Date Night

Last night while my parents were here, Owen and I went out for dinner. It was the first time we had been alone together since Eilish (AKA The Savage, AKA The Dictator) was born. On the way to the restaurant I started to talk to Owen about baby stuff but stopped myself - this was Date Night - I shouldn't be talking about the baby, so Owen talked about basketball or hockey or something and I sat in silence making a mental list of Eilish related items to talk to him about once we got home. I was absolutely giddy by the time we got to the restaurant and didn't care about the 20 minute wait. I told Owen that we could be eating Tostitos in the car for all I care, so happy was I to be out.

While waiting for our table I had half a pint of Rickard's Red at the bar and was half drunk by the time we sat down. We looked at the menu, looked at each other and spent the rest of the dinner talking about Eilish and how cute she is and how she reminds us of each other when she yawns or stretches.

Speaking of Eilish, she smiled at me TWICE this morning. Ma & Pa were here to witness and confirm the smile and I have to say it was the greatest smile ever smiled by anyone who's smiles. Hopefully in the next couple weeks she starts to smile more and we'll catch in on camera.

She Ain't Heavy, She's Eilish's Mother

I had my postpartum physical today with my family doctor. All is well with my lady parts but the big news is the weight loss. Since my last appointment with Dr. Pervy, a week before Eilish was born, I've lost 33 pounds. The remaining weight has distributed itself around my mid-section and won't go away unless I start doing sit ups (so says the doc) and since most days I find it hard to fit in a shower, this belly will be with me for awhile. But if you're interested, here's how to lose 33 pounds in 6 weeks:

- Have a baby

- Don't eat

- Don't sleep

- Take hour long walks with your baby because stroller + baby = sleeping baby

- Live in a house with 2 sets of stairs and run up and down said stairs 100 times a day looking for things to make the baby stop crying

This weight loss regime costs less than Weight Watchers and if you don't mind crying everyday it might be the one for you!

Nap, nap, napper

For the first time in 5+ weeks I napped today when Eilish napped. I'm sure I'll pay for this later but damn, that was one good nap!

Doctor, Doctor

Today Eilish had a doctor's appointment and her paediatrician confirmed what we all knew - the girl likes to eat! She is now 10 pounds 6 ounces and measures in at 23 inches. Her next appointment is in 3 weeks and she'll be getting her first shots which means Daddy is going to that appointment. It's traumatic enough for me when she gets weighed (cold room + naked Eilish = tears) let alone getting a needle! She is in the 90-95th percentile with her weight, height and head measurement. If someone could explain to me what the heck that means, I'd appreciate it. Does it really mean anything other than give me something to brag about?

I also visited my own doctor today who confirmed that I never have to see Dr. Pervy again. My doc checked my incision (looks good) and will be doing my physical next week to confirm that all my lady parts are back in working order. Bye-bye Dr. Pervy - don't let the door hit you on the way out.

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Funny Thing Eilish Does #1 - Usually when I'm holding her, she looks right at me and makes my heart hurt with her cuteness. When she's pooping she won't make eye contact with me and makes her eyes all shifty like she owes me money.

Eilish and the Jets

I don't know very many nursery rhymes and the ones I do know I can usually only recite the first verse. The radio is on 24/7 at our house tuned into Q107 because it's the only station that comes in on the main floor and also because I'm a bit of a redneck. I've been singing to Eilish usually putting her name in many classic rock songs. For instance:
- Eilish and the Jets
- Purple Eilish (scuse me while I kiss this girl!)
- Cinnamon Eilish
- Stairway to Eilish
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yesterday for the first time (but definitely not the last) at Paul & Diana's housewarming Eilish got the better of me. Regular readers of this blog have been lead to believe that all she does is cry and fuss and keep me sleep deprived. Well, she was a perfect angel yesterday from the time we left Eighth street to when we returned. In fact for the past 2 nights she has slept for more than 6 hours straight. I have to actually wake her up to feed her and then she sleeps for another 3 hours. Must be the Lane in her.

I've also written how being a mother is the hardest thing I've ever done. This is still true but I worry that I haven't adequately written or talked about how Eilish is the best thing I've ever done. When I tell family members not to rush into having children or say things like if she wasn't so cute I'd throw myself off the roof, I'm half kidding. Yes I second guess myself, yes I have judged other Mommy's and worry how I compare, but every time she looks in my eyes, or holds my finger when I'm feeding her it becomes crystal clear that Eilish is the best thing that has ever happened to Owen and I.

Then again, it might be the 6 hours sleep talking.

Lest Ye Be Judged

Pre-pregnancy - I don't believe those women who say they 'tried' to breastfeed and it didn't work. They obviously didn't try hard enough.
Post-pregnancy - I lasted 2 weeks pumping my breast milk after Eilish wouldn't latch on.

Pre-pregnancy - My baby will never have a soother.
Post-pregnancy - I lasted 3 days at home before hauling ass to Shoppers for a soother.

Pre-pregnancy - I will never give my baby Gripe Water. I should be able to help her alleviate her gas.
Post-pregnancy - Eilish had her first taste of Gripe Water yesterday.

I should have called this post 'Why I'm An Asshole'.

Random Thoughts from the Brink of Exhaustion

Last night, for the second time in 4 weeks I dreamt about feeding Eilish while 'sleeping' (it's not sleeping, it's cat napping) in between feedings. Then, when she wakes up to actually be fed I'm can't believe it because, 'hey, didn't I just feed you' - only to realize it was a dream - and I couldn't believe I had to do it again.

Speaking of feedings. I've fed that kid every 3-4 hours for the past 4 weeks which begs the question: Will she ever be full?

On Monday night Eilish spent her first night in her crib. I didn't sleep any longer but I definitely slept better not having her in our bedroom and if that makes me a bad Mama then so be it. She looked so small in the big crip in her jammies and sleep sack and I must have checked her 20 times and had the monitor on maximum. I can't believe someday she'll outgrow that crib.

Eilish cried pretty much all morning today - on and off from 7:30 to noon. This is new, it's never happened before, and I think it's gas related. Towards the end of her breakdown Owen came downstairs (he's back to work tonight so he slept in this morning- wouldn't want anyone to think he wasn't helping), took her from me, walked around, sang a song and made it all better. Sometimes a girl needs her Daddy even though her Mommy had been doing everything short of standing on her head to soothe her.

Eilish is about 5 minutes away to outgrowing 0-3 month baby clothes and I can fit into my pre-maternity jeans again. Funny to be watching her gain weight while trying to lose her birth weight from my body while living on a steady diet of toast and Cadbury Mini Eggs.

New Pictures Added

...from our (almost) week in K-town. Thanks to all our visitors and to Nanny, Poppy & Uncle Joel who sure know how to make a couple of girls from the Lakeshore feel loved.

If Eilish Could Speak

She would tell you:

When the air hits your moon, it's a perfect time to pee - all over your parent's bed because at 4am your mother is too lazy to bring you to your room to change you.

Just because you look uncomfortable doesn't mean you are - so your mother should stop picking at you.

After almost three weeks on the planet it's obvious that your mother is terrified of you - that you're not eating enough, that you're eating too much, that you're too quiet, that you'll never stop crying. You scare the shit out of her.

You'll never have any brothers and sisters because for as long as you sleep in your parent's room your Dad will be sleeping in the bunk bed room because Daddy says sleeping with you is like sleeping on the highway.

That she's happy she's in Kitchener this week - the more people fawning over her the better.