I feel like a lot of these posts are going to end up being just a recounting of a funny thing said by one or both of the kiddos.
This week Grace indicated she was getting tired of leading and obvious questions.
Me: Did you have juice grace?
Grace: There's juice on my lip, so I suppose I did.
As for Isobel, she's been doing pretty good. Her coos and gurgles sound more like real words all the time. She has one sound that sounds a lot like "Hello", so we can spend 10s of minutes saying hello to each other.
Isobel also had her TDAP this week, so she's been a little non-plussed. We've been thankful for infant's Acetaminophen, and even though she cannot say it, she's been pretty glad of it too.
We also did the lion's share of our move this weekend. Everyone seems to be adjusting to the new locale well. Grace has been a little whinier over the last week and a half or so, but we've been giving her a little more latitude given all the new changes going on in her life. She's still just one amazing kid.
Formatting is all messed up on the phone here, so I'll come back and fix it later when we have internet access at the house (Tuesday?).
2013-07-26
2013-07-19
Stupid Dairy Proteins
This was a pretty solid week of contrarian Grace. I suppose it's a little push for independence, but I sure wish she'd figure out how to be independent without opposing everything. We also seem to be making strides on the potty training front, so yay!
My favorite moment from the week was on our taco night. I don't like hard shell tacos, and the way I manage to deal with taco night is by pre-breaking my shells and just having taco salad, which oddly enough I do enjoy.
Grace asked for more taco shell, and I was happy to oblige. I absentmindedly broke up her taco shell and brought it over to her plate. She thanked me and proceeded to eat her dinner.
About 5 minutes later, Grace says, "You know dad, I didn't ask for broken taco shell." Then she just keeps eating. Just an FYI kind of thing, I guess. Well after a short chuckle I got up and brought her an unbroken taco shell, which she was pretty happy to eat (by breaking off pieces). I just loved the way she went about it though, and I told her I liked her moxie, which was a word she also enjoyed.
We bought a house this week. It's pretty fantastic, and we're really happy about it. The day we got the keys, we sent out an email to family in the area (our sisters and Betsey's parents) inviting them over to a pot-luck that very evening to be held at the new house, seating on the floor. To our surprise, everyone replied yes, and with only a few hours notice.
One of the dishes that was brought was a delicious caprese salad. This is where stupid dairy proteins enter the story.
When Isobel started showing signs of reflux/colic in her third week, having gone down that road with Grace, Betsey immediately cut dairy out of her diet and started her on probiotics (now that there are actually studies showing that they help). Things have been pretty good with Isobel ever since, but we haven't been sure if that was coincidence or causal.
Well, Betsey, being preoccupied with all the family at the impromptu pot-luck, unintentionally ate a couple pieces of mozzarella. A few minutes later, she realized her error, but nothing could be done. "I guess we'll find out if it matters," I said unhelpfully.
That was Tuesday. Wednesday Isobel was definitely fussier and showing signs of increased reflux. Thursday was just horrible, with the kiddo screaming all day and even whimpering in her sleep. This was really just heart breaking. Not only was it sad for Isobel, but it was so reminiscent of the 9 months of pain we went through with Grace, that we have add-on guilt that maybe we could have done more to help Grace early on. Today, being Friday, I'm happy to report that Isobel seems to be on the mend. The dairy proteins must be dissipating, as she's much more herself, albeit still spitting up a fair bit more than normal. We now feel confident that the dairy embargo is worth the hassle and will continue it into the foreseeable future.
Finally, happy birthday to my dad who turned 70 today. We had a lovely dinner with the entire family and their significant others at McMenamins. I hope you enjoy your beach weekend birthday present from all your kids.
My favorite moment from the week was on our taco night. I don't like hard shell tacos, and the way I manage to deal with taco night is by pre-breaking my shells and just having taco salad, which oddly enough I do enjoy.
Grace asked for more taco shell, and I was happy to oblige. I absentmindedly broke up her taco shell and brought it over to her plate. She thanked me and proceeded to eat her dinner.
About 5 minutes later, Grace says, "You know dad, I didn't ask for broken taco shell." Then she just keeps eating. Just an FYI kind of thing, I guess. Well after a short chuckle I got up and brought her an unbroken taco shell, which she was pretty happy to eat (by breaking off pieces). I just loved the way she went about it though, and I told her I liked her moxie, which was a word she also enjoyed.
We bought a house this week. It's pretty fantastic, and we're really happy about it. The day we got the keys, we sent out an email to family in the area (our sisters and Betsey's parents) inviting them over to a pot-luck that very evening to be held at the new house, seating on the floor. To our surprise, everyone replied yes, and with only a few hours notice.
One of the dishes that was brought was a delicious caprese salad. This is where stupid dairy proteins enter the story.
When Isobel started showing signs of reflux/colic in her third week, having gone down that road with Grace, Betsey immediately cut dairy out of her diet and started her on probiotics (now that there are actually studies showing that they help). Things have been pretty good with Isobel ever since, but we haven't been sure if that was coincidence or causal.
Well, Betsey, being preoccupied with all the family at the impromptu pot-luck, unintentionally ate a couple pieces of mozzarella. A few minutes later, she realized her error, but nothing could be done. "I guess we'll find out if it matters," I said unhelpfully.
That was Tuesday. Wednesday Isobel was definitely fussier and showing signs of increased reflux. Thursday was just horrible, with the kiddo screaming all day and even whimpering in her sleep. This was really just heart breaking. Not only was it sad for Isobel, but it was so reminiscent of the 9 months of pain we went through with Grace, that we have add-on guilt that maybe we could have done more to help Grace early on. Today, being Friday, I'm happy to report that Isobel seems to be on the mend. The dairy proteins must be dissipating, as she's much more herself, albeit still spitting up a fair bit more than normal. We now feel confident that the dairy embargo is worth the hassle and will continue it into the foreseeable future.
Finally, happy birthday to my dad who turned 70 today. We had a lovely dinner with the entire family and their significant others at McMenamins. I hope you enjoy your beach weekend birthday present from all your kids.
2013-07-12
Big Nothing
It's time for another Things about Grace and Isobel Friday.
First up this week: Isobel
Isobel is still largely just a lump. A really adorable lump, but a lump. She does, however, have opinions about all the really important stuff. For instance, she hates having a dirty diaper. One drop of pee in the diaper is enough to cause her to scream until she's had some reassuring diaper change time.
She also has opinions about pacifiers. Mostly, I'd say she tolerates them. They have their moments where they are good, but they are mostly just annoying. One morning this week, as she was waking up and getting a little fussy, I put the pacifier in her mouth. Usually, if she doesn't want one, it just gets pushed out by her tongue, but I guess she's been learning a few things about physics. I watched her, very purposefully, wind her head up all the way to one side, then quickly flick her head to the other as she released the pacifier. The pacifier went flying and she had a very pleased look on her face. I felt some form of pride that she had figured out how to do that. Ah, parenthood is so silly.
This week's Grace thing can be easily filed under, "Kids say the funniest things."
As is usual, Nana came over on the weekend. Grace wanted Nana to read her "Big Sister" book.
Nana: Your mommy is a big sister, but aunt Lucy is not.
Grace: She's a big ... nothing!
We were all doubled over from that one.
Other things of note: This week we restarted potty training in earnest. We allowed some backsliding when Isobel arrived, but it's really time to be done with this diaper business, so we've put them all away and accidents will just have to be dealt with. I'll be so happy to have just one kid in diapers.
First up this week: Isobel
Isobel is still largely just a lump. A really adorable lump, but a lump. She does, however, have opinions about all the really important stuff. For instance, she hates having a dirty diaper. One drop of pee in the diaper is enough to cause her to scream until she's had some reassuring diaper change time.
She also has opinions about pacifiers. Mostly, I'd say she tolerates them. They have their moments where they are good, but they are mostly just annoying. One morning this week, as she was waking up and getting a little fussy, I put the pacifier in her mouth. Usually, if she doesn't want one, it just gets pushed out by her tongue, but I guess she's been learning a few things about physics. I watched her, very purposefully, wind her head up all the way to one side, then quickly flick her head to the other as she released the pacifier. The pacifier went flying and she had a very pleased look on her face. I felt some form of pride that she had figured out how to do that. Ah, parenthood is so silly.
This week's Grace thing can be easily filed under, "Kids say the funniest things."
As is usual, Nana came over on the weekend. Grace wanted Nana to read her "Big Sister" book.
Nana: Your mommy is a big sister, but aunt Lucy is not.
Grace: She's a big ... nothing!
We were all doubled over from that one.
Other things of note: This week we restarted potty training in earnest. We allowed some backsliding when Isobel arrived, but it's really time to be done with this diaper business, so we've put them all away and accidents will just have to be dealt with. I'll be so happy to have just one kid in diapers.
2013-07-05
TGIFs
Blogging guilt is a strange beast, or maybe it isn't. I guess with a lot of things, the more you put them off, the worse you feel, and then the less likely you are, for whatever reason, to attempt to right the perceived wrong.
I think that wraps up this weeks TGIF. Cachew next week.
With blogging, when you finally get over the guilt and start to write, the very first thing you have to write is all about your guilt. So I have done that.
We have two girls now. Isobel joined our ranks in May, similarly to her sister, and we're all just starting to get use to each other. Grace has been especially wonderful with her new sister. Entirely loving and gentle in every way. I've seen not a hint of jealousy or anger or any negative emotion directed towards this little screaming thing we've brought home. I've had more negative emotions than her. The worst I've seen from Grace has been a little yelling when her sister has been screaming, but mostly she has settled to cover her ears.
So now, we have a girl whose first initial is G, and we have a girl who's first initial is I. It occurred to me, that maybe I could weekly blog about my girls, my thoughts on them, or things about them, maybe on Fridays, and then I guess that would mean I have a Things about Grace and Isobel Fridays, or TGIFs.
That's the plan.
We'll see how long this blogging adventure lasts.
The things I want to remember this week:
Grace was being unresponsive to some questions I was asking. I went to our Positive Discipline book for some advice. It suggested that I use humor for a young child. It even suggested a tickle monster might be just the the thing to get a child to start talking again.
A minute later I was saying, "Grace, here comes a tickle monster." We were talking about the issue at hand in no time. Later, she stopped answering my questions again. "Grace, here comes another tickle monster!" It worked great.
Later at dinner: Betsey sneezed. I said, "Bless you!" Grace says, "Mommy, here comes another Bless You! ... Bless You!"
That just really tickled me, almost as good as a monster, and I did not want to forget it.
Isobel has started smiling back at us recently, which is pretty grand. Not much new besides that. However, this blog is still deficient a birth story about her.
It was Saturday, May 25th and Betsey's mom and grandma were over to visit Grace (any pretense they come to see us has long since faded). It was almost time for them to go, so Marg says, "Hey, I'd love to get a call on the freeway that I need to turn around, but if you want to save time and have your water break now, that would be fine." It was something like that.
Three minutes later, Betsey comes out of the bedroom, "I think my water broke."
We called Leah, our doula in Corvallis, and had her come up. Grace's labor from the first contraction to delivery was 8 hours. Betsey had started contracting immediately after the water broke. So getting Leah alerted was a priority.
Betsey called the hospital to let them know we'd be coming in. They said they were full, but if a spot opened up they'd admit us, otherwise it was a longer trip to somewhere we'd never gone before. I called back about 10 minutes later and asked if someone could just call us when a room opened up so we could rush down and grab it. We'd been planning to labor at home, but if supply was limited, we could labor at the hospital. The gal on the phone laughed, said, "Just a second," and then came back, "We've reserved you a room. Come on in." I like to think my sense of humor got us a room.
Betsey's contractions were coming pretty fast at this point, and we hurriedly filled the car. Betsey's grandma said I went up and down the stairs a few hundred times. She was quite amused. I guess when you have 6 kids of your own and an uncountable number of grandkids and greatgrandkids, you get to be amused by whatever you want. We left Grace home with the "traveling grandmas" as they call themselves (which was basically the plan anyway), and headed for the hospital.
I got on the the on ramp and realized that traffic was not moving... at all. I think every guy dreams of getting this excuse, and I wasn't about to pass it up, so after a half-minute's hesitation, I put on the hazard lights and raced down the freeway shoulder, passing a few hundred cars in the process. It was exhilarating. I told Betsey I hope any adrenaline I induced didn't slow down her labor. Little did I know...
We arrived at the "Birth Center" and immediately got to work. Leah showed up shortly thereafter. I did my job of running interference on the nurses and encouraging Betsey. Leah helped us remember good positions and everything a good doula does. A couple hours later, Isobel Niamh Catchpole was born. From water broken to born in just under four hours.
After a few minutes recuperation, I fetched Grace from the waiting room. She would be the first to meet Isobel. She seemed so grown up walking down the hall with me to meet her. I hope I never forget that image.
Besides Grace, we had six visitors that night. Betsey's parents, sister, and brother-in-law, Leah and her wife Rachel. My parents made it the next day, and my sisters were all off doing their own thing. Chrystal was getting engaged, and Kim was enjoying her beau Jay's birthday in Colorado. They'd have to meet Isobel later.
Isobel has started smiling back at us recently, which is pretty grand. Not much new besides that. However, this blog is still deficient a birth story about her.
It was Saturday, May 25th and Betsey's mom and grandma were over to visit Grace (any pretense they come to see us has long since faded). It was almost time for them to go, so Marg says, "Hey, I'd love to get a call on the freeway that I need to turn around, but if you want to save time and have your water break now, that would be fine." It was something like that.
Three minutes later, Betsey comes out of the bedroom, "I think my water broke."
We called Leah, our doula in Corvallis, and had her come up. Grace's labor from the first contraction to delivery was 8 hours. Betsey had started contracting immediately after the water broke. So getting Leah alerted was a priority.
Betsey called the hospital to let them know we'd be coming in. They said they were full, but if a spot opened up they'd admit us, otherwise it was a longer trip to somewhere we'd never gone before. I called back about 10 minutes later and asked if someone could just call us when a room opened up so we could rush down and grab it. We'd been planning to labor at home, but if supply was limited, we could labor at the hospital. The gal on the phone laughed, said, "Just a second," and then came back, "We've reserved you a room. Come on in." I like to think my sense of humor got us a room.
Betsey's contractions were coming pretty fast at this point, and we hurriedly filled the car. Betsey's grandma said I went up and down the stairs a few hundred times. She was quite amused. I guess when you have 6 kids of your own and an uncountable number of grandkids and greatgrandkids, you get to be amused by whatever you want. We left Grace home with the "traveling grandmas" as they call themselves (which was basically the plan anyway), and headed for the hospital.
I got on the the on ramp and realized that traffic was not moving... at all. I think every guy dreams of getting this excuse, and I wasn't about to pass it up, so after a half-minute's hesitation, I put on the hazard lights and raced down the freeway shoulder, passing a few hundred cars in the process. It was exhilarating. I told Betsey I hope any adrenaline I induced didn't slow down her labor. Little did I know...
We arrived at the "Birth Center" and immediately got to work. Leah showed up shortly thereafter. I did my job of running interference on the nurses and encouraging Betsey. Leah helped us remember good positions and everything a good doula does. A couple hours later, Isobel Niamh Catchpole was born. From water broken to born in just under four hours.
After a few minutes recuperation, I fetched Grace from the waiting room. She would be the first to meet Isobel. She seemed so grown up walking down the hall with me to meet her. I hope I never forget that image.
Besides Grace, we had six visitors that night. Betsey's parents, sister, and brother-in-law, Leah and her wife Rachel. My parents made it the next day, and my sisters were all off doing their own thing. Chrystal was getting engaged, and Kim was enjoying her beau Jay's birthday in Colorado. They'd have to meet Isobel later.
I think that wraps up this weeks TGIF. Cachew next week.
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