The Daily Hailey

Today was (hopefully) our last errand day before Christmas! Not necessarily our last day in the city, but last day being busy running into store after store, deadline by deadline. I’ve always found that, the closer Christmas is, the angrier and busier people are. I’m starting to think that was just my attitude. Everyone we came into contact with today was relaxed and warm. I don’t know if I’ve had it wrong all these past years or if we just were blessed with a beautiful day, but it was wonderful. We hit a couple of different stores for a few things, and picked up a quick late lunch at a McDonalds. At each place, people came to us and just fawned over our kids. We weren’t at all attracting attention even! Sometimes one kid will be crying, or Dekker will be laughing hysterically, and it draws attention to us, but that wasn’t the case today at all! People just sought them out. They were all interested in Laela and how old she was, how big she was, etc., and they would point out how animated Dekker was, and how charming he seemed. Since I don’t have much of a personal bubble at all, I was so flattered that people would come and want to touch Laela and be involved in our family. Everyone just seemed to warm and cozy today.

We had two appointments today. First was Laela’s three month check. Not all babies have a checkup at this point but she’s been dropping a bit on the weight curve chart. She was born into the 85%, and had dropped to the 75% by two weeks. At her two month shots, she had dropped a bit again but not a solid amount, and today, at just shy of three months, she’s around the 50%. She is not dropping in weight, but she’s just not gaining as fast as the charts say she should after being born at such a heavy weight. I love my doctor, and I feel like I can hesitantly say that she loves us. She at least is very respectful of us and trusts our judgement. Technically, if a child drops more than two weight curves, they’re supposed to get some tests done to make sure they’re absorbing the nutrients properly. Our doctor has agreed to leave the testing alone until Laela hypothetically drops down to the 15%. She went as far as to say that really, she knows Laela is healthy and thinks she looks fantastic, so neither of us are really thinking too much about it. Laela obviously thinks Dr. Guselle is pretty fantastic as well, and was very generous passing out smiles. Her exam went great and we quickly talked about Christmas plans before we left. I love her.

Our second appointment was my counselling. It was my second time with my counsellor, and I have to say I really like her. For the record, for anyone who is curious or interested, I’m truly not embarrassed at all that I am seeking counsel, and am happy to talk about it openly 🙂 I’m just not going to put it all out here for the entire world to read, just in case I have haters reading this that I don’t know about. Let’s hope not! That aside, my appointment with her went very well today. I had done the homework she had asked of me, and I have to say that they were VERY good assignments! It was interesting to have her read back some of the things that I had said last time, and how I clearly am already feeling so much better in such a few short weeks. The ways I described my feelings turned out to be exactly what she was gunning for with the exercises she gave me to do. I now have ways she wants me to expand on my homework, but I have strict instruction not to touch any of it until the new year. She wants me to just sit back and enjoy family time and all the joy and chaos that comes with it. I appreciated that, considering the next steps I need to take are going to be quite a bit tougher, I think. But in my own strange way, I’m looking forward to it. I love the progress I’m seeing. I had never been to counselling before this, and I truly see the merit and benefit of it. After two sessions, I already see a change in myself. I needed to speak to an impartial party and view my struggles from a different perspective. I like how she helps me step back from everything a bit and look at it logically and a bit more like information rather than something highly emotional and scary. For the moment, anyway. I think we’ll get back to that part of it next time.

While I was in counselling, Brady was in the car dealing with our baby girl who had pooped up her back, all the way to her neck. In the car. I admit that I laughed when he told me about it, but I am so glad we brought an extra sleeper. There was poop everywhere, including on Bradys jeans. Quite the blowout. Our first ever, in two kids. I know, none of you feel bad for us anymore.

We’re now home, obviously. Both kids are sleeping and I think Brady and I will hit the tub pretty quick. Its our Christmas Eve tonight! I’m so looking forward to tomorrow! Let just hope for a good night with Laela so we can be energetic for our kids. Yay Christmas!!!