Today has been a morning of firsts for Silvia. She rolled over for the first time. This is her first roll ever, and she still can't roll from tummy to back, but she's trying hard. Usually babies go tummy to back instead of back to tummy, but Silvia is just doing it her own way.
She also had her first real laugh this morning! I was tickling her, (see the picture below), and she just all of a sudden started laughing really hard. Too cute!
I can't believe she's having firsts already. She's just growing so quickly!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Crying
Silvia is a sweet baby, she really is. She loves me and Anna and... well, she thinks Kurt's pretty neat, too. So long as she's not hungry/tired/needy/etc. Silvia is a mommy's girl. It's been a slow gradual development, but we've gotten to the point where pretty much no one else can hold her except me without bringing on The Face. You know the one, right? The one that starts with the lower lip pout and watery eyes, and then disintergrates into full on fury within a few moments.
She wants her momma, it's true. It's been hard on Kurt, who's such a devoted dad. Sometimes I try to sneak away for a few hours and, guaranteed, when I walk in the door I can hear her wailing upstairs as he tries to rock her, completely resigned to her wails. It's not every time I leave, but it seems to happen with an alarming regularity. Guess who feels ever so slightly trapped by baby love? Go on, guess! You'll never figure it out!
My solution was idealistic in the extreme. I had this plan- no, more than a plan, it was a VISION. I decided that we, as a family, would go every morning to the gym, drop the girls in the happy daycare where they would be happy and cheery and also very cute. I would sweat out my stress in an up-beat exercise class while Kurt lifted weights, I'd drop the last of the post-pregnancy weight, and we'd all start the weekend chipper and revived from our fabulous morning at World Gym.
Here's what really happened:
I dropped the girls in the daycare while Silvia was still sleeping and as soon as I tried to leave, Anna started crying and whining. Distracting her momentarily, I slipped out. Kurt headed off to the weights and I started on the cardio machines (not being so delusional as to think I'd make it through a full class on the first try). Precisely 7 minutes later, the daycare worker came to get me. Silvia had woken up hysterical and would not calm down. Anna was freaking out because a stranger was holding "My Silvia" and "My Silvia is crying!!!". The moment I walked in, Anna had a complete melt-down and Silvia was totally inconsolable.
I spent the next 40 minutes driving around, trying to get the baby to stop crying, while Anna sang preschool songs at the top of her lungs. Kurt finished his workout, the first he's been able to do in months. When we got home, I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes and pretended I could make it to the Escapeland if only I ran faster. Sigh... oh, well. It was a pipe dream anyway. I've still got my treadmill, now I just need to find the time to use it!
Speaking of driving around with Silvia, we're having some serious troubles in the car with her. She hates it. HATES. Mostly she'll cry and fuss and I'll drive around with my shoulder partially out of socket so I can hold her pacifier in until she falls asleep, but sometimes... sometimes it's bad. Sometimes she cries and cries and screams and wails and shakes and hiccups and throws up and then cries some more. It's so weird, I thought babies were supposed to love the car, but she really can't stand it. We're supposed to drive up to Fort Collins next week, a two hour drive each way, and I'm starting to think we just can't go. I'm afraid I'll go insane. It's awful, because you can't really do anything to help her feel better except get her out of the car, and sometimes, let's face it, we just have to drive places.
So that's what we're dealing with lately. There's been some crying. But we'll make it through.
She wants her momma, it's true. It's been hard on Kurt, who's such a devoted dad. Sometimes I try to sneak away for a few hours and, guaranteed, when I walk in the door I can hear her wailing upstairs as he tries to rock her, completely resigned to her wails. It's not every time I leave, but it seems to happen with an alarming regularity. Guess who feels ever so slightly trapped by baby love? Go on, guess! You'll never figure it out!
My solution was idealistic in the extreme. I had this plan- no, more than a plan, it was a VISION. I decided that we, as a family, would go every morning to the gym, drop the girls in the happy daycare where they would be happy and cheery and also very cute. I would sweat out my stress in an up-beat exercise class while Kurt lifted weights, I'd drop the last of the post-pregnancy weight, and we'd all start the weekend chipper and revived from our fabulous morning at World Gym.
Here's what really happened:
I dropped the girls in the daycare while Silvia was still sleeping and as soon as I tried to leave, Anna started crying and whining. Distracting her momentarily, I slipped out. Kurt headed off to the weights and I started on the cardio machines (not being so delusional as to think I'd make it through a full class on the first try). Precisely 7 minutes later, the daycare worker came to get me. Silvia had woken up hysterical and would not calm down. Anna was freaking out because a stranger was holding "My Silvia" and "My Silvia is crying!!!". The moment I walked in, Anna had a complete melt-down and Silvia was totally inconsolable.
I spent the next 40 minutes driving around, trying to get the baby to stop crying, while Anna sang preschool songs at the top of her lungs. Kurt finished his workout, the first he's been able to do in months. When we got home, I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes and pretended I could make it to the Escapeland if only I ran faster. Sigh... oh, well. It was a pipe dream anyway. I've still got my treadmill, now I just need to find the time to use it!
Speaking of driving around with Silvia, we're having some serious troubles in the car with her. She hates it. HATES. Mostly she'll cry and fuss and I'll drive around with my shoulder partially out of socket so I can hold her pacifier in until she falls asleep, but sometimes... sometimes it's bad. Sometimes she cries and cries and screams and wails and shakes and hiccups and throws up and then cries some more. It's so weird, I thought babies were supposed to love the car, but she really can't stand it. We're supposed to drive up to Fort Collins next week, a two hour drive each way, and I'm starting to think we just can't go. I'm afraid I'll go insane. It's awful, because you can't really do anything to help her feel better except get her out of the car, and sometimes, let's face it, we just have to drive places.
So that's what we're dealing with lately. There's been some crying. But we'll make it through.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
"Yuck!"
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Play-doh, the journey continues
I was at Target yesterday, (because I am always at Target), just looking around. It's about 3 minutes from my house and I spend way too much time there, but it's just! so! addicting! I always go in to find a shirt for me, or pick up some groceries or whatnot. I always leave with something for the girls.
Yesterday, I found a pack of 50 different Play-doh shape cutters for about $8. Heaven! Anna is still hesitant to mix her colors and still wants me to make her shapes for her, but I'm no Play-doh artist. I can make pancakes and snakes, that's about it.
But now, oh the variety! This morning we sat for over an hour, playing with giraffes, frogs, people, elephants, alligators, triangles, stars and on and on. We played so long and so intently that eventually Anna got tired of Play-doh, something that has never before occured.
Now that is what I call I a great purchase!
Yesterday, I found a pack of 50 different Play-doh shape cutters for about $8. Heaven! Anna is still hesitant to mix her colors and still wants me to make her shapes for her, but I'm no Play-doh artist. I can make pancakes and snakes, that's about it.
But now, oh the variety! This morning we sat for over an hour, playing with giraffes, frogs, people, elephants, alligators, triangles, stars and on and on. We played so long and so intently that eventually Anna got tired of Play-doh, something that has never before occured.
Now that is what I call I a great purchase!
Monday, May 14, 2007
An Ah-HA! moment for Anna
This morning Anna was playing happily in the living room with these little alphabet bubble stickers that she "borrowed" from my scrapbooking stuff. She loves them, but they seriously frustrate her,too, sometimes.
So she's sitting there, sticking them on her books and stuff (they're not super sticky anymore) and then gets all uspet about lord only knows what. She starts crying and yelling and throws the stickers all over the place.
I say, "I'm sorry you're upset, but there's no throwing toys. Bye-bye letters." I put them away and she's still shrieking. I say, "Anna, I can't help you when you're this upset. When you feel better come talk to me." Then I walk into the kitchen.
Anna cries for a moment more, then...
She stands up, walks past me saying, "Let's go Time Out, then I'll feel better." Sits herself in the time out chair. I'm grinning ear to ear, listening to her talk to herself about the letters and needing a time out. Then I hear, 'Momma...".
I walk in. She's still sitting. "Momma, I'm in time out."
I say, "Yes, you put yourself in time out because you were very upset. Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah, I feel better. Wanna go sit in the crib?" (That's where she likes to wind down sometimes when the world gets too overwhelming.)
We happily climb the stairs, singing the stairs song, I put her in her crib for a few minutes, she smiles and we're all happy.
I cannot believe it!
So she's sitting there, sticking them on her books and stuff (they're not super sticky anymore) and then gets all uspet about lord only knows what. She starts crying and yelling and throws the stickers all over the place.
I say, "I'm sorry you're upset, but there's no throwing toys. Bye-bye letters." I put them away and she's still shrieking. I say, "Anna, I can't help you when you're this upset. When you feel better come talk to me." Then I walk into the kitchen.
Anna cries for a moment more, then...
She stands up, walks past me saying, "Let's go Time Out, then I'll feel better." Sits herself in the time out chair. I'm grinning ear to ear, listening to her talk to herself about the letters and needing a time out. Then I hear, 'Momma...".
I walk in. She's still sitting. "Momma, I'm in time out."
I say, "Yes, you put yourself in time out because you were very upset. Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah, I feel better. Wanna go sit in the crib?" (That's where she likes to wind down sometimes when the world gets too overwhelming.)
We happily climb the stairs, singing the stairs song, I put her in her crib for a few minutes, she smiles and we're all happy.
I cannot believe it!
Little Baby Ears
Poor Silvia has another ear infection, this time in both ears. She's been super fussy for about a week, crying a lot and not eating or sleeping well. I knew something wasn't right, since usually she's just very cheery and calm.
For Mother's Day we drove up to Boulder to visit with my Aunt Juanita and cousins Liz, Vicki and Cathi. It was wonderful to see everyone, I hadn't seen Liz in ages, but little Silvia cried pretty much the entire visit and the whole trip back; she just couldn't get comfortable. Hopefully next time we get to visit with them it'll be while she's healthy so they can see her super smiley side. She started her antibiotics this afternoon and by this evening already seemed to feel better.
Unfortunately, the fact that she's developing these infections so young sets up a predisposition for the future. We've got to be extra careful to help her avoid catching colds, since that just makes her ripe for another ear infecti0n. Poor little baby ears!
For Mother's Day we drove up to Boulder to visit with my Aunt Juanita and cousins Liz, Vicki and Cathi. It was wonderful to see everyone, I hadn't seen Liz in ages, but little Silvia cried pretty much the entire visit and the whole trip back; she just couldn't get comfortable. Hopefully next time we get to visit with them it'll be while she's healthy so they can see her super smiley side. She started her antibiotics this afternoon and by this evening already seemed to feel better.
Unfortunately, the fact that she's developing these infections so young sets up a predisposition for the future. We've got to be extra careful to help her avoid catching colds, since that just makes her ripe for another ear infecti0n. Poor little baby ears!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Negotiations
Anna loves her Play-doh. Really, really loves it. Every morning, after Little Einsteins, she says, "Mommy, wanna go in the playroom and play with Play-doh?".
"Sure," I say, sighing inwardly. Because it's not a simple matter of just getting her the stuff and leaving her to it. No, it's more a matter of, how long can I sit there and make shapes FOR her, per her instructions, before I go crazy? But it's creative play, it's harmless and clean and she loves it and it's NOT Little Einsteins, so I go along with it almost every time.
As we walk up the short stairs to the playroom, she then always says, "We're gonna get the Play-doh. Anna gets five Play-dohs."
This is where the negotiations begin. The set that we have is 50 tiny tubs of different colors. Anna knows she's only allowed to have three at a time. Then, one day, Kurt gave her four, because he didn't know the rule. It's been an issue ever since.
"No, Anna, only three Play-dohs. You know you only get three colors at a time."
Holding my hand up the stairs, she says then, "Anna's gonna play with four colors."
Sigh. "No, sweetie, remember? Only three."
"Anna love the four colors of Play-doh."
And on and on. Once we're settled with our THREE colors and she eventually cuts me loose from cookie making and cake making and star making, she usually sits and plays on her own for a long time. Sometimes she stuffs it, tubs and all, into her little pink purse and walks around with it on her arm. And then, of course, she asks me for another four tubs of Play-doh, since hers is now "hidden" in the purse. Notice, she asks for FOUR more, as if I won't catch it. Tenacious little squirt.
This evening, she was playing at her little table as I sat at my computer, with my back to her. I glanced over my shoulder and she was putting all the little shapes and balls of Play-doh in her purse. I smiled and turned back to my screen.
Literally no more than a minute or two later, she came up to my chair, holding an un-opened tub of Play-doh and said, "Mommy, wanna open purple?".
Turning towards her, I saw that she had an extra tub in her hand. She had realized the box was within reach on a table and taken it out to add to the three she already had.
"No, Anna, only three..." I started to say, and then I saw her little play table.
She had piled, in that short minute or two, EVERY single tub of Play-doh from the box. There were 47 little yellow tubs with multi-colored lids all over the table. The rest were in her purse.
I looked at my industrious daughter. She smiled, held the purple tub out to me. "Four?", she asked.
After I was able to control my laughter, I caved, I admit it. It was too cute. "Okay, Anna. Let's put all these other ones away, and then you can have FOUR Play-dohs. Okay?"
"Yeah, Mamma! Four Play-dohs for Anna!"
Negotiations can be tricky, but I think I still won this one, on a certain level. Four is still less that 47, right?
"Sure," I say, sighing inwardly. Because it's not a simple matter of just getting her the stuff and leaving her to it. No, it's more a matter of, how long can I sit there and make shapes FOR her, per her instructions, before I go crazy? But it's creative play, it's harmless and clean and she loves it and it's NOT Little Einsteins, so I go along with it almost every time.
As we walk up the short stairs to the playroom, she then always says, "We're gonna get the Play-doh. Anna gets five Play-dohs."
This is where the negotiations begin. The set that we have is 50 tiny tubs of different colors. Anna knows she's only allowed to have three at a time. Then, one day, Kurt gave her four, because he didn't know the rule. It's been an issue ever since.
"No, Anna, only three Play-dohs. You know you only get three colors at a time."
Holding my hand up the stairs, she says then, "Anna's gonna play with four colors."
Sigh. "No, sweetie, remember? Only three."
"Anna love the four colors of Play-doh."
And on and on. Once we're settled with our THREE colors and she eventually cuts me loose from cookie making and cake making and star making, she usually sits and plays on her own for a long time. Sometimes she stuffs it, tubs and all, into her little pink purse and walks around with it on her arm. And then, of course, she asks me for another four tubs of Play-doh, since hers is now "hidden" in the purse. Notice, she asks for FOUR more, as if I won't catch it. Tenacious little squirt.
This evening, she was playing at her little table as I sat at my computer, with my back to her. I glanced over my shoulder and she was putting all the little shapes and balls of Play-doh in her purse. I smiled and turned back to my screen.
Literally no more than a minute or two later, she came up to my chair, holding an un-opened tub of Play-doh and said, "Mommy, wanna open purple?".
Turning towards her, I saw that she had an extra tub in her hand. She had realized the box was within reach on a table and taken it out to add to the three she already had.
"No, Anna, only three..." I started to say, and then I saw her little play table.
She had piled, in that short minute or two, EVERY single tub of Play-doh from the box. There were 47 little yellow tubs with multi-colored lids all over the table. The rest were in her purse.
I looked at my industrious daughter. She smiled, held the purple tub out to me. "Four?", she asked.
After I was able to control my laughter, I caved, I admit it. It was too cute. "Okay, Anna. Let's put all these other ones away, and then you can have FOUR Play-dohs. Okay?"
"Yeah, Mamma! Four Play-dohs for Anna!"
Negotiations can be tricky, but I think I still won this one, on a certain level. Four is still less that 47, right?
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Dreamy McSleepypants
Silvia slept through the night last night, in her crib, without once whimpering or even waking. She's 11 weeks old! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!
I put her down at 10, with her very simple routine (jammies, story, swaddle, nurse til sleepy, rock, lay her down before she's totally out). She lay in her crib, blinking, staring at the mobile, then closed her eyes. I checked on her at midnight- totally asleep. I woke up at 3:30, freaked out and not knowing where she was, ran to her crib- she was sucking on her hand that she had pulled out, sleeping. I checked on her at 5:45- one arm out, one leg out, sleeping. She stirred a little at 6:45, so I went and got her and brought her to bed, nursed her.
She went back to sleep for another half and hour!
Kurt and I are pinching ourselves. Is this real? With Anna, we'd have to creep out of the room after laying her down (after rocking for HOURS) totally asleep- if the door creaked, the gig was up and we'd have to start all over again. It was 10 months before we could lay her down sleepy but still awake. I mean, heck, when Anna was 12 weeks, she was sleeping so poorly I was about to drive off a cliff! I feel like I must be dreaming. I feel RESTED.
I feel very, very, very...confused. But happy. Very happy, too.
I put her down at 10, with her very simple routine (jammies, story, swaddle, nurse til sleepy, rock, lay her down before she's totally out). She lay in her crib, blinking, staring at the mobile, then closed her eyes. I checked on her at midnight- totally asleep. I woke up at 3:30, freaked out and not knowing where she was, ran to her crib- she was sucking on her hand that she had pulled out, sleeping. I checked on her at 5:45- one arm out, one leg out, sleeping. She stirred a little at 6:45, so I went and got her and brought her to bed, nursed her.
She went back to sleep for another half and hour!
Kurt and I are pinching ourselves. Is this real? With Anna, we'd have to creep out of the room after laying her down (after rocking for HOURS) totally asleep- if the door creaked, the gig was up and we'd have to start all over again. It was 10 months before we could lay her down sleepy but still awake. I mean, heck, when Anna was 12 weeks, she was sleeping so poorly I was about to drive off a cliff! I feel like I must be dreaming. I feel RESTED.
I feel very, very, very...confused. But happy. Very happy, too.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Play time
I think there's a control freak buried just beneath my surface. Anna's "playing" with Play-doh right now, and as I was watching her, this little voice in my head said, "Oh, she's not doing it right! Go over there and make her play the way she's SUPPOSED to." As if there's a wrong way to play with Play-doh. Thankfully, I supressed the little voice and let Anna continue on her merry, and fun-for-her, way.
She seems to be against squishing the stuff too much with her own hands. She leaves it in the little "cakes", the way it comes out of the tubs, and pretends to eat them. The dough is not allowed to touch the other colors, and she doesn't like to have it formed into shapes. Just "cakes" and, when she's feeling adventurous, "cookies", i.e. flattened cakes. *grin* Who am I to tell my kid what's fun and what's not, right?
Obviously, she's totally recovered from last week's illness. She lost a few pounds but has been eating like a hungry bear all week, so I'm positive she'll gain it back in no time.
Silvia is doing great, as well. She's growing so fast! This weekend we're going to start the process of moving her to her own bed. Up until now, she's been sleeping with us at night, but it's just getting too uncomfortable for me. She snuggles in SO close and digs at me with her little legs all night long, trying to burrow in as much as she can. Needless to say, Mommy's not getting much rest.
Silvia is actually a very good sleeper, not at all like Anna was, so I'm hoping the move to her own crib goes easily, though I do expect the process to take a week or two before she's really comfortable there. I just hope she doesn't rebel and decide to start waking up every half an hour in protest. Wish us luck!
She seems to be against squishing the stuff too much with her own hands. She leaves it in the little "cakes", the way it comes out of the tubs, and pretends to eat them. The dough is not allowed to touch the other colors, and she doesn't like to have it formed into shapes. Just "cakes" and, when she's feeling adventurous, "cookies", i.e. flattened cakes. *grin* Who am I to tell my kid what's fun and what's not, right?
Obviously, she's totally recovered from last week's illness. She lost a few pounds but has been eating like a hungry bear all week, so I'm positive she'll gain it back in no time.
Silvia is doing great, as well. She's growing so fast! This weekend we're going to start the process of moving her to her own bed. Up until now, she's been sleeping with us at night, but it's just getting too uncomfortable for me. She snuggles in SO close and digs at me with her little legs all night long, trying to burrow in as much as she can. Needless to say, Mommy's not getting much rest.
Silvia is actually a very good sleeper, not at all like Anna was, so I'm hoping the move to her own crib goes easily, though I do expect the process to take a week or two before she's really comfortable there. I just hope she doesn't rebel and decide to start waking up every half an hour in protest. Wish us luck!
Friday, April 20, 2007
A Day for Recovery... and Disinfection
Well, we are home today. Anna finally decided that maybe starting to drink again would be a good think, thank goodness, so we've spent the day trying to get our lives back into some semblance of order. She is doing SOOOOO much better, still a little weak and not 100%, but definitely not sick anymore, just recovering.
This has been an exhausting week of little sleep, lots of adrenaline and rushing around, tedious hours of waiting and cranky kids. It's a huge relief to be home again, even though there was a lot of work to do to get things back to normal. We had to go through the house and clean, wash and disinfect pretty much everything Anna's touched. Her particular virus is a tenacious bug, so we ended up going over all her toys and washing pretty much all the linens and blankets in the house. But it's all done now, everything's clean and nice, even the girls. We scrubbed them both down before their naps.
The quiet time today while they are sleeping feels a little dizzying after all the worry and frantic activity of the week. But I've got my balance back, my daughters are healthy, my hubby and I are still a great team, and generally I'm just grateful for a happy ending to this snapshot in our lives. I seriously don't know what we would have done without Mom and Terry, too, they were so wonderful, just stepped up immediately to help with Silvia while we dealt with everything going on with Anna. Thank you both SO much, I am a lucky girl to have such an amazing family!
On a down note, we did have to cancel our trip that was planned for this weekend. We were supposed to leave this morning early for Virginia to see family and go to my friend Wayne's wedding. I've known him half my life and I feel terrible to miss this big moment, but there was just no choice. Even though we're out of the hospital today, Anna's still recovering and I just would have felt terrible leaving here her even for a few days. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to see Wayne and his new bride, Rachel, sometime this summer.
And that's pretty much it right now. Kurt and I are learning that parenting is just really the practice of managed helplessness; 99% of the time there's just not a lot you can do but wait and see and be a presence of support for your child. It's a harsh reality, but for now, for this moment, it was enough, we all got through it and now we can move on to the next big thing.
Oh, good lord. What is the next big thing? These kids are enough to make a saint nervous. Here's hoping I can handle it!
This has been an exhausting week of little sleep, lots of adrenaline and rushing around, tedious hours of waiting and cranky kids. It's a huge relief to be home again, even though there was a lot of work to do to get things back to normal. We had to go through the house and clean, wash and disinfect pretty much everything Anna's touched. Her particular virus is a tenacious bug, so we ended up going over all her toys and washing pretty much all the linens and blankets in the house. But it's all done now, everything's clean and nice, even the girls. We scrubbed them both down before their naps.
The quiet time today while they are sleeping feels a little dizzying after all the worry and frantic activity of the week. But I've got my balance back, my daughters are healthy, my hubby and I are still a great team, and generally I'm just grateful for a happy ending to this snapshot in our lives. I seriously don't know what we would have done without Mom and Terry, too, they were so wonderful, just stepped up immediately to help with Silvia while we dealt with everything going on with Anna. Thank you both SO much, I am a lucky girl to have such an amazing family!
On a down note, we did have to cancel our trip that was planned for this weekend. We were supposed to leave this morning early for Virginia to see family and go to my friend Wayne's wedding. I've known him half my life and I feel terrible to miss this big moment, but there was just no choice. Even though we're out of the hospital today, Anna's still recovering and I just would have felt terrible leaving here her even for a few days. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to see Wayne and his new bride, Rachel, sometime this summer.
And that's pretty much it right now. Kurt and I are learning that parenting is just really the practice of managed helplessness; 99% of the time there's just not a lot you can do but wait and see and be a presence of support for your child. It's a harsh reality, but for now, for this moment, it was enough, we all got through it and now we can move on to the next big thing.
Oh, good lord. What is the next big thing? These kids are enough to make a saint nervous. Here's hoping I can handle it!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The Week of Firsts
This has been a big week for Anna Banana. She had her first serious illness, her first trip to the ER and now her first hospitalization. She's been sick with a bad case of Rotavirus since last Saturday and finally, yesterday, her pediatrician reccomended that we admit her to the hospital for fluids. She was just unable to keep anything down and was refusing to drink anything, so her poor little body had begun to totally dry out. She was even crying without tears by the time we brought her in last night, poor thing.
I'm happy to say, though, that after even just a few hours on IV fluids, she was already perking up as of 9:30 last night. Kurt stayed overnight with her. I had to come home and be with Silvia, who is being so good and sweet and mild right now, a true angel in a difficult time. We're hoping to bring Anna home late today or, more likely, Friday, once they get her re-hydrated and make sure she's able to both drink and keep things down.
Kurt and I are exhausted, but so relieved that Anna's doing better. It had begun to get a bit scary, just watching her deteriorate. Holding her down, along with three nurses, while she had her IV inserted was truly awful, though, not a moment I'll soon forget.
I'll post more later, after I head back to the hospital this morning.
I'm happy to say, though, that after even just a few hours on IV fluids, she was already perking up as of 9:30 last night. Kurt stayed overnight with her. I had to come home and be with Silvia, who is being so good and sweet and mild right now, a true angel in a difficult time. We're hoping to bring Anna home late today or, more likely, Friday, once they get her re-hydrated and make sure she's able to both drink and keep things down.
Kurt and I are exhausted, but so relieved that Anna's doing better. It had begun to get a bit scary, just watching her deteriorate. Holding her down, along with three nurses, while she had her IV inserted was truly awful, though, not a moment I'll soon forget.
I'll post more later, after I head back to the hospital this morning.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Cousins
Vicki and Cari came down last weekend for a visit to meet Silvia. They brought so many presents that Anna was convinced it was a birthday party... for her, of course. Because all birthdays are Anna's birthday as far as she is concerned. Vicki brought this great little game with plastic balls that Anna cannot get enough of. "Wanna play balls, mamma?" has almost (but not quite) replaced, "Wanna watch Little Einsteins, mamma?". It's a very simple game designed for small kids and Anna just giggles fit to burst every time we play.
Silvia mostly slept through the visit, but she did have a few moments of coo-ing and blinking her big blue eyes up at Cari. Cari had on a green sweater that went really well with the baby, I wonder if she planned that?
Speaking of birthdays, it's my 30th today... I'm crossing over into new territory! Kurt's got some special dinner planned that he won't tell me about and my friends and I are going out tomorrow to celebrate while mom watches the girls. I told Anna it was my birthday this morning and she said, "Happy birthday, Daddy! Time for birthday hats and birthday cake and birthday balloons. It's Daddy's birthday and Anna's birthday!"
Here's some pictures!
Cari and Silvia
The famous CAKE, that my friend Jen made for me for my birthday. I'd share... but I'm just not that nice.
Silvia mostly slept through the visit, but she did have a few moments of coo-ing and blinking her big blue eyes up at Cari. Cari had on a green sweater that went really well with the baby, I wonder if she planned that?
Speaking of birthdays, it's my 30th today... I'm crossing over into new territory! Kurt's got some special dinner planned that he won't tell me about and my friends and I are going out tomorrow to celebrate while mom watches the girls. I told Anna it was my birthday this morning and she said, "Happy birthday, Daddy! Time for birthday hats and birthday cake and birthday balloons. It's Daddy's birthday and Anna's birthday!"
Here's some pictures!
Cari and Silvia
Anna warms up to Vicki after the introduction of the ball game.
Kurt and I making faces at the baby.
The famous CAKE, that my friend Jen made for me for my birthday. I'd share... but I'm just not that nice.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Family Photos
You can more easily view the pictures taken by Trystan Photography at our web album online, here. Here's a few of my favorites.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Big Sister
Anna has been very sweet with her baby sister, especially lately. She's formed quite the attachment to Silvia in the six short weeks since we brought her home.
The first thing she says when she gets up in the morning is, "Where's Silvia? Wanna go say hi to Silvia!". The other day in the car while Silvia was crying (she always cries in the car, she hates driving), Anna told her, "Don't worry, Silvia, it's okay, we're almost home." She then proceeded to sing her "Twinkle Little Star" and the Silvia version of "Mockingbird".
"Hush little Silvia, don't say a word, Anna's gonna buy you a mockingbird."
Singing is pretty much Anna's favorite activity these days, that and collecting rocks wherever she can get her hands on them. She makes up songs about the things around her. For instance, at dinner last night, she was singing, "Anna's got apple juice and a straaaaaw, and peanut butter and Silvia spit up the miiiiiiiilllk, and Daddy's got the remooooote controllllll...".
Silvia's got her first cold, poor baby. She's miserable and stuffy, but the pediatrician says it's just congestion and she'll hopefully be better soon. She was 10 pounds, 13 ounces when the checked her, she's growing so fast!
The first thing she says when she gets up in the morning is, "Where's Silvia? Wanna go say hi to Silvia!". The other day in the car while Silvia was crying (she always cries in the car, she hates driving), Anna told her, "Don't worry, Silvia, it's okay, we're almost home." She then proceeded to sing her "Twinkle Little Star" and the Silvia version of "Mockingbird".
"Hush little Silvia, don't say a word, Anna's gonna buy you a mockingbird."
Singing is pretty much Anna's favorite activity these days, that and collecting rocks wherever she can get her hands on them. She makes up songs about the things around her. For instance, at dinner last night, she was singing, "Anna's got apple juice and a straaaaaw, and peanut butter and Silvia spit up the miiiiiiiilllk, and Daddy's got the remooooote controllllll...".
Silvia's got her first cold, poor baby. She's miserable and stuffy, but the pediatrician says it's just congestion and she'll hopefully be better soon. She was 10 pounds, 13 ounces when the checked her, she's growing so fast!
Charlotte over at Trystan Photography took some wonderful pictures for us again, I'll try to get some posted this week. You can also view them in the galleries on their website, here.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
One month check-up
We headed out to the pediatrician for Silvia's well check this morning. I tell you, it's a whole different ball game getting two little girls ready to go and out the door. But we're learning.
Silvia's gained almost two pounds in the first month, putting her at 10 lbs, 1 oz today and in the 75th percentile. She's also 75th percentile for height at 21.75 inches. She's no peanut like her big sister, that's for sure. The doctor declared her fit and healthy. She's got a small hernia on her belly button, like Anna, but that will grow over as she gets older. She's also got a little bit of a clogged tear duct in her left eye, but that, too, will get better with time.
It was so fun watching her check-up though, just because it's so different from how Anna was at that age. Silvia has very strong neck control already, but the most amazing thing for me to see is that she stands up. She actually pushes off on her legs and stands when you hold her up. Because of Anna's developmental delay, she never stood, never even put weight on her legs at all until she was 17 months or so. Just because of that prior experience, it makes me feel like Silvia is a Super Baby just becuase she can do this little, and very normal, thing.
Silvia's gained almost two pounds in the first month, putting her at 10 lbs, 1 oz today and in the 75th percentile. She's also 75th percentile for height at 21.75 inches. She's no peanut like her big sister, that's for sure. The doctor declared her fit and healthy. She's got a small hernia on her belly button, like Anna, but that will grow over as she gets older. She's also got a little bit of a clogged tear duct in her left eye, but that, too, will get better with time.
It was so fun watching her check-up though, just because it's so different from how Anna was at that age. Silvia has very strong neck control already, but the most amazing thing for me to see is that she stands up. She actually pushes off on her legs and stands when you hold her up. Because of Anna's developmental delay, she never stood, never even put weight on her legs at all until she was 17 months or so. Just because of that prior experience, it makes me feel like Silvia is a Super Baby just becuase she can do this little, and very normal, thing.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Beautiful Flowers
This weekend my mom and Terry threw me a "Meet the Baby" Shower to celebrate Silvia's birth. Most of my friends, their husbands and kids were able to come, even some that I haven't seen in awhile. It was a wonderful treat, and we had a great time. Silvia, of course, slept through the whole thing, which worked out find since it left me a lot of time to enjoy the HUGE amount of food and treats my mom had provided. I would post a picture of the delicious THREE cakes she brought, but... well, there just wasn't much left to photograph! I should have gotten in there with the camera before we all decimated the delectables.
Anna was the charming hostess of the bash, running around in her purple dress with her new-found pig tails bouncing around. She has become such an extrovert, welcoming everyone into the house and giving all the other moms hugs and kisses. It's wonderful how big our "family" has grown and how comfortable she is with these women who have become so much more than friends to me. I love that she showers them all with kisses and tells them, "I love you, too!". It's adorable how affectionate she is these days!
Thank you very much to my mom and Terry for the lovely party and the lovely flowers. They are a beautiful reminder of how lucky and blessed I am to have so much that is good in my life.
Anna was the charming hostess of the bash, running around in her purple dress with her new-found pig tails bouncing around. She has become such an extrovert, welcoming everyone into the house and giving all the other moms hugs and kisses. It's wonderful how big our "family" has grown and how comfortable she is with these women who have become so much more than friends to me. I love that she showers them all with kisses and tells them, "I love you, too!". It's adorable how affectionate she is these days!
Thank you very much to my mom and Terry for the lovely party and the lovely flowers. They are a beautiful reminder of how lucky and blessed I am to have so much that is good in my life.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sisters together
Not a lot to write today. It's our first week solo, now that Kurt has gone back to work, and I was definitely very, very tired yesterday. Silvia got up at 5 a.m. this morning and, though she wasn't fussy, did not want to go back to sleep. I entertained her in bed for about an hour before it occurred to me to try putting her in the baby swing, which we had brough into our room for just such an occasion. Worked like magic! But, by then I was pretty much awake and it was almost time to start the day anyway, so I'm sort of stuck with a Sleep-Deprived Wednesday. Oh, well. That's what Starbucks is for, right? (If you know me at all, you know my Starbucks addiction. It's not the best coffee, it's overpriced, I know, but... well... it's everywhere and it's SO convenient!)
Here's the pictures. Anna finally got comfortable enough to want to hold Silvia this morning, it was too cute.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Silvia's first bath
I almost forgot! Silvia had her first bath last night... and she loved it! There was no crying or screaming or squirming, she was just laying back and smiling, enjoying the warm water and looking into the mirror at her reflection. Adorable!
First day on my own!
Well, Kurt went back to work today. I'm so lucky that he was able to take two whole weeks off after Silvia was born, but I also have to admit that I am ready for things to start getting back to normal. Today we've got Anna's music class and then she gets to spend the afternoon playing with Terry while I run errands and get caught up on laundry at home with Silvia. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up on some sleep, too. It was hard getting up earlier this morning, but I'd rather wake up a little bit early and be able to take a shower and get ready to face the day than sleep in an hour, but end up in my PJ's at 4 p.m., you know?
Silvia is doing great, she still seems to be a very easy baby. She sleeps well at night, waking every 2 hours or so to eat briefly, then goes right back to sleep. She doesn't fuss too much during the day, either, and is generally just super cute. Anna is settling in to the new dynamic very well. She had a rough second week, with lots of tantrums and screaming fits, but has been pretty much an angel and "mommy's little helper" for several days now. She's sweet, likes to check in on her sister and has been wandering around telling Kurt and I how much she loves us. She's also starting to be a lot better about vocalizing her frustrations, asking for help and telling us what's upsetting her BEFORE she starts just screaming and dissolving into tears. It's a big step and we're both relieved at such progress during such a stressful time.
Below are some recent pictures... please note, Anna's very first pig tails! She's finally got enough hair, (just barely!), to put up in tails. She loves them, but I think she actually loves picking out the rubberband colors even more. Today, she has pink and yellow bands.
Silvia is doing great, she still seems to be a very easy baby. She sleeps well at night, waking every 2 hours or so to eat briefly, then goes right back to sleep. She doesn't fuss too much during the day, either, and is generally just super cute. Anna is settling in to the new dynamic very well. She had a rough second week, with lots of tantrums and screaming fits, but has been pretty much an angel and "mommy's little helper" for several days now. She's sweet, likes to check in on her sister and has been wandering around telling Kurt and I how much she loves us. She's also starting to be a lot better about vocalizing her frustrations, asking for help and telling us what's upsetting her BEFORE she starts just screaming and dissolving into tears. It's a big step and we're both relieved at such progress during such a stressful time.
Below are some recent pictures... please note, Anna's very first pig tails! She's finally got enough hair, (just barely!), to put up in tails. She loves them, but I think she actually loves picking out the rubberband colors even more. Today, she has pink and yellow bands.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The fastest week ever
It's amazing, I was just tortured waiting for this baby to come, and now that she's here, time is just flipping by at the fastest pace imaginable.
While Silvia slept well her first two nights at the hospital, we have not had such luck since we got home. For now, the only way to get any rest after dark is for her to just sleep right next to me in bed. I'm not against co-sleeping by any means, but it's simply not as restful for me or for Kurt, since we both stay a little bit awake to make sure we're giving the baby enough room and keeping her clear of blankets. A good friend offered to loan me her co-sleeper bassinet (it's a little baby bed that attaches to the side of your own bed, at the same level), and I think we're going to give that a try and see if Silvia will go for it. Cuz I'm tired.
Which is sort of ironic, considering now would be a perfect time for me to sleep; Anna is napping, the baby and Kurt are napping and yet... I cannot seem to sleep! I tried, I swear I tried. Instead, I'm just wide awake and starving. Fortunately, friends and family have been dropping off food all week, so I'm at least set in the food department.
We took our first family walk today, since the weather is miraculously beautiful outside. Anna's been doing okay since we got home, but she's definitely starting to feel the adjustment to her world. There have been a lot more tantrums this week and the whining is starting to really drive both Kurt and me to distraction. She's still being sweet to the baby, though, so I'm just grateful she's expressing her frustration in directions other than beating up on her baby sister. That can wait a few years, don't you think?
It's still a very surreal world for me right now, part of me can't believe that the neverending labor actually ended, and so quickly (more on that later), and I'm still feeling very overwhelmed by the expansion of motherhood. When Anna's crying and reaching for me and Silvia is nursing and helpless in my arms, I don't quite know how I'll find a balancing point, but I know it will come in time. I still feel, though, that even though this newborn period is stressful and takes some adjustment, it's better than the discomfort of late pregnancy! I'm so excited to start reclaiming my body, that's for sure.
Updates for Silvia: Her mild jaundice has totally passed since my milk came in and she nurses pretty much all day long. She smiles and looks around and has had several periods of active awakeness where she is just taking it all in. She seems very fascinated with Anna, especially, and will stare and stare and track her with her eyes whenever her big sister is close.
Updates for Anna: She still seems fascinated with the baby, often giggling and laughing out loud when Silvia squeeks or moves around. When we are in a different room from her little sister, she usually wants to "go find Silvia" rather than play seperately. The thing she finds hard right now is adjusting to all the "new" toys that are around like the baby swing and the bouncy chair. She's too big for them now, but she WANTS them and doesn't really understand why she can't sit in them the way the baby does. All in all, I think she's doing very well, and hopefully in a month or two she'll never remember there was a world without a baby sister in it.
That's all for now, I'll post more pictures and the birth story later on. Time to eat!
While Silvia slept well her first two nights at the hospital, we have not had such luck since we got home. For now, the only way to get any rest after dark is for her to just sleep right next to me in bed. I'm not against co-sleeping by any means, but it's simply not as restful for me or for Kurt, since we both stay a little bit awake to make sure we're giving the baby enough room and keeping her clear of blankets. A good friend offered to loan me her co-sleeper bassinet (it's a little baby bed that attaches to the side of your own bed, at the same level), and I think we're going to give that a try and see if Silvia will go for it. Cuz I'm tired.
Which is sort of ironic, considering now would be a perfect time for me to sleep; Anna is napping, the baby and Kurt are napping and yet... I cannot seem to sleep! I tried, I swear I tried. Instead, I'm just wide awake and starving. Fortunately, friends and family have been dropping off food all week, so I'm at least set in the food department.
We took our first family walk today, since the weather is miraculously beautiful outside. Anna's been doing okay since we got home, but she's definitely starting to feel the adjustment to her world. There have been a lot more tantrums this week and the whining is starting to really drive both Kurt and me to distraction. She's still being sweet to the baby, though, so I'm just grateful she's expressing her frustration in directions other than beating up on her baby sister. That can wait a few years, don't you think?
It's still a very surreal world for me right now, part of me can't believe that the neverending labor actually ended, and so quickly (more on that later), and I'm still feeling very overwhelmed by the expansion of motherhood. When Anna's crying and reaching for me and Silvia is nursing and helpless in my arms, I don't quite know how I'll find a balancing point, but I know it will come in time. I still feel, though, that even though this newborn period is stressful and takes some adjustment, it's better than the discomfort of late pregnancy! I'm so excited to start reclaiming my body, that's for sure.
Updates for Silvia: Her mild jaundice has totally passed since my milk came in and she nurses pretty much all day long. She smiles and looks around and has had several periods of active awakeness where she is just taking it all in. She seems very fascinated with Anna, especially, and will stare and stare and track her with her eyes whenever her big sister is close.
Updates for Anna: She still seems fascinated with the baby, often giggling and laughing out loud when Silvia squeeks or moves around. When we are in a different room from her little sister, she usually wants to "go find Silvia" rather than play seperately. The thing she finds hard right now is adjusting to all the "new" toys that are around like the baby swing and the bouncy chair. She's too big for them now, but she WANTS them and doesn't really understand why she can't sit in them the way the baby does. All in all, I think she's doing very well, and hopefully in a month or two she'll never remember there was a world without a baby sister in it.
That's all for now, I'll post more pictures and the birth story later on. Time to eat!
Friday, February 09, 2007
More pictures
The girls together... Anna didn't want to sit still. This was the first night we were home, and it was also Kurt's birthday. Anna came home from Grandma's with Elmo birthday hats for all of us to celebrate with. She insisted that we wear them the whole night. Even the Teddy Bear. 
So far, Anna has been very sweet and gentle and excited with Silvia. She's acted out a little bit about other things, (lunch, naps, toys, etc.), but with the baby, her energy has all been very positive and excited. This morning the first thing she said when she got up was, "Let's go see Silvia! She's sooooo beautiful." Then she came running into our room to find her little sister.
So far, Anna has been very sweet and gentle and excited with Silvia. She's acted out a little bit about other things, (lunch, naps, toys, etc.), but with the baby, her energy has all been very positive and excited. This morning the first thing she said when she got up was, "Let's go see Silvia! She's sooooo beautiful." Then she came running into our room to find her little sister.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
It's a girl!
Silvia Erika Schwartz was born February 5th, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. after 20 hours of labor. She was 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and measures 21 inches long.
Welcome to the world, Silvia! Now we are four!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Napkins... or new clothes?
When Val was here earlier this month, he took some cloth napkins and introduced Anna to the the exciting world of dress-up games. She wears these napkins all around the house at some point every single day now.
As luck would have it, Cousin Vicki also sent Anna a sparkly dress up set at around the same time, which she wears on her head or around her waist. The butterfly wings that came with it can only be worn on the front, as she can't see them well enough when she's got them on her back. Needless to say, everything in the playroom is now sprinkled with silver sparkles from her wearing these play clothes all around.
As luck would have it, Cousin Vicki also sent Anna a sparkly dress up set at around the same time, which she wears on her head or around her waist. The butterfly wings that came with it can only be worn on the front, as she can't see them well enough when she's got them on her back. Needless to say, everything in the playroom is now sprinkled with silver sparkles from her wearing these play clothes all around.
Teddy in Peril
Anna's Teddy Bear seems to be walking a thin line between complete safety and utter peril. Every morning as we're getting up, we listen to her playing in her crib and talking to the bear. Here's a sample from this morning.
"Oh, no, Teddy, are you okay? It's okay, I've got you. Poor Teddy."
Silence and rustling noises, and then...
"Teddy! BE CAREFUL!"
When I came into the room, Anna was in the process of "rescuing" her bear, which she had just shoved deeply between the bumper of her crib and half out the rails.
As I turned on her light and said good morning, she yanked Teddy through the rails and gave him a big hug, saying, "Oh, that's okay, Teddy, you fine!".
Poor Teddy.
"Oh, no, Teddy, are you okay? It's okay, I've got you. Poor Teddy."
Silence and rustling noises, and then...
"Teddy! BE CAREFUL!"
When I came into the room, Anna was in the process of "rescuing" her bear, which she had just shoved deeply between the bumper of her crib and half out the rails.
As I turned on her light and said good morning, she yanked Teddy through the rails and gave him a big hug, saying, "Oh, that's okay, Teddy, you fine!".
Poor Teddy.
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