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Two Weeks

Elsa was two weeks old on Sunday. She is still an eating machine, and her cheeks are starting to get nice and chubby. Anna got to hold Elsa for the first time yesterday, and she thought it was really great. Actually, I had a hard time getting Anna to let go. It has been nice to see Anna show Elsa some more interest. She really likes giving her little sister kisses (which might be why Elsa has a stuffed nose at the moment).

Anna has been a real chatterbox lately, and yesterday she started calling everyone "honey". I don't know where that came from, but it's pretty funny to hear. She likes to help put clothes in the washing "mean" -- and now having Elsa, there is always plenty to wash in the "mean".

Garbanza!!!!

Just in the nick of time! Miss Garbanza, now known as Elsa Lind Reyes, arrived at 4:35 am on March 12th -- the day before her scheduled eviction by c-section. I went into labor on my own (finally) in the early hours of the morning and Elsa was born only about an hour after we arrived at the hospital. She was definitely in a rush to get out! Elsa was 7 lbs 15 oz (3.6 kg) and 20 inches (51 cm). Elsa and I are doing very well -- we went home two days after she was born. I have to say the recovery has been so much easier than it was with a c-section.

Elsa and Anna have been keeping me busy since I got home. Elsa has an enormous appetite! She never lost weight after birth -- she's only gained. It has been quite an effort to keep up with her feeding demands. Anna has been pretty good with the new member of our household, but I think she's still trying to come to terms with the new order of things. Thankfully, my mom is here to lavish extra attention on Anna to help with the transition. She has been a real lifesaver (as usual).

More pictures will be posted soon!

Fashionably Late

The Garbanza has been officially served her eviction notice. If she doesn't make an appearance on her own by Monday afternoon, she'll make her way out by c-section. I have tried pretty much everything to get labor going -- long walks, acupuncture, reflexology, raspberry leaf tea, really spicy food, etc., etc. Nothing seems to have any effect. I was hoping not to have to have another c-section, but it is looking like that is the way I'm going to have to go. Actually, I'm feeling pretty good about the decision; I feel like I've done everything I can to avoid it and this is just the way I'm going to have to go.

I'm feeling the same intense curiousity to meet Miss Garbanza as I did at the end of my pregnancy with Anna. I cannot wait to meet this little person who has been kicking away inside of me. I can't wait to see what she looks like, what she sounds like, what her personality is like (you'd be amazed how quickly a baby's personality shows through -- Anna's was clear within a few hours of her birth).

My mom has been here for about 2 weeks, and she's going to stay to the end of the month. It is fantastic to have her here. However, I think she must be getting bored of waiting for the baby's arrival. About 2 weeks ago, it looked like labor was imminent and now we're still waiting. Nevertheless, Anna is having lots of fun with her Amma.

Anna seems excited about the arrival of her baby sister. She has decided to become her own stylist -- it is no longer acceptable for me to pick out her clothes for her. We've had some pretty interesting combinations recently. Anna is obsessed with wearing dresses, and ideally she'd like to wear the same one every day. If her favorite dress isn't available, generally she'll want to wear something that is completely inappropriate for the weather (i.e., a summer dress when it is windy, raining and freezing outside).

Stay tuned for baby news!