Showing posts with label Meaghan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meaghan. Show all posts
Happy Birthday Meaghan!
Dear Meaghan,
You're one today. You've grown and transformed in the last year - in the last six months - in the last week!
After experiencing almost all my "firsts" as a mother with your sister Layla, and knowing that you might be my last baby - I was determined to enjoy and cherish your first year from the very moment you were born. And I have. Even when you were tiny and waking to eat in the middle of the night. Even when you were teething and almost inconsolable in the evenings. I have enjoyed being your mom. I have cherished my moments with you. My dear sweet Meaghie. I love being your Mom.
Wordless Wednesday - Fun in a Box!
I love my girls. Like most kids, all it takes is something as simple as a cardboard box to make them smile....
As you can probably see... I'm playing around with lighting in these pics. Just for fun. I totally love the effect, especially on the last 2 shots!
So much for "wordless" :-)
A.
Meaghi-Meg's FIRST DAY
... or should I say first couple of hours...
A while ago I wrote a post about the looming end of my year of maternity leave - "...and it's time to say goodbye...".
Well today was Meaghan's first official day of daycare and it went off without a hitch. I didn't even get the chance to cry. (It sure helps that she's with the same woman that Layla was with her first year of daycare, that Layla is just in the next classroom, that it's a great daycare centre and that know and trust the people who work there...)
Meaghan is in a small group and is the only girl. She is also the youngest, but only by a few months. And with her baby blues and strawberry blond "lu-lu's" (french for pigtails) she was a real hit with all those boys!
I don't go back to work for another few weeks so we're doing a slow integration - letting her get used to the new surroundings, hoping that she'll nap in the same room as 4 other napping children, hoping that she loves it all!
Today was a really short first day. With the time change from this past weekend, we all slept in a little this morning. Add that to the fact that I didn't get anything together or sign any of the papers until today - what? it was a busy weekend!?!?! - And add that to the fact that now I'm packing bags for both girls... we didn't actually arrive at the daycare until about 9:30 a.m. and since I was planning on picking them up before lunch, Meaghan was barely there for 2 hours.
Tomorrow I think we'll add lunch to the mix. If I'm paying for daycare I might as well have them fed before I pick them up :-)
A while ago I wrote a post about the looming end of my year of maternity leave - "...and it's time to say goodbye...".
Well today was Meaghan's first official day of daycare and it went off without a hitch. I didn't even get the chance to cry. (It sure helps that she's with the same woman that Layla was with her first year of daycare, that Layla is just in the next classroom, that it's a great daycare centre and that know and trust the people who work there...)
Meaghan is in a small group and is the only girl. She is also the youngest, but only by a few months. And with her baby blues and strawberry blond "lu-lu's" (french for pigtails) she was a real hit with all those boys!
I don't go back to work for another few weeks so we're doing a slow integration - letting her get used to the new surroundings, hoping that she'll nap in the same room as 4 other napping children, hoping that she loves it all!
Today was a really short first day. With the time change from this past weekend, we all slept in a little this morning. Add that to the fact that I didn't get anything together or sign any of the papers until today - what? it was a busy weekend!?!?! - And add that to the fact that now I'm packing bags for both girls... we didn't actually arrive at the daycare until about 9:30 a.m. and since I was planning on picking them up before lunch, Meaghan was barely there for 2 hours.
Tomorrow I think we'll add lunch to the mix. If I'm paying for daycare I might as well have them fed before I pick them up :-)
... & it's time to say good-bye...
If you're a parent you know that the first year with a new child is nothing short of amazing. The first few months are kind of blur with the challenges and lack of sleep that characterize the arrival of a tiny new life in the home. the next few months are incredibly sweet as you watch that little life start to really interact - but without the need for constant supervision because quite simply - they aren't very mobile yet. Soon after the 6-month mark, it becomes a true sport (and the time seems to start passing more quickly) as you watch them learn new things and become more and more agile... and before you know it, you're coming up to the end of that first magical first year.
My second child... my baby... sweet little Meaghan, will be 10 months next week. And it's hitting me that we're coming up on the end of her first year, the end of my maternity leave... the end of a special time. And now it's time to think about weaning and daycare options. It's time to say good-bye to our current "routine".
This week I officially started the process of weaning.
With this being my second time around, I was surprised at how hard it was to consciously decide 'I will stop nursing her at lunch time today' - and physically do it.
I've been thinking about it since Christmas (since that was about the time I cut out the first "nursing" feeding for Layla, weaning her slowly over the course of a few months) but it took me until almost the middle of February to actually do it. It's kind of funny because now that she's been taking her lunch milk feeding from a bottle for about a week - now that the process of weaning is underway - and my little Meaghan who refused to take a bottle until just recently is taking to the new routine - I'm fine with it. Really. I'm even starting to wonder when we'll offer a second daily "bottle".
It may seem odd that it's even an issue - but with every "last time" of something (be it nursing, cutting out the 3rd nap, no longer swaddling, putting away toys that she's too big for...) and every "new step" (introducing foods, watching her crawl to me and stand herself up using my leg for support, teaching her to eat with her fingers... and watching her explore...) I am happy and excited on the one hand but a little sad that my baby is less and less of a baby with each passing week.
And on a side note...
Let's not even start to think about the post-nursing-baby-#2 boobs that I have to look forward to. Sigh. Although I was totally okay with how my girls looked after nursing Layla, I've been told by many many mommy friends that the outlook is pretty bleak the second time around. Can I cry...? now...? Seriously.
Sigh (yes, again)... Another topic for another time...
And daycare integration is right around the corner too.
I found out this week that a spot will become available in the next 2 weeks. Which is amazing - as the timing falls just over a month before I return to work. Around here - with government subsidized daycares that have incredibly long waiting lists - I am so fortunate to have found a place for not just one, but both girls in the daycare located at my place of work (not beside, not across the street... AT). So it's not an option for me to put off daycare until just before I return to work. The integration will be slow, a couple hours here and there for the first while. But... the beginning of daycare is just another symbol of the end of something else.
So... 2 more weeks of our current "way of life".
The countdown is officially on.
Wow. Where did the time go?
A.
Dear Meaghan
You turned 6 months last weekend. I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by since you were born. I can no longer imagine my life with only one child... and without you in it.
My sweet little Meggie-Moo. I'm not sure how you got that nickname (well that's not completely true, I'm almost sure that it comes from the fact that we called your sister "Layla-Lou") but it's stuck. Half of the time I call you Meaghan and the other half you're my "sweetie", my "meggie", my "meggie-moo", and of course my "little monkey"!
It's so hard not to compare you to your sister. And it's so amazing how different you are from her. I appreciate that so much. I feel like I'm living something completely different in your first year than I did in hers. And I can honestly say that both experiences have been / are incredible!
So now that I've spent just over 1/2 a year being your Mom...
I specifically choose not to count the time that you were growing inside me...as it conjures too many negative emotions. Don't get me wrong, it was a blessing and I'm happy that I experienced it... but I have much... MUCH preferred bringing you into the world (yes... I prefer labour to pregnancy!) and figuring you out ever since. No more aches and pains. No more varicose veins. No more chronic hip/groin pain. No more nausea and fatigue...
...So back to what I was saying... before I went on a little tangent about how much I LOVE being pregnant... (I totally just need to write a post on it someday and get it all out in the open).
... and I love being your Mom. For so many reasons. So what are you like???
April - May - June
You are beautiful. From the time you were born, everyone has commented on how pretty and feminine you are. I completely agree.
You are serious. Or so people think. I know that you're just very selective about when, where and who you smile for... and you smile A LOT at home and for me.
You're kind of like me. You have my ears (they stick out a little... no one really notices that mine do so I'm sure no one will notice that yours do). You don't like needles (you've already cried more at your first 2 vaccinations than Layla did at all of hers combined). You suck your thumb (it's cute. now. we just need to kick that habit early on... no sucking it in private when you're in your elementary school years!)...
You don't transfer well (ie. stay sleeping from the car to the crib) but you're a great napper.
You laugh at your crazy sister and it's absolutely adorable and sweet and makes my heart swell.
You hated baths when you were first born (for months!) but now you love them. You also hated swimming the first time around. You warmed up to it by the end of the summer.
You love being able to sit on your own. You only started to within the last couple weeks but you much prefer sitting on your own to playing in the exersaucer.
You adore your dad. It's obvious by the way you smile when he comes into your field of vision.
July - August - September
Although you were a noisy newborn... not crying, but lots of grunting... you are actually a very quiet and calm baby now. People have commented that even your crying is now "quiet".
You are now captivated by Reuben (the family dog). If he's close to you, he's sure to get his hair pulled.
You've been chewing on things and drooling like mad since you were about 2 1/2 months old. No teeth yet though.
I swear you're starting to respond to your name. OK OK... maybe it's the sound of my voice, but I'm going to go with you're brilliant and you recognize your name already (!)
You smile soooo big when I start to sing to you. I wonder sometimes if it's because you heard me singing to Layla for every nap and bedtime while I was pregnant with you...
You really seem to enjoy our daily walks. Sometimes a good walk is the only thing that will settle you in the evening... but it doesn't put you to sleep... most of the time.
You've always been a pretty quick eater. When you first born, I was always worried that you weren't drinking enough. As it turns out 5-minute nursing sessions are good enough for you. go figure.
...and...
Your favorite food so far seems to be sweet potatoes and/or squash.
October
That's all I can think of "off the top of my head". Even though you're only 6-months old I know you do so much more than that... and I know that I've already forgotten so much of the beginning (though I do have a journal for that!).
Where Layla is my first for everything, you may be number "2" but never ever less in any way. I treasure all the moments I've had with you and I look forward to all that's to come.
You are my baby now. My sweet little Meaghan.
I love you. We all do.
Mom xx
for love of "purée"!
This post is part of the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge.
I had hoped to hold out until 6-months because (Meaghan being my second baby) I (1) wasn't as excited about hitting the next milestone and (2) knew full well that once I started adding cereal and introducing foods - there was just no going back to the very simple days of nursing only... the days where going out only meant packing a couple extra diapers and a change of clothes... the days of predictable newborn breast milk "poo" (yes... it changes A LOT with food)... the days of... well I think you get the point. When Meaghan was only nursing it was just a little easier for me. Now I have to plan a little more.
As Meaghan approaches her 6-month birthday I find myself going a little crazy in the kitchen - making baby purée. Although I really tried to hold out on food until she was the recommended 6-months old, my little one was clearly ready to start being weened right around the time she hit 5-months. When I say she was "clearly ready" all I really mean is that she started having a little trouble with her naps and waking up in the middle of the night after already having slept through the night for a few months. She was otherwise happy and not necessarily "asking" for more food (aside from the engrossing starring at my food!!).
No going back...
I had hoped to hold out until 6-months because (Meaghan being my second baby) I (1) wasn't as excited about hitting the next milestone and (2) knew full well that once I started adding cereal and introducing foods - there was just no going back to the very simple days of nursing only... the days where going out only meant packing a couple extra diapers and a change of clothes... the days of predictable newborn breast milk "poo" (yes... it changes A LOT with food)... the days of... well I think you get the point. When Meaghan was only nursing it was just a little easier for me. Now I have to plan a little more. My purée making frenzy began...
So when she first started eating I went on what I can only describe as a purée making frenzy. I returned home from my next grocery store outing with pumpkin, squash, apples, pears, sweet potato, zucchini... and instead of putting my feet up or checking my e-mail once the girls were both in bed... I started peeling and chopping and boiling/steaming everything to make Meaghan's food.
It's kind of silly really. She can only try one new food every 3 days. But once I get an idea in my head... and even more... once I actually start attacking a project - I'm unstoppable. (Trust me, there are lots other projects that I wish I could attack with such fervour!)
It's kind of silly really. She can only try one new food every 3 days. But once I get an idea in my head... and even more... once I actually start attacking a project - I'm unstoppable. (Trust me, there are lots other projects that I wish I could attack with such fervour!) I got a little worried when a friend questioned how long the purées would stay good in my freezer. A quick check on the nestle.com website calmed my fears. Most fruit and vegetable purées are good for 6 to 8 months if kept frozen. Meat keeps a little less long, but I haven't even gotten to that yet . Actually I don't know if I will purée my own meat. For my first daughter I relied on motherhen puréed meats instead and I'll probably do the same this time (no matter how much people assure me it's just as easy as making the vegetable purées... I'm just not that good!)
I know where the word "bleck" comes from...
Making the food is one thing. The question of whether Meaghan will eat it... like it... that's another thing all together.
Although I'm almost positive that Meaghan was ready to start cereal at 5 months old, I think I started her too quickly on other foods. We tried apple first. It's seasonal. It's sweet. I was sure she would gobble it up after eating rice and oat cereal for 2 weeks. I now know where the world "bleck" comes from. My adorable little Meaghan was not fan of the apple purée (AKA apple sauce with no sugar added). Brandon thinks that the apples I used were a little sour. I don't think so. Smooth, sweet.... "BLECK" according to Meaghan.
On the other hand, in the last week or so we've tried sweet potato and squash and those were big hits. She gobbles it right up and I swear she's smiling while she eating - go figure!
Now I suppose it's time I started adding a little green to her diet. Who knows how she'll react to that!
Now I suppose it's time I started adding a little green to her diet. Who knows how she'll react to that!
A.
(PS) My 30-minutes is almost up - but I just have to add that feeding Meaghan these purées has Layla eating foods like squash - foods she hasn't eaten since she was very small. I've started giving her a little bowl of puréed vegetables when I feed Meaghan her lunch! It's great... and I'm much less worried about her eating the veggies with dinner cause I know that she at least had a few tablespoons of purée! Whatever works, right? right!
Happy moments
Since Meaghan is fast approaching her 5-month birthday I'm a little late with this post.
Still - I want to share some of my favorites from the newborn photoshoot that we did 1 week after Meaghan was born (last April).
His specialty is maternity and newborn pictures and he's really good at what he does (If you aren't sold on the few pictures I've posted here, you can check out more of what he does on his website at http://www.estoimage.com/).
Meaghan with her Dad - She got him really good while he held her for this series of shots...
As you may imagine - taking pictures of a newborn AND a two-year old is an interesting challenge... not to mention making a 1-week postpartum mom look somewhat "good" (!)
The complete "Rodgers" family - Brandon and his girls!
Still - I want to share some of my favorites from the newborn photoshoot that we did 1 week after Meaghan was born (last April).
Meaghan Marie Rodgers (Born on April 25, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. - 8 lbs 2 oz)
The pictures were taken by Leino Olé (Esto-Image) - a very talented local photographer who works out of his studio in Saint Lambert, Quebec. Leino has shared in a lot of our most precious moments since shooting our wedding pictures in June 2004 (our wedding, my first pregnancy, Layla's newborn and 6-months pics, our Christmas 2008 family picture and now Meaghan's newborn pictures). He's also become a very good friend of ours.
Sisters - Meaghan and Layla (1 week and 2 years old)
His specialty is maternity and newborn pictures and he's really good at what he does (If you aren't sold on the few pictures I've posted here, you can check out more of what he does on his website at http://www.estoimage.com/).
Meaghan with her Dad - She got him really good while he held her for this series of shots... As you may imagine - taking pictures of a newborn AND a two-year old is an interesting challenge... not to mention making a 1-week postpartum mom look somewhat "good" (!)
Smiling with my new little (happy to be holding her. happy to NOT be pregnant anymore!)
When we entered his studio on a cool spring morning, it was toasty and warm (this is mostly due to the fact that the little one ends up completely naked for much of the shoot!). There were lots of toys to entertain Layla while Brandon and Meaghan got set up for the first series of pictures. Leino made everyone feel comfortable and even complimented my shrinking figure (let's not even pretend that this was based on reality... as I was still sporting a fairly round belly and behind!)
Leino really took the time necessary - breaking for feedings and messes (...with no diaper, I got peed on at least twice and Brandon got a lovely mixture of both... a few times... poor Dad? ha! Let's just remember for a moment who had barely one-week earlier pushed out an 8lb + baby with NO epidural...).
The complete "Rodgers" family - Brandon and his girls! Obviously we were thrilled with the results. Such precious moments... such precious pictures.
In years to come... it's the pictures that we have (like these) that will help to trigger the snapshots of our past that are/will be stored in my memory.
In years to come... I'd like to think that Layla and Meaghan will enjoy pulling out the "old" albums to look at the pictures that tell the story(ies) of our family... wondering what their parents were like before they were around... wondering what they were like "before" they can remember... and triggering some of the snapshots of moments that are still to come and that will one day make up our most precious memories... hmm...
I'm sure I'll be pulling out the old albums too.
A.
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