Look what we made!

Braved a new adventure tonite and made homemade pasta! Sylvia totally helped and was super into it. I need to invest in a pasta roller, because I simply couldn't roll the dough out anymore than I did and it was still too thick. But at least, if anything, I can say I made homemade pasta. I'm determined to do it again, especially because of how much Syl was into helping get her hands dirty, but also because of how much I love fresh pasta. Here are some photos of the process and outcome, and a bonus photo of Syl walking in the final snowfall of this week. She didn't last long, though I got the workout of the year by shoveling for 30 minutes.

My Neck of the Woods

Snow! Finally! I promised Sylvia that winter would not be over before we had one good snow. This was the first round, the second round added much more powder, and we'll be taking a snowy walk later (sans baby). 

Sorry for the lack of posts, but things have been tough around here. Easton is entering the 'don't you dare even think about putting me down' phase, which is mentally and physically exhausting. We think we've narrowed his issues down to gas, but haven't yet made it to step 2 of treating it.  He'll get so angry, won't nurse, will start rapidly kicking his legs, only to finally let out some super cute farts. I think they're cute because they don't stink and they make him stop screaming. Best of both worlds!! Went and met Heather and Melisa at Hartford yesterday and now have a debilitating sore throat/total body ache. Damn you, germ-infested coffee shop, Dave is telling me to stay away from there, but its hard when that's where your friends are hanging out and you really need a conversation that involves no back-talking. 

Syl's preschool is closed this week, so we are on lockdown here. Dave had to leave this morning to shovel snow at work so Syl was on cartoon patrol all morning, till Dave got home. Its hard to handle both of them when I feel like my body just got hit by a train. Luckily, when he got home, he swooped them both up and I was able to take some meds and nap it off (feeling MUCH better now, thank you).When I'm not sick, things seem to be getting better. We've realized some tricks to combat Easton's nighttime witching hours, like slinging and giving a bath. He is actually having more awake time and can be happy in some moments. He has discovered the fans/light fixtures in the house, which allows for 5-10 minutes of dreamy stares. 

All I can say today is that I really forgot how hard the first few months are with a newborn. And like I said before, don't go getting all pregnant because the pictures are so cute, its not all sleeping babies and happy moments (which, if you were wondering, many moms tell me all the time when they see me with Easton. the common comment is usually, "ahhh, he totally makes me want to have another baby!" hahahaha, if only they knew!) 

Easton-month 1

In a state of second-time new-baby mom-ness, I realized I didn't post Easton's first month appointment, which happened a week ago. He's big, and I knew this. I mean really, I'm holding him a million hours of the day, I know he's getting big. Concerns for me not making enough milk, or his semi-colicky behavior based on him not getting enough nutrients are out the door.  At birth, Easton weighed in at a whopping 8lbs, 12 oz., at 2 weeks pre-due date. Whew, that hurt. As we checked out of the hospital, he had dropped a few ounces to 8lbs, 5 oz. Last Wednesday, at 4 weeks old, he weighed 11 lbs, 8 oz and grew to 23" long ( he was 21" at birth).  I can now honestly state that I make big babies, and my milk is super milk! The doctor said that nighttime is always a babies worst time of day and to give it till 3 months. Somehow, at 3 months, babies transform into really happy, easy-going wonder-babies. That's the word on the street, so I'm counting on that one to work. And let me remind you, he is generally a great baby. He sleeps the whole damn day away, only waking to remind us of his presence and to feed him. 

Thus far, he has different likes/dislikes than newborn Sylvia did. She hated her carseat, he loves his, always falling instantly asleep (like, before he's even to the car). She hated being wet/poopy, he insists on it and hates a diaper change. SYl was a pro at side-lying nursing, where Easton just cannot get the hang of it, which makes nights that much harder. Syl had lost her hair, where Easton's is getting a bit longer. At this point in age, Syl was awake more, as Easton sleeps all the time. When awake, Syl was always happy. When Easton is awake, though rarely, he's generally pissed. He either really wants to eat, or can't settle back to sleep. His happy moments are few, subtle, but very endearing. He lets out these coos that are heart-melting, and his smiles are priceless. But again, they are rare and fleeting. 

My new mantra: this too shall pass. These moments are short and final. Easton is our only son, our last child, and my final family addition. I'm getting "some" sleep, and that is getting better daily. Dave is still here to help, though slowly going in part-time. I'm scared to do 2 kids solo, but if those freaks can have 18, can't I do 2? 

Buttery Good-Bye

I'm saddened by the recent news that my dear friends, the Butters, are moving to Pittsburgh. Why Pittsburgh? Well, I'd like to tell you that it's gotta be the fact that it's a city harboring so much awesomeness that the Butters couldn't resist. That the artistic and musical community there is so rocking, who could resist? Or that the natural parenting groups there are sucking people in, forcing families from all over the country to pack up, uhaul it up northeast, to become part of some revolutionary action that will sweep the nation. All those examples may seem idealistic and I could accept their move. But alas, its the shitty economy that is forcing the move. Well, and Mr. Butter's family lives near there, but I'd rather put blame on something, not someone. So I'll be sticking with the shitty economy. Mr. Butter works at a non-profit here in town and, since this is my blog and my husband also works for a non-profit, the pay can be crap. And as growing families need growing income, the move is based on a better paying opportunity. I understand, I know how it is.  But I'm really devastated.  Syl and I spent last summer hanging with Eliot as Mrs. Butter started her new job. I got to know their entire family rather quickly and loved them to bits. I don't know what to tell Sylvia, Eliot is like a brother to her (she even treats him with the "gentle" hands that only a big sister could...insert sarcasm here). But this will be the second close person to her that has moved in the past month (her other being her favorite pancake-maker at Mokabe's, Steve).  I keep telling her about the move and she insists he have his birthday party here, before they go. So their going away party may include a birthday gift from Syl, just to make her happy.

We'll miss you, Butters, but we hope only the best for your family. I know you'll meet some awesome new mommies, though none will replace those of us here. And if you don't keep up with your blog, and if you don't occasionally give me those hour-long conversations that I'm so good at, I will have to haul my 2-child ass up to Pennsylvania and hunt you down. And I really, really, really don't feel like doing that (unless I can leave the kids behind and the trip involves going to New York City and partying it up, then I'll gladly make that trip, like right now).

Love you, Butters!!!

P.S. Look how many times I was able to plug your blogs!!! You are so going to miss me.

The Little Man that Screams

I know, he is so stinking cute, its irresistible to not kiss him all day long. But then he gets cranky, like from 7 pm on, and its hard to remember the super cuteness he possesses. Because when he inconsolably cries, I don't really feel like doting on him. In fact, he goes from possessing total cuteness to just being possessed. And I'm not one to get your hormones all reared up to go get busy with your chosen baby-daddy. I'm actually going to be the reminder of your friendly birth control. Because this stage, though lovely in many ways, is a hard stage. Yes, they sleep A LOT. But they can cry a lot too. Like now, suddenly, while being swaddled in daddy's arms, for no reason whatsoever, he started screaming. And he won't stop. And I want to poke my ears out with chopsticks to make the noise go away. But then he's quiet again, and his sweet face looks like that last photo, and it is love all over again.

We finally got the awake photos for his birth announcement, set to arrive any day in the mail. I spent a bit more than I'd like on them, but I think they are going to turn out super cute. And this is my last baby, so why not? And it IS my last baby (can you tell he's crying again as I write this??!!).

Thursday Morning Silence

I can honestly say I don't know what to do with myself. Dave brought Sylvia to preschool this morning and the baby is happily cooing in his swing. Should I clean? Should I eat? Should I bathe? Should I craft? Holy crapshoot, soooooo many options, 2.5 hours to spare. Dave will also be picking her up today due to the damn cold weather ( I think it's like 5 degrees right now ). So I'm still in my pjs with  no plans, no agenda, no nothing. Its kinda nice, silent and lonely, but nice.

Hey Mom, Swaddling Works!

Right Now

Ok, ok so that post was a bit dramatic. I guess when you're in the throws of it, everything seems to be in the shitter. But when you're having a good day, life couldn't seem better. C'est la vie, right?!

Today was Sylvia's first day at her preschool. I stayed the entire time, which probably was the cause of some initial bad attitude. But once she realized the non-severity of the situation (and that there were many boys to boss around) all was good. Dave will start dropping her off on Thursday, then he'll head off to work. So twice a week, Easton and I will have an entire 2.5 hours of relaxation before we pick her up. I'm really excited about this, even though I'm scared of the prospects of Syl being a total terror to the adults at the preschool. She can be well behaved and sweet, but when she wants to hold that baby doll, she needs it like NOW!!!

Just talked to Skate regarding the colic issue. I'm still uncertain if Easton is really colicky, gassy, or just pissy sometimes, so I'm going to try some Happiest Baby on the Block techniques. He did really well at Syl's preschool, nursing and passing out the entire time. He's even letting me blog right now while still asleep in the car seat. Therefore today, thus far, is on the 'good day' list.

I also am getting back on the crafting bandwagon, stocking up on sling fabric (love you credit card). I don't know when I'll make them, or where I'll sell them, but I have been getting the itch to make stuff. My etsy page has been blank for a while now and that kinda makes me sad.

So as of 1:38 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, all seems well.

Post #225

I decided to post this under a random title despite the severity of the issue (dramatic intro, yes?). I'm not sure, but I feel like Easton is colicky. He lead us to believe that he simply wants to sleep all the time, up until a few days ago. And yes, he sleeps all DAY. But from about 8 p.m. on, his witching hours, he screams. He'll stop to nurse, then he'll scream. We'll give him a bottle, he'll eat it, nurse MORE, then scream some more. On and on and on, until he finally wears himself out, I suppose. Last night, after his 4 hour bout of total pissiness, he finally came to bed with me. It was 11 and I figured he was done for a good few hours. So what did he surprise us with? 25 minutes of sleep, followed by more hours of screaming. Dave finally took him downstairs, away from the crazed mama, and I passed out. But man, he sure is reminding me why it is hard to have a new baby. It is soooooooo hard. Sometimes it feels as though every time he is awake and not nursing, he's pissed. And that, my friends, is my medical definition of colic. 

Honestly, I don't need him to sleep all day. Day time is when I feel great, energized, ready to take on the colic. But when the sun goes down, and the day has worn me out, that is when my beautiful son rears his devilish side. Its normal, it'll pass, I can handle it. That is my new mantra. Yet I feel the severe miserableness that is our nights will never end. It seems as though my life is ending, my eardrums will burst out of my head from the high-pitch screaming, and I am going to throw everything and everyone out the window. Extreme? Maybe, but have you ever had a newborn?

I'm trying to maintain my sanity through these first few months:  1)because I have a very aware toddler 2)because I know this phase is short 3)because I wanted this, and I knew this would be the case and 4)because I need to hold onto anything I can.  I guess I'm just putting it out there that this is the phase that every mom/parent forgets about because it can be so awful. This phase makes dads run out and get snipped and/or mom to start downing the drano.  I know its worth it, I don't want people to tell me that right now. I just want to rant.

On a totally different note, I had an emergency trip to Urgent Care the other day with intense bladder pains, followed by annoying lower back cramps. I thought I was passing kidney stones, so we dropped Syl off with a friend and brought Easton with us. Turns out I had a bad bladder infection that was manifesting itself into my kidneys, causing blood and bacteria in my urine... ouch! Now I'm on super strong antibiotics which, with my luck right now, will give my baby thrush and me a yeast infection. Yea for the new year!!!

Me & E, smiling through it all.

Random Photos and A Video (creative title, huh?)

Mid-day nap

Knit hat, totally too big

And of course it's another sleeping photo. 

The man is only awake at night, 

when the rest of the world wants to sleep, duh!

First laugh caught on tape, followed by gas, followed by the cry that forced me to stop filming (and by filming, I mean using my camera. We bought a video camera when Syl was about 14 months old and haven't gotten it out since at least pre-pregnancy. Oops!).

The Big Sleep

Since I don't know how often this will happen, I thought it was blogworthy (if that's even a word... the squiggly red underline is telling me its not, but I'm leaving it). At midnight, I nursed Easton and tried to settle him down for sleep. Since I was so tired from being sick the day before, I had the tolerance of about zero. Dave had 2 naps yesterday, so I made him take E downstairs for a bit. They didn't return till 7am, right before Syl woke up. I couldn't believe it. He took 1 bottle and passed out.  Just goes to show that co-sleeping can equate to no sleeping and one night of slumber can equate to total bliss.

To Puke, or Nurse

Haven't had time to write, let along think, due to the time I've been spending in the bathroom these past 2 days. In the bathroom, cleaning up after a puking toddler, or holding a baby that simply won't allow anyone else to hold him, or laying alone in his crib or bassinet. Yes, its been a rough few days, but I think we're all coming out of it now. Syl has been sick since Monday, not keeping anything down. She seemed great yesterday, so the whole family went to the Science Center. As soon as I got him in the sling, I started to feel the bug. In preparation for what was to come, I didn't eat all day. Then the bug reared its ugly face. All these things are no good for milk production, so Easton has been a total crank, wanting to nurse constantly and being super whiney. I guess I can't be mad at him, he is only 1 month old. But how do you deal with a baby that won't be set down while having to up and race to the toilet every 10 minutes? Lets just say, lots of laundry has been cycling through our machines.

Plus, we realized at 10:30 last night that we had 7 diapers left. Yes, we have lots of cloth, but we generally use disposables at night. Any extra minutes of sleep are priceless, and this kid pees and poops like you wouldn't believe. So we endured an evening of running to the bathroom, running to tend to a sick toddler, running to change cloth diapers, and running to gain our sanity. On top of it all, I was so famished and light-headed, I could barely sit up in bed. So Dave was the one running the most. Now he's sick. AHHHHH!

Syl missed her entire first week of preschool, which is whatever. I've watched the Lion King so many damn times I want to shoot myself. But the positive thing amidst our chaos is I am almost finished knitting Easton's hat.  I had knit him a hat mid way through my pregnancy, but I ended up selling it. I figure he had enough hats to make it for a minute, and I needed money!

Desperate times, right? 

The Rainbow

Sylvie was supposed to start her first day at preschool today, but that surely didn't happen. Though she is feeling much better (no puking since yesterday at 11:30, thank GOD), she's not 100%. And I wasn't really feeling like being that mom that brings her kid to the first day of school, only to contaminate all the other kids. She's feeling quite well though, even getting her sense of humor back. We went on a quick trip to Schnux this morning and she happily "drove" the car/cart singing songs about all the boxes she saw on the shelves, honking at those in her way, and requesting food she wanted to buy. Ahhh, to have my daughter back...

Easton has also been making strides, though he still sleeps the majority of his life. I've been slowly incorporating cloth diapers onto his cute lil bottom, only to have him immediately blow through them with his massively loud breastfed poops. T.M.I.? I've been pumping once in the morning as to allow Dave to feed him 1 bottle per day. We were having issues in this area because I had to be all fancy and go buy glass bottles, only to have him not handle the nipples that come with them. Lo and behold, he has been happily sucking the Avent bottles down and I am actual able to leave the house alone or with Syl for extended periods of time. This is a feat I was never able to do when exclusively nursing Sylvia. Its a whole new round of freedom that I never knew with Syl as a newborn. And frankly, until she was about 9 months old and not

 nursing every hour.  He has also been sleeping a bit better at night, or maybe I'm just used to the interruptions, because they don't bother me anymore.  And when he doesn't want to go right back to sleep? Off he goes with daddy, my savior. I know I'm jinxing myself, but I see a silver lining...

Good Morning to You!

As I'm eating my breakfast sandwich this morning, I noticed something strange inside. Yes, I left the paper on the cheese. You see, Sylvia was up puking her guts up every 20 minutes.  Dave and I were trading holding the baby and trying to find 1 more towel to lay under her because she blew threw all her sheets. And all the towels. Its funny the things you say and do from 2 a.m. on when sleep is a thing of the past. When morning hits, you're almost grateful that at least the sun will light the vomit so you don't have to keep blinding your daughter with overhead lights.  The only redeeming thing was how hungry I was and once its morning time, I can indulge in my favorite meal of the day, despite a pretty gross evening. Which brings me to the paper. I'm tired and oblivious and forgot to take the paper off the cheese. And  almost ate it. I guess I have a little sense left in me that I even noticed! 

You really think that, when pregnant, the newborn is going to be the one keeping you up all night. Not true with a toddler. Its pretty easy to nurse, change, and rock a baby back to sleep. The difficulty in that is you are doing this cycle every hour or two. With a toddler, the game is much trickier, full of negotiations, pleading (by me), and super bedroom clean up duty. Hey, at least I don't have to go anywhere today, or show up nicely dressed to some desk job. Wait a minute, that kinda sounds nice.

Our New Year

I cannot believe that it is already the new year, rang in with a toddler and a new baby. This time last year I was drinking in the sadness with a recent loss of a pregnancy and the hope that  I would be able to add to our family in 2008. After 4 months of trying, that wish came true and 3 weeks ago, the little man entered our lives.  I don't know what drives a woman to want to have babies, but I was really drawn to adding to our family as soon as my body was recovered from that annoying d&c.  Funny enough, I can say we are lucky that our babies that are here are healthy, happy, and pleasantly cute creatures. After 2 miscarriages though,  really don't want to push our luck. I believe this is it for us, we have replaced ourselves on this planet and are not outnumbered.  We still have remnants of our sanity and are sleeping "semi" well. So here we are, entering 2009, a family of 4.

I don't know what is to come this year. I have no huge expectations or goals. No thoughts of resolutions or must-do's. I guess my wish would be that when Dave returns to work, I remain sane, can successfully parent 2 under 3, and have bits of time to get a few things of my own done. I don't plan to do any craft shows, I don't really have the money to mass produce anything. But I have finally been making stuff for the family and it is much more satisfying. So I guess that can be a goal: make more stuff for us, not stuff that we need, but stuff that would be fun to have made from scratch. After reading Soule Mama's book, I'm inspired to teach Sylvia all about crafting, though she is already in tune with my crazy pre-baby projects. Though sometimes there aren't enough hours in the day, I plan on really nurturing the creative being in her and me.

Another big event about to begin in our lives is that Syl finally got into her preschool, which she has been on the waiting list for since last April. We just found out and she starts on Tuesday. Its probably a good thing since I won't have time to freak out about her spending 2 mornings a week without my presence. But its a co-op, which means I'll be volunteering once a month and will be able to really get to know the other kids and parents and how Syl interacts with her new brood of peeps. I'm nervous and excited for her, though I don't really think she realizes what its going to be about. She is so outgoing, I think she'll do great.

As cliche as it sounds, a year goes by quickly when big things are happening in your life. Growing Easton was a long, hard, slow process, but retrospectively it went be in a flash. I so look forward to enjoying this year slowly, day by day, moments at a time. Because as you mamas may recall, newborn time is somehow simultaneously slow and exhausting, but utterly rewarding.

So maybe now, instead of resolutions and must-get-done lists, I'll make a list of things I look forward to doing in 2009:

~sleeping

~eating my new baby up

~taking lots of photos

~introducing Syl to embroidering, sewing, felting, and creative projects

~walking/moving

~swimming

~actually getting out of the car at Lone Elk and possibly taking the kids on a trail

~getting muddy

~possible summer trip to Chicago again (this time, longer and with much more beach time)

~spending alone time with Easton

~spending alone time with Sylvia

~spending alone time with my husband

~spending alone time with myself

~plant a garden with Sylvia

Happy New Year to all you diligent readers, bloggers, passersby, friends, strangers, anonymous readers, ect! May your list of things to accomplish get complete within a years time!