Sunday, May 26, 2002

This is the first night that I have left my baby with someone else. I haven't even let other people babysit her ... the longest was at church, and that wasn't more than 45 minutes in the nursery and she slept the whole time.

Joy is one month old ... 5 weeks tomorrow. She's staying with my brother and soon to be sister-in-law. Big brother Josh is staying too ... Tim and I haven't had any couple time since December so we jumped at the chance to swap overnight babysitting with them. I don't know how people who have kids 10 months apart do it. We had trouble getting everyone into my car. Two car seats and Josh in the middle ... it only underscored Tim's opinion that two kids is enough and mine that I need a bigger car.

As we were leaving to have our date Joy looked right at me. She wasn't trying to eat Erin's arm as nursing baby's tend to be doing when they turn their heads ... she was looking right at me. It was like she knew I was leaving. Part of me didn't want to leave her at all. Maybe I am being reminded of all the times I left Josh when he was a baby to go back to UCSD. Such trusting eyes, and then you don't come back and then .... well, guilt trip in the extreme. I'll see her tomorrow morning/early afternoon and I know she's fine. We've watched Maykayla plenty of times, but I still feel a little worried ... she's so little.

I guess I need to fully enjoy this private quiet time with my husband. Who knows when we'll get another night without the kids.

Wednesday, May 22, 2002

It's 4 weeks and one day after Joy was born. She'll be a month old tomorrow .... actually today since it's after midnight that I am writing this. I can hardly believe that nearly a month has passed by. The time really does fly by, and I'm not always having fun!

I forgot how time consuming newborns are. And the fact that I could just sit and hold her and stare at her for hours (even though the idea of that is very boring to me, this past week I have found myself spending a lot of time doing just that). It's not even conscious. I finish feeding her .. rather, she finishes feeding and pulls off and if she starts to nod off, I just hold her.

Quick summary:
Week 1: In the hospital and then home. By Thursday I was feeling sore and by Friday I was in agony. I had to postpone Josh's birthday party because I could barely walk. I didn't get much accomplished that week. We did go to church though. I was already starting to get a touch of cabin fever and needed to get out of the house, no matter how painful it was.

Week 2: I was feeling better. Sitz baths and walking around a bit were helpful. I was able to take Josh to his pottery class. The walk to Target did wonders for getting the blood flowing. Still the only clothes that fit were my maternity ones. Joy is still absolutely tiny and barely fit in the Snugli. She also got her first bath and her umbilical cord fell off May 4th. The following is an except from the conversation had after Tim volunteered to change her diaper:

Tim: Her belly button disappeared!
Annette: "It did what?"
Tim: Her belly button is gone
Annette: What are you talking about?
Tim: That yellow thingy ... her belly button ... it's gone
Annette: Her umbilical cord?
Tim: Whatever, it's gone.


Things accomplished .... Josh's party. I think this was the week that I started doing laundry every day, at least one load, but I can't remember now. It must have been though. I haven't really stopped doing laundry since either. Tim and I create a lot and Joy is starting too. I changed her twice today just because of diapers!

Week 3: I ran a few errands and seriously began feeling like a cow. My little angel girl has a very healthy appetite!

Week 4: I've been thinking about getting my homework done and turned in and have even gotten a few paragraphs written. I don't get much done during the day and am tired during the evening. I end up taking a nap most days between 5 and 6:30. Otherwise I am exhausted. Even though I think I may be getting enough sleep I am starting to look like a raccoon. Joy is looking very plump and healthy and bright-eyed though :)

My little angel girl is gaining weight quite nicely and she's already scooting. Well, she's been scooting for about two weeks now and trying to hold her head up. She can hold it for a few seconds. She can't turn her head yet though she tries. I think her favorite uncontrollable (?) thing to do right now is squirt when Tim says "Smile for Daddy". She does something else that starts with "s" and requires a diaper change :)

Ok, it's late and I get the feeling that I am repeating myself.
I had a ton more planned to write about, but I hear her gurgling, so it's time to go and feed her again.

More later, though who knows how much later ..... how could I forget how much time they take???!!!!!

Friday, May 03, 2002

Good, because my daughter is a hungry hippo. We tried getting her to take a bottle last night so that Tim could help with the feedings ... no go. She would *not* take it.

I am now a cow. Do you know how often babies need to eat?

and there she goes again. ... Baby monitors are a good thing, most of the time.

Annette
(this was random .... I think I just needed to vent 5/26/02)

Wednesday, May 01, 2002

My baby has her first cold :( It's hard seeing a baby with a cold, she's so helpless, and her poor eyes are getting all crusty :~(

I was going to