Life with Levi & happy 2 1/2 to Kaylee!

Well, Levi's almost a 4 weeks old now and we've gotten much more used to having a baby in the house again. It's odd how having a first child gives you these preconceived notions of what your second will be like. It's helpful, because in some ways things are easier because you don't have to relearn lessons already learned the first time around, but harder because you have to get used to a totally new baby - different personality, behaviors and abilities. Obviously I knew they wouldn't be the same as each other, but ... what can I say - there's an adjustment. Levi's a delight; Both kids are an absolute delight!

Also, I had forgotten how hard it is to take care of a newborn. It has been 30 months after all. (happy 2 1/2 Kaylee sweetie!) Memory fades and time goes quickly, also this stage doesn't last forever. Thank goodness. It's the hardest, messiest (poop, pee, breast milk everywhere!) time there is.

Anyways, what's Levi like? He's so cute! I've already taken to calling him "little guy" even t hough he's a big baby, this is what I call him all the time. My "little guy Levi". Two days ago he smiled back while being played with for the first time. I've seen sleeping smiles and gassy smiles before then. The smile lights up his face. I'm looking forward so much to being able to interact more and more with him and seeing that wonderful personality come through. He's got about 1-2 hours a day where he is in the frame of mind he's able to be "played" with. This would be time we can sing, read or talk with him. Otherwise his general pattern is still eat, sleep, poop. He does have lots of trouble getting to sleep. There's quite a lot of crying that happens before he will nod off. He will shake himself awake, that is very much like his big sister. He does sleep a lot still - maybe around 16 hours a day. In order to get him to stop crying it feels like a game of hot or cold. Pick up, nurse, CRY. Stand up, walk/bounce - am I getting warmer? CRY. Add a shush - am I hot now? Bingo - soothed! It's a long process with moving target. Eric and I are getting good at the soothing. It becomes much more complicated with screaming baby when a toddler is trying to get involved as well. So we are getting used to dividing our forces - Eric with her, me with him .... and switch... and switch again. Levi is very sensitive - what newborn isn't - he needs a calm environment which our house sometimes is not despite our best efforts. Also I recollect with Kaylee that there's a period of time where there's sort of a "witching hour" with a newborn in the evening where almost nothing will soothe them and you sort of resign yourself to the cry - soothe, cry - soothe pattern. So! Despite the crying jags there's still either sleeping or quiet periods where he's soothed where we manage to fit in some art, game playing, puzzles or bath for Kaylee. We try to make good use out of the free moments to give her some fun in the evenings as well so that she doesn't turn out to regret the new addition. She still responds very nicely at all times to Levi. She still is mostly interested in how can I hold, touch, kiss and hug my "little brother." She's always asking "Can I see my brother?" At times the answer needs to be no, no she can't touch him while nursing or sleeping.

Anyways, suffice it to say, our house is busy and in the middle of a big change! It's been really nice having Kaylee in daycare during the day so that she can keep her morning routine and I can bond with Levi, give him all my attention and while he's sleeping - get things done around the house. She has lots more she gets to do at daycare like go to the playground, do projects, have a structured day. I do miss her though and honestly wonder if she should be with me. I may keep her home on Fridays soon just so that I can be with her more. Things will need to calm down with Levi a bit more though.

Levi rolled over from back to stomach already! It was on our bed, so it was a soft surface but I can't believe he can already do that! I will need to keep a close eye on him now! Of course he was in search of a feeding so I was right there to witness it. He's so strong. He canalmost lift his head by himself, will crawl up me to get a feeding and now...rolling over! I weighed him today an dit looks like he weighs about 12 pounds now. I am washing all his 3-6 mo clothes. Some of his clotehs are looking too tight already! I can't believe how fast he's growing!

I am doing great. My incision is healing very well. I am regaining some feeling back in my right foot where I had lost sensation. So the nerve damage is slowly repairing itself. Energy levels are as good as can be expected...my fitness level still needs to improve quite a lot after being pregnant. I'm making good headway though - I have only 15 pounds left to lose.

Last night, after lots and lots of fussing, Levi slept 7 hours! At about 5 in he woke up and needed a diaper change, but he looked tired so I just wrapped him back up snug and shut the light off and we got 2 more hours of sleep! There's nothing like uninterrupted sleep to recuperate you. After many months of waking up while pregnant and now with a newborn, it's really easy to get worn down. It's not always easy to remember to "sleep when the baby sleeps" because you're always thinking - oh I can get this or that done around the house. But that's one thing that I think I remember to do more than I did first time around - or the fact that he's sleeping more gives me more opportunity...

Anyways, life with Levi is treating us fairly well. It's work but very rewarding and we're glad to do it.

New things with Kaylee: She's potty training really well! She goes on the potty almost every time including #2. She doesn't usually need a tattoo as a reward but gets one now and then. Like my MIL says, intermittent reinforcement is the best. She sits on the big potty with her sesame street lid. She likes to flush the toilet herself and wants to wipe herself. We let her wipe after we've got her cleaned up. She doesn't like the washing hands afterwards part as much and we usually have to work to get her to do that, but it's not too bad. At daycare, she's been using pull ups and has to be dry for 2 weeks and then she can start to wear underwear. I think she's had some accidents at nap so I'm not sure where that leaves her on the 2 weeks thing but we are very pround of her! It might be slightly harder than having her wear diapers but it is so worthwhile working our way towards being potty-trained!