annie happy with charlie

And viva la difference.

maggie sad meeting charlie

Charles Paul Mercer was born at 9:56 am on July 6, weighing in at 10'3. Mom and baby are doing fine! Thank you for the prayers. More photos coming.

Here's our third baby at 32 weeks.  Beautiful kid, huh?

Annie's first love

Well, we finally did it.  Annie no longer has her pacifier, affectionately named Bar-Bar.  She named it Bar-Bar when she was about 12 months old and has been attached to it since the day she was born. 

She was in the NICU at 6 hours old and held on to it with all her might.  Because of meconium aspiration syndrome (inhaling your own poo in utero) and because she stopped breathing when she was a few hours old, she wasn't allowed to nurse or bottle-feed for the first 24 hours to prevent her from aspiration.  (In the hospital they gave her a binky that was attached to a red dog plush toy.) She's been hooked on a binky for comfort and support ever since.

About 6 months ago, we restricted its use to nap time and night time.  That was a little rough, but much better than anticipated.  The first couple days, she would randomly ask for it and then fold her hands in an o-so dramatic pose over her face and cry, collapsing to the floor, when we told her she could only have it when she went night-night.

So, the thought of taking it away completely was a little frightning.  It was one of the 3 things I wanted her to get rid of before # 3 arrives in July:  crib, diapers, and binky.

One day last week, Josh decided to put her down for her nap without it, the first time ever.  I had no idea.  That night when I put her to bed, he chimed in: "Remember, no bar-bar.  They're all gone." 

I thought, oh great, this is going to be miserable.  I took her upstairs, tucked her in and she asked for it.  I told her they were all gone, she wimpered a little.  We said our prayers, I gave her a hug and kiss.  To my amazement, she was asleep when I checked on her 15 minutes later.

Wow, that was easy.  She asked for it the next night, and then never again. 

Well, last night, I was lying on the couch.  Annie walked up to me, hugged and kissed my belly and then she said talked to pregnant belly: "Hi baby. You want a bar-bar? When you come out, you can have a bar-bar."  She then smiled and giggled. 

It's such a change that I can't believe it. I just now checked in on my sleeping Annie. I ran upstairs — well maybe ran is an exaggeration – but anyhow, she is sound asleep, no bar-bar.  Instead, she is clutching some blocks and a mini soup pot in her hands.  She looks so cute. 

I think it's funny how we, as parents, always over-analyze everything we do.  It's just a binky, she'll be fine without it. 

I got all three things on my checklist done now! Now, if only I could get my house in order.  Something else I'd like to do before the baby is born.