Two-Months: Coming Up For Air

It is true, a smile changes everything.  Part of the reason newborns are so hard for me is because I don't feel valued.  "Do you even care that I am at your beckon call every hour of the day?"  No response...  That is until this last month because Pippa started smiling!  I admit that I am selfish because I enjoy parenting a lot more when I feel like I am being rewarded.  A smile makes everything better when it comes to caring for a newborn.  Thank you, Pippa, for acknowledging my presence!  And, might I assume, that you like me.  Perhaps even like me like me?

I finally feel like I am coming out of the newborn blues.  I literally imagine myself under water, swimming towards the surface.  I haven't quite emerged but I feel that excitement you do when you see the light from above getting brighter.  Every so often I get a glimpse in my life that things are getting brighter.  Pippa no longer needs to be rocked to sleep!  Which makes things so much easier (more attention for Ro).  And I have been able to get her on somewhat of a loose schedule for her morning and mid-day naps (still working on the afternoon nap).  And she has extended her times between feedings at night: starting at four-hours, to three-hours, to two-hours (what the heck?!), back to three-hours, and now four-hours, with a couple of five-hours!  Whoohoo!  I'm still underwater but it won't be too much longer before I swallow my first breath of air.  
 

Speaking of sleeping...it hasn't been Pippa that has been the main contributor to my middle-of-the-night calls.  I kicked myself out of her room since I wasn't getting much sleep with all her grunting and snoring (babies do not sleep like a baby).  I was sleeping quite well until the "Wood Pecker Incident".  Ro has recently developed a major phobia of wood peckers and as a result calls my name multiple times throughout the night.  Poor kid.  I'd be more upset than I am (seeing that he never used to wake in the night) but he is so terrified of the stupid bird that my heart hurts for him.  I wish it never decided to peck at our chimney!  

Speaking of Ro...he enjoyed his own little adventure with Wyatt's parents and sisters the weekend of Pippa's blessing.  He accompanied Grandy, Goombaw, his three aunties, and Baby Cannon to the top of the Space Needle for lunch.  Ro didn't even look back when he left me to go on his adventure.  He enthusiastically said, "Bye Mom!" and was off.  I on the other hand felt a twinge of pain as I watched him leave without me.  Not the first time but still, I love that little kid!  (Kindergarten is going to be rough for me.)  And Ro received a spotless report when he returned home.  Apparently he knew how to be on his best behavior and relished being able to spend time alone with his beloveds. 

 

 

 

Others came to town for Pippa's blessing too.  In addition to the Space Needle gang, Wyatt's brother, Tyas, drove-up Sunday morning from Portland.  And Ma'G and Pa' Lou (my mom and her husband) flew in from Denver.  Oh, and Ro's besties - the two neighbor kids and their mama - also joined us.  The congregation of our ward is so small, our family made-up a third of the attendance that day.  Wyatt gave Philippa a sweet blessing and we had family over for lunch after church.  Which as a sidebar, I really don't like entertaining.  I can cook something flawlessly a thousand times.  But as soon as I have to cook it for a guest, I fail miserably.  The whole luncheon was an epic fail.  I'm still ticked about the biscuits!

 

 

Pippa got to meet her older cousin, Baby Cannon.  He's three-months older than Pippa but seemed to be very much the same size.  The crowd couldn't resist and weighed the two kids to compare.  It turns out they were exactly the same weight, 13.5-pounds!  And nearly the same, if not the same, height.  Our Tiny Giant is living-up to her nickname.  

I took Pippa to her two-month well visit.  She measured 24.5-inches tall (99%), weighed 14lbs 9oz (97%), and still has a giant head (99%).  Ro was the same - ninetieth percentiles for the first few months and slowly decreased down to 65-75 percentiles now.  That was at about one-year so I suspect Pippa will be on the same growth pace.  

I returned to running the day Pippa turned one-month.  It felt sooooooooo good to have my running legs back!  Given, I have a long way to go before I return to my pre-pregnancy running self.  I honestly feel like running saves me, emotionally.  Some people take drugs, I run.  It truly makes me feel better - happier.  Though trying to find time to run with two kids is quite challenging.  Unless Wyatt has the day off from work, I can't go.  At least that was until Wyatt "bought" me a free treadmill!  I hate, hate, hate treadmill running!  But, I'll take what I can get.  It does have it's perks, being able to run without the worry of making Wyatt late for work.  Or forcing him to worry about the kids' needs before he has to go to work (while he waits for me to return).  Or pretty much being able to run in general without taking Wyatt into consideration at all.  And the whole not having to bundle for the weather bit (almost always rain).  Actually, that's not true.  Once I'm out running, the weather never bothers me.  Even when it is pouring down rain.  I just like running outside best.  Maybe when the nicer weather comes, and I'm sleeping more at night, I'll invest in a "double wide" stroller and drag the kids with me.  Wowza!  That'll be a workout for sure!  I've taken Pippa with me twice and Ro with me once...and it was hard work.  I haven't done that for months.  Since July to be exact.

We're working on transitioning Ro from his crib to a big kid bed.  It's not going as well as I thought it would.  I thought he'd be thrilled at the idea of sleeping free of bars.  Nope.  I've been able to convince him to sleep with the gate off during naps.  He's especially motivated if I let him sleep under his bed.  It doesn't look safe to me...but I've played out the worst in my head and it seems fine.  So, whatever.  He still refuses to sleep with the gate off at night.  I'm sure that has to do with the woodpecker...  I think the gate gives him some security.  And the nightlight...and the white noise.  (We're really trying hard to help him feel safe and sleep through the night.)  And we're trying to kick him out of his crib so Pippa can start sleeping there.  It won't be long before she's busting out of her bassinet.  At least at length.

Ro still likes Pippa.  Actually, he "ovs" her.  It's really sweet to see him hug her numerous times throughout the day.  And be there when she wakes up.  Taking a picture of Pippa has been challenging...Ro likes to be in them too.  Good thing he's cute too! 

My mom saved a few articles of clothing from when my sister and I were babies.  So I've been playing dress-up and having Pippa show them off.  The white dress is circa 1982 - it was my blessing dress.  The pink dress is circa 1975 - it was my sister's blessing dress.  I have a few more for her to sport in the next several months.  Thank you mom for saving these gems!!!!  I thought I'd love shopping for a little girl.  Nope, I hate it.  Sure there's more options...but they're not necessarily good options.  I am picky.  I've recently been introduced to the "high-end" or "boutique" kids clothes.  Of course I like them, a lot.  But I can't justify spending money on them...  That's not entirely true.  The real reason I don't buy them is because I hate shopping.  And I don't want to take the time to shop, even online, for clothes.  I asked my friend, who has a weakness for buying kids clothes, if I could hire her to shop for me.  I don't think she realizes I am serious.  In fact, if I could hire a personal shopper for my whole family I would.  It's worth the premium.  I don't like shopping that much.  

Out of desperation I got my haircut before Pippa's blessing.  I needed one four months prior but kept putting it off, thinking I'd be down in Oregon soon for my friend to cut it.  But when I realized it'd be a while before I'd get there, I drove to my local Great Clips the very next moment.  Big mistake.  My hair is three-inches shorter than I wanted it.  And my bangs are not cut right...at all.  It is a really bad haircut.  And on top of the poor cut, it looks like "mom hair."  Now, more than ever, I look like a mom.  It's killing me!  Not so much that I am a mom but I don't want to look like that sterotype.  At least not yet.  Maybe when my kids are teenagers, but not now!  This is why I am so hesitant to make drastic changes to my hair.  It rarely goes well.

 

Spring is in the air!  We are excited!  Another reason my future is looking bright.  Things are good.