Today is Tom’s last full day off work, which makes me all panicky, but it will be okay. Right? Right. Tom’s family lives a mile away and have already started signing up for shifts to come over and entertain Ella while I try and learn to juggle so it will be okay. Also, I know we have a number of wonderful friends here in town that I can call to come rescue me, so I just need to let go of this “I need to be Supermom” idea and take it all as it comes. It will be ooookay.

Ella is wonderful with Alice (who I still think of as Cricket most of the time) and if anything, loves her a little too much. Alice is going to have a bald spot from all the kisses I think. So far, the only tantrums we’ve had is when I ask her to please stop kissing the baby so that she can fall asleep.

100B3471

My milk came in yesterday and so far *fingers crossed* engorgement hasn’t been an issue. Mind you, they are definitely full, but Alice hasn’t had a hard time latching on, and I haven’t sobbed while trying to express in the shower yet, both of which were markers of Ella’s first week of life. The only nursing related complaint I have is the OMG afterpains which always hit about 10 seconds after Alice latches on. Tom was surprised when I nearly cried yesterday from them, since I was able to smile through 90% of labor, but really – they are such a different kind of pain. OUCH.

Tired but happy

I am healing really quickly, and have had to force myself to take it easy the last few days. I feel good, but know it will be easy to push myself too far and undo it all. I am on orders not to use the stairs, mostly out of principle – the laundry is the only thing I would really need to go down there for, and Cathy made it clear to Tom that I am on strict “TV, nursing and bon-bon eating” duty for two weeks. Reason # 9635 that I love my midwife. I didn’t tear at all (Reason # 9636 I love my midwife, btw) and my bleeding has been very minimal, which I am attributing to taking alfalfa tablets to boost my Vitamin K. The alfalfa is probably also one of the reasons I have already resumed normal bowel movements (oh shut up, everyone poos, we can talk about it) which was also a huge ordeal after Ella’s birth. I am sore, and a little swollen still, but I keep having to remind myself that it’s only been 3 days. I am allowed to be hobbly for a while.

It’s so strange having a small baby again. I managed to change both the girl’s diapers at the same time today (in my own little trial run of what that would be like – not bad as long as I can get Ella to stop hugging the baby every time I lay her down somewhere) and after wrestling Ella’s kid legs into a diaper and pants, Alice’s tiny chicken legs felt insanely small.

Small observations I don’t want to forget:

  • Alice’s hair and eyes are darker than anyone expected, which makes me wonder if I really should have named her Sage, after the little dark-haired girl in my dreams.
  • She shrieks like a cat, and seems pretty deliberate about it. She rarely fusses, just lets loose a wild shreik and then waits to see if anyone is going to rush to her rescue (Ella is always the first one there).
  • She can be tricked into sitting in her bouncy chair or the boppy, but 5 minutes is considered a success right now. And of course if she is at ground level, it’s open season for sister-love.
  • She doesn’t fit into any of her clothes yet – I wasn’t expecting such a small baby! Barely 7lbs! For an ‘overdue’ baby of a gestational diabetic, you would think she would be a bit bigger *eye roll*

4 days old100B3812

I think they are definitely sisters… (Ella at 4 days old, Alice at 3 days old)