Delivering discipline from the chair

Marley has discovered my new Kryptonite.  It has taken him just two short weeks to figure out that I am powerless when there is a baby attached to my boob.  No matter how excitedly I exclaim, "Ooh!  I know!  Let's read Curious George together!" or "I wonder what you could build with Legos!"while breastfeeding, Marley continues to empty the contents of the soap dispenser into the sink, or jump from one piece of furniture to the next.  It's as if I am not even there. 

After what I went through with nursing Marley, I was looking forward to a nice easy breastfeeding relationship with Amelia.  Alas, it was not to be.  Oh she's breastfeeding, to be sure, but only with the help of my best frenemy, the nipple shield.  Part of the problem, apparently, is that she's a bit tongue-tied.  I'm waiting to hear back from a doctor who specializes in maternal medicine and breastfeeding issues.  Hopefully we can get in to see her soon and get some of this resolved.

In the meantime, it's nearly impossible to do anything else during the wrestling match that is feeding time.  Inevitably, it's during this time that Marley decides he needs a drink of milk, or that he has to go poop.  I never was really able to feed Marley in the carrier, and it took nearly six months for us to reach the breastfeeding nirvana that is the side-lying position.

Let's hope Amelia's timeline is a little quicker, otherwise I'm doomed to watch helplessly as Marley scales the changing table and pulls every last wipe from the wipe container.

I'd better get on this!

Okay, if Alicia can post an update, I guess I can, too:)  I know all you Marley and Amelia fans have been waiting.  We're hanging in there.  This is definitely much harder than I thought it would be, especially considering Marley is in school for 7-8 hours each day, and Jeff is on paternity leave.  Yikes!  What's next month going to be like?!?  Jeff goes back to work on Tuesday.  Marley will go to school only part-time in June (and then not at all after that!).  Hopefully Amelia learns how to sleep at night better by then.  Here's how our days have been going (with a little variation, of course):

8:00 am  Marley wakes up and gets ready for school.
8:30   One of us brings Marley to school.  Amelia's had two morning doctor's appointments.  On those days we all dropped Marley off.  That was interesting!  (Side note: Amelia was 7lbs 4oz and 20.25 inches long, as of yesterday)
9:00  Come home and feed Amelia.  Feedings usually take forever, as we've been having some latch issues:(
10:00  Eat breakfast.
10:30  Take a nap.
12:00  Wake up from nap and freak out because it's already noon and I haven't accomplished anything yet.  Feed Amelia.
1:00  This is usually where I complete some small chore like throwing in a load of laundry, taking a shower, or loading the dishwasher.  Often, Jeff forces us out of the house to run some errands.  (Side note: Jeff seems to get a lot more done than I do during the day.  He's done lots of yard work, re-seated the toilet, and worked on organizing the photos)
4:00  Feed Amelia. 
4:30  Pick Marley up from school.
5:00 -9:00 Make/eat dinner and get the kids ready for bed.  I thought this time of day would feel less hectic now that I'm not working, but so far, it's been just as crazy.  This also seems to be Amelia's favorite time to cluster feed.
9:00 pm - 8:00 am  Our nights have varied.  In general, Marley sleeps great and has remained in his own room.  Amelia, on the other hand, mostly sleeps for two hour (or less) stretches. 

Then, we wake up and do it all over again!

While you wait

Okay.  I promise to update tomorrow with details about our first week as a family of four.  But, while you wait, enjoy these professional photos taken at the hospital.  They will only be available for another week, so if you want to order any, do it now!  The password is 0516ameliafranklin.

Before and After, Part II

One small change

It's official.  We've filled out the birth certificate.  You can expect Sister's name to remain: Amelia Mae Franklin (unless she decides to change it herself).  We had two first names picked out: Josephine and Amelia.  When Marley came to meet her at the hospital for the first time, we asked him to pick her name.  He chose Amelia. 

We then had the task of finding a middle name.  After running down a short list, Jeff and I decided that we both really liked the sound of May/Mae.  But, which spelling?  We went back and forth, thinking we'd settled on one, then the other.  The thing that solidified our decision was that Jeff's maternal grandmother's middle name was spelled M-A-E and her birthday is the day before Amelia's!

Amelia Mae Franklin

She's here!

I will post some pictures tomorrow, but Amelia (Middle Name TBD) Franklin joined us at 2:08 pm. Just one hour after arriving at the hospital, she was in our arms, weighing 7 lbs 5 oz and 19 and 3/4 inches long. She is precious and her big brother is completely smitten with her!

It's Time!

My water just broke in a big gush. We're heading to the hossie now. Check back for updates!

38...

Things with Baby Sister are still looking great! My doctor told me that I could choose to induce as early as next Wednesday (39 weeks), if I wanted. Yikes - no thanks! Both my OB and my long term sub are gone for long weekends this weekend (Thursday - Monday), so Sister's not allowed to be born then. State testing for my students is next week, and I'd really like to be there for that, too. After that, well, I'm sure I'll find another reason why she can't be born, yet:)

37 Weeks!

Woohoo! We officially have a full-term baby! Barring anything crazy happening, we will get to take Sister home from the hospital with us. I will be so grateful not to have to repeat the horrible experience of leaving the hospital without a baby!

I'm only wishing I would have built some days for nesting into my maternity leave, but oh well. Not to get greedy, but I'm kinda hoping she'll be a little late so I can have a couple days off before the birth. At the very least, maybe she'll be considerate enough to be born on a weekend. Weekdays are already too hectic around here! Not this weekend, though, I have plans for Mother's Day that don't involve being in the hospital!