1m2aSandbox

Since Madeleine was a c-section, the whole vaginal-birth-and-recovery thing was totally new to me. And just as I mentioned in a recent labor blog, I definitely learned a few new things:

Maddie’s second birthday is over and
done, and has left a field of wrapping paper and AA battery-laden
debris in its wake.

I have to tell you, I really enjoyed
Madeleine’s first birthday, but it didn’t even compare
to her Birthday Weekend Extravaganza that we just witnessed.

Madeleine’s second birthday is
coming up and we’re celebrating this weekend with a few
friends at – where else – the zoo. Nana and Papa are
flying into town and it’s going to be a big shindig, I
guarantee it.


I remember how I felt last year at this time: weepy, nostalgic, not
wanting to see my baby grow into a toddler. I was digging in my
heels and being dragged kicking and screaming into Maddie’s
toddlerhood. This time around I stand in disbelief: where has this
year gone?

Since Madeleine was a c-section, I went into Cora’s birth as a first time laborer. I took a Lamaze class with Maddie, a refresher class geared specifically towards VBACs with Cora, and read all my books. I’d coached my girlfriend Abby through both of her births, and felt confident I knew what was in store though I’d never experienced it.

What can I say? I learned a few things. As much as you know that there’s a difference between reading about something and experiencing it first-hand, you don’t really get it until you go through it. Here are some of the fun facts I discovered I’d missed in all my research:

As I mentioned in an earlier blog,
Maddie’s first meeting with Cora was an unqualified success.
This didn’t happen by accident, though: we spent a lot of
time talking to friends about what worked with new siblings, and
getting advice on how to help Maddie transition during the
pregnancy. I now pass this advice along to you!


First, a recap of the pregnancy –

A heads-up for everyone out there who has
nothing better to do on Sunday evening – I’m going to
be on the radio again!


This time I’ll be the guest speaker for the online radio show
for href="http://www.preschoolrockmoms.com">Preschool Rock
Moms. Their discussion this week is on playground
etiquette, and they came across the article series I did on it last
fall and contacted me to give my two cents worth. Here’s the
scoop:


This Sunday, June 3, at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

If you want to listen live, just go to href="http://www.preschoolrockmoms.com">Preschool Rock
Moms and click on the “listen” button.
They’ll redirect you straight to the show, and give
instructions on how you can call in to participate if you should
choose. If you’re not able to listen live, you can go to
their “archives” section and hear the program back at
your leisure.


So tune in and cheer me on! And of course, cheer on Brian,
who’s watching both kids by himself while I do this unless we
can rope Gamma into hanging out then.

Two things:


1. Colic


2. Mastitis


Let the good times roll!