Caillou

I'm posting this for my own sake as much as for anyone else's... I want to remember this and if I don't write it down somehow, I might forget...!

A few months ago, when I would let Julia watch TV or a movie up in our room, she would start to say the words "une guy-you".  We thought that this was just Julia-speak for, "I want to watch a movie."  Without fail, we would hear her say these words when she wanted to watch a show on TV.

When I was in the hospital with Raven, Adam dropped Julia off at daycare one day, and when they walked in the door, Julia said, "guy-you!"  Linda (daycare lady) replied with (according to Adam), "You want to watch Caillou?"  Adam asked Linda if she was indulging Julia in her own language, and Linda informed him that each morning, the kids are allowed to watch "Caillou" on IPTV (PBS).  Finally... the mystery solved!  Julia was saying "Caillou!" the last couple of months, thinking that we would watch "Caillou" on TV and instead we've been placating her with Baby Einstein and They Might Be Giants DVDs (which she DOES love). 

Adam and I talked and decided to purchase a couple of "Caillou" DVDs for Julia.  Apparently she loves the show, and with her not being at daycare as much over the next couple of weeks, she was going to be missing out on a special part of her day.  Today the "Caillou" DVDs showed up, and tonight I asked Julia if she wanted to watch a movie.  She about beat me downstairs and said, "Caillou?"  I picked up the two DVDs we purchased and showed them to her... you would have thought she was going to faint with glee.  I popped in one of the DVDs, and wouldn't you know?  Julia KNOWS THE OPENING SONG and was bopping to and trying to sing along with the theme song.  The word "Caillou" is said over and over again in the song, and sure enough... that is DEFINITELY what Julia has been saying the last couple of months.  Thank goodness SOMEONE knows what she's saying... ha!

erin

Melt My Heart

(Julia loving on her sister... trying to teach her to say 'bye bye'... seriously, melt my heart.  Enough said.)

Welcome Home, Raven!

Raven and I came home from the hospital last Wednesday, but Julia didn't know yet at that point that the baby she saw in the hospital was actually coming home (or, at least, I assume... I have NO idea what runs through and almost-two-year-old's brain).  Upon coming home from daycare that night, Julia came in the house, hugged me, and then noticed the Pack 'n Play which was NOT there earlier in the day.  Upon closer inspection, she realized that there was a BABY! in there.  All of my fears about how Julia would adjust to being a big sister melted away when she immediately asked to hold the baby... and thus began our routine of Julia climbing onto the couch (with assistance), saying, "I see!  I see!  Chee!" (wanting her picture taken), and holding Raven. 

Beware... this is the first of my posts tonight that are mainly pictures... but hey, wouldn't you rather see pictures than "listen" to me talk?  ;)

erin

Oooh... I forgot!

I forgot to mention in my last post that Raven's umbilical cord thingamabob came off already... crazy!  I undressed her at the Dr.'s office and went, "Oh!" when I realized it wasn't there.  The nurse assured me that it looked okay.

I also found out that Adam had and took the chance to cut Raven's umbilical cord when she was born... cool and yet... gross.  Ha!  :)

erin

One Week (and One Day) Old!

Raven had her first doctor's appointment today... yay!

The appointment went well, Raven filled two diapers while we were there, and we were sent off with a clean bill of health for the kidlet and to return at 2 mo for her next well-baby check-up.

Raven's stats today are:

Height: 20-3/4" (75th percentile)

Weight: 8 lbs (50th percentile)

She handled the checking out well without any crying or whining at all.  She is nursing and sleeping really well and really, we couldn't ask for a more mellow kid.  We thought Julia was a good kid... but wow!  (Ha, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop...)

Adam was a big help and came along (since I still should not be driving) and watched Julia in the play area while we were in our appointment.

Good times!

Erin

--
*** Visit my Blog at: erin-quilter.blogspot.com ***

Sissies

You will be seeing A LOT of pictures of Julia and Raven together because, well, Julia believes that every time she holds Raven, she should ALSO have her picture taken... it is so darned cute.  And she loves to hold Raven... :)  This picture is from yesterday morning... Julia woke up and I brought her into our room while I finished getting Raven up and ready to go for the day and she insisted on being put on our bed so she could hold "baby".

erin

Big Sissy, Little Sissy

A few more pictures of Julia and Raven together... Julia is loving on her little sister more and more each day!  I am anxious and hopeful for their first meeting At Home tonight! 

What I Consider A Little Mommy Heaven on Earth

Last night Raven and I had a bunch of time to ourselves after Daddy went home... Mommy needed rest and we kicked back in the hospital bed, nursed, and hung out on the Internet for a while... Raven slept.  I posted yesterday and mentioned The Power of the Sleeping Baby on Mommy's Chest... thought I would take a few pictures so you could see just why reaching my camera cable so Oh So Unnecessary at that point in time...

Home, Sweet Home!

Adam picked Raven and I up today from the hospital around 11:30 am.  I saw my doctor at 9:45 ish, was in the shower around 10:10 am, and had everything packed up and ready to go by 11:00 am.  Yay!

Adam is a sweetie... he had pizza waiting in the car for us to have for lunch when we got home!  Yay again!

We took a similar picture when we brought Julia home... two points if you can tell me something similar between this and Julia's going home picture...!

love,
erin

Update from My Hospital Bed

Good evening!

It has been a wonderful and busy day today. I thought I would post a few updates.

........ We are heading home tomorrow! Right now, that is the plan. Unsure as to when yet, but Adam will be waiting to hear from me and will come and bring us home.

........ Julia will be having a much-needed day at daycare tomorrow... I am so glad we ended up deciding to send her to daycare one day a week! She needs her routine, and Adam needs a bitty break... he is not used to being a Stay At Home Parent and I know he has had a tiring couple of days.

........ Raven is a nursing champ but also a very sleepy girl so we have been having to wake her up to feed her and such. She had her billi levels checked today, and while they are high, hopefully she will even out over the next few days and not need the lights. She has been a very good... calm, content, quiet... baby... I'm waiting for the fallout when we get home. Ha!

........ Julia adores her little sister and wants very badly to love on her. She asked to hold her no less than five different times while she was here today and was excited to have her wish granted more often than not. Something I should have expected but was hoping wouldn't happen yet... she was also asking to hold her as in CARRY her... she would come up to me while I was holding Raven and ask me to give Raven to her. So she could walk with her... somewhere. I would shuffle her little butt over to the chair and let her hold Raven. Note to self... must work hard on that at home so Julia does not randomly pick up Raven from tummy time or out of the swing or bouncy chair.

........ I am feeling well and have been a "good girl" and am taking my pain meds. I know the next few days / weeks will be rough acclimating to being a Mom of Two and also trying to recover from my C-section.

........ We have received a lot of compliments on Raven's name, which is fun... but sadly, we don't have a good story to go with how we came about it! Ha! :) Raven was mentioned by one of us a month or so ago, it made the list, then it made the short list, and last week that is what I decided on after Adam said I could make the final decision. I love her name and it already seems to fit her. :)

........ A thanks to our visitors over the last few days... Alecia, Amy, Linda, Chrissy, Gene, Nancy, and Racheal (and Amy and Alecia again too!). It was wonderful to share this experience with you as our first visitors to see our little bundle of love.

........ A thanks to the Rozenboom family for babysitting Julia tonight so that Adam and I could enjoy our "Stork Dinner"... I am sure she had a fun time with Hayden and Nile!

........ A thanks to our daycare provider Linda for the care of Julia on Sunday. I know that was the best possible place for Julia to be for a long and unscheduled sort of day... she was at ease and had a good time and knowing that was such a blessing!

........ A thanks to everyone for the emails, FB messages, and phone texts/messages and the well-wishes that came along with them.

........ And... a thanks to my wonderful husband... he has been exceptional this week and has done numerous things, including the hardest -- helping Julia with her transition and being there for her when mommy can't be, and he has done it all without complaint. I am glad that he is my husband and the father to my daughters... I cannot tell you how truly wonderful he is and how much I love him!

Hugs and love to you all! More pictures and video to come over the next few days...! I would do so right now, but the Power of the Sleeping Baby on Mommy's Chest is enough to keep me from attempting to reach the camera cable. ;) Hee!

erin