Category Archives: Otter

Motherhood, Otter, parenting

Amid the cries of baby…

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WAH!!!

Must…post…to…blog…

WAH!!

Must…contact…outside…world…

WAH!!

Must…shower.

It is a lovely thing, the first time your baby decides you are the end all be all of life and the human existence. When you can’t set him down without hearing him cry, can’t hand him off without hearing him cry, when you resign yourself to just hearing him cry so you can pee.

I am also the person who gets smiled at, and gets to snuggle the most, and gets the kisses, but I also get the most vomit, and god forbid I clean my kitchen, sweep my house, or cook dinner. I am oficially limited to foods that can be consumed with one hand and have little dripage.

Cereal is a hardship because of the milk, so mixing it with yogurt seems to help reduce spills.

Do not overcook pork chops and then try and eat them one handed, they will merely defeat you. Limit yourself to precut meals, or meat that is so tender it falls apart.

Happily I should be more than able to lost weight on my one handed diet, and with the vitamin supplements not suffer too much nutrition loss!!

On the bright side my dad is in town and I am beginning to feel the reality of the baby. After living with my parents when I had Monkey, it was difficult to fully embrace the new baby until I heard my parents goo and gah over him. Now he has been fully welcomed into the family, and his cries have been interpreted by my father to be commentary on the current political regime. Well frankly, I would cry too.

Motherhood, Otter

Alone….

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First day as a full on mother of two…

I woke up at 7 am, took a shower while Lee comforted Otter, dressed, took Monkey’s lunch out of the fridge and put it in her bag, set out her breakfast, and sat down to feed the baby. She ate and dressed and brushed her teeth and he finished up in time for us to run to the bank on the way to school. We even arrived early so the usual morning race into the lunchroom was replaced with a giggle filled leisurely stroll and a long goodbye from sister to brother.

Now, Otter is resting in his Pac’N’Play and I am drinking some coffee and relaxing. I guess the trick to making this work really is “early to bed early to rise.”

I reorganized the baby zone last night, so now we have all of Otter’s stuff in one easy to access location. It is a great use of the top of the dog kennels. We have always bemoaned how large they are and how much space they take up, but they are the perfect height for a changing station, and the shelving I placed above them makes great storage for clothes and diapers, etc. Lee even had me use the label maker on the bins, so everything is very clearly marked.

I also caught a sweet, sleepy moment between Daddy and Baby Saturday:
Aren’t they so cute together?

I just had to add this to today’s post: I was playing the previously mentioned ‘Mommy stole a kiss’ game. Otter was kissing back and then he smiled a full smile, and laughed! A teeny tiny baby boy laugh! All mine!! I am so happy I am delirious!!

family, health, Otter

Agoo or poo…

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(Apple hat courtesy of Ariel Benjamin, Thanks Ariel!! It’s so cute on him!)

Agoo or Poo?

Yes, the language and facial displays of babies can be decieving. Otter has been working very hard to express himself lately, both verbally, and physically. When he tried to talk, he will often scrunch up his face, turn red, and say “agoo”. When he poops he will often scrunch up his face and turn red as well, leaving the family to guess at his intentions… Agoo or Poo?

Mom goes home tomorrow, and we will miss her dearly. Oh how I want to move back home, into my parents house too. I keep asking Lee how he would feel about rooming with the ‘rents for a while, but he is less than enthusiastic about the idea. “We need more space” he says. Space shmace, I want my mom and dad!

It has been wonderful having her here, she has helped me organize the house, catch up on laundry, and shower on a regular basis. It is truly a gift to have had her with me. I can’t be too sad about her going though, her dogs need her, my dad needs her, and I get to have my dad out here in another week. I am spoiled!!

As for other news, I developed a breast infection day before yesterday. I have never had a higher fever in my life, I was up in the 105 range, with chills that would not die and delirium to match. Luckily I got to the doctor right away and the antibiotics are helping the fever go away. I still have a teeny one, but I am no longer freezing and shaking. Ugh. Oddly I learned that cabbage leaves tucked between your breast and bra will help draw out the milk from the plugged duct. Who knew? Cabbage, it’s not just for salad anymore.