Refresher Survival Swim Lessons Are Over!

-- because we dropped out.

And I don't consider it a failure!

The good news:  I have my playful, fun, curious and vibrant daughter back.

Where'd she go?

That Alexandra disappeared after the first week of refresher survival swim lessons.

As usual, she cried during her entire 10-minute lessons -- just like she did during the 2 months or so when she first learned how to roll over on her back, and hold onto the side of a pool (if she were to fall in)

But this time around -- she's expressing herself better and made it quite clear she wants nothing to do with the lessons.

I ignored her protests the first week ....

Then during the 2nd week, Alex's personality, her actions, demeanor -- everything changed.

She was taking lessons in the morning, but her protests would start the afternoon before --

*  Alex stopped eating a good dinner; only consuming 1/2 of what she normally eats ... which would carry over into breakfast the next morning....

*  Alex would whine all afternoon long -- fought hard every night about going to bed; because it meant swim lessons a couple hours after waking up...

*  Alex was even crying -- and i mean to the point of hyperventilating HARD -- IN HER SLEEP, never waking up, but crying incessantly ... only stopping when my husband or I would tip-toe into her room and place a gentle hand on her back or forehead.

Funny -- when there was ever a thunderstorm and she realized we had to skip her lesson for the day, Alex would run around the house screaming, "We can't go!!  We can't go, mama!! It raining outside!! We can't goooooooo!!!"
Which always ended with an "I love you" squeeze to my leg.

Ugh.

I could have put up with all of the protesting, because I really believe the survival swim lessons are important... but I can't let Alex go an entire week not eating well.

Alex was only 4 pounds, 10 ounces when she was born and has stayed very thin -- though she's growing vertically like a weed.
If she catches a cold and doesn't eat well for a couple days -- she loses weight, so you can imagine -- an entire week?!?!

Too much.

I hated breaking the news to her instructor Ms. Suzi, who was totally find with my decision.

It took a week for Alex to even go into another pool, and even then -- she cried when we put on the sunscreen, and only stayed on the top step for an entire hour.

It's been a couple weeks now.

Alex still protests when going into a pool .. but once she's in, she's having fun -- on her terms, of course.

Long-Distance Grandma

It's gotta be tough for my mom, trying to spoil her first granddaughter from 850 miles away.

Mom's been doing pretty well though!

She asked what to get Alexandra for her birthday back in March.

Since we're in the "I can feed myself!" phase, I told my mom to send a couple of cheap, cute 2-year-old outfits (to replace alll the cheap, cute clothes she has that now have food stains all over them.. lol!)

Yeah.
My mom basically went crazy at her local flea market, and bought Alex an entire Spring wardrobe! -- super cheap and super cute!

This time, when she recently asked if she could get something special for Alex, I suggested some musical sing-a-long CDs which Alex really enjoys.

My mom called last night to say she picked up some of those, and some kids' videos, specifially the Davey and Goliath Christian stories that teach good manners.

Yeeeeeaaaah.   LOL!

Not that I don't appreciate the latter addition ....  but, Alex has come to like (and by 'like', i mean 'obsess over') the fast-paced, brightly-colored animation of videos like the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She is totally bored by shows like Mr. Rodgers and Sesame Street- shows i grew up on!  :(

If you're familiar with the Davey and Goliath stories -- I think they're claymation creations, where their movements are very choppy and primitive.

I'll still show them to Alex... just hope my mom isn't disappointed with Alex's reaction.

Help Preparing for Baby #2

Welp... done a ton of research ... and talked to friends ... and friends of friends ...

Yes, my husband and I will need a double stroller.

I'll figure out a way to convince him later.   :)

Okay, so in the running were the Peg Perego, Kolcraft and Citi Mini.

All waaay too expensive, but the easiest to maneuver and store for a mom who may find herself running out on errands solo with a 2-year-old and newborn.

The winner -- (drum roll please) -- the Citi Mini 2011 Double Stroller !!!  By an overwhelming majority.

I say the 2011 model because it's cheaper than the 2012 ... though not by much I've found.

Anyone have a used one here on the First Coast they'd like to sell?

Also looking for some advice on baby monitors.

The one we have (which saved me from having to have Alexandra sleep with us when she was born) has been great!

It's a Summer brand model, but with so much use by so many different people at our home (family, sitters, etc) ... it's starting to short circuit ... and the company no longer sells it, so no 2nd camera for baby #2.

Any suggestions?

I'd like another monitor equipped with audio and video and multiple camera capability... though I'm sure Alexandra will be climbing out of her big-girl-bed when she's done sleeping so no need to really monitor her ... buuuuttt .... mommy can't help it.   :)

Truckin' Along

Why ... am I in such a rush to have this baby?

I'm uncomfortable -- well, my lower back is, trying to carry this boulder in the front --  but I'm definitely not in any pain...

I'm told i don't look nearly as swollen as I did this time last pregnancy. Walking this time is more of a challenge but no biggie....

And no signs of trouble at the doctor's office!

Still, i was soo excited to tell the doctor today, that the baby had dropped waaay low in my pelvic region -- thinking the doctor would say I'd be due to give birth sooner rather than later......

"Nah.  It doesn't mean anything," the doctor said, barely looking up from my charts and measurements on his computer.

Darn.

The only difference for the docs -- i have to see them every week for regular visits, until delivery day.

Sounds easy enough.

Now, if I could just find a way to not feel so sleepy throughout the day!

It's the funniest thing -- hits me all day long.

I want to sleep when my alarm goes off for work in the morning.. and then right after the morning newscasts ... anytime after I eat... or if I'm stationary for too long...

It's actually fascinating.
And even after I've gotten a good nap / night's sleep, I'm good for a couple of hours -- then I'm sleepy again!

Don't We Need A Double Stroller?

The nesting process has begun  (not a fan of that word, but that's what we're doing...again.  lol!)

We got Alexandra's big girl bed -- YAY!   Just need to get a mattress for it -- which, at the rate we're going, could take another week.... ugh!

And NOW hubby wants to paint Alex's new big girl room ..... yes, now -- the month before baby's due.  Oy.   He doesn't like the pale yellow that's already in there.  I think it's fine, but ... whatevs.

Here's something else my husband and I disagree on.

He thinks we don't need to get a double stroller to cart around baby and Alexandra.  But I think we do!  

I mean, we're not always going to leave the house together -- what the heck are we supposed to do, with a child that can't walk yet and one that doesn't always feel like it?!?

I've started searching for one -- they're awfully expensive!

The only other thing I'd like to have but can't -- yet -- is clothes.

Problemo -- are we having a boy or girl ?!?!? 

The suspense is now killing me!   Don't know how hubby can stand it!!

Naming Baby #2

Ok, this is slowing becoming a fiasco during dinner conversations... lol!

When we named Alexandra, my husband, stepdaughter and I literally waited until the last possible minute (i think i was already in the hospital waiting to give birth) ... opened a book of baby names ... and chose the first name we all agreed on.

This time -- we're trying to start the discussion a little earlier ... ish (i'm due next month!)

Since we don't know the sex of the baby, we have to come up with boy and girl names.

Girl names seem to be much easier.

We'd like it to start with an A, since my stepdaughter's and toddler's names both do ... but my creative husband thinks every name my stepdaughter and I come up with -- sounds like a stripper's name.

HAHAHAHAH!

Yeah -- it was funny at first.   Now -- we're running out of choices.

Here's how the conversation sounds:

I say, "Oh!  What about April!  That's a pretty na---"

Hubby cuts me off.  "Nope. Stripper."

My stepdaughter says, "Hey.. what about Aliyah?"

Hubby:  "Stripper."

"Angel?"

"Nope."

"Amber?"

"Nah."


Unreal.  lol...


And with the boy's names, the conversation's no better.

My stepdaughter and I like modern names, like Aiden.

My husband, likes the name Roy.

ROY ?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

Maybe we'd be better off waiting until the last minute to pick a name!

8.5 Months Pregnant

Yeah.  I'm a little blissfully nervous.

I say blissfully, because the end of my pregnancy is nothing like what happend my first go-'round.

With Alexandra, I had to have an emergency c-section.

Back then at 37+ weeks, I went to a regular doctor's appointment for a checkup during my work break.

We all knew I'd have to have a c-section because Alex was breech; her butt was situated where he head should have been.    :)

However, the nurse & doctor noticed during that checkup, that all my amniotic fluid had disappeared.

Not good.

I was told to go straight to the hospital because I was having the baby that day!

This time around, the baby is head down and has already 'dropped'...  Funny- i happened to notice this week i could walk from my bedroom to the kitchen without becoming winded because the baby was no longer wedged up super high into my ribs. lol...

So now -- i guess i just wait, and enjoy being able to breathe normally for the first time in a few months.

The doctor told me I don't have to have another c-section, but there is a 1-percent chance of the old c-section cut ripping during labor.   It's not a big percentage, but if it were to happen ... it could be deadly due to the loss of blood, among other things.

So, I think i'm opting for another "c"... but i'm not so sure what happens if i'm already in labor when i arrive at the hospital..

Gotta write that question down for the doctor.  Next appointment- next week!

Survival Swim Lessons- Take 2!

We have started the process, and just as i though -- Alexandra still hates her survival swim lessons. lol!

I have noticed some changes though.

The biggest change even surprised the instructor Ms. Suzi -- Alex can talk.

So accompanying Alex's screams and crying comes, "NO SWIM!!! I GET OUT!!!"

The up side- this time around Alex is understanding directions more ... and she's calming down the louder my cheers and praises to her are.

Alex seems to remember the flipping-onto-her-back.. and grabbing-the-wall routines... though she looks a little awkward now that she's a little bigger and stronger, fighting some of the moves more.

And as soon as the short lesson was over, she was totally fine -- 'talking' to Ms. Suzi like they were old friends, and watching the next student (victim) fussing during his lesson.

Poor thing- Alex's first refresher lesson wore her out.  She fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Overall, I think she did very well.   One lesson down, at least a dozen more to go!

Do I Warn Alex About Breastfeeding?

I've gotten 2, totally different pieces of advice from friends about the same topic.

Do I warn Alexandra beforehand, what breast feeding is?

One friend of mine was adamant.

With her eyes opened as wide as someone just scared by a ghost during a funeral, Kim warned me -- "YES!!  You NEED to tell Alex what breastfeeding is all about!!!"

Apparently, when her 2nd child was born, her older (but still very young) son FREAKED out when mom suddenly whipped out a breast and let baby #2 start suckling away.

Scarred him for a few months, actually.

Not sure how old her son was at the time ... but my best friend Karen just had her 2nd baby -- and gave me the opposite advice.

Karen has a 2-year-old daughter who saw, for the first time, her mother breastfeed over the weekend.

"What's that?" little Madison asked.

Karen said, referring to her own breasts, "There's milk in there for the baby."

Madison was satisfied with that answer, and went about her day ... until a little later, when Madison wanted some milk.

Karen caught Madison squeezing her own chest.

"What are you doing, Madison?"

"I want some milk."

"You don't have milk in there," Karen said while trying soo hard not to laugh out loud.

"Yes I do!" Madison insisted.

"Well, you only have milk in there if you have a baby in your tummy.  Do you have a baby in your tummy?"

.........................pause............................

"No."

"Well then you don't have milk in there, Maddie."

And that was that.   LOL... too freakin' funny.

So.  Which piece of advice do I go with?   Explain to Alexandra beforehand what breastfeeding is, or just wait for the questions to roll in?

I'm going to have to find a new pet name for Alexandra. lol....

Until yesterday, I never noticed how often I call Alex, "baby" .. or "my baby" --

"Are you all done eating, my baby?"
"Time to take a bath, my baby!"

Yesterday, as I was waiting for the other baby to move so Alex could feel it in my tummy, I said, "We need to find a name for the baby!"

Alexandra looked at me, and without missing a beat she said, "My name Alex."

Ooooooh, yeeeeeaaaaah...... about that........

And then -- during the same conversation, I asked Alex if she knew where the baby was.

I meant, on my body.

She says to me, "I right here, mama!"

Sooooo-- a little deprogramming is in order, though it sure will be hard to break the habit --

Ahem....

"HEAR YE, HEAR YE!  I SHALL NOW ... HENCE-FORTH AND HERE WITHIN AND SO FORTH ... REFER TO ALEXANDRA AS MY 'BIG GIRL', AND THE NEW BABY AS 'BABY #2'!"

Wish me luck!