Well, Emily Elizabeth is two weeks old today! Hardly seems possible that I was in excrutiating pain (labor) at this time two weeks ago! Time really does fly! Things are still going good here at the Comatis house. We're practicing getting into a routine for when school starts. We haven't quite gotten the hang of moving quickly in the morning yet, but our bedtime routine is getting easier every night. It helps that the nights are getting darker a little earlier, and that we've been skipping our naps/rests in the afternoon.
It's so hard to believe that Nicholas will be starting kindergarten a week from today. I am very excited and happy for him, but nervous, too. I'm also partially in denial that he's growing up so fast. I mean, NICHOLAS is going to KINDERGARTEN! The first day, I go with him and it's just a two hour orientation to get used to the classroom and meet the teacher, etc. Then he goes for a full day on Thursday, with just half of his class. The other half of the class goes for a full day on Friday, and on the following Monday, the whole class goes for a full day together. It's kind of weird, I know, but I guess it helps them ease into the transition. We know a few kids in Nicholas' class that he went to preschool with. He's actually very excited because two of his good friends from preschool are in his class. We're still not sure about the bus. He wants to take it, and that would be fine with me, except that the route has him being picked up on the corner of Washington and Madison, not in front of the house. My understanding is that all kindergarters are to be picked up in front of their house, so I've called a few times to see why he's not; I'm waiting for the director of transportation to get back to me. I mean, if I have to get the other two ready and wait at the corner, I might as well load them all in the car and drive him to school. It would give us an extra half hour everym morning!
Alyssa is starting preschool at the Y in two weeks. She's going 2 mornings a week for 3 hours. She's pretty excited about it. They do gymnastics and swimming in her class, so that is a definite bonus! Plus, she's familiar with the Y from her time in the day care there (when I exercised!!) and all the other classes she took last year. I'm excited for her, too! What a year of new beginnings for us!
Oh well, hope you are all enjoying the updates! Next week, I'll report on Nicholas' first day of school! Oh, by the way, did you notice the picture of Alyssa at the top of this posting? Any ideas on what she's doing? I'll give you all one guess...her "baby Emily" was hungry, too!

EMILY had her first doctor visit today. It was basically just an appointment to check her weight; for breastfed babies, the doctor's like to make sure that they have resumed their birth weight by two weeks of age. Like Alyssa, Emily has no problem nursing or gaining weight ~ at just one week of age, she has already exceeded her birth weight! At today's visit, she weighed in at 7 lbs 3 oz!!
Things are still going good for us here at 22 Madison St! Emily is a good sleeper, and thankfully can sleep through ANYTHING! Definitely a good trait to have with an older brother and sister!! Alyssa and Nicholas are both good helpers with Emily, grabbing me diapers and burp cloths when I need them. Today, they both went on a play date with a neighbor friend ~ Daniel Gallagher ~ and had their own special time! So much of our summer was spent waiting for Emily's arrival that we didn't get a chance to do much or go anywhere so I was especially happy that they got to have a fun play date today.
Emily is starting to wake up, so I'm going to post this for now. Still have to figure out how to download pictures. Check back soon for more updates on the Comatis family...

EMILY ELIZABETH joined us on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 1:06 in the afternoon. Labor was relatively short, but more painful than I remember it the other two times. Come to find out, she was facing the wrong way and trying to turn around while coming out. Pushing was harder than I remember, too, but all in all, every second of pain was worth it the first time I held her in my arms.
She was 6 lbs 15 oz and 19.75 inches long ~ my biggest one yet ~ and yet now she seems so small. She has been so good so far ~ sleeping away most of the day as newborns do. She nurses well and likes to be held up on your shoulder.

JOHN AND I are definitely blessed with our family. Each child has been absolutely perfect in his or her own way. Both kids are pretty excited about Emily joining our family. Alyssa is thrilled about being a big sister and can't wait to do all the sisterly things with Emily when she gets bigger. Nicholas is just his usual self - the little man - always making sure that Emily is okay and checking on her. He is anxious to hold her and to help change her diapers (I'm serious!) when she gets a little bigger. He is very inquisitive about her actions and why she does certain things. Definitely a great big brother to have!!

I AM STARTING to adjust to life with the three kids. Granted, it's still early and Emily sleeps about 22 hours a day, waking up just to eat and get changed. Nicholas will be starting Kindergarten in a couple of weeks, which means that he'll be gone for about 7 hours a day 5 days a week, and Alyssa will be in preschool at the Y two mornings a week for 3 hours each day. That will leave little Emily and I plenty of bonding time and time for me to rejuvenate and get things done. Some days, PPD really kicks in and I feel like I'm losing my mind trying to raise three kids in today's society. There have been nights when I cry myself to sleep, thinking that there's no way I can be a good mother to all three of my kids. I wonder what the hell I got myself into...but then, morning comes, and I remember what is important: the three little angels that I have. They depend on me for everything, and although that is a scary thought, I know that I must be strong for them. They need me to be strong and stable - at least most of the time - and to be there for them.
Let me know what you think of this blog...I am going to try to update it weekly ~ at least at the beginning when Emily is changing so much on a daily basis ~ and keep you all informed about the comings and goings of the Comatis family!! Stay tuned for more updates!