...It's only logical...

Before I became a parent I thought that children did things with no consideration and with no rationale or logic behind their thoughts, but I have come to realize via my 4-year-old that this is entirely the opposite of the truth.

In light of that fallacy about children, I have given birth to a miniature version of Spock. You know "Live long and prosper" Spock, Precursor to Next Generation Data the robot (oh give me a break I am not that nerdy and I know he was not called a "robot," but TECHNICALLY he WAS a robot), aka logical thinking Vulcan.

Babies have been a pretty hot topic in our house since Melody was born. Slowly, but surely Marshall has started to ask more questions about the creation of babies. This post is about to get pretty technical, so if you don't know how babies are created you should probably ask your mother (or you could Google it, but that might turn out to be the less tasteful route), but I hope you know at least the basics. ;)

 It started with a question about my C-section scar.

"Mommy what's that?"

"That is my scar from where the doctor cut you and Melody out of my tummy, but normally Mommies push babies out of their Vaginas."

"Then you push them back in?"

"No, Marshall it is kind of a one way ticket. Babies only come out that way."

A few days later. Marshall and I were talking about Melody in the car.

"...And then they cut her out of your belly."

"Yes, they did, but normally doctors don't cut babies out. Mommies usually push them out."

"Well how do they get in your belly?"

"Well Daddy puts the baby in my belly with his penis and then the baby grows and grows until it is ready to come out."

"So it is like a seed? You plant it in the ground then water it and it grows."

Marshall showing off a picture of his little sister

"Yeah it is kind of like a seed."

Then the conversation progressed to Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck's farm where they plant seed that grow into vegetables, but as he was talking and I feigning attention to his recollection of this episode of Mickey Mouse I thought to myself HOLY CRAP HE WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. Then I thought Oh thank goodness he IS at least A LITTLE normal he is now talking about Mickey Mouse. 

How in the world did his 4-year-old mind make the connection between making babies and planting vegetable seeds? I know some adults that would be unable to make that connection. I was completely flabbergasted that Marshall came up with that analogy and seemed to understand the process that I had described to him moments before.

Baby making is a pretty complex process and this is not the only thing that Marshall has come up with that Dan and I have stopped and given each other THE look as if to say Did he really just say that?! I expect the response out of the mouth of my babe would be "Well it's only logical, Mother (all Spock style)."  I will never again doubt the capacity for understanding of the 4-year-old brain, but I will be keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't break into full Vulcan death grip on his little sister.

It's only just begun...

Okay, the title of this post suggests that my journey as a premature parent has just begun, but really I am talking about the blog itself.

I admit, I should have started this blog a few months ago, but the list is as follows when your baby is in the NICU:
1) Is my baby okay?!
2) Is my other child okay?
3) Poop
4) Breastmilk
5)Poop

Nowhere on the list is "get on the computer and start a blog." So, sorry it is a little late.

Premature parent, you ask? Well, literally I was due with my daughter, Melody, in June and she is so awesome that she couldn't wait another day and made her debut 2 1/2 months early. Yep, that's right I was 29 weeks and 6 days pregnant. So, that makes me the parent of a premature child. See... Premature Parent.

Figuratively, my adventures as a Premature Parent began when my son, Marhsall, was born almost 4 years ago (Holy crap. Does that really say 4?). While pregnant with my son, I read all kinds of books and prepared myself for his arrival. I was going to have a wonderful pain- free birth, had a written birth plan, and had my clothes packed months in advance with cute little nursing pajamas. Except one thing Marshall apparently did not agree with my birth plan and his arrival, much like his sister's, came a little earlier than expected. I was unprepared to be unprepared for an early delivery at 37 weeks and 4 days (not to mention the best 1st wedding anniversary gift EVER! Top that Hubs). I became a metaphorical Premature Parent (even though Marshall was only 5 pounds at birth and was more like a preemie for a while).

Marshall with his "chicken wing" in the NICU. 

My son's 10 day stay in the NICU did, however, prepare me (little bit) for my daughter's 2 month stint. We became regulars at the hospital... both times. I don't, however, recommend having babies early just so you can get used to the hospital in case another of your babies has to stay longer.

Nothing with either child turned out like I hoped it to. Although, with Melody I was a little less anal about "the plan." I prepared myself to be unprepared the second time around, but really how prepared can you be to have a baby, even when you think you are 100% ready? I figured we had a crib and some clothes and we were as ready as we were ever going to get (even with a 2 month grace period we were still not ready for her homecoming no matter how hard we tried). Everything else would fall into place.

Melody just after she was born hooked up to her C-Pap.

I'm not sure this blog is even going to be read or if it is going to be any good, but so far I have had some pretty crazy adventures and thought I would write them down (a. To remember them... I have a horrible case of mommy-mush brain and b. So, that maybe some other Premature Parents could see that they are not the only ones on the crazy train... I am pretty sure my train has derailed in crazy town and will not be making a return trip). As a mother completely running the show by the seat of her pants, I implore you to come and bask in our insanity and read as I deal with unexpected.