We have been swearing up and down that Grace and Hazel don’t look a bit alike. “Not true,” says Grammie, “look at those NICU pictures again!” So I did… I think you can tell which baby is which…
Archive for February 17th, 2010
Cousinly love
17
Feb
That may sound like a reality show based in Arkansas but it is what showed when Aunt Christie brought two of Grace and Hazel’s biggest Southern California fans (Ryan and Jack) down for the weekend to meet Hazel and to help out. Since Grace brought an ear infection and 103ºfever to our normal level of chaos, the help was more than welcome. For Grace, Ryan was better than Elmo and “Mick-uh Mouse” rolled into one (which is a very scary mental picture). Everything her oldest cousin did was so hilarious she barely noticed being ill. Jack would have spent every waking moment with the girls but he had to stay down at Grammie’s house (and had to play video games and had to go to the Exploratorium). He ultimately got to spend time with both girls and claim the title of the youngest person yet to hold Hazel. Christie and Ryan even took care of Grace for a night so Jenn could force me go see “Valentine’s Day” go on a date with me (with Hazel as a chaperon).
The visit was so fantastic for all of us we are hoping to do it again ASAP, next time with Uncle Jim and Evan included.
Hitting the Bottle
17
Feb
If we haven’t been completely clear before, Hazel is a pretty amazing breast feeder. She took to it immediately and surpassed her birth weight by her 1 week doctor’s appointment. So she sucks and grows pretty well. Unfortunately (for Jenn) that sort of tethers her to Mommy. Every 3 hours she remembers that eating is fun and starts a high pitched wail that makes the smoke alarm sound like a lullaby. As soon as “that sound” starts Jenn complains that it is making her ears bleed and any teenagers within a 5 mile radius stop breaking whatever laws they are breaking and spontaneously purchase some sort of birth control.
Over the weekend, we started the process of shifting the burden away from Mommy (and presumably on to Daddy) by introducing a bottle. Jenn has been dutifully pumping whenever she can to build up a freezer full of boob juice to untether herself and try to regain some sanity. The good news is that Hazel took to the bottle as well as she took to the breast. The milk comes out a little faster so we have to regulate things to make sure it stays down, but this first baby step has been pretty successful. Next step is to Rho-Sham-Bo to see who has to get up at 3am.