When it is time to change Jacob’s diaper, Connor gives us a hand.  I missed the beginning of the changing, but this gives you an idea of what he does.

What you are missing is when he hands Mommy a clean diaper and a wipe.  Then he gets the diaper cream ready in case Mommy needs it.

Enjoy.

We went for a walk at City Center this evening. We stopped for some ice cream before we headed home.

(Standard disclaimer…check with your doctor before trying any of this…)

Funny story but also some information for you “mother-to-be’s” out there…

Seeing Victoria started to breastfeed and then ran into problems, she needed to get her body to stop producing more milk.  Cabbage leaves, motrin, and cold compresses of peas were the prescription for a few days.  Victoria was still quite uncomfortable and a quick search online led me to finding that Sage tea twice a day helps decrease lactation.  So, after talking to a co-worker (Mr. Dallen) about where to buy tea leaves in the area, he directed me to Health Trail Natural Foods near Hilton in Newport News.

So I stopped by the store after work one day and bought some Sage tea leaves.  Victoria started drinking it twice a day and within a couple of days she noticed she was getting better.  Probably within 5 days she was “all better” and is no longer drinking the Sage tea.  It is amazing what natural remedies are out there…

Victoria was a little upset about her uterus not contracting as quickly as it did with Connor (because she breastfed with him), so I figured if the Sage tea helped with lactation, something surely can help with the uterus.  BINGO!  Red raspberry tea leaves.  Actually, I read that this helps with delivery mainly…makes the contractions not as bad and helps brings  on contractions for a “post term baby”.  I did read that it helps with contracting of the uterus after birth as well…so Victoria said she wanted to try it.

So, back to Health Trail Natural Foods I went.  They were out of the pre-packaged tea on the shelf, so I asked a lady working there if they had any in the back…here is how the conversation went from there…

Cashier #1 — “We have some loose tea leaves that I can give you.”

Me — “Great.”

Cashier #1 — (Looking perplexed a little.)  “Are you getting this for your lady friend?”

(First, I guess the politically correct thing is to refer to my “partner” as my “lady friend” and not my wife…can’t assume anything now a days.  At least she didn’t say, “your baby’s mommy”.)

Me — “Yes.”

Cashier #1 — “Do you know what this does?”

Me — “Yes…it helps contract the uterus.  My wife gave birth two weeks ago, started breastfeeding but was unable to continue.  She is looking to help contract the uterus and I read this helps.”

Cashier #1 — (Shocked and amazed.)  “Wow, you know a lot about this.  I wish I would have known all this when I had my kids 20 years ago.”

Me — (Noticed an older woman in her 60’s was ease dropping on our conversation.)  “I was in here last week and bought my wife some Sage tea which helps decrease lactation.  He has worked wonders for her in the last 5 days, so we figured we would look for another natural remedy.”

60+ old woman — “I am impressed.”  (The two ladies are now laughing.)

Cashier #1 — “Do you mind if I bring the other cashier over here so I can explain to her what you have told me?”

Me — “Sure.”

Cashier #1 — (To cashier #2) “This gentleman bought Sage tea last week for his wife it helps with…”

Cashier #2 — “Wow…you are a wonderful husband!”

Cashier #1 — “Look at how your eyes match your shirt…you have gorgeous eyes.”

Me — (Sorry ladies…this “puppy is not for sale”…see this gold band on my ring finger???)  I smiled and left…

Connor (and Jacob if you have blue eyes)…remember where you got those “baby blues” from.

Update on the red raspberry tea leaves…it seems to be helping.  Victoria takes it once a day (at night) and has noticed her uterus has been contracting the last few nights.

My boy went and had his 2nd official haircut at Super Cuts the other day and did great!  She is even able to use the clippers on him and he likes it.

As long as he gets his lollipop, he doesn’t care what is happening to his hair.

I finalized realized why I like the newborn/infant phase?  I am the type of person that is constantly on the go, never able to “sit still” at home.  Well, having an infant that requires your attention forces me to “slow it down”.

It takes at least an hour to feed, burp, and change Jacob.  Then there is the time I spend with him lying on the couch (on my chest like I used to do with Connor).  I love that time.  It seems to calm him down…

Sleep deprivation is not as bad as everyone always makes it out to be.  I guess pregnancy is a funny thing because it “prepares” you for having an infant.  See, Victoria was getting up every few hours to use the restroom during the last couple of months a pregnancy which then would cause me to wake up as well.  So, my body adjusted to this.  Then along comes Jacob and we have to feed him every 3-4 hours.  Really not a big deal especially since Mommy and I are taking shifts at night time.

Watching for that first smile (more like an involuntarily smile), observing the way Jacob looks around when he hears noises, the pride I get from seeing him take more formula than the last feeding, seeing his weight go up at the doctor’s office, etc…

All cool stuff!  Sure, I really enjoy the toddler years but the infant stage is one that causes me to “slow it down and enjoy”.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have had a lot of help from family and friends.  Dinners were provided by Ms. Laura (Abby and Isaac’s Mom), Grandma, and Mimi.

Grandma watched Connor while we were in the hospital.

This past week, Mimi took the week off and spent the day with Mommy, Connor, and Jacob.  She helped out by making dinner, doing the laundry, feeding the boys, and just spending time with her grandsons and daughter.  Victoria was even able to get out a few times (even though she tried to find any excuse not to leave the house).

So, to all of you…THANK YOU!!!!

At 2 weeks, Jacob has demonstrated he has mastered feeding.

5lbs 8oz (5 oz greater than his birth weight)

18″ long (same as at birth)

Here is a note from Grandma to Uncle Danny…

When Connor spends the night with me, after his bath I ask him if he wants yogurt for a snack before  bed, he shakes his head “no” and then replies “cookie”.  And then follows it up with “two cookies”.  So we head into the kitchen for his bedtime snack.  He points to the refrig where he knows I keep his Little Debbie Swiss Roll Cakes.   I offer other smaller cookies but this one his is favorite.  (I forgot to mention that Victoria and Donnie are big fans of these cakes as well).
So, Connor gets into his seat and anxiously awaits his snack.  As I begin to open the 2-cake package, he makes it known that he wants both the cakes.  So, I give him one on his plate first and proceed to get him a drink of milk.  He picks up the cake and firmly holds it in his hand, never putting it back down onto his plate once.  He holds it so close to himself and nearly halfway under the table like he is trying to hide it.  I remind him to eat slow, small bites but he eats like he is starving.   Before long, he wants the 2nd one and does the same thing firmly guarding his cake close to his body.  Seems like a lot to eat and a little strange how he doesn’t want to let go of the cake, but I finally figured out the “Rest of the story!”.

As I was relaying the story to Donnie, he tells me they share the 2-cake pkg together, Donnie getting one and Connor getting one.  Then Donnie mentions that he also kinda helps Connor eat his cake as well.

So, besides Connor convincing me that he is a “2-cookie boy” and it is allowed, I now know that Connor holds on to his cake for dear life so his Daddy doesn’t eat it on him.

Connor loves his “Little Debs” at Grandma’s house best!