Letters for Roo: Three months

A party with lily white and baby pink balloons, a huge chocolate cake with a heavenly topping and the sound of cheerful children's music playing. That's what I really wanted to do yesterday when you turned three months. You see, my sweet little Roo, turning three months is a big moment in the life of a newborn. It's a bit like turning 16 or 18. From the newborn mainly sleeping or crying to get one of three basic needs: milk, sleep or a clean diaper, to a little person interacting with people to interact. To communicate. To smile, play and learn.

You are one funny girl. Because you sure laugh a lot. It is the most precious thing to watch. We spend many hours just smiling at each other. It is your favorite thing to do. And you really try to engage others in your smiling games. And if I get distracted from playing smiles with you, you make little sounds to retrieve my attention.

Yesterday, you grabbed a toy hanging on your car seat. It was the first time I saw you grab something, and hold it. Your daddy saw it too. Every time the toy escaped from your little hands, you found it again and held it.

You eat! Not only breast milk, but your fingers too. You LOVE sucking on those little fingers. You prefer having three in your mouth at the same time. And I hear you suck on them at night when you wake up at 5 AM. They soothe you right back to sleep. And if the don't? You want to hold my fingers (or you daddy's fingers) and that definitely sends you right back to your baby dreams.

But most of the time, you sleep through the night. And it's bliss for everyone. Your bedtime is somewhere between 9 PM and 10 PM. We semi-wake you up for a 11 PM night feeding. You don't really wake up, but enough to drink for about 10 minutes. I believe it are these sleepy feedings that help you sleep through the night. And you don't wake up very early. We usually don't get to see your blue eyes until 9 AM, sometimes even 9.30 AM.

I spend the mornings playing with your big brother. He loves the special attention and the alone time with mommy. But if you're not awake by 9.30, we both miss you too much to keep playing Duplos and we come get you. And whether you wake up by yourself or if we wake you, you are all smiles when you open you big blue eyes and see us.

My sweet girl, your smiles and cooing fill the house with happiness. And every day with you in our family is a blessing from above. And I hope blessings are infinite because mommy and daddy sure got more than our share with you and your brother.

Love always,
Mom

Letters for Roo: Two months

My sweetest Roo,

Today you're two months old (and a few days, but mommy has been a little busy).

It's snowing and the house feels cold and empty. Daddy took you and your big brother to grandma so I could have some 'mommy time'. And with taking you guys, daddy created some time for me to write your two month - letter.

The past month has all been about communicating. We understand each other. I don't have to guess why you're crying (at least, most of the time). I understand your hungry-cry, your sleepy-cry, your pain-cry.

When you're tired and you're crying, I just have to put you in your crib and tuck you in real tight. And you calm down and fall asleep. Most of the time I have to hold your arms for a bit. Up until last week we used a Swaddle blanket, but this seems to work just as well. And the crib seems to calm you (unlike last month, when I was convinced you hated it).

You like it when I sing to you, when I talk to you and mostly when I smile at you. You give the biggest smile back with a cute cooing sound that just makes my heart melts. You've also started to really notice your big brother. I've already seen you smile at him too. He loves you so much and has been nothing but sweet to you. He's proud of you and for him too life without you is unthinkable. When we go someplace he always demands you're coming with us and when your resting in your bed, he wants me to take you out of it so you can play with us. I know you both will probably fight every now and than when you get a bit older. But never forget, he loved you the moment he met you.

You follow me around with your eyes when I walk out of sight. You like it when I stroke your little hairs or rub your tummy. Your favorite place to sleep is in my arms, though we got you to sleep in your crib most of the time.

What you also like is your diaper changes. (Your brother hated diaper changes. And that's an understatement.) But you really enjoy it. You even don't mind me changing your clothes. You just look at me with those big blue eyes and enjoy the attention, hoping I rub your tummy or tickle you or cover you in a million little kisses or a massage with your baby oil. When you're done looking at me, you stare at the flowery wallpaper. You really seem to like it. And that's a good thing, because your grandma and daddy have spend many hours putting that wallpaper on the wall.

Yesterday daddy wasn't feeling well and was asleep. Your big brother was napping too. So I took you to the mall so we girls could do some shopping. You enjoyed your time out in the front carrier. You thought the wind was funny. It was really nice to spend some time alone with you. Getting to know you a little better.

You're opening up to the world around you. Noticing things that happen. Changes in sound, people, light, movement. A lot happens around you, and a lot happens with you. Growing and changing every day. And I can't imagine a single day to pass by without you.

I love you little princess,
Mommy.

Helllllllllp Everything under control

Everything is under control. Just cruising along, taking the kids (multiple!!!) to the store. Calm. Relax.

But the truth? We want the nurse back!!!!!! It's the first morning without the nurse, and the house looks like a war battle between dirty dishes, Duplo, baby clothes and other pink things. It's a good thing Tim throws away the diapers. So it doesn't actually smell like a battlefield (what does a battlefield smell like?).

Also? I had the FIRST I am alone with Tim and Lisa and Lisa wouldn't stop crying and Tim tried to compensate the lack of attention and the overkill of sound with banging his Duplo parts against each other. Nice. I did stay calm though. I did!

And now they are both asleep. In their own beds I might add, which is great because little miss Lisa was all "I only want to sleep on mommy's breasts" this morning.

So why am I blogging and not cleaning house? Because this morning I seriousely did something which caused the area down there (points down there, *wink wink*) to hurt like no ones business. I guess lifting things (like toddlers) is not the best thing for me. So I am in bed resting, while my husband cleans house (applaud!!). I am SO happy he'll also be home with us next week.

Anyway, yeah we got that great nurse system here (the only thing not so great is, that they LEAVE after 7 days). But you know, in case of emergency we got the Dutch "not satisfied? return and get your money back" system:

JUST KIDDING!!

The Netherlands is a crazy country, but we are not THAT crazy. It's a store where you can buy or rent baby stuff. We never did the rent thing though. Baby things must be cleaner than a sterile hospital room, as far as I'm concerned.

SOOO. Where was I? Yeah. Explosion. Husband is cleaning result of explosion. Baby and toddler in bed.....

Oh you need a cute baby picture! Lisa in her winter coat. Her first time out. Everybody: Awwwww.

But missing the nurse. She kept everything under control.

And made sure everyone got their baths or got time to shower.

But I guess I can do it too. See, clean baby:

But for now, charging up to face the battle field again recuperating in the bedroom. Thinking about writing the birth story and the Rupert and the Frog Song. Because they are connected. They are! Pom pom pom pom.

Letters for Lisa: one week

My dearest Lisa,

Today you are one week old. One week of being part of my life. One week of being part of our family. One week of your lifelong journey on this earth.

In fact, last week at this hour, you were not even born yet. The whole family was napping. Your big brother Tim was napping. Your father and I were taking a nap too, because we didn't sleep well the night before.

We were sound asleep, not aware our lives would change forever in just 9.5 hours. Though the last few days prior to your birth, I had a strong feeling you were about to be part of our family. And after the nap, and after I went into a hot tub with your big brother Tim, I knew for sure, my girl was going to come any minute now.

Since I gave birth to you and the doctor gave you to me, I have loved you. It's not that I didn't love you when you grew inside me. But it's that precious moment right after you were born, we really bonded. You looked at me, I looked at you. I cuddled you, talked to you, smiled at you and we gave each other a lot of nose- nose eskimo kisses. Your brother loves those too.

I am very happy we got to get to know each other than. Because the first few days after you were born, you held your eyes shut. The day before yesterday you really started to open your beautiful blue eyes and look around. Now every one can see, what I had the honor of seeing the evening your were born. Your innocent and pure character.

My dearest Lisa, I was worried I wouldn't be able to love you as much as I love your brother. I worried about that, even in the first few days you spend mostly in my arms. I cried over it.

But now I know for sure, my heart has plenty of love. For everyone in this family and beyond. Love is infinite, like the sky and heaven. And when I look up there and stare at the blue infinity in the sky, I see a perfect sun beam caring over the plants in our garden, showing the pureness and beauty of life.

And that sun beam is you, Lisa. With your birth, you showed me yet again the beauty of life.

Love,
Mom

And we're back...

... from the hospital with a beautiful baby girl!!!!!! We named her Lisa :)

Everything went quick and smooth, as smooth as childbirth gets. She was born 21:20, just three hours after Nadine's previous post. We only spent four hours in the hospital, and the last hour was spent waiting for the paperwork. So we're a bit overwhelmed. More and pictures tomorrow!

Bye now,
FreezeM