Today is a good day. A very good day. A great day to have an outside baby. Thank heavens she’s an outside baby. Because today could have been very different if she wasn’t yet. I don’t even want to know the extreme measures we’d be taking right now to GET. HER. OUT. before the new year.
Kendall is adjusting as well as can be expected. He’s *great* with her, but definitely acting out more than usual. It’s hard to tell if that’s just because of the baby or if the additional house guests, interruption of routine, and excessive sugar consumption in the form of bribes have anything to do with it. I’m guessing it’s a combination of all the above.
Leyna is definitely a comfort sucker. She’s not happy unless something is in her mouth, and for the first 48 hours that was my boobs. She sucked her thumb right away, within 10 minutes of having her, but she has a hard time getting it to her mouth on her own and OMG-DO-NOT-HELP-HER-SHE-WILL-DO-IT-HERSELF. So that first night home was a looooooooong one. She literally spent at least 8 hours on one boob or the other, a combo of cluster feeding and comfort sucking. I was tempted to throw a paci in there, but figured I’d hold off until my milk came in, at least.
Things are going pretty well with breastfeeding, but I will say I’m starting to recall why it was such a struggle in the beginning. It’s just now, as in the last hour, getting to the point where it’s getting painful. My milk is in, but there are already scabs and blisters on both nipples from the marathon cluster feeding sessions and comfort nursing over the last few days. I’m fighting to try to get her to open her mouth wider before she latches, but she keeps insisting on slurping my nipples, especially when we’re side-lying at night and I’m just too tired to work hard enough to correct it.
Oh, and my left nipple is a little bitch who can suck it. I’m so sick of this deformed, over sized nipple pissing me off and not fitting properly in my babies mouths. F-off, left nipple.
My mom, the world’s best mother and NaNa, had to leave today. Big sad, but I can’t blame her. She’s been here for 2 weeks waiting for Miss Priss to grace us with her presence. Good news is my sister is still here so we don’t have to go to man to man defense until next week. Then, frankly, I’m just praying the plethora of DVDs Kendall got for Christmas will step in as part-time babysitter for a while while we try to figure out this whole “parents of two” thing.
So here’s to 2011! Here’s to our newly expanded family and to having my birth canal free from the prying arm of our family CFO, my husband.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all know how much your positive words, well wishes and advice over the last year, throughout this pregnancy, and especially recently have meant to me. Stay safe and come back next year to read Leyna’s full birth story. If the thought of pooping on the table in front of your husband was embarrassing, you will DIE when I tell you what happened to me. There is officially not an ounce of mystery left in my marriage.
Kendall is nearly 2 years and 8 months and Leyna is 3 days old
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16 comments
OMG – she is stunning. I think she looks so much like you. You sound like you are well, despite the sleep deprivation, etc. I hope you have a happy new year and soak in your new, bigger family.
I can’t wait to hear your birth story! Leyna is absolutely beautiful!! Congrats!
she’s gorgeous! and interestingly enough, my left nipple is also a bitch that can suck it. i’m hoping this time around she’s more cooperative then last but i doubt it.
I can’t wait to hear about Leyna’s birth story! Kendall’s birth story was one of the reasons I started reading your blog. I had a really rough recovery after my big-headed baby finally joined us! Took me about 2 weeks before I could walk like a normal person.
I’m so glad she came out too – we didn’t want Scott strapping on a kitchen glove and reaching up there to yank her out!
I totally thought you were gonna post a picture of your deformed nipple though. THAT I’ve gotta see. I’ll show you my third nipple if you show me your deformed one! 🙂
Now cough up that birth story already!!!!
(FTR, I btotally crapped on the table in front of my husband, doula, best friend, and the nurse last time. The only thing that slightly embarrassed me was the stink. HA! I wonder if we’ll have some floaters this time too 🙂 BARF!!!)
Drink 27 Coronas for me.
Happy New Year to your family of 4!!!
and as for oversized nipples- try undersized. grrr. breastfeeding is not an easy thing. Im SO happy I have passed that now 🙂
Congrats on the new baby and enjoy your new year!
Oh, I remember those adjustment days (I have 3 small boys – ages 7, 5, 3). While some people talk about the “perfection” of newborns, that was never my experience… extreme sleep deprivation, delusions, moods, and overall chaos – and I am very sorry about your left nipple! I have so been there. Your family is so sweet! Congratulations on your beautiful birth to such a healthy baby, and Happy New Year to all 4 of you! ?
Congratulations ~ she’s beautiful. And good luck with the whole parents of 2 adjustment!
Look at you rocking the pictures with your DSLR! They look great!
Leyna is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see her grow.
She’s absolutely beautiful — and how incredibly sweet is that picture of her and Kendall?!? Adorable!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
That picture of Leyna with your mother is absolutely breathtaking! Congrats again, and happy new year!
YAY!!! Congratulations on having an outside baby!! I am pregnant with my second so I’ve been glued to your blog for the last nine months and will continue to be as you go through the whole “parent of 2” transformation.
I love that picture of Mr. Rabies and Leyna. Adorable!
Oh my GOD, I can’t even imagine what could have happened that was worse that pooping on the table. Hope to read your birth story soon so that I have a new “what if” to obsess about. 😉 Leyna is completely precious; she is beyond cute in that little striped outfit. Happy New Year to you, your family, and your left nipple!
I too am glad that Mr. Baby Rabies didn’t have to fish her out! 🙂 She is so beautiful! And here’s hoping big brother Kendall’s “acting out” is short-lived. He seems like such a super sweet kid. Thank you for being so candid with your story. The GREAT, the not so great, and the “progress”. 😉 Truly one of the reasons I so enjoy reading your blogs and tweets. Thanks again!
These pictures literally brought tears to my eyes. Congrats on your whole gorgeous family Jill.