Jelly Bean's Thoughts

My sister was really grossed out by the different terms I used for breast milk when String Bean was a baby. Mommy milk, yummies, milky treats...String Bean has decided breast milk is "Mommy juice" and whenever Jelly Bean starts crying, String Bean pipes up, "Jelly Bean needs Mommy juice!"

If Mr. Bean is changing Jelly Bean's diaper and begins to wail, String Bean will announce what she assumes is Jelly Bean's thoughts on getting her diaper changed: "Daddy, it's cold!"

Apparently, those are Jelly Bean's only thoughts in life so far. Says String Bean.

String Bean on Dental Health

Mr. Bean is responsible for String Bean's oral hygiene. Now, I used to work for an endodontist (root canal doctor), so I am definitely the expert here, but String Bean insists that Daddy help her brush her teeth; however, when he is gone at bedtime, I am an acceptable substitute.

This evening, Mr. Bean sat down to watch the Blackhawks game and String Bean's bedtime was creeping ever so close. I looked at String Bean and said, "String Bean, it is almost bedtime. Have you brushed your teeth?"

Mr. Bean looked at me and said, "No, Daddy is watching hockey."

As I started to stand up, I said, "String Bean, it is time to brush your teeth."

String Bean replied, "No, Daddy watching hockey!" Clearly, Mr. Bean and I had a good chuckle over this.

I finally convinced her to get her toothbrush ready for Daddy and she decided to "brush" them on her own. Then she let me check her work and clean the spots she missed...which was nearly everything.

Don't worry, Mr. Bean still read her a story and tucked her in.

Paternity Leave

Mr. Bean's last day of paternity leave. He's been asleep for hours. String Bean has been asleep for hours. Jelly Bean has been asleep beside me on the couch for about an hour.

We are all still in our PJs and sleeping through the lunch hour.

Why can't paternity leave last forever?

Sideshow Attraction

It was 1 am the morning of May 5, 2010. Mr. Bean was sleeping on the couch/bed in the room and I was breastfeeding Jelly Bean by the glow of the television with the reading lights on overhead. I glanced down at my child who was a mere 42 hours old when I noticed a weird shadow across her face. I moved her position but the shadow line did not move. I started to laugh because the line down her entire face was so odd that it struck me as funny. (Side note: It is interesting how as a second-time mom things don't freak you out like they would have if the same thing happened to your first baby.)

I kept staring at the line down Jelly Bean's face and finally decided I was either going crazy or something weird was happening with her body and either way I needed a second opinion. Mr. Bean hadn't moved despite my audible laughter, so I paged a nurse. She came in and said, "Oh my! That is weird. I have never seen a baby do that before." After some discussion and convincing her that I was not freaking out over the odd coloring, the nurse took a walk down to the nursery to talk to the newborn nurses to ask them if they needed to see Jelly Bean.

A couple of minutes later, the same nurse burst into the room and hurriedly took Jelly Bean to the nursery while yelling over her shoulder for us to join her as soon as we were able. Mr. Bean was stumbling to wake up from deep sleep, and I was just fresh from a Cesarean Section.

Upon arrival at the nursery, I was asked all sorts of questions about the weird coloration on Jelly Bean. By the time she had arrived in the nursery, her coloring was normal. They had her under the warming lights and stripped down to just her diaper. Another nurse was on the phone with the on-call doctor who insisted she be monitored for the duration of the night.

I returned to my room and consulted with Dr. Google. His diagnosis was that Jelly Bean had a rare condition called harlequin effect. It is a benign condition where the immature vessels over dilate when a baby is placed on her side. It can take several minutes or just a few seconds. Whichever side the baby is lying on turns red and the top side goes pale. A sharp line forms between the two from the forehead down the entire length of the body.

Several times throughout the night I was able to get Jelly Bean to change colors when I nursed her. The nurses insisted I let them know when she did it so they could chart the symptoms. Based on their reactions when I alerted them to the harlequin effect, I think they really wanted to know so they could call every nurse within yelling distance to check out the sideshow act going on in the nursery. Of the approximately 30 nurses on staff in the Maternity ward of the hospital, only one had ever seen this before.

For your viewing pleasure, we took a photo for you to see and enjoy this sideshow attraction for yourselves. Please excuse Jelly Bean's jaundice which seems severe next to my pale skin which apparently has not seen the sun in several years.

Photo taken May 5, 2010 in the wee hours of the morning in the nursery of the hospital where Jelly Bean was delivered. Jelly Bean is a few hours shy of two days old.
Photo by Mr. Bean

I am told it takes up to 3 weeks for the harlequin effect to disappear when the newborn's system matures. Jelly Bean is 2 weeks old today and we have not seen her "go harlequin" on us in a few days, so she has apparently grown out of it!

Week in Review

It has been a whirlwind week as we welcomed our newest Bean to the family. Here are some of my favorite photos of the last 7 days! Enjoy!

Ready to go to the hospital. 40 weeks on the dot.
Photo by Mr. Bean

Mr. Bean waiting for the action to begin.
Photo by Mandie

String Bean meets her little sister for the first time!
Photo by Mr. Bean

String Bean ready and waiting to give Dad the diaper. A very willing assistant.
Photo by Mandie

Sisters!
Photo by Mr. Bean

She's Here!

The newest member of the Bean family arrived at 8:02 am today. She's got a very long tongue, dimples, long toes and hair! I am waiting for Mr. Bean to return from her bath so I can cuddle her a bit more.

7 pounds, 15 ounces
20 inches long

This makes her smaller than String Bean. We'll see if the trend of high metabolism continues with this one!

Photo by Dr. Said the anesthesiologist

May 3 - D Day

Delivery day has been moved up to May 3. Conflict with the hospital on getting the OR.

Let the countdown begin!

Philadelphia

I am sipping tea out of my Philadelphia mug.

My grandparents lived in Philadelphia for as long as I can remember, so I probably should be thinking of them when I drink from it. Nonna and Pop-Pop. Nonna died about 7 years ago. I remember the day because it was near my first wedding anniversary and Mr. Bean and I had just made an offer on the condo where we are now living.

String Bean has recently gotten into the story of Noah again. Instead of Noah, she says Nonna. It has led to some very confusing moments for me because she never knew Nonna and we haven't been talking about her lately. But it is a nice reminder of my grandmother.

No, instead of thinking of my grandparents, I am reminded of my husband's friend, Bryan. He lives in Philadelphia (not the suburbs like my grandparents) and used to work at Starbucks. One time when we visited, we spent some time with him and he gave us the Philly mug that I enjoy my tea out of this morning. Thanks, Bryan!

Pop-Pop turns 90 in August, so we will be visiting Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, then....as a family of 4!

Two More Weeks

Ooh-Ah is scheduled to be evicted from her uterine utopia on May 4. If she comes earlier, that's OK, but there will be no more of the easy life come 7:30 am on the 4th!

String Bean is getting excited!

Typical Toddler Behaviors

String Bean has been exerting her independence lately, which I'm told (and I read) is typical behavior of a two-year old. Here are some examples:

• No longer am I allowed to button her jacket.
• Nor unbutton it.
• Shoes are apparently up to the wearer to pick and put on.
  
• And take off.
  
• If I give String Bean two choices of dresses to wear, she will chose neither. It is as if she is saying, "I need options, Mom!" (I had my best success when I laid 9 dresses on her bed and sent her into her room alone to pick out one.)
• When told, "You are wearing your monkey pajama pants," a toddler remembers that she has 2 pairs of monkey pajama pants. No matter which one I pull out, it would be the wrong one. Tears follow.
  
• Although coloring is a favorite activity, if it is my idea, String Bean isn't interested...until 15 minutes later.
  
• Leaving the house has become a chore. "I need this," is the common cry I hear as String Bean goes around the house picking up random objects and toys to take along on the quick run to pick up the babysitter.
  
• Don't get me started on accessories.