2 month checkup, family visit and last week of leave

Levi had his 2 month appointment last week. The doctor says he's right on track - she checked him for his eyesight tracking, a symmetrical startle, checked ears, chest, etc. He was 15 lbs 1 oz and 24 3/4 inches long, with a 43 cm head circumference. He's in the 95% for both height and weight. I told her he still nurses like every 2-3 hours and not more spaced out as I'm reading some kids his age do. She said well it's probably nice for me because he sleeps longer at night then. That's true and I do appreciate it - we're getting 6-7 hour stretches typically. As long as Kaylee can stay sleeping, then we can stay asleep and that's so restorative! She also said I'm probably making a lot of breastmilk too to support him. He's so big, everyone's comment on him is about his size. I will be taking him into the office tomorrow and I'm sure I'll hear a lot about how big he is. Our doctor said that he's the size of an average 4 month old. Basically it seems to me he's 2 lbs ahead, which makes sense because he's about 2 lbs ahead of babies his age at birth. Levi also got his first shots and it was very sad the way he cried, but I am very thankful for the vaccinations that we have at easy access to that. We are so fortunate. I had to ask questions about autism, and the doctor pretty much scoffed at those saying the doctor who did that research lied, and had his license taken away and there is no basis for those claims. She said that she can tell that he probably doesn't have it because he's smiling so much, looking at you directly and has lots of facial expressions.

Eric's parents just left. It was fun to have a visit with them for about 4 days. It was a special moment when Eric's mom got Levi to smile for the first time ever! Kaylee and Levi had fun seeing them especially, and Eric and I felt like we were on a mini-vacation because we had to do a lot less for the kids. There was time to sit and have coffee and to talk, and go to bed early. I did less bed-hopping between kids beds. I started to get sick so it was good to have more rest. We took Kaylee and Levi to the library and the kids did really well in the toy rooms they had there (super nice) but Kaylee did have a very embarrassing public tantrum, kicking and screaming through the library lobby. It was really close to her nap and I guess it was just too much for her. I hadn't been through a public tantrum in a while and it wasn't pretty! Oh well! Such is life with a 2 year old. She's normally just a sweetheart. So, his parents did notice that Kaylee is at times competing for attention and sometimes in a negative way. Kicking off when told to leave Levi alone. The first month wasn't too bad with this but the second month has yielded a little bit more of these sorts of conflicts. Kaylee is still really sweet toward her brother though for the most part. She just can't wait to kiss him, hold him and hold his hands.

I asked Kaylee what she thinks about sharing a room with her brother sometime soon. I asked her what it would be like for her to have us move his crib into her room. She said, "Yeah! That sounds fun! He will crawl up and make himself comfortable." It wouldn't be for about 3 months or more until I'm comfortable with moving him in, but I just wanted to test the waters. Her response was sweet.

We've just moved Levi into his crib this weekend. He looks like a tiny little prince sprawling in the huge crib. He's so sweet. He likes his mobile, even though I can't find the part that makes it move and make music. He's been loving his playmat and seems to burn a lot of calories kicking and grooving around. He especially loves his giraffe toy from his Aunt and Uncle.

This is my last week of maternity leave. I am a little conflicted about it, I don't think I'd be a normal Mom if I wasn't. I feel very sad to be going back and to have less time with the kids. I know things will be very crazy time-wise. It will be majorly hard to keep the house clean and to keep up with the cooking. I am really glad to be working with such a great firm that doesn't really require me to travel (at least not yet) and that allows me to work less hours (30) to allow for a little bit more flexibility so that I can have more time for our household upkeep and family. I am nervous about Levi starting daycare. One good thing is I am comfortable with our daycare provider and that he takes a bottle well. I'm mostly worried about the number of other kids around and that they might hurt him, but I know the the daycare provider will be very careful with him. He's just still so little and he doesn't really like his swing too well yet. If he did that would be a nice safe place for him to stay. Something that's so great about me going back next week is that it's Thanksgiving and I get paid for the holiday, and therefore will only need to work 5-6 hours for those 3 days. It will be nice to have just three short days to test out Levi being away from me. And me being away from him... He'll be with family that first week, which is nice because it won't be such a stimulating environment as daycare will be. I know once he starts daycare he will come home absolutely exhausted from all the stimulation! Kaylee is super excited for him to go to daycare with her. While I've been on my leave, she tells me everyday she doesn't want to go to daycare but then once she's there she is fine and has fun. It's hard to hear. Yesterday she also said she wants to stay home with me like the little girl across the street stays home with her Mommy. This definitely pulled on my heartstrings. However, it will be nice to go back and use my skills and intellect, and use all the training I worked so hard to complete. One of my projects is about to go into construction so it will be good to help out with that. I am so glad that I didn't have to do the commute in this snow this morning!