My daughter is so amazing! Scarlet made a visit to our new family practice MD on her two week birthday and weighed in at a grand total of 9lbs 7oz. The doc was going on and on as if she had not made the quota of 1oz per day that they want a newborn gaining in these first few weeks. It occurred to me that he didn’t have the right numbers plugged into the calculations in his head and once I clarified the trend of her weight gain, he grinned and said that he was impressed. Good. That’s right…these boobs are doing their job this time around. Not that Audrey didn’t have what she needed but I think there was just enough. I feel confident this time around that there is plenty of milk for Scarlet to grow big and strong and quite possibly, chunky.

Low point to my day–> I dragged myself out of my sleep depraived stupor and got my two daughters and myself dressed, cleaned up and packed up to head to the library for the toddler story hour at the library. I had received a brochure in the mail with all the upcoming programs at the library and in my attempt to get out of the house once per day I was all geared up to go with Audrey. And I think she was looking forward to it as well. She kept rehearsing the plan with me. It went something like this: “Mommy, when we get there you sit in the chair with Scarlet and I will sing songs and hear stories.” We arrive at the Gurnee library at exactly 9:30am [which is a feat in itself with a newborn, especially since I had time to blow dry my hair and put on a little mascara]. I rush in with Audrey in tow and ask the librarian where the story hour is and she looks at me like I wasn’t speaking English. Turns out that they had just completed their eight week program. I swear that the brochure said it started November 4th. Confused, I walk away, crestfallen, and explain to Audrey Anne that mommy made a mistake somehow and that there wasn’t story/song time. Poor girl. She bounced back much better than me. Here I thought I was being a good mom and providing a fun opportunity for my eldest daughter and smoosh, good idea got all mixed up. I plop down in an overstuffed chair and mope, attempting to nurse the squeaking Scarlet in public. And I just stare. And stare. We leave after forty five minutes of Audrey running around and pulling out all the books her heart good desire and when we arrive home I look at the brochure and sure enough I failed to take note that it was the Waukegan library, not the Gurnee library. Ug.

High points to my day—> The biggest one I can’t write about a whole lot here on the blog, but it is a huge answer to my prayers these last few months. It is going to allow me to be at home with my children more and I won’t have to go through the tedious and miserable process of finding a childcare provider to hand my very small baby to as I run off to work. For some reason, it feels easier to drop a two year old off at a child care provider, but to drop off an 8 week old baby, ug, break my heart open and spill rubbing alcohol all over it. But I won’t have to do that this time around…thank you, Jesus. And the second and equally important high point to my day: a small pan of tiramisu from the quaint Italian grocery store called Poeta’s in Highwood. {Thanks Jenakochena for introducing me to the tiramisu sold here in your hometown long ago when you brought us dinner after Audrey Anne was born…remembering your generosity.}

I am in the hurricane of hormones that blow through a woman’s body following birth. One moment I feel flat and low, the next I am tearing up with the most tiny provocation of tenderness and care. I feel myself bracing internally for the foreboding approaching storm of anxiety with every early sunset. I don’t want to eat which is remarkably abnormal for me. And most of the time, I just want to run away.

I recognize this is just a season, like hurricane season. It will go away over time; hopefully sooner rather than later. So I catch myself feeling surprised when I hear myself laugh, I mean really laugh.

One day, Ivan and I were driving the long drive south to Evanston talking and sharing vulnerably with one another and, of course, I was crying. Ivan’s cell phone buzzes with a text message and this is what it says, “I hear your family dinged! Congratulations!” In World of Warcraft, when you gain a level you shout out to the guild or the city community you are in with a “ding”. And everyone knows that you just bumped up one level. So when we go this text it just made me giggle and giggle and giggle. It is true, our family has dinged with the addition of little Scarlet. Jeremiah, thanks for making me giggle with your cute little text.

Today, Audrey is looking super intently at my face, inspecting my nose and all of a sudden she says to me, “Mommy, you have spider webs in your nose.” And then she proceeds to do her silly swatting bug motion and says, “Go away, bug!” Never had my boogers described as spider webs before. Sure made me laugh aloud.

Audrey has discovered the Madagascar movies after going to the theatre with my mom right after Scarlet was born. I ended up buying the first movie on DVD and she loves it and can’t stop talking about it. But you should see her dance and sing the song, “I like to move it, move it!” Hysterical. She has become quite the little singer.

Um, that is the only 3 funny things I can think of right now…I need more funnies.
As an oncology nurse, I always preach that the way we get through it is to sing, laugh and dance. And I think that is true for postpartum days as well.

One day there was a healthy **baby in the tummy** growing strong within my womb, making it difficult to breathe, sleep, eat, move, roll over, walk, bend over…

And as Audrey Anne says, the doctor (really midwife Gaye) helped the little one come out of mommy’s tummy and we were so glad to finally meet our new little Scarlet!!

I gave birth to another daughter.

She came on her due date which I was delighted with–election day, of all days.

It was a bright, cheerful and sunny morning when I went into labor and she was born midday.

It was a remarkably short and *easy* labor…really it was. I think when she was finally born I said something to the effect of, “That wasn’t so bad” quickly followed with “I am so glad that is over with…”.

I had a list of hopes and dreams of how this birth might go, especially compared with the first experience I had birthing Audrey Anne, and I have to say with joy brimming over in my heart that I got everything I wanted and more. The only thing not on the list was the tub room to do water birth, but honestly, I don’t think there was time for that.

And I am so much more relaxed this time around–about everything.

And I am sure you are wondering what this little one is called and we have declared that she is to be called Scarlet Charleen Martens!

And for those of you who like details:
Height: a little over 20 inches long
Weight: 8lbs 13oz (I make ‘em big and healthy)
Time: 12:24pm
Date: November 4th, 2008, election day

We rejoice!
Pictures (as you can imagine)are to come!