Baby x 2 is Pretty Freakin' Hard, But....

So, Flora has been with us for 11 glorious days and the adjustment has gone as smoothly as we could have hoped. Adela has embraced her sister (I mean this quite literally) and she has taken to smacking her lips in a faux kissing action every time she catches a glimpse of her. Jealousy seems to be on the back-burner for the time being, because I don't think she fully grasps that this is a child and not just an incredibly demanding toy that her father and I brought home for the three of us to play with.

Flora sleeps a lot. I am trying hard to take advantage of it, but of course, I don't want to sleep when I could be playing with or caring for Adela and this is the fundamental difference between bringing Adela home and bringing Flora home. We were able to lay around and stare blissfully at newborn Addy for hours on end, whereas now, each minute not spent nursing, changing or otherwise trying to comfort Flora, we have to chase, feed, change and entertain the toddling monster. It's hard. Thank god Stefan was able to take off a big chunk of time so that I could heal and recover in the midst of all the seemingly endless childcare.

I had hoped that the migraines that plagued me during pregnancy would have subsided by now, but sadly, they still linger here and wake me from the occasional sleep I do get. I suppose, in light of all our many, many blessings, I should just learn to suck it up. But, alas, it's hard to ignore a pain in one's head that is sometimes so fierce it makes one's toes curl! I have resigned to live with the pain for a while longer so that I can continue to breastfeed Flora and give her the same advantages that Adela had. Unfortunately, they have yet to develop an adequate migraine medication that is safe for breastfeeding and pregnant women.

With that one exception, our life is such an incredibly good one. When I watch Stefan and Adela walk down the street as they head to one of her many scheduled activities, I am moved to tears (thanks, in part, to whopping hormone fluctuations). Then as I think life couldn't be any more wonderful, there is little Flora sleeping peacefully (or looking around bewildered... or screaming her little lungs out), and I know the possibilities for joy are endless. It's such a profoundly beautiful thing to have this time together- the six of us- to savor our good fortune and to imagine all the adventures that lay ahead.

Love is...

... A perfectly healthy baby girl whose very existence is an extension of her parents' devotion to one another (I can't help but be sappy. I'm in a state of postpartum euphoria). I'm just so damned happy. I love this new, little baby and I am so lucky to have such a perfect family in Stefan, Adela, Flora and even, Otis and Rudi. Life is so goooood.

Introducing Flora May Whitney!

Her last day as an only child

Stefan took this picture on a recent walk through Mills County Preserve, a place we like to take the dogs and wander through the woods. In many ways, its our saving grace. Having grown so accustomed to being dog owners in Northern CA, we just couldn't get used to not having a place where our animals can run free. Little dinky, dingy urban dog runs don't cut the mustard when you're used to the glory that is Crissy Field. Anyway, this picture is of Adela at Mills after our most recent battle with Stormasaurus Rex. It was the last time she will walk through the woods sisterless, because... Drumroll, please... I'm really, really, really in labor this time. Woo-hoo! We are on our way to NYU Medical Center, in the Lincoln Tunnel and I'm typing this between the god-awful (but welcomed) contractions! My next post will almost certainly include a picture of our second child.

The Last Sonogram Picture

This was taken on Friday, March 5th. Doesn't she look (sorta) cute in a squished-up kinda way? This was the last time she will be photographed in-utero because on Monday, they will finally begin the process of inducing us. As it turns out, she is very high still, so rather than just going for it and breaking the water, my doctor is going to do what is referred to as "stripping the membranes." This apparently hurts just as much as it sounds like it will. Yow. Ugh. Its also not a sure thing, so if that doesn't work to get things moving within a couple of hours, then they will break the water. I'm hoping to avoid chemical intervention, but its starting to look like that's impossible. Oh well. She's all cooked and its time for her to come out. I've had too many sleepless nights, too much discomfort and actually, I'm damned ready for a giant Manhattan! I've been pregnant for 10 weeks shy of
a year and there was only a six month break between this and my last pregnancy, so, yeah, I'm pretty ready to call this game!!!

Status update:

'Nuff said...

How SILLY!

Three weeks ago, I took Adela to her Wednesday "Gym Juniors" class and I said "goodbye" to all the other mothers and the teacher, all of whom have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby girl #2. I said, "Thanks for everything, but I am sure there's no way that I will be here next week. My husband will be bringing her, I'm sure."

Then two weeks ago, I waddled in and they all sort of looked at me with sympathy. We all agreed that it would have to be my last week.

Last week, the teacher guffawed and said, "Oh, sweetie, don't worry, this is definitely the last week you will be here with Adela."

Well, I am getting ready to go today and I feel very silly.

Can you guess her weight?

I am starting a pool for my favorite 10 blog followers. What do you think this stubborn baby is going to weigh? I gave a pretty good clue in my second to last post (that's your ONLY hint... don't ask for any more). The person who comes the closest will get a very special surprise when she finally arrives on the scene. Oh, which reminds me, I should probably tell you that I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at 2PM. I'm hoping that I won't make it that long, but if I do, I have a strong suspicion that we will decide on proceeding with induction. I so wanted to let nature take its course. I hate the idea of rattling her out of here, but truthfully, waiting too much longer could mean she won't fit through the tunnel and a C-Section is my own worst nightmare... for so many reasons. One, I feel like the baby would be so put off by the surprise of being tugged out of her happy home. Secondly, I don't have the luxury of being able to recover at my own pace. I have a toddler. I can't just chill out on the couch for three weeks without lifting anything or laughing! And finally, of course, I don't want the scar. I just don't. My midsection is about the only part of my body I don't completely hate, so I would like to keep as intact as possible.

Anyway, I digress. I really do hope you will place your best guess as to baby Whitney #2's birth weight. Please do so in the comments section below.

I will be back tomorrow with the doctor update...

Good Luck, Grandpa Elly!

My dear friend and stepfather and Adela's best buddy and grandpa Elly is having orthopedic surgery this morning to repair is long-painful shoulder and collar-bone. Here's to hoping it goes wonderfully- that his shoulder heals without pain and that we both spend some time in the hospital today! All the best today! We love you so much.