Motherhood 102

Ella is doing GREAT! Saturday night she slept in her crib for the very first time. She went to bed at approximately 9pm. She got up at 12am, 3am and 6 am for feeding but she went back to bed in the crib. She is actually learning to self-console a little bit. A wonderful night of sleep for the parents in BED--YEAH!! I have never been so thankful to sleep in a bed.

Ella did all kinds of interesting things this week. We moved up to 3 oz feedings on Thursday. She ate 2oz and was still hungry so we did it and it worked. I love being a second time Mom. The difference is that I don't call Dr. Whitehead before I do anything this time. I am learning to just Mother and not second guess myself. It is somewhat empowering.

I can tell Ella is smart as a whip. She loves human faces. Her favorite thing to do is to stare at my face approximately 10-12 inches away. She likes for me to blow her tummy, make car noises and click my tongue. She also likes to touch my hair. It must feel soft to her. She mocks me when I stick my tongue out at her. It is soooo cute. Friday she laughed for the first time. It was so cute. She gets tickled and just giggles. I could absolutely eat her up! Her favorite spot is to lay just below my chin on my chest. She purrs like a little kitten when she sleeps and that little soft fuzzy hair is so soft as it rubs on my chin. It is like being in heaven.

The challenge so far is having two children. Mary Catherine wants to HELP all of the time and there are just somethings she is too small to do. She doesn't realize how strong she is and she tries to pat and sooth Ella and at times she does it too hard. She also likes to poke, annoy and wake her up. Someday Ella is going to be three and Mary Catherine 6. It will be at that point when Ella annoys the dickens out of Mary Catherine and she complains. I am going to remind her of how she annoyed Ella and tell them to go in the other room and work it out. I can't wait!

The latest challenge is that today Mary Catherine is sick with a cold and fever. Ella is not sick. I am trying to keep them in separate rooms (to keep Ella from getting sick) and keep them both happy. I sent my Mom a text message to see if she could come over and help with Ella this morning. She has a headache and can't come help so I am stressed out. Mom calls this is Motherhood 102. I am going to just have to deal with two crying babies all day (except when they are sleeping). I have Ella in her nursery and Mary Catherine in the den. Mary Catherine wants me to hold her nonstop and Ella wants me to hold her nonstop. Both girls wake up at the same time and sleep at the same time. It is a challenge. I have had to explain to Mary Catherine that Ella is little and sometimes she has to eat and just be held. I am also having to just let Ella self sooth. It is very stressful. I called the nurse and when they call back, I am going to tell them they are going to have to give someone something...Me, Ella or Mary Catherine one!