Speaking from experience

"Being a big sister is hard work"

Here is big sister showing off her drawing... ice cream cone, flower and butterfly under a sunny, blue sky 

Sisters

Lilly wasn't too happy but my beautiful Ellen kept on smiling (love her!)

Renewed Interest: Trains

A topsy turvy day

Today was rough.  Not bad per se, but long and exhausting for sure.  Although days like this are to be expected, especially at this stage, I was not prepared (things were going so well).

Ellen slept until 8 (a record) but only because she was up past 10 last night.  It was nice for me because I was also able to sleep in but it threw off what had been our routine.

Other possible contributing factors:

Day 4 of being "stuck" at home (I am still taking pain meds and I am not supposed to drive)

Breakfast was served late so lunch was more like an afternoon snack (not eating at regular times always seems to throw me off)

Lilly spit up an entire bottle - all over both of us (she got a bath, I didn't)

Ellen had a bath at 1:30 p.m. because it had been a couple days and it seemed like a good time

Lots of partial poops (apparently Lilly likes to go a little at a time just for kicks)

Rainy and overcast outside

I didn't get to watch A Baby Story

Ellen didn't take a nap (surprisingly she took a nap on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and it just helps break up an otherwise long day)

Lilly didn't eat or sleep well and seemed extra fussy

Continued feelings of guilt for all of the TV Ellen has been watching

I was pretty sore today

Facts such as we have already gone through a lot of diapers (yikes!)

I missed Phillip (even more than usual)

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Some positives...

Tomorrow is Friday which means one day closer to having an extra set of helping hands here with me

Andrea will be here Monday!

Being home with my girls

Being able to say my girls

Ellen is dealing amazingly well with all of the recent changes (being out of school, new routine, baby, our divided attention, more independent play, etc.)

We got a surprise in the mail today (more on that later)

Our days are relatively calm and peaceful and I am actually enjoying the newborn stage (sorry Ellen, but it was not like this this when you were born!)

I changed our sheets today and there is nothing better than sleeping on clean sheets

My family calls and checks on us

Having almost everything we need on hand thanks to Ellen (having a second girl was a blessing in that respect)

This sweet thing (she looks so tiny in her crib)

Wordless Wednesday

 

So much to say, so little time

I have so many things I want to say but not enough time to organize my thoughts, let alone write them all down, so unfortunately it will have to wait for another day.  Our internet was down yesterday and oddly enough I ended up with a long stretch of time I could have blogged (very frustrating).  I was able to use my phone to get online but what I really wanted to do was sit at the computer and type away, which I try not to do when Ellen is up and about.

We are knee deep in diapers (love the blue line on Pampers newborn diapers), wipes, burp cloths, blankets, tiny socks, bottles and unfortunately, spit up.  We may be changing formulas if it doesn't improve.

I am trying to stay on top of things around the house (keeps me sane) and keep everyone fed, happy and entertained all at the same time.  Washing bottles is not my favorite task, neither is emptying the dishwasher, but that is all I seem to be doing these days.  Well, that and laundry.  I rarely do partial loads, usually wait until there is a full load of whatever it is I need to wash, but out of necessity I have already done several small loads of baby things.

Ellen is so precious with Lilly, or Lillian as she calls her little sister (even when she is screaming at the top of her lungs).  She kisses her, strokes her head, gives her hugs, talks to her, consoles her, tells me what she needs and gives me status updates (she's about to cry!).  Last night she sang a little made up song to Lilly so she would stop crying.  It worked :)  I am so thankful for my sweet Ellen.   

Don't you just love it when they are so little (and light) and can perch easily on your shoulder like so?  And their fuzzy heads rub against your neck and cheek?  By the way, this man is wonderful and I don't know what I would do without him.

You are wonderful too, Lilly.

Ellen napping in her Tinkerbell sleeping bag, using her dolphin pillow pet as a pillow.  Whatever works.

Better than expected

We all four made it to church this morning and it could not have gone any better.  Lilly slept through the entire service, came to class with me and Phillip where she continued napping (she did eat, we are bottle feeding, but promptly went back to sleep afterwards) and she snoozed during the teacher appreciation luncheon.  She eventually woke up but we were able to enjoy our meal, including dessert, with very few baby related interruptions.  Lilly stayed in her carrier almost the whole time, which was the plan, so people were able to get a good look at her without passing along too many germs.

Missing out on all of the fun 

(wearing the dress Julia Cannon gave Ellen when she was born)

 Eating strawberries and grapes

 Not sure what this says about us but this is our trash and ours alone
(not including all of the napkins we used)

After church Phillip dropped me and Lilly off at home and took Ellen to meet up with Kendra and Laurie for a movie and ice cream.  The girls saw Beauty and the Beast and Phillip saw Contraband.  Even though Ellen has seen Beauty and the Beast several times, she was still scared of Beast and covered her face with her dress the first time he came on the screen.  But she had a lot of fun and I am glad she was able to spend time with her sweet aunts.  Lilly and I had a good afternoon as well but I didn't get the rest I was hoping for (lots of diaper changes, feedings and a few tears).  Unfortunately her morning napfest had us off kilter for the rest of the day and has me wondering how well she will sleep tonight.  Although it is easier this time around, as everyone said it would be, sleep deprivation is still my #1 enemy.  Thankfully she has only been waking up 2 times in the night and Phillip is a great help.

In many ways it seems like we are starting all over again but instead of feeling lost and overwhelmed like I did when Ellen was born, I feel like we have everything under control (and it feels good!).

Good things come in small packages

What is Ellen up to?

Drinking hot chocolate out of a straw she "won" at Chuck E. Cheese yesterday.

Bank error in your favor

Weight 7.4 - 41%

Length 19.5 - 42%

Head Circumference 13.39 - 39%

We went the pediatrician yesterday for a 2 day home from the hospital follow up and everything looked great.  One surprise is that Lilly is actually 19.5 inches long as opposed to 18 as we were told in the hospital.  The nurse even measured her twice because of the discrepancy.  The doctor came in and said that measurement makes more sense... she doesn't look short plus this makes her length more proportionate with the rest of her body.  We go back in 3 weeks for another check up.

Lilly's reaction to the news... she can't believe it

Williams Sonoma kitchen towel for a blanket.  Classy.  At least it is pink.

Maybe babies are cuter than puppies after all

  

Mother and baby are doing fine

Lillian Carol McCullough was born Friday, January 13th at 12:40 p.m.  She weighed 7 lbs 11oz and was 19.5 inches long.

She is beautiful.

She is a crier.

She has little chicken legs.

The surgery went well.  I had a ton (almost literally) of fluid which explains why I thought she might be 13 lbs (I was huge!).  The nurses joked that she had been swimming around in an Olympic sized swimming pool, heated of course.

Phillip was right there with me.  It was such a different experience the second time around.  I was much more with it.  It was very emotional for me and I was scared but I was definitely in touch with what was happening (which is why I was so emotional and scared).

We came home yesterday.  It is so good to be home with our Lilly.  We are enjoying each little breath she takes.