The pace of life is vastly slower these days. I'm so happy to get a few moments to myself! It's very weird for me to adjust to not having any semblance of goals.
My neck is sore. Last night at LLL on the way out of Diane's house, I tripped somehow and tumbled down the stairs to her house. They're wooden. I fell nicely and Zachary didn't even really notice, I don't think. But, this morning I have a fairly sore neck muscle. Advil is a nice invention, but it's still sore. Monday, Edwin got his hand pinched in a door which I was (unknowingly) attempting to close. That looked horrible but he was totally fine. It didn't even really bruise, b/c he whined quickly and I realized and stopped quickly. Just the initial reaction was "Oh MY, did he break his fingers??? All 4 of them!??!?" But when I offered him jellybeans as a consolation food, he took them with his injured fingers. So, now I'm guessing he's right-handed b/c otherwise he'd prefer the non-injured left hand. Friday, at Onandaga park, Edwin fell off one of the play-structures and got his first bloody nose. That made me feel AWFUL! Again, he was cute and totally ok. It was a very hard split-moment decision on my part not to prevent a potential fall, so I feel guilty. I'd told him "no" to doing what he was about to do, but I am often wrong in guessing what his limits are- so I decided to let him deal with the consequences himself. Furthermore, he's been very curious about such ledges on similar play structures and sooner or later he was going to have to figure out how careful to be on them. Many ledges are higher, so I'd rather have him learn on a lower one - and he did have a good shot of actually not-falling. So, somehow, I made the decision to let him just "be a boy" and live with the fall if it happened. I recall my Dad had a big fall when he was a kid and he hurt himself very badly and never told his mom. I don't want Edwin to hide his falls from me. I want him to know that even if he disobeys me and gets hurt, I will be the first person to run to help him.
So, my other son is now calling. I had placed him in the bathroom with the fan and lights (which often calms him, but at least drowns out his wailing) so I could have 10 minutes to cook breakfast and eat- a rather vital part of my day if I'm to nurse him. He quickly went to sleep, giving me unanticipated time after eating to use the computer. But, alas, I must go see what he wants now. Gee... I wonder...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Yesterday was Michael's third cello lesson, and all 4 of us were there! One thing Edwin got to hear for the first time was French Folk Song. That's song #2 in the Suzuki cello literature. It's in place of Lightly Row which is #2 in the violin literature, which he's very familiar with.
Last night, as I was getting Edwin to sleep, I sang him French Folk Song. He happily commented, "Pappa"... and drifted off to sleep soon thereafter.
Last night, as I was getting Edwin to sleep, I sang him French Folk Song. He happily commented, "Pappa"... and drifted off to sleep soon thereafter.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Edwin has cool words for things, although I'd rather he uses ours... He called ice-cream "ae' tna" and Edwin is "Anna". Cello is "Papa" and viola is "bia" while violin is "ba AHH ah"
The other day, I was able to bribe him to walk fast (in order to return to the group- Robyn, me, Michael, HP, and Zachary) by using the word chocolate. Of course I had to deliver the goods. :)
Another funny thing yesterday, right before Michael's defense... he was outside and did NOT want to come in, but DID wish to have water, which was poised near the door. He knew it was a ploy to get him to come inside and that I was likely to shut the door behind him. So, he carefully laid down on the floor so that his feet remained outside while his body was inside. He was just the exact size to reach the bottle.
The other day, I was able to bribe him to walk fast (in order to return to the group- Robyn, me, Michael, HP, and Zachary) by using the word chocolate. Of course I had to deliver the goods. :)
Another funny thing yesterday, right before Michael's defense... he was outside and did NOT want to come in, but DID wish to have water, which was poised near the door. He knew it was a ploy to get him to come inside and that I was likely to shut the door behind him. So, he carefully laid down on the floor so that his feet remained outside while his body was inside. He was just the exact size to reach the bottle.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
What would a 2 year old do with playdoh if not "shown"? Well, I'd assume eat it, squish it, get it dirty??? Well, Edwin thought it would make good grass-seed. He decided to wander out into the yard, scattering bits of it around. Pink goes great with the lawn, right?
Already today, he's used most of a piece of chalk, coloring the porch, the stones, the fence, the house, door, screen door.. and he found this stand thing of Michael's under the porch (for tomatoes) and he played with that. He's abused the lilac and pulled up some purple flowers (the ones the squirrels like to eat anyhow) and he also chalked up the door to the rear shed. It's going to be a long summer.... I hope it's a warm one!
I'll set him up w/the toy pool so he can get all wet ... of course he's outside now in his dirty diaper. At some point, I'll have to clean him up. Hmmm... And all this on just under an hour of napping, I think??? I'm beginning to feel like a zoo-animal. I just sit around and only have a few things to do, nothing urgent or time-critical. That's pretty much how I assume zoo-animals feel. Just sitting around like a panda munching on bamboo. I need more bamboo to munch though. I have some whole wheat crackers in the oven, unless Zachary takes this opportunity to wake up and cry just when they need to come out....
Already today, he's used most of a piece of chalk, coloring the porch, the stones, the fence, the house, door, screen door.. and he found this stand thing of Michael's under the porch (for tomatoes) and he played with that. He's abused the lilac and pulled up some purple flowers (the ones the squirrels like to eat anyhow) and he also chalked up the door to the rear shed. It's going to be a long summer.... I hope it's a warm one!
I'll set him up w/the toy pool so he can get all wet ... of course he's outside now in his dirty diaper. At some point, I'll have to clean him up. Hmmm... And all this on just under an hour of napping, I think??? I'm beginning to feel like a zoo-animal. I just sit around and only have a few things to do, nothing urgent or time-critical. That's pretty much how I assume zoo-animals feel. Just sitting around like a panda munching on bamboo. I need more bamboo to munch though. I have some whole wheat crackers in the oven, unless Zachary takes this opportunity to wake up and cry just when they need to come out....
Monday, April 07, 2008
Blogging again... maybe?
It's 3pm (Although, my computer thinks it's 4pm. Thanks, Bush!) and both my SONS are asleep! :) HAHAHA So, why don't I start in on my HUGE to-do list instead of blogging? No clue.
I'm not planning to blog extensively about the birth. I've just decided some things don't belong on a blog. I should print out my little story for posterity and put it with the other sentimental things I collect, but it doesn't need to go up online. Just a summary, though, for continuity...
We started Tuesday, the 4th of March with contractions, but I'd had lots of contractions.. no biggie. But, they seemed not to be connected to my activity patterns as in the past. A slight but subtle difference. They got stronger, but no biggie, b/c they'd *been* getting stronger and weaker and still on and off again. In fact, the previous Thursday, I'd had what I felt then was a 2 minute strong, exhausting, contraction. Now, after the fact, I still think my observation may have been correct. My body seemed to have been trying to go into labor for days before the labor. By 5pm, we called to inform people we thought it was real. By midnight, roughly, Gail (doula) was here. By 2am, Monica and her gang were here, getting ready to catch. No baby. Just more on-and-off-again labor patterns. This rambled on until Thursday afternoon around 5pm, where we'd been stuck at 7cm since the previous night, even with good strong "effective" contractions all morning and afternoon Thursday. We chose to go to Schuyler for a c-section w/Dr. Saks. There was never an emergency or any problem of any sort, other than "we got stuck". Healthy mom, healthy baby, just stuck. I was very glad for every contraction (except for the last 15 minutes while I had a catheter in me and had to stand upright and stand still) and for the 48+ hours of trying. My recovery has been swift. I had no post-op pain meds other than ibuprofen, and I was discharged on Saturday and actually showed up to the PotLuck at church on Sunday, where we met up with Sera Smolin and that started something...
I started emailing her over the next 2 weeks and arranged with her to get a nice cello for Michael. Then, I arranged with Robyn to 'randomly' go for a walk when Zachary was 13 days old, and just 'randomly' wind up in front to Sera's house. But it wasn't random at all. It took alot of planning to make it look random. It was Michael's first cello lesson, and the surprise worked like a charm.
So, what have my days been like since then? With Michael here, all is different, but this is now my 6th full day alone w/the 2 boys, I suppose. I'm struggling to figure out how to get non-boy-related things accomplished while attending to them, or how to get 'out' of the house to do nice things with Edwin. He's not quite as excited about the Sciencenter as I'd like him to be, but maybe when it gets warmer out, he'll enjoy their outdoor play area.
As with just Edwin, now with both boys, I'm amazed at both my ability to do certain things as well as my inability to do other certain things. Right now, I have a few precious minutes alone, as they are both asleep in different places. In the first few days alone, I would be asleep with both of them, all 3 of us in bed. I may use that again at some point, but I've had coffee (and am having it) and boy is it gooooood right now! So, I'm not all that tired, or at least I don't think I am. :) But, knowing that I could actually sleep with Edwin during his nap was a blessing!
I hear Zachary, this will either be short or I'll have to relocate or both...
Things I can do... laundry (wow!!!) but not always folded.. but at least it's all cleaned! I can pack up the boys with Edwin in one of 2 strollers and Zachary in a carrier- and go to Gimme! I'm sure I could go to ABC or elsewhere, but why? I can meet up with people, but whom? But at least I know that's an option. I can get 2 boys into and out of the car by myself. That's tricky sometimes.
It's easier leaving than returning b/c on the way back, I usually have more crud in the car that needs to come out. Going to stores is pretty easy b/c I park near a cart return. I can load up Edwin in the cart and then load up Zachary in a sling or vice versa. That's ok. Buying stuff is REALLY easy, unfortunately. To get stuff into the house, I have to resort to locking the boys in the car :( and unloading the car first, then the boys. What else can I do? It's really the only place for them both to be- restrained and safe. They both must be confined if I'm to unload, and the car must be locked for their safety as well. But if Michael is home, that's not a problem, as he can help with either task, so they boys don't have to stay in the car while I unload. I'm never away from them for more than 15 seconds, though. I think we've all heard so much about "never leave a child in a locked car!!!" and horror stories about kids actually being "left" in cars, that we're conditioned NEVER to do it. So, I hate doing it, even though logically, it's the safest place for them. And, I unload as quickly as possible- the only stuff that really needs to come out is groceries anyhow, and that only needs to get as far as the hallway, so that can be done very quickly. Once I get the boys back inside, I can deal with the mess inside the house :) What would I do if I lived in an apartment complex!? I have no freaking clue. What a mess! I might not buy groceries then! What *do* people do? I guess I'd feel better if I had a garage. Then, I could leave the car unlocked and the doors wide open, boys still in the carseats, but it would all be kosher then.
Whatever do other people do?!?! How do other people juggle a newborn and a 2yr old? I guess I'm doing ok for being new at this. I will surely learn tricks each day, and by the time Zachary can walk, hopefully Edwin can talk and maybe even take verbal bribes for good behavior. Ha! ;) Edwin is SUCH a good kid. I think Zachary will be as well. Right now, he's a good baby, but I think he'll turn out ok as a kid as well.
Wow! A whole half hour. What a luxury!!! I feel bad for being grateful for this time. I wanted kids, now I have them, and now I am excited when they're both asleep and I'm awake. Blah. What's that all about? :) Anyhow, I do have tasks. I should attempt to do one or more of them for 3 minutes before Zachary wakes up hungry again. :)
It's 3pm (Although, my computer thinks it's 4pm. Thanks, Bush!) and both my SONS are asleep! :) HAHAHA So, why don't I start in on my HUGE to-do list instead of blogging? No clue.
I'm not planning to blog extensively about the birth. I've just decided some things don't belong on a blog. I should print out my little story for posterity and put it with the other sentimental things I collect, but it doesn't need to go up online. Just a summary, though, for continuity...
We started Tuesday, the 4th of March with contractions, but I'd had lots of contractions.. no biggie. But, they seemed not to be connected to my activity patterns as in the past. A slight but subtle difference. They got stronger, but no biggie, b/c they'd *been* getting stronger and weaker and still on and off again. In fact, the previous Thursday, I'd had what I felt then was a 2 minute strong, exhausting, contraction. Now, after the fact, I still think my observation may have been correct. My body seemed to have been trying to go into labor for days before the labor. By 5pm, we called to inform people we thought it was real. By midnight, roughly, Gail (doula) was here. By 2am, Monica and her gang were here, getting ready to catch. No baby. Just more on-and-off-again labor patterns. This rambled on until Thursday afternoon around 5pm, where we'd been stuck at 7cm since the previous night, even with good strong "effective" contractions all morning and afternoon Thursday. We chose to go to Schuyler for a c-section w/Dr. Saks. There was never an emergency or any problem of any sort, other than "we got stuck". Healthy mom, healthy baby, just stuck. I was very glad for every contraction (except for the last 15 minutes while I had a catheter in me and had to stand upright and stand still) and for the 48+ hours of trying. My recovery has been swift. I had no post-op pain meds other than ibuprofen, and I was discharged on Saturday and actually showed up to the PotLuck at church on Sunday, where we met up with Sera Smolin and that started something...
I started emailing her over the next 2 weeks and arranged with her to get a nice cello for Michael. Then, I arranged with Robyn to 'randomly' go for a walk when Zachary was 13 days old, and just 'randomly' wind up in front to Sera's house. But it wasn't random at all. It took alot of planning to make it look random. It was Michael's first cello lesson, and the surprise worked like a charm.
So, what have my days been like since then? With Michael here, all is different, but this is now my 6th full day alone w/the 2 boys, I suppose. I'm struggling to figure out how to get non-boy-related things accomplished while attending to them, or how to get 'out' of the house to do nice things with Edwin. He's not quite as excited about the Sciencenter as I'd like him to be, but maybe when it gets warmer out, he'll enjoy their outdoor play area.
As with just Edwin, now with both boys, I'm amazed at both my ability to do certain things as well as my inability to do other certain things. Right now, I have a few precious minutes alone, as they are both asleep in different places. In the first few days alone, I would be asleep with both of them, all 3 of us in bed. I may use that again at some point, but I've had coffee (and am having it) and boy is it gooooood right now! So, I'm not all that tired, or at least I don't think I am. :) But, knowing that I could actually sleep with Edwin during his nap was a blessing!
I hear Zachary, this will either be short or I'll have to relocate or both...
Things I can do... laundry (wow!!!) but not always folded.. but at least it's all cleaned! I can pack up the boys with Edwin in one of 2 strollers and Zachary in a carrier- and go to Gimme! I'm sure I could go to ABC or elsewhere, but why? I can meet up with people, but whom? But at least I know that's an option. I can get 2 boys into and out of the car by myself. That's tricky sometimes.
It's easier leaving than returning b/c on the way back, I usually have more crud in the car that needs to come out. Going to stores is pretty easy b/c I park near a cart return. I can load up Edwin in the cart and then load up Zachary in a sling or vice versa. That's ok. Buying stuff is REALLY easy, unfortunately. To get stuff into the house, I have to resort to locking the boys in the car :( and unloading the car first, then the boys. What else can I do? It's really the only place for them both to be- restrained and safe. They both must be confined if I'm to unload, and the car must be locked for their safety as well. But if Michael is home, that's not a problem, as he can help with either task, so they boys don't have to stay in the car while I unload. I'm never away from them for more than 15 seconds, though. I think we've all heard so much about "never leave a child in a locked car!!!" and horror stories about kids actually being "left" in cars, that we're conditioned NEVER to do it. So, I hate doing it, even though logically, it's the safest place for them. And, I unload as quickly as possible- the only stuff that really needs to come out is groceries anyhow, and that only needs to get as far as the hallway, so that can be done very quickly. Once I get the boys back inside, I can deal with the mess inside the house :) What would I do if I lived in an apartment complex!? I have no freaking clue. What a mess! I might not buy groceries then! What *do* people do? I guess I'd feel better if I had a garage. Then, I could leave the car unlocked and the doors wide open, boys still in the carseats, but it would all be kosher then.
Whatever do other people do?!?! How do other people juggle a newborn and a 2yr old? I guess I'm doing ok for being new at this. I will surely learn tricks each day, and by the time Zachary can walk, hopefully Edwin can talk and maybe even take verbal bribes for good behavior. Ha! ;) Edwin is SUCH a good kid. I think Zachary will be as well. Right now, he's a good baby, but I think he'll turn out ok as a kid as well.
Wow! A whole half hour. What a luxury!!! I feel bad for being grateful for this time. I wanted kids, now I have them, and now I am excited when they're both asleep and I'm awake. Blah. What's that all about? :) Anyhow, I do have tasks. I should attempt to do one or more of them for 3 minutes before Zachary wakes up hungry again. :)
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