. His eye already sparkle blue and there are light brown blonde tufts of hair on his head. He is perfect, healthy, and beautiful.
We have been home with baby brother Noah for one week, emotions and hormones running high. Sleep and self-care running low. Dadda is working hard to be our steady support and midnight shuttle to CPMC. Momma is working on the kinks in breast feeding, dealing with her mind-of-its-own uterus, and helping Noah adjust to his home. Eric is adjusting to a baby Noah with a roller coaster of emotion telling neighbors "we have a baby Noah". Eric, too, is running low on sleep through all the excitement. Grandma Lorraine is working overtime to keep laundry clean, Eric happy, our house stocked with food, our bathrooms clean, and Noah soothed. She has also had to explain to Eric twice now in the middle of the night that Momma & Dadda had to make a run to the hospital and will be back soon. Phewww...stamina and endurance....a must in this household.
Much like and ultra-marathon, which Momma has yet to add to her running resume (never say never), bringing a new baby home to house in which a toddler reins supreme King is both a complete rush and an experience I would recommend to anyone. There is no other job that leaves you wondering how it is noon and you haven't found time to eat, drink, or perform your own self-care (bathroom, brush teeth etc). Here is a quick update on the state of this beautiful household before I have to jump from my computer and feed the baby, hug big brother, or shout out a favor to Dadda and Grandma:
- Momma & Dadda have made two trips (one evening, and one midnight runs)to CPMC to find out that Momma's tempermental uterus is now so relaxed it needs some help contracting back. Gotta love drugs.
- Dadda has made four runs to CPMC in 1 week: 1 for baby Noah's arrival, 2 for Momma's now-resolved issues, and 1 for treatment of Eric's pink eye
- Momma's routine is feed Noah, rock Noah, change Noah (maybe 2-3 times per hour -he is a good eater), nurses her nipples in hopes of maintaining their integrity for the next feeding which could be as soon as one hour, going to the bathroom and changing her own "diaper" (sorry for TMI but who cares), maybe getting something to drink before starting all over
- Eric wakes up excited to go to Stella's birthday party and ends up being shuttled from birthday to CPMC to treat Pink Eye
- Grandma is maintaing. Thank God for Grandma's
Here are some picks of Momma at 36 weeks pregnant with baby brother Noah Tyler who arrived in perfect form February 27 at 8:03am. Labor and delivery was all Momma & Dadda could have ever hoped for, textbook! A familiar and exciting labor story that I will share more later.
Meet Noah Tyler DelloIacono Thies weighing 7 lbs and 8oz and 20 inches long. Those little feet Momma has been patting from her belly are not so little and he is the signature DelloIacono Thies long toes and long narrow feet. His eye already sparkle blue and there are light brown blonde tufts of hair on his head. He is perfect, healthy, and beautiful.
We have been home with baby brother Noah for one week, emotions and hormones running high. Sleep and self-care running low. Dadda is working hard to be our steady support and midnight shuttle to CPMC. Momma is working on the kinks in breast feeding, dealing with her mind-of-its-own uterus, and helping Noah adjust to his home. Eric is adjusting to a baby Noah with a roller coaster of emotion telling neighbors "we have a baby Noah". Eric, too, is running low on sleep through all the excitement. Grandma Lorraine is working overtime to keep laundry clean, Eric happy, our house stocked with food, our bathrooms clean, and Noah soothed. She has also had to explain to Eric twice now in the middle of the night that Momma & Dadda had to make a run to the hospital and will be back soon. Phewww...stamina and endurance....a must in this household.
Much like and ultra-marathon, which Momma has yet to add to her running resume (never say never), bringing a new baby home to house in which a toddler reins supreme King is both a complete rush and an experience I would recommend to anyone. There is no other job that leaves you wondering how it is noon and you haven't found time to eat, drink, or perform your own self-care (bathroom, brush teeth etc). Here is a quick update on the state of this beautiful household before I have to jump from my computer and feed the baby, hug big brother, or shout out a favor to Dadda and Grandma:
- Momma & Dadda have made two trips (one evening, and one midnight runs)to CPMC to find out that Momma's tempermental uterus is now so relaxed it needs some help contracting back. Gotta love drugs.
- Dadda has made four runs to CPMC in 1 week: 1 for baby Noah's arrival, 2 for Momma's now-resolved issues, and 1 for treatment of Eric's pink eye
- Momma's routine is feed Noah, rock Noah, change Noah (maybe 2-3 times per hour -he is a good eater), nurses her nipples in hopes of maintaining their integrity for the next feeding which could be as soon as one hour, going to the bathroom and changing her own "diaper" (sorry for TMI but who cares), maybe getting something to drink before starting all over
- Eric wakes up excited to go to Stella's birthday party and ends up being shuttled from birthday to CPMC to treat Pink Eye
- Grandma is maintaing. Thank God for Grandma's
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 08, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Buddha & enlightenment of a pre-schooler
Our neighbor, Shari, recently put the most elegant looking small statue of a Buddha in her flower garden under a tree. He sits calmly, peacefully, and in perfect contentment on a flat stone that almost makes him appear as if he is floating. When Eric and I were out front he spotted the Buddha immediately. His first comment was "He is in Time Out". I thought about this for a second and said that actually he is time out, not the kind of time out Eric has experienced but a time out from everything except this moment. Buddha is enlightened to his connection to it all. Eric was profoundly correct and didn't even know it. Buddha was detached and connected at the same time.
Kids are always enlightening, forcing us into the present every day, so aware of there surroundings, and so open to the possibilities. Since the first day Eric open his eyes and looked at me (27 weeks)I had this profound feeling that we were about to learn a great deal from each other. Boy was I right. He has looked at me many times with that same look, as if he knows more than I do. In many ways he does. Children have so much to teach us.
Time out was his first reaction to Buddha. Day 2's reaction was "he's crying". Apparently Buddha sent out this emotion that Eric saw as tears. Again, Eric wise beyond his years didn't realize what he just said. Tears are often a release, letting emotions free. I have experienced this release. In yoga when you physically release a tight area in your body that was holding your tension, your anxiety you may find yourself blubbering freely on your mat. My pre-schooler never holds on to his tension. He lets it out regularly, sometimes in public, acting out in ways you sometimes wish were acceptable as an adult (ie throwing your toy across the room because it isn't working - hello!!! computers)
I just got some really good advice from another mom. When you feel the chaos of all the thinking and all the doing (and all the whining) give yourself a time out. Even announce it - and watch you child's perplexed look - and step away until you are able to bring back the perspective and could care less that while you were "away" your child dumped out every toy he owns into the middle of the living room floor. You are now ready to just sit down and play having detached from mess. Good Buddha moment for sure.
Kids are always enlightening, forcing us into the present every day, so aware of there surroundings, and so open to the possibilities. Since the first day Eric open his eyes and looked at me (27 weeks)I had this profound feeling that we were about to learn a great deal from each other. Boy was I right. He has looked at me many times with that same look, as if he knows more than I do. In many ways he does. Children have so much to teach us.
Time out was his first reaction to Buddha. Day 2's reaction was "he's crying". Apparently Buddha sent out this emotion that Eric saw as tears. Again, Eric wise beyond his years didn't realize what he just said. Tears are often a release, letting emotions free. I have experienced this release. In yoga when you physically release a tight area in your body that was holding your tension, your anxiety you may find yourself blubbering freely on your mat. My pre-schooler never holds on to his tension. He lets it out regularly, sometimes in public, acting out in ways you sometimes wish were acceptable as an adult (ie throwing your toy across the room because it isn't working - hello!!! computers)
I just got some really good advice from another mom. When you feel the chaos of all the thinking and all the doing (and all the whining) give yourself a time out. Even announce it - and watch you child's perplexed look - and step away until you are able to bring back the perspective and could care less that while you were "away" your child dumped out every toy he owns into the middle of the living room floor. You are now ready to just sit down and play having detached from mess. Good Buddha moment for sure.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Holiday Fun (101 photos), by Tara DelloIacono
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Counting days
The anticipation brought on by the advent calendar drove Eric into a frenzy until about the 15th of December when he finally realized we would not be opening more than one window each day. It took a great deal of self (and sometimes physical) restraint on his part to comply with the rules of the advent.
Each morning we would start the day with "what-iz open today?" spoken in Eric's most melodically charming and convincing tone. Even after we opened the window he would hit you with this question several more times just in case you would slip up, forget what day it was, and let him open and retrieve another chocolate from the window.
This December Eric wasn't the only one counting dates. December 10th (3 years ago) is the anniversary of Eric's homecoming from his 96 day stay in the NICU. To add to this attention to dates, Eric's original due date was December 12th (the same as my mother's with me). Aaron refers to Eric being born twice, first on his birthday and then again the day we brought him home. The emotion we experienced is still very tangible but, seems so distant when we are playing with our mild-mannered, tantrum throwing, charming three year old.
December 7th also marked the day I was 26 weeks along with this second pregnancy, quite a milestone since as you know Eric was born at 26 weeks and 2 days. It is pretty cool to be over that hump and well into the third trimester. So far Eric's money is on a baby sister. Although one day he decided maybe it was a brother. Either way he has suggested two names for "his" baby: Doggie or Baby Eric.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Each morning we would start the day with "what-iz open today?" spoken in Eric's most melodically charming and convincing tone. Even after we opened the window he would hit you with this question several more times just in case you would slip up, forget what day it was, and let him open and retrieve another chocolate from the window.
This December Eric wasn't the only one counting dates. December 10th (3 years ago) is the anniversary of Eric's homecoming from his 96 day stay in the NICU. To add to this attention to dates, Eric's original due date was December 12th (the same as my mother's with me). Aaron refers to Eric being born twice, first on his birthday and then again the day we brought him home. The emotion we experienced is still very tangible but, seems so distant when we are playing with our mild-mannered, tantrum throwing, charming three year old.
December 7th also marked the day I was 26 weeks along with this second pregnancy, quite a milestone since as you know Eric was born at 26 weeks and 2 days. It is pretty cool to be over that hump and well into the third trimester. So far Eric's money is on a baby sister. Although one day he decided maybe it was a brother. Either way he has suggested two names for "his" baby: Doggie or Baby Eric.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
