this and that

If I didn't have a calendar, I still would have known when 3 months had passed since Maggie's birth.  Like clockwork, my scalp began releasing some of the hair that accumulated while I was pregnant.  This is normal- women pretty much stop "shedding" while pregnant, and then resume about 3 months post-partum. But the hair loss is not at your normal, pre-pregnancy pace.  Nope- there's a lot of catching up to do, so the hair falls out at an alarming rate.  This is the point when I got my hair cut very short after Charlotte was born.  This time, it's a bit longer; long enough to catch in a ponytail.  I have no intention of cutting it short again since I hated the length about two months after it was cut, and I've been growing it out ever since.  So, there's hair everywhere and it drives me nuts.  But I knew it was coming.

I have "trigger thumb" in both hands.  How the heck did this happen?  I did some research and learned of another thumb condition that typically afflicts new moms, but I don't have that one.  No, I have "trigger thumb." In both hands.  It supposedly results from repetitive motions... like changing diapers?  I can't think of anything I've been doing repetitively, or with my thumbs, so how this came about is a complete mystery to me.  I'm seeing a hand specialist next week to learn what I can, and to find out if a steroid injection will cure me.  I've been living with it for about 2 months, so it's not too terribly bad.  Mostly just annoying, but pretty painful when I first wake in the morning.  I suspect the wrist supports I wore to manage carpal tunnel in the last couple of months of pregnancy contributed; my thumbs always felt a little misaligned when I woke in the morning.

Maggie loves facing forward in the Bjorn.

Maggie sleeps through the night about half of the time.  Other nights, she gets up between 3:30 and 4:30 for a dream-feed, then sleeps again until 7 or 8.

I found a bathing suit top I'm willing to wear in front of people and I've been Charlotte's pool buddy for two classes now.  I don't know if I can nurse in it.  I still wear the bottoms from my maternity suit though.  The new suit came with briefs and I prefer swim shorts.  I don't recommend shopping for a swim suit 3 months after having a baby.  It's humbling.  I don't like the size that I bought, but the others were too small.

I'm going back to the p/t retail job I had until Christmas.  Having a job, any job, may help me qualify to refi my mortgage.  If it doesn't, at least I get my discount again.  I wonder if any of our vendors carry double strollers.  The Caboose is great, but sometimes I want the option of strapping Charlotte in.  And I think she'd like to have a better seat to ride on for our longer walks.

C has been back to work for a month now, with the company he worked for last year.  I don't trust them, but someone mentioned to C today that they might be working through January.  Since we operate under the assumption that he'll be laid off by Thanksgiving every year, those extra weeks of work would be like winning the lottery.  Maybe we'll finally plan a honeymoon.

Our fifth anniversary is just over a week away.

My brother, who is 3 years younger than me, will celebrate his 20th anniversary in 3 weeks.

And here's what you really wanted- some photos of the girls.  Maggie is wearing 6mo and 6-9mo clothes and size 3 diapers now.  We'll find out next week, at her 4mo pedi visit, just where she falls on the growth curve.