Paela liked to ask me if I was okay every time I coughed the first day my cold went to "bad cough" stage. Previously, coughing was just something people did when they swallowed wrong. And so we would always ask if said person was "okay" and pat them on the back. So when Paela would ask this week if I was "okay" I would reply, "yes, I'm just sick." Just sick. read more »
The first day of Rebecca back at work wasn't the worst. That was the second day. The one when Aderyn screamed as if I was doing unspeakable horrors to her as I tried to feed her a bottle. That was the worst day.
Camilla came. I knew she was coming with Cameron, but I forgot to mention this to Rebecca. I was out picking up a painting from a show that had just come down when Camilla gave Rebecca an entertaining scare. read more »
What with family in town and tons of snow, we've felt pretty busy at our house. Last Sunday, with my dad and Wayne's parents and Victor, Camilla, and Cameron, Wayne gave Aderyn a name and a priesthood blessing. Now she's official.
It snowed enough that they canceled Church again for the second time in three weeks. We've gotten quite a lot of cold and a lot of snow. Brrr. Paela doesn't object to putting her coat and mittens on anymore before we go outside -- she gets it and agrees with our reasons for putting them on her. She also "goes to sleep" by snuggling into Wayne's chest whenever he carries her so she can stay even warmer. read more »
Our first Christmas without extended family. It wasn't 'planned' in the sense that we hadn't intended things to play out this way, but the baby's late due date and the c-section surgery changed our ability to travel. We were determined to create some sort of lasting traditions, but weren't confident how. read more »
It's snowing outside. Has been most of the night and into the day. They canceled Church, and we're all cozied up today. We watched a bit of the Church library's scripture stories on DVD this morning, and sang some Christmas songs. And felt the snow, though Paela insisted she needed mittens to touch it (who can blame her?). read more »
I'm trying to raise awareness in TMS, or Toddler Mullet Syndrome. While it generally afflicts little girls with straight hair, our Paela was beginning to show the early symptoms. In order to strike at TMS before it claimed our wavy-haired child, we resolutely decided that giving her a haircut was the appropriate action. She was complacent about the idea to begin with and properly sat in her high chair, ready for the new experience. It wasn't until the very moment after the first hair was cut that she panicked. My favorite image is of her holding a lost lock of hair and soulfully mourning the detachment. read more »
It's not surprising, I'm sure, that we're all a little fuzzy brained here. Aderyn is doing her newborn best to give us a good stretch of sleep, but newborns aren't notorious for sleeping well. At least she's eating well, and hopefully she'll prove it at her weigh-in this week. [I will put in that she is eating well -- better than Paela did -- but Aderyn has some sort of stomach problems and tends to throw back up much of her food.] read more »
I'm sure no one really expects to hear much from this week.
We prepared our home for the newcomer. Rebecca and I went in for the operation Wednesday morning and Aderyn was born at 9 AM. She screams like a banshee and her sensitive skin makes her look like a lobster -- at least most of the time. Like babies do, she sleeps and eats and cries. Healthy little baby.
Paela enjoys having the baby sister around. She loves to hold her and give her a pacifier and lavish kisses on her little sister. Rebecca came home from the hospital a little early when we snuck her out on Saturday. And she was very grateful to be home: Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital was the least of the things bothering her.
So, here's to lost nights' sleep and the adventures of a big and loud healthy child!
That was what I heard all week long at work, and then at Church today too, after the tale of our night in the hospital -- "You're still here!" What, no one else's doctor has ever kept them in the hospital all night before without having a baby to show at the end? Ah, well, maybe next time!
Though having a false alarm result in an overnight visit has had the (probably) unintended side effect that I'm less likely to want to call the doctor. And I wasn't exactly overjoyed to call the first time around...Wayne had to make me call. I've had a couple of other nights this week with the same kind of contractions (read, the not terribly intense kind that you can still talk through) every five minutes again, but not wanting to spend the night in the hospital I waited it out. And both times they slowed down 6-8 hours later, close to morning time.
Anyway, moving on. read more »
This will be short.
I have been working on applications this past week. There are many to do. I am currently working on the list of schools which require letters of recommendation with the application materials, so as to facilitate the process for my recommendees. Applying to work at universities is surprisingly similar to applying for graduate school and surprisingly unlike applying for a 'real' job. read more »
