Happy Thanksgiving

Today is business as usual here in the UK.  But thanks to technology I am aware of what I am missing.  We are celebrating on Saturday so just a two day delay.  I am roasting a whole turkey on my own for the first time.  Hope it is a success.

It is fitting to list the things for which I am thankful today.  I struggle with the fine line of blessings versus boasting.  But today is about Thanksgiving and I am writing this as quickly as possible so I will save that debate for another day.

I am thankful for my little family:

      Brent - who I still really like, makes me laugh (or roll my eyes), who works very hard to provide for his  family, is remarkably hands-on with the children and never leaves his socks on the floor.  

     Mary Kate, Caroline, George and Celia - bright and lively children who fill my heart and home.  They make each day anything but boring.  I am especially thankful for the gift of Celia this year.  With age I see the miracle in healthy, full-term, screaming newborns.  I am so thankful I get to have her.  

I am thankful for my big family:

      Your family is your family like it or not.  I appreciate mine.  They are usually happy to see me.  The girls think they are great.  I think it is wonderful my children get to have relationships with teenagers and young adults.  We get each others sense of humor. 

 I am thankful to be American:

      Even though I choose to live in another country, I am thankful for the opportunities provided to me simply because of the country in which I was born.  Oprah once said something about being born a girl in America already makes one very lucky.   I agree.    

I am thankful for my work:

     Staying at home with the children and getting to geek out with taxes - it does not get much better in my book.  I thoroughly enjoy caring, feeding, cleaning and helping the children, homemaking and I will admit:  lunches and coffees.  I also enjoy spreadsheets, problem solving and pleasing clients.  Not always easy to balance it all but a nice mix for me. 

I am thankful for random things:

      Coffee, wine, croissants, children singing together, iTunes, walking OR driving to the high street, Skype (when it works), Christmas cards, fall color, getting to pat a baby bottom again, hairspray, girl clothes, boy energy....

I am thankful I posted this post on Thanksgiving Day.  It may not be coherent and it is certainly not complete - I have my littlest turkey to thank for my state of blissful sleep deprivation. 

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Good Thing #6

Nap Nanny Chill

A couple of weeks before Celia was born I decided I had to have one of these for her.  However, they are not available in the UK.  They believe babies should lie flat as much as possible for spine development and comfort.  So I doubt the Nap Nanny will catch on here.  I gave up on it because shipping would cost more than the recliner and I did not know of anybody coming over until December.  But my sister came for a surprise visit and brought Celia one.  

According to my niece you lay the baby in it and they go so sleep.  It is not quite so fool proof but Celia does nap well in it.  She can be a little chokey so I like to have her upright after she eats.  I highly recommend it. 

Good Thing #5

Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife 

I picked one of these up for picnics and checked baggage when we travel.  Now I use for all cutting and chopping.  They come in a rainbow of colors and are one of my favorite things. 

Celia Pictures

Baby Burrito...

One arm break out...

Hands up and ankles crossed...

My what big eyes you have...

Born in Britain but still a southern girl dressed for game day...

One Week

Celia's one week birthday was full of excitement. 

Her cord fell off. 

Then she had her first photo shoot...

Then her Aunt Kim made a surprise special delivery to meet her and bring her a nap nanny...

A nice end to a good first week on earth!

Day 5 Report

Yesterday a midwife came by the house to check on Celia.  At first she was concerned about her weight loss in the hospital.  But  after finding she weighs 7 lbs and 3 ozs - gaining nearly three ounces and well on her way back to her birth weight - the midwife was satisfied.  

Celia had perfect timing :  she waited until after her weight check but while the midwife was here to have her first blow out.  Good girl for impressing the midwife with color, force and volume.  

She is slightly jaundiced.  But day 5 is peak day so the midwife was not the least bit concerned.  Yeah!  We did it!  I have extra milk so we will continue topping up for the next week just to make sure she is on an upward trend. 

Celia's pet name is Kitty.  She cries like a kitten, makes purring noises like a kitten and even before she was born she gently stretched like a kitten.  

She will sleep endlessly if being held.  Last night we took turns holding her while watching TV.  Big mistake - her awake time was from 12-2 am.  She was happy but awake.  Thankfully Brent is home so Kitty and I can stay up all night and sleep all day - for now. 

Celia is my first baby to nurse well from the start.  She immediately opened wide and latched perfectly.  I almost skipped trying in the delivery room because the others did not take to it.  But to be fair, I offered it to her and she knew exactly how to do it.  Nursing has never came easily to me in the early days.  Caroline and George had big challenges we overcame.  Celia has nursed roughly 50 times and every time I can not believe she is doing it with ease. 

The girl refuses to burb.  

What do the other children think about her?  George is not bothered one way or the other.  He kisses her and shares his onk (blanket scraps) with her.  He likes to heist her paci.  Brent is home so he has loads of undivided attention.  He is 2 so no noticeable increase in the number of hissy fits.  The girls like to hold her as much as possible.  We all stare at her in amazement. 

I am feeling well.  I have been well looked after.  Brent is home for two weeks.  So I have been able to rest and focus on Miss Celia and her feedings.  In the evenings, I cover homework and he handles dinner.  A wonderful friend came to the house when I was in the hospital and cooked a week of meals.  This is the best gift ever. The late night last night has been tough today though.  When I finally went downstairs at noon today, Brent gave me a funny look.  I looked as if I had been to war - still in my pajamas, hair a mess, shirt covered in milk.  A coffee and shower made it all better.  

We are savoring our babymoon...

She is Here!

Cecilia Marie

4th of November, 2011

5:28 pm GMT

7 lbs and 10 ounces

20 inches

Hotel Hospital

The girls and I were chatting about the baby coming and the days following her birth.  How long it might take to have the baby, - will she be here by lunch or will it be dinner?  Visiting the hospital and their plans for the weekend.  They asked if you can die while having a baby - it can happen but rarely in modern hospitals.  They find the idea of the spectacle of milk coming in particularly funny.  

They are most impressed with two days of breakfast in bed while in the hospital.  Their conclusion was it sounds as if I am going to a hotel for the weekend.  Not exactly my darlings, not exactly!