Say AHHHHHHHH

Doesn't she look as though she takes dental hygiene very seriously?

Don't let it fool ya. She just likes to eat the toothpaste off the rotating brush

and let it fling leftover toothpaste and saliva everywhere.

However, it is on my husband's side of the bathroom so he never notices.

Perfecting Time Out

K..anyone interested, my sister emailed this wonderful advice based on years of behaviour management classes and personal experience with her preschool students. Thanks, Amanda!

For time-out to be effective it has to be:

a) Away from positive stimulation (boring, but not painful at all!)
b) Enforced (she has to be made to stay)
c) Predictable (a set length of time, usually 1 minute per year of age. Longer than that is pointless considering their attention span.)

Ideally, if you were teaching a child behavior guidelines, when they crossed the guideline, you would say "Don't do that again, or you will be in time-out."

All children do it again, cause they want to test you. Immediately remove them from the situation and place them in their time-out area (carpet square, chair) and tell them they have to be in time out for X minutes.

Walk away.

If they scream, ignore them.

If they don't stay in the time-out area, put them back ("stay here") and start the timer over.

If they still don't stay, hold them there. They will struggle but do not speak to them, lecture, or make eye contact.

After the appropriate amount of time, take them away from the time-out area and have a SHORT discussion about what happened.

The next time they test their boundaries, they will have a good recollection about what "Time Out" is. It will be an unpleasant memory, and they might (maybe) think twice about misbehaving.

Also, counting is a no-no! Don't ever say "Get overhere right now! one.... two.... I mean it!...." etc. That is not only ineffective but it shows the child that they have until you get to 3, and that just prolongs their compliance.

She also says that Time Out often doesn't work because it isn't done correctly.

Next Issue?

Parenting Gone Awry

Isabella is pretty much a good girl. However, she's now a pretty much good girl who's two years old. That presents some problems for when she's not-so-much a good girl and is testing her boundaries and ours.

My husband has, up until recently, been able to discipline Bella with The Look. My Dad calls that look "The Evil Eye" and it always worked on us as kids.

Bella's learned the art of ignoring her parents or anyone else trying to tell her what to do. She'll just zone out, turn off her ears or simply keep doing what she's doing.

Last night as I was nursing Ava, Bella plopped down beside me on the couch (after standing on it which is no-no #1) and began to kick at me with both feet. It didn't hurt but was obviously not meant in a loving way. My husband told her to stop. She didn't. He sent her to her room. She giggled and ran as if he was chasing her. He told her to stay there until she could behave.

She came out moments later with some toys. He asked if she was going to behave. She said no. So he sent her back to her room. This time she practically skipped with glee to her punishment.

She returned a nano-second later with her babydoll. This time I asked if she was going to be a good girl. She said yes. Then she ran over to the couch, climbed up next to me and proceeded to kick me again. My husband gave his best Look. She returned that look with one of defiance, still kicking, and yelled "I want to go to my room!". She lept off the couch, ran to her room and I glanced at my husband who just sat and blinked.

I could not help laughing (You know, the parental look away laugh). So even today my husband is perplexed. I pointed out that perhaps sending her to her favorite place to play isn't a good punishment. We may try the Time Out method. I think she's too young to write 500 sentences.

Any effective disciplinary actions you can share with me that don't involve spanking? I'm all ears.

My, How Times Have Changed.

Gone are the days when we'd gather with family for the holidays and just hang out all lazy and full from gorging ourselves throughout the month+ of celebrating. The holiday naps as football games blares on the TV until someone gets irritated enough to yell at the boys to turn it down.

Now our holidays consist of entertaining little people or at least keeping a watchful eye every second as they entertain themselves. Constantly asking, "Where's child ______ and who's watching him/her?" Then when a wail comes from somewhere out of sight, the women make a mad dash to see what's going on while the men yell from their post, "Hey! What's going on in there? Cut that out!" (standard Man Yell without knowing any facts, apparently)

Eating is a circus of getting plates of food ready for the little people, making sure each has exactly what the other has, finding those little people so they can eat, making sure no one touches anyone else, that they all have a utensil of some kind (not that they'll use it) and a drink. Thus begins the search for sippy cups. That is never ending. Or the grabbing of Sippy Cup A from Kid B while Kid C goes for Kid B's cup. Doesn't matter that all the cups look completely different. It is always more appealing to drink someone else's juice rather than your own, right?

Naps are ridiculous as well. Coordinating the little people to nap in a small house with too few beds never works without many tears and the probability of no nap for most.

Just as the big people crumble in a heap of exhaustion wherever their butt can sit, they peer out the window and see a wonderful, blessed sight. Their sweet, adorable little ones squealing, running, gleefully tossing autumn leaves into the air and laughing hysterically when the leaves stick to hair, clothing or the freaked out elderly dog. That's really what the holidays should be all about. Enjoying the moment.

I like how times have changed.

Who's Your Daddy? Or Mommy?

When you marry, before the ink is even dry on the marriage certificate, you are asked when you'll have kids. When pregnant, you're asked how many more babies you'd like to have. When your newborn is less than one hour old, you're asked when you'll try for the next child.

And apparently from day one that any of your children are born, it is commented who that baby looks like. Now we all know that a newborn doesn't look like anyone in particular right out of the chute (no pun intended) but people start the guessing game right away.

What's funny about our children is that they look like, well, us. My husband and I looked strikingly similar as babies. If I had the pics on the computer, I'd upload them to show you. It is almost too weird how we can barely figure out who is who.

Our daughters are a blend of both of us. But to some people, Isabella looks exactly like my husband. To others, she looks exactly like me. In photos, she looks exactly like my mother as a child.

Note that "exactly" is used each time. Because everyone is emphatic about who she looks like! And we hear it...all...the...time. From family. Friends. Old ladies. Check-out clerks. Random people in the elevator.

Now everyone tries their hardest to figure out who Ava looks like. Most say she looks like me. Some say my mother-in-law. (Yeah, makes no sense, does it?) Pictures of Bella as a fat baby (she was a chubster now that I look back) compared to Ava, they are hard to tell apart.

What is it about us that we want so much for our offspring to resemble us? Is it basic human nature? Some primal instinct to identify what is ours? Or is it arrogance? Selfishness?

I personally love that my girls resemble their dad. I love their daddy and seeing our babies with so many of his traits makes me very happy. Now, I may not love it if they try to break their nose three times so it'll look like his. Or if they one day exhibit an inability to ask for directions. But as long as I can teach them the concept of a laundry hamper, as I've failed to do with their dad, then we're good to go.

Survey Says...

Oh, yipee... all you who are brave enough, you get to talk about birth control!

I just went to my 6 week checkup (granted, it is week 7) and the doc said my c-section "zipper" looks great. Funny guy.

I didn't opt for tubal ligation because of the slimmest of slim possibilities I might want another baby. You just really never know what life will throw your way. So I need birth control of some sort. I really don't want any more surprises...

Anyway, I am nursing and though it gives some protection from pregnancy at least the first few months that I exclusively breastfeed, I know that I need backup.

Number one option is called the Mini-Pill. I used that when nursing Bella but it cut down my milk quite a bit.

Number two option is what my doc recommends but I have reservations. It is a particular IUD called the Marina and it works for 5 years. It has the greatest success rate in protection against pregnancy, but one in 1,000 patients will get pregnant and the chance of a fertilized egg in the fallopian tube is increased slightly. That would result in a miscarriage or an abortion, both which horrify me. But any birth control carries risk, in all reality.

So today, ladies, I would like your humble opinions on the matter of birth control. Have you tried the IUD? Is there a particular kind of pill you prefer? What have been the upsides or downsides to what you've used? Once I stop nursing, I will most likely get on a stronger dosage pill. I do have worries about taking any pill for an extended period *snort* of time, but it is the safest option I know of without a procedure for hubby that he'd have to be drugged, knocked out and dragged to. I don't think I could forge his name with his limp hand on the paperwork without someone noticing.

Discuss amongst yourselves...

Sister Love

Doctor's Orders?

Perhaps Daddy should follow the recommendation of

An Apple A Day...

Or Bella's

Nibble On Every Apple In One Day...

The Doctor Is In

My hubby gave me a scare last night. His blood pressure sky-rocketed and his face got all blotchy. We called his mother, who is a retired nurse, and like every other nurse on the friggin planet, she said we needed to go to the ER. C'mon! Where's the sage advice? Where's the do-this-so-you-don't-have-to-pay-out-the-ummm-nose help?

ANYWAY...

Bella, being the concerned intern that she is, patted her daddy sweetly and told him he'd be okay after checking him out.

When he started feeling better, I made him swear to go to the doctor for a check-up. Being a man, he said he was fine and didn't need a stinkin doctor. I growled and gave him The Look.

Then Bella asked if he had to go to the doctor.

He looked at me, defeated, and mumbled something resembling a "yes".

Bella's eyes lit up, she started clapping excitedly and exclaimed, "YAY! Daddy hasa go to tha dawtor!"

She's the only person who really seems to appreciate our healthcare system.

KREIKY!

Ava just had her one month checkup. The child weighs a whopping 10lbs, 2oz.

She was just 7lbs, 12oz when born...barely over FOUR weeks ago!

Not only that, she's jumped from 19 1/2 inches long to 22 1/4 inches long. Is someone feeding her steroids when I'm not looking??

Needless to say, I was very surprised. I even questioned the nurse's weight scale, which I'm sure she appreciated.

Other than being an Amazon Baby, Ava is doing wonderful. Showing signs of reflux but not nearly like it was with Isabella (thank God). She is a very happy baby, sleeps a more predictable schedule and is fascinated by her big sister. Doesn't even mind when Bella rubs her head all over Ava's face as if she were snuggling a kitten instead of a kid. A few curls in the eyeball never hurt anyone, right?

My mother-in-law scared me. She pointed out that my child is growing about a pound a week. There are 52 weeks in a year.

Then my brain turned back on and I scoffed at her suggestion. Pshaw.

It wouldn't, it couldn't happen. Right?

See? Even Ava is pondering the possibility.

Hmmm....I may not always be the little one to pick on, after all...

Watch out, Isabella and Cousin Channing!

Who's There?

Bella has learned her first joke. Now she likes to make up her own.

"Not, not"

Who's there?

"Owanj"

Orange, who?

"Owanj you gad to see me?" *giggle*


Then that spins into:

"Not, not"

Who's there?

"Bankie"

Um, blankie who?

"Bankie to wrap you up? " *bursts into laughter at her own cleverness*

"Wait! Wait! No!...Not, not!"

Who's there?

"ABA!"

Ava, who?

"Aba's gad to see you!!" *laughs so loud, her little sister's arms fling out in alarm*

Toddler Conversations Continued

BAM...BAM...BAM

"Bella! What are you doing?"

A little voice replies...

"I'm hittin the wall with baby's head!" (her doll, not her sister)

I ask why.

"Because...is noisy!"

I will not be asking her to babysit Ava anytime soon.


--------

A rustling noise comes from the kitchen. I go in and she's munching on something out of her pumpkin bag. I ask what she's got in there as I peek in at what looks like leaves. When I ask if it is leaves, she gives me a look as if I'm completely ridiculous.

"Noooooo Mommy (laughter), is SALAD."

Only my daughter would put green leaf lettuce in her candy bag. So proud of my lil' rabbit.

--------

It is too quiet in the gameroom so I tiptoe in to check things out. I enter the room to find her standing on her stroller next to the pool table. She is a little startled but recovers quick enough to put on her best innocent look and ask politely "Mama, won't you go in tha other woom?"

--------

So far it isn't the Terrible Twos as much as it is the Troublemaker Twos. And I'm okay with that.

The Not So Scary Fairy

It is Halloween. Bella isn't old enough to go trick-o-treating anywhere but her grandmother's and aunt's house. And it is the same costume as last year. Think she cares? NO WAY.

Cuz she's a "pitty pincess!"

We'll work on being lady-like next year.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

One Fine Day

Saturday we had our first family outing that didn't involve a shopping cart! Okay, there was a shopping cart but it wasn't ours, it was the homeless man's. But don't feel bad. After he dug around in the trash and found some leftovers from Sonic, my husband went and gave him

our left over picnic lunch.

Apparently Homeless Man gets plenty of food. He was far from skinny and gave most of the Doritos to his sidekick goose.

We had a great day and it was wonderful for Bella to play till she passed out on the way home.

"Mama, we're havin a goooooooood day!"

"Lookit me!"

Okay, Ava's not looking.

And a nap is looking pretty good about now...

Sweet dreams!

Tough Day

Yesterday was a bad, strange day.

We had to put our sweet 6 yr old Dachsund, Mollie, to sleep. It was sudden and surprising how sick she became and the vet could do nothing for her.

Turns out it was most likely pancreatitis. Very common in female, middle-age dogs her size. She could've had the disease for a long time and it just came in small spells. But this one was big enough to do too much damage too quickly. By the time my mother-in-law rushed Mollie to the vet, she was in shock and her temperature was so low, it didn't even register on the thermometer.

We got Mollie and Zeus when they were just 8 weeks old. Being first time breed buyers, we didn't do our research enough and ended up with two very sick puppies. Both nearly died from a kennel bacteria. We worked hard to nurse them back to health and for years both were very healthy, happy little dogs.

You may recall, this time last year, we had to rush Zeus into surgery for two ruptured discs in his lower back. He had a less than 50% chance of regaining use of his back legs. Mollie cared for him as he recovered. She loved on him and snuggled all day and night with him. Remarkably, he can not only walk using his back legs, he can run and even work up a couple of leg scratches with his left hind leg. He's an amazing little boy who's back to hunting squirrels and threatening neighbors on a daily basis.

We'll miss Mollie a great deal. She was spunky, stubborn, sweet and loving. I'm not sure what happens with a dog's spirit, if anything at all, but at least she no longer suffers and she was dearly loved by us and her brother.

Random Rant

Ever wonder why formula for babies is so dang expensive?

Let me tell you why...

1) Because they deliver crates of it to OB offices so nurses will hand them out to every expectant or new mother. Talk about a mixed message to new moms considering the Lactation Nazis who bothered her daily in the hospital!

2) Because they mail them to new moms (who they find via registration in hospitals) in obviously not cheap packaging containing two cans of completely different formula types (hello!)

3) Because of the expense of the materials used to market these formulas. Mailouts. Coupons. How To books on babies. Monthly baby info update booklets. Free diaper bags in the hospital (also containing free formula and all the items mentioned above)

I am all for educating women on how to better care for their babies. But wouldn't it be better to create a more affordable product? They can print all they want on the cans that "Breast Is Best" but you know as well as I do that they really prefer you buy their product. So why not make baby's nutrition easier to afford for moms who cannot or do not breastfeed?

Instead we have stupid government commercials promoting (weakly, I might add) breastfeeding over formula and then the formula companies going to great lengths to push their formula in mothers' faces while also admitting in fine print that breastfeeding is best.

I do not think the prices of formula vs. the marketing push for formula are in balance. I feel for any mother who has to fork over the $22 for one can of formula a week, if not more often.

I get really frustrated to see the free cans of formula wasted on mothers like me who breastfeed. I make it a point to donate the formula in hopes that a mother who cannot afford it will be able to use it; however, I imagine alot of free cans of formula are simply thrown away.

Yeah, may seem like an insignificant gripe, but I have a marketing background and an idea what these companies spend to promote their products only to have them be the most expensive necessity for so many babies.

K...I'm done ranting. Damn hormones. :)

The Beginnings of My Halloween Costume

Today Ava is three weeks old. On one hand, I can hardly believe! On the other hand, it seems she's been here alot longer. Well, visible, anyway :)

Not only is every pregnancy different, every delivery and every baby...apparently you can get a whole new set of issues with your hormones! Along with a reaction to the steri strips, I also had a reaction to my former friend, Vicodin. I was hosting my own Itchy Scratchy show.

Then Saturday, I woke up to this...

Those are not wax lips. They are mine, blown up about 3 times their normal size. Let me just say that I panicked slightly when I looked in the mirror at 3:35am after changing Ava's diaper. I rushed in to my husband, telling him to get up quick! He grabbed his glasses and leaped out of bed to kill the burglar.

When he saw me in the light, did he show great concern? No.

He handed me a Benadryl capsule, a frozen teething ring, kissed my forehead and stumbled back to bed.

I show you the above picture because 1) I do not know most of you in person and 2) my sister has already seen and laughed.

So as not to leave you with such a scary sight, how about this:

Where's the Calgon?

Ending week two with my two baby girls, I have to say that I absolutely LOVE having two children! I don't know why, but we feel so complete now. Balanced. My husband and I are big on that.

Isabella has been wonderful, overall, with her new sister. She does have toddler moments like dramatically throwing herself to the floor when Daddy holds Ava too long. Or rocking the bassinet with her eyes slanted our way knowing she's not supposed to touch it but trying to look as subtle as possible in her badness. She loves to kiss Ava, hug her and...YES...rub her ear lobes.

So far, Ava has protested the loudest of anyone. See Bella's look? Totally two.



I've healed really well other than a chemical reaction to the adhesive on the steri strips. Not a pretty sight, but I don't expect Playboy will be calling anytime soon so I'm not gonna sweat it. I'm off all meds and eating like a pig to keep up with my tiny piglet's feedings.

Ava is a wonderfully, sweet, calm baby. Completely opposite of her big sister already. She sleeps like a champ and when awake, rarely cries. She just tries to focus her eyes in the same direction. I imagine that takes alot of concentration. When she hears Bella, she turns her head immediately in that direction. I love that!

I'm tired but very happy. My sister, her family and my brother are coming to visit this weekend. I plan to take long naps, allowing my sister to fall in love with having an infant around again (sorry, Daniel!) and letting Bella soak up as much attention as she likes and needs.

Thank you everyone for all the sweet words about our baby girl. It is just as thrilling this time around as it was with our first child.

She's Here!

Ava Elizabeth was born on Monday, October 2 at 3:18. She weighed a full two pounds more than Isabella at 7 lbs, 12 oz and is 19 1/2 long. I can't get over her chunky cheeks!

















She is perfectly healthy and sleeps like an angel. She took to nursing immediately which is a relief. Isabella loooooooves her little sister and likes to kiss her...alot. As well as pat her back a little too enthusiastically. But we're working on being more gentle :)





















I am healing well with the help of my little friend, Vicodin. Doesn't matter how it is spelled because it still ROCKS.

Needless to say, my husband and I are elated with the new addition to our family. You really do find that your heart grows with more love for each child!

I'll post more later. Ava's placed an order for lunch.

Things I've Learned This Pregnancy

Well, people...Monday is the big day. That is, if little one doesn't decide to put a rush on her entrance into the world, but so far it appears she is lazy and wants the doc to evict her from my premises. We go in at 9am for pre-op and then the surgery is scheduled at noon. I could not be more ready! Three weeks ago, I was freaking out, now I just want her out!

This has been a very interesting pregnancy and it is true that every pregnancy is different. I've learned a few things this year (yep, because I've been pregnant since day ONE of this year!) and I'd like to share. If you are a man, be wary...

1) With a first pregnancy, your body tries to hold it all together like a pretty, tightly wrapped package. With a second pregnancy, your body no longer gives a crap and everything just goes where it wants. I did not know that a fetus could kick you nearly all the way around to your back.

2) A head in the pelvic area is FAR different than a tiny butt. Bella was breech, this baby is very obvious to me...NOT.

3) A first pregnancy brings great excitement and interest to others as well as concern for your well-being. A second does not. It is old hat to you now, right? Pshaw. Why should anyone be concerned that you are chasing a toddler while bulging with baby and your feet look like tree trunks?

4) With a second pregnancy, you have far less patience. Maybe because I'm already a mama bear, but I've snapped a few heads off this time around whereas I was a peach when pregnant with Isabella. NO, do not put both your hands on my belly and ask if "it" is moving, you nosey stinky waitress.

5) After nursing for 19 1/2 months and preparing to ride that rollercoaster again, it is noticeable how very National Geographic those poor abused milkers are. Thank goodness for Miracle Bras cuz it'll be a miracle how these will survive another year.

So what are the similarities to a first pregnancy?

Nausea.
Heartburn.
Outie.
Nesting.
Fear.
Joy.
Love.

My family and I are very excited to meet this brand new little being. What will she look like? Isabella is such an incredible mix of my husband and I, we can't even begin to picture this baby's face. How big or little will she be? Bella was sooooo tiny at 5lbs, 6oz when she left the hospital. Is she going to be completely different than her big sister or similar in personality? Is she going to be timid or even more strong-willed and lively than her big sis? (if so, UH OH)

We are blessed beyond comparison and though Monday will be scary with surgery and delivery, recovery will be longer and probably harder, the reward is another perfect little creation of love. Seeing my husband's traits in my children, whether in looks or personality, makes my heart soar with great joy and love for him all over again.






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