Who's who?

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Granted, one is about 3 weeks older than the other in these pictures, but I can't get over how much they look alike.

The top one is Oliver, the bottom one is Emelia.

This is my new favorite picture of Oliver...

It captures him perfectly--half sweetheart, have trouble maker. 

I think this picture must have caught him transitioning between his two selves.

And my favorite picture of Emelia.

For now.

She is smiling at herself in the mirror.  One of her favorite activities.

And my babies together.  They make my heart melt.

"It not working"

Lately any time I take out the camera Oliver flashes his cheesiest grin. 

I was trying to figure out how to take videos on my new camera the other night, because I wanted to capture Oliver dancing along to "The Voice" but I got this instead:



10 Things

Ten things to know about Emelia.

1.  She crys.  A lot.  Now before you roll your eyes and say "of course she does Ann, she's a baby"--hear me out.

She crys for hours.  With a feriocity that threatens to bring down the roof on my 100+ year old house.

Emelia has cried more in her first four weeks than Oliver did in his first 6 months.  After one marathon 5 hour session I called our doctor, and he suggested I bring her in.  She performed well for him--which made me happy.  Not because I want her to cry, but because I didn't want the doctor to think I was crazy.

When she wasn't better the next day, he asked me to come in again.  We have no answers, but I feel better knowing that a seasoned vetran of pediatrics confirms what I've been thinking... she crys A LOT.

2.  She hates having her diaper changed.

3.  She spits up--a lot.  I think this may have something to do with #1 above.

4.  She has really long fingers.

5. And toes.  She couldn't wear the newborn size clothes because her feet were to big to fit in the footies!

6. She sleeps better than Oliver did (thank goodness).  Usually two 3-4 hour stretches per night.

7.  She is really strong.  She was holding her head up before we left the hospital.  The other day she almost rolled over straining for her nuk which was just out of reach.

8.  She is pretty in pink.  Which is good because we have a lot of pink.

9.  She is the loudest sleeper I know.  I still get up at night thinking she is fussing, but she's not. Just grunting, squeaking, snorting and yes, crying... in.her.sleep.


10.  She squeaks.  A lot.  Andy has nicknamed her "Little Mouse."

Wearing "big brother" shoes

I knew that there would be some bumps in the road as Oliver learns his new role of big brother.  Overall, he is adjusting nicely.

As I've previously mentioned, he loves Emelia and is very affectionate with her.

 Except when he hits her.

Which he has done twice.

Which really isn't that bad considering she was born three weeks ago.  Right?!

Then there is the acting out.  Good grief.

Oliver and I no longer speak the same language.  Here are some illustrations.

When I say "no" Oliver takes it to mean "go ahead."

When I say "stop" Oliver hears "keep doing that."

The "I-read-everything-on-the-internet-I-can-find-on-parenting" mother in me knows that he is testing his boundaries and that I need to be firm and consistant which will provide him with the security he needs to feel loved.

The human in me says "for-crying-out-loud-I'm-going-to-pull-my-hair-out-if-you-don't-behave" -- lets just say it's been a bit rough. 

A high point for me came on a night when Andy had to work late. 

We sat down to dinner, Oliver, Emelia and I, and we were all in tears.

But we are learning each day, and surviving...one day at a time.

Oliver & Emelia

It's official.  Oliver is smitten.

Everyday when Oliver and Andy come home from work and daycare, Oliver asks, "where'd the baby go?" (assuming I'm not holding her) and runs to check the usual places-the swing, the bouncy chair, the play pen. 

It has been so fun to watch how he interacts with her... he is so gentle and loving. Oliver asks to hold Emelia every day.  He hugs and kisses her more times than I can count.  My heart melts as I watch him gently kiss her on the top of her little head and say "I love you baby."

I think it is safe to say that Oliver is smitten with his little sister.

So am I.



Meet Emelia

Emelia Michaela Haag

February 9, 2012

7 lbs 5 ounces, 20.5 inches long

Its been less than a week and I'm so in love.

Delivery was very different this time around--having a scheduled C-Section is a very surreal way to "deliver" a baby--if you can even call it that!

I woke up early that morning and took a shower and spent a few minutes cuddling with Oliver in his bed.  Oliver had a low grade fever (arond 101) and a yucky cough for a few days and when he woke up on day three and still had a temperature I knew we had to send him to the doctor.

I called my sister and let her know she wouldn't be taking Oliver to daycare but would need to take him to the doctor instead.  The C-section was scheduled for 9:30 am, and I was able to get Oliver an 8:00 am appointment.

We left Oliver with Auntie and headed to the hospital with strict instructions to keep us posted.  We went to the maternal assessment center.  They took my vital signs, monitored the baby's heartbeat and then I basically sat there for two hours waiting to walk back to the OR.

Those two hours were horrible because my emotions were swinging between being excited and anxious about meeting the new baby, and being worried about Oliver.  Susan called, as instructed and Oliver had pneumonia and the flu, and (obviously) would not be able to come see me and the new baby until he had been fever free for 24 hours.

My heart was breaking because Oliver's wasn't feeling good and just wanted to be with his Mama (and Papa) and instead his world was about to change in a major way!  Autie was awesome, and took good care of Oliver, but of course, it is not the same as Mama and Papa.

I walked to the OR that morning swimming in feelings of guilt, excitment, sadness, stress and anxiety.  Like I said, it was surreal.

The C-section itself went very smoothly.  Andy got to be the one to tell me "it's a girl" and I cried, it was an emotional release I really needed.

Here are some pictures from the OR.

I love how her weight is displayed over her soulder.  She showed off a healthy set of lungs, screaming angrily the entire time she was being cleaned up.  The nurses and the doctors all commented on how fiesty she was.

Thats my girl!

And that is how our little family of three became a family of four.

Dear Oliver,

Today is the last day you will be my only baby, Oliver.

I can't believe how much fun we've had together in the last two years.  You are such a smart, silly and sweet boy!  Tomorrow, you will be a big brother and I know you are going to be so good at it! 

Before we talk about you being a big brother, I want to talk about some of the things you are doing now.  You ask so many questions, you are curious about every new thing you see.  Your vocabulary has exploded and you are talking in full sentences.  You REALLY like to pretend to cook, so much so, that it is hard for Mama and Papa to cook when you are around because you drag a chair all over the kitchen and get into things you shouldn't.  Sometimes I distract you by letting you read my fancy cookbooks.

You are the most active little boy I know, running, jumping, dancing.  It seems you never stop moving.  You love to count busses on the way home from daycare, distinguishing between school busses and city busses like an old pro.   You seem to understand that some big changes are coming--but I'm not sure you know what to think. 

So many of the things that I love most about you are going to make you a great big brother.  You are very affectionate and loving, and your new baby brother or sister will soon be the recipient of that affection (gulp).  You love singing and having us sing to you, and I think the baby will too!  You are also very helpful.  Like this winter, the two times it snowed, you were happy to pick up a shovel and do your share.

While you are all boy, and very rambunctious, you also have a sweet, nuturing side that melts my heart.  You love babies right now and I think that you will be very protective of your little sibling and will be good at helping to take care of him or her.  However, while Mama likes the game where you pretend to be a lion, and Mama pretends to be scared and crys so you comfort me with lots of hugs, and kisses and your blankie, the baby probably won't like being scared by a lion. 

You've been changing your toy's diapers for a while now, and lately you've been working on your feeding technique.

I have tried, over the last few months, to make sure that we have had lots of quality time together.  And with the new baby, I will be sure that we still get to spend plenty of time together, just you and me. 

Lots of things are changeing, but I promise you this, my Oliver. 

I love you through and through. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow too.

And I always will.