First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for the wonderful comments about my beautiful girls. :) I am one lucky mama.

The last few days have been a real roller coaster ride. Right after the birth, I was flying high, and things were going really well. Then the "aftershocks" kicked in - the contractions that come after giving birth while the uterus is going back down to normal size. Oh, goddess, those were a bitch. I don't remember them at all from Rhiannon, but apparently you feel everything more after subsequent babies. Oh, yeah. Take the worst menstrual cramps ever and multiply them. argh. Then of course they'd get worse while nursing, which made THAT ever more enjoyable.

Speaking of nursing, we're doing pretty well in that department again. Once my milk came in, my breasts got really full and Aeryn had a hard time latching on. So she would chomp, release, chomp, release, at least 3 times, until I was nearly screaming and totally in tears. I have never had such pain, I tell you what. So nursing was agony for a couple of days. Then I learned it helped immensely to pump before trying to latch her on, and my poor shredded nips are on the mend now.

My neighbor friend is home Mon and Tues, so he came down and got Rhiannon to play with his son, Rhia's friend Jasper. That was a big help. Yesterday I got a nice nap in while Beaner played over there, and today I got a couple things done around the house. Little things, mind you, but I have simple goals these days. Shower, brush hair, brush teeth, cut up over-ripening melon... big accomplishments.

My awesome friend Barb, who was at Aeryn's birth, brought over a couple of fabulous meals for us, so we've eaten some good home cooking these last two nights. What a luxury! Everyone has been so generous to us, it's truly wonderful. I didn't really expect anything, since it's our second baby and all, but friends and neighbors have given us such wonderful things. I didn't realize all the things that we still needed for a new baby again, and we've been so blessed to have received nearly everything we could need! I'm just awed by everyone's kindness.

My mom called today, and she has a plane ticket to come out on Saturday and stay for a week. It will be nice to have the help, and I know Rhiannon will love to see her. She gave Bean a cute little robe for her birthday, so we had breakfast in our robes this morning.

I need to write Rhiannon's yearly birthday letter yet, and write Aeryn's birth story, but it will all come in due time.