Sound Effects
Every night I place three books in front of Paulchen and have him pick two. Tonight one of the books he picked was "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" As I was reading through, I noticed Paulchen was making a few noises. Then as I paid attention to the noises, I realized he was making the noises in the story, the same noises I make when I read the book to him. It was awesome!

He's also so helpful with his sister and the house. We did dishes again today. We also walked to the gas station. Paulchen walked down all the stairs himself, I just held his hand to help with balance. But I didn't have to carry any of his weight. He's definitely improving.

On a personal note, I put my size 8 jeans on at the post-partum two week mark. Granted that's large for me, but I should be back into my size 6 jeans in a few months. I'm thrilled, considering most women these days are lucky to fit into size 10 jeans a few months after giving birth.

Rock-A-Bye Baby
I am so proud of our son. Paulchen has already become so much better with his little sister and it's only been a week. He gently rocks her chair and "sings" to her. Also, when she's crying during a diaper change, he'll touch her arm and "sing". He constantly hands me her blankie to keep her bundled. He's a little odd about her bottle. He doesn't try to drink from it, which is good, as it's breast milk and I don't want to waste any. Yet he'll occasionally take it away from her. He takes the bottle gently, puts on the cap and sets it aside. It's as if he decided Aveline had enough. Though he also helps feed her at other times.

He'll also help change her diapers. Paulchen will hand me wet wipes and baby powder so I can clean her properly.

As a reward for all his hard work, Aveline "dances" for him in appreciation. I move her arms around while hum a tune. Paulchen gets a real kick out of this and gives a big smile, while he bops around to the song as well. Poor Aveline just has a look on her face, as if to ask why we are so cruel to her. I even gently put her through the motions of "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes". This is Paulchen's favorite song and he enjoys his sister dancing while he does.

The greatest step he took today. As we were sitting on the floor together while I held Aveline, Paulchen put out his arms. He wanted to hold her. I was so happy. I held her on his lap for a little bit, until he became uncomfortable and whined a little. This was a wonderful step, as up until now, Paulchen hasn't wanted to get too close to his sister. He still gets a little funny when I sit her next to him. He'll sit by her, but he doesn't want her to touch him.

He also gave her a real kiss today. It took some encouragement before he'd finally lean in all the way and kiss her head. For a while he kept leaning over, but never got closer than 4 inches away. Before today, he'd been giving her his version of a kiss. Paulchen will hold his fist up for us and expect us to kiss it. He did the same to Aveline and Paul would move Paulchen's fist to her mouth for a "kiss". Odd, but he meant well.

I've also had Paulchen help around the house. He loves to take care of the clean dishes and bake. He'll put the clean dishes out of the dishwasher, one by one and hand them to me to put away. He also helps me turn the setting and push the power button to clean the dirty dishes. We'll sit on the floor and I'll pour ingredients into the measuring cups. Then he'll help me dump the contents into the mixing bowl. Once everything is in, Paulchen will help me hold the hand mixer and move it around. Of course, once the cookies are done baking, Paulchen also helps me eat them.

I'm very proud of our son and how well he's progressing and adapting. We still have problems with tantrums, but today was a very good day. He even napped and went to bed today without too much fuss.

Aveline Sportelli
On March 3, 2006, at 5:43 Central European Time, Aveline Sportelli was born. She weighed 8 lbs, 6 ounces and measured 20.47 inches.

We had her in the water tub in our living room. I can honestly say, I NEVER want to give birth without painkillers again. But I am happy with our new addition. She is absolutely beautiful.

Her name has a lot of history behind it. Aveline was a woman in Paul's genealogy, born in 1109. The name is a French Medieval version of Evelyn and we are pronouncing it [A-vuh-lin]. Sportello was my maiden name, but when our family came over from Italy, we were actually Sportelli. The ship's manifest and early census records confirm this information. So her first name is from Paul's history and her middle name is from mine.

Paulchen isn't quite sure what to make of her yet. He'll come over and check her out, but then shy away. I keep trying to have him hold his little sister's hand. I also tried to get him to help me snap her outfit shut, but he was busy with something. Over time, I'll keep gently encouraging him to help out with his little sister. Plus the fact that he is only 21 months, Paulchen will grow up with Aveline and never really remember a time without her. We are both so thrilled with our perfect little, All-American family.

Double Dipping...
Well, it cannot be said that my son lacks cunning. We're just sitting and having a nice treat of pretzels with French onion dip. Paulchen likes to put his own pretzels in the dip, like a big boy. But he's new to the concept of no double dipping. So I showed and explained that he can only dip the pretzel once. I meant for him to finish that pretzel and then move on to the next one. Instead, he dipped a pretzel, licked off the dip and put it down. Then he picked up another pretzel, dipped and licked. Cunning little bugger.

His singing and dancing has also improved. He loves the sing "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes." He'll place his hands on his head and sing, "Heaaa..." That's the signal for us to sing the song and he'll go through most of the motions. He'll touch his head, knees, toes, ears, mouth and nose. The only two he doesn't have down yet, are the shoulders and eyes. Still, this has all occurred in about a week, so I'm surprised how quickly he's picked up the song and movements. Then every time we finish the song he'll clap his hands and say "Yaaaaay."

He's also into "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Though he doesn't have the motions down quite as well.

As for the new baby, I really wish it would come already. I only have a week left until the due date. The midwife said the head is in place and it could be born at any time. I really hope I don't have to wait that final week. I've been ready for two weeks now. I keep getting the false contractions, which give me false hope. I think last night I had some real contractions, as walking around didn't get rid of them.

Even though I've been through a childbirth already, I still cannot fully grasp the concept of how children are born. I know all the technicalities, but it's the idea that gets me. I love arts & crafts and often stock up on supplies. Once I've hit the stores, I use those supplies to make neat things. But I didn't do anything like that to make our children. I didn't go to the store for the components, nor did I put the pieces together to create the new person. Instead, a little seed grew inside of me and created the new person. Then I go into a tub and suddenly the person appears. Yes, there's pain and time involved, but the person just comes out of me. The very idea is amazing. No matter how many times I think of it, I still can't get over it.

The people at work are great. They keep telling me to check in with them once the baby is born. They also keep asking how I'm holding up. As our wood shop guy, Randy told a customer, it's the store baby. Just as Paulchen is our store mascot.

When it's been about a month, I'm planning to invite everyone from work, for a little get together. Since I don't have family over here, I'd like to have the people who have worked with me through this pregnancy to come and greet the new member. But this time it will be easier. Though I will be putting the party together, it will be a month after the baby is born and I've had time to recover. As great as it was to see my WHOLE family after Paulchen was born, one week was WAY too soon. I was exhausted in the first hour with all those people. So this will be a little smaller and a little easier.

I'm also setting ground rules for Paul and I, in regards to the soon to be, big brother. Whenever one of us comes home, we are not to hug the new baby first, but go to Paulchen first. The new baby won't be affected by this, but Paulchen will understand that he is still loved. Also, he is to help out at times with feeding the baby and other small tasks. Obviously this will all be under supervision, but I want him to feel a part of everything right from the beginning, not pushed away. I think everything will work out nicely.

1...2...3...4...
This morning, as usual, a certain someone named Paulchen, gave me grief. I wanted him to sit by me so I could get his clothes on and we could run some errands. Of course, he would just look up at me and smile and ignore my command to come over. Finally I told him he better not make me count. Well, I had to count. That's when it was all over.

"One..." I looked at him sternly. Then this little voice responded, "ooh." My eyes bugged out. I tried to look stern, but I was too surprised.

I finally got my expression under control and try to warn him again. "Two..." "Eee" is the response. Right after, that is followed by an "Or."

My son actually counted to 4! I went over it a few more times with him. I started with 1 and he continued with 2, 3, and 4. So later today I counted with him a few times, up to 5. He wasn't interested and just smiled. Then tonight when I told Paul about it, he counted with Paulchen. Paulchen was interested again and counted up to 4. I realize he's just saying the words and doesn't understand the concept yet, but I'm still really impressed. Even more so, as I don't go past 3 when I give a warning count. I don't know where he picked up 4. Probably from one of his songs or Sesame Street. But I'm thrilled none the less.