today, we put the turkey in the stroller and walked down to the mall (a mile away) and spent the afternoon walking around.  it was such a wonderful way to spend the day.  i am so grateful for my fabulous husband and joyful son!

there are times when this wee one looks at me and i feel like the most beautiful woman in the whole world.

we borrowed ella’s jogging stroller since it’ll be a few months before she can use it.  tonight was my first “run” in a year and a half or so.  it felt good to move again but, good gravy, i’m out of shape!  all in all, i think i did fairly well.  my longest stretch was 3/4 mile but i probably did about 2.5 miles total (and walked another 3).  it was strange running with the stroller.  i felt like my striking and gait were off so i guess it’ll take some getting used to.  the turkey seemed to enjoy being able to look around so what else really matters?

we went back to chef and trainwreck’s house today to help ash with ella.  our little turkey was much more curious this time about his new best friend. he was so sweet with her, it just melted my heart.  these two have so many good times ahead of them!

the turkey’s best friend was born thursday night while we were out of town (i told her not to go into labor until we got back, dagnabbit!). i was super excited about getting home last night so that we could go meet her today. it was nice to hear that the mommy (our friends’ daughter) was genuinely upset that i wasn’t there. apparently, she’s spent the last couple days saying she wished i were there and asking when i was getting back. this morning, i made myself wait until a decent hour before texting and asking if it would be okay for us to visit. i was greeted with an SOS. the new little momma was hormonal and overwhelmed and struggling and she wanted my presence and advice. i felt so privileged. we packed up the boy and headed over there to spend how ever long was needed. little ella was giving her mom fits about latching and poor ash was just about beside herself. since the turkey never had any trouble latching, i didn’t really have any good advice specifically but i gently encouraged her and suggested she express a small drop to rub on ella’s lip in order to entice her and help her understand what was being offered. that did seem to help but i think the biggest thing was that i just infused a sense of calm (i love her mom but she’s very high strung) and i kept encouraging her. we nursed our babies together and talked about childbirth and nursing and all that fun mommy stuff. i’m so glad that she feels so comfortable with me and it was really a lovely afternoon. we spent most of the day there and by the last nursing, her milk was finally starting to come in so ella had a much easier time responding appropriately. i think i really helped and that feels good.  the most important thing i could think to do was to keep telling her all day that she was doing great and that she’s a wonderful mommy.  when i was a brand-new mommy and sleep-deprived and overwhelmed and sure that i wasn’t doing anything right, my sister’s affirming words got me through it.  i feel blessed that i was able to be that for ash.  it makes me so grateful for my sissy, without whom i never would have felt motherhood was doable.

on a side note, the turkey clapped for the first time today.  i just got him to start opening his hands up when i clap his hands together a few days ago but, today, he clapped completely on his own three times for trainwreck.  if i hadn’t been sitting right there, i wouldn’t have believed it because i haven’t been able to get him to do it again.  i guess trainwreck just has more influence over him than i do.

halfway through the 52 weeks of belly pose… good golly, where is the time going?!

19 Feb 2015

the turkey has taken to biting during nursing the past few days.  the first couple times, it seemed more like he was just confused about what he was doing but it’s become an obviously purposeful behavior now.  he’s testing boundaries in a painful way.  tonight he clamped down and jerked his head to the side before i could react.  owie!!!  so, tonight marks the start of the discipline training.  hopefully a light smack to the hand, paired with a stern “no!” will break this behavior before there are teeth to contend with.