Lucy is still growing and maturing at a remarkable rate.
Yesterday she played her first game of Candy Land. She did a good job taking turns drawing cards, and she named the colors we drew. I moved the pieces to demonstrate how it works. I thought we'd be doing good to make it halfway through, but she stuck with it for the whole game. She wanted to play again right away.
Lucy talked about helping baby Emmie for the first time without saying "no baby Emmie." I found one of the hats that Lucy wore in the hospital and showed it to her. She wanted to put it on. It barely fit, and she was a little upset, so I talked to her about how big she has gotten since she got the hat in the hospital. She was a little dubious about being born in a hospital. I told her about being taken out of mommy's belly, and daddy went with her to the nursery, and we have a picture of her holding daddy's finger. Then they brought her to me so that I could give her milk. Then we took her home with us. And we'll do the same thing with Emmie. I repeated the story through bringing Emmie home. And then mama will give Emmie milk. And daddy will hold Emmie and give her baths. And Lucy can help give her a bath and hold her. That got Lucy excited. She ran to tell Matt about how she will help baby Emmie.
She's really into playing with her magnetic doll house. She does a good job of putting things where they belong. I've tried putting things in silly places, but she finds it disturbing rather than funny. "Silly" is one of her favorite words right now. Sometimes it sounds more like "sheeyee." She doesn't use it in a dismissive way, but I also try not to use it dismissively. Mama, daddy, dogs, or even Lucy herself can be declared silly. If I tickle her, she says, "Silly mama." When a dog on TV had a lampshade on his head, she said, "Silly dog." And when she blows on my arm to make tooting sounds, she says, "Silly me."
Lucy now knows some of the lower case letters. I heard her spelling "penguin" and looked over to see her pointing to the letters of a book's title. The book title is not in all caps. I haven't tried to teach her. My best guess is that she has learned from watching Super Why on public television. I told Matt, and he said she may be reading by the time she turns 3 if she learns letter sounds, which they also do on Super Why. So after her bath, I told her that one of the toys on the side of the tub didn't start with the letter B: alligator, bird, boat, and brush. And she immediately said "alligator." She might have been guessing. But if not, she not only knows what the letter B sounds like but can also combine that with "which one doesn't belong." I look forward to seeing what she learns next.
When Shaun the Sheep pauses, Lucy says "Internet slow." She's right. She's just repeating what I've said, and I don't think she has any idea what the Internet is, but it's pretty cute.
One day we were drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, and I got sad and started crying. (It happens sometimes, and it happens more often as we get closer to April.) Lucy looked worried, dropped her chalk, and came over to give me a hug. She really is sweet and thoughtful.
She's not perfect, and we hit quite a few bumps along the way, but she's pretty terrific.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Big Girl Lucy
Today was Lucy's 30-month well-baby checkup. First, the stats. She is 37.5 inches tall (86th percentile) and weighs 29 pounds (53rd percentile). She is very healthy. The doctor found nothing wrong with her.
Although she is physically big, I was most impressed by how mature she was during the exam. She had a few troubling moments, but she did better than I expected. She ran to follow the nurse into the exam room and suddenly thought better of it and went into tornado drill pose, which she does when she's socially overwhelmed. I told her that the nurse has a measuring tape, and that got her up and into the exam room quickly. The girl does love to measure! She played with the measuring tape while I answered many, many questions. She eventually tired of the measuring tape (it was that many questions) and handed it back to the nurse. The nurse then gave her her stethoscope. Lucy put the ends in her ears and proceeded to listen for the exam table's heartbeat. About the time the questions were done, Lucy was done with the stethoscope. Then the nurse said it was time to take Lucy's clothes off. Lucy disagreed. She said, "No off. Me wear shirt." Generally, when out of the house, she's right to keep her clothes on. I asked the nurse to leave just in case Lucy didn't want to strip in front of a stranger. (Being pregnant, I no longer have any shame.) Eventually, I convinced her that it was OK. She was going to be measured once her clothes were off. That seemed to help. She was still apprehensive until after her height and weight were checked. Then the nurse gave her a sucker and a sticker. And then the nurse poked her finger and took blood for a lead test, which came back normal. Lucy was upset for just a few seconds. She was still eating her sucker and was kind of proud of the bandaid she got to wear on her finger. The nurse left us to wait for the doctor. I read Lucy some books. Then she wanted to get down and explore the exam room. She scooted around on the doctor's squeaky chair. She pointed out the different things in the room that are used for washing hands and how to use them: soap, sink, water, (paper) towel. We had started another book when Dr. Mike came in. She seemed happy to see him, then hid for a few moments, and then was fine when I offered to hold her. She submitted to most of the exam without protest. She didn't want to open her mouth, and Dr. Mike never saw inside her mouth for more than a second. She didn't like having her belly rubbed, and she found it weird when he took off her diaper and flexed her hips. That seemed like a reasonable response to me. :) He pointed out that she walks on her toes some, which isn't necessarily problematic. There's a condition that makes it uncomfortable for some kids to walk flat-footed. Lucy walked flat-footed in front of him, too. I pointed out that she might have been tiptoeing on a cold floor. She also tiptoes on unusual textures. The condition he described also comes with constipation. Not a problem. Lucy had already pooped twice today before a 1:00 appointment. She did very well.
We go back for another checkup when she turns 3.
Although she is physically big, I was most impressed by how mature she was during the exam. She had a few troubling moments, but she did better than I expected. She ran to follow the nurse into the exam room and suddenly thought better of it and went into tornado drill pose, which she does when she's socially overwhelmed. I told her that the nurse has a measuring tape, and that got her up and into the exam room quickly. The girl does love to measure! She played with the measuring tape while I answered many, many questions. She eventually tired of the measuring tape (it was that many questions) and handed it back to the nurse. The nurse then gave her her stethoscope. Lucy put the ends in her ears and proceeded to listen for the exam table's heartbeat. About the time the questions were done, Lucy was done with the stethoscope. Then the nurse said it was time to take Lucy's clothes off. Lucy disagreed. She said, "No off. Me wear shirt." Generally, when out of the house, she's right to keep her clothes on. I asked the nurse to leave just in case Lucy didn't want to strip in front of a stranger. (Being pregnant, I no longer have any shame.) Eventually, I convinced her that it was OK. She was going to be measured once her clothes were off. That seemed to help. She was still apprehensive until after her height and weight were checked. Then the nurse gave her a sucker and a sticker. And then the nurse poked her finger and took blood for a lead test, which came back normal. Lucy was upset for just a few seconds. She was still eating her sucker and was kind of proud of the bandaid she got to wear on her finger. The nurse left us to wait for the doctor. I read Lucy some books. Then she wanted to get down and explore the exam room. She scooted around on the doctor's squeaky chair. She pointed out the different things in the room that are used for washing hands and how to use them: soap, sink, water, (paper) towel. We had started another book when Dr. Mike came in. She seemed happy to see him, then hid for a few moments, and then was fine when I offered to hold her. She submitted to most of the exam without protest. She didn't want to open her mouth, and Dr. Mike never saw inside her mouth for more than a second. She didn't like having her belly rubbed, and she found it weird when he took off her diaper and flexed her hips. That seemed like a reasonable response to me. :) He pointed out that she walks on her toes some, which isn't necessarily problematic. There's a condition that makes it uncomfortable for some kids to walk flat-footed. Lucy walked flat-footed in front of him, too. I pointed out that she might have been tiptoeing on a cold floor. She also tiptoes on unusual textures. The condition he described also comes with constipation. Not a problem. Lucy had already pooped twice today before a 1:00 appointment. She did very well.
We go back for another checkup when she turns 3.
Monday, March 21, 2016
30 months & 29 weeks
Lucy turned 2 1/2 on Wednesday. After dropping Matt at the airport, we went shopping, She needed new shoes for spring and summer, and we found what we needed second-hand. I was particularly excited about the white sandals I got her because I bid on that exact design on Ebay last year and lost and was kind of sad about it. So getting them for $5 this year was a big win. I also got her a few summer dresses. Lucy is a pretty patient shopper. We take turns doing things we want/need to do. I get to look at the size 8 shoes, and then she gets to play in the toy section. Then I get to look at the 2T and 3T pajamas, and then she gets to play in the playhouse that's for sale. We keep alternating. I do have to strap her down in a cart or stroller during my turns, but she doesn't fuss much because we've established that she will get a turn to get out and run and play. She made friends at various stops and got to play with other kids. One 4-year-old little boy played in the playhouse with her for about half an hour. They were having the best time pretending to be parents to her baby doll. She called the boy "Baby Daddy," and they cooked for the baby, bathed the baby, put the baby to bed, rocked the baby in a cradle, and then put their hands on the blade of a noisy toy table saw. You know, normal new parent stuff. :)
Matt goes to this conference in Florida every year, so this is the third time in Lucy's life that we've dropped him at the airport and then picked him up a few days later. But this year she understands things better. She refused to hug him at the airport because she doesn't like goodbyes. And she cried a little when he walked away, which made me cry a little, too. She talked about him all day while we were shopping and called for him when we got into the car. But when we came home without him to a dark and empty house, it really hit her. She started crying and saying "Me daddy gone." So I cried too while I tried to comfort her. She got upset again the next day when she opened the chest where he keeps his shoes and couldn't find his shoes that she likes to try on. Not only was daddy gone, but he took his (her/their) shoes with him. She thinks he's still at the airport since that's where we left him and where we'll pick him up again. We've skyped with him every day. She hasn't cried or gotten upset since the shoe incident. Yesterday, however, she kept talking about daddy on a plane and crashing, which I found disturbing. I kept telling her that wasn't going to happen. Eventually, she said "Daddy, oink-oink plane crash." That is a reference to Shaun the Sheep. The pigs fly a plane and crash it. That's her knowledge of planes for the most part. She probably also thinks that inflatable wading pools and hot air balloons ("hot balloons") always pop because that's what they did on Shaun the Sheep. The pigs were unharmed, so she doesn't expect Daddy to be hurt by a crashing plane. It's just that crashing is what planes do in her mind.
Lucy is so adept at narrating Shaun the Sheep episodes now that we now know that she has them all memorized. She will tell us what is going to happen before it happens. She's seen A LOT of Shaun the Sheep, but she still requests it every day. Recently, she's been into the new episode with sheep and llamas, which Amazon produced last fall. She doesn't seem to understand that llamas are not sheep. She calls them "mama sheep." They are woolly, and mama sounds like llama. It's fun to find out how she sees the world now that she can say more. It helps to have watched Shaun the Sheep and Curious George with her to make sense of what she says sometimes. And sometimes we're still baffled by what she says.
One of our favorite recent Lucy stories which I haven't shared yet was when she yelled "Daddy beat me" during church a few weeks ago. I got some funny looks from the people around me, and I just shrugged. She had run toward the piano during service (apparently her desire to minister through music became too much for her to contain), and Matt went after her and picked her up before she got to the piano. She has said something like "mama beat me" to me before, and I was perplexed. I've never struck her except to kill mosquitoes that land on her. I've never threatened to beat her. She doesn't watch much television except for public television (Sesame Street, Curious George, etc.) and Shaun the Sheep, which has no dialogue. I couldn't think of anywhere that she would have heard the word "beat" in a non-culinary context. A few days later, Matt figured out what she was saying when she came to him, put her arms up, and said "Daddy, beat me." She was asking to be picked up. Her pronunciation is sometimes a bit off. P's become B's. Vowels aren't right. K's become T's. When you make all of those changes, "pick" becomes "beat." We repeat what she says back to her so that she can hear what it should sound like, but so far the only change she's made is to add "up" to the end. So now she says "Daddy beat me up." So much better.
Lucy can be difficult at times--she still pinches me, she sometimes refuses to cooperate or comply, she throws things for the fun of it--but she is often delightful. On Thursday she decided she needed to feed her doll a bottle while we drove to Wal-Mart, and she fed the baby the whole way there, which was actually a long time for her to focus on one activity. As I was pulling into a parking place, I heard her whispering "So firsty. So firsty," as she gave her baby more milk. I had never heard her say thirsty before. In fact, we know that she doesn't understand the word hungry, but apparently she understands thirsty.
After Wal-Mart we went to lunch at Burger King, the only restaurant in town with a playground. For $4.76 we can get a cheeseburger kids meal, a $1 chicken sandwich, a large Coke Icee to share, a place for Lucy to play for an hour or so and usually some new friends to play with, and a fairly calm meal for me. It is $4.76 well-spent! There was another 4-year-old boy at Burger King that played with her. They called each other "boy" and "girl" and wanted to help each other climb and slide. They were very sweet. Lucy eventually had a melt-down because she's too short to climb in the structure. The last time we were there, she figured out that she could get into the play structure by climbing up the slide, but she can't really go anywhere when she gets inside. Last time that was enough to make her feel like she was participating. This time it was not enough. "Boy" kept climbing to places she couldn't reach. He didn't understand that she wasn't tall enough to follow him. I took her home when it became clear she wasn't having fun anymore because she was obsessed by her inability to climb and follow "boy." She pitched a fit because she didn't want to leave, even though she wasn't having fun anymore. Fortunately, the promise of Curious George fruit snacks made leaving better enough to get her into the car.
We have a new neighbor who will only be living next door for another two weeks, and she has a friendly but large dog named Teagan. Lucy loves Teagan from a distance. She gets sticks for the dog. She found out that the dog likes to eat grass, so she picks grass for the dog and throws it at her. But she doesn't touch Teagan because the dog is as tall as she is and likes to lick faces, which Lucy finds understandably freaky. Today Teagan was blissed out while having her belly rubbed by her owner, so Lucy became brave enough to actually touch the dog. She cautiously touched a paw and eventually the tail. She got scared when the dog started wagging her tail. But then Lucy started imitating the dog wagging her tail and went back to touch the dog's paw and tail again. She's going to be crushed when dog-dog leaves in a couple of weeks.
Lucy has been very into books recently. We read several times a day. Everywhere Babies, The Gruffalo, and the Gossie & Gertie books by Olivier Dunrea are her current favorites. She requests the Gossie & Gertie books by name and can summarize the plots and answer questions about the text and pictures. When she requests Everywhere Babies, it kind of sounds like she's saying "Whoa, baby!" The book rhymes, and she is able to quote parts of it.
This afternoon she started talking about the episode of Peg + Cat (another PBS show) that she saw this morning. They got swallowed by a whale. So I told her the story of Jonah. She loved the part where the whale/fish spits Jonah up. She laughed and laughed. She is understanding stories enough now that I can start telling her Bible stories and expect her to get them on some level. We've tried reading to her from children's Bibles, but those stories are so short and dry and lacking in talking geese that she was never interested. Telling her the stories when she shows interest in something related to them and playing up the fun bits like puking whales seems like it will be much more successful.
Lucy has learned to climb over the baby gate that is supposed to keep her out of the study. I found her in there one day when I couldn't find her anywhere else. We keep her out to protect about 7 bookshelves of books and to protect her from falling shelves should she decide to climb them as she does her kitchen set. Today I found her sitting on top of her kitchen with some of Matt's India stuff, including two daggers, fortunately still in their decorative sheaths. So we got an extra-tall baby gate that doesn't have horizontal bars that would allow her to climb. We've been on a Lucy-proofing kick recently because her skills have improved. Every door now that didn't already have a deadbolt now has a knob cover or a gate hook (like you put on screen doors) to keep her out.
Also on Wednesday, Emmie turned 29 weeks old. There's less to tell about Emmie. She is more active, but I haven't noticed many patterns. She gets active when Lucy is really upset and screaming and crying. I still can't tell whether she's trying to comfort or join the melee. She sometimes moves when I eat. It's possible that she's a fan of peanut butter like Neil was. I'll just have to keep paying attention to see what she responds to.
I got a few things for Emmie while I was shopping. I had finished inventorying the 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothes. We didn't have black pants in either size, so I found those second-hand. Black pants are a wardrobe staple that should allow her to wear most shirts. I'd kind of like to have denim-looking leggings in all sizes, too, but most of the second-hand stores we visit don't carry leggings. We didn't have 6-9 month overalls, so I got those, too. I got her a 6-9 month swimsuit (that matches one that Lucy is currently wearing) and a converter gown in the same size because they are hard to find in that size. I also picked out a outfit for hospital pictures/coming home.
My other purchases were additional panels for the baby cage in our living room and a nursing pillow, the one that was on the registry, because it was half of Amazon's price and I wanted to make sure I had it by the time Emmie arrives. I've adjusted the registry. I'm not planning to buy much more. (Most of my shopping was actually for Lucy.) We really are in good shape stuff-wise, especially for the first few months.
I did find in my inventorying that Emmie will need 6-9 month and 9-12 month clothes for cool/cold weather. Lucy had mostly short sleeve rompers, onesies, and shorts because that was March-September for her. For Emmie it will be November-May, very different weather. She'll need some sleepers, pants, and long sleeve shirts/onesies. She will probably also need 1-2 swimming suits in every size over 12 months. We've been going to the pool so often that Lucy's swimsuits are stretched out (elasticity destroyed by so much chlorine) by the time she outgrows them. Almost all of Lucy's swimsuits are second-hand. I try to make sure that they seem clean and without pilling. I prefer one-piece suits that are easy to put on and take off and that are functional. Straps that don't cross are helpful for getting in and out easily. Big tutus are not good for swimming. Little ruffles or peplums are OK when they aren't swimming well yet. By Lucy's age/skill level, extra fabric is a drag (literally). Hopefully, Emmie likes the water as much as Lucy and I do. We'd be pretty bummed if baby sister didn't let us go swimming every day.
Matt goes to this conference in Florida every year, so this is the third time in Lucy's life that we've dropped him at the airport and then picked him up a few days later. But this year she understands things better. She refused to hug him at the airport because she doesn't like goodbyes. And she cried a little when he walked away, which made me cry a little, too. She talked about him all day while we were shopping and called for him when we got into the car. But when we came home without him to a dark and empty house, it really hit her. She started crying and saying "Me daddy gone." So I cried too while I tried to comfort her. She got upset again the next day when she opened the chest where he keeps his shoes and couldn't find his shoes that she likes to try on. Not only was daddy gone, but he took his (her/their) shoes with him. She thinks he's still at the airport since that's where we left him and where we'll pick him up again. We've skyped with him every day. She hasn't cried or gotten upset since the shoe incident. Yesterday, however, she kept talking about daddy on a plane and crashing, which I found disturbing. I kept telling her that wasn't going to happen. Eventually, she said "Daddy, oink-oink plane crash." That is a reference to Shaun the Sheep. The pigs fly a plane and crash it. That's her knowledge of planes for the most part. She probably also thinks that inflatable wading pools and hot air balloons ("hot balloons") always pop because that's what they did on Shaun the Sheep. The pigs were unharmed, so she doesn't expect Daddy to be hurt by a crashing plane. It's just that crashing is what planes do in her mind.
Lucy is so adept at narrating Shaun the Sheep episodes now that we now know that she has them all memorized. She will tell us what is going to happen before it happens. She's seen A LOT of Shaun the Sheep, but she still requests it every day. Recently, she's been into the new episode with sheep and llamas, which Amazon produced last fall. She doesn't seem to understand that llamas are not sheep. She calls them "mama sheep." They are woolly, and mama sounds like llama. It's fun to find out how she sees the world now that she can say more. It helps to have watched Shaun the Sheep and Curious George with her to make sense of what she says sometimes. And sometimes we're still baffled by what she says.
One of our favorite recent Lucy stories which I haven't shared yet was when she yelled "Daddy beat me" during church a few weeks ago. I got some funny looks from the people around me, and I just shrugged. She had run toward the piano during service (apparently her desire to minister through music became too much for her to contain), and Matt went after her and picked her up before she got to the piano. She has said something like "mama beat me" to me before, and I was perplexed. I've never struck her except to kill mosquitoes that land on her. I've never threatened to beat her. She doesn't watch much television except for public television (Sesame Street, Curious George, etc.) and Shaun the Sheep, which has no dialogue. I couldn't think of anywhere that she would have heard the word "beat" in a non-culinary context. A few days later, Matt figured out what she was saying when she came to him, put her arms up, and said "Daddy, beat me." She was asking to be picked up. Her pronunciation is sometimes a bit off. P's become B's. Vowels aren't right. K's become T's. When you make all of those changes, "pick" becomes "beat." We repeat what she says back to her so that she can hear what it should sound like, but so far the only change she's made is to add "up" to the end. So now she says "Daddy beat me up." So much better.
Lucy can be difficult at times--she still pinches me, she sometimes refuses to cooperate or comply, she throws things for the fun of it--but she is often delightful. On Thursday she decided she needed to feed her doll a bottle while we drove to Wal-Mart, and she fed the baby the whole way there, which was actually a long time for her to focus on one activity. As I was pulling into a parking place, I heard her whispering "So firsty. So firsty," as she gave her baby more milk. I had never heard her say thirsty before. In fact, we know that she doesn't understand the word hungry, but apparently she understands thirsty.
After Wal-Mart we went to lunch at Burger King, the only restaurant in town with a playground. For $4.76 we can get a cheeseburger kids meal, a $1 chicken sandwich, a large Coke Icee to share, a place for Lucy to play for an hour or so and usually some new friends to play with, and a fairly calm meal for me. It is $4.76 well-spent! There was another 4-year-old boy at Burger King that played with her. They called each other "boy" and "girl" and wanted to help each other climb and slide. They were very sweet. Lucy eventually had a melt-down because she's too short to climb in the structure. The last time we were there, she figured out that she could get into the play structure by climbing up the slide, but she can't really go anywhere when she gets inside. Last time that was enough to make her feel like she was participating. This time it was not enough. "Boy" kept climbing to places she couldn't reach. He didn't understand that she wasn't tall enough to follow him. I took her home when it became clear she wasn't having fun anymore because she was obsessed by her inability to climb and follow "boy." She pitched a fit because she didn't want to leave, even though she wasn't having fun anymore. Fortunately, the promise of Curious George fruit snacks made leaving better enough to get her into the car.
We have a new neighbor who will only be living next door for another two weeks, and she has a friendly but large dog named Teagan. Lucy loves Teagan from a distance. She gets sticks for the dog. She found out that the dog likes to eat grass, so she picks grass for the dog and throws it at her. But she doesn't touch Teagan because the dog is as tall as she is and likes to lick faces, which Lucy finds understandably freaky. Today Teagan was blissed out while having her belly rubbed by her owner, so Lucy became brave enough to actually touch the dog. She cautiously touched a paw and eventually the tail. She got scared when the dog started wagging her tail. But then Lucy started imitating the dog wagging her tail and went back to touch the dog's paw and tail again. She's going to be crushed when dog-dog leaves in a couple of weeks.
Lucy has been very into books recently. We read several times a day. Everywhere Babies, The Gruffalo, and the Gossie & Gertie books by Olivier Dunrea are her current favorites. She requests the Gossie & Gertie books by name and can summarize the plots and answer questions about the text and pictures. When she requests Everywhere Babies, it kind of sounds like she's saying "Whoa, baby!" The book rhymes, and she is able to quote parts of it.
This afternoon she started talking about the episode of Peg + Cat (another PBS show) that she saw this morning. They got swallowed by a whale. So I told her the story of Jonah. She loved the part where the whale/fish spits Jonah up. She laughed and laughed. She is understanding stories enough now that I can start telling her Bible stories and expect her to get them on some level. We've tried reading to her from children's Bibles, but those stories are so short and dry and lacking in talking geese that she was never interested. Telling her the stories when she shows interest in something related to them and playing up the fun bits like puking whales seems like it will be much more successful.
Lucy has learned to climb over the baby gate that is supposed to keep her out of the study. I found her in there one day when I couldn't find her anywhere else. We keep her out to protect about 7 bookshelves of books and to protect her from falling shelves should she decide to climb them as she does her kitchen set. Today I found her sitting on top of her kitchen with some of Matt's India stuff, including two daggers, fortunately still in their decorative sheaths. So we got an extra-tall baby gate that doesn't have horizontal bars that would allow her to climb. We've been on a Lucy-proofing kick recently because her skills have improved. Every door now that didn't already have a deadbolt now has a knob cover or a gate hook (like you put on screen doors) to keep her out.
Also on Wednesday, Emmie turned 29 weeks old. There's less to tell about Emmie. She is more active, but I haven't noticed many patterns. She gets active when Lucy is really upset and screaming and crying. I still can't tell whether she's trying to comfort or join the melee. She sometimes moves when I eat. It's possible that she's a fan of peanut butter like Neil was. I'll just have to keep paying attention to see what she responds to.
I got a few things for Emmie while I was shopping. I had finished inventorying the 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothes. We didn't have black pants in either size, so I found those second-hand. Black pants are a wardrobe staple that should allow her to wear most shirts. I'd kind of like to have denim-looking leggings in all sizes, too, but most of the second-hand stores we visit don't carry leggings. We didn't have 6-9 month overalls, so I got those, too. I got her a 6-9 month swimsuit (that matches one that Lucy is currently wearing) and a converter gown in the same size because they are hard to find in that size. I also picked out a outfit for hospital pictures/coming home.
My other purchases were additional panels for the baby cage in our living room and a nursing pillow, the one that was on the registry, because it was half of Amazon's price and I wanted to make sure I had it by the time Emmie arrives. I've adjusted the registry. I'm not planning to buy much more. (Most of my shopping was actually for Lucy.) We really are in good shape stuff-wise, especially for the first few months.
I did find in my inventorying that Emmie will need 6-9 month and 9-12 month clothes for cool/cold weather. Lucy had mostly short sleeve rompers, onesies, and shorts because that was March-September for her. For Emmie it will be November-May, very different weather. She'll need some sleepers, pants, and long sleeve shirts/onesies. She will probably also need 1-2 swimming suits in every size over 12 months. We've been going to the pool so often that Lucy's swimsuits are stretched out (elasticity destroyed by so much chlorine) by the time she outgrows them. Almost all of Lucy's swimsuits are second-hand. I try to make sure that they seem clean and without pilling. I prefer one-piece suits that are easy to put on and take off and that are functional. Straps that don't cross are helpful for getting in and out easily. Big tutus are not good for swimming. Little ruffles or peplums are OK when they aren't swimming well yet. By Lucy's age/skill level, extra fabric is a drag (literally). Hopefully, Emmie likes the water as much as Lucy and I do. We'd be pretty bummed if baby sister didn't let us go swimming every day.
A Long Day, But Good News
Today was our growth ultrasound. Emmie is estimated at 2 lbs., 14 oz. All of her measurements except her head were in the 30's percentile-wise. Her head was in the 5th percentile, but the ultrasound lady didn't think that was accurate. She said that it can be hard to get the head measurements when the baby is head down, which Emmie is. We don't know how much, but we do know that Emmie has hair. Her diaphragm was moving, so she's already practicing her breathing. We got a good profile shot...well, good for an ultrasound. That's what we know about Emmie.
My weight was up a pound or so. My blood pressure was excellent. That's what we know about me. The doctor is satisfied with Emmie's growth. He did say that we make him nervous, and he doesn't like to be nervous. But we're not giving him any reason to be nervous this time.
After the ultrasound and appointment, we went to the hospital for the bloodwork and Rho-gam shot. I had one at 23 weeks, but they only last for 15 weeks, so just in case I go to/past 38 weeks, I needed another one to get me to the end of the pregnancy. We were able to leave the hospital for some supper after the blood draw. Then we went back for the injection. It took a while to get the injection, and then we had to wait 20 minutes to make sure I didn't have a reaction. We didn't get back into Campbellsville until 7:45.
Because Matt wanted to be there for the ultrasound, we left Lucy at Shawn and Susie's house. She was there for 6 hours. So it was a long day for them, too. Lucy didn't mind it. She likes going to their house to play with "her" cat.
Tomorrow is Lucy's check-up. I'll post something about that tomorrow. I wrote a post last week, but it didn't upload, so I'll try it again tonight.
My weight was up a pound or so. My blood pressure was excellent. That's what we know about me. The doctor is satisfied with Emmie's growth. He did say that we make him nervous, and he doesn't like to be nervous. But we're not giving him any reason to be nervous this time.
After the ultrasound and appointment, we went to the hospital for the bloodwork and Rho-gam shot. I had one at 23 weeks, but they only last for 15 weeks, so just in case I go to/past 38 weeks, I needed another one to get me to the end of the pregnancy. We were able to leave the hospital for some supper after the blood draw. Then we went back for the injection. It took a while to get the injection, and then we had to wait 20 minutes to make sure I didn't have a reaction. We didn't get back into Campbellsville until 7:45.
Because Matt wanted to be there for the ultrasound, we left Lucy at Shawn and Susie's house. She was there for 6 hours. So it was a long day for them, too. Lucy didn't mind it. She likes going to their house to play with "her" cat.
Tomorrow is Lucy's check-up. I'll post something about that tomorrow. I wrote a post last week, but it didn't upload, so I'll try it again tonight.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Spring Break Sniffles
Earlier this week Lucy had a snotty nose, itchy eyes, and a tendency to melt down every few minutes. The weather had turned nice, and people with spring allergies were suffering, so I thought she might have allergies. The other option was that she had a cold. I wasn't sure which to root for. I didn't want her to have a cold, but allergy attacks keep coming back. As someone who got allergy shots as a child, I really didn't want her to have allergies. Yesterday Matt and I discovered it wasn't allergies. We were both getting sick. So far we're in pretty good shape. The symptoms aren't too bad: runny noses, Lucy's occasional cough, a slightly stuffy head-achy feeling that improves with Tylenol/ibuprofen/"treat." Lucy felt well enough to play on the slides at Burger King today. And I discovered that our Burger King still has Coke Icees, which will come in handy if I get a sore throat. If we can rest and recover for a few days, I think we'll be fine. Emmie is pretty lucky that she isn't catching things from her sister yet. She's been very perky today.
This week is spring break, so we have the time to get better, but it's also the week of the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA), which Matt goes to every year. I've gone, too, but not since Lucy was born. We take Matt to the airport on Wednesday, and then it's just Lucy and me (and Emmie). And that's why we've got to get better soon. I have a hard enough time keeping up with Lucy when I'm healthy and rested. Fortunately, Susie has offered to let us sleep over a night or two at her house. We needed to start doing that anyway so that Lucy can get used to sleeping there before she has to sleep there when I'm in the hospital with Emmie. I plan to take Lucy to Bounce as often as possible because the swimming pool is closed for spring break and Lucy needs to exercise. I'm also planning to put the gate up on the back porch to give Lucy somewhere safe to play. I may also join the ends of the fence in the living room to form a baby cage in case I need to go to the bathroom and don't want to worry about what Lucy will destroy while I'm out of the room. We'll do what we have to to make it to Sunday when we pick Matt up again. I'm sure we'll both be glad to see him.
After spring break we have our next ultrasound, so we'll get to see Emmie in action before getting another Rho-gam shot. And then the next day is Lucy's 30-month well baby visit to the pediatrician. I don't think there are shots at that one. Other than the current sniffle and some eczema on her back, Lucy is in good health. Over those two days we'll find out how big both of our girls have gotten. Then it's Easter, and then it's April, which is right before May. Time is flying!
This week is spring break, so we have the time to get better, but it's also the week of the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA), which Matt goes to every year. I've gone, too, but not since Lucy was born. We take Matt to the airport on Wednesday, and then it's just Lucy and me (and Emmie). And that's why we've got to get better soon. I have a hard enough time keeping up with Lucy when I'm healthy and rested. Fortunately, Susie has offered to let us sleep over a night or two at her house. We needed to start doing that anyway so that Lucy can get used to sleeping there before she has to sleep there when I'm in the hospital with Emmie. I plan to take Lucy to Bounce as often as possible because the swimming pool is closed for spring break and Lucy needs to exercise. I'm also planning to put the gate up on the back porch to give Lucy somewhere safe to play. I may also join the ends of the fence in the living room to form a baby cage in case I need to go to the bathroom and don't want to worry about what Lucy will destroy while I'm out of the room. We'll do what we have to to make it to Sunday when we pick Matt up again. I'm sure we'll both be glad to see him.
After spring break we have our next ultrasound, so we'll get to see Emmie in action before getting another Rho-gam shot. And then the next day is Lucy's 30-month well baby visit to the pediatrician. I don't think there are shots at that one. Other than the current sniffle and some eczema on her back, Lucy is in good health. Over those two days we'll find out how big both of our girls have gotten. Then it's Easter, and then it's April, which is right before May. Time is flying!
Friday, March 11, 2016
Emmie's Wardrobe & Pre-Baby Preparations
I think I've found and inventoried all of the preemie, newborn, and 0-3 month clothes we have. We're in better shape than I remembered. I do remember that I spent a lot of time on Ebay while nursing Lucy during those first few weeks ordering what we needed. And I started buying second-hand converter gowns in all sizes as soon as I discovered them. We may have to do laundry frequently, but we've got enough to keep her clothed as a newborn. We have 9 sleepers (footed PJs), 30 tops (both long sleeve and short sleeve), 9 pairs of pants (some footed), 5 converter gowns, and 4 pairs of socks. We have plenty of hats and bibs as well as a few pairs of mittens to prevent scratching. I added an extra pack of socks to the registry. The socks are necessary to keep her feet covered when she wears gowns and converter gowns, which I expect will be most of the time at home.
We're probably in good shape with 0-3 month clothes, too. The biggest thing I'm not sure of is how we'll dress a 2-3 month old in late summer. Will we keep her covered because of air conditioning, or will we put her in short sleeves and shorts because it's so hot outside? I don't anticipate keeping her outside for long periods of time. Fortunately, we have four cardigans or jackets, so layering will be possible. We've got 5 gowns and 7 converter gowns, so at-home clothes are covered. The other thing I'm not sure about is how well her shirts and pants match. I know some of them came as sets. In fact, some of the 0-3 clothes are brand new with tags because we received them as shower gifts for Lucy but never put her in them. (We received those 0-3 month clothes when she was 2 months old. We already had enough clothes. And the clothes we received were very pink. But it does mean that Emmie owns clothes that Lucy never pooped on. I'm aware of the little sister hand-me-down issue. However, most of Lucy's clothes are second-hand, too.) We do have overalls which makes matching less important. I'll look at the shirts and pants and see how they work together. If we need something else, I'll post about it and/or put something on the registry.
I still plan to inventory the clothes at least up to 12 months. It's not urgent to shop for future seasons, but I want to make sure the inventory gets done now so I don't have to make time to do it while taking care of two little girls. It can also be helpful to know what's needed so that things can be purchased on clearance at the end of the season. I anticipate needing some 3-6 month clothes because several of Lucy's sleepers are fleece, which will be too warm for Emmie in August-October.
I also plan to look at our baby gear. I got out the things we'll need in the first month or so: bottles, bottle warmer, bath chair, diaper bag. All were fine. (No mice this time!) I also know that the swing still works and still has batteries because Lucy turned it on (and tried to climb into it). I picked up the double stroller on Tuesday and only had to pay $20 for it because I picked it up at the lady's house. The cloth parts need to be washed. They were clean in the picture the lady posted, but her kids played on it during the days that we tried to figure out how to get the stroller to me. At least some of the pieces can be removed and possibly machine-washed. After I clean the nursery a little more, we can move the cradle in, and I can tighten up the screws on the changing table. One of the bouncy seats is already downstairs. A car seat is on the way (Thanks, Mom!). I hope to get to Lowes this weekend to check on shelving supplies. I think we're in good shape with gear. We just need Emmie to arrive safely.
I've done very little shopping for Emmie. It's a little weird to have so little to do to prepare, although when I list everything that needs to be cleaned, it seems like a lot. And with Lucy needing my time, I feel like Emmie has received less attention than Lucy or Neil did. I feel a little disconnected. Most of my Emmie preparation is actually preparing Lucy for Emmie's arrival or cooking and freezing meals. But as Emmie gets bigger and more active and as we see her at weekly ultrasounds in April, I'll get to know her better. And as the nursery looks more and more ready, I'll feel ready, too.
We're probably in good shape with 0-3 month clothes, too. The biggest thing I'm not sure of is how we'll dress a 2-3 month old in late summer. Will we keep her covered because of air conditioning, or will we put her in short sleeves and shorts because it's so hot outside? I don't anticipate keeping her outside for long periods of time. Fortunately, we have four cardigans or jackets, so layering will be possible. We've got 5 gowns and 7 converter gowns, so at-home clothes are covered. The other thing I'm not sure about is how well her shirts and pants match. I know some of them came as sets. In fact, some of the 0-3 clothes are brand new with tags because we received them as shower gifts for Lucy but never put her in them. (We received those 0-3 month clothes when she was 2 months old. We already had enough clothes. And the clothes we received were very pink. But it does mean that Emmie owns clothes that Lucy never pooped on. I'm aware of the little sister hand-me-down issue. However, most of Lucy's clothes are second-hand, too.) We do have overalls which makes matching less important. I'll look at the shirts and pants and see how they work together. If we need something else, I'll post about it and/or put something on the registry.
I still plan to inventory the clothes at least up to 12 months. It's not urgent to shop for future seasons, but I want to make sure the inventory gets done now so I don't have to make time to do it while taking care of two little girls. It can also be helpful to know what's needed so that things can be purchased on clearance at the end of the season. I anticipate needing some 3-6 month clothes because several of Lucy's sleepers are fleece, which will be too warm for Emmie in August-October.
I also plan to look at our baby gear. I got out the things we'll need in the first month or so: bottles, bottle warmer, bath chair, diaper bag. All were fine. (No mice this time!) I also know that the swing still works and still has batteries because Lucy turned it on (and tried to climb into it). I picked up the double stroller on Tuesday and only had to pay $20 for it because I picked it up at the lady's house. The cloth parts need to be washed. They were clean in the picture the lady posted, but her kids played on it during the days that we tried to figure out how to get the stroller to me. At least some of the pieces can be removed and possibly machine-washed. After I clean the nursery a little more, we can move the cradle in, and I can tighten up the screws on the changing table. One of the bouncy seats is already downstairs. A car seat is on the way (Thanks, Mom!). I hope to get to Lowes this weekend to check on shelving supplies. I think we're in good shape with gear. We just need Emmie to arrive safely.
I've done very little shopping for Emmie. It's a little weird to have so little to do to prepare, although when I list everything that needs to be cleaned, it seems like a lot. And with Lucy needing my time, I feel like Emmie has received less attention than Lucy or Neil did. I feel a little disconnected. Most of my Emmie preparation is actually preparing Lucy for Emmie's arrival or cooking and freezing meals. But as Emmie gets bigger and more active and as we see her at weekly ultrasounds in April, I'll get to know her better. And as the nursery looks more and more ready, I'll feel ready, too.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Third Trimester and All is Well
I had another check-up today. I've gained a little weight, have reasonable blood pressure, and passed the three-hour blood glucose test. Emmie feels like a normal size and had a heart rate of 160. Nobody's concerned about anything right now. Of course, we did see Dr. Ackermann today. Dr. Reynolds would have found something to be concerned about.
Although I passed both blood glucose tests, Dr. Ackermann said he's sure I'm going to be diabetic eventually because I am obese, so he encouraged me to begin eating as if I were already diabetic. I feel like I've been less careful about my diet this pregnancy. I just don't have the energy to think about what I'm eating. I eat to keep from being hungry. I don't buy much junk food. I keep fresh fruit on hand. But I haven't made a special effort. I'll try to do so. I have been getting much more exercise for the last month or so. Lucy and I go to the pool everyday. I don't swim laps, but I keep moving for an hour or more. And with the nice weather this week, I've been doing some light gardening. Eating better will be easier when the fresh garden produce starts coming in.
Our next appointment is in two weeks, at 30 weeks. We have a growth ultrasound scheduled, so Susie is going to keep Lucy. Lucy isn't allowed in the ultrasound room at our doctor's office. I'll also get another Rho-gam shot then. I found out today that Rho-gam shots only last 12 weeks. My last one was at about 23 weeks, so it will only last me until 35 weeks, which is too soon for Emmie to arrive. So I have to get another one to get me to 38 weeks. That will add a couple of hours to a day that already has an ultrasound and a doctor's appointment.
We set the rest of our appointments for the rest of the pregnancy today. At 32 weeks (early April) we'll begin weekly ultrasounds for biophysical profiles (BPPs) that check movement and breathing practice. We'll probably add many ultrasound pictures to the album I started for Emmie.
We've finally reached the third trimester. Normally, that means you're 2/3 of the way through. Because we expect to go only to 38 weeks, we're almost 3/4 done. We may be less than 10 weeks from the end. I'm trying to enjoy being the mother of one for a little while (which is a little difficult on some days with a two year old), but I'm also ready to be done with the stress of pregnancy. Part of me will be holding my breath until Emmie is safely delivered. At least we don't have anything specific to worry about since Emmie and I are both healthy and doing well.
Although I passed both blood glucose tests, Dr. Ackermann said he's sure I'm going to be diabetic eventually because I am obese, so he encouraged me to begin eating as if I were already diabetic. I feel like I've been less careful about my diet this pregnancy. I just don't have the energy to think about what I'm eating. I eat to keep from being hungry. I don't buy much junk food. I keep fresh fruit on hand. But I haven't made a special effort. I'll try to do so. I have been getting much more exercise for the last month or so. Lucy and I go to the pool everyday. I don't swim laps, but I keep moving for an hour or more. And with the nice weather this week, I've been doing some light gardening. Eating better will be easier when the fresh garden produce starts coming in.
Our next appointment is in two weeks, at 30 weeks. We have a growth ultrasound scheduled, so Susie is going to keep Lucy. Lucy isn't allowed in the ultrasound room at our doctor's office. I'll also get another Rho-gam shot then. I found out today that Rho-gam shots only last 12 weeks. My last one was at about 23 weeks, so it will only last me until 35 weeks, which is too soon for Emmie to arrive. So I have to get another one to get me to 38 weeks. That will add a couple of hours to a day that already has an ultrasound and a doctor's appointment.
We set the rest of our appointments for the rest of the pregnancy today. At 32 weeks (early April) we'll begin weekly ultrasounds for biophysical profiles (BPPs) that check movement and breathing practice. We'll probably add many ultrasound pictures to the album I started for Emmie.
We've finally reached the third trimester. Normally, that means you're 2/3 of the way through. Because we expect to go only to 38 weeks, we're almost 3/4 done. We may be less than 10 weeks from the end. I'm trying to enjoy being the mother of one for a little while (which is a little difficult on some days with a two year old), but I'm also ready to be done with the stress of pregnancy. Part of me will be holding my breath until Emmie is safely delivered. At least we don't have anything specific to worry about since Emmie and I are both healthy and doing well.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Amazon Baby Registry for Emmie
Mom asked me last night what we need for Emmie, so I thought I'd share our updated Amazon Baby Registry and give some helpful information about what we need and what's important. This month I plan to bring the baby gear and newborn clothes downstairs to see what we have and need, but I've started a list of what I know we need or would want.
Car Seat (PURCHASED - Thanks, Mom!)
If it's not already expired, the seat Lucy used will expire soon, so we'll need a new one. (The one Lucy used was bought for Neil.) I've got two car seats on the registry. They are both slim, which is important for fitting two car seats (and hopefully me) in the back seat of a car. The Baby Trend one has a more ergonomic handle. Each seat works with a double stroller on the registry.
Double Stroller
We use our strollers all the time. With two kids we'll need a stroller that will transport both of them. It would be helpful if our stroller and car seat were compatible because the car seat can just clip onto the stroller. The stroller that goes with the car seat is on the registry. I've found a used double stroller for $25 that I'm supposed to pick up today. I haven't seen it yet to know how good it is, but at $25, it's worth getting. We have found it helpful to have one stroller inside and one in the car, so we could probably use another one.
Feeding/High Chair
I plan to breastfeed. We have two breast pumps that still worked last time I used them, and I just found out that our insurance will pay for another one. We have bottles and nipples so that Matt can help feed. We plan to have him more involved this time which we're hoping will be possible because I have a better idea of what I'm doing this time. There are two things that I'd like to have to help with breastfeeding. First is a nursing pillow. I have a Boppy and a travel (inflatable) version of My Brest Friend (dumbest name ever!). The My Brest Friend does an excellent job of positioning the baby. The Boppy let her roll and slip. Anything that makes breastfeeding easier is appreciated. I'd like to get a regular, non-inflatable My Brest Friend and an extra cover so that I have a spare when they get dirty. Color and print are not important to me if they make a difference to price. The second thing we need is more bottles for collecting milk. I found that an angled bottle worked better for me with the breast pumps. Perhaps it's my poor posture. These bottles were used a lot and didn't hold up well to all the use, so we could use a few more.
We also need a high chair. With Lucy we used and are still using a space-saver seat that attaches to a regular dining chair. It's worked really well. Lucy is still using hers as a booster, and she's so attached to it that it would be best to get Emmie her own. If another color or print is cheaper, that's fine. We prefer something other than pink.
Clothes
We kept all of Lucy's baby clothes, so we have a lot, but we have a couple of needs. First, we didn't have enough Newborn-sized clothes for Lucy, so we may not have enough for Emmie. We borrowed clothes for Lucy. I don't know how big Emmie will be or how quickly she'll grow, but Lucy needed newborn clothes for at least a month. The 0-3 month clothes were way too big at first. I've bought one outfit that has a long sleeve onesie and footed pants. If we get a couple of footed sleepers and a couple of converter gowns, we'll probably be OK.
Our second issue is that Lucy was a September baby and Emmie is a May baby, so some of Lucy's clothes will not be seasonally appropriate for Emmie. For Lucy, 0-3 months was September to December. For Emmie it will be May-August, very different. I think I have pants, socks, cardigans/jackets, and both long and short sleeve onesies in every size because they are wardrobe basics for all seasons. I bought some 0-3 summer clothes on clearance at a second-hand store, so I'll need to look at what I've got to get a better idea of how much more we'll need. However, I put some 3-6 month clothes on the registry. I think most of Lucy's clothes are wintry, but Emmie will need clothes to transition from late summer to fall. I haven't put much on there because I haven't inventoried yet.
In short, I don't think we'll need a lot, but I'm not sure how much we'll need. I'll let you know when I inventory.
I also put a couple of micro-fleece sleep sacks on the registry. They work both for sleeping and, with a jacket, as a cover-up for going to the pool in cool weather. I've put several sizes on the registry.
We aren't necessarily picky about clothes, but we have some preferences about dressing our daughters. In case you haven't encountered our clothing philosophy already, here are some thoughts:
Toys
We don't really need a lot of toys. In addition to Lucy's old toys, Emmie will have Lucy to play with. Some of the toys are on the list because putting $50 of Fisher-Price toys on my registry entered me in a sweepstakes that would give me everything on my registry. Anything we're really interested in has been marked as having "medium" interest. I tried to focus on things similar to what Lucy really liked or that Lucy and Emmie could play with together.
Books
I put Dr. Seuss books that we don't own on the list. There are a couple of books on the list that we own but that aren't likely to be readable for long.
Diapering
We need some newborn diapers (not sure how many). If we don't receive any by mid-April, I'll probably just buy them myself when I find a good sale. We have enough size 1 diapers. We need size 2 diapers. We've found that Pampers hold a lot of urine. If Emmie is like Lucy and doesn't mind a wet diaper, they are more economical because we use fewer of them. If she hates sitting in her own pee (not a bad trait), we may have to use a cheaper diaper during the day so that we can change her more often. I also put some wipes on the list. The ones I put on there smell really good. Wipes don't have to smell good, but it's nice for something to smell good during a diaper change.
There are more things on the baby registry, but this is the important stuff to know about at this point. I may add some more things in case Fisher-Price buys me everything on my registry (wouldn't that be nice!), but the stuff I've mentioned in this post is most important.
Car Seat (PURCHASED - Thanks, Mom!)
If it's not already expired, the seat Lucy used will expire soon, so we'll need a new one. (The one Lucy used was bought for Neil.) I've got two car seats on the registry. They are both slim, which is important for fitting two car seats (and hopefully me) in the back seat of a car. The Baby Trend one has a more ergonomic handle. Each seat works with a double stroller on the registry.
Double Stroller
We use our strollers all the time. With two kids we'll need a stroller that will transport both of them. It would be helpful if our stroller and car seat were compatible because the car seat can just clip onto the stroller. The stroller that goes with the car seat is on the registry. I've found a used double stroller for $25 that I'm supposed to pick up today. I haven't seen it yet to know how good it is, but at $25, it's worth getting. We have found it helpful to have one stroller inside and one in the car, so we could probably use another one.
Feeding/High Chair
I plan to breastfeed. We have two breast pumps that still worked last time I used them, and I just found out that our insurance will pay for another one. We have bottles and nipples so that Matt can help feed. We plan to have him more involved this time which we're hoping will be possible because I have a better idea of what I'm doing this time. There are two things that I'd like to have to help with breastfeeding. First is a nursing pillow. I have a Boppy and a travel (inflatable) version of My Brest Friend (dumbest name ever!). The My Brest Friend does an excellent job of positioning the baby. The Boppy let her roll and slip. Anything that makes breastfeeding easier is appreciated. I'd like to get a regular, non-inflatable My Brest Friend and an extra cover so that I have a spare when they get dirty. Color and print are not important to me if they make a difference to price. The second thing we need is more bottles for collecting milk. I found that an angled bottle worked better for me with the breast pumps. Perhaps it's my poor posture. These bottles were used a lot and didn't hold up well to all the use, so we could use a few more.
We also need a high chair. With Lucy we used and are still using a space-saver seat that attaches to a regular dining chair. It's worked really well. Lucy is still using hers as a booster, and she's so attached to it that it would be best to get Emmie her own. If another color or print is cheaper, that's fine. We prefer something other than pink.
Clothes
We kept all of Lucy's baby clothes, so we have a lot, but we have a couple of needs. First, we didn't have enough Newborn-sized clothes for Lucy, so we may not have enough for Emmie. We borrowed clothes for Lucy. I don't know how big Emmie will be or how quickly she'll grow, but Lucy needed newborn clothes for at least a month. The 0-3 month clothes were way too big at first. I've bought one outfit that has a long sleeve onesie and footed pants. If we get a couple of footed sleepers and a couple of converter gowns, we'll probably be OK.
Our second issue is that Lucy was a September baby and Emmie is a May baby, so some of Lucy's clothes will not be seasonally appropriate for Emmie. For Lucy, 0-3 months was September to December. For Emmie it will be May-August, very different. I think I have pants, socks, cardigans/jackets, and both long and short sleeve onesies in every size because they are wardrobe basics for all seasons. I bought some 0-3 summer clothes on clearance at a second-hand store, so I'll need to look at what I've got to get a better idea of how much more we'll need. However, I put some 3-6 month clothes on the registry. I think most of Lucy's clothes are wintry, but Emmie will need clothes to transition from late summer to fall. I haven't put much on there because I haven't inventoried yet.
In short, I don't think we'll need a lot, but I'm not sure how much we'll need. I'll let you know when I inventory.
I also put a couple of micro-fleece sleep sacks on the registry. They work both for sleeping and, with a jacket, as a cover-up for going to the pool in cool weather. I've put several sizes on the registry.
We aren't necessarily picky about clothes, but we have some preferences about dressing our daughters. In case you haven't encountered our clothing philosophy already, here are some thoughts:
- We don't care if clothes come from the boys or girls section. Lucy likes Doc McStuffins, Elmo, and the Incredible Hulk, so she's got pajamas with each of those characters.
- Clothes don't have to be gender-neutral. Gender-neutral is fine, but we're not against dresses or clothes with a little lace or ruffle or bow. My personal style is not flouncy, so I'm not drawn to flouncy baby clothes (not that my kids are restricted to my personal style). Clothes can be feminine without rows of ruffles on the backside.
- We don't tend to buy pink clothes because we want our kids to try all colors and not feel color-coded by gender. I'm not anti-pink. It's just so easy to buy pink clothes and get pink clothes as hand-me-downs. If we're getting new clothes, we prefer to put in the effort to add some blue and red and green and brown to their wardrobes. Lucy's favorite color is green, but some days she chooses to wear pink pants; other days she picks brown. (She is very picky about matching.)
- We care about how the kids feel in the clothes. We prefer pajamas that snap because you don't have to undress a baby to change a diaper; you can leave the torso covered while changing the bottom half. I have seen pajamas that unzip from the bottom rather than the top, and those would work for us. We tend to buy clothes for comfort and function and consider style secondarily. We aren't opposed to cute clothes, but we don't put our kids in uncomfortable clothes no matter how cute they are.
- We expect kids to be messy. We'd like clean kids, but we know that most kids are messy. We don't tend to buy white clothes because they will not stay white beyond the first wearing. I try to keep them clean, but kids are messy. After only six hours in a white turtleneck yesterday, Lucy had gotten artificially-colored (orange) cheese, chocolate, and strawberry on it, even on the part covered by her jumper.
- Versatile clothes are appreciated. Converter gowns can be either gowns or footless pajamas depending on how you snap them. Rompers that look like dresses are casual enough for everyday but also work as dresses for church. Solid pants and shorts that can go with many shirts are good.
Toys
We don't really need a lot of toys. In addition to Lucy's old toys, Emmie will have Lucy to play with. Some of the toys are on the list because putting $50 of Fisher-Price toys on my registry entered me in a sweepstakes that would give me everything on my registry. Anything we're really interested in has been marked as having "medium" interest. I tried to focus on things similar to what Lucy really liked or that Lucy and Emmie could play with together.
Books
I put Dr. Seuss books that we don't own on the list. There are a couple of books on the list that we own but that aren't likely to be readable for long.
Diapering
We need some newborn diapers (not sure how many). If we don't receive any by mid-April, I'll probably just buy them myself when I find a good sale. We have enough size 1 diapers. We need size 2 diapers. We've found that Pampers hold a lot of urine. If Emmie is like Lucy and doesn't mind a wet diaper, they are more economical because we use fewer of them. If she hates sitting in her own pee (not a bad trait), we may have to use a cheaper diaper during the day so that we can change her more often. I also put some wipes on the list. The ones I put on there smell really good. Wipes don't have to smell good, but it's nice for something to smell good during a diaper change.
There are more things on the baby registry, but this is the important stuff to know about at this point. I may add some more things in case Fisher-Price buys me everything on my registry (wouldn't that be nice!), but the stuff I've mentioned in this post is most important.
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