"More Work for Mama" is the General Rule!

Poor Naomi Garner.  For the past 5 days, she has been down and out with a heavy cold that she just can't shake.  And I can't seem to get her better fast enough! Imagine a sleepy, grumpy, stopped-up,  pitiful toddler trapped in your house with you for days upon days.  We are all going a little stir crazy around here, and it's now the weekend...By golly, get better, little one!

Pallets on the floor, lots and lots of snuggle and movie time, saline and decongestant drops in the nose as often as she'll allow, cough syrup - homeopathic store-bought and my own concoction of lemon juice, hot water, and local honey, 4am bath time, musical beds...I am one tired mama!  There's this Berenstain Bears book Sick Days that has been our motto this week.  Mama Bear runs around trying to do everything for everybody until she's down and out by the end of it all.  Well, I totally feel where Mama Bear is coming from, except, luckily, I am not sick yet. 

Emergen-Cs and multivitamins have been my close companions this week, and I have upped the ante on Vitamin D.  We haven't been getting outside near as much as I want to, and I can totally feel the effects of no sunshine. So, I'm taking 20,000IU of D3 instead of my usual daily 10,000.  It's been so pretty here too.  I hesitate to let Naomi outside a lot because she wants to jump on the trampoline and chase the dog.  I certainly don't want her overdoing it, but I also don't want us at each others throats, so I'm planning on painting with apples in the driveway this afternoon.  With all the apples we still have from our Boston trip, it should be a lot of fun. 

idea for this afternoon

Benjiboy and me hanging in there!

Speaking of Boston, I haven't had a chance to upload any Boston pictures since we've been home.  I'm pretty sure Naomi caught whatever virus she's got from touching EVERYTHING on the four planes we flew on, but germs are bound to happen.  Next trip though, I'm going to be extra cautious and intense about germ control.  Hand washing, sanitizer, clorox wipes - the whole shabang.  I wasn't careless this time, I made sure she washed hands before touching Ben, but I wasn't as cautious about her putting her dirty hands in her mouth, rubbing her eyes, etc.  Now I know, and you do too! Be the overly hygienic mom on all trips, got it?  Save yourself the week of pain that I've had!

Benji is doing well, although he woke up a little congested.  I gave him some saline drops, and he seems to be fine.  The nurse at Dr. Ramos' office also told me to put 4 drops of breastmilk in each nostril at every meal to up his immune system even more.  The natural antibodies provided give him an extra boost by doing it that way.  How cool is that?  How cool is breastmilk??  I am a firm believer in it's healing properties because it works!! And with my little scooter-pooter Naomi not eating so well this week, I've been sneaking breastmilk into her smoothies - one of the only thing she'll eat.  She needs some of those antibodies too to beat this nasty virus she's got!

We've missed her very first picture day this week, and with the recurring fever, we've missed both days of school.  I am grateful and fortunate to be able to stay home with her and get her on the mend.  She's been pitiful, and I'm constantly tired.  Benjamin is still as happy and content as ever.  Such an easy babe - just goes with the flow....thank goodness!! :)

School, Stroller Strong Moms, and Benjiboy Too

My little girl is in preschool, and I can hardly believe it! We've got her enrolled two days a week now, and she LOVES it!! She comes home telling me all about her day playing on the playground and singing songs with her friends.  The refrigerator is covered in her art work, and she's so proud.  Her "hoo hoo backpack" is hanging by the door.  She looks forward to each day, and I love being a new "carpool mom."  Seriously though, I know it sounds kinda lame, but setting an alarm and waking up before everyone to fix breakfast and start chores, laying out clothes the night before - I really do love everything about it.  I love being a mama.  It's by far the BEST and most rewarding job I've ever had - and I get to do it the rest of my life! High five to that! :)

sweet kids at bathtime

random day in Forsyth - just shy of 2 mths old

proud big sister!

While Naomi's in school playing with her frans, I've started up at Stroller Strong Moms of Savannah in beautiful Forsyth Park.  It's a great way to get exercise (think cardio kick-your-butt exercise), and it's a great way to meet with other moms three days a week.  I am LOVING having a new fitness routine where I can take my kid(s) and have a trainer to push me to try harder.  I can set up a DVD in my living room all day long, but I need the extra push from others to take it to the next level. The other moms and the trainer help to do that, and 9 weeks postpartum?  I am having trouble keeping up! It does get easier, right?

stroller strong moms!

I'm liking the challenge, but Benjiboy isn't digging it so much.  I skipped out today and yesterday to get things situated and organized for an upcoming trip, and Benjamin has been able to take a good nap both days.  On the days I go to exercise, he hardly gets a morning nap and cries throughout my class kind of stressing me out.  I know the "routine" with baby number two is more difficult than it was with just one baby, but I don't really like him to cry - at least not as much as he does when I'm there.  So, I'm kind of torn right now between sucking it up and continuing the classes or doing what my mama instinct tells me to do - sit it out until he's a little older and rock my baby to sleep in the mornings.  Besides, he's only this little once.  I'm going to try it again next week.  There are other babes his age, so we shall see! 

Benjamin is now a little over two months old, and he is full of personality.  He's been smiling (on purpose) since he was around 6 weeks old, and he's been laughing a lot more for the past couple of weeks. On September 30, 5 days after his 2 month "birthday," he BELLY LAUGHED hysterically at a silly noise I was making.  It was such a highlight - squinted his eyes like his Deddy always does and just let the laughter roll.  Too cute.  He's a big ol boy, putting on the pounds what seems like daily, and he is already fitting into 3-6 month clothes.  3 month clothes are almost too small at this point.  Gosh, don't you just love chunky babies?  I could kiss every wrinkle and dimple on his little body! Sweet lil thang.

a visit to Macon at 2 mths old

smiling sweetly at his Granddaddy

chuckles!

time with Uncle Alex

 

The next few are from a night at Jazzfest in Forsyth Park. Naomi's getting her groove on! 

 

More pictures to come soon, and I will be uploading videos soon as well. Hopefully, I can find (or be told) of a new software or program to aid in picture organization. Sorry the blog's lookin so sloppy these days!  Keep posted!

Pictures from my Phone

So I just uploaded the blogger application to my phone. What was I waiting for?? This post is just a test, so bear with me if it looks/sounds sloppy. I want an easier, faster way to upload pics, and this app seems promising... now if I could just figure it out! Love my phone, but the user (me) doesn't know half of what it can really do! We learn together! :)

In Between Dreams

For the past two months, I have had my hands full, and I am one lucky mama. I am enjoying all the new moments - snuggling with not one baby but two, bonding with a new baby who grows by the day by my milk alone (still blows my mind), Naomi's first year of preschool, watching them both sleep, having Deddy home with us on the weekends - these are by far some of my favorite moments of all.  Juggling motherhood with keeping home, I've made it somewhat of a dance, and I am still practicing to perfect the ensemble.  Some days are harder than others, but the sweet, precious moments with my children outweigh the stress by far.  I'm just still trying to find time to do it all, and I am (slowly) learning that it just can't all be done.  My mama says it best, "Martha. You want FOUR?! You're going to HAVE to let some things go!" :) So, housework and chores wait, and the babies get all the lovin.  These are the days!!

Benjamin came into our lives as healthy as can be on July 25, 2012. He weighed 7lbs 15oz, only one ounce away from my guesstimate a week beforehand.  I had a superb group of coaches and nurses, and without them, I most definitely would've had an epidural again.  This time, however, I gave birth au naturale, and it was the. hardest. thing. I have ever done!  But, I would do it again just like that in a heartbeat.  The recovery period was much better that way. I labored for 12 hours, but was only in hard labor for 2 hours. Once it came time for pushing, I only pushed for 3 minutes!  The hardest part was trying NOT to push as we waited for the doctor to arrive.  He remarked that he now knows that I am one of "the fast ones," and he will have to scoot down the hall faster next time! He is a great doctor, and I am thankful for him and the wonderful crew at Candler for our care while in the hospital.  We (Benjamin and I) stayed for 24 hours, and we were allowed to go home the very next morning.  I loved everything about this labor and delivery, and to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

We had a houseful of family ready to help in every way they could when we arrived home.  Even our family at The Lady and Sons came to our aid and provided us with a catered lunch and dinner that lasted for days!  I've even got some of the yummy country cookin' still stored away in the freezer.  That was such a huge help, and we are forever grateful for it.  Benjamin slept like a champ for the first week, and we all took turns passing him around.  He's been sleeping through the night since week one too.  Such an easy, low-key babe.  He only cries during my exercise class. Ha. Sorry buddy, exercise is here to stay!

Benjamin giving a baby-sized "girl power" in honor of his big sis :)

This girl. She mimics every little thing I do! LOL

Benji weighed in at 12lbs 14oz at his 2 month check up yesterday.  He is growing too quickly! I want to just freeze time, but time is getting the best of me these days.  Between raising two babies, keeping house, Naomi's preschool, and my new exercise regimen (stroller strong moms 3x/week), I am having trouble remembering days of the week let alone days of the month!  It all runs together, and I am enjoying each and every moment. On the hard days, I remember what my mama told me: "Enjoy it all because when they're teenagers, you'll be wanting these days back!" I have to repeat that to myself on the fussy, tired, cranky, sick days.  Haha.  But I'm loving it all!! Loving these babies!! :)