Motuwethufrisasu

Yep, that pretty much sums up our days/weeks lately.  We have no idea what day it is and they are flying by so incredibly fast it is unbelievable.  My days consist of bottles, dishes, laundry, books, diapers, potty breaks, snacks, hide and seek, baths, fishing, playdough and pictures and D and I look at eachother at the end of the day and let a little sigh of relief out.  We made it through another day.  Tasks that used to take 10 minutes now take an hour because we forgot how time consuming babies truly are!  If we want to eat, she undoubtedly needs to eat, if Riley needs to sit on the pot Alyssa undoubtedly needs a diaper change and when it's time for Riley to go to bed Alyssa stares up at us like "you must be kidding if you think I am going to bed now that I have you all to myself."  It's fun, busy, overwhelming at times, adrenaline rush kind of days and I love it.  I look back at my week and think "We've done good."  Riley might have been a pill and Alyssa might have blown through 3 outfits but this is our life and we make of it what we want.  I can't help but sit back and smile while thinking "it's a wonderful life."

Our littlest love is on the mend from her cold and has been sleeping from 9:30-12:30, from 1:15-4:30 and finally from 5:30-9:00 so I am happy and somewhat well rested.  I love the recliner in her room and I am pretty sure I could sit in there all day long and just be happy.  It's so pretty and new in there that I just love it and hope she does too.

Riley and I made it to 2 year old school on Thursday and he was so excited to show me the ropes of his day at school.  He painted, played, cooked, and listened a story from the Cat in the Hat who helped the kids celebrate Dr Seuss's b-day and by the last 1/2 hour he was getting tired and wanted anyone besides me to hold him.  I think he is still punishing me a little for having another baby and he wants to make sure I feel his pain.  So Friday evening Auntie Katie came over to watch Alyssa and we took Riley Roo out to dinner all by himself.  He was so excited and danced happily in the booth as we ate but after dinner when we asked him if he wanted ice cream he replied "no, time to be home pees."  He said he missed Lyssa and Katie so I know he is torn by wanting it to go back to just him and loving Alyssa and wanting to take care of her.  It's still a learning lesson everyday and I see improvements in his sadness over the change so we put one foot in front of the other and keep on keeping on.

I could easily see myself staying home full time and mothering our children 24/7 but I don't feel the great sense of dread and overwhelming sadness at the prospect of going back to work like I did with Riley so I am hoping the transition is not so devastating this time.  Time just keeps chugging along though so I guess I will see what future emotions come out.  For now I will just try to stay in the day and enjoy all the things about my children that will inevitably change too quickly.  I do sneak in a few pictures here and there but nothing like when Riley was a baby.  In fact the poor boy misses my camera.  The other day while feeding Alyssa I walked into the living room to find his puppies prominently displayed on the card table/fish house/deer shack/anything his imagination can dream up and he asked ever so sweetly "Take mine picture pees Mommy."  How could I resist!?  Here's a few of my faves from this of so fast and fun week!  The rest are over at Shutterfly!  : O

He really, really loves her! 

And so do we!!!  

Survival 101

Our first weekend without Daddy was a huge success!  Although I was nervous about having a 9 day old and a 2.5 year old alone it was fun and we made it through with smiles and naps!

Alyssa has been such a good little sleeper and went to bed at 9:00 on Friday night so Derrick I both got to go to bed at the same time : ) and then Daddy got up early to spend some time with his girls before leaving for the Ducks Unlimited ice fishing tourney on Mille Lacs Saturday morning.  Riley Roo was good to his Mama and came into bed to watch toons until Alyssa got up at 9:00 so I got an extra hour of sleep and awoke to a smiling set of huge eyelashes right in front of my face.  He was so excited that his sister was up and wanted to make sure Mommy heard her.  It was fun just laying in bed with both of my children enjoying a lazy Saturday morn as we watched TV and laughed at the silly faces Alyssa makes in her sleep. Riley was really helpful with her all weekend feeding her and even getting huge burps out of her.  Somehow every morning gets away from us (how with 2 kids and no routine does that happen? : )  and before I knew it lunch and naps needed to happen which was followed by a visit from one of my oldest friends and then we headed off to G'ma and G'pa Hutchies house for some din din.  Riley spent the night there so Alyssa and I headed back home to have a girls night.  Sweet girl slept from 11 to 6 and I was so worried about not hearing her that I let her sleep in bed with me but she was quiet as a mouse and I of course was up with aching you know whats at 4:00 when I unsuccessfully tried waking her up and so I was more than happy to keep sleeping after taking care of business.  ;  )
We made it to Sunday school where a very proud Riley was so excited to show off his sister!  It was pretty fun having her in a cute little corduroy dress and watching people dote on her but it was also tiring and we were ready to get home and see Daddy again!

So we survived, we actually thrived and my confidence is building as I navigate mothering 2 young ones.  Riley is still proving difficult at times but after Sunday school I realized it is probably more about his age as the other 2 year olds were also very non compliant to their parents and needed time outs just as much as he did!  We will continue to take it day by day and start establishing a routine to help us out with the next 10 weeks and we will end each day with prayers of thanksgiving for our time together and prayers for an even better tomorrow.  For now we are just happy, content and enjoying time.  I am finding energy I never knew I had, second winds that are coming at the perfect times and an appreciation for motherhood that I didn't know I was missing.  I love my children!

The proofs in the pudding...see for yourself how successful our weekend was!

 The boy's eyelashes still astound me and he fed her the whole 4 oz bottle and he looked like an old pro the whole time.  

 Still hard to believe that we have 2 kids!  

So sweet!

She smiles all the time, even with her little eyes open she's been caught smiling!  I just adore this picture!

And just to prove I am not a total slouch I did take a few pics of my sweetheart in her V-day hat.  To bad the hat came on the 15th!  Oh well, still a great combo of crochet and cuteness!  

Blogged

Baby Girl has been blogged...

my talented cousin Anne graciously offered up her home for some playtime and pictures of Alyssa which was a huge relief since I have energy to get myself and the kids fed and bathed and my house clean but beyond that have zero energy for pictures of the posed variety.  If you have taken pictures of newborns you understand that it is one of the hardest things to do, is extremely tedious and time consuming and is downright hot!  (You have to keep them warm and a space heater is a must!)  So Friday we invaded the Schaber household where Riley had tons of fun playing with Owen and his cool toys and Mommy got to sit back and relax while picture taking commenced.

Check out Anne's blog for a sampling of the pics she took!

http://www.annieschaberphotography.com/

Thank you Anne and Owen for letting us invade!  We love you and are so thankful!

P.S.  If you need pictures taken book her today!

One week

Wow, I can't believe our daughter has been here for a whole week already.  I am a total emotional mess today as I reflect and relive our experience last Wednesday.  I can do nothing else but stare at her in wonder and awe so thankful that she is finally here.

We had her one week check up this morning and it was nothing short of insane getting out the door as I struggled to get 2 children and myself ready and out the door by 10:30.  I laugh that I thought sleeping til 8:30 was enough time for us!  I actually encouraged D to go to the office and meet us at the clinic by 11:00.  Although to my credit my little one caught Riley's cold and she fed on one side for over 40 minutes because she had to keep pulling away to breathe.  It is heartbreaking watching her sneeze up bright green snot and cough during her sleep.  We are all feeling her sickness and I woke up with a sore throat also!  Ugh, what a long and sick winter it has been!  Good thing our babe has been sleeping well!  The last 3 nights she is sleeping from 12-4 and then from 5-9 so I have been getting really adequate amounts of sleep plus since Riley has been sick we have been snuggled up on the couch basking in the sunshine through the windows lazily watching the morning pass by reading books and watching toons.  The sleep is good, the feeding is going great and she is up to her birthweight with no jaundice and no serious issues.

We had a great appt with our favorite pediatrician Dr. Rzepka and Riley was especially proud to show off his little sister which brought huge smiles to our faces.  He was very concerned that she would need owies and stayed by her side most of the appt.

He woke up with a great outlook this morning and I have been exceedingly proud of him.  Uncle Kyle is going to go to school with him tomorrow since I am not quite up to it and have been feeling a little ill myself with a sore throat and body aches/chills so I am feeling lucky to have such a great Brother and Uncle to Riley in Kyle.

I will no doubt have tears in my eyes tonight when the clock strikes 10:34 p.m. and I will squeeze Alyssa all the more stronger as I remember through her eyes how lucky I am to be the Mama of 2 children.

Sorry about the previous post I clearly lost my train of thought and forgot to finish the paragraph about Riley going to bed but it's finished now and I love the comments Shannon.  You are truly a seasoned pro and someone who I look up to as a Mother and Wife.  I am only sorry that we don't see more of eachother's families!

Here's just a few precious pics of my loves.