Real girls...

Wear blue and love every minute of it. I have not yet gotten on the pink bandwagon. Not to say that my child doesn't wear pink or won't get any pink things. But, lets just face it, the pink 'industry' is an obsession. Pink, in moderation, is cute...adorable to say the least. Pink, all over and all the time is not so cute.

The many faces of Teagen

These are just some of the cute little faces that I get to stare at everyday. How could life be better?

My mom is gonna think I've lost it...

I have made the switch over to cloth diapers.I have been contemplating this since Eli but with working and everything it just wasn't feasible. However, since I am resigning after this year, I really wanted to try it. Adam has always been adamantly opposed to cloth diapering but after a little persuasion(and who are we kidding, I do all the laundry anyways) he came around. He is now on the bandwagon and actually kind of excited about the whole thing.
Why you ask am I doing this? It really comes down to the environmental factor. It's not about saving money because honestly I don't see that happening at the moment with all that you have to buy upfront. The thought of thousands(and I mean literally thousands) of our diapers sitting in a landfill somewhere polluting who knows what into who knows where is enough to convert me. Not to mention all the bleach and other chemicals used to produce the disposables.
Anyways, day one. We will see how it goes?!?!?!
Pictures of a cute little heiny to come later!

It is real tiring

being one month old...

1 Month

Are you kidding me? Really? Has it already been a month? Maybe it is because Teagen is so much smaller than Eli was but I am having a hard time believing she is already a month old. One month. So short but yet so long. So exciting but yet so tiring.

4 things to know about my little dainty one month old
1. she is a mama's girl. There is no way around it, she wants her mommy. I'm not complaining.

2. in-arms baby. She does not want to be put down. She will accept no substitute such as a swing. She wants to be in your arms at all times. Thus, I carry her in a sling/wrap almost all day. It works.
So content

If I had the energy to edit my face out(black bags and all) then I would but since I don't, you get to see the unflattering me

3. She likes her crib. Takes after her brother. A pack and play or bassinet just doesn't cut it. She wants comfort. The real thing. She will take no exceptions.(except her mommies chest)
4. After our early morning feeding, usually around 4 or 5, I bring her to bed with me. I am sure it will haunt me one day but secretly I am enjoying every minute of it.

Dark picture but you get the gist

revoked

My nomination for the mother of the year award has officially been revoked today. It was one of those days. One of those pull your hair out, I need a drink, am I really capable days. It started like this...
Seeing as though I was going for the mother of the year award I thought I would strap both kiddos into the car and head to Whole Foods. This being the first venture out with just the three of us and I still can't really life Eli. I doubted this idea but then looked in the refrigerator and decided it wasn't really an option. So, after Teagen's 7:30 feeding we headed out. Smooth sailing on the way there. For a girl that doesn't like the car seat she did really well! It wasn't until we pulled into the front row spot that I sensed(or smelled) something could be off. Sure enough. Poopy diaper. Blow-out as we call them around here. Car seat covered. Teagen covered. How do you get poop all the way up your arm?
But, no worries. I pull out my handy diapers container with wipes and all. I'll just change her. It's 60 degrees out but I really hate those little germ infested changing tables in the bathrooms. I opt for the trunk. Strip her down. Really cold. She's really mad. Crap. I have no change of clothes. What to do? Leave, with no groceries?? Not an option. I put her in the sling with just a diaper and off we go. I'll just buy a $30 handmade, organic who knows why it's so expensive onesie for her in Whole Foods. Don't have our size. Thirty bucks is ridiculous. I bribe Eli throughout the store and he only escapes the car cart(because I didn't buckle him in) once. I am looking at the seasonings and I turn to find him sampling every bulk bin to his liking. Sorry Whole Foods. Teagen rides home naked. Eli and I are burning up with the heat on full blast. But, we survive and the fridge is restocked. Until we got home at least.
Other random samplings from the day:
1. The microwave went off all day...why? I was sanitizing some pacifiers in the morning and never had the chance to take them out. Thus it dinged at me all day.
2. Eli overflowed the sink. I was letting him play with water while I fed Teagen in the living room. I didn't know he had the stopper. It was too late when I relized.
3. I resulted to bribery. TV, candy, whatever it took. If that didn't work I pulled out the mean mama voice. If you know me, you know this worked. However, I always got the 'look' in return.
4. When Teagen wanted to nap, Eli wanted to go outside. If we needed to go upstairs, he wanted to go downstairs.
Thus was out day. Happy 4 weeks my little dainty thing! :)

Part 3

So, I just wanted to continue with a little additional post about the birth. Teagen, Adam and I had a wonderful hospital stay. We stayed for 3 nights and opted out on the fourth. After all, we were experienced parents, what could go wrong? Although we left tired, we were much more rested than we had ever thought we would be. Teagen had peacefully slept up to 6 hours a night at the hospital(don't worry...that luck has not lasted) and we were feeling good. So, home we went. About 2 hours after we got home, I started to get headaches. These were not your grandmothers headaches, rather hit me over the head with a sledgehammer and throw me in front of a moving car headaches. I figured it was from my milk coming in or maybe I was just more tired than I had thought. Hours went by and they got worse. I hadn't seen the light of day but rather the side of the couch as I laid with a pillow over my head blocking the 'painfully bright lights'. I have never experienced this before. I don't get headaches. They suck.
So, around 7 Adam and my mom had me call the hospital. They said it could be from the medication so to take some caffeine/sugar with my next round of narcotics and call in two hours if it is not better. Better, it was worse. Now, I was in true agony over these headaches but on top of that, I had a caffeine and sugar high as my body had been deprived of all those wonderful things the past 9 months.
So, Adam called this time as I was in no shape. Better come in. What, this sucks! So, around 11pm we headed back to the hospital with baby in tow. (Eli thankfully stayed with my mom.) I was thinking an in and out kinda deal. Were they check me, tell me I need sleep and pain medication and send us on our merry way. Wrong. Admitted. More IV's. 13 hours of a caffeine drip. Headaches from hell. Wired off caffeine. Could it get any worse??
Yes. Rare complication from the spinal. Are you kidding? No. Turns out they have to do another spinal to repair the little itty bitty hole that is leaking spinal fluid into my body/brain thus resulting in killer headaches. Am I dreaming? No. Sure thing anesthesia comes in, preps me for another spinal. This time, someone is at my arm and as soon as they find the spot of the spinal they take blood from my arm and inject it into my spin to repair the hole. Blood patch. Does it work? instantly. The best relief I have ever felt in my life. We were stuck under observation for another 6 hours and then headed back home.
At this point, I hadn't slept in almost 2 days and now I was truly feeling like a new parent...
does the fun ever end??

Wide Eyed!!!

Hello World!

Really Mom...is this headband necessary???

I'm right here!

All pictures and no words...

I realized that I have been posting so many pictures and not saying a lot to go with them. The past two and a half weeks has been a whirlwind. Life has been an adjustment but I would never look back. My two angels have taught me so much.
I am soaking up every moment. Remembering every breathe, sigh, smile and grunt. These are the moments that I never want to forget. Some say babies don't really smile but that it is rather gas. I know what gas looks like with my baby and let me tell you...it ain't no smile. The little corners of her lips raise up with the most beautiful smile you have ever seen. It is good for the soul. It takes a tired mind and body and rejuvenates you for whatever lies ahead. She is a lover, a cuddler. I spent the first two weeks just holding her. This was one of my resolutions that I made for the new year. I did just what I had aimed to do. Life doesn't get much better than that.
She has had her fussy moments with some gas pains but can you blame a little system that has just been thrust into the world and forced to function independently?? Not to mention my over-abundant milk supply. We seem to be leveling out now and after a couple trips to our friend and chiropractor, Kyle, things are going much better.
She is growing and thriving. Her two week stats are:
Weight: 8lbs 8 oz
Height: 20 inches
Head: 14.5 inches
So you ask, is it any better the second time around? Better is not a word that I chose to use. It is different. More relaxed. Taking in every little moment. Less worry. More patience. A better understanding. Trusting your gut. Following your intuition. Not relying on books but rather your own parenting skills. It is different. Much different. I would not change anything about either.
So, the photos are from her two week photo shoot. I just can't stop...

Part 2

Welcome to the world

Our first picture together with the little girl!

Oops...somebody in the OR forgot to put a diaper on you...you showed them by pooping everywhere!

Thanks Eli for the balloon!

Kisses from the big brother

Special Papa Bob time

Don't forget about DG...
**A note to Auntie Megan...where are all the pictures with you???**My perfect three!

Will she be a thumb sucker like her brother??? Less than three days old at this time!

It's a lengthy one(part 1)

I have finally uploaded and sorted through Teagen's birth photos. It already seems like so long ago but yet feels like yesterday. These are memories that will last a lifetime and that I will cherish every moment of my life. I am trying to keep these special moments alive as I want to look back and remember but more importantly, one day, I want to sit down with my daughter and relive this very special moment with her and account for all the small, special details that happened on that day.
On the other hand, I will probably shoot myself one day for posting some of these photos as they, by any stretch of the imagination, are not the most flattering pictures. However, they are true and that is what makes them so special to me.
With all that said, Teagen's birth was quite the opposite of Eli's. I was more prepared; mentally, physically and emotionally. I had a new doctor, a new hospital and a new experience. She was able to be with me from the moment she was born. We had direct contact and those are my most cherished memories of the day. She never left my hands and when she did, she was always within my arms reach.
So, I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

Getting Dad some Starbucks...I really am a nice wife!

Arriving

One last picture going in because sure won't look the same coming out!

Outside the hospital

Finding our way

A little meditation helps to calm the nerves

The paparazzi was never far behind :)

Deep breathing...a bit of anxiety

The final choices...just waiting to see which one it will be???

The sun comes up...and you auntie waits your arrival
Our family of three before it became a family of four
sweet time with your brothergetting his camera ready for your arrivalThe clock struck and it was time...

I had to drink something truly horrible...
Everybody leaves to await the arrival!
The look of fear, emotion, worry, excitement and anything else you can think of bottled up into one unflattering but 'true' look
My first glance at my little dainty thing!
Makes you forget about the above mentioned!
A moment that I will never forget!

More to come in part 2