organized chaos

Would you expect my chaos to be anything other than organized?

The last ten days or so have been hectic. In addition to juggling two children, I've been trying to keep my head above the water with everything else.

MOPS started on Wednesday, and as co-coordinator this year, my responsibilities are significant. The preparations for the year have been underway since summer, but the heat has really been turned up since the end of August. Coincidentally, right around the same time Andrew was born.

In some ways, my leadership with MOPS feels like I'm working again. Special Event Planner Rachel enjoyed the buzz of Wednesday morning, the thrill of the seeing the two-hour agenda come together, complete with child care, registration, audio/visual, composing and presenting a devotion and, the ultimate thrill: observing fifty moms make meaningful connections.

Some of my responsibilities are ongoing with this ministry, but for the most part, the bulk of the planning is behind me. Which makes room for other time-sensitive things I've been itching to complete: writing Andrew's birth story, filling out some of his baby book, taking pictures of the kiddo, and keeping up with the blog (it's only taken three days to complete this post).

Then, of course, there are unplanned emergencies. Like, say, a leaking hot water heater? That issue managed to fill up a few hours Thursday evening and left us without hot water to wash dinner dishes or our faces before bedtime.

Combined with our weekly routine of groceries, storytime, laundry and cleaning, it's a lot to handle. So why not mix it up a bit? I decided to bite the bullet and called the salon I used to frequent when I was employed full-time with money to splurge on $40 haircuts. Turns out, I hadn't been since June of 2008, and my favorite gal was surprised to see me after so long. But I needed it. I'm a new woman, even without highlights.

So something had to give in the last month. Blogging has been neglected. So has any real form of communication with real people. Cleaning house? Take a look at the bottom of Morgan's socks and that will explain everything. Ick.

Sleep has slipped to the very bottom of the priority list, and I'm quickly realizing this should be first and foremost on my to-do's, even if it means going to bed at 8:00 p.m. Especially now that my allergies are in full swing. My body just feels like it's run ragged. And since my newest job promotion has me working non-stop from sun up to sun down, well, there's no room for napping. I still can't believe I'm running every day on five to six hours of interrupted sleep.

The one thing, though, that I keep up front in my brain are Scott's words of encouragement: It won't always be this crazy. True enough. Getting up twice a night will subside in the next few weeks, and my sleep will soon be filled with a little more quality than the small increments of shut eye I currently have now. And that will set the tone for a whole new lease on life. Soon, very soon.

What an eye-opening experience the past month has been. I know I have spectators sitting on the edges of their seats, just waiting for the moment when I realize that having two kids really IS hard and that life WILL be more hectic then I ever thought possible. Fair enough. I've more than recognized the difficulty. But you better believe that I'm not going down without a fair fight for routine, schedule and a plan for this household. Watch out, Doubters. I'm slowly making a comeback.

To help with the daily pre-dinner chaos, I make my first attempt at wearing Andrew with a borrowed Moby Wrap. I still need practice.



Scott's failed attempt at a photo for his desk at work.



A book before bedtime.



Andrew's first real bath. He enjoyed this so much more than the sponge baths he was previously getting.



Even more proof that this is Scott's child.
Definitely not seeing my features here.

stating the obvious

Morgan has a new set of favorite books from the library all about a mouse named Maisy. In one book called Maisy Big, Maisy Small, Morgan learns all about opposites:

Maisy hot, Maisy cold.
Maisy slow, Maisy fast.
Maisy push, Maisy pull.

I hadn't realized how much she absorbed from this book until today. After watching our neighbor across the street come home from work, Morgan announced, "Mr. Ron is THICK!"

Thankfully we were inside our house, windows closed. Unlike the time at Lowe's when we walked past an African-American cashier and Morgan pointed, saying loudly, "Oprah, Mommy! It's Oprah!"

we did it!

Today is Scott's first day back at work and my first day home with two kids by myself. I'm certain there's a whole slew of you out there praying for us because our day is going great!

Crawling out of bed this morning was hard, but Morgan was awake first. The two of us managed to eat breakfast and get ready for the day before we ever heard a peep out of Andrew. I even had time to shower.

At the perfect time Andrew woke up, was ready to eat, and by 8:45 we were on our way to Meijer. Morgan checked on him often as he sat in his carrier down in the shopping cart, observing the strange blue metal grid of the cart that surrounded him. We did have a minor breakdown near the green beans when Andrew was showing signs of sleepiness. But by the time we reached the ethnic food aisle, he was asleep.

Soon the groceries were stacked around Andrew's carrier, and we made our way to the checkout. By this point, I was overheating. Note to self: wear shorts and short sleeves on shopping trips, even though the thermometer says 62 degrees.

Our biggest challenge was the short walk from the checkout to the car. I had managed to get everything aboard the shopping cart, kids included, but once the groceries were packed into my reusable bags, the logistics were skewed and I had nowhere to go with Andrew. So as I pushed the cart, I looped the handle of the carrier on my forearm and awkwardly made my way through the automatic doors and out into the sunshine. So glad I thought to get the keys out!

I'm so thankful our day is going well. It has given me the extra confidence to know I can leave the house and come home in one piece.

Can't wait until I can synchronize naptimes!

wild ride

Our family has been on a rollercoaster since last Thursday when we went to Andrew's weight check and learned of his drastic 1 lb. weight loss. Our pediatrician asked that I put breastfeeding on hold and instead pump and bottle feed Andrew in order to better see what I was producing and what he was eating.

This feeding change caused a drastic upheaval in our household. While I was attached to an electric pump around the clock, Scott fed Andrew and stayed on top of all the extra washing that came along with this change. Morgan, meanwhile, was doing her best to stay entertained in between all this chaos.

During the weekend, we realized several things... that my supply had become dangerously low, that feeding Andrew with a bottle caused projectile spit-up, and that since his birth, he never really did have the concept of breastfeeding down pat.

Out of sheer desperation, I began emailing a local La Leche League woman on Saturday morning. By Monday afternoon, she was making a house call, observing exactly how Andrew nursed. And low and behold, the boy really did know what to do, he just needed Mommy to change up her approach and provide some slight assistance in helping him figure it all out.

On Tuesday afternoon, we were back at the doctor's office to re-evaluate Andrew's weight. And much to our delight, he had put on nine ounces! The pediatrician was thrilled. We now had his blessing to move forward, ditch the bottles for good and establish a daily feeding schedule.

Both my boys are now sleeping much longer stretches. Andrew's got a full belly, and Daddy's no longer the one feeding the liquid gold. Morgan is happy to have more attention, and I'm excited to hammer out a routine.

During all this craziness, a mom friend reminded me of something very important:

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalms 55:22

I should have known better!

a week with Andrew

The last seven days have been an interesting blend of chaos and relief.

After being discharged on Thursday afternoon, Scott, Andrew and I came home to reality. With the help of family, Morgan had been cared for and entertained. And they were set to do the same for the three of us as we opened the back door, tired after 36 hours in the hospital.

Meals were set from prep to clean-up, we had fresh laundry, an entertained daughter and a sounding board for all my second-guessing as a second-time mom. Was he eating enough? Latching correctly? How many wet diapers did we have again?



You'd think that having another baby would be like riding a bike. Just pick up where you left off last time. But I had forgotten a few things. Like how I loathe burping. It's essential to a happy baby, one who closes his eyes and sleeps peacefully. And if you don't work hard to get a good, solid belch? Trouble awaits. Gas pains, screams and sleepless nights. Just not fun, and boy, do we know it.



But aside from the learning curve, Scott and I are fascinated to discover all of Andrew's quirks and characteristics. Like how he loves to be curled up on our chests, cozy and warm with his legs tucked up like a little frog. Almost missing that fetal position he mastered for 40 weeks.

In the first few days of life, Andrew squealed like a tea kettle (he's since mastered a nice, full-on scream). And with the exception of his dark hair and the birthmark above his navel, he has all the features that make up Scott and Morgan.



Cuddling into Andrew's softness, I actually realized that Morgan isn't as fragile as I thought. In fact, as I looked in on her one of those first nights home, I found myself amazed at her size, the coarseness of her hair, the way her long legs relaxed across the bed. She's a tough little girl, one who could take a tumble outdoors and recover without too much drama. Almost overnight, she had grown up, right before my eyes.

On Saturday night, Andrew became part of Morgan's bedtime routine when, after prayers, she included him in her round of goodnight kisses. Sunday, she decided it would be okay to hold him.



As much as Morgan is coming around to the idea of a little brother, Scott and I are finding changes in her behavior, things that we anticipated like outbursts for attention. We're still trying to keep a sense of her old routine to keep the peace. Sesame Street remains a daily occurrence with her afternoon snack. On Monday, she and I went to Meijer for groceries, and today, we attended our regular Wednesday MOPS play date for an hour at a local park. Scott makes every effort to play all of their old favorites and make sure that our time as parents is shared between the two.



We're still fumbling our way through this parenting thing as we transition from one to two. And I imagine it will be this way for some time as Scott and I walk around the house like zombies, our eyes half open, nodding off in chairs like old men.

I've had some weepy moments since being home. Feeling overwhelmed with the blessing of a new baby, coupled with the routine of daily life, it's alot to take in. But I've got a great husband who also doubles as a great father. Patience is his specialty. And he's home until September 14th to keep us all grounded.



I'm looking forward to seeing how Andrew changes over the next month. I imagine there will be many comparisons to his sister, yet I'm determined to feature all of his uniqueness, things that we can say are "so Andrew". And so far, he's just that. His own perfect little self.