Xmas 2007 - still in edit mode

My MIL just left to go back to Canada. She was a great help while here. An extra set of hands with Autumn and a play-date interest for Ronin - she cooked us a chicken and mash that lasted for several meals. She even babysat and Sean and I saw I am Legend. This was the first movie I saw since pre-Ronin. But she got to spend some time with Ronin. A whole week means a lot to his world and we think she walked away knowing more of Ronin - which was great. It also meant Christmas to Sean to have his mom with him. And I am glad I could help facilitate that happening. My mom made us a lovely Xmas dinner of Roast Beef and mashed potatoes, green beans and salad. It was a good week. It is also nice to have Autumn’s room back to her and I am 3 loads of clean laundry behind and I am losing this battle – steadily.

I also learned how to be a hostess and I found some weaknesses - but I am also 6 weeks post pregnancy and hormonal.

I can say that 2 years ago today I had no children. Tomorrow marks Ronin's 2nd birthday. I am prepping for the pasty on Sunday and will be baking cupcakes for the kids. This will be a feat as I am finally pushing myself culinary-wise. Today is Ronin's birthday. By the time I saw my little man he and Sean were already playing in the basement. He loves it! We have a playroom for the kids. Ronin says "yeah" in a way that denotes he really means it. There is No in a tone we understand and a "uh-huh" that is totally Curious George. There is a "good" that accompanies a hand pumping after he pretends to eat something and says "Mmm". He asks for a "show?" knows all the characters on the Mickey Mouse Club Hose show - and dances along with June on Little Einstein’s. He also calls Leo = Eyo. He is working hard to communicate and we are working on easing him out of tantrums. He had a piece of cake for dessert - chocolate and vanilla and he loved it. When Sean and I tried to sing Happy Birthday he cried out. We tried to talk about birthday's all day and we got the same reaction. But he loved the cake! My little man is 2.
I had slept in until 8am as I was up a lot w/ Autumn last night. More fitful then when her Grandma Barbara was here. She was GREAT with her. Now we will have to work on a new schedule as she is 6wks and her days and nights have switched - I think. She really couldn’t be more perfect. An easy baby - a joy - a true help in our new transitioning world. She sleeps through Ronin's yelling and is sweet and soft. I am writing her song and it goes to the tune of Rio by Duran Duran:

Your name is Autumn and you're my little girl
I dreamt you up and brought you into the world
Your nature's gentle and you're soft to the touch
Your mommy and daddy and Ronin love you very much
You have two big blue eyes and a little upturned nose
You got your daddy narrow feet and slender toes
Still working on more for her

I haven't had any time to blog at all. My daughter was born on November 13, 2007 at 11:15am. She weighted 8 lbs. 10 oz and was 20 inches long. She is precious and I call her Boo Boo Chicken. She looks up at me with the darkest cobalt blue eyes and has the sweetest little Clara Bow lips. My Grandma Barbara says the lips belong to her namesake Great Grandma Annie. I am wondering if in fact she has my husband Sean upper lip? She has my chin and cheeks. My mom says her nose is mine (oh well) and we are not sure of her eyes. She will change plenty in the time to come.

She makes chipmunk sounds when happy and then we call her Boo Boo Chipmunk. She is a feeder and will demands bottles every hour-and-a-half. I am working on switching her days and nights – so I am trying to filler her up more during the daytime. She doesn't feed well at night and that makes for every hour-and-a-half awakening for a 1 1/2 oz. This has made me STUPID tired. But last night I only woke once btw 3-4am when she is always awake - same as in utero. She is taking a small catnap now and I should do - but I am a little mentally starved and this writing is helpful.

Ronin has been wonderful and there were a few moments with her where he wants to touch her but it too excited. He has been more sensitive and Sean and I are really trying to make this transition as smooth as possible. He calls her "baby" and always wants to know where she is? He has started to play with his stuffed animals differently. The bear that sings the alphabet was fed a bottle and he stated playing "night-night" where the bear was covered in a blanket. He also wants a "ba-ba" when he sees Autumn have one but that let up more this past weekend. He had his first sentence last week "Ba-ba for me?" And understands hot-cold, light-dark, and stop-go. He is talking non-stop and is labeling everything. He also can be a little parrot. When he wants to watch a cartoon - he asks for "show?" His hair has finally started to get too long and the hair is weighing down the curls - there is no way he would deal with a haircut so I am going to have to snip the ends when he doesn't know what I have done. This will be difficult.

Sean's mom - Barbara is coming on Saturday for a week and that will make for restful times. And we have a Christmas tree - my first at 33. It is beautiful I have to admit. And Ronin seems thrilled by the lights and ornaments - balls. To recap a tad more … Gillhoolley has been in lock down over the great illness of 2007 where we were all knocked out for a week - including Autumn. I gave it to her the week after I got out of the hospital as Ronin gave it to me. We all went on the Z-pack and recovered but I had to take Autumn to White Plains hospital for an X-ray to rule out pneumonia. Turns out it wasn't - but driving her to the hospital was a defining moment in my life. I cried in the car on the phone with my mom as I drove her there. But it was something that went away with the medicine and by a week later I had her up to 9 lbs. I basically fed her for a week every hour-and-a-half an oz 24 hrs a day.

But it worked and she is thriving! But my time alone with her might be ending sooner than later for $$ reasons and I am crushed. But my kids will one day know all that I did to do what has be be done and they will know that I spent as much time as I could. This is a working mother's guilt-issue.