mom life

extra grateful for my awesome husband today! he is the greatest source of support and encouragement for me. 

i've had a few rough days here and there over the past 5 weeks while transitioning to caring for two little ones who i equally love and want to give 100% to at every moment. this morning was one of my more difficult ones- and reflecting back, it honestly wasn't so bad. it's even kind of humorous... i just didn't see it that way in the moment :)

i always joke that being a stay-at-home mom means that you're a professional lukewarm coffee drinker. because it's true. i rarely get a sip of my coffee in before it's gone from too hot when first brewed to lukewarm, and this morning i decided that gosh darn it, i was going to drink my coffee hot. i made my pour-over, and told myself that i wasn't going to feel bad turning on mickey mouse for lucy so that i could sit and nurse eloise while sipping a piping hot cup- just this morning.  

well, my attempt at a relaxing 30 minutes of disney junior screen time turned into nursing a frustrated baby who kept having to re-latch because her big sister refused to stop climbing on top of me in the chair i was sharing with eloise. i asked lucy to move to the couch and sit and watch her show because i was feeding eloise. 

...mom guilt #1. 

i felt awful putting one kid in front of the tv, so i could better care for the other. 

our morning was a series of these moments [mom guilt piling up], as eloise was awake and hungrier than usual. in feeding her, i felt like it was at the expense of best interacting with lucy. 

...which led to little things that i might otherwise find endearing causing some strife! for example, when 11am rolled around and i was still in my night clothes [the girls were dressed and with bows in their hair of course... or strapped to her head with a headband due to lack of adequate hair in eloise's case], and the mailman came to the door leading charlie to dash outside, and the 3 of us to chase after him in front of the neighbors with lucy clinging to my shorts for dear life, causing them to be pulled down to toddler height- i wasn't at my best. 

i know this is all part of having multiple children [and it's no secret that i want a small bunch], but i often beat myself up for not being able to give them individualized 1-on-1 attention every waking moment now that a third party had been added. jon's great at reminding me that the girls have each other now, and the payoff for that is well worth a few minutes here and there where they have to figure out things for themselves because their mom is busy with the other. and my mom is awesome at reminding me of the importance of independent play skills [i should be able to remind myself of that- i have a master's degree in early childhood education], but after 20 months of being there for lucy whenever she wanted me, it's definitely a switch to have to tell her that she's gonna have to to wait because i'm busy caring for her little sister. 

i know other moms can relate. and my "mom-friends" give me good laughs over our similar situations :) thankful to not feel alone in this journey called parenthood! a strong support base is so so SO important, i've learned. 

in other news, i'm apparently making milkshakes over here on 98th terrace. my little 6 pound baby (25th percentile at birth) is now 10 pounds at one month old- jumping to the 75th percentile for weight! lucy's never once been in the 75th percentile for weight. 

eloise- my little butterball :)

other great news! eloise was introduced to a bottle of pumped mama milk last week- and she's a total champ! with lucy, we introduced the bottle at 6-8 weeks per our lactation consultant's advice to avoid nipple confusion. it turned into her hating the bottle- she never grew to take it very well, so we actually switched to a straw-cup at 8 months and never looked back. we decided to introduce the bottle earlier this time around, and it's been the best decision. eloise will even take a bottle from ME- something lucy never did. it definitely gives me a sense of freedom that OK... if jon and i want to have a dinner out just the two of us, we know eloise won't be at home, screaming at the bottle nipple. certainly glad we've been through this newborn thing before- so much is easier this time around because we've already learned what doesn't work :)

also great news- we have the best friends. lucy's godfather and his wife [who lucy loooves] are in town visiting, and spent their evening last night putting together lucy's new pink kitchen my mom got her. and they even acted like they enjoyed piecing together a 50 piece toddler-sized hot pink kitchen :) somehow jon roped them into that one...

and a very happy 4th birthday to this guy! holding down the testosterone fort with his dad.

gotta go snuggle my babes and sip some lukewarm coffee :)

-ivy

june

what a month it's been. i don't even know where to begin. eloise has filled our lives and our hearts with so much joy. it's like we've all always known her. we're so glad she's here with us!

i will say, however, that life with 2 under 2 is constant! there's little time left to sit and decompress. i wouldn't have it any other way though :) this is where we are meant to be, and i am more grateful than ever that i get to "stay home" with these 2 precious girls. 

little time left to blog, so here's a quick update of our lives over the past few weeks :)

we received our photos from shannon of baby day photography. unreal. life is about moments like these & i'm so grateful she was there to capture ours. lucy meeting her sister is a memory i'll always hold onto. 

dandurand gals :)

eloise turned 1 month young! she's an early smiler- we got our first "social smiles" from her at 3.5 weeks! lucy smiled right at 6 weeks, so this was a fun surprise :) happy one month, sweet eloise!!!

my mom and i took the girls to the farmstead. i'm so much more comfortable "baby-wearing" this time around. with lucy, i literally held her all day, every day. with eloise, i need free hands, so i've been forced to learn to properly baby-wear, and ohmygosh. i love it! happy baby- happy mama :) i wear her wherever i go :)

such an angel... and a ballerina-in-training [even in her sleep:)]

lucy is very into "helping"- she brings me diapers, blankets, assists with tummy-time, and especially enjoys poking at her sister's eyeballs...

jon's been giving lucy her own private swimming lessons this summer :) she's gotten great at paddling on her own in the deep-end, and no longer has a fear of the initial "cold shock" when she gets into the water- she literally just walks right in now! she's definitely become a little fish, and asks to go to the "pool with daddy" multiple times each day!

our sweet charlie turns 4 today :) our first-born fur-baby who continues to move further down the totem pole ;)

lucy's grandma and grandpa dandurand [gmom and gdad] got lucy her first set of wheels! a pink bike, which she's super excited about! fun to watch jon and her work together on balancing :) after seeing all of the kids in the neighborhood + cousin tasman on their bikes, she's pretty darn proud to have one of her own. 

miss sass :)

all about bangles, tiaras and costume jewelry these days. she's all girl, if i've ever seen one! such fun!!

meanwhile, you're likely to find me exactly like so...

have a happy 4th!

-ivy

eloise

eloise amy dandurand

5.28.14

4:15am

6lbs 12 oz 19.5 in

sweet sweet eloise arrived- beautiful and healthy- just hours after her due date. an easy labor and delivery- hallelujah! 

i'll post more in-depth about lucy meeting eloise once we receive our photos from our amazing family photographer, but above is one image. it was truly one of the most profound moments of my life. it was as if lucy has always known her sister- she burst into the hospital room saying "eloise!" and armed with kisses [...more like "eh-weez!"] as a 20 month old, i couldn't believe her understanding of the situation. i'll never forget it. 

headed home :)

our beautiful girls

at any given point of any given day, i'm most likely wearing one baby, and holding the other. lucy wants to be held ["up, mommy!"] much more now that she sees her sister up with mom and dad :)

i took the girls to the park solo for the first time yesterday. wide load! you can't miss us...

our days are spent at home in these early weeks. so grateful that we're settled and with more space than when lucy was a newborn! it's definitely being utilized. 

words can't express my gratitude for these gifts- so enjoying this season of my life :)

xoxo

-ivy

babywatch

if we thought we were ready last week... we're beyond ready this week! tomorrow is my due date & at this point with lucy jane, she was 6 days old & we were settling in at home. i never thought i'd go this far after having had a spontaneous water break at 39 weeks last time around- it's been a LONG week of waiting & wondering when! such an exciting time :) i so missed being pregnant after i delivered lucy, so i really am taking in every last hiccup and roll that i'm so lucky to get to feel. 

i'll get induced next tuesday, june 3rd at 41 weeks at the latest- but so hoping to go naturally before then! no impending labor signs, but i will say it's been really nice to have these extra days soaking up sweet lucy, and getting great sleeps at  night! i'm sleeping pretty darn well all things considered- i think i'm just so worn out at the end of each day chasing my 20 month old, that i just crash come 9:00!

to keep busy this past week, jon took lucy on a daddy/daughter date for lunch and shopping :)

and put our old moving boxes to great use by fort building in the basement...

we've had some hot days for backyard water play [and simultaneous snack sharing with charlie]

lucy turned 20 months on sunday- such a sweet peach 

and auntie amy and tasman spent the weekend in town- we were sure they'd get to meet the baby when the trip was booked a few weeks ago! 

lucy surely has some new tricks up her sleeve after spending the past 4 days observing her big wild cousin :)

lucy's been doing the baby dance :) she actually has been asking about her sister- pointing to the baby's cradle and swing and saying her name. i can't wait for them to meet for the first time :)

39 weeks, 3 days in this picture- now 3 days more pregnant than that. there's just not much more room to expand...

hoping to update with some baby news soon!

-ivy

we're ready!

i am officially 39 weeks pregnant as of tomorrow! my water broke [while eating lunch at work!] with lucy on the day i turned 39 weeks- so who knows!? tomorrow may be a repeat :) we can't WAIT to meet our newest little princess! i tear up just thinking about it :)

happy baby week!!!

-ivy

photo bomb

with all of this warm weather, we've had lots of photo opps! we're also spending quite a bit of time around the house in these last few days before the baby arrives. here's what miss lu has been up to!

park time 

backyard water play

watching her daddy mow the lawn ... the very best live entertainment!

and celebrating mother's day :) it was a perfectly relaxing day, and my swollen feet & i were able to just sit around and gestate. jon cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner, and surprised me with 2 dozen roses and a necklace with little's sister's first initial- it matches the "L" one he gave me when lucy was born :) 

my mom joined us in the afternoon- and she and lucy busied themselves with an "iced tea" party to beat the heat on the porch.

perhaps the best part of the day was that we didn't leave the house- i didn't do my hair and wore no makeup, but mom insisted on a pic of the babe and me. this was as far as we got :)

hope all moms had the day they envisioned! 

-ivy

20 days!

we went straight from winter to summer it seems. it's HOT outside & i view it as a big accomplishment that at 9 months pregnant in 80+ degree heat, i took my 19 month old and my dog on a hilly walk to the park by myself. phew! 

fun pics from this past weekend... [can't contain my excitement in pulling out lucy's summer wardrobe!]

sidewalk chalk backside ... lucy's setting this season's toddler trend

water play on the back deck has quickly become lucy's favorite warm weather activity. i strip her down to her diaper & sit back while she pours me her special "tea" [dirt water that's pooled on the bottom of the deck umbrella:)] i guess i could put her in a swimsuit, but these days. that seems like a seriously unnecessary measure to take. we're all about red-neckin' it around here. 

3 weeks... or 2 if this is as my lucille pregnancy went!

our big news is our decision for me not go back to work after having the baby. i've taught 2 days/week since becoming a mom, and had planned to go to 1 day/week come next school year, but in weighing all of our options, becoming a stay-at-home mom looks to be the direction my life is headed! i know how fortunate i am to have a husband who works tirelessly for the benefit of his family. we're all excited for this next [crazy] chapter in our lives :)

-ivy

ps- charlie's been enjoying as much peace as possible before the chaos that's sure to ensue