Another Member in the Village

Ok so I know I've said before it takes a village to raise a child (African proverb).  I just added another person to my village!  A babysitter!  I have a baby sitter.  Ugh, I feel so old saying that.  I used to be a baby sitter.  She is more like a mother's helper because I haven't actually left her alone with the kids yet.  I actually would never leave her with both.  Nothing against her but a toddler (like Leon) and an infant is a lot for anyone to handle.  The last two weekends my baby sitter has come over from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.  During this time I have been able to get Elsie down for her late afternoon nap, make dinner, and clean up.  I highly recommend finding some young energetic person who wants money to watch your kids!

Three Months Old

Elsie is three months old.  She has her very first cold.  Not too many things are more painful than hearing a three month old cough.  It's so sad because I really can't do anything about it.  But she's happy.  She's nursing and sleeping so she is ok.  She can sit up (leans way forward, great yoga posture) by herself!  She babbles in her own language.  She is very loved by her brother and everyone else.  The three months has gone by quickly. It's hard to believe in another three months she could be eating her first solid foods and maybe crawling and then three months after that perhaps supported standing.  

Este es mine!

Leon's favorite word is MINE.  Seems like that's a thing for toddlers.  Instead of saying, "This is mine."  He typically mixes up his Spanish with English and says, "Este es MINE."  Two of his favorite things are his cholas (flip flops) and his lunch box (bolsa).  I curse the day (ok that's a bit strong) I purchased those Old Navy on sale flip flops.  Because he is forever tripping up in them or putting them on wrong and wincing in pain because the divider is between the wrong toes.  And he loves his lunch box to death.  His teachers in preschool have told me that Leon is doing really well EXCEPT that he wants to carry his lunch box everywhere.  He doesn't want to leave it on the table.  He wants his snacks by his side all the time.  We did a three hour hike this weekend and Leon carried his lunch box most of the time.

I have to admit the fascination with his lunch box and his flip flops is cute and understandable.  We live in an area with amazing weather.  So sneakers and other shoes are not as nice as open toe shoes.  And I love making his day care snack.  Every night I get excited about what treats to put in his lunch box.  I have been placing Halloween stickers in their recently.  Today he had a small cookie, mandarin oranges, graham crackers, and cheese sticks.  Tomorrow he'll have slices of bell peppers, fruit snacks, cashews, and probably a few sweet potato chips.

Two Months and Counting

Elsie is two and a half months old.  She "passed" her two-month check up with flying colors.  She's quite strong and inquisitive.  She stares and smiles at everything and can hold her head up in tummy time for a short while.  She also makes lots of sounds and practically smiles on command.

I'm not quite back to my pre-pregnancy shape and far from the pre-preggo strength.  But everyone says I look great for just having a baby.  Still I'm so anxious and ready to get back to pre-preggo shape and strength.   I seem to have a lot less patience this time.  Which is surprising being that I actually look and feel great in comparison to where I was two months after Leon.  I want all my clothes to fit now!  I want to run for hours now!  I want my abdominal muscles to repair themselves and for my diastisis to disappear.

But I know it takes.  In a few months I'll be back to "normal" and Elsie will be trying to crawl.

Time goes by fast so instead of focusing on the fact that I can't fit all my jeans.... I’ll try hard to focus on Elsie's little feet!

Second Time Around

A mom of one asked me yesterday, "So is it really as hard as they say...having two kids?"  Before I could answer she had ran off to check on her son who was crying.  My answer is "no."  It's not really that hard.  Though, I have had my moments when my hands are full (literally) with one and the other needs me (or thinks he needs me).  Elsie has turned out to be quite an easy baby.  She is so independent.  She's even putting her self to sleep.  For my childless readers, that's really a big deal.  Leon was a breast feed to sleep baby and occasionally could be rocked, swayed, or sang to sleep.  But mostly he wanted to fall asleep with a (mine, though I never tried anyone else's) nipple in his mouth and then wanted it close by --- just in case he woke up.  Elsie, on the other hand, will suck on her hands to get her self to sleep.  A friend said baby's become the baby the mom needs.  That's quite poetic but I am not sure that's so true.  I spoke to a mom of a very colicky baby this week and I doubt that's the baby she "needed."  But colic or not, it's the baby that she has and loves.  That sounds quite sappy but I had to add something because my statement sounded so cold.  Anyways, Elsie's two months old and Leon's pooping in the potty.  Who could ask for more?

Ama de Casa

Today was my first day as an "Ama de Casa" or house wife.  I'm back in overseas but not back to work.  I negotiated to be off without pay until Elsie is 12 weeks old.  I was so excited that that was approved.  Though it's quite ironic because I was off for 5.5 months with Leon and that didn't feel like enough.

But things are slightly different.  I have a baby who is more independent (meaning she's already self soothing and sleeps longer stretches alone, i.e. doesn't need to be held) and I have a staff.  You heard me.  I have a maid and a nanny.  It's very common here.  It's not me.  Don't hate me.

I have a maid who works from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm every day and a nanny who lives with me from Monday am to Friday afternoon.

Ok now that your shock has worn off.

Let me tell you about my day.  Despite having a staff I was still very occupied...buying flowers, breast feeding, reading books to Leon, baking cookies while someone else cleaned bathrooms and chopped up my vegetables for my veggie lasagna  or took Leon to the park while Elsie and I napped.  I shamelessly (well I felt a little shameful but then I saw several women doing just the same thing) went to the grocery store with my nanny, my toddler, and my newborn.  It was much easier to navigate the aisles worrying only about one of the kids or pushing just the stroller while someone else put things in the basket.

I can see how people live like this.  I remember back in my single and young days I frowned on people with nannies and maids.  Thought I'd never be a diplomat living high and mighty overseas but now that's just want I'm doing.

It takes a village to raise a child, so goes the African proverb.  That is very correct.  Perhaps your village is your spouse that works from home, your flexible job, grand parents that live by or your very well paid staff.

In the Skinny Jeans

  Some people say they just can't wait to get back into their jeans after having a baby.  I fit in skinny jeans but they are new.  Lol. I purchased two pair of cheap ($19) skinny jeans from Old Navy.  I think it's more emotionally rewarded to wear non maternity close after you deliver.  If you can't fit in your old clothes, buy new ones from Target, Walmart, etc.  

I currently weigh 135 now which means I lost a little over 20 pounds.  Remember I gained "only" 35-40 pounds this time instead of 55 with Leon.   I lost 20 pounds from delivering and  breast feeding.  I haven't done much physically yet.  I was just cleared for exercise a few days ago.  I leave for Caracas this week and can't wait to get back to an exercise routine.