2nd Time Mom

There are a lot of lessons I learned the past 17 months with Claire that I’ll be able to apply as a second time Mom, including…

· Teach them to take a bottle sooner rather than later, so you don’t have to return to work with a baby who refuses to drink from a bottle, making the transition that much harder.

· The sooner you can lay them down for bed drowsy but awake and have them fall asleep on their own, the better! While it’s lovely to rock your baby to sleep, the truth is that they go through many sleep cycles throughout the night that cause them to wake up. If they are reliant on you putting them back to sleep then you’ll be at their mercy! The best situation is when they can fall back asleep on their own.

· The 5 S’s really do work.

But the #1 lesson I learned that will benefit me as a 2nd time mom is….. (Almost) Everything is a phase!!!

This lesson can be applied over and over again. Worried that you’ll never have uninterrupted sleep again because your baby is up every 2 hours? Don’t worry, they may start STTN (for all you non-new parents out there.. that’s sleeping-through-the-night…. The most desired yet elusive quest for parents of young children) next week. On the flip side, are you mentally patting yourself on the back all day long because your two month old sleeps like a champ for 7 hours straight each night? Well hold onto your horses because tonight you may find yourself beginning a long rotation of sleepless nights.


It’s like the MN weather phrase… “If you don’t like the weather in MN, just wait for tomorrow”. Or something like that.

When Claire was in her first few weeks of life, I clearly remember desperately exclaiming to Josh, “I just want her to be AWAKE and NOT CRYING for two minutes!! Is that too much to ask?!”. I thought the day would never come, although he assured me it would. Sure enough, it wasn’t (relatively) too long before she was awake and content for periods of time.


She started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks. Yes, I was the most envied woman in my mom group. She slept like that every.single.night until she was 13 weeks. Then, magically, the week I returned to work, she started waking up two times per night, which continued for months. I told myself that she just missed me during the day and wanted more mommy time at night. Whatever you have to tell yourself, people!


She’s had a love/hate relationship with car rides. More so hate, than love, but you really never know.


I could go on and on. I’m excited to be a second time Mom. While I think I was fairly laidback (maybe too laidback at times…like when my Pediatrician’s office said, “No! Bring her to the Children’s Hospital!” when I asked if I should bring her in to their office when she was sick in February) Mom with Claire, I think I will be even more so this time around. When it comes to parenthood, I believe the phrase “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. So, bring it on baby boy! We’re ready for you!!

Heavy Heart

Tonight I have a heavy heart. 

My co-worker Chad's wife passed away last night, after an 8 year battle with colon cancer.  Chad is the nicest man you could ever meet and I am so sad for his family.  He has two daughters- a junior in high school and a sophomore in college.  Over Labor Day weekend, just a couple weeks ago, Chad and his wife, Kay, moved their daughter into her college dorm.  And just last Tuesday they both attended their other daughter's volleyball game.  I cannot imagine losing my mom at that age.  And now, as a mother (and especially of a daughter), I can't imagine how she felt knowing that she would never go wedding dress shopping with her daughters, or see them walk down the aisle, or watch them become a mother themself.  It's so tragic.  Josh and I are going to the visitation Friday night.  Josh knows Chad from work too. 

Furthermore, we have found a new home for our beloved puppy, Sydney.  I have cried (or been on the verge of tears if not crying) so much that I am just wiped out.  It's not an easy decision, and it's one that Josh feels stronger about than me.  Sydney was our first baby and we have loved sharing our lives with her the past 5.5 years.  We have joked that she is a little version of Marley.  She's playful, rambunctious, cuddly, loveable, sweet, mischevious, naughty, energetic, loving..... all wrapped up into a 15 pound little being.  My good friends Laurie and Andrew still tease me about something I said a few years ago regarding Sydney...."I just love her more and more every single day".  She is a family member and I feel like we are just deserting her.  She is just not that good with little kids and we don't want to risk an unfortunate accident with Claire, our son, or Brody.  The entire family is taking this hard.  My mom cried today when I broke the news.  Later, she told Brad and they both cried.  I spoke with Chris this evening and he was having a very rough time too.  He even wants to spend Friday afternoon with Sydney if she's moving away this weekend.  I just can't imagine life without her as a companion.  I am sad.

8 Months Pregnant!

Here I am, 8 months pregnant with just 8 weeks to go.  I had my 32 week appt yesterday.  At my 26 week ultrasound baby boy was breech.  I wasn't concerned because I knew there was a lot of time to flip but I was still relieved yesterday to hear that he's head down.  She said that with him being headdown at this point, there's only a 5% chance he'll flip back.  As weird as this may sound, I'm really looking forward to giving birth again!  I can only hope and pray it goes as well as it did with Claire.

I'm up 25 pounds I think.  Blood pressure is great at 102/60.  I'm feeling lots of movement but it isn't painful yet... I think he is less active than Claire was.  I'm still really comfortable at night (relatively speaking), which is a blessing!  I am so thankful to not have sciatica this time!  But I have had bouts of insomnia.  It takes me a very long time to fall asleep, I wake up often during the night, and I am generally awake long before my alarm goes off.  This morning Claire slept until 7:10AM which was awesome but I was awake since 5:45.  I just laid in bed and thought about work because I didn't want to get up and make noise and wake her up.

My back has been hurting me so I am very much looking forward to my (one and only) prenatal massage on the 29th.  I am also experiencing nausea, which I didn't have in the 3rd tri last time.  I've heard that it comes back towards the end for some women and it looks like I am one of the lucky ones!

Overall, I feel very fortunate to have had a very smooth pregnancy and feel as good as I do.  We're cherishing our last 8 weeks with undivided attention for our first born and as a family of three.  Currently it's 10AM.  Claire is napping at the moment and Josh is mowing the lawn.  I have dinner in the crockpot.  Once Claire is awake, we're going to head out for a day of fall family fun.  Life is good! 

Claire's First Gymnastics Class

And it has begun!  Activities!  Claire had her first gymnastics class tonight at The Little Gym.  Just Josh was going to take her but my work meeting was done early so we were both able to enjoy the time with her!  It was so great.  I think Josh and I both had a smile plastered on our face the entire time.

She was timid at first.  Josh said she gets that from him-- "Just like me, she lets everybody else have their turn first and watches them, and then she goes".   We started with singing a song and ringing bells.  She sat on my lap the entire song (like she was supposed to) while most of the other 4 kids (Cooper, Arabell- who is the daughter of Jody, from my mom's group, Koda and Jillian) ran around the gym and explored.

Then we played on this floaty thingie that is in all of the pictures below.  The kids could run around and jump off.  She was warming up by this point.

Afterwards the kids just explored- they could try different mats, balance beam, equipment, etc.  She had a blast climbing on everything.

Miss Laura, the instructor, tried somersaults with each of them.  Claire had no clue at first, but by the end of the class (after maybe 8-10 or so somersaults), she had already made improvement!  She was putting her hands on the ground and tucking her head.  What a smart girl!

She got to hang from the bar and had no idea how to do that, until she watched Mama hold onto it, and then could do it herself.  From a developmental standpoint, it was great for her to be around other kids her age.

There was all kinds of fun things we did in the 45 minute class.  I didn't realize how physical it would be for me.  It's good Josh was there because I wouldn't have been able to do everything with her myself at 8 months pregnant.  I think he'll need to come every week (we'll both go) at least until after my recovery from giving birth.  Judging by the smile on his face, something tells me he won't mind!!

Comments!!

While this blog is largely a journal for my family, it is nice to be reminded once in awhile that someone out there is also reading it!  So I was so excited to see two comments on two recent posts!!  THANK YOU! 

Angela asked me in her comment, "What are your thoughts on the fact that Muslims build a Mosque near areas they have conquered.".

So I thought I should answer!

I don't know if this is true.  But let's say for argument reason that it is.  After some consideration, I have a couple thoughts:

1) The individuals who carried out the attacks of 9/11 did not conquer the United States.  They didn't conquer New York City or the American people.  We are a stronger nation.  The only way that the extremists could believe that they have conquered us is because they're already dillusional. 

2) My second thought is.... How is God most glorified?

I am reminded of Matthew chapter 5. 
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Those are my predominating thoughts!

Life is Good

My life isn't perfect
Life isn't easy
Life isn't simple
Life isn't free of stress
Life is busy
Life is hectic
Life is full of responsibilities
Life is full of deadlines, bills to pay, people to see, places to go

But my life is good.  I have an overwhelming feeling today that life is good.

In just a couple minutes, the Vikings will begin their first game of the season. I love football- especially Vikings!  I was so sad when last season ended because it had been such a fun and bonding time for my family (it was so fun to have my dad watch most of the games at our house).  So I'm super excited it's starting again!!

Josh and I are in a really good place.  I've heard a quote that goes something like this- a successful marriage depends upon falling in love multiple times....and always with the same person.  I think this is so true.  And it's even better when both spouses fall in love with each other at the same time.  Josh and I are there right now and it's just wonderful.  Adding a baby to your family causes a major adjustment in your relationship.  I am proud to say that after 16 months of being parents, Josh and I are closer and more a team than ever.

I am so excited it's fall.  Things I am looking forward to:

Sever's Corn Maze
Sweaters
Jeans
Brisk walks as a family
Apple orchards
Hot chocolate
Cuddling under a blanket
Fall TV shows
Football
Apple slices with caramel
Soup
Fall clothes for Claire
Halloween
Yummy candles
Thanksgiving
Meeting my son (!!!)
Three weeks together at home as a family of four (Josh is taking a 3 wk leave of absence when he's born- yay!)
Maternity leave
Pumpkin carving
Time at the cabin in the fall weather
Visit from Grandpa and Marcia
Trip to Iowa with the Mieska clan

The list could go on!!  This summer was the best summer of my adulthood and I am certain this fall will be the best fall of my adult years too!  It's pretty much because I am madly in love with Claire and my little family!

Time for kickoff- Skol VIKES!!!

LIFE IS GOOD!

Just Another Day in Paradise

I like the country song by Phil Vasser called “Just another day in paradise”.

The kids screaming, phone ringing

Dog barking at the mailman bringing

That stack of bills - overdue

Good morning baby, how are you?

Got a half hour, quick shower

Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour

My funny face makes you laugh

Twist the top on and I put it back

There goes the washing machine

Baby, don't kick it.

I promise I'll fix it

Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice

It's just another day in paradise

Well, there's no place that

I'd rather be

Well, it's two hearts

And one dream

I wouldn't trade it for anything

And I ask the Lord every night

For just another day in paradise

I felt like I was living a verse of it yesterday evening. Here’s a rundown of about one hour of my life yesterday.

I decide to grill hamburgers and potatoes for dinner.

I go outside with Claire to water the trees.

After I water, I go to the garden to pick tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to have with dinner.

During this time, Claire goes to the trees, shoves her hands in the freshly watered dirt, aka mud, (we don’t have mulch around our trees, just dirt), and proceeds to eat the mud and smear it all over her face.

I bring her inside, clean her up, cut up the potatoes, and begin making her a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner because I can tell by her whining and clingy-ness that she’s hungry.

Claire and I go outside, turn on the grill, and put on the potatoes because they take 40 minutes to cook. I get distracted and we play outside for a few min.

I come inside and realize her grilled cheese is burning. I flip it over, and hope I can scrape off the black stuff and she’ll still eat it.

Heather stops by to pick something up and we chat as I season and form the hamburgers.

Josh calls and says he’ll be a little late because he has to go to my mom’s to pick up sweet corn (why? I do not know, since we’re going to the fair tonight and will be out of town Friday through Monday).

I strap Claire to her seat and give her dinner. She immediately throws her tomatoes and milk onto the floor.

I go outside to put the hamburgers on the grill and find that it had run out of gas.

I bring the potatoes inside and attempt to cook them on the stove. I search for and find my George Foreman, which I haven’t used in years.

I put the hamburgers on the George Foreman, continue cooking the potatoes, pick up Claire’s milk that she’s thrown 5 times and tell her for the millionth time that she can’t feed the puppy.

Josh comes home.

I take out plates, cups, etc, and look for the hamburger buns. I ask Josh where they are and he tells me he threw them away the night before (Why? I do not know).

I explain I can’t eat hamburgers without the bun. He leaves for the gas station to buy buns.

Josh returns. The food is cooked, and the hamburgers are a bit cold. We sit down, and enjoy our meal for 5 minutes before proceeding with the rest of the nightly routine: dishes, bathtime, books, bedtime, etc.

Yup, just another day in paradise.