Visitors

As I mentioned in the previous post, my mom was down here helping me out last week. She was here for four nights, two of which Jarrett was away on a business retreat, so it was especially nice that she was able to be here during that time. We split our time running around and doing things and "lazing" around the house.

My mom arrived on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday Elsa went to her playgroup while my mom, Aveline, and I went to my two-week post-partum visit with the midwife. I saw Anjli, which was great since she was who ended up actually delivering Avie. She ooed and ahhed over the baby, and we basically just chatted about how things were going with me, how things were going with Avie and Elsa, and what birth control plans we were mulling over. As my mom said after the appointment, it seemed Anjli was willing to stay and talk with me for as long as I wanted/needed, which is a great feeling to have when it comes to medical professionals. I will go back in a couple of weeks for my six-week appointment, at which time I will actually be examined to make sure everything is healing well, my uterus is going back to the proper size, etc. After the appointment, we ran a few errands and grabbed lunch out before heading back to Gabriela's to pick up Elsa.

Elsa played hookie from playgroup on Thursday, and we met up with Kate and James and all went to the aquarium for the morning. My mom and I had gone together once before fairly soon after its grand opening, and the crowds were outrageous. This time she was able to get closer to the exhibits, although maybe had to move through quicker than she would had she not been helping in keeping up with Elsa! That evening, my mom took over Elsa bedtime duty and let me head out for a girls' night over at Kate's house. I took Avie, so I was not completely child-free, but it was still so nice just to get out for a bit and hang out with some of the girls.

On Friday we made the trip to the pumpkin patch, and then late Saturday morning my mom headed back home... with Elsa! In the middle of the night Friday/Saturday, when I was up with both Aveline and Elsa, I had the brilliant thought that maybe Elsa could go home with my mom for just one night and then Jarrett's dad and Susan could pick her up on their way down here on Sunday. My mom was totally for it when I mentioned it to her the next morning, and Bill and Susan were nice enough to go with the plan to meet my parents on Sunday. And, best of all, my mom decided to surprise my dad. He had no clue until my mom arrived home and told him she had a surprise for him in the backseat. He was delighted! And so was Elsa. She even got to see Uncle Billy Sunday morning! And she was introduced to her new sleeping option at my parents' house -- a little tent that looks like a house, which fits over an air mattress. Apparently she was thrilled with it.

It was so nice to my mom here, and I know Elsa appreciated all the time she had to play with her grandma. Thanks, Mom!

This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jarrett's dad and Susan. They were here until yesterday morning, and were also a huge help. Jarrett's dad fulfilled a couple of chores that had been on our to-do list for some time -- installing a chain on our front door so Elsa can no longer escape (another story I should probably blog about at some point) and hanging a wall hanging my grandmother made above the changing table (Avie is already totally enthralled with it during diaper changes). Susan helped with a lot of the meals, which was very nice. And Elsa had two more playmates around. They took a walk in the drizzle and collected leaves, walked over to the park and played hide-and-seek and "I'm going to get you," and spent the length of many verses of "Humpty Dumpty" in the backyard. I also really lucked out and got a really wonderful massage from Jarrett's dad. It was incredibly relaxing, and I am fairly certain I even dozed off for a small amount of time while on the table. It was great to be able to spend time with them both.

Now, the past couple of days, I am trying to find some sort of a routine again in our daily lives. So far, so good. Things might look a little messy at this point, but we are all getting dressed, fed, delivered to where we need to go, and loved on as much as possible. I am not saying that it is incredibly easy -- having this second child has certainly been a huge adjustment for us all, not to mention all of the other stressors we are dealing with these days, but we are making it. And I know things will only get better... and easier.