Teeny

Teeny is still a little teeny. She recently, at about 3.5 months grew out of 0-3 month sized clothes into 3-6 months. I guess that doesn't sound like a big deal but really, I think Animalia was around 2 months old in that size. So back to Teeny... she is impatient, occasionally demanding, happy, active, and curious. She has been rolling from her tummy to her back for a couple of weeks now and we are all suitably impressed. She's grabbing things now too and sucking on them, I think to relieve the teething. That's right... have I mentioned that she's teething. What the heck?


Looking into the future, I predict:
She'll be into everything.
We'll have to watch her like hawks when she's more mobile.
Aya will be her first word. She loves her sister that much.

Logic

So Animalia went to this work event with me. I was working and her dad was volunteering. Teeny tiny Magdi stayed with Nana and Tata. Animalia was thrilled to hang out with some big kids and watch the presentation which is really like the biggest best storytime/pizza party ever. Curious George was our special guest. The man inside the suit was Animalia's Nino Peter. That and the fact that all the big kids were saying that Curious George wasn't real led to this conversation:

Animalia: Mom, is my Nino Curious George?
Me (unsure if I should admit it, I mean, isn't it like saying the Easter Bunny isn't real): Mmmhmm.
Animalia: Curious George isn't real.
Me: No?
Animalia: No. Monkeys aren't real.

I see how she came to that conclusion. Now I'm going to have to take her back to the zoo and crush her world.

Poop

Poop. Baby poop. My least favorite thing in the world aside from . Animalia didn't do it so much which later led to many doctor's visits and issues. Magdi does it regularly. I guess I should know exactly what it's all about but since I didn't see so much of it with baby #1, the whole diaper experience with baby #2 has been a rude awakening.

The last few weeks

The last few weeks have been filled with me working part time, two sick kids, doctor's appointments, cuddling, and exhaustion. First Animalia got sick, then Magdi, then Animalia got worse, then Magdi did. I think I was sick in the middle there somewhere too but I didn't have time to dwell. The only one who didn't get sick was the dad. I'm inclined to add a curse at him here, resentful as I am, but maybe one day Animalia and Mags will read this.

So Mags is seriously a cutie. She has her sister's long eyelashes and dimples when she grins her huge toothless grin. And she does love to smile, that is until she's mad and her anger comes swiftly and with ferocity. The girls get along pretty well, Animalia still shows very few signs of resentment, mostly love and kisses and "Look at me baby, I'm your big sister!" Animalia continues to be very helpful and this is a source of great stress to me (no, don't pick your sister up!) but I guess I could be complaining that she's a secret hitter or something so things could be worse.

I love these babies.

Back to work

Starting today. Back to work. Part time for a month at least, otherwise it'd be too painful for words. It's already painful enough as it is.

Madi is now Magdalena Luna Lunera Cascabelera Cinco Pollitos, according to her big sister. What a nickname, no? This one is definitely harder to leave than her sister was. She's grown so much but is much more attached than her sister was, even at the tender age of 10 weeks. She needs me more for some reason and I say that knowing the absurdity of a 10 week old not needing mama, but Animalia was just less like that. Does that make sense?

Madi's 2 month checkup:
First vaccines (she cried and then fell asleep but was cranky for 2 days after), weight: 12lbs (catching up!), length: 22.75 inches (shorty!).

Everything else:
Getting used to getting ready in the morning is going to be rough. Dropping off Animalia at school and leaving Madi with Nana and Tata is going to be rough. Pumping during my breaks is going to be rough. It's all going to be rough. I'm exhausted already and it's only 9:30am and I've only done this once so far. Low grade panic setting in... breathe.... breathe.

In the last two months...

In the forever since my last blog post there were midterm elections (mostly sucked), Animalia has learned many bad habits from preschool, I was frantic with the last days of work before maternity leave, and I gave birth to a new baby girl. Her name is Magdalena Luna and she is now a month old.

She was 7 lbs 4 oz and 20.5 inches long at birth. At almost 4 weeks, she was 8 lbs, 10 oz and 21.5 inches long. She's definitely smaller than her big sister. Maybe she'll catch up or maybe she'll be more me than her dad in the range of genetic possibilities. Not that I'm tiny but I'm certainly not a giant.

This baby is pretty good, sleeps lots. We wake up 2-3 times per night and sometimes only once. If it's just once it's at 4am. She's noisy and funny and occasionally demanding. When she's alert and awake she just looks around and makes sounds. When she needs a diaper change or is hungry, she wants it NOW. The hunger reminds me of her sister. Her impatience with diaper changes is her own. Animalia could marinate in a dirty diaper. Magdi just howls and grunts and groans and insists that it be changed or else she screams like she's being neglected. She has no patience for long walks unless she's being carried either. Animalia says I look like a kangaroo when I'm wearing the baby.

So Magdi or Madi is what Animalia calls her sister and I think Madi will stick but it could change at any time. Animalia loves her baby sister like crazy, likes to help, likes to hold her, wants to squeeze her hard but doesn't, is a little protective, is very proud. The helpfulness is a little scary, sometimes she's like a bull in a china shop so we watch her closely but so far it's been ok.

What else? I'm definitely more insulated or isolated than when Animalia was born. It sounds a little weird maybe but my gazing at the new baby time is more precious since there's less of it. The days just fly by and I realize that I haven't done as much as I meant to or returned all the phone calls, emails or text messages. I just want to sleep, eat and stare at my beautiful tiny girl.

More sooner rather than later. I just had to get some random thoughts in before I forgot them all... the last few weeks have been a pleasant blur with all the nesting going on.

3-year-old

At age 3:

34.5 lbs
40 inches tall