Christmas Gifts - Bah, humbug

You know.. I hate Christmas. I mean, I love Christmas, but I hate it too. I have this bad tendency to build things up in my head, and when the event comes I'm usually bitterly disappointed. I remember one Christmas where I almost cried. I got 2 gifts. That's it. 2. One of which I didn't want, and the other came out of left field, but nothing I wanted. That, and I hate getting clothing. It really just makes me realize how much weight I have to lose again. Mind you, I need clothes, but I just don't want anyone else buying them, forget it being my mother-in-law or her family who buys me clothes that are too big, and look like they belong on someone 20 years older than I am.

But strangely, I love buying gifts for family, and the kids... it's amazing to see their eyes light up when they get something that they've been wanting. I guess that's what I'm missing. Wanting. There isn't really anything that I want right now in life. Nothing that really is at the top of my wish list (that's easy to buy, or within anyone's budget). So, I get sad when I get crap that I've never wanted, now have to find space for. It means that people don't get me. I can so understand others. I'm great and buying gifts... but I don't know what I want - how can I expect others to. They get me knicknacks - when I've sworn never to have any. They get me lotion - I hate lotions, I forget to use them. They get me bubblebaths.... I don't do baths. So, what to get me? I dunno.... time at the gym. A cool gadget. Time with a professional organizer. A cooking class. A book I've been wanting. A renewal on my magazine subscript. There are things... but I don't know how many people know me that well.

But, what's a gift really? Time with friends I'll take any day over a crappy knicknak. Give me fixings for a good pizza dinner and a date with which to share it with my friends.... that's a good one.

Well, I'm off shopping tomorrow. Gotta keep within the budget. Hard, but do-able (I hope).

Have a good weekend.

Rella

Baby update, mom time

Yet another week down and finished. Friday - finally. Well, it doesn't mean as much as it used to - back in the days when I was working, and not on maternity leave - but it does mark another week done and over and behind me. Things are going well with the baby - I can understand how some new moms feel going crazy with the new issues coming up. Thank goodness I have 2 other kids to remind me that things do pass. Yes, the old phrase "this too shall pass" comes to mind.

I've been using my mother lately to help me out around the house. We've been tackling jobs that I've wanted to get done, but just haven't had that second set of hands - and really, since we have stopped Yard Sale-ing, it's a chance to talk and be together. Thankfully my linen closet and kid's bedrooms are starting to look like I've been getting things done! :) I keep thinking of those days when women would have their mom's over for months at a time - I'm glad that I can have her a day a week, enough to get things done, but not too long that she drives me crazy. Mostly I want my nap time. I know that sounds nuts, but I know that the days will come when naps will be a thing of the past, so I'm just enjoying spending time with my baby and cuddling her while we sleep. Hard to believe that I was doing that 2+ years ago - it seems a lifetime!

Well, I have nothing major to report. Let's hope that I can keep up the cleaning, and baby keeps getting better and not worse. I keep hearing that "true" colic (if there is a thing as true) begins at 6 weeks. Believe me, my son broke that rule from the get go... and this kid, well... she has her screaming moments, but we're doing ok.

Rella

Demon Chocolate.....

Well, Halloween has come and gone. It was a good one - except for the rain. Crappy night. Why can't they postpone it if it rains... geez!

But, the bad part about having young kids and Halloween, is that they don't guard their candy.. and it just sits there in the kitchen... waiting for me. And of course, I can't refuse. It's bad. I can't wait until I get up enough guts to just put it away for good. But, then again the kids will bug me about it I'm sure. Oh well.

The baby is doing well for anyone wondering. We're still doing half and half breastfeeding and bottle feeding, but that's good with me. Hubby says that I have an unfair advantage on trying to calm her when she's cranky. I'm just glad that I have that option open! :) I can't even think about stopping now. It's just not an option until later. We are getting the hang of this thing, and even the yeast infections are staying away *knock on wood*

Now, it's all a matter of figuring out how to work in some shopping. Why hasn't anyone come up with a gadget to heat bottles of milk while on the go. Not everyone has microwaves in their Food court! This is one thing that really bugs the hell out of me!!!

OH well. Gonna keep this short for tonight. Here's hoping that we have a good rest tonight.

Rella.

Look at them... jugs!

Wow, time is flying by with this kid. Life is good, things are finally getting into some kind of groove. Granted, I see 3am in that groove, but that's okay too, cuz I sometimes nap between 10am-12. I kinda wonder how far I'm actually going to get with this breastfeeding stuff. Baby #1 got as far as 3 months with major anxiety, baby #2 got 6 months, now I'm wondering if baby #3 will get more than 1 month??? Yeast infections are a pain, and once you have them they seem to come back fairly easily. That's what was our problem in week #2.... and guess what is back! ARGH!

I've been going bra-less for awhile now, in hopes of keeping the yeast away from my breasts, but I'm thinking that it hasn't made much of a difference. The girls are starting to hurt again, and I wonder if it's from ... umm.. lack of support.. ahem.. or the infection coming back. Pain in the nipple! Really! And to top it all off, there are other locations that are seeing yeast infections as well, and the itching is driving me nuts! Well, back to the other meds I guess. My Lactation consultant/Nurse Practitioner is gone for the weekend, but she left me with a pill I can take in case the infection comes back, so I guess I'm back to that.

Plus, in order to help more milk come in, I'm starting with this SNS - Supplementary Nursing System. Oh joy, another thing I have to wash, sterilize, etc, and hope it doesn't get contaminated with yeast. If I didn't believe so heavily in breastfeeding, I wonder how long I would last at this! But, I really want to at least get 2 months in, so I guess I'm in it for awhile then - lets just hope that the feeding gets better, and maybe, just maybe the milk will come in more. You'd figure with these jugs they would hold more than your average milk jug! :)

Anyway, hope all is going well with your life... if anyone is out there!

Rella

It's a Girl!

Okay, I guess it's about time I pulled myself out of the cave, and posted a blog entry on the new baby! She was born October 3rd, so it's already been 2 weeks! Well, 2 weeks goes by quickly when you are dealing with 3 kids now! Yikes!

Anyway, things went well that fateful Wednesday night. I knew things were off to a good start when I was having contractions during the evening that were only lasting 30 seconds, and were 10 minutes apart. Called Grandma (Mummi for those of you who are Finnish), and send the kids off. I was waving goodbye at 8:15 when hubby came back from his Karate class. Called the midwives, and told them to hussle. Last time I called them and they only had 1/2 hour before the baby arrived - they almost didn't make it last time. This time they had a good 2 hours to set up and get ready. I even called my hubby's best friend and our down-the-street neighbour who has wanted to see a birth since baby #1, five years ago.

So, midwives and hubby, and neighbour and 2 midwifery students all packed into my small/med bedroom ready to deliver. Hubby was great - he kept me focused, and made sure that my back wasn't killing me the whole time. I had some brutal contractions, and I'm really glad I was at home, cuz then those meds that are so tempting at this point are just not available - and out of temptations path!

So, long story short.... I got on the bed and delivered the baby at 10:30pm. She was just perfect. I didn't know if she would be a girl or a boy, so I was happily surprised when hubby piped up and said - "It's a girl!" I could just hear the smile on his face. It would have been good if was a boy too... he was just happy the baby was finally here!

Mia was 8pounds 10oz, 21 inches long and just perfect. We had a bit of trouble with breastfeeding, and we ended up in the hospital for 2 days on the IV while her hydration came back up, but I'll leave that story for another day.

Instead... here are some cute baby pics! :)

Weeks gone by

What... how can that be. going for weeks without blogging. I guess that I've been blogging in my dreams, yeah, if I had any at this point. I've been getting very little sleep lately. What, with the baby rolling on my 'innerds', and generally causing me pain at night, sleep is a fiction that I wish I could live. Between that, and getting up 3 times a night to pee, things just are driving me nuts.

Oh well. At least I can take a nap later. Let's hope.

P.

Update... pregnancy

It's sad really. I haven't been blogging because very little has been going on in my life. Besides, who's going to read it anyway. (Kris, you out there... oh yeah... you're coming to dinner!).

Anyway, things have been going well with the pregnancy. I can't believe that the end is near (read, kid will arrive soon - ACK!). I've been feeling really good about everything my body has been doing, or not doing for that matter... and really... it's all good.

I know that it's a bad thing to say, but I have been chatting with some friends going through hard times lately, and I keep remembering how good I've got it. Really. Good kids, great hubby, really good friends. Can't go wrong, right... right? Anyway, it's kinda like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know... the kid will show early, home delivery will go awry, and I won't even have anything for the kid to wear. Must fix that. It's actually hilarious that I don't have much for this kid yet. I mean.... it's only 4 weeks away. Guess I should get some stuff together. Kids are so easy at this age tho. They don't need much except clothes, diapers, a boob to suck on, and some comforting arms. At least, that's what I say now! :)

All in all... things are good. Now, what's oging to happen that I said that? Hmmm???? At this point, short of pregnancy complications, I could probably handle anything that life tosses my way. And, that's how I like it.

Rella