No Chocolate for Breakfast: A wedding, lack of sleep, and a baby checkup

Last Saturday grandma and grandpa came down to babysit Evie's while Darcy and I went to friends' wedding. The ceremony took place at From This Day Forward, a cute little venue located downtown (intimate setting, the prettiest crystal-looking chairs, and soothingly cool temperature!). After the ceremony we walked over to the Museum of Nature for some group photos, and then came back home to happily find a hungry baby (was hoping to nurse her before returning to the festivities). The dinner was a five-course meal at Vetta Osteria, which we'd somehow never noticed despite being located across the street from the Comic Book Shoppe, the store we visit the most (if we exclude grocery stores). We arrived home shortly after 9pm and Evelyn was apparently good while we were away.


At Vetta Osteria for the wedding dinner.

Sunday early morning Debby took care of Evelyn for a few hours when she awoke which allowed for extra (blissful) sleep. Evelyn's sleep has no pattern yet. For awhile she was sleeping 3-4 hour stretches but recently it's become 1-2.5 hours, which is way harder considering it takes 30-60mins to feed, change and put her back to sleep every time. Apparently this is normal as babies spend more time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is thought to be necessary for the extraordinary development happening in their brain. REM sleep is lighter than non-REM sleep, and more easily disrupted. So every time she wakes up during the night we'll try to keep in mind it's required for her brain development.

Since I moved out of my parents' place I visit them every Sunday afternoon for lunch. My mom's been outraged that we've bailed the last few weeks - the first Sunday Evie was only a few days old and the second one conflicted with a birthday party - anyway, she was thrilled to have Evelyn over. We dressed her in some of her fancier clothes for the occasion.

The beginning of dressing in fancy Sunday clothes for lunch. Darcy and Evie don't look impressed...

Darcy's had been off work for two and a half weeks but returned today. I survived the day with the three kids and even managed to do laundry, cook meals and write this post thanks solely to Liana volunteering (insisting even!) on watching Evelyn. Liana even changed the baby's diaper and got her dressed today: super sister!

Caleb helping prepare dinner

Sisterly love


Girlie outfit Liana picked out for Evie This afternoon I took Evelyn to a follow-up appointment with the midwife. She was a little concerned with the slowness of Evelyn's weight gain. Weighing in at 9 lbs today means she hasn't yet regained her birth weight but that she's close. All those visitors that called her a huge giant baby might have given her a complex. It was suggested I pump a few times a day after feedings but I think I'll also pick up some blessed thistle and fenugreek for good measure. Caleb also had his first swimming lesson ("swimming level 1") at Bob MacQuarrie this afternoon. His cousin Eddie is in his class so it's some nice bonding time for them. I rejoined Sparks People today. I've had good luck with the weight loss software in the past. I like its simplicity; it basically just does the math for you re calories in and energy out. I've lost the pregnancy weight already but still carry a scary amount of pounds picked up these last five years I'm striving to shed.