Bonnie's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 5/19/07 -------------------- 4/18/07 2/27/07 1/18/07 12/21/06 12/2/06 11/11/06 10/13/06 9/24/06 9/14/06 9/4/06 8/23/06 8/17/06 8/3/06 7/28/06 7/24/06 7/21/06 7/11/06 6/29/06 6/26/06 6/25/06 6/24/06 6/21/06 6/15/06 6/13/06 -------------------- Bonnie's Introduction

So happy together...

August 17, 2006

Well things have certainly been fun over here at Chez Bonnie.  First of all, we had Ella come back from her cruise, tanned and full of stories but also eager to meet her sister.  I just love not being pregnant anymore.  I can bend over!  I can cough without peeing!   I can wear my old clothes!  Heartburn—gone!!  Finally, I continue to be over the moon thrilled about the arrival of Lorelei. 

I am very lucky in that with both Ella and Lore I didn't go through any sort of 'Baby Blues' period that I hear and read so much about.  Actually, sometimes I feel as though I am high in that I am just so happy to have my babies home.  Of course, it's been a lot of work and we have been losing sleep.  But much more so, I have been feeling constant joy every single time I look in my tiny baby's face.  I am so happy she is here, she is healthy, and she is my daughter.  I can never get sick of her soft round cheeks, her pouty lips, her steel blue eyes.  Even when she is crying I will stare into her angry flaring mouth and fill my heart filling up with love. 

Largely so far Lorelei has been a very easy baby.   She is very sleepy, more so then I remember Ella ever being.  She will go ¾ of the day just sleeping (we have her sleeping in the car seat right now), with me waking her up to eat every three hours then her drifting off again.  I would be worried but she is still less then a month old so I know she still has a lot of waking up to do.  Of course, she is usually up for about two hours straight somewhere during the wee hours of the night.  That can be rough, but if I sleep 3-4 hours before and 3 after I am still getting six-seven hours of sleep, which is bearable (esp. if I can catch a nap too!), and she usually doesn't wake more then once (sometimes twice) at night. 

Breastfeeding has also been going very smoothly.  This was a HUGE relief since  I had a lot of problems nursing Ella and ended up stopping by three months as things never seemed to resolve themselves.   This time I really worked with the nurses at the hospital but honestly I think Lore just has a better suck and my body was naturally producing more then the first time.  In any case, some initial soreness aside we are now doing swimmingly.  The pediatrician was very happy with her weight gain and she can fill a diaper like nobody's business!  I'm so proud of us!

Ella has been doing very well with her new sister.  She pats her and talks to her but Lorelei is sleeping so much that there is minimal interaction.  It makes it easy to tend to Ella's needs though, which has eased the transition.  Even when I need to do something for Lore, Ella is old enough to be able to do a lot for herself or to follow directions if I talk her through something.  I don't know how moms with Toddlers still running around in diapers, needing constant supervision, do it.

One thing that has been different this time is that Lorelei will not take a pacifier at all.  Ella was such a binky baby that for a while Jamie and I were at a loss, unsure how to handle Lorelei's crying jags without the resource of popping a binky in.  We have persevered, however, and are learning new tricks and learning that our girls will, indeed, be their own persons from day one. 

One final very fun thing that we have had the pleasure of indulging in is getting meals delivered from various families within our neighborhood.  One of my neighbors (and good friend) coordinates this service to new moms.  Over the years, I have very much enjoyed preparing and delivering these meals, not only for the good will but the chance to welcome (and ogle) the new babies.  We are absolutely loving being on the receiving end of this now; on the days we have meals coming we nearly get giddy with anticipation.

In the middle of all this we have actually been pretty busy.  Jamie and I both had our birthdays, complete with cake and small celebrations, we have had visits from various family and friends, and we have been managing to get out of the house fairly regularly.  Our family of four has been to a "Shakespeare in the Park" show in our town, to an outdoor children's concert, hiking, on multiple walks/bike rides to playgrounds, to a Jeff Corwin Animal Expereince Expo, to water parks, and out to eat twice.  Not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

With joy,  thanks for reading,

Bonnie

Some Ella cruise pictures

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