More family = More love

My aunt Doreen has been away and we are so glad she is home now.  She helped me so much when Tessa was first born.  And now with Teagan, I am confident and very secure in my mothering choices.  Doreen helps me remember to relax and reminds me, that even if Tessa misses her nap...she will still grow to be loving and kind and successful!

Teagan had her first bath today. She is 2 weeks and 3 days.

Brian's mom and her husband, Bud came to visit this week.  One night we ate pizza and salad on the boat.  Tessa loves the boat and really loves being around all the love in our family.

Grandma Kathy and teagan
Tessam Teagan nursing, and me... Tessa usually lokes to snuggle up when Teagan is nursing.  As many of you know, tessa is still nursing a few times a day.  It's easier now that I am not pregnant. That was a hard stretch of nursing though I am grateful to have stuck it out.  It is proving me be comforting for both Tess and myself as it gives us a chance to be still with each other in the moments that might otherwise lead to choas.  It isn't easy though, I am soooooo hungry and eating enough for the three of us is challenging.    I do think that I will continue to nurse Tess for a few more months but I see the end approaching.  Sad but important for both of us, as Tessa is growing more independant each day I want to support her and teach her that this independence is good.  While I have many moments that nursing her isn't necessarily fun, I have loved nurturing her in this way.  

Teagan and I are in that nursing is bliss stage, falling in love during each feeding. Even in the middle of the night!

Me and my uncle

My uncle Mike recently sent me this photo.  Tessa does look like me after all, huh?  Different eye color and my hair is curlier.  And take it from my mom, who spent hour after hour nurturing and negotiating my very opinionated self, Tessa is in fact my child.  The other day my mom had Tessa in the kitchen. I was nursing Teagan in the other room and overheard my mom and Tess.  Tess was on the brink of a meltdown because their was something"dirty"  and "rough" in her shoes.  This scenario was a daily occurrence when I was Tessa's age.  My mom, in a sing song voice said, "You remind me of someone I know....And I can't believe I doing this again....!!!!!" 

I keep reminding myself of a lecture I once  heard. The topic was parenting and the speaker asked the group of parents to think of the one thing that most challenged them as parents, the one quality in their children that made them crazy, made them furious.  She called on a few people, stubbornness, strong willed, argumentative, ect...  She then proceeded to say that if fostered and nurtured, these challenging qualities would be what the parents most appreciated in their children and they grew.  If fostered, the stubborn child would use this stuborness to be determined, to always find a way in the world even when the world says "no."  These very qualites are what makes individuals powerful, sucessful, independant, driven.  If parents can find  it in themselves to see this possibility, what a gift we can give our children.  This plays in my mind as I navigate my way through toddlerhood.  I am lucky enough to have had parents who fully embraced this approach.  

Some more

I forgot to post this before.  But here is Jyl, our midwife weighing Teagan after birth. Cool, huh?  Teagan peed on her!
Me and my baby girl, snuggling.  It's so soothing for both of us and I am lucky enough to be able to snuggle a lot.  My family and especially Brian are really working hard to let me rest.Tessa got some new clothes from her aunt Christine and cousins Kaylee and Allison.  She LOVES them.

My brother, Cory, meets Teagan for the first time. She was 3 days old.  I was lucky enough to be there when my brother was being born.  I got to cut his cord and it was at this birth that I decided I would never find out the sex of my baby beforehand.  We didn't know he was a boy and to have that moment, in the world to be genderless is truly a gift.

First week with Teagan

Nana is keeping very busy, usually running around with Tessa but she got a quiet moment here to hold baby Teagan.  Nana was, as expected amazing during my labor.  She's seen many labors and would make an excellent doula! 

As you can see, Teagan is an fantastic addition to our family.  Tessa thinks it's great because they are both naked.  One of Tessa's favorite things-in the nude!
"We are doing this"  I keep thinking this and affirming this to myself and Brian.  Mornings have been very nice. And I feel most strong then, both physically and mentally.  Tessa is really doing well with the changes.  She's been loving and very protective of Teagan.  And very gentle.  The only upset has been in Tessa'a sleeping patterns but that's to be expected as we've had lots of visitors and activity. I am trying to "let it go"  also my daily affirmation.  Overall, the love that we are surrounded with has kept us floating. 
Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has brought us food and love. Thank you for thinking of us. We feel the power of your thoughts as we navigate through this somtimes crazy but mostly blissful time.

Teagan Cay Albano

Teagan and her dad just moments after birth. 

Her she is on my chest, seconds after her first breath.  Brian is cutting her cord. I have to admit, I was totally surprised that she is a girl! I am thrilled, now Tessa has a sister.  Truly a gift.




Teagan as born at home, in the bath. Extremely relaxed and calm, she came, weighing 7.4 lbs and was 19.5 inches long.  The labor wasn't too long and the contractions weren't really too intense until the last 2 hours.  Then they hurt! Bad.  But she pretty much pushed herself out into the water.  It wasn't my intention or plan to have her in the water but birthing changes everything you thought was solid in this world and that which arises from it, is life.  

Nursing is going well.  I am sore but not too bad.  And Tessa has taken quite a liking to "her" baby Teagan.

The name Teagan means "little poet" and My grandmother's name was Kay. However we changed the spelling to Cay. And Cay is a "low lying reef or island  of the Bahamas"  And there you have it.  Teagan Cay.  

Tessa in the rain with pig tails

Another shot of me. 40 weeks pregnant and waiting....Tessa baking with Nana on a rainy afternoon.


Nana dressed Tessa up

Here she is, naked, at her best.  

Tessa is cleaning the glass doors with Nana. Part of her Montessori "Big Work."

Out on the river last weekend, Tess sports her new red shoes and new hair do. 

Here I am and Cooper too.  y belly is huge, isn't it? 39 weeks pregnant and 4 days...
Another new pair of shoes, blue boots from her friend Tosh.  Obviously she loves them

Tessa has a snack and chats

Tessa and I really enjoy our afternoon mealtime when she wakes from her nap.  We sit at her little table, on the kitchen floor. We liked to listen to music while we eat. 

Tessa in the park

The park near our house had a fantastic Easter Celebration and Tessa very much loved the band!

Easter

Tessa enjoyed Easter at Jim and Sari's house. Her favorite gift was her pink sunglasses which she fondly refers to as "I sees". Papa and she checked out the fish on the dock. The two of them are really good friends!

This is her friend, Victoria. They two of them got a hold of some sparkling water and were quite taken with the fizzy bubbles.