July 10 -- 5 More Days

11:45 p.m.  Five more days!

Guess what, I can’t sleep – what a surprise these days.   We put Dominic Down at 9:00 and Chris was bushed and fell fast asleep. 

I tossed and turned, but finally at 10:30 I rolled out of bed and decided to get down on my hands and knees and scrub the kitchen floor.  Something I’ve been meaning to do for a couple of weeks now.  Thought it would tire me out.  Not so.  

This is good though because I can add a few more thoughts and some up to date pix.

SAVORING SUMMER

Let’s just touch upon the highlights of our week.  First – two movies in one week!  On Monday I went 

to one solo – My Sister’s Keeper.  And on Wednesday Chris and I went out and saw “Away We Go”.  Both movies were accompanied by buttery popcorn and absolute escape.  We both love going to the movies.

Oh, by the way, “Away we Go” was wonderful!  It’s about a couple that is expecting a child but can’t quite figure out where “home” should be.  So they go on a search to visit friends and family around the country while searching for “home”.  We laughed, shed a couple of tears and overall enjoyed the escape.

Tuesday – July 7 (The day I thought for months that our sweet baby would arrive…  Oops!  I’m beginning to wonder if she’s real?)

HAIRCUT -- Dominic got his haircut.  It was a huge turning point because I didn’t have to hold him and semi-pin him down.  He decided that he wanted to sit on the motorcycle haircutting chair.  He was a superstar!   He was so proud to be sitting on a motorcycle.  And afterwards, he insisted that he get a pink balloon as his reward.  I love his balanced approach to life – a little masculine with the feminine.

Of course that evening when Chris came home, he said, “Daddy, I want a motorcycle.”  Chris said he’d get him one when he’s 5.  O.K. – not sure how I feel about that just yet.  Doesn’t 5 seem a bit young?  He hasn’t even mastered the tricycle yet. 

I do have a feeling that motorcycles are in our near future as Dominic takes every chance he can get to sit on Chris’s motorcycle in the garage.  And let me tell you, that motorcycle is the envy of every little boy who happens to wander into the garage.  It does amaze me how little boys truly do seem to be prewired for these things.

After the haircut, Dominic and I went and visited with some of my friends and their little ones from school.  A colleague who I used to teach with at LOJ but moved to Texas a few years ago, came to visit.  She has a 6 month old, Amelia who we had not met yet.  It was a wonderful morning.  I got to catch up with friends and Dominic had a blast playing with the kiddos.

Wednesday – July 8 (One week out from scheduled cesarean.  Can’t wait to meet this baby.  Feels like she’s getting HUGE!)

Today Miss Irene and her kiddos Augie, Eddie and Olivia came to play.  Dominic was so HAPPY!  Miss Irene takes care of him when I work and Dominic adores her and the kiddos.  He’s been asking to see them for over a week! 

Thursday – July 9  -- Day at the Zoo

Auntie Sara took Dominic and Aidan to the zoo.  Dominic loves playing with his cousins! 

Dominic said that he got to pet and brush the goats.  And he told us about the mama and daddy hippos playing with a ball.  He sad they opened their mouths really wide – of course his explanation involved showing us with his hands and mouth.  Auntie Sara said that Dominic walked the entire time.  He’s getting to be such a big boy!

Today – July 10 --  Dominic and I played at home.  We read books, painted, played with play dough, played games, sang, danced and took a glorious nap.  When Chris came home we headed down to the Pearl District to have slices of warm cheesy pizza at Hot Lips Pizza.  Afterwards, Chris and Dominic played in the fountain as I sat with my big old belly on a slab of granite.  Dominic loves that fountain!  Chris got to chase him and race with him all over the place.

Afterwards, we went and had ice cream cones.  What a perfect summer night!

Hello!

July 7, 2009

Hello!

What is it about the anticipation of a baby’s arrival that brings about inability to sleep past 4 a.m.?  If it’s not my hips screaming at me to WAKE UP, it’s the thoughts whirling through my mind!!!

Is it me? Or do most moms experience the same productive 4a.m. wakeful hours prior to baby?  I often wonder if this is why Dominic woke at 4 am and eventually 4:30 for almost the fist year after his birth – I conditioned him prior to his arrival by my weeks of 4 a.m. wakeups?  I suppose this theory will be tested with sweet baby number two.

Enough of my internal babble. 

Hello family, hello friends!  It’s time to tread into this world of “social media” and begin to share some “snapshots” of Lepore Life.  My purpose is two-fold. First, I owe it to our dear family in Ohio to share our wee ones.  The remainder of our family and friends may even appreciate and occasional glimpse as well.  Second, I have this thing about writing that I have quite clearly put on the back burner for too long.  Perhaps this semi-public blog will inspire me to finally put “pen to paper” and begin sharing.  Time will tell.

What better time to is there to start a blog than days, maybe hours before the arrival of our long-anticipated newest family member?  

As I was tossing in bed this morning – before I finally got up at 3:56 – I was thinking back to when Dominic arrived.  What sort of lessons we have learned and discoveries we have stumbled across.   Let’s begin…

DISCOVERIES

Dominic:  JOY – v [intrans.] rejoice. I’d add to this definition, “basking or awakened by absolute happiness.”

Upon Dominic’s arrival I will forever remember JOY.  When we first met Dominic, it was the only word I conjure up to describe this indescribable.  It was like having my breath taken away by a flood of happiness.  Joy – I could taste it, smell it and feel it’s warm radiance. 

Since Dominic’s arrival, there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t pause and reflect upon the laughter, smiles, and awe and wonder that out little man inspires.  

Joy is delicious!

Baby Girl:  PATIENCE - n. The capacity to accept delay, trouble or suffering without getting upset.

On so many levels, our soon-to-be sweet baby girl is teaching me the meaning of patience.  From her conception, she taught me to relinquish control.  She will appear when she is ready.  It’s not about our schedule or our expectations.  We need to sit back and enjoy the ride.  Be patient. 

It is only as of this week that I have discovered that throughout this journey of so wanting our second child, I have had to learn patience. 

First, be open to new experiences.  I must say this has been an eye-opening discovery.  I think that I have unconsciously assumed that our second child experience would mirror our first.  Not so.  She will be her own little unique self!

Let’s start with birth preparation.  I assumed that our second childbirth experience would be similar to our first – au natural.  Not so.

I must say, I have forgotten the intensity of the pain of labor and honestly remember it as a beautiful pain that lead to the apogee of joy.  (OK, so I remember the pain of childbirth as making the slow slog to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro look like a walk in the park. But truly, it was worth every grueling second of pain and I was looking forward to reliving that feeling again.)

Think again.  Be patient.  Be open to a new experience --  Cesarean. 

Yes, our second child has decided to hang out in the breech position. This time it looks as if the birth of our child will not be as closely in our hands but in the hands of well-educated experts.  Probably a good thingJ

Needless to say, no beautiful pushing and “coaxing” the child into the world this time around; instead, a gentle arrival on her part.  This time forget the relaxation exercises and gentle music, mostly intimate experience for Chris and I to share. Instead, mentally prepare for large medical crew of 

nurses, anaestheologists and surgeons to administer heavy narcotics and sedation under bright lights.  Prepare for abdominal incision.  Anticipate an entirely new birthing experience.  Bask in the joy of  the gentle arrival of our sweet baby girl!  Let the child take the lead.  Be patient… 

Oh, so many new lessons about patience will gradually appear.  I must take a deep breath and savor each lesson.

Patience truly is a virtue!

 Good-bye for today!  Wonder when our next posting will appear?

The Photos

Left:  Dominic's Arrival -- So maybe he wasn't exactly "gently coaxed".

Right: Just a little photo of our little Mr. Magoo as we so fondly started calling our wee little guy.  Most people said he looked like a little old man.  He eventually grew into his skin!  It will be so fun to look at their arrival pictures side by side!