It’s Saturday morning. Joseph and I are chilling on the couch after his bath. Is there anything that smells better than a just washed newborn? That milky breath, baby lotion and baby shampoo smells like heaven.
Anne and Brian just left for Home Depot. He’s putting down our tomatoes and flowers today so they needed to get a couple items as well as get the oil changed on the truck. Anne loves to be a Helper and especially loves to go with Daddy to work. She has one pair of brown socks we call her “work socks” and she always wears them on Saturdays with her Dad. She also wants him to wear his work clothes – his company shirt, his work boots etc. if they are going to “work”. She doesn’t think you can work without the proper attire….girl after my own heart! 
Allow me a proud Mummy moment about my kids – they’re spectacular. Seriously. Anne has been delightful since Joseph was born. No tantrums, no hitting, no wailing and jealousy. She loves to “play” with him and shares all of her toys. She hasn’t even been bothered by his crying but just wants to help usually running over to me, lifting her top, pointing to her little chest and saying “BABY EAT!” like she’s worried I’ll forget. She’s regressed a bit on the potty training but we’ll get it back. And big picture, it’s not the big of a deal. I love being home with her. She’s actually great company and an interesting little conversationalist already.
She loves going to church especially. All week long, she asks “Can I play with church kids? Church kids? Please?”
And Joseph? He’s a very easy baby. Anne was a dream baby too and so everyone would profess dire warnings about how “oh, well, wait til your second!” Not true. He’s already got his days and nights figured out. He’s up three times at night for nursing but his main awake times are in the morning and evenings. He’s a very chilled out little guy as well, very content to just watch the show. He has also proven an uncanny ability to sleep through EVERYTHING. His nursing is phenomenal – latched so early and easily and now he positively goes to town. He’s quite strong, trying to lift his head and look around already.
He’s a happy guy as long as his tummy is full – but aren’t we all??
And I’m feeling MUCH MUCH better. It amazes me how much easier this recovery has been. Even though I had Anne naturally as well, this delivery was so fast and straight forward that I already feel great. I mean, not 100% but definitely great. I am a big fan of my new method! Walk around a lot during labour and then stand up to push him out! I would recommend at least having a midwife and being in a clean house but meh. What can you do? 
I even took the kids to the community centre yesterday for Motoring Munchkins so Anne could run her face off for two hours as it was raining outside. It’s about a half a km walk there but I put Anne in the stroller and Joseph in the sling and away we went. She just LOVES to play with kids.
They also have this time called “Exercise” when they holler for all the kids to come over and they do things like touch your toes, jump out wide, jump together, run in place and so on. Most of the kids are about 3-4 but Anne is right in there with them. She follows all of the directions but it’s funny because she is SO EXCITED to be there that she keeps turning around to look at me like CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW MUCH FUN THIS IS?!? She’s practically levitating. I am definitely going to bring the video camera next time. Cracked me up.
Of course, it started to pour on my way home though. And Anne didn’t want to put her shoes on. And then Joseph woke up to howl for his supper. That was the longest 15 minute walk of my life! LOL
The local newspaper has gotten wind of our crazy birth story and want to come over to do an interview for the paper. I haven’t decided yet about it. I don’t like to be in the paper but I’m sure it would be a fun keepsake for Joseph and even an opportunity to say “thanks” to Kelly-the-Nurse/Angel as well as the paramedics and firemen. So we’ll see.
The people in our building are abuzz with the story too. We have a pretty quiet building and getting to know your neighbours can be hard. But since we had this baby it seems everyone in the building is talking about it and so they are all so eager to talk to us. Turns out all you need to do to get your neighbours to open up is have a baby in the parkade! 
We’ve gotten flowers and notes and hugs galore. I eventually put up a flyer next to the mailbox that said “thanks to everyone for all of your help!” along with a picture of Joseph and assurances that we were fine and healthy.
We wrote a nice card to Kelly and got her a gift certificate for The Bay to buy a new blouse since I so soundly ruined the one she had on as well as a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers. I felt so stuck – how do you properly thank someone for catching your baby in the parkade? I don’t think you can but I hope she knows how grateful we are.
In other good news….
- I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Of course, with the post-partum belly still. And that number is nothing to brag about. But still. We’re on our way.
- Managed to get my wedding rings on again as well. Usually they’re rather loose and right now are rather tight. But they’re on. No longer is anyone looking at me like I’m a cheerleader in trouble.
- I also did up my pre-preggo jeans yesterday. Woot! And then I caught a glimpse of the muffin-top and thought…maybe I should do my sit-ups first….?
- I have found that it cheers me up immensely to put on red lipstick while I clean the bathroom. Highly recommend.
Finally, the verdict that you’ve all been waiting for….we’re decided to NOT circumcise Joseph. It’s just not done here and we feel comfortable with the reasons for leaving him intact. So there you go.
