Easter Best

Happy Easter! What a great day. We made it to Mass in time to get a seat-our usual seat in the second row actually. Both kids made it through Mass without us having to fight the standing crowd to take them to the back. Alleluia!

Because we're crazy, we decided to go out for brunch after Mass. Since we were on borrowed time from Hannah's nap and Paul's need for nourishment, we ended up at Steak and Shake. But only after their breakfast menu was over. So we had steakburgers for brunch in our Sunday best. It wasn't until we left that we remembered that we were grilling burgers for Easter dinner with friends as well. We can't get away from Easter cow, no matter how hard we try I guess.

When we got back from Mass the kids' (so weird to type a plural....) Easter basket were waiting for them. Hannah was so excited to see the "edds" in her basket that getting her down for a nap without hysterics was impossible. She consoled herself by taking two eggs to bed with her and reassuring herself from her crib that she would get to go egg hunting when she woke up. "Wake up, more edds."

And because, second to Jesus rising from the dead of course, the best part about Easter is what you wore-I'm joining in three link-ups to show off our Sunday best.

The fam-can't believe there's four of us.

Nor can I believe that this was the first of only two self-timer pics.

The mama.

Dress-some boutique brand, from a thrift store. 4 bucks!

Sweater-freebie from a clothing exchange!

Tank top-Maurices, cut just below the boobs to make the outfit nursable

Shoes-some big shoe store, get used to seeing them

Pearls-cheapies, but I had to complete the 50s housewife look

The little man.

And the hunter.

Linking up with Grace, FLAP, and Practicing Catholic on this Easter evening. 

And praying that the joy of the Resurrection will permeate through me this week (my kids deserve it!). I am so abundantly blessed.

Today I'm Realizing...

...that a morning shower is more important than I ever realized.

...that I'm really, really, really bad at waking up before the kiddos so I can get a jumpstart on the day.

...that rolling out of bed when they both cry from their cribs isn't-gonna-cut-it!

...that a friend calling to tell me that she's bringing me lunch is one of the nicest things anyone could possibly do for me.

...that having babies really makes Lent go by quickly.

...that things are never going to get back to "normal". We just need to find our new normal and embrace it. We have a whole new person in our lives-why would I want the old normal anyway?

Quick Takes

If complaining, isn't your thing-just move along right now.....

-1-

To say that I survived my first week at home with  both kids would be a lie. I survived, yes. I am still alive. But I wasn't exactly "alone". Since it was Spring Break for the schools in town, two of my teacher friends had the week off. At least one of them stopped by every day and played with Hannah while I took care of Paul. And then yesterday was so difficult (even though I was only actually alone for about 5 hours) that Ted took today off work to stay home and help.

First week-kind of a fail.

-2-

If you couldn't tell from number one-two kids is HARD. Like, really hard. How the heck am I supposed to rock a baby to sleep with a toddler yelling at my feet? And oh-my-goodness-gracious I cannot keep up with laundry to save my life. Or feed Hannah. Or even find time to eat something myself for that matter. I thought I had set the bar pretty low before Paul got here. I didn't set it low enough. I was off by about ten miles. The bar just got lowered. And it is loooooow.

-3-

Can I just complain about nursing for a bit before moving on and trying to be upbeat? I hate my overactive let-down. Haaaate it. I hated it with Hannah and it's back with a vengeance for Paul. I'm grateful that I don't have any issues with low-supply, don't get me wrong. But it's so painful to watch your baby choke and gag and gasp for air multiple times during one feeding. And that's with me taking him off every-single-time my milk lets down. Which happens over and over and over again. And then there's the spewing and the squirting and the soaking of all the clothes no matter how hard I try to contain it. It was the same with Hannah and it never really got any better-she just eventually grew up enough to handle it. But that took months and months and months. So nursing in public is pretty much impossible. And even in the confines of my home, it is really difficult. Feel free to leave advice for getting my chest under control-but I'm pretty sure I tried absolutely everything last time around to no avail.

-4-

Although the week has been incredibly difficult, it hasn't been without its blessing. Like Hannah asking to "hold baby Paul", kissing him on the cheek, telling him to "be happy Paul" when he cries, and then lifting up her shirt in an attempt to "nurse" him.

-5-

Is it morally permissible to create an unlimited number of email accounts so that I can get everlasting free trials of Netflix?

I'm thinking....not.

Damn.

-6-

Speaking of damn, Hannah repeated her first bad word today! I've managed to shout things like "shoes!" instead of cussing when Paul latches on. But something happened this morning that caused me to shout this particular obscenity and I can't even remember what it was now. But it was bad. My fingers are crossed that she won't remember it.

But she'll probably remember it. That's just the way it works, right?

-7-

I'm so tired. He's so cute.

But I'm so tired.

Thanks Jen-for trying to help out this procrastinator! Even if it didn't work.

Why I Love My Husband-Quote Edition

Me: (talking about the automatic payments for online donations) "I signed us up for the St. Thomas More draft today."

Ted: "I didn't know we were at war with the Lutherans."

As I'm getting dressed to go to my baby shower on a rare chilly day in Florida:
"Hannah, mommy is going to a boot-fest. Do you know what a boot-fest is? It's when women in the South all get together and wear boots because it's less than 50 degrees outside."

Ted is always amused impressed by my ability to use baking soda and epsom salt in 95% of our household cleaners and toiletry products. When he saw me squirting breast milk in Paul's goopy eye he said, "What do you think you could get if you combined breast milk and epsom salt? That kind of stuff would cure cancer!"

And although this won't make any sense without a background explanation-I think it still speaks for itself in describing the type of man I married:
"I'm leaving work now but first I gotta stop by Egg Man's and explain an article about raising turtles in Florida."

Five Favorites

I'm jumping on board the Five Favorites train to share my favorite postpartum products. Here goes:

-1-

I read this tip in the comment section of a blog post when I was pregnant with Hannah and boy oh boy was I glad I did! Buy the most expensive toilet paper you can find. Take a role to the hospital. Use the rest at home. Because really-the time for using crappy one ply toilet paper is NOT hours after you give birth.

-2-

I have an extreme amount of pity for any nursing mother who wasn't told about lanolin when they started nursing. The last thing our doula said before leaving us when Hannah was born was, "Lanolin. Both sides. Every single time." And I listened. I had virtually no pain with Hannah and am only having some with Paul (i.e. cussing only once or twice per day) Waiting until your nipples are cracked and bleeding is NOT the time to go out and get some lanolin. Have it ready. Use it liberally.

-3-

I love these nursing tanks from Target. I bought two with Hannah and am still using them (although they're slightly stained from all the lanolin). I have one in black for wearing by itself and one in cream-which is good for wearing under clothes. I've lived in them from the time we got to our postpartum room until now-with no end in sight. I wash them both almost every single day because they are usually covered in spit up and breastmilk. If you can afford it-get three or four. Order them small, they stretch out a bit. I have one with "side slings" and one with holes cut out for your boobs. I like the side sling one better-the extra fabric on the other gets in the way sometimes. Absolutely could not survive the messy months of nursing without them.

-4-

A sweet blogger friend gifted me with a postpartum care kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby when I was pregnant with Hannah. I had no idea what a perfect gift it was until I started using it. This bottom balm was essential in healing from my tear, these bath herbs were wonderful when added to a sitz bath, but this spray was absolutely amazing. I only have the balm and herbs leftover for this time around and I really wish I had the spray. This would make a great gift for a pregnant friend!

-5-

I had no idea this little gem existed with my first nursing go-around. Oh how I wish I had! I think it could have saved us months of agony from oversupply. Not to mention the hours I could have NOT been pumping had I known about it. It's a Milkies Milk Saver (click for link) and it does just that. It saves the milk that leaks out from the breast that's not attached to the baby. The first time I used it I got 2.5 ounces in just a single 15 minute nursing session. That's an entire lady's night out! Effortlessly! In only a few days I've managed to stock 33 ounces of breast milk in the freezer. If this keeps up, I won't ever have to pump. Ever. Granted, I'm not working full time like I was with Hannah. I probably would have had to pump a little then-but it's likely it would only have been one time a day.

And if I thought this thing was awesome yesterday-today I'm even more in love. I skipped it last night because I was too lazy to walk back into the kitchen before crawling in bed. I've been engorged all day-it has been saving me of this discomfort and I didn't even know it! I think this is because I'm letting all that extra milk out rather than smashing my unused breast to try to stop it.

I'm not soaked when I get up from nursing. I'm not pumping to have a supply for the times I need to be separated from Paul. I'm not engorged and uncomfortable. It's a win-win (win-win-win-win....).

-6-

I'm cheating and adding a sixth favorite. 

This guy.

He makes all the postpartum trouble worth it.

Any other postpartum essentials that I've missed? I'm really wanting to try reusable breast pads this time around (so I can stop buying the disposables every time I turn around) but want to know if they really work.  I tried the cheapos from Walmart with Hannah and felt like I had wet rags in my bra all day. Anyone know of a brand that really works? Tell me about your favorite postpartum items in the comments!

Quick Takes-Life With Two and a Pope to Top it Off

-1-

Today is Day Numero Uno for me staying home with both kiddos by myself. The last of our visitors flew out this morning and Ted went to work to catch up from the last two weeks. So far, so good.  But then again, they've only been awake simultaneously for less than two hours. Hannah has happily played by herself during two twenty minute nursing sessions and has uncharacteristically left me alone while I use the bathroom. Paul still spends most of his life sleeping. Ted stayed home long enough for me to get a shower in. And I actually found the time to make myself a semi-legit lunch. Grilled cheese and a salad. If ever I doubt God's mercy, refer me back to this post. He has been very, very merciful to me on my first day of our new life together.

-2-

We've had family staying with us every day since Paul was born on March 4th. First my parents arrived just moments after he was born. Then Ted's mom landed in Florida just a few hours after my parents left. And my two sisters came right before Oma left. We are so blessed! 

Some pictures of the kiddos with my parents and their awesome aunts: (Oma made me promise not to post her picture publicly because she is crazy and didn't think she looked good enough in it and I am playing the part of obedient daughter-in-law.)

-3-

Paul's ninth day of life brought his first outing to the local zoo/museum (zooseum?). Other than the car ride home from the hospital, it was the first time Hannah and Paul rode in the backseat together. She did this

the entire time.

You know how you love your husband infinitely more the moment he becomes a father? I loved her infinitely more the moment she became a big sister. Cliche but true-your heart only grows bigger with each new little soul that is placed into it.

-4-

 A photo comparison:

As a baby, Hannah a lot more hair and it was much darker. Does this mean I'll get the blonde little boy I've dreamed of?? I think they have the same eyes and nose. Paul lacks Hannah's incredible eye lashes-which is definitely good for his manliness.

Allow me a moment to brag.

We make dang cute kids.

-5-

I don't really have anything to say for number five so......

-6-

I'll just skip to six. I don't want to play favorites but....Paul's longest stretch of sleep was already longer than Hannah's when she was a whopping twelve months old. I love them both equally, I swear.

-7-

I know this one should have been first-can I pretend like I was saving the best for last?

We have a pope! My sisters and I were just about to leave for the zooseum when I heard bells coming from the live feed on the computer. I hadn't had it on at all during the conclave-we were just too busy this week. I turned it on about an hour before the white smoke and actually forgot it was on. I guess the Holy Spirit or our guardian angels didn't want us to miss out! We watched the smoke and the bells but couldn't stick around for the announcement. So we all found out via text message from my mom who was watching it online. Pope Francis! I love him already! And it feels so good to have our papa back.

Here's a video of us celebrating. Be very impressed with Hannah's pronunciation of "habeums".

We had an ice cream party to celebrate last night. We wanted to do something more Argentinean, but I was tired and we had ice cream leftover from Paul's welcome home party. The best part of the entire conclave and new pope festivities? Hearing Hannah say, "Habemus....ice cream....pope!"

Happy Weekend! Starting my first day alone on a Friday was a very, very good idea.

What I Wore Sunday When I WASN'T Pregnant (5)

It was oh-so-very-very nice to not be pregnant at Mass this morning. I still had to pee before the Gospel and I could still barely squeeze out of the pew (because of the giant carseat rather than giant belly) but it was so wonderful having our baby boy at Mass with us. And Hannah only yelled, "Wake up, Paul!" once-so that's a success.

I think I could have found something more flattering for my postpartum body, but I opted to sleep instead of prepare last night. This morning was met with massive poops from both children simultaneously-but we still managed to get to Mass on time even with the time change forcing us to get ready an hour faster than usual. A twenty minute nursing session followed by more poop and-well I only had about six minutes to get myself ready.

The result:

Hannah:

Dress: Tommy Hilfiger-consignment

Baby: Target

Mommy:

Wrinkly Dress: JCrew-consigment. With the tags still on!

Sweater: Target

Tights: Walmart

Shoes: Consignment

Hair: Tightly pulled into a clip because it hasn't been washed since Thursday and oh boy am I starting to stink.

Baby: My awesome womb

Postpartum Body: courtesy of Spanx

I'm really not that vain, but I've read great things about some suck-it-in clothing for postpartum. I bought me an expensive pair from Kohls and actually love them. I figured I'd only wear them when needing to get dressed up, but they kind of hold it all in-if you know what I mean-and make me feel much nicer in my own flabby skin. I'm wearing them under my pj's right now!

Check out other outfits here! You might find cuter clothes, but you definitely won't find cuter babies.