Bringing Home Baby

How many times have you said that in your household?  I knew having two children would be different than one, but boy did I underestimate.  I still don’t know how single parents or parents with multiple children do it!  

There’s not a dull moment in the Thompson household these days, and by dull, I mean there’s really no down time.  It’s been quite an adjustment with me and Jen back at work full-time.  Jen obviously leaves for work early in the morning, then it’s time for me to take over with Finley. Sometimes that means 5:30am or sometimes later, it just depends on what kind of night she’s having. Then, at about 7:00am, it’s time to get our other daughter Katelin up and going.  I have to help her get breakfast and get Finley fed a bottle. Then, it’s on to helping Katelin get dressed and ready for the day (although she’s become a pretty self-sufficient 7 year old), load up the two girls (and sometimes the dog too) and head off to school.  After dropping Katelin off at school, it’s back home to keep Finley happy and entertained.

Oh, she’s finally down for a nap, yeah, I’ll have a little bit of time to take a nap myself.  Nope. The pile of dishes in the sink is staring at me, there’s cleaning that needs to be done all over the house and the grass looks like it hasn’t been mowed in two weeks.  Jen arrives home between 12:30 and 1:00pm.  We get to spend a little bit of time together, maybe have lunch, but then I have to start getting ready for work.  I head off to work at 2:30pm, while Jen is spending time with Finley (the piles of laundry and the growing weeds in the garden are staring at Jen).  At 3:00pm, Jen has to load up Finley and go pick up Katelin from school.  At 4:30, it’s time for Jen and the girls to get ready for Katelin’s swim lesson or some other after school function. They all head off to the “Y”, sometimes Finley is a doll, sometimes not. They arrive home a little after 6 o’clock and Jen realizes, oh no, I haven’t thought about dinner. She tries to be super mom and is grilling burgers outside while cooking mushrooms on the stove inside, Finley is over on her playmat fussing because she’s hungry and Katelin is yelling “I don’t want a burger for dinner.”  At about 7:00pm, I arrive home for my dinner break.  I try and relieve Jen for a little bit with Finley, but then it’s time for us all to eat. I spend a little bit of time with the girls before it’s time to start getting Katelin ready for bed, while Jen is feeding Finley again.  I get Katelin down to bed and have to head back into work, while Jen tries to get Finley and herself down for the night.  And then it starts all over…

This is a typical day in the Thompson household, but add in haircut and doctor appointments, work obligations outside of your normal hours and sleep deprivation and there’s definitely not enough time in the day!  I can’t complain though, I have three wonderful girls in my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Sing it with me now… “rollin’ rollin’ rollin’…”

It’s been a big week in the Thompson household.  Just before Finley Mae turned 4-months-old…she rolled over for the first time!!!  It’s so funny to watch the build up before they can actually roll over.  

First she starts to raise her legs in the air…  

Then a few days later…she begins to angle to the side…  

After that, she presses her head into the ground…

…and before you know it - voila…she’s on her belly.  

Unfortunately for Finley…she hates actually being on her belly and hasn’t yet figured out how to roll back.

So it has become a little game of rolling over, crying in frustration and flipping her back.  

Rolling, frustration and flipping her back.  Again and again and again…  

It seems a little early for her to be rolling over already although I’m sure it’s probably about average.  I can’t remember when Katelin first did it.  How about your kids…when did they first roll over??  

As for the 4 month check up…enough with the shots!  I know it’s for their own good and it would be much worse if they actually got the illnesses that the shots are protecting her against - but man is it horrible.  And for all of you that thinks she looks enormous in the pictures…she is.  She came in at 90% for height and 75% for weight.  Can girls play in the NFL?  I love it though.  Katelin was always pretty skinny with little chicken legs.  Finley’s calves look like tree trunks and I lost count at the number of rolls on her thighs.  I just want to eat her up she is so cute. 

My first week back full time went pretty well.  I only had to call three times a day to see how she and daddy were doing.  Apparently she was fine without me.  *sniffle sniffle*

I cried a little on Sunday at the realization that I was the mother of two on Mother’s Day.  It’s still strange and wonderful to say that.  I have two precious girls.   

Life is good.

Well that’s the latest.  Keep checking back, we’ll make sure to keep you posted on any other major milestones!

Jen

It’s been awhile since I’ve written on the blog (Jen said it’s my turn!) so I thought I’d give you an update. Finley is about to turn 4 months old!  Wow, how time has flown.  As you saw from the pictures in Jen’s previous post, she’s our chunky monkey.  I just love it when babies get chubby.  They’re so cute.  However, with all that she’s been eating, she’s also become our little spit ‘r upper.  After one or two times of Finley puking all over my suit and tie or Jen’s work clothes, you’d think we’d get the hint to carry a burp cloth with us 24/7.  Wrong. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been caught dripping in spit up.  Yuck.  Thankfully for me, she seems to like mom’s shoulder better than mine!  Katelin was also a spit ‘r upper when she was a baby, although Finley seems to be even worse.  We’ve tried burping more often during feedings and other things, but nothing seems to work.  Any suggestions for us?  Anything you’ve found to work?  

It’s really nice that Finley has turned a corner.  We’ve gotten on somewhat of a schedule which includes a little more sleep for the both of us.  She’s such a joy to be around.  She’s a very smiley, happy baby. What a 180 from just two months ago.  However, Jen goes back to work full time on Monday, which means I’m on my own all morning long until about 12:30/1:00pm.  Wish me luck.  It’ll also be a very hard day for Jen too so send her some thoughts of encouragement.

Mike

Okay - so I was hoping that when I came back to work…no one would notice that I wasn’t posting anything to this blog.  Well I have gotten many e-mails in the past few weeks wondering why I stopped updating, so I guess there are a few of you that are still interested in our baby life.  For the seven of you…here’s the latest.

It’s been a very big month for the Thompson’s as we have moved into a new house.  We were living in a very charming, but small cape cod and realized quickly that with another person in the family…we needed a bigger place. We are still unpacking boxes and trying to get settled - but loving having space to stretch out.  (although I would never recommend moving with an infant!)

Finley Mae is now three-and-a-half months old.  She is chirping and making all sorts of fun sounds.  We are so in love with her!!  Big sister Katelin runs home everyday from school to give her a big kiss.  I can’t believe how fast she is growing.  We have definitely turned a corner with her.  The colic has gone and she’s actually turned into a very good baby.  She’s also turned into quite the little butterball.  Lets just say she’s not missing any meals…that’s for sure.

As for me, I am finishing up my part-time maternity leave.  I go back full time in two more weeks.  It’s been so nice getting to come home early.  By the time I start to miss her - I’m already on my way home.  Full time will definitely be an adjustment.  Not only being away from her..but all the other things that go along with it…like pumping.  That’s a barrel of fun.

I still worry all the time.  I just read something that said most SIDS deaths occur between 2 and 6 months. So I am constantly checking on her to make sure she’s still breathing.  SIDS is so scary.  It’s heartbreaking to think about the parents out there that have lost children this way.  I am doing everything that is recommended.  Of course we put her on her back, we give her a pacifier, there’s no loose blankets or toys in the crib.  And a new study has shown a 70 percent reduction in the chance of SIDS if you run a fan where the baby is sleeping.  Mike shakes his head at me that I have the fan blowing when it’s 40 degrees outside.

Anyway, I will try to be better about posting updates…but for now - here’s some new pictures!

Jennifer 

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the gal with the Irish name!

Katelin Rae and "little sister" Finley Mae

Cute Chick!

Happy Easter!

Somebunny looks sad...

Monday was terrible…and not for the reason you might think.  I did go back to work, but that actually went pretty smoothly.  Unfortunately, as soon as my shift was over we had to head to the doctor for Finley’s two month check up.  (First of all, I can’t believe she’s two months old already.  Time is just flying by.)  Anyway, for those of you that have recently had a baby, you know what happens at the two month check up - vaccinations galore.  I forgot how horrible this is.  She had to get three shots and as soon as the first one went in, there was this 2 second delay and then the shrieking scream that no mom wants to hear.  I contemplated leaving the room.  What’s worse, watching your child scream in pain and looking at you like ‘why are you letting them do this to me???’ or leaving the room and having your child scream in pain and wonder ‘why did my mommy leave me???’  Luckily Mike was there to hold her still while I stood by the waste basket thinking I might throw up.

On a positive note, going back to work went pretty well.  Finley actually decided to let me get some shut eye for my first day back.  It’s amazing what 3 straight hours of sleep will do!  When I was leaving for work, I went to give her a kiss and she just looked at me like ‘who is this lady with all the make-up on?’  (I kind of let myself go while on leave…)  I only cried for a minute and then focused on trying to remember how to do my job.  Bill brought me in some pumpkin bars and made some of his famous gumbo for me as well.  (I was taken aback ’cause he’s usually not this nice.)  As much as I have enjoyed being home with my darling girl, it’s actually nice to have a reason to shower and brush my teeth everyday.  (oh come on - you know you had days when you couldn’t remember if you brushed or not!)