Trick or Treat!

E's first Halloween was pretty low-key. We didn't have time to get a pumpkin, and we didn't go anywhere, but we had to dress up our little darlin. As with most things E, she wasn't sure about how she felt about this... So, she fussed a little at first.


Then calmed down.


Then went to sleep.

2007- The Best Year E-V-A

Emma is born, and we win the World Series, with Lowell as MVP. Ah, bliss.

Baby E's One-Month Check-up....

Apparently, we're still doing well. E has gained almost another pound- 9 lb.s 5 oz. and is now over 22" tall. Her diaper rash is minor, and totally not our fault. Newborns just poop all the time and it's impossible to keep them perfectly clean. Her gas is also normal, although, I'm going to start avoiding more of the foods that couple be the problem. She appears to be developing perfectly, has good head control, and the doc thinks she'll start smiling in the next month. YAHOO. I can't wait for that moment.

And P.S. We're up 2-0 in the World Series! Go Sox!

Today is a very good day.

It's October.
Emma let me sleep 8 (non-consecutive) hours last night.
John Williams is conducting the National Anthem.
Beckett is hot stuff on the mound.
We're leading the World Series 1-0.
Even Lugo and Drew are pulling their weight.
Since losing Judas Damon, I have a new Sox Crush.
I heart Mike Lowell.
Oh, and Manny doesn't know what day it is....

I love Autumn.

Happy Duedate, E!

E is 4-weeks old today, and we've officially hit her duedate. She's getting so big, and learning so much. She's really looking at us now, and may be getting ready to start smiling.

She's also hungry ALL the time. Other than that.... we're all as happy as can be.

Let's just forget about math altogether.....

So, I just saw a commercial for the new "Electronic Banking" version of Monopoly. It's supposed to be modernized to reflect today's cashless system, and allows for huge amounts of money to be used in transaction. In fact, each player starts with $15 Million. However, does anyone even pause to think that this takes away from kids (and adults for that matter) having to do the math of the simple transactions in their head. Working with "cash" also teaches players the value of money in a way that credit just doesn't. This makes me sad. We're now raising a generation of children that will not be able to function without the assistance of a calculator. I, for one, will be holding on to my ORIGINAL edition Monopoly, so Emma can learn to add and subtract in her head. She's also going to play Scrabble as soon as she can spell.

The 5.5 is from the Russian Judge.

So, my mother-in-law just left after coming to visit and meet E. It was wonderful to have her here, and she was a big help in a lot of ways- paying for stuff, helping with dinners and dishes... but my hormones were playing mean tricks on me.

All weekend, while I was in the nursing chair constantly.... (she's on a feed or fuss every two hours and only calm down for mom kick) and Hubby and MIL were on the sofa, I kept feeling as though I was performing an unknown sport in front of a panel of judges. I hate Baby Blues.

On a positive note. My baby is still the cutest thing ever- and she loves leaving the house, which is really good news for me. We took her out to the grocery store, and out for a walk to the nearby park this weekend. She loves being in her carrier and stroller, and behaved like an angel. This means that as soon as the weather warms up again (it's cold and cloudy today), she and I are going for walks every day. I'm ready to lose the last of this pooch.

Currently, my little angel is trying to pass some gas while asleep in her bouncy seat. We just finished lunch, so maybe we can both catch a nap soon. Naps make everything better.

And in this corner....

The heavyweight champ of SoCal..... Baby E!

Went by the Doc's office today because I thought E might have a cold. She doesn't, but she is carrying an additional 1.5 lbs. She hit 8 lbs on her 3 week birthday. Yahoo. This means we can chill in the BabyBjorn and sleep without waking her for feeding in the middle of the night.

I may feel like a milk-cow, but at least I'm a potent one.

Pup's Second Week Highlights

1. Baby poop has remarkable range. This particular explosion left Hubby standing over the sink, holding our nekid baby, proclaiming, "My daughter just [pooped] in my hand." I sat on the bed, leaked milk and laughed. Hard. But then the same thing happened to me the next day.



2. I'd say she's filling out just a little bit. We call this the sumo-baby picture. "Give me milk. Rawr!"


3. Reading to babies is good. So far it's been Erik Larson from Daddy, and Jenny McCarthy from mom, but it puts her right to sleep, and I like to think that, and the classical music we play during quiet times is have some positive effect on her rapidly growing grey matter.


4. The cats are both happier now that I'm not pregnant. The Romeo has even stopped peeing outside his box. Now that he can sleep on my belly again, he's a happy boy. He's even been so brave as to get close enough to sniff our little one.


5. This is cuteness to the extreme. She may be mostly a bit of a "blob" to quote Jenny McCarthy, but already she's spending more time awake, she's looking right at us, and starting to check out the world...... smiles are on the way, I just KNOW it. But in the meantime, she's still the cutest, best thing in the history of history.

MOOOOOOOOOOOO!

So, um, this whole breastfeeding thing isn't easy. Not at all. They make look fabulous, but the first two weeks have been excruciatingly painful, not to mention frustrating, AND expensive. You think you save money by doing it this way, but not so much when you send your husband out every 10 minutes to buy another "sore nipple" product at Babies R Us. I've got Guards, whichkeep fabric, etc off the nipple to prevent chafing and to keep it dry if you leak (which you do), as well as lanolin cream, and soothing gel pads. And today, I paid $100 to have a sweet little Kiwi woman come over, grab my boobs and try and teach me how to do it better. It's a tough row to hoe- the process of feeding and diapering her takes at least 45 min, usually, closer to an hour or hour and a half, and we have to repeat this dance every three hours.

In between bouts of crying in pain and frustration, I'm trying to keep my sense of humor. I mean, how can you not when a stranger is fondling you, trying to get your boob in your baby's mouth, and instead it squirts her in the face. HA!

All in all, I currently feel a little more like a barnyard animal being used for its goods more than a wife and mommy, but I'm dealing. Baby E is thriving, and that's what matters. And the weight loss helps. A lot. I'm trying not to think about the fact that the Lactation Consultant said I should only be losing a pound a month. Oops. I'll slow down to that rate as soon as I hit the same weight as hubby, who is currently still 10 lbs below my current weight. Not that this fact makes me feel like a heifer or anything....... Like I said..... MOOOOOO!