Good-Better-Thankful

Things are good. As someone who has survived severe postpartum depression, I rarely say that. I haven't said it more than a handful of times since Cole was born. There is always a sense, no matter how well I am (which is very, very well right now, thanks for asking), that things could plummet at any moment into cloudy bleakville. Recovery from PPD is much like recovery from an addiction. You get better, and better, you work at it, but you are never, ever fully recovered. And that is very hard. I just have to live with it. And living is better than the alternative.

If you or anyone you know may be suffering, visit www.jennyslight.org for information and help.

Crying makes me weary

Cole has a little bug and has been very whiny and crying pretty much non-stop today. Oh. My. Goodness. I am just absolutely spent. There is something about attending to a whiny toddler that wears me out like nothing else.

I have to admit that it does remind me of when I was so depressed with Aidan while he simultaneously was going hungry and colic-y, crying all of the time. Maybe it's just a trigger that sends me to I-need-to-leave-this-living-hell-land. And maybe it is just that I had a bona-fide night out this past weekend. And I am still hung over. Ok, maybe not a traditional alcohol-related hangover. I did have my share (and then some) of gin and tonics, but mostly I think it was the 3:30 a.m. arrival home. My theory is one hour before midnight is worth three after (it used to be worth two, but I'm not getting any younger). I primped for more than an hour, scrubbed my skin within an inch of its life, donned a new (thanks weight loss!) top from my favorite store, Nordstrom, and (gasp!) sprayed on a bit of bronzer. I love getting prettied up, not a lot better as far as I am concerned. I would make an excellent celebrity or model.

I got blisters from the pointy-toes heels and waited for a ride (with my girls) outside for more than hour (can you say hy-pppppp-o-ther-mia?). Then, a very sweet, very young gentleman loaned me his sweatshirt while I waited (and they say chivalry is lost on the gen-nexters). The point is, the farther the departure from my everyday life, the more time it takes to get back into it. Worth it? Yup. Every second.

**Pic details: our family, Coleman and Alexander (my dear friend Beth's son) side by side, Meg and Don, Cole's Godparents, and the brothers Hillesheim. Follow this link to more baptism pics: http://web.mac.com/williamoreilly/iWeb/BabaKarmy/Coleman%27s%20Baptism.html



2 months!

Coleman was 2 months old on Friday. And he has his first cold, which is a stinker. He has green snot, a fever, a cough and the like. Boy, is he brave though. He is smiling and cooing right through it. What a sweetheart he is!

What a different experience this time has been! Not only because it is our second child, which is typically better because you know what the heck you're doing, but because I am having no PPD symptoms thus far. I am experiencing Cole how I imagined being a mother would be: in total awe!

Coleman had his Christening last Sunday. We had a nice gathering afterwards at our house and it was a beautiful day to be outside. My sister Meg is Coleman's Godmother and our dear friend Don is his Godfather. He wore the same gown as Aidan (and Joel) wore for their baptisms, it is a family heirloom. I love the tradition and ceremony of it all!

We have been back in the swing of things meeting friends at the park; just this last Thursday we met our "Fairview" group out at Newell Park in St Paul (it had a grove of oak trees, and Aidan thought it enchanting). I met these moms when our kids were just 6 weeks old at a Mommy and Me class at the hospital where we all gave birth. Now, three years later, we all have our second children. It has been amazing to watch these kids grow and to see their temperaments and personalities flourish. My friend Rhona's son Jonathan has a new little brother, Anthony, and my friend Natalie's son Avery has a nearing one year old brother Luke. So there we were with our SIX boys! They played really well together (which is saying a lot), having the familiarity of time on their side.

We are settling into a routine and actually got quite a bit done this weekend in the yard. My Dad (Baba) and Joel are building a playhouse and swing set for Aidan in the backyard. It is Aidan's birthday present from Nana and Baba. It is coming along nicely and Aidan is very excited to be able to swing. They also built a sandbox and so far that has been a hit. We are home so much more now and it is awesome to have the playground in our back yard.

Aidan is starting preschool this week...more on that next post.