Thursday Thursday

This is how Cora and I spend a good portion of our time:

quick baby selfie

It is delightful. In between long bouts of snuggling and a lot of watching of The West Wing, HGTV, and the Food Network, we've managed to do a few other things as well. On Monday, we had family and newborn portraits!

 

The kids mostly cooperated, and I put the mesh panties behind me and embraced skinny (maternity) jeans and a silk top- for a few hours anyway. Cora was quite the model- wide eyed and alert for the family pictures and then milk drunk and curled into a little ball for the rest. I can't wait to see the proofs.

On Tuesday all five of us piled in the Highlander for the first time. All three kids fit across the middle row, so it was a relief to know it was still possible to transport them if we needed to have something like Thanksgiving luggage in the back. Sure they were all touching, but they get along well and Cora was in the middle to mediate if needed. We dropped the kids off at school and then took Cora to her second weight check appointment at the pediatrician.

 

And we're proud to say this little peanut is up to 7 lbs. 8 oz. and a whole 20.5" long! Gold stars all around. We then took her on her first trip to Target (we needed a storage bin for my maternity clothes and I couldn't trust JP to that kind of decision on his own- I have strong feelings about storage and organization). Later Claire came home and we ladies went on a walk around the neighborhood. Or two streets of it anyway. Claire brought her baby and purse along for the stroll.

 

Then we had some stretch time. Cora spends an amazing amount of time wide awake and stretched out. She particularly likes to exercise when she's color-coordinated.

 

I made dinner (well, reheated the lasagna my mom made while she was here) with the kids and then JP came home just as I got everything served and we ate a meal with all five of us at the table, though for now, Cora hangs out in a lap rather than her own big chair.

 

Then there were bedtime stories and snuggles.

 

Yesterday involved PJ pants all day, a visit from some of my favorite coworkers for lunch, and quite a lot more snuggling. JP had a late lesson, so I had my first 3 kid, baby hungry, dinner making extravaganza! I stuck Cora in her car seat and occasionally kicked it to make it rock while I steamed veggies and cooked frozen fish fillets. Landon was his usual helpful self- feeding Tex, bringing in the trash cans from the street, etc. Claire was technically willing to be helpful, but needed too much direction to bother. It was a taste of the chaos to come, but I got to direct it while sipping white wine and at 7:05 we all sat down to dinner together. Then there were more stories and snuggles and bedtimes.

 

It's funny, when we had one kid, it seemed like JP and I would never eat dinner together again. Then he got older and we managed. Then we had Claire and she just fit right in to the routine where dinner together was an unquestioned part of the evening, and now we're scooping Cora in to a pattern that would have seemed impossible with just a Landon. Of course it helps that the older kids get older and easier and more helpful, and it helps even more when a Trader Joe's with all its tasty frozen entrees opens up down the street.

 

All in all, I'd say things are quite lovely. I feel great- my dressing is removed, my incision scar looks thin and pale and I have to constantly remind myself not to pick up heavy objects because it's only been 8 days. JP does all the nighttime feedings, because he is awesome and it helps me heal, and then I do all the Cora care during the day while the kids are in school and he is coaching. He sent me flowers yesterday, because I adore them and I gave him a baby.

 

Cora's tiny hand is resting under her tiny cheek on my chest as I type. Things are really quite lovely.