Just pictures!

The Smith girls!  (It's strange that they're not Beal girls...)    

Poppy wearing Scarlett's home from the hospital outfit

Poppy Ballerina's first bow!

Every time Scarjo holds Poppy, she says, "Take a picture!"  So I do!

Scarlett's thoughts on being a Big Sister

"Why do we have Poppy?"  --Scarlett
Me, unsuccessfully trying to answer what I consider a complex question, "Um...I don't know!  Are you happy we have her?!"
"No."
Me, to myself, "Wait, whaaat?!  What do I say?  I thought this whole "sister" thing was going well...ahhh!"  And then to Scarlett, "Do you sometimes wish it was just Mummy and Scarjo still??"
"Um hmm."
Then I answered her honestly, "Me too!  But then I'd miss Poppy, so I'm happy she's here!"

I don't know if I said the right thing; parenting can be tricky!  By the time I was answering her for the last time, Scarlett was half listening and had moved on to re-organizing her baby's diapers, so I don't think having Poppy is ruining her life.  At least not yet...!

So What Wednesday

• I left my ipod upstairs on purpose because I couldn't stop taking and sharing pictures of my little ones!  It was getting ridiculous and I think my facebook friends appreciate the break from constant updates of yet another baby picture!
• We call Poppy, "baby 2," 90% of the time.  Still.
• After having Poppy, it took me 9 days before I ventured out into public, and even then she was strapped to my chest in the moby wrap.
• Christmas shopping is consuming way too many of my thoughts these days!!!  I'm so excited!!!
• I don't have a cell phone.  Well, I do, but it's never charged and when I give out the number, I usual get it wrong because it's so rarely used.  Sad.     And Scarlett left it in the fridge for an unknown amount of time.
• Poppy looks like Frank.  I mean, super old man baby!  Luckily, I had Scarlett, so I know it gets better!
• It snowed here last week, but I made Tyler close all the blinds, so I could show Scarlett when I woke up instead of her seeing the snow when she went downstairs with Tyler at 6am.  Selfish, much?!
• Okay, I get to sleep in until 7:30am every day, but I'm up with both little ladies during the night.  I say that's fair!
• Tyler being home on paternity leave has been super-helpful, but then when I get in my jeep and the sports radio is on and his pocket trash is everywhere and I seriously question my sanity!
• Still have not read any news books...must get on that!
• Pinterest makes me happy!  Home decorating tips and yummy things to bake are fine, but the inspirational quotes are my favorites!!!

Okay, and this is just hilarious!

Yep.

I learned that the hard way after Tyler had been "helping" by doing the dishes.  While I appreciate the thoughtfulness -- I am shocked that he has been living in this house and not even having a clue where anything goes.  For real.  I'm scared to look in his closet after letting him have his way with his laundry for the past 10 days...!

Trusting my instincts...

As a mother, it is your job to defend your kids.  I've always known this as a fact and have done my fair share of glaring when people smoke too close to the playground and rolling my eyes when someone's child is not playing safe near Scarlett, but I've never had to take the initiative to actually stand up for my babies.

My mom set the perfect example of always sticking up for my siblings and me.  My third grade teacher allowed our class to watch the movie, Roots.  Well, I started having nightmares, so my mom marched into school and got me out of watching a movie that she felt was inappropriate for an eight year old.  I could give a million more examples of my mom sticking up for me or protecting me.  It was what she does did, but now that I have my own babies, I knew that it was my job to protect them.  I never had to actually do anything to protect them, until last weekend...

Tyler's family was coming into town to visit and meet Poppy.  That was fine...until Tuesday.  Tyler's sister started posting facebook updates about how sick she was with tonsillitis and strep throat.  When I read that, I assumed that she would not be meeting Poppy at this time,  but she lives 15 minutes away, so no biggie.  I didn't hear another thing about it until Saturday when his sister posted about how the amoxicillin was working and how excited she was to meet baby 2.  ALL IN THE SAME POST.  Um, no, you are not going to be breathing my 9 day old baby's air when you've been on meds for a few days.  Strep is contagious.  No.  

While I had made up my mind, Tyler's family had other plans.  After phone call after phone call about her illness and his entire family convinced that she was fine to meet an infant and Tyler not saying anything to dissuade their decision, I soon realized that it was up to me.  I was going to have to protect my newborn, therefore becoming the bad guy in their opinions.  (yet, again!)

So I did it.  At first, I called my mom and my sister to ask their advice, but when they didn't answer, I knew what I had to do.

I called my sister-in-law and told her the bad news.  It went worse than I had expected, but when I hung up the phone, I felt fantastic.  I had done it.  Is that crazy?!  I didn't think I was out of line; I was trusting my instincts.  I had stuck up for what I felt was right for my baby and was not walked all over and taken advantage of.  And Poppy wasn't exposed to strep!  Extra bonus!

My kind of night!

Now that I'm not pregnant, this is so allowed...finally!

I had my first alcoholic beverage since February and it was divine!  Scarlett had fallen asleep while I was reading (girlfriend was exhausted!) and Poppy had nursed during the stories and was sleeping too!  Two babies sleeping at the same time = MAGIC.  It was time to bust out the Pumpkinhead!!! (I had made Tyler keep it in our fridge for just this occasion!)  The Pumpkinhead did not disappoint!  Add in a little Pinterest and I was in heaven...also maybe a little toasty!  ;)

Sunshine & Exercise!

At the middle end of my pregnancy, I was always sore, so walking the loop was really out of the question.  Now that Poppy's here, it's time to get back to exercising, but we're starting slow here, friends!!!

I bundled us all up and headed out for a walk around the neighborhood with my little sidekick on her tricycle!  The fresh air and sunshine were just what I needed!  (I'm trying to mentally stay on top of my emotions, so the baby blues stay away!  That, along with St. John's Wort {approved by the lactation consultant}, and I'm hoping to stay happy!  Sunshine made a huuuuge difference, too!)

It was amazing just get out of the house!!!

This is her new favorite thing to do!  Turns out, she's really good at it, she just needed a little air in her tires!

Happiness!