My son is six weeks old today. He has been sleeping over 7 hours at night for about 2 weeks, now. He still likes to eat every two hours during the day, though. He will give you smiles and coo at you and will watch you and follow your face.

He has gained two pounds. He is bigger than E was at 6 weeks. He has already outgrown some newborn clothes. He is in the 75th percentile, while my munchkin daughter stayed around the 25th percentile.

He loves the vibrating bouncy seat. He likes to sleep on his side and usually looks to the right and sleeps with his head to the right. I get about a two - five second warning before the hungry cry is heard. The cry doesn't turn off until food is in his mouth. Although sometimes a binkie can hold him for a little while.

His cry is rather high pitched and squeal-like. I am hearing it right now, for it is eating time.

The other day my husband made the comment that I was no longer eating for two, so I shouldn't be having any more cravings. I shot back that I was still eating for two, since I am breastfeeding our son, and I could still have cravings if I wanted to.

We test drove a Chevy Venture today. My husband's boss is selling his. We have been contemplating buying a new car - one that we will all fit in and all our stuff. Right now we have a Honda Civic and Del sol. Obviously the two seater isn't a family friendly car. And we figure if we buy a new car, it should hold a family of five (since we plan on having at least one more child) and the stuff belonging to a family of five.

This car is a good deal. It isn't exactly what I want, but it does have many of the features we want and some perks, like a DVD player, 8 passenger seating, remote start-up, and a built-in child safety seat, which E used today.

And in honor of my best friend P, it has warning back up lights. When you are getting close to something behind you, one yellow light goes on, then two yellow lights, than a red light.

I have been a mother of two now for a little more than a month. Within the last week or two, I feel like I can hardly get anything accomplished during the day. I am usually up by 7:00am and by the time I get all three of us ready in the morning and breakfast on the table, it's nearly 9:00am. Then by the time I clean up the kitchen after breakfast, it's nearly lunch time on some days. E gets to her nap late, which means she wakes up late. She is still sleeping while I am preparing dinner.

And all the while J seems to be sleeping or demanding to eat. (As he is now.)

And when E is finally down for her nap, I just want to sit on the couch and not do anything. Two days this week that is what I did. And J took his nap on my chest. It was wonderful to be able to hold my sleeping boy and cuddle with him.

As I said, my little one wants to eat - RIGHT NOW!

Dell. The customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

I finally got somewhere with them. My best friend P got through to a very important person and passed on her name to me. This lady effectively and swiftly took care of both our problems.

I do have to say though, that my problem isn't completely solved, in that they are crediting the credit card with which we paid. It has been over a year since we bought our computer, and we have since canceled that credit card. We have to wait for the credit card company to let Dell know that we canceled it, then Dell is supposedly going to send us a check.

I am slightly skeptical that we will ever see a check. But, my friend P got what the lady promised her. So, we will see.

I spent over 30 minutes in line at Wal-Mart last night. I was just a bit perturbed over that. Especially when while waiting in one of the three long lines, a self checkout line light went on. I thought, no wait. But when I got to the check-out, there was a closed sign on the conveyer belt. So, back to the long lines I went, farther back and people with more stuff in front of me this time.

But then looking over at the self-check out lines again, there was one man checking out and another waiting. So back over I went. Halfway through checking out, a Wal-Mart employee tells me this lane is closed. I say the light is on and two people already went through. She was rather indignant as she handed me back my things that I already rang up. She canceled out my order, and told me that Customer Service could help me. Why I couldn't just finish my purchase, I don't know. Obviously if two people went through in front of me, I could have too.

So, then I went to Customer Service. But waiting in line there, I thought that I really shouldn't be in this line. I didn't have a return or a problem, save that Wal-Mart should have had more than three regular lines and one 12 items or less lines open. So, I went back over to a regular line to wait. And wait. And wait. And get this. While I was in line waiting, they closed one of the regular lines.

I guess that if you are a shopper after 10:00 pm, expect to wait a long time to check out. You'd think with 14 more shopping days until Christmas, they would have more lines open. On my way out I picked up a Customer Satisfaction paper to fill out.

Did I mention that I had a hungry infant with me?

Here are my daughter and my son on the day they were born.

I finally ripped out the carpet in the dining room. That nasty carpet had four cat urine spots. It stunk. During the end of my pregnancy, I could smell it the second I walked into the house.

In installing the wall to wall carpet, someone thought it a good idea to glue the padding down. The adhesive is still on the floor. It is rather unsightly. I have not tackled getting it off yet. I am hoping that it comes off without a major project ensuing. If it requires sanding and refinishing, than we will be living with it for a while.

If I want our cat, Patches, to come, I shake her food dish.

If I want our cat, Kalli, to come, I run the faucet in the bathtub.

If I want my daughter to come, I jiggle the lid on the candy dish.

They each come running with the appropriate stimulus. It's rather humorus.

I highly recommend that if you have an epidural to take away pain during labor, that you not let the catheter get stuck in your back.

Yes, lucky me had that happen. After my son was born, I was all cleaned up, and almost ready to head to my post-partum room, the anesthesiologist came in to remove the epidural catheter. Well, he pulled and tugged, had me sit this way and that, told me to lie down and curled up, then pulled and tugged some more. But he just couldn't get that thing out. So, I got to sleep with it still in my back.

I also recommend not sleeping with an epidural catheter in your back. Not a comfortable sleep you will have, especially if you have just given birth and still have your IV needle in your wrist, which the nurses won't take out because you might have to go to surgery in the morning. Never mind that they could just put it in again later or that it wasn't a good line anymore anyway, or that it was really hurting.

I am truly disappointed in the care I received with my stay this time. When I had my daughter, I enjoyed my stay in the hospital. The nurses were wonderful and caring. This time I expected the same treatment, but didn't find it. I was on hold to have my water broken, because of a mother having a Cesaerean for twins. It took forever to get my epidural, I guess because the anesthesiologist was busy with the Cesaerean.

Another recommendation is that if an epidural catheter gets stuck in your back, make sure that when they finally get it out, that they show you the end to ensure it all came back out, and that a piece wasn't left inside you. Saturday morning, the spinal surgeon came in to take a look see at my stuck catheter. He was able to do some pulling and tugging and get it out. He was also nice enough to show me the end, so I knew (not that I really knew, because I don't know what it looked like before it was inserted into my back, to verify that it was all still intact coming out) that nothing came off in my back.

I was also finally able to be rid of the IV needle. And now thanks to that being left in my arm overnight, I have a numb spot higher up on my arm and a shooting pain when I reach for things. It is slowly going away. The advice I got for it - apply heat several times a day.

So, now I am sure you are all pining to have an epidural.

Interestingly, my two experiences with pain blockage of epidurals was different. When I had E, I didn't feel the contractions once I had the epidural and I don't remember feeling so numb. Not so with J. The epidural took the pain away to begin with while giving me numbness, but after awhile I could feel the contractions again. I didn't like that so much. I was suppose to not feel them. With E I couldn't really feel her being born, but I sure could with J. I did push for a lot less time with J. I also think I am healing faster this time.

I find it very curious that I had completely different experiences at the same hospital, in the same room, two years apart. Different doctors too.

My friend P said I should pick a different hospital for my next child.

I held my son for the first time Friday night, November 17th at 7:50 pm.

He is a precious boy. I love him dearly.

My daughter is getting used to her bed. My husband is working to get her furniture ready to put in her room. I am hoping that I don't have to wait much longer to have my baby.

I had an OB appointment today. I am almost 2 cm dilated. That of course means nothing in the world of having babies. I could go into labor any minute or make my OB appointment next week. My friend P has it all planned out. I will go into labor approximately at 9:00 am this Saturday morning. This will give her time to sleep in before driving up to be here. Depending on how long I labor, it also will possibly give us time to play some games, maybe go shopping at Wal-Mart (we did this my last pregnancy.)

I just want to have my baby in the morning on an odd number day. Such as tomorrow morning or Saturday morning. I like odd numbers better than even, and I want to have as much time at the hospital after my son is born as possible. Earlier in the day gives you the most time. I know this from having E. She was born at 7:41 am. I had all day Sunday, Monday and half of Tuesday at the hospital. If she had been born at 7:41 pm, I would have missed out on 12 hours of recovery time. I am assuming that they don't discharge you in the late evening. Anyway, I had a very good hospital experience, so I want to get the most of it again.

I am still trying to decide on epidural or no epidural. I could go in and say give me drugs. Or wait and see like I did with E. I go back and forth. I know I won't get one right away, at least. I also know that generally when my body is in pain, I take something for it. Why should childbirth be any different? I am questioning this whole natural birth experience idea.

First, I think the term "natural birth" is incorrectly used. I had a natural birth, I just didn't feel all of it. What they should call it is a pain medication free birth. The only kind of not natural birth I can think of is a cesarean, because the baby is born through a cut in the abdomen, instead of the birth canal.

Second, do women who don't want pain medication during labor also not use anything for their entire pregnancy? Meaning if they had heartburn, no antacids? If they had back or head aches, no acetaminophen? If they had hemorrhoids, no witch hazel? Did they try to make themselves more comfortable during pregnancy, but not during labor? Just wondering.

Today's naptime was much the same as yesterday's naptime. Bed. Still awake - dirty diaper. Crib - still awake - dirty diaper. I may have tried the bed again, but I can't remember. I do remember that after I did get her up, and she kept keeping from getting things ready for my craft fair that evening, I stuck her back in her crib.

I had a table at a craft/vendor fair tonight. I was working diligently to get things ready for it. E kept getting into everything. I was already running late, so in the crib she went. She stayed there till my mom came to watch her for me. E wasn't happy about her situation.

My time at the fair was for naught - if you count the amount of business it brought me. None. Not a person signed up for my information or bought anything. I didn't even have that many people stop to look at what I had on the table. And maybe one person looked at one of the albums I spent time putting together. I did however get to work on two birthday presents. And it was a learning experience. An expensive learning experience.

I did get a bag of Entenmann's cookies out of the deal.

Oh yes, and did I mention that I am still very much ready to have my baby?

Today E's big girl bed came. G came home for lunch to set up her new bed. Let me tell you, the mattress is so thick, that the safety rail we got is almost ineffective. You can't just sit down on the bed, you have to hop on up. E was quite taken with it. She enjoyed laying on it. That is until naptime. The girl did not end up taking a nap. We tried, though. We went through the naptime routine, and I laid her in her new bed. An hour later, still wide awake, with a poopy diaper. I changed her and switched to the crib. Surely that would work, and she'd take a nap. Wrong. After another hour the girl was still not the least bit sleepy and had another dirty diaper. I just got her up at that point and even tried going for a drive. Still E's eyes stayed open.

Bedtime was different. My husband rocked her to sleep, then put her in her bed. She slept in it fine.

My daughter was adorable tonight. We dressed her up as Pebbles. She helped hand out candy and helped herself as well. We had almost 200 trick-or-treaters.

As the evening progressed, E was getting restless. So while my mother monitored the candy, G and I walked our girl down one side of our block and back the other side. She had a grand time.

I was surprised that we really didn't have any more kids come much after 8:00 pm. That was alright, since we were getting low on candy. It was such a nice night out that we sat on our porch to hand out the candy. One kid was quite brazen and thought he'd take three pieces of candy. I immediately informed him that one piece was enough. He reluctantly put the two back and kept looking at me as he walked away. I suppose I could have let him have all three since we really didn't have many kids after him. There were some other opportunists that came by, trying to sneak more than on piece of candy. Instead of actually handing out the candy, we let the kids pick which piece they wanted.

Anyway, it was quite interesting to see so many kids walking down the streets. And some had parents who dressed up, too.

I am ready to deliver my baby. But nothing is happening.

I had a Creative Memories Workshop today. Four people showed up. We had a good time organizing and creating. I was able to get through all the photos I brought and put them in chronological order by year. And then for each year, as best as I could remember, I put the photos in order by month. I have another box full to go through still. That might prove harder since some are photos of my husband's from we were married.

I was told by everyone who came that the enjoyed themselves and that I need to do it again. I plan on it, but I am going to wait until January. That will give my some time to get used to being a mother of two.

I have been getting a certain kind of spam email for a while now, and frankly I am tired of it. I don't know what to do about it, and interestingly, the email that comes is not always my address, yet there it is in my inbox.

I emailed Verizon today about email abuse. Fat lot of good that did. I got a canned email message saying that someone might look into it and get back to me it they need more information. I was not to count on anyone really helping me. They gave me some web sites to check out for email blocking and such. When I followed the instructions to do that, the menus they talked about were not available. So I called Verizon. After much ado, I was informed that the links I was looking for were being updated and would not be available to view until Nov. 5th. I wasn't about to keep getting these email spams at least 7 times a day until then. I decided to delete the email address they were attached to, and I created a new one.

My new email address now corresponds to my Creative Memory business.

What To Pack

My dad surprised my mom with a trip to Williamsburg for her birthday. I was in charge of packing for her. With not living in the house for six years and only seeing her clothes on her for short spots of time, I know I over packed. Three pairs of khakis in the hopes that one would be the right one. Two pairs of jeans. One pair of brown pants. Six long sleeve button-up shirts, all which I knew fit, but didn't know what her preference would be. A few short sleeve shirts and two snuggly warm shirts. The woman has way more jewelry than she wears, so I just guessed at that. And luckily her toiletries bag holds most of what is in the bathroom cabinet. I certainly don't know what she uses in preparing for the day and getting ready for bed. My dad couldn't even really help, and he lives with her, using the same bathroom.

Well, apparently I did rather well. My mom had all she needed. And she had a fabulous time and was totally surprised. My parents had gone to Williamsburg for their honeymoon, so it was a nostalgic time also.

My daughter is continuing to amaze me.

I just saw E take the rest of her banana peel off her banana and throw it away. Then she came and told me she threw out the yucky. Now having finished her banana, she went and got her cloth and wiped her hands and mouth (of course I had to do a supplemental wiping.) And while I was vacuuming, the vet called to verify an appointment for Monday, and I didn't hear the phone, but E did. She took it off the hook and brought it to me.

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A very important note. Watch out for FLYING PIGS! Dell Customer Care called (yes, they called me) about a $75.00 coupon (they upped it from $50.00 to $75.00 apparently - I wasn't going to correct them) I have yet to receive, but have been assured I would have by now. I told them to send it USPS, not email, since email has obviously NOT worked. So, now I have been assured that we should get it in 7- 10 business days. I am not holding my breath.

I don't remember if I have talked about my issues with Dell, so here is some background information. There was a rebate offer if you purchased a computer and signed up for Verizon DSL at the same time. So, we bought a refurbished Dell computer and signed up for Verizon DSL for a year. Filled out the rebate form. Received a post card saying that because we didn't include our order number (the form never asked for it,) the rebate was being denied. I called. Fast forward a year and about 1,000 calls later. NO rebates for refurbished computers, but I could have a $50.00 Dell coupon instead. Fast forward five months and, again, many calls and three emails later, I still have no coupon. Well, blow me over Dell called me today.

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I had a doctor's appointment today. I didn't get to see her. I left after waiting fifteen minutes in the office waiting room and fifteen minutes in the exam room. I could hear the doctor talking with other patients during my appointment time. Tell me how could she possibly be backed up by 8:50 in the morning? I made my appointment the earliest I could, and I still ended up waiting and then eventually leaving. I had my daughter with me, and her attention span does not afford waiting forever to see a doctor. She was done waiting, so we left. I have a new appointment with a different doctor. In fact, the one who was interested in Creative Memories products. Maybe I'll get a sale out of this.

Today marks 34 weeks of pregnancy for me. While I fully enjoy knowing there is life growing inside me, my precious son, I do not enjoy the relief map of veins down my legs, the pressure under my belly, the heartburn that has crept it's way into my evenings, exacerbated by my prenatal vitamins (don't ask me why they have become a catalyst for upper digestive tract gas - I am burping the most horrendous tastes and it hurts my throat.) And a cough I have recently developed causes a most embarrassing situation.

I find myself not enjoying this pregnancy like I did when I was pregnant with E, and I feel guilty. I want to enjoy being pregnant, but my body is making it very hard.

Tomorrow I am calling my OB to discuss either a different prenatal vitamin or something to take care of all the gas and heartburn it has started producing. I thought that part of the problem was that I was laying down right after taking it. I take it right before bed. So, I thought that I would take it earlier. But last night instead of just maybe 20 minutes of the gas heartburn issue, I had three hours of it. Tonight I am not taking my prenatal vitamin.