We Are Family...

George, Zoe and Sophia dining at Andre's
Sophia and her beloved!

gazing at our newest addition!

poor George got attacked by his uncles this weekend!

Sophia and Steph had different ideas about whose dessert this was

a cuddly Leo

ready to play outside

ready to be loved

Leo and Great Granny Kate

Aunt Chris steps in for holding duties

Leo squared

Sophia and Angela were very helpful in the burping department

We have tons of family around normally, but this weekend we had it in extra doses! Stephanie, Zoe, and George traveled in from Seattle and Charlie's grandmother Katy also came in from Iowa, so we were busy, busy, busy! Sophia is absolutely in love with George so when she heard he was coming she was absolutely beside herself! She kept asking for Georgie? Georgie? Where's Georgie?? She spent as much time with him as possible, and he kindly graced her with his presence as well! It's hard being an 11 year old boy, and he did very well with the adoration, but even he had his limits! :) Zoe and Leo were attached at the hip as well. She was an excellent helper in feeding him and getting him dressed. She even drove us home one day from the mall with her newly acquired driver's permit! Woo Hoo! Watch out, Seattle! I hate that so long goes between our visits, so I'm considering loading up the kiddos and heading to Seattle again this February, but the thought of traveling alone with two kiddos is a bit daunting! We'll see how well Leo is eating and sleeping before we make our decision!

Katy's visit was long overdue but it's hard for her to travel down here to KC, but it was nice to see her and catch up and I think she really got a kick out of seeing/meeting all her great grandchildren! Sue put out a spread and we all chatted (although some watched the football game) the afternoon away. Hopefully she'll make it back before too long!

Big Girl Pants...

Big girl pants are way better than maternity pants. I broke out my bin of post-pregnancy pants today and they actually fit! I must say I was rather excited. I am wearing these pants weeks sooner than I did with Sophia...maybe even a month! This means I can wash my maternity stuff and pack it back up! Although, this also means that everyone who sees me in the next few weeks/months is going to see the same, very small rotation of clothing, but again...at least they're not maternity clothing! I really do feel like I'm recovering much better this time and I really think it's due to Boot Camp. Even though I adapted my work-out routine to my size and energy level, I was still working out almost every day and I really think it has made a big difference so far. I am also considering signing up for a 5K to help motivate me to work off the rest of this baby weight, but I'm a little unsure. I'm unsure because 1. I hate running. Like I really hate it. With a passion. 2. It's basically winter now and if I already hate running, I'm really going to hate it in the cold. 3. I'm not authorized to start exercising again until 4 weeks post-partum and that doesn't leave me much time to train before the end of the season. After a little research though, I think I found that the last run is the Jingle Bell Run and that's sometime towards the beginning/middle of December. Then after the first of the year there is a Groundhog Run in February. So it may be more realistic to use the Jingle Bell as a training/baseline run and aim to do the Groundhog as my goal run. I know it would be good for me, but I'm just not very motivated to do it on my own...so we'll see.


Life otherwise is going along swimmingly here at the house. Leo is a good boy. Babies do start to "wake-up" at 2 weeks of age, however, so I'm hoping that he remains calm and sweet and we don't have too many problems. My Mother-in-Law has me scared though, because there's the curse of the dark-headed-Hirner-babies...the big C...c-o-l-i-c. It's too scary to even type, I just have to spell it out! Supposedly, all Hirners who were born with dark hair had it, and I'm hoping that Mr. Leo will break the cycle! Right now he rarely cries and is eating very well, but is extremely gassy (another Hirner trait??). Charlie has blessed me by taking the early morning feeding and is willing to keep it up while he goes back to work...hallelujah! So, with that, I'm getting a fair amount of sleep. Leo's fussy period is from about 10pm-5am so it's possible that I'll wake up with him during that time. Now, it's not usually that entire time, but it can happen anywhere in between, plus there's at least a feeding or two thrown in there, so you just never know how he's going to feel.


Sophia is also sleeping fairly well lately, at night anyway. She has recently decided that naps are for the birds and napping has now become a hit or miss activity, a development Mommy is really unhappy about. We're trying to get her to the point where she will at least stay in her room to play by herself for an hour, but even that is trying on the non-nap days. I'm just not willing to give in to this completely and do require at least a modicum of peace and quiet from her. At night, however, she rarely awakens and is sleeping a tad later in the morning. Leo isn't really crying at night, however, as we're still pretty much waking him up to eat, but that is slowly starting to change. I do fear that his crying will wake her and we'll be back to a struggle in the middle of the night. I'm just trying not to think about that, though!


Walter is also adjusting quite well. When he returned home from day care, he merely looked at Leo with a look that said, "another one of those...oh bother." He sniffs him and is interested in kissing him, but he is not at all freaked out by him as he was Sophia. He's been around this block already I guess and is ready to go with the flow!


With Charlie going back to work, I'm hoping to slowly work back into a routine. I'll also be looking to pick up some play dates again, as I'm sure I'll be ready to have some entertainment and energy releasing activities for Sophia. Since my mom has a part-time schedule, I'm sure she'll be available some days too so I won't be going cold-turkey, but I must admit I'm anxious that Charlie is returning to work. Plus, let's be honest...it's really awesome spending so much time with him and as a family and I will really miss that too!

A Visit to the B

Great Grandma B and Baby Leo

Sophia enjoying her donut

Sophia loving on her brother

We had another weight check with the doctor today, and Leo has reached his birth weight...hurrah! He weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 6 oz. We don't have to return to the doc until his one month check-up, so we're looking forward to that. They have been approved for the H1-N1 vaccine however, so we're hoping to get Sophia vaccinated before too long. They sure did make us a little paranoid at the office, however, so we're stocking up on hand sanitizer and trying to be vigilant!

We then packed up and headed to make Leo's maiden visit to the nursing home to meet Grandma B. The receptionist at the home is extremely friendly and Sophia absolutely adores her! She has been saying since the beginning of my pregnancy that she was sure I was carrying a 10lb boy...needless to say she was gloating. Sophia, who spent the night with Grandma Sue, arrived with donuts for everyone and was excited to see Grandma B as usual! They read books and played cars and she wasn't too upset when Grandma held Leo.

Sophia and her Brother

Helping to buckle Leo for his doctor's appointment

using her new camera for lots of snapshots

love to give kisses


checking him out!

more investigation

Even though Sophia still occasionally refers to Leo as her little sister, she seems to be adjusting pretty well! I do think his novelty is wearing off, though. Yesterday she started telling me to put him down and hold her instead. She also directed me to put him in the swing and put him in the bassinet at different times throughout the day. She is definitely starting to get the jealous bug. She doesn't want anyone holding him for long, she usually demands their attention shortly thereafter. But, on the other hand she still wakes up every morning and goes to make sure he's okay and wants to hold him herself. If he makes any noise at all she declares that he's crying and then says...he's okay. When he spits up she says "he spilled!" That one is personal favorite! When I burp him she comes running over and wants to help with that too! She has figured out how the breast pump works and is eager to help with the clean-up. She lets me know when it's time to pump and when it's time to be done pumping. The other day we were discussing that mommy makes milk for Leo the same way I did for her when she was a baby. She then looked at me and said, "you have an udder." It was very matter of fact and yet so shockingly accurate that I was speechless. I do feel like a cow, that's for sure! The past week has been trying for the four us, I must say, but we're working through it. I'm seriously not sure how people do this! I mean, one additional kid is hard enough, but I think about having two or more and my poor mother in law who had 4 kids in 4 years...I think she must have been a saint...and I truly wonder how they make it work! This week Sue is off work so she'll be available to help us out. Charlie goes back to work next week (yikes and double yikes!!) and my mom is working evenings so she can be here to help me during the day, but after that I'm on my own! I am feeling better and much more mobile, so hopefully we can start getting back into some more of our routine soon! Hopefully Sophia's jealously will soon disappear and we can go on about our lives, it would make me a much happier person, but I'm not holding my breath just yet! ;)

Here Sophia sings Twinkle, Twinkle to her baby bro

My Nipples Aren't the Only Things That Are Confused

sleepy, sleepy
bright-eyed and bushy tailed

Taking a break from being a big sis

Breastfeeding; it is the bane of my existence. Most of you know the struggles I faced with Sophia's "breastfeeding" and know it just wasn't pretty. It took me a long time to get to a good place with her and realize it just wasn't worth it. I vowed that I would not go there with this baby and that I would just go with the flow, so to speak. Well, the last few days I have found myself back in the "dark place" and just feel conflicted.

Let's start at the beginning. Leo came out pretty much ready to eat. He latched on fairly easily and had a pretty good suck going, something that NEVER happened with Sophia, literally. So I was feeling good. There is a but coming...BUT, because my milk wasn't in yet and because he was so big from the get-go, he started losing weight rather rapidly. The nurses don't worry until babies lose 10% of their body weight, but again, with the struggles we went through with Sophia (who lost 11% by the time we left the hospital and it only got worse) we were naturally worried. So, we supplemented him after every feeding. I totally think that was the best choice, however, it does open up the can of worms known as "nipple confusion". For those of you out there who maybe aren't as in touch with your own nipples, nipple confusion is basically a term that states babies who are given artificial nipples, as in bottles or pacifiers, will learn quickly that they are easier to suck from than the real thing, therefore relying solely on those and refusing their mother's breast. I personally think nipple confusion is a stupid term, but I do think that this theory has merit. In fact, I pretty much think that's what happened to Leo. Since we've left the hospital his desire to nurse has decreased. He is incredibly inconsistent and what happens is that I offer the breast, then supplement, then pump by the time you add in diaper changing and clean-up it makes feeding time at least an hour or more. By the time I put him back to bed I sleep for about an hour or so before we're back at it. Quite simply, that just isn't going to work.


We did go the pediatrician today and he has gained 3 oz since we left the hospital...yay! This means supplementing is working. Leo, however, decided to show off for the lactation nurse today during his visit and nursed like a champ on both sides. So, now I think, hmmm...should I reconsider this nursing business?? Well, my elation only lasted so long as when we got home and tried again at the next feeding he shunned me like a leper. So much for hope.


I'm kind of back at the beginning, but in the last few days I've moved closer and closer to my happy place. I'm leaning towards moving away from nursing and sticking with the bottle. If I eliminate the nursing aspect all together, I can easily cut down on time especially since I still have my exceptionally handy hands-free-bustier that I use while bottle feeding. I haven't made a final decision as yet, but I'm okay with it. I really do think that I will just have a moment of epiphany where it will all become clear and I will make my decision and move on. I will admit though, that I totally had a sappy, emotional, crazy La Leche League Woman moment when he latched on and fed from my breast. I seriously cried when I realized how beautiful and magical of a moment it was.


At the end of the day the important thing is that I feed my baby and that he's growing. As a rational human I realize this. As an emotional mother I have other ideas! ;)

Leo Stephen Hirner

Make a Smilebox slideshow

He's here! We had quite an adventurous Friday morning, especially since it started at 4 am!! I did wake up early and take a shower, per directions of the nursing staff, with anti-bacterial soap. Seriously? Anyway, we made it perfectly on time to the hospital and I got all gowned up, shaved, and IV-ed. We headed to the operating room where my nerves really took over! The epidural went in just fine and they finally sent Charlie in to join me. My doctor started the surgery without me even knowing and things went incredibly smoothly. It felt different this time than with Sophia. I barely felt a thing with her, with Leo I could actually sort of feel my feet and wiggle my toes, which seriously freaked me out, but I couldn't feel any cutting, so I guess things were fine! There was also an incredible amount of pressure but not exactly pain. When the doctor finally got to the baby, both he and the doctor that were assisting continued to comment about how big of a baby it was. In fact, a direct quote from my doc was, "This baby is a chunker!" He was so wedged down into me that no body quite knew what were expecting. Dr. Finkelston pulled him out and said to Charlie that this was definitely his baby, I figured that meant he had to be a boy, but he still hadn't told me! He then announced that it was a boy and both Charlie and I squealed, and of course I cried, with delight! The anaesthesiologist said my face was priceless and that I looked so surprised. I was hoping for a boy (and see my girl prediction was wrong again!) but I just couldn't be sure. I originally thought he was a boy and then talked myself out of it. It does seem however that the Chinese Calendar was correct! I've heard from friends that it's always right, but I never checked with Sophia...so it seems it was right on with Leo. Once he came out everyone in the operating room kept asking if they had weighed him yet...everyone wanted to know exactly how big he was!



The rest of the day was sort of a blur, but I will say in a way, it was kind of nice that we were only allowed 2 visitors at a time in the recovery area. It did stage the visitors so that we weren't bum-rushed, but at the same time, it was hard knowing that there were loved-ones out there waiting to come in and at least see the little guy! We made it to our luxury room where the visiting sure didn't stop! Charlie got his own hospital bed and own TV (thank goodness!) and we set up shop for the next 4 days. It was much more comfortable than the traditional maternity rooms and we were quite happy with it!


Sophia came with Anne the next day and was absolutely thrilled to see him and meet him! She continues to do just awesome when she's around him and is fitting into her big sister role very nicely! The most precious thing was all of a sudden, not prompted by anyone, Sophia announced, "I love him." It truly melted my heart. All my worrying was for not, which it usually is, because I see her light up when she's with him and I know she will love and protect him for always. I'm sure his novelty will wear off soon enough but for now, I am eating it up!


We're adjusting here to life at home and we have both doctors appointments (Leo's and mine)tomorrow. Hopefully Leo has at least stabilized or gained weight, as he was down 8% when we left the hospital. I'll update about the feeding situation at a later date because it really does deserve it's own post! ;)

Oh, and finally, the stats for those of you who might not have heard:

Born at: 7:54 am
Weight: 9 lbs 5 oz
Height: 21 inches

We're Home!

Momma and her babies
Kisses for Baby Brother!

I'm ready to go home, Mom

Maxin' and Relaxin'

so sweet

Whew! Charlie, Leo and I are home! Sophia is still at mom's, thankfully! I truly do miss her, but I have to admit that I'm thankful mom was up for watching her just one more night. It has been very nice coming home and getting situated! We set up a feeding/pumping station for Mr. Leo and Mommy and I really needed the rest! She'll be arriving home tomorrow, and we're all looking forward to it, but I'll also be looking forward to at least one night where I only have to worry about tending to one little one in the middle of the night! I will post much more soon, hopefully tomorrow...but I thought I'd at least try and get a few pictures up to satisfy the masses! We're all doing great and we just absolutely love our little man!