When we were preparing for Wito’s arrival, my very generous parents wanted to buy us something special for the baby. We decided on a lovely green Bugaboo which, although falling out of favor during Wito’s 3rd and 4th years for the much lighter Maclaren Volo, has made a huge resurgence with #2, Wita. Frankly, I can’t live without the Bugaboo/Graco car seat adapter bizness, considering Wita logs molto hours napping while being toted around the city.
Several times during this last pregnancy, my mom would ask (to no avail) what we would like for Wita’s gift. You know how it goes with subsequent children…you pretty much have everything you need…don’t have room for more stuff…blahdeedah. I couldn’t think of anything. When Wita was born, by our own account, we were still giftless.
Enter my parents’ most genius gift idea yet. They hired Wito’s former nanny (from when I was still working as a pharmaceutical sales rep) to work for me for 4 hours every day for 2 weeks. 4 hours! Every day! For 2 weeks! It was bliss. Bliss, I tell you! Mainly, her job was to keep Wito occupied while my little one continued her quest for The Longest Nursing Bender Ever.
(She’s still on that quest.)
(Seriously. She likes to nurse. Like All The Time. Wito was a huge eater; let me remind you that the boy nearly doubled his birth weight from 6lbs, 11oz to 11lbs, 15oz IN 6 WEEKS, but he was an efficient one. 5 minutes on each side, over and out. Dunzo. This little girl likes to eat a little, sleep a little, eat a little, sleep a little and her favorite daily activity, flicking my nipple in and out of her mouth at an extremely rapid rate. And as benign/tantalizing/interesting as that might sound to non-experienced breastfeeders, it is not any of those adjectives. Try MOTHEREFFING PAINFUL.)
Enough with the nipple talk. (My father is thanking Jesus right now.) The nanny! Well, it was wonderful. She helped with errands and Wito’s activities while I dealt with the precious leech. She even watched over the baby while I paid very close attention to the incredibly buff water polo players, er, I mean Wito, during his swimming lessons at the local high school.
Sad to say that her final day was last Friday and I’m on my own. This turn of events probably explains why my son is entering Hour 2 of Meteor and The Monster Trucks games on my computer and Wita is still in her car seat on the kitchen floor from the errands I ran over two hours ago. (Oh, relax. She’s sleeping in there. I mean, last time I checked she was.)
Thank you, mom and dad. You are the greatest. (And now you know what to get me for every remaining birthday and Christmas gift until the kids are in college.)
amy
August 24, 2010 at 2:48 pmOh, my first was a canoodler (our word for playing with the nipple). I HATED it. You have my greatest sympathy.
And, if you don’t mind a little unsolicited advice – nip that crap in the bud right now. Offer her a pacifier when she does it. (If she’s like mine, she’ll launch it across the room, but it’s better than letting her mangle your nipples).
Just say no to canoodling. It’s a bad habit. Trust me. Take her off the breast immediately when she starts, and do everything you can to distract her. Because I promise that you’ll regret not breaking the habit when her teeth come in!!
I know you’re in the phase of babyhood where it’s all about survival, but trust me – a mom who has been there – you don’t have to put up with the canoodling.
JUST SAY NO TO CANOODLING. That’s my new tagline, Amy! I must say she is getting much better – I definitely don’t put up with it. (And like yours, she HATES THE PACIFIER. She spits it across the room, starts gagging and pretends like I’ve just tried to kill her…any advice on getting her to take one?)
.-= amy´s last blog ..Vampire Virus- Part Deux New Moon =-.
natalie
August 24, 2010 at 2:53 pmThat is about the best gift I can think of! Fantastic parents you’ve got. And belated congrats on the baby… she’s adorable.
Ninotchka
August 24, 2010 at 3:03 pmSeriously great gift. My Mom paid for our doula (with our younger two, didn’t have a doula with the first). It was incredibly helpful and so appreciated.
Rebecca
August 24, 2010 at 3:33 pmTry different types of pacifiers? Keep trying?- with my first baby she liked the soothies only at first and then later preferred other types. My mom stayed with us for about a month and took care of my oldest (13 months when #2 was born) + dishes , laundry etc. It was lifesaving.
Calee
August 24, 2010 at 3:54 pmWill she take a bottle? Audrey was a canoodler but I put up with it so I could read my way though Harry Potter. After that, we re-introduced the bottle (to much annoyance initially on her part) and were able to give my boobs a much needed break every once in a while. Pumping is not exactly fun, but at least its over and done in 10 minutes…
Yes, she drinks from a bottle well. I just prefer to nurse. (Less clean up!) But I do pump every morning regardless…you should see my freezer. Milk for years! ;)
Angella
August 24, 2010 at 6:03 pmEvery time you write about your parents, I wonder if they would adopt me. I would ask for anything! Except maybe access to your Dad’s candy drawer. ;)
Seriously, though. Best. Gift. Ever.
Nathan was a canoodler and with twenty-month Graham running around (who had nursed like Wito did), it caused me to give up nursing when he was nine weeks old. Kudos to you for sticking to it.
Love you guys.
.-= Angella´s last blog ..Parenting Without A Manual =-.
Mama Bub
August 24, 2010 at 9:20 pmI’ve got a marathon nurser on my hands, er boobs, too. She was over 14 pounds at her two month check up, so she’s obviously getting enough to eat, it’s just a matter of me knowing when to stop her. If it was up to her, she would never, EVER, stop nursing.
Also, I didn’t have a nanny, but my teacher husband went back to work today after being home all summer and there’s a fair bit of adjusting going on here, too.
Finally, my girl refuses the Nuk pacifiers like they’re coated in shards of glass, but takes to the Mam ones like nobody’s business. For what it’s worth.
.-= Mama Bub´s last blog ..Am idiot Send help =-.
Jessica
August 24, 2010 at 9:40 pmOh, I have felt your pain! Unfortunately, I was not wise enough to keep mine from doing that. Next time!
Your parents are amazing! What a great gift.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Happy Birthday To ME! =-.
LisaH
August 25, 2010 at 6:47 amThat sounds like heaven!
And , um, I had NO IDEA there was a Meteor and the Monster Trucks game…my 3 year old son’s head might explode when he finds that out!
NEWMOM
August 25, 2010 at 8:54 amThis is really good to hear! I am currently 35+ wks pregnant with my second (I have an almost 3 yr old at home) and have decided to keep our nanny for a bit of time following the arrival of this LO. Glad to hear it makes such a difference.
Will Wito be in school in Sept?
Good luck with the canoodling. My DS was totally like that too. I put up with it and have a super affectionate cuddly toddler now.
Mary Sue
August 25, 2010 at 1:00 pmI don’t have kids, yet, so can’t comment on the nanny/breastfeeding bit, but just wanted to say hi and that I am so glad you are back blogging frequently! Yay!
.-= Mary Sue´s last blog ..I Can- You Can- We All Can Can! =-.
Siera
August 25, 2010 at 5:18 pmSounds like the perfect gift! I couldn’t think of a better gift than the gift of help!
.-= Siera´s last blog ..What Does One Bring Camping =-.
bhb
August 26, 2010 at 6:28 amyour parents are awesome. I love it when family steps in with something practical. and I remember when you went back as a sales rep, i’ve been reading a long time!
who coulda known how fun this bloggin/fab hair thing would turn out to be?! cheers to whoorl and family!
.-= bhb´s last blog ..Geek Chic Glasses =-.
bitsofsplendor
September 10, 2010 at 2:23 pmI feel embarrassed to admit that I spent way too many hours reading your blog from the beginning. Thank you for keeping me entertained and distracted from work I didn’t want to do. I’m glad I can return to regularly scheduled tasks such as drafting proposals and running numbers…