Bringing Home [another] Baby

3:30 am this morning my alarm started beeping.  I sat up confused for a second until my brain caught up.  ”Oh man - I’ve got to go back to work…”

Now let me state clearly here that I really, really love my job.  And I swear I’m not just saying that because I know my boss reads these posts.  (although I do have an outstanding boss) I am so fortunate to work for a company that puts family first and allows me to take the time off that I did.  But it was still so hard to close the door and walk away from that sweet baby girl today.  Why is it that the last 8 weeks of pregnany seemed to take forever - but 8 weeks of maternity leave goes by in the blink of an eye?!

Quinn Isabella - 8 weeks old

It’s funny - when my maternity leave was up with Finley (the baby who had colic and had to nurse every 90 minutes for the first 4 months or else she’d scream bloody murder) I was practically begging to come back early.  ”Get me out of this house!!!”  But Quinn has been so easy.  She’s such a little honey.  She loves to just cuddle up and snuggle all day. (Katelin is standing here wanting me to let you all know that she was also an easy baby.)

As I opened the door to my car, the tears started falling.  I cried the whole drive in. (luckily I hadn’t put on my mascara yet!)  Of course once I got there - I was fine.  But the leaving was so hard.  Do you or did you have a similar experience?  I’d love to hear about it.

Now the good news is - I am only part-time for the next 8 weeks so I am easing my way back into my work schedule.  My day is over by about 8:45 or so and I am back at home when everyone is getting ready to start the day.  (this means I won’t have my In Search Of… stories for another 8 weeks.  But keep the ideas coming if you have any!  jlivingston@wkbt.com )

I’d also like to send out a special thank you to Lisa Klein who filled in for me and literally changed her whole life around to make that schedule work.  She is such a dear friend and co-worker.  The morning crew told me about 8 times today how much they’ll miss her.  I’m trying not to take that personally. =)

Thanks to all of you for the nice notes, facebook postings and cards while I was away.  You all made it easier to come back.

Jen

My three girls

Sunday was a great Father’s Day with my wonderful wife and 3 beautiful girls.  Although, I have to say it was filled with a whole lot of nothing!  Just the way I like it.  They asked me what I wanted to do and I thought about playing golf or maybe doing a picnic at the park, but what I really wanted was a big, long nap.  It was 3 hours to be exact and boy did I feel refreshed afterwards.  Naps are wonderful things, but I haven’t been able to take advantage recently for obvious reasons.  Jen cooked a big breakfast and the girls (at least the two older ones) made me some great cards.  Katelin wrote some very nice things about me and then at the end said, “I’m sorry you have 3 girls.”  She smiled after I read it and I could tell it was meant as a joke, but it made me wonder if she really thought that I was disappointed I had 3 girls. I told her that couldn’t be further from the truth.  The day was capped off by a bar-b-que on the deck and a campfire in the backyard with a good friend.

Today is the day I go back to work full-time.  I’ve been lucky enough to have four weeks off full-time and two weeks part-time for paternity leave.  I’m very fortunate to work for a company and bosses that value family. Not many other companies offer such generous policies.  It’s been so nice to have that time to be able to bond with Quinn and help Jen around the house because life is going to get very crazy when both of us are back at work full-time.  I know families do it everyday and sometimes with just one parent. I truly have a new respect for them.

Quinn is doing great.  She’s still a very good baby.  She’s starting to coo a little and have more of a personality.  She eats about every 3 hours still and hasn’t really settled into a routine yet.  We’re hoping it comes soon because Jen heads back to work part-time doing the morning show again on July 6th.  Those people that have babies that sleep through the night at one month, who are you?  What’s your secret?

Daddy's Baby

Big sisters Katelin and Finley are doing well too.  Finley is still testing our patience, but I have to admit it’s gotten better.  All of your advice from the previous posts I think have helped!  As always, thanks for reading these posts and following our journey.  We love to hear what other parents are going through too!

Mike

Why didn’t you people warn me!?  You know who you are.  Yes, you!  The ones who have kids close together who have been quietly waiting in the wings knowing the chaos that awaited me as I brought a newborn home to my two-year-old.  You should be ashamed of yourselves!

I mean Mike and I knew that our little Finley would have an adjustment period.  To be honest, she was practically sitting in a permanent ‘time-out’ before Quinn was even born.

To give you some background, Finley has been such a different child for us than our 9-year-old Katelin.  They couldn’t be more opposite.  Katelin has always been very obedient.  We didn’t have to worry about anything with her.  We would tell her once not to do something - and that was that.  No child proofing, no worrying she might run into the street or run off in a store.  Finley on the other hand has kept us on our toes 24/7.  (Now I know you with kids are thinking ‘every family has one,’ but I’m telling you, she’s one-of-a-kind.  You must trust me on this…)

We did all we could to try and prepare Finley for a new baby.  We talked to her every night about what was in Mommy’s tummy.  We read books that talked about how she would still be our special girl.  And when she came to the hospital to see the baby we were pleasantly surprised by how sweet and loving she was with her new sister.  ”I want to give baby Quinn another kiss, mama!”

Then we brought Quinn home…

For the first week, she reminded me slightly of that girl in the movie ‘The Exorcist.’   The one whose head spins around.  Holy crow.  Kicking.  Hitting. Pinching.  Yelling at the top of her lungs.  Threatening to hurt me or worse, the baby.  Doing every naughty thing you can possibly imagine.  Who is this child and what have you done with my baby?!

And just when I would reach the end of my rope, bursting in to tears and scouring the internet for the phone number of the ‘Super Nanny,’  she’d come over, run her fingers through my hair and and say, ‘I’m sorry mama.  I love you sooooo much!’  Of course I would still cry my eyes out - but it was because I was feeling so guilty for ever being mad at her in the first place. (darn those post-pregnancy hormones!)  Because the thing is - she is actually so sweet and loving.  I constantly remind myself how long it took for us to get her.  She truly is a gift from God and I’m so thankful for my precious Finley.  (even when she’s trying to send me over the edge. )

Finley Mae, 2-years-old

Now I will admit - it seems to have gotten slightly better over this past week.  I’m not sure if she is starting to get used to the new baby, or we are starting to get used to the new Finley.  Either way, I’d love some advice from all of you seasoned parents who have had similar experiences.

Jen

Time really does fly when you have a new baby in the house, doesn’t it?  I can’t believe it has already been three weeks since our sweet little Quinn was born.

Quinn Isabella, 3-weeks-old

Mike already filled you in on a few things regarding her birth - but I thought I would add a few thoughts of my own.

I knew…KNEW this baby was going to be a girl.  I just had a feeling from the very start.  As Mike has already admitted - he was 99% sure the baby was a boy.  That made for some really fun discussions and wagers along the way.  But going into the operating room, I was so sure.  And to be honest, I really wanted another girl.  I know that might surprise a lot of you…but I have so enjoyed my girls.  Plus, I grew up with three brothers - so I always dreamed of having girls!  Poor Mike on the other hand grew up with three sisters…so he has an idea of what he is in for in the future.  But it’s funny when they pulled her out.  All of a sudden the sex of the baby didn’t really matter at all.  Instead of listening for the ‘it’s a boy/girl,’ all I was listening for was a healthy cry.  As soon as I heard that - the tears started to roll.

In the operating room holding Quinn for the 1st time

Then came the time to pick out a name.

Mike talked a little about the name Quinn in his last post.  I really love it.  For some reason we like Irish sounding names.  We had a list of about 10 girls names going in.  We hadn’t settled on one yet.  The top contenders were Isabella, Harper, Madeline, Stella, Lucy and Quinn.  The day she was born - we just stared at her for hours and finally Mike said, ‘I think she looks like a Quinn.’

It’s still hard for me to process that I am the mother of three.   Looking at Quinn’s tiny little hands and feet, it’s still so mind boggling that ths little person came from me.  What a miracle.  What an absolute blessing.

Darling Daughters

Quinn has been such an easy baby so far.  (Knocking on wood here.  Would you knock too?  Seriously…do it.) Other than having her nights and days a little mixed up - everything’s been going great.  Finley on the other hand is a topic for another blog.  I knew there would be an adjustment period - but yowzers.

Katelin has already been such a big help.  She’s like my little assistant mama.  She is loving being a big sister again.

That’s about all for this update.  (It’s a lot harder to post updates with a two-year-old around!)

Jen

99%.  That’s how sure I was this baby was a boy.  Sure, I was hoping a little for a boy, but I just had a feeling this time around.  Oh, how I was wrong!  Another girl, Quinn Isabella, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

Quinn Isabella Thompson

How cool to say I’m the father of three girls, although I may regret that statement later in life

In the operating room, the surgeon pulled the baby out and said, “ok dad, what’s that?” (pointing to the female genitalia).  I have to admit, embarrassingly, my eyes fixated on the umbilical cord right away and needless to say I was a little thrown off.  ”It’s a…a…a…girl,” I blurted out.  I think I was just holding onto that 99% certainty until the last minute, afraid to admit I was wrong.  Jen, on the other hand, throughout the whole pregancy was 99% sure it was a girl.  I guess mom knows best.  Boy or girl, we’re both just relieved the baby is healthy.  I’ve walked past the NICU several times over the past couple of days and thought to myself how lucky we are, especially with all the trouble we went through to get Finley.

Everybody is doing just great.  It was a rough first night with Quinn, although that’s to be expected.  I learned something new.  Apparently, c-section babies sometimes have more mucus and gunk in their stomachs than babies born vaginally.  It makes sense if you think about.  Babies born vaginally have all that stuff squeezed out of them as they go through the birthing process.  Not so for c-section babies.  Quinn has settled into somewhat of a routine now of eating, sleeping and pooping.  That’s what babies do, right?

A lot of people have asked us how we decided on the name.  To be honest, there’s not much of a back story. Neither the first or middle name have any connection to our family history, we both just liked them.  Quinn is another Irish name, just like Katelin and Finley, and my mom’s side of the family is very Irish.   Jen also really liked Isabella for a first name, but when it came out that it was the most popular name last year, we decided to go with it for a middle name.  Some of you had suggested a middle name that rhymes with Rae and Mae (Katelin and Finley’s middle names), but I put the kabosh on that one.  Unfortunately, too cutesy for me!

Big sisters, Katelin and Finley, are loving up Quinn.  As you can probably imagine, 9 year old Katelin is a huge help and very motherly.

Katelin and baby Quinn

Jen and I have been a little worried how Finley’s going to take to Quinn.  Finley is our wild child shall we say and needs a lot of attention.  So far, she’s been pretty good though.  Just a little aggressive in the touching of the new baby, but that’s to be expected with a two year old.

Quinn and Finley

Thank you to the amazing staff that helped us this past week.  You know who you are and you’re awesome. Life is good right now!

Mike

I’m not sure who is more ready for this baby to come, me or Jen.  For the past several months, Jen has been “nesting” like I’ve never seen a pregnant woman nest before.   She had a little bit of it with our other two children, but this is insane.   I’m not talking about just getting all the baby stuff ready either, I’m talking about hard-core labor.   Each Monday, she’s been sending me her “honey-do” list for the week with projects that need to get done.  Ripping down trim and putting it back up, painting room after room (ceilings included), hanging new light fixtures and ceiling fans, the list goes on and on.  Everything we’ve been wanting to do around the house for a couple of years, is now getting done in 2 months!  This week, just a few days before her due date, we’re finally wrapping up everything.  As much as I’ve hated doing all of these projects, the end result has been well worth it.  I have to admit too, Jen has been there helping me along the way, not just ordering me around.  She’s been on the floor with a drill in hand or on a step ladder with a paint brush. Have you ever nested this bad??  Jen and I joke with each other.  It’ll finally be nice to be project-free for awhile and relax after the baby’s born.  Yeah, right!

Mike

Well here we go again!

Welcome to the all new Thompson/Livingston baby blog.  For those of you that are familiar with our story – it may be surprising for you to find out that we are not only welcoming another child to the world…but are doing it so soon after the last child was born.  Well guess what?  We were surprised too!

First off, if you didn’t follow our last blog, here is a link that gives you a little history of the struggles and challenges we went through to have our second child.

12/22/2008: A Long Wait The Second Time Around

Now that we are all caught up - I must say, it’s a little strange having a ’surprise’ baby after going through such a struggle to get our little Finley Mae.  In fact, I have to admit - I have a little bit of guilt about it.  I remember being so jealous of people that would say ‘we weren’t even trying,’ or would jokingly proclaim, ‘oops!’  I would just think to myself - ‘don’t they know how long we have been trying?!’  I know there are lots of women out there right now that are in my same shoes just a few years ago - and I can’t help but wonder if they now look at me with that same jealousy.  I just want to put my arms around all of them and say ‘hang in there.  I am pulling for you.’

When Mike and I got married, we talked about having *four* children.  I know.  I know.  That’s a lot especially in this day and age.  But when we had such a hard time having a second child, our plan changed.  We decided we would be happy with two and anymore would be an added blessing.

Well last September when I was feeling kind of crummy Mike jokingly said, ‘maybe you’re pregnant.’  We both laughed.  A few days…and several nauseous trips to the bathroom later - I took a pregnancy test.  I will never forget the look on Mike’s face when I walked out of the bathroom and showed him the results.  “NO WAY,” he said.  “HOLY S*%T!”  Life is funny, isn’t it?

Currently, things are pretty wild in our house these days and we haven’t even welcomed home number three.

Our now 9-year-old is finishing up the third grade.  She has given us our first taste of the busy extra-curricular life that comes with an older child.  Katelin joined the WAVE Swim team at the Y this year and just wrapped up a great season with thre day a week practices and weekend meets all over the state.  She is hoping for another sister.

The lovely Katelin Rae Thompson

Miss Finley is two…and is definitely acting two! Between how busy she is and how mischevious - it’s hard to keep up.  My parents call her ‘pay back.’  Finley keeps saying “there’s a new baby in mommy’s tummy,” but I don’t think she really has a clue how much her world is about to be rocked.

Feisty Finley Mae

We don’t know if we are having a boy or a girl.  We like the surprise.  I think it’s a girl, Mike say’s he’s 99% positive it’s a boy.  Our due date in Mother’s Day so we’ll find out soon enough!  (and by the way, we still don’t have names picked out - so suggestions are welcome!)

We will be posting on our blog as soon as the baby is born - so stay tuned!

Jen