first bottle, but not her last

Check out this proud big sister who was given the honor of providing Hazel with her first bottle at six weeks.   Tatum can be an awesome helper when it comes to her little sister.  When she's in the helping mood she'll help gather pacifiers, watch and help with diaper changes and carefully love on Hazel.  And when she's not in the mood, well, she's not. 

Experts say to introduce a babe's first bottle at six weeks after the baby's latch is good and a mother's milk supply is flowing.  So, following the advice, we did this with Hazel just as we did with Tatum.  But then due to my disdain for the breast pump, I packed it up and left it for a long while.  Then, about two weeks before my return to work I realized that I had to make up with my pump and get her going again.  After speaking to a lactation consultant at Bellies, I decided to pump a bottle and give it to Hazel myself.  Although this is NOT what the consultant recommended, I figured I would give it a go and see if Hazel would still take the bottle.  And she did.

"A good baby is a good baby at everything."  These are the words of my own mother who realized this with her first born, my older sister Jen.  Jen was the perfect baby.  Mom had heard the same advice, introduce the bottle early so that the babes become used to it and can feed when you return to work.  In an effort to avoid work for as long as possible, Mom waited to give Jen her bottle until just days before she was due back to work with the secret hope that Jen would reject the bottle and Mom could delay work.  Jen took the bottle like a champ and mom's thought was "you little twit!" 

Like so many moms, we return to work armed with our breast pump and a box of tissues.  Suffering is easier to bear when we know we are not the only ones suffering.  So to all those mothers who have had to leave their little ones and return to work I honor you; and for all those mothers who will have to do this in the future, may you have strength through this transition period and know that work does not change your role as a mother. 

The time...well..it goes

Oh, the day has come, the inevitable return to work.  I put on my uniform, aka my "maniform" as named by Andrew, and headed into work Monday morning.  Hazel started her day care in a lovely family home called Artziniega Family Day Care.  We are fortunate in that we found a caring home for Hazel just around the corner from where Tatum attends preschool.  As for me, I am working for the first time in 2011, and when I state it like that, I feel so much gratitude to have had the last three months to just be a mom to my daughters. 

To recap some highlights from maternity leave...

SLEEP - yes, that's right, tons of sleep.  Hazel and I napped together often during this time and now as I sit and check out the clock I realize I am tired because I'm used to napping around the 2 to 3pm hour.  Oh well, I must trade in my sleepies for caffeine!

CRAFTS - oh, yes, I got out the old sewing machine and went to work on curtains and wall hangings.  No children's clothes, but that may come in the future.

Tatum's hilariousness - it's amazing, as I concentrated on the growth and birth of our Hazel, little old Tatum has shot straight into toddlerhood with an ever-growing imagination and vocabulary.   Her humor and timing are impeccable (both Andrew and I take credit for that).  Some funny notes:
- one day after picking up Tatum from preschool, Hazel started her usual cries and screams that come with being a baby being dragged around by a family.  Tatum declared on this particular day "Momma, Hazel needs your booby."  
- another day after picking up Tatum from preschool, i was particularly anxious and wanted to get back home and get Hazel whatever it is that she needed to stop crying, and as I sped around a corner before the light turned, Tatum exclaimed "Hold on Hazel!  Momma's driving fast!"  Yes, this made me both laugh and slow a bit down.

A Garden to call our own - we now have a small vegetable and herb garden in the back yard.  We converted Tatum's old sandbox to a raised bed and have tomatoes, peppers, squash, collards, and chard growing.  Tatum LOVES watering the garden in the evenings, so much so that my refusal to let her water turns into tantrums.

A House for Tatum

3520 1/2 Las Palmas Ave.

This is Tatum's unofficial address for her new digs: a 40 square foot custom play house built by her Pop Pop and Momma.  

My father, who is an OBGYN by trade but a master carpenter by hobby, offered to lend his skills and provide Tatum (and Hazel) a play space outdoors at our new home.  Pop Pop flew in from Montana on a Wednesday night and by Sunday afternoon Tatum had her dream outdoor house.  If you're in LA, feel free to come over to play! 

 

The beginnings



Lori Dorman Shots

Hello dear followers...my apologies for the LONG blackout.  I've been cherishing my new role as mother of two.  My days spent chasing after one and breastfeeding the other has left little time for blogging.  But here it is, a long awaited post.

Since moving to our new hood and being on maternity leave, I've spent a ton of time up the road at Bellies, Babies & Bosoms.  As you can guess, it is a store for everything an expecting mom wants or needs including lactation consultations and modeling opportunities.  That's right, we were asked to model for LA favorite baby photographer Lori Dorman, whose new mom shoots are $1800.  She conducted a workshop for professional photographers and we were asked to model with our newborn Hazel.  So check out these selected pics taken when Hazel was two weeks old....

Uncle Jarrod Visits

Last week we were treated to a long weekend visit by my brother Jarrod.  Here he is pictured with his newest neice:

We stayed pretty much close to home by visiting the local gardens and eating at the nearby resturants.  On Friday we went out to celebrate our mom's birthday.  On March 4th Lala turned 63, and to honor her we ate her favorite food, sushi.  Tatum stuck to the white rice and miso soup, but oh man did she look cute in her going out outfit...

Our Gnome of a Daughter

 

It's amazing how a simple hat can turn one human being into a gnome! 

on a side note: the onesie Hazel is rocking here was one that was worn by my sister and me when we were babes.  made in England, this quality sleeper will be held onto so that it can be worn by the next generation proving that it stays stain free.

Snow in LA - really!

Like most of my posts, this is a back-dated post to the last weekend in February.  On Saturday we awoke to freezing temperatures and this view from our front steps:

We decided to take the family on a hike up the nearby mountain that is visible from our living room.  Don't worry, Hazel was appropriately bundled for a month old and here is the proof:

While hiking, and by hiking with a newborn and a 2 year old I mean slowly walking a trail, we were snowed upon.  This is a first for us in LA. Granted we live in Glendale now, but it was still amazing.  Here is a photo of the snowy hail in Tatum's hair:

 Already the weekend was starting out as eventful.  On Sunday we returned to the same trail to see if we could make it further than the 1500 feet we made it on Saturday.  The weather was better, meaning no snowy hail, and we were able to hike for a bit longer.  We stopped when we came to this rock that wobbled enough for Tatum and I to play a good game of see-saw.