It was definitely better-ish today

Thanks to all who were worried, but I - well, we (but I'm really mostly worried about me since tpd gets to gallivant with co-workers and real world people and such...but my digression into a bitter world aside) we survived today in tact. He was much better and after many conversations with the nurse we think it was maybe a combo stomach bug/reflux deal and hopefully we will now return to our regularly scheduled fussiness as opposed to the uncontrollable, there's-not-enough-wine-in-the -St.-Louis-area fussiness.

Aunt Kim came to help and dropped off a "miracle blanket" this afternoon and, though I would not yet call this evening a miracle type of night, he is happily sleeping away in his little baby straight jacket as I type. Plus, again, I get to get the heck outta dodge tomorrow for our annual St. Louis/KC ballgame pilgrimage and I couldn't be more excited! Sure I'll miss the kiddos and it is my first time leaving Shane, but I can also sure use the break and it will be fun to tailgate and hang out with friends!

On another note, I laughed outloud at this post as I have so been there. For any new(ish) parent or an experienced pro who could use a good laugh, this is pretty hilarious.

Lastly, I do promise to return to Throwback Thursdays soon, it's just been a little tricky to pull those together. We'll start with a doosy (that should not even be a word) next week!

Happy weekend to you all - I'm out for now.

I know my mom is going to read this and then call me tomorrow and say, "so you had a bad day?" like that Daniel Powter song...

Things are fine - really - but I do want to be honest in this blog and I also want to document our life and use this as a forum to vent and get it all out, so, here goes...

Tonight was rough, hell, today was rough. Unfortunately, it looks like my sweet boy has issues that are proving to be very similar to Bridget's even though they took longer to manifest themself. I think the hardest thing for me about this is not understanding the why/what/how/when scenario. It's such an up and down roller coaster of emotions. One day I feel like I have it completely together and we have a routine and I can deal with his "fussiness" and then the next I am a crazy mom googling things like, "8 week old won't sleep", "8 week old needs to be held constantly", "8 week old overstimulated" and the dreaded, "colic symptoms".

Yesterday I finally called the doctor after it became increasingly apparent that the Mylanta we were trying to help with his "crying spells" and fussing was not working. "Oh, yeah, these things run in families" she laughed. I politely giggled, but I think I was crying on the inside. What? What about the cosmic balance of one difficult baby, one breeze baby? What about that? Everyone had said surely we wouldn't have the same issues and, to be fair, we didn't... at first. But I had never heard of the "run in families" fussy baby phenomenon - fair warning to you all! Our doc upped us to Pepcid (the same thing baby girl was on not even two years ago for acid reflux). After one dose yesterday, he had the calmest evening in weeks. I was optimistic, I thought we had found the cause and I was so glad to fix his crying and inability to lay down and sleep. I thought he would be a happier, more playful little baby boy that I can tell he so wants to be... and then came today. As I sit here now, he has been sleeping for 20 minutes which is longer than any stretch of sleep thus far today. I feel like I literally spent the whole day patting, shooshing and swaddling to no avail. I moved from room to room with my fussy, non-sleeping baby all day. I'm not even sure how it got to be 9:51 right now.

So, baby Shane, I want to let you know I love you a lot, but this time with you is definitely challenging and mostly because I just wish I could make you better when you have your crying fits. In fact, it gives me flashbacks to how it was with your sister, too, and having those same feelings. However, that in and of itself is comforting because, until recently, I did not remember the bad things. The big difference is this time I know it will get better and I know it will be okay, but right now I am admitting that this is hard and that I don't always do well with this stuff. I want to make you better, I want to make you happy and it hurts when I can't.

I wish I was the type of person that could just carry him around the house all day and night, but I'm not. I need time away, I need a break and days like this with no break and screaming that lasted from about 5pm through 9:30pm just really really suck. Save for throwing a dirty poopy diaper at tpd's head, there's been little lightheartedness in the Delant household tonight, but we know this too shall pass, especially this weekend when we leave this little bundle of joy with grandma and grandpa - I bet you can't wait for that now, can you?

If you're wondering whether I let her play with it, the answer is....

We're going to do what? Play with dough?

She's ready to go, but first...

mommy had to make the birdy on the outside of the package.

It took everything within me to let her hold it.

See, this is why I can't let her play with it - notice the specs of different colors
she smashed in the pink? Those might as well be the longest
fingernails ever scratched on a chalkboard to me...

Allright, I gave in... but I'm getting my own playdoh today.

I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

These case studies were conducted on one of my biggest clients, Sydney's Closet, by one of our vendors, Sitebrand. So, I know it's not totally impartial journalism here, but I still think they did a good job (as did Phyllis and I) about tooting our horn, right Mary Jane? :)

I'm a social networking and internet marketing junkie these days (read: BIG TIME DORK) so this was fun to talk about and get involved in. Plus, simply by posting this here, I'm helping our SEO inbound link score, so more power to me.

Interview from Internet Retailer / Blog entry

PDF case study about us

PS - I don't really have an apartment or leather-bound books for that matter, however,
I am kind of a big deal.

Deja Vu and not in a good way

When we were preparing for Miss Bridget's arrival, one of the biggest meltdowns I had was in, yes in, Babies R Us in the middle of all the nursery furniture. We're talking full blown tears and snot nose. We could not find/agree on the perfect nursery furniture whatsoever. We finally comprimised and ended up going with black as we simply could not find a dark wood that we liked in a crib style we liked. Fast forward two years (almost exactly) later and I'm finding myself in the same spot, only this time I actually have the baby first and have thereby avoided the full blown hormonal meltdown of two years ago. Still, though, for the past four weeks, we've shopped at every baby furniture store in St. Louis, hitting both Babies R' Us's and even Baby Depot - I've poured, borderline obsessed, over online crib shopping and yet still - nada, nothing - that makes me happy for less than $700. Yes, amazingly, I can find a $988 crib that I could live with, but get down into $300 land and not so much.

Anyway, my intent is not to bore you all with our mundane nursery furniture problems, although I'd like to have this baby in his own room by the time he goes to college and at this rate, I'm not sure if that will happen... BUT, while obsessing over reviews of products, I found myself lol (see how cool I am that I stuck LOL in my post) at some of the things people write in their reviews. For your entertainment, I've compiled a few of my favorite crib product reviews... from real people who went back and reviewed their crib after they purchased it (ps - who does that? It's certainly nice and all, but on my personal priority scale, I must admit posting online reviews is not so high), but without further ado, here are my favs (NOTE: I did not edit them in any way, I wanted to show them in all their glory, spelling and all....):

• When we picked up the crib, there were large boot prints all over the box, and I was concerned that the crib would be damaged. When we opened it, there was a chunk missing out of the top of the front rail. Otherwise, I'm happy with the purchase.

• I'm glad I waited, the bed is beautiful...one of the legs was damaged pretty severely.
  
  
• I highly resommend doing this with 2 people. Peices are somewhat heavy. I didnt like the way directions make heavy peices hang by nails support peice broken while it was hangin in buy screw while i was screwing in other peices and snapped. I was able to wood glue back hold in place and after my fiance and i were done and the changing table is beauitful!!
  

• Keep in mind that this does not have drop sides, if you are a short or heavy person, you may have difficulty leaning and bending over the squared off railings.
  
  
• We bought this for our daughter who is due next month. We haven't changed a baby on it yet, but have practiced on it and it looks like it's going to be great.
  
  
• When we called Storkcraft to get new parts they were so friendly and accomodating. We ended up getting the wrong parts, though, because the originals were labeled wrong, so we told them the wrong part. We ended up putting it together like it was and no one can tell the messed up parts. The bed itself was very frustrating to put together, but we have had several pieces of furniture by several different companies that were difficult to assemble. I love this crib!
  

And, my personal favorite:

• It was a little difficult to put together at first, but after reading the instructions, it was easy.

Two kids in two father's day - who would've thunk it D-lant?

No babies were harmed in the making of this blog entry.
Relax - we didn't let him drink the WHOLE bottle... geez.

Happy Father's Day, tpd! You the daddy man!
Happy Father's day to my daddy, too!

Very very sad, I'll miss you Tim

I love Tim Russert. He exudes intelligence to me and his political rhetoric and insight has always been a favorite of mine. I'm so sad to hear of his untimely passing and I'm sure he will be greatly missed this election year and in the future. I know I'll personally miss Meet the Press and Tim with his little dry erase board as election results come in.

Here's more of the story if you were also a fan. Oh, man, this is just the kinda thing that makes you feel a little punched in the gut on an otherwise normal day... sigh.

Letter to my darling boy, Shane

Dearest Shane,

Today marks the 47th day that you've been in our lives. We are getting to know you more every day and you are a sweet, cute little boy. However, today also marks the 47th day since your mommy and daddy got to sleep through the night. I realize you are also just getting to know us, and that you may not realize that mommy's and daddy's really like to sleep and that we MISS SLEEPING very very much. Now, just so you know, we wouldn't trade you back in for a full night's sleep most days, but today isn't most days. Today is the morning after the third or maybe even fourth night in a row that you've decided sleeping IS for sissies. It's like you're looking at me with those BIG WIDE OPEN beautiful baby eyes and saying,

"Sleep? Why sleep when I can cry exactly 10 minutes after you lay me down - ALL night long".

I drag myself back out of bed, I replace the wa-wa (that's a pacifier for those of you that don't speak Bridgetese), I pat, I shoosh, I turn you on your side (just a little don't worry) I watch those eyes grow heavy...heavier...until they are fully closed and your breathing is nice and heavy - surely you are asleep now. I crawl back to bed, fluff the pillow and have just long enough to drift back to my Zack Morris dream (yes, I do frequently dream about SBTB) when...... [insert the highest pitched screaching sound you've ever heard and then multiply it by 10]. I look at the clock - it's been exactly 10 minutes. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. (Mommy stole that line from another blog or somewhere, but it's so true - that's how I feel all night.)

So, son, it's time to shape up. I realize you might just be sticking it to me, what with all the bragging I was doing last week about how newborn nights aren't really that bad and that we manage pretty well and how you personally were doing so well that I was sure you'd almost be sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. In fact, retrospectively, I deserve it - hell, I'd probably do it to myself if you weren't stepping up to the plate - I deserve it that much.

In closing, my dear boy, since I've acknowledged my overconfidence and missteps, do you think it's time to start sleeping at night again? Let's put away the screaming, let's be nighttime pals again. Let's go back to the Max with Zack, Kelly, Lisa and A.C. (I hate Jesse and Screech, I'm not inviting them into to my dreams.) We'll all be a lot better off, little man, if we all get a little more shut eye.

Love always,

Your mommy

PS - Until this stinkiness ends, I'm not allowing you to see or talk to your cousin. I don't want you filling her head with any ideas. In fact, according to her mommy, you may have already showed her how to shake things up a little during the day, so until you learn to play nice, Amelia's off limits.

Busted Plays are for Sissies: Dr. Appointment Take two

Okay, when I actually make it to the doctor tomorrow, I should have an updated weight and height by 11am tomorrow morning. So, once again, a kick a$$ t-shirt is up for grabs... to be designed by yours truly and Bridget, she wants to help.

If I don't get a new comment from you (the three of you who read this and guessed - thank you by the way!), I'll assume you want to keep your guess the same, however that was 8 days ago and he's been eating (A LOT!) the past 8 days, so that might not be the smartest way to go, but in the immortal words of Bobby Brown that's your prerogative.

Also, all you people who have told me lately you read my blog, you could comment, too. Yes, you know who you are out there! :) You don't want to miss the chance to win a FREE, yes FREE Delanty t-shirt, do you?

Just to help, here is a picture of the little man taken today so you can make a more educated guess.

To be perfectly honest, I actually paid with my Visa debit card

Case of beer: $14.99
Two bottled waters: $2.12
Cinnamon Teddy Grahams: $.99

Literally running to the convenience store and
easily fitting an entire case of beer in my stroller: Priceless

There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's Mastercard Visa

You know you didn't get enough sleep the night before when...

You have coffee and oatmeal sitting out for breakfast, you walk to the refrigerator, take out the french vanilla creamer for your coffee and... pour it all over your oatmeal.... AND you don't even notice until you're upstairs eating the oatmeal.

FYI, it's pretty good.

and the Busted Play of the Year Award goes to...

ME! Why do I deserve this special honor? Because I TOTALLY MISSED Shane's first month doctor's appointment. Besides the fact I actually had the wrong time written down, there is still pretty much no way I would have made it even if I had the right time. For those that don't know what a busted play is, it's a saying we adopted when Bridget was a baby. My mom used to say it when something would go wrong with Bridget's "routine". For example, if she was supposed to eat at say 8am and then play for a while and then sleep for a while and then eat again at 11am, but instead didn't want to eat until 9am and then started screaming at 10am and then blew out a diaper at 10:30am and then, well you get the picture, basically the whole "routine" went straight to hell - we would call it a "busted play", write it off and start over again for the next cycle.

Well, we had the mother of all busted plays yesterday - full of lots of tears and screaming (oh yeah, and Shane and Bridget were screaming, too!) I didn't think getting ready and out the door for the doctor would be a big deal as we practically have a set morning Starbucks routine anyway, but of all the mornings to have things go horribly wrong (although, missing a Starbucks run could be considered horribly wrong) this morning just wasn't meant for a doctor's appointment. Shane was just not having any of it - eating at 7, 8, and 9am sounded good to him and every time he got done eating and I had 10 minutes to myself to try and get ready to go, he decided it would be better to fill that glorious extra time (before he wanted to eat again) by screaming. Add to the mix a screaming toddler who could not be pacified by ANYTHING and a husband running around the house like a madman because he could not find his wallet and we were the picture of sitcom domestic chaos except without the funny lines or the canned laughter in the background to lighten the mood.

So, as I'm on hold with the Dr.'s office at 9:37am (this was the ONE time that the office did not call to leave a reminder message), screaming baby in hand, mascara brush in the other, just trying to double check that the appointment was indeed 10:40am and not 10:20am a very annoyed woman tells me my appointment is "actually 7 minutes ago - it was at 9:30am, ma'am".

Okay, I get it's annoying to have people miss appointments, but did she have to add the ma'am? Really? Was that just to make me feel worse - can you HEAR the screaming in the background? So I'd like to say I handled this news calmly and rationally, but instead in my post-partum state with a screaming 4-week old in hand, toddler wailing in the background and one eye dripping with black streaks of mascara - I completely, totally lost it to doctor receptionist lady:

"Well, (sniff sniff) ....baha ahaa baaa hha.... i'm totally not going to make it..... bwaa haa ha haaaha..... screaming, wrong time, he wanted to eat all morning...... bwaa haa (sniff sniff)..... toddler husband wallet.... bwaaa haaa......what do i do now.... (sniff sniff sniff sniff) uh hhhhh hhhh hhhhh bwaaahhhh bwaaahhh..... so sorry, tell Betty sorry, she's my parent's friend, she knows me, i feel so bad, bye bye now...boowaaah bwaa ha ahaa booo bwaaa...".

Yes, my friends, that is how you win the BPOTY Award - you completely self-destruct. The good news about a morning full of busted plays, is that at some point they get back on track and things look up again. However, when you have that many BP's in a row - you also win the award and hope like hell it won't be topped.

I felt I owed it to all the guessers out there about why we do not have a first month official weight. The good news is we can try it all over again next Tuesday at 10am. I've written it down, multiple times, and have already arranged to get rid of aforementioned husband and toddler on that day so hopefully we'll have a better result this time.

Finally, here's how I spent my time after I missed the appointment and when all the screaming finally ended:

First - I googled the following in the following order (seriously, i copied and pasted this from my google toolbar, it was just too funny):

4 week old screaming
Breastfeeding trouble
Growth spurts
21 month old tantrums
toddler tantrums
dealing with tantrums
mma fight (i have no idea why i stopped and googled this, i blame tommy)
4 week olds
1 month old crying a lot
formula feeding outcast (??? don't know what i was going for here)
breastfeeding support
21 month old fits
husbands that lose everything all the time (okay, that one's not serious, but seriously, he has a problem finding things, right big d?!)

Then, I gathered up all these and poured over them for the next hour and a half:


So far, today is off to a much better start and HEY! it's 2x Tuesday at Domino's so that's something to look forward to, right?!

Wager's anyone?

Shane goes to the doc tomorrow for his (gasp!) one month check-up. Remember, he was 7lbs 9ounces at birth, Bridget was 7lbs 3ounces at birth. At Bridget's one month check-up she weighed 9lbs, 10ounces. So, for fun, I'm taking guesses on what Shane weighs. I won't post the results until tomorrow night so anyone that happens upon my blog tonight/tomorrow has a chance to "weigh" in. Ha ha ha ha ha...

Oh, you can guess length, too... he was 20" at birth.

There aren't really any prizes except bragging rights and well a t-shirt. There's always a t-shirt, right?

GUESS GUESS GUESS!

Baby Mohawk

Yeah, I'm cool - just like daddy.

Do you think Guinness has a world record holder for most photos taken with a Starbuck's cup? Cause I could totally beat it.

It's been a little hectic around here lately, but I thought I owed it to Shane to mark his 4 week birthday with a little recap of how things have been going this first month adjusting to a new family member in the house. With Bridget, I remember four days could seem like four years at times (sorry babygirl, you were quite the handful and, at the risk I could somehow do you reprehensible damage, I will follow that up with the fact that I wouldn't have it any other way) but this time has been flying by and, dare I say it, knock on wood, has been completely and totally manageable and you know what, not just manageable, but ENJOYABLE!

Yes, there are times it is extremely hard - beyond hard - but in between those times there are the moments when Bridget cries because she didn't get to give "the baby" a kiss goodnight and then promptly lets out an "oooohhhhh" signaling she is about to give him a big bear hug - albeit this is sometimes dangerous for an 8 lb being, but adorable as hell nonetheless. Then there are the times when I actually figure out what is wrong with my little man and I feel like such an empowered, can-do-no-wrong mommy... well, that is until my daughter comes home, flops on the ground in a fit of rage over the fact that I DARED TO LET THE DOGS OUTSIDE - didn't I know that the dogs needed to stay inside, that the world was about to come to an end if I let the dogs out the back door? Luckily, I am usually able to chalk this behavior up to little daycare sleep and 21 months of age. Lastly, as we had hoped and have come to find out, this time is unequivocally, without a doubt, so much more relaxed. We are so much more okay with things and not overcome with questions, worry and guilt 24/7. Now, that certainly doesn't mean I don't experience all three of those things daily, multiple times a day, but in a much less stressful and overwhelming manor.

Bottom line, things are going really well. I've only hid under the bed eating burritos once - twice maybe - okay, six times at the most, but it's still been a great experience so far and having this new little person in our lives is working out pretty well, I think we'll keep him.

On an unrelated note, I've been totally remiss in not thanking Mark and Kim for the best new mom present ever - a Starbucks giftcard. I look so forward to this little treat in the morning and it's become part of Shane, Bridget and my's morning routine. Forgive me if that grammar is totally wrong in the last sentence, I always mess up my I's and my's - yes, I am an english major. Thanks guys - cheers to you!

Is it worse that I ate half the bowl before I figured it out or that I contemplated finishing it...

In the haziness of the past couple weeks, we have definitely neglected to grocery shop. In fact, food around this house is in incredibly short supply (except for Shane's that is!). We finally finished eating a lasagna from Chris and Kristi that has pretty much been our main source of nourishment the past 10 days. In fact, I think I could be the new spokesperson for the NLA (National Lasagna Association) I've already got a great slogan -
Lasagna: it's not just for dinner anymore.

And even though I've never eaten that much lasagna in my life, I never got sick of it. In fact, I'll probably have a little lasagna withdrawal this week. I wonder if they make a lasagna patch - you know like a smoker's patch that delivers small doses of lasagna into your system so as not to completely quit one's lasagna addiction cold turkey? Hmmm... maybe that will be my first act as spokesperson of the NLA. ANYWAY, thanks again guys - it was delicioso - we really loved it and it was so above and beyond considering you have a newborn yourselves - we will be paying it forward very soon!

So, this morning with the lasagna gone I returned to my regularly scheduled breakfast food - cereal and milk. I poured myself a HUGE bowl of Trix and filled it to the brim with delicious milky. As I was eating it watching the View (I know, I know, but I like it with Whoopi on it these days) I kept noticing this kind of stinky smell. Thinking it was surely just one of the 16 diapers laying around on the table, torn up by the dogs on the floor or in the pack and play, I kind of kept writing it off. Then, about half way through my cereal I start to think it might taste a little funny and then the sinking feeling set in... when exactly is this milk from? Worried about it, I make my way to the fridge (mind you I take another bite or two just to confirm that the smell and taste is in fact coming from the bowl) to find that yes, indeed, this milk would have tasted much BETTER BY May 8, 2008. So as not to gross you out entirely, I won't go into detail about the thick, goey rim on the sides of the milk jug that probably means no one has even touched this milk since before Shane arrived.

The worst part of it all is I was really loving that cereal. I haven't had any in weeks and I think I was more upset about not getting to finish my cereal than the unfortunate digestive issues that might possibly be forthcoming....

What's that you say, you think you're water just broke? Well, cool...

I can't believe I'm spending today playing with pictures of my NEW NIECE! It's just too crazy! And, OH MY GOD, I have a new NIECE... wait I have a niece PERIOD. I never had one before and it's so awesome. And she's so B-U-TIFUL. Sorry for all the UPPER CASE blog "yelling", but I can't help it. It's just that COOL!

I was falling asleep last night at 10:22pm (yes, that was the time exactly because Tim and I both looked at each other like, "who the hell is calling now?") when the phone rang. Neither one of us even thought about it being an early arrival from baby indy, even though just hours earlier we had been teasing Lil' G about the possibility. "I think my water broke" Kim said and it truly didn't sink in with me. I guess I was a little in denial or sleep deprived state, but I just kind of calmly took it all in and relayed it to tpd. He was all like, "are you awake? Do you realize what your saying?" In all honesty, it wasn't until about 1/2 hour later that I was like - whoa - they're really going to have the baby soon - like not in a month, but in a 24 hour time span and then I was awake and soooo excited!

I spent most of the night waiting for news, texting them back and forth (and when I say them I mostly mean Kim - that girl is a lean, mean, labor texting machine) and watching Poker after Dark (I highly recommend this for late night baby feedings or insomnia). I was super tired from a rough night with Shane the night before, but I was too excited to sleep. It was a great night - so exciting and so much fun getting the next ding of a text message.

I got the call shortly after 5am that the baby would soon be here and as I managed to drift to sleep one last time I was actually dreaming about the baby and got the news it was a girl in my dream only to have my brother call a few minutes later telling me that I was correct - a little perfect brand new babygirl was here and I could come meet my niece - Amelia!

Congratulations little bro and sis-in-law! I'm so happy Amelia is here and everyone is doing well (albeit a little shell shocked from her abrupt arrival) but happy and healthy and what more could we really ask for? Love you guys and love my little pretty niece!

Here are the rest of the pics I took at the hospital.

What happens when you're new at this two kid thing and leave one of them alone too long...

Say it ain't so, John E.

Oh no, why John why? Oh wait - it couldn't be so you could score a big fat VP nod, could it?
Oh! The Hillary humanity of it all!

Well, at least I can sport my new "Barack the House" design by my
talented Uncle Mark and available only at ElectionSwag.com!

A first milestone down...

The very first day in the hospital, I looked at Shane's little umbilical cord and actually dreaded the day it would fall off. Well, today's the day. Tim did a happy dance (no more folding down the diaper and dealing with all the other boy "parts" that we are so terrified by) but I felt a little "oh my baby's already growing up" sadness.

Just the first of many to come...