my life is shit (but in the best possible way!)

{I have to put that disclaimer up there - Mom forewarned about jinxing myself with bad karma, seeing as how I've had an awesome June in one huge way (y'know the birth of my healthy babe) but a totally sucky June in a lot of other ways, which we won't get in to right now...so there, I've unjinxed myself! I hope...}

My life is all about poop these days. The crap. The shit. The turds. The color of it. The size of it. The amount of it. Too much poop? Not enough poop? It's all poop all the time.

I'm constantly keeping up with Rhealen's poop, seeing as how hers is still adjusting and I'm not sure it's where it needs to be yet (hello, diarrhea - and yes, I had to google that to make sure I was spelling it correctly, which I totally was not)! I count how many times Rhealen takes a poop, catalogue the texture and color, and then find myself telling Justin about Rhealen's shit the minute he walks through the door.

"Hello, dear! How was your day? Your youngest daughter crapped twice today! And it was semi-solid! FTW!"

Sidney has finally mastered the art of pooping in the potty - HALLELUJAH! At first, she was all timid and ashamed about the whole thing...but now she can't wait to show you her poop. In fact, just yesterday she wouldn't let me wipe her ass until I looked at her poop. She loves to talk about it, loves to brag about it - she's so proud of herself. And I am too, really - it's just that I've got enough poop on my brain with her sister, I don't need mental images of her poop confusing my sleep deprived brain. And of course, Sidney likes to talk poop with Justin, too!

"Daddy, do you know what apple juice is for? It makes you poop! Hahahaha..."

The man loves his family, I remind him every day.

And lastly, there's my poop - or constant lack thereof. Right after Rhealen, there was more pooping than ever before in my life. I couldn't eat without pooping immediately, and nothing set well on my poor stomach. Now, I'm just back to my regular clogged up self. The lack of poop is shitty, believe me. I can't remember the last time I had a nice BM, and I'd kill someone to have a nice BM right about now. Dulcolax, anyone? I try not to talk about my poop with Justin, somehow he just doesn't find it nearly as endearing as newborn poop.

So, yeah, it's all poop all the time right now. It's been said viewing a live birth is the best birth control - but honestly, I think a few weeks in this house would work just as good right now. 'Cause the poop, it ain't sexy.

[love]

I totally love her receding hairline and double chin. It's hard to believe she'll be three weeks old tomorrow.

Soon it'll be three months, then three years and then she'll be thirteen and thirty. Let's stop talking about it, okay?

RJ's Birth Story

The birth story of our little Rhealen Jo, if you'd like to read...

It all started with a normal weekly visit to my doctor on Friday (the 3rd), first an ultrasound and then my exam. My mom and mother-in-law came along, as did Sidney - she was so excited about seeing Rhealen on the "big TV". During my ultrasound, the technician said it looked like I had low levels of amniotic fluid, which didn't really suprise me. I had been feeling like I was leaking for close to two weeks prior! Dr. Earl (my super wonderful doctor, whom I love...a lot) was concerned about the fluid levels so he set up my induction for Monday morning (we had to report to the hospital Sunday evening to get things started).

The weekend before RJ got here was peaceful and easy and laid back, lots of cuddle time with Sidney and naps on the couch. Justin's mom came down Friday night and helped us clean the house and get things organized. Even though I was only two weeks away from my due date, there were still a lot of last minute things we hadn't gotten around to doing.  My father-in-law and his girlfriend cooked us dinner and we shared a huge watermelon Sunday afternoon - my Mom came down for a little while and helped us get things packed and organized. It was great, feeling completely supported and surrounded by people who were as excited as we were!

Sunday evening, we drove to the hospital as a family of three - the last time we ever rode in my car that way.  Justin insisted on stopping to wash off the car (because the baby couldn't come home in a dirty car) and Sidney fell asleep on the way to the hospital (you could tell she was excited, ha!). It was simple and sweet and the perfect little moment. Cut to boring hospital paperwork (there always seems to be a ton of it, even when you pre-register!) and a funny "us" kind of moment when Sidney got hand-sanitizer in her eyes. I always feel like a rolling hillbilly caravan whenever we go somewhere as a family! My mother-in-law came to Sidney's rescue, even though she was a little apprehensive about leaving Justin and me behind at the hospital.  I tried to talk Justin into going with them so he'd get one more decent night's sleep, but he would hear none of it. Justin and I spent the evening listening to the baby's heartbeat and timing my contractions (which where about six minutes apart at that time and pretty steady in strength). The nurse came in to check me and give me my Cervidil injection - she was a little suprised to see I was already at 2cm, which made me a little suprised! I guess we were closer to having RJ than we realized!

The night was long and aggravating mostly, Rhealen wouldn't hold still for the heart monitors and the nurse kept having to come in every hour or so to move me and move her and move the monitor. I don't think either one of us got much sleep! The morning was quiet and started off perfectly. I got up and took a long, steaming hot shower. Justin kicked back on the couch and I piled up in the recliner for my last few minutes of freedom before I was stuck in the bed.

They began my Pitocin around 7AM, and already I was at 4cm. The contractions kept coming hard and steady, the people began to pour in (hi, Mom and Mamaw, Shirley and Sidney, Fanny...) and it made the reality of it all even more real. I love the buzz before a baby makes his/her debut into the world - it's the most exciting, anticipated moment a person can ever experience, from either side of the hospital bed!

My labor progression was blessedly quick and easy. I got the epidural early on and it definitely helped me relax. I am definitely not one of these people who's equipped to handle pain of any kind, so I've always opted for medical intervention at the first opporunity! It doesn't take away from my birth experience, in my opinion, in fact I feel it made it all the more enjoyable! And both of my girls came out healthy and happy, so epidurals! FTW!

My progression went something like this: 4cm when we started the Pitocin, stalled at 6cm for an hour or so, 7.5cm at one moment and then straight to 10cm in less than 15 minutes! Quick and easy and pretty much pain-free (again, thank you epidural!)!

 But this is the part I barely believe myself, and I'm sure other people will disbelieve - I pushed once. Just one big push and there she was! No grunting, no groaning, no strain, no pooping (THANK YOU LORD) - just one push and "welcome to the world, Rhealen"!

Justin barely had time to get off the couch, Dr. Earl barely had time to put his scrubs on, and no one had bothered to turn off Deadliest Warrior on the TV.

And there she was, perfect and pink and screaming her little head off. She peed all over the doctor, gripped the side of the warming tray for dear life, and managed to roll from back to belly and then again to her back within the first few moments of her life.

She was born quick into a moment of chaos and was sweet and darling from the second she got here. That's been her way from day one, in the midst of all of our running and busy lives, she exists happily and perfectly. It's been less than three weeks since she arrived, but it feels like she's been here forever. She fits, perfectly and wonderfully and is loved more than life itself.

Rhealen Jo

6 lb. 14 oz.

19.5 inches

born at 11:22 AM

6/6/11

Sidney, duh

I am so proud to say that my little big girl Sidney is doing a pretty darn good job adjusting to this "big sister" thing. So far, she seems to love Rhealen and doesn't harbor any ill will towards her. Of course, I guess that could change once RJ starts cutting in on her time with the grand-parents or stealing all of her toys BUT so far, so good. She isnt't showing any signs of anger or hurt towards me, although I try extra super hard not to let her feel left out or any less important. It's definitely a huge juggling act! I want my big kid to feel just as loved and safe and important as she was before, because she is still all of those things to me. Duh!

I can definitely see how it would be easy to overlook your first-born, especially when they're at the "independent" age Sidney is. She can do almost everything for herself, by herself - and she's quick to let you know it, too! She's got the best imagination and will play by herself for hours, singing little songs she makes up and creating characters better than any book she's ever read. I'm ridiculously proud of her. Duh.

I'm trying to savor the time right now, while she's at this age and Rhealen's just a "newbie". But I also can't wait to watch them grow up together. I'm an only child and have no idea what it's like to have a sibling, obviously, so it's a new adventure for me, too. I wonder if they'll play nice together and help one other and protect each other. Will they be best friends or enemies? There's a million different questions I have and endless possibilites for each question. I do know that they'll always love each other, regardless of what happens through the years. Duh.

I'm so lucky to have Sidney Morgan in my life, she's taught me so much as an only child over the last three and a half years. I can't wait to see what she'll teach me now that she's a "big sissy". It's hard to believe I'm here. I'm living this life. These are my daughters. My daughters. I am the luckiest person I know. Duh.

Double duh.

we counted down to this day for nine months...

Today was Rhealen's due date. Today Rhealen is two weeks old. Today there's a sweet, sleepy girl occupying my every moment and every thought. I'm so glad she's here and healthy and seemingly happy. I'm so in love it hurts, but in the best possible way. People don't really die from happiness, do they?

'Cause I could totally die right now.

hey, baby daddy

 You gave our girls to me, I gave them back to you and now they're ours forever. I couldn't love any man more.  

slightly sappy

One really awesome perk of maternity leave? The opportunity to watch lots of awesomely good (and awesomely bad) movies!

I've spent way too much time enamored with "Mr. Darcy" and Pride & Prejudice (hello, Matthew Macfadyen) - it's my constant companion during the 3AM feedings. Earlier I cried all over RJ watching Steel Magnolias. I just knew that my girls would be leaving me tomorrow for some man to get married and leave me forever. Totally irrational. I also finally got around to watching My Best Friend's Wedding, and I know I'm only 14 years late. But ohmigod, do I love it or do I love it?!?!

I think it's the post-pregnancy hormones or something. I'm a puddle of love and mush and total girly sappiness, which is completely not me. I'm the anti-chick flick kind of gal. Most of the time. But who can resist this:

Bring on the campy and the sweet and the cheesy. I'm ALL about it these days!

just checking in.

I didn't realize having Rhealen would suck the blogging brain right out of me, but boy! I was so wrong! I haven't had the first inkling to blog or do much of anything (although I have been faithful about keeping up with reading your blogs, even if I'm not commenting as much as normal)...

RJ is pretty perfect - eating good and sleeping good. I can't believe I lucked up and had two sweet, mild-tempered babes! The entire time I was pregnant with Rhealen, Justin and I kept telling each other "there's no way this time will be as easy or good as it was with Sidney" but so far, RJ has proven us so wrong. She's a doll, and I'm smitten with her already.

I mean how could you not love this kid, right?

Sidney is loving being the big sister, she thinks she can do everything I can do (sometimes she thinks she can do it better than I can!) and I've caught her trying to pick up her little "sissy" a few times! It's the most precious thing in the world to watch Sidney with Rhealen, she's so doting and sweet. I can't count how many times I use the words "be easy" during a day, but other than that, it's nothing but love between the two of them. She makes me so proud, that big girl of mine.

Hopefully soon enough I'll get back in the swing of things and keep on blogging at my regular pace. But for now, I'm soaking up my girls and enjoying my time at home with them. Summer kicks off next week, and I can't wait to spend every single day of it with these beauties of mine!

[...]

enjoying the moments....

I'm working on writing her birth story, before I forget too much (it all happened so fast as it was!) but for now I'm soaking up these two. Grateful for my husband to be home this time around to help out. Grateful for summer and plenty of people to pitch in and take care of my little family. Grateful for this sweet little girl, who is sleeping and eating like a champion already.

We're all in love and enjoying every second of it. Be back soon!

Rhealen Jo

My sweet baby girl...
6 lbs 14 oz
19.5 inches
She's perfect, absolutely perfect.

come Monday

Right now, my ringtone is Jimmy Buffett's "Come Monday" - it's one of my simple favorites. I mean, who doesn't love it (if you don't, go suck a big one). And it's completely fitting, seeing as how come Monday I will be a mother of two girls.

We saw Rhealen yesterday on the "big TV" as Sidney calls it; she looked great, if not a little uncomfortable all squished up in my belly. Her head looked huge, which is a little daunting but her legs were long and her spine looked perfect. It was just the sweetest mess of baby, I was glad to have this one last ultrasound! Due to some low fluid levels and a 7-plus pound baby at 38 weeks, my doctor wants to go ahead and deliver. I've been leaking amniotic fluid now for at least two weeks, so I knew there was a chance my levels would be low.

I'm so excited to meet her, I can barely stand it. I wish I had something huge and profound and poetic to say. But honestly, I'm just this smiling, cheesy mess who can't wait to meet her baby girl. I almost cried yesterday knowing I'd cry tomorrow on the way to the hospital - does that even make sense?! I'm nervous and anxious and hoping for a smooth delivery and a healthy babe. This is the moment I've been waiting for. I can't believe it's really almost here.

Come Monday, it'll be alright. Come Monday, I'll be holding you tight.

the thing I love about technology

I'm in love with my Droid Incredible - I always have it with me (and always charged, thanks to a handy $7 car charger!) and I'm constantly looking to grab those moments of "real life" happening around me. I share them on facebook and Flickr and Twitter and here and anywhere else I can think of. I use different apps and image-modifications to come up with all sorts of amazing phone-photography. Technology today, you have to love it!

To me, it's just as practical to rely on your smartphone to document life events as it is to lug around a big camera - sometimes, it might be more practical! (Joanna from A Cup of Jo just showcased her family vacation in SF using only photos from her phone - way cool!) Maybe it's because I'm falling back in love with film photography, and I like the "old school" look certain apps can give a photo. Maybe I'm just smitten with modern times and modern things. It's certainly a fun combination to play with day in and day out.

I don't know about you, but I'm addicted to taking photos with my Droid - I'm addicted to this new sensation of documenting every moment of our lives with status updates and picture messages. It's just a fun time to be living in and I'm loving every minute of it. How about you?

I melt.

They kind of complete me.