2 Months Old

Time sure is flying...but maybe that is because everything is going so smoothly! Today Joss, Ian, and I went to see Dr. Williams. I talked Jocelyn up the entire morning and gave her a pep talk on the way there. She is VERY protective of Ian. People she doesn't deem "worthy" of holding Ian get the "NO! DONT TOUCH HIM! He's MYYYY Brother!" I had a feeling that was how our morning was going to start. But surprise surprise...she let Dr. Williams get all of Ian's stats and she only wimpered when Ian had to get 3 shots. I thought I would have to remove her out of the room because she HATES seeing Ian cry. So far at 2 months Ian is:

21" long
11.2 lbs

with a normal sized head (Thank GOD)

holding his head steady

smiling and cooing a ton

sleeping through the night (with one 5am feeding) and most of the day still (usually up for an hour at a time a few times during the day)

eating 6-8oz every 4-6 hours.

Pisses

Jocelyn ADORES Ian. She has gone from just being curious to whole hearted love for him. It is so cute. Two nights ago Ian woke up at midnight for his feeding. And he goes from sleeping sound to screaming in about 2 minutes. So there is no way to change him, make his bottle, and get it inserted into mouth before he starts crying. As I'm sitting in our room feeding him, I saw a head peek through the door. Jocelyn came in, Ian's pacifier in hand, to "make him happy".

She has now asked to hold him. And she feeds him usually once a day. By herself. She'll peel my fingers off the bottle, demand to hold him, then watches tv while feeding like I do...like it's no big deal for a 2 year old to feed a 1 month old. She is so independent. My little preemie baby is growing up so fast. I'm glad to have Ian otherwise I'd have the baby itch too!

One funny thing she did this morning: Ian is laying on the floor and Jocelyn lays beside him on a blanket which she calls "the beach". She was carrying on a full conversation with Ian while holding his hand.

And she goes "Ian, baby, I love you." Then gives him a kiss and informs me she gave baby Ian "a piss" LOL!

Baffled

Are 1 month old children supposed to be able to roll back to stomach and stomach to back?

Ian's rolled over about 6 times in the last few weeks. The first time was on the couch, so he was kind of on an incline which would make it easier to roll. But today he was on his belly playing..aka staring at his toys...and all of a sudden I realized he was off his blanket and on his back.

A few times he gets frustrated and starts fussing, flails his legs, and rolls over. But today he was perfectly calm. Isn't that odd?

Exercise

I'm starting exercising this week more than I was exercising last week. And I'm going to stop putting my eating habits on the back burner to Jocelyn's. I find myself, when I grocery shop, getting everything that Jocelyn wants/needs then just getting whatever for me. My whatever usually includes fruit snacks, chips, mac n cheese, etc. Easy stuff. Ya know...easy to get in your mouth and hell to get off your body weight wise. I buy all fresh fruit, veggies, lunch meat, cheese, etc. for Jocelyn. I like all the same things as she does but I "feel bad" if I eat "her" apples...or "her" tomato slices. I'm going to just start buying double. And putting her food in a section of the fridge that way I know what is hers and what is mine to eat. I'm sure it sounds kinda dumb but I can't put myself before her. I'd rather suffer eating junk than see her eating a crapload of chips and cookies. Eating junk was a lot easier when I was pregnant because I was supposed to gain weight. Now I'm exercising 3 days a week and still gaining weight while trying to watch what I eat. But if I eat healthy I won't eat at all because I don't have healthy food for myself.

So here is my plan: Monday and Tuesday
I will be doing ---
100 reverse crunches
100 jumping jacks
100 leg beats
50 lunges each leg
50 leg lifts each leg
100 sidebends

Wednesday Thursday and Friday
I will be doing---
30 minutes to an hour long brisk walk around the neighborhood.

The reason I'm blogging this besides accountability on my behalf is I'm looking for a partner. A mom. Who can make time to work out even on a schedule. Someone I can count on, on certain days to be ready to walk. Or go to the gym. I used to exercise with my sister when she was at Spring Arbor because she could get me into the gym for free. Now she is at U of M so I'm SOL. I can exercise by myself but it would be nice to have someone to talk to while walking. My biggest issue is Jeff weight trains at Planet Fitness on Mon/Wed/Fri night around 8pm after Jocelyn goes to bed. My workout buddy before my sister was Jimmy. And he is now Jeff's workout buddy since he needs a spotter more than I need someone telling me to run for 10 more minutes.

So here is my schedule: Going to Planet Fitness ($10 a month btw) or an exercise class would have to be Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday during the week it would have to be after 6pm weekend could be any time.

Walking would be Wed/Thurs/Fri during the day anytime.

Going to the gym T and Th night then walking the rest of the week would be ideal.

Import, please.

We need our "own" car. Like right now. Please. I realized this about a month ago, when 3 of my demo's got sold out from under me. Right in a row. In turn, pissing me the F off with a quickness. So, I had to switch over all my stuff and get adjusted to how a different car drives, which takes longer than a few days. These cars were nothing alike either. I went from a Rendezvous, to a jacked up Durango (hilarious to watch very pregnant 5 foot tall girl jump into a beefed up SUV), to a Grand Am. Egh. All in like 40 feet of snow that we got in December and January. I'm trying to be patient. But I'm coming to the end of my patience. Right now I'm driving a 2005 Malibu Maxx aka hatchback. My little family took a trip to Meijer in it. Infant Seat---6 inches max between---Toddler seat---stroller took up whole trunk---groceries had to sit on top of the hatch and on the floor behind our seats AND on my lap. LOL How do people with little cars do this whole having kids thing? And could you imagine me doing that Meijer trip alone? We didn't even get a weeks worth. We got like $100 of groceries/formula/diapers/stuff for Ian/bath toys for Jocelyn. So, it was maybe $30 food. Like I said, we need our own car. I have Jeff looking at Flint Auto Auction and Parma Auction every week. Cross our fingers we can do CPFCU leasing program. If not, maybe my dad can get a good buy on a nice sedan/XUV and let me drive it for oh....6 months of uninterrupted driving would be nice. Ah, I feel better. Enough bitching.

***Yes, I realize I have it made with a free car and all. But put yourself in my shoes, after 9 years of driving a car that isn't mine with the possibility of it being sold whenever, I'm so over it and so allowed to bitch***

First Week Home

Tomorrow I will have one week at home with Ian under my belt. It has been a complete breeze. Things have gone so well I know that being a mom is my purpose. I have tried so many things and they just don't hold my interest or I fail miserably. But being a mom and wife is the one thing I know I can do. And I love doing it. Being someones mom and someones wife gives me gratification because I am needed. I have three people who depend on me. And I will not let them down. I learn something new everyday about Jocelyn and Ian, Jeff and myself. I have been so lucky to be blessed with two very even tempered children. I wasn't all that worried about how Jocelyn would adjust to a new life being in the house. I just mainly wanted to make sure she didn't feel left out or slighted in any way. I feel guilty because I had her switched to fulltime daycare about 3 weeks ago, since I was in so much pain it was all I could do just to sit on the floor and play for 10 minutes, let alone carry her down the stairs to go somewhere or even walk to her bedroom and back. But I know that she thoroughly enjoys the 3 other 2 year olds she has, Ziggy the dog, and all of the kitty's there too. In the spring I will have her cut back to either 3 days there or 2 days there, that way we can do playdates...take walks...go to lunch with Daddy...POTTY TRAIN...and prepare for pre-school. Gosh, that seems so weird. She can go to Jackson Christian's preschool in the fall. I am really excited to see how well she does. She is so social and she learns at such a fast pace, I know she will really enjoy it.

Ian Updates:

• 6lb 10 oz almost back up to birth weight. (10%)
• 19 1/2 inches long (50%)
• Eats 2 oz every 2 - 2 1/2 hours during the day and 2 oz every 3 1/2 - 4 hours at night. And yes I have another child who, so far, sleeps through the night unless a #1 or #2 happens or mom wakes him up w/ her alarm clock.
• I forgot how much newborns sleep. Well, I remember really...but it still amazes me that for the entire day/night I see his eyes maybe 1 hour in 10-15 min time frames.
• His jaundice only lasted for one day because we did this for 30 minutes 3 times a day...
  
• He is super chill/relax man. Set him up someplace and he's content. I really hope this continues because he is so enjoyable and let's anyone hold him.
  

Jocelyn Updates:

• Last doctors visit- 26lbs and 33 inches tall (about 3 months ago)


• Her hair is growing! It's starting to curl out behind her ears and it's really long on top and in the back. She got stuck with daddy's far back hairline...so in some pictures she still looks pretty bald LOL


• Listens really well and rarely sits in time-out.


• Sleeps all night in her big girl bed with like 456843903 stuffed animals at the end...whom all have names. She'll tell you them all if you have the time.


• Loves to read, color, play with playdoh, MainStreet Village town is a huge hit. And her Rose Petal Cottage...with babies, a washer, stove, and table. She's been playing pretend for a good 6 months now, but now she actually has a "house" to play house with.


• Zaboomafoo, Barney, or Sesame Street is watched religiously every morning while eating breakfast.


• Speaking of food, my child dislikes junk. Veggies-cold from the fridge please, fruit- whole apple, pear, banana, or strawberries are best, chicken, salad with dressing, mashed potatoes, etc. And she can put away some food for being so skinny!


• She lines up her MegaBlocks in a row and counts them. So far we have correctly made it up to 13 a few times.


• Can identify any letter of the alphabet, say the alphabet, sing Twinkle Twinkle and the Itsy Bitsy Spider by herself. (way cute)


• Says please, thank you, excuse me, and bless you....at the appropriate time.


• Can hold full conversations with anyone who will talk to her. 5-6 word sentences...no biggie.


• Recognizes where she is in Jackson, if we are close to NayNay and Papa/Daddy's work...close to home...or close to my parents house or Jeff's mom's house aka The Farm.

Preggo Survey

1. Mommys Full Name: MacKenzie Leigh Smith

2. Age When Pregnant: 21- Jocelyn 23- Ian

3. Current Age: 24

4. How far along when you found out? about 6 weeks-Jocelyn and 3 or 4 weeks- Ian

5.Still with the father? We'll be married for 4 years in May

6. What was your first reaction when you found out you were pregnant? I was nervous but excited with both.

7. How did the father react? He was really nervous and secretly excited.

8. How did your parents feel about it? I think they were more excited than we were.

9. How did you feel about your first Ultrasound? I was ready to find out what we were having. And I was teary eyed the whole time.

10. What month did you find out the sex of the baby? August-Jocelyn September-Ian

11. Where you happy with the sex of the baby? Extremely. One of each is perfect!

12.What were your cravings? Outback sirloin, salads, any super sour candy-Jocelyn fruit, yogurt, Wendy's chicken nuggets, candy of any sort- Ian.

13. Did you exercise when you were pregnant? No I'm lazy.

14. How much weight did you gain? Egh. 57lb -Jocelyn due to complications 32lbs- Ian.

15. Did you get morning sickness? I had food poisoning when I was preggo with Jocelyn. And Ian made me feel like I was constantly on a boat, all tipsy like, but I never actually got sick. Another weird thing with Ian, my teeth hurt so bad in the morning from like 8am-10am that I couldn't even brush them, I'd have to wait until the afternoon. But right on the 3month mark, it stopped.

16. Did you enjoy wearing maternity clothes? I did when I was pregnant with Jocelyn because I was so swollen there was no way to fit into my old clothes. With Ian, I wore my regular clothes the entire time. I only bought one pair of maternity dress pants.

17. What books did you read? I read everything I could get my hands on with Jocelyn. And with Ian I just signed up for pregnancy.com to see my babys growth and whatnot.

18. Did you attend any pregnancy classes? No.

19. Overall describe your pregnancy: With Jocelyn, my pregnancy was a breeze until about 31 weeks. Then the swelling set in and I couldn't lay down to sleep anymore. With Ian, I was very miserable. My hips hurt, I had contractions from like 28weeks on that were actually painful, and I just overall felt like crap.

20. How did you know you were in Labor? I was induced both times.

21. Did your water break? My OB broke it both times.

22. What were your contractions like? Well, when you're induced they start out slow but come on stronger once the pitocin is up around 12ish. With Jocelyn I didn't know what to expect so I was in a lot of pain early on. With Ian, the only reason I got my epidural when I did, was the anesthesiologist was coming for another girls so we didn't want him to leave and then not get him back in time. But Ian was posterior so at 6cm my epidural was no more because his butt was pressing on my spine. That was NOT fun.

23. How long were you in labor? 18hours with Jocelyn from the start of the pitocin 11 1/2 with Ian.

24. Epidural? Both times. Didn't help much with Ian...only for a few hours.

25. Who was in the delivery room with you? Jeff and a TON of special care people with Jocelyn. Then Jeff and nurses and Dr Farhat of course.

26. Was it an easy delivery? Jocelyn was 3 pushes and I think Ian was 6 pushes. He needed some WD-40 as Dr Farhat said to make it through. (He is such a smartass btw)

27. Did you cry during labor? With Jocelyn no. Ian- yes...I have never been in so much pain in my life.

29. Birth Date: 11/21/06 and 2/3/09

30. Time: 1:58 pm and 7:27 pm

31. Gender: Female and Male

32. Length: 18 inches and 19 inches

33. Weight: 4lb 2oz and 6lb 11oz

34. What was the first thing you said to your baby? I didn't say anything to Jocelyn because she was preemie I didn't even barely see her until that night. Ian- "OMG you have more hair than your sister!" lol

35. Who visited you in the hospital? Lots of family and friends both times.

36. Did you breastfeed? I tried and failed.

37. What was the first night being a parent like? Really strange because it was so calm since it was just me and Jeff...no visitors allowed. LOL

38. Did you get sleep? Sure did. My babies are well behaved. I have to set my alarm to feed Ian and I did with Jocelyn too.

39. When did you go home? 24 hours with both. I hate the hospital.

40. How old is your baby now? Jocelyn- 2yr 2months and Ian is 6 days old.

41. Still with the father? Forever and always.

42. Who does your baby look like now? Jocelyn looks just like Jeff. And Ian looks just like me when I was a baby.

43. Been Baptized? No.

44. Your baby's current Milestone? Jocelyn is about to potty train and Ian is learning how to eat like a champ.

45. What's your babies favorite thing to do? Jocelyn loves to read, color, dance, and play pretend in her Rose Petal Cottage. Ian likes to sleep.

46. What is babies favorite Toy? Jocelyn doesn't really have a favorite toy. I would have to say her sticker book. She likes that a lot.

47. What is it like being a parent? The best feeling in the world. I feel complete and like I have a purpose.

48. Ready for another one? No more.