EVR: Eight weeks

May 26, 2011

 (she wasn't really happy about this)

I feel like E is growing up so much fast than W.  It may be all in my head, but I feel like we're on fast forward.  For documentation sake, here's what Lizzy's up to:   

• tries to suck on thumb
• eyes are still blue
• almost out of 0-3 mo. onesies (can't wait for the sleeveless ones)
• made first trip to church (5/15/11)
• first smile (5/13/11); now we can coax a smile or two out of her each morning
• baby announcements finally going out
• almost too tall/long for bassinet
• thighs and cheeks starting to chub
• takes a bottle before bed
• nurses like a champ
• has slept for six-hour stretches several nights...just not consistently
• loves bath time
• stares at W
• doesn't mind some tummy time
• gurgles bubbles and drools
• lying with her belly against someone's chest while that someone pats her back is the "magic" place
• Most nights around 8:00 p.m., colic rears its ugly head, usually not dying down until around 11:00.  At this point, E will finally calm and fall asleep.  Dear colic, I hate you.  

Loving

{via here}

• 3:00 p.m. when both kiddies are sleeping
• Costco's raw tortillas
• homemade strawberry jam
• sunshiny days
• surviving my first trip to the grocery store with two children
• dusting off my running shoes (so sore!)
• shopping here
• mid-week date night with D (to Target, no less)
• brainstorming ideas with my sisters for Lizzy's big day (8.18.11)
• using manual settings on my camera
• a Recipe Club as an excuse to gather friends

Iss Cue Mahmee

Before

After

When I need a change in my life, I usually change something about my hair.  Last night we said goodbye to maybe 8+ inches.  Something like that.  

I really like the cut.  I think it has received the approval of the family, too.  Winston keeps saying, "Iss cue Mahmee."  Translation:  It's cute, mommy.  

EVR: Six weeks

May 12, 2011

Photo Series: Love this boy

Mother's Day

{mom and me, 1983}

The challenges of a baby are many:  waking for mid-night feedings, changing a bazillion diapers, cleaning up spit-up and guessing how to console an and comfort her.  When I had W, I thought a newborn was difficult, but it would only get easier as he grew up.  Now that I have a newborn and a two-year-old to compare side by side, a newborn is easy!  

Don't get me wrong, W is wonderful.  He's a great kid.  Fun.  Adventurous.  Happy.  Smart.  Spirited.  I love that boy.  But I think as a mother's experience grows, so do the challenges of raising a growing child.  I find my vocabulary based around the following words or phrases:  no, get down, shhhh, stop!, gentle, and sit on your bottom.  I wonder how a mother has time to help her child develop beyond keeping him from running out into the street.  Yet I'm learning that this is the time where real parenting is beginning.  It's not just nurturing a baby; now I'm in the position to help shape and unfold W into the boy/young man/man he'll soon be.  And figuring out how to do this is the trick.    

I have been thinking about this talk lately.  The key word from the talk is, "BE."  Who and what will my children be?  I feel like my job is to help them become by teaching them to be honest, to be charitable, to be sincere, to be a listener, to be a learner, to be willing, to be humble.  It seems quite the responsibility as I know actions speak much louder than words.  What I do around my children will say much more than our little talks.

Especially today, I am so thankful to have my own mother whose example helped me learn how to be and become.  

A mother that is successful in raising a good boy, or girl, to imitate her example and to follow her precepts through life, sows the seeds of virtue, honor and integrity and of righteousness in their hearts that will be felt through all their career in life; and wherever that boy or girl goes, as man or woman, in whatever society they mingle, the good effects of the example of that mother upon them will be felt; and it will never die, because it will extend from them to their children from generation to generation.  

                 Joseph F. Smith  

I won't talk to my mom today.  She is in Haiti today with my dad and sister-in-law.  Instead of getting phone calls from her children, she'll be attending church in a hot, humid building.  She'll likely be tired and sore from the previous days' work of unloading and distributing materials for the Haitian Roots school, dresses and white shirts for church members, and basic supplies for many children and families in that devastated country.  I highly doubt she got breakfast in bed this morning.  And I'm pretty confident her bed tonight will not be as comfortable as the one she has at home.  But I do know that my mother wouldn't choose to be anywhere else.

The seeds she has sown through her life are those of service and unconditional love to others, regardless of who they are.  She doesn't just say or teach these principles.  She lives them, breathes them  and loves them.  They are seeds she has planted in each of her children.

Knowing that the real teaching happens through example, I hope my actions are ones my children will want to emulate as they become the man and woman they are meant to be.

Happy Mother's Day, mama.  Your actions have always spoken louder than words.  Thank you for planting those seeds in my life.  Love you!

EVR: one month

Baby girl is a whole month old.  Wow.  It seems like forever, but it's gone so fast, right?  I think even faster this second time around.

She checked out with a clean bill of health at the doctor today.
        Length:  22 1/2 inches (2 inches in one month!) 95%
        Weight:  10lb 3oz (almost 2 pounds!) 70%

It's amazing to me how much and how quickly infants grow.  It's really quite incredible.

Some things about this girl:

• her eyebrows came in; I didn't really notice, but a few people who hadn't seen her for a while pointed that out right away
• she prefers to be held
• pacifiers are still hit and miss
• the Bjorn works wonders for instant sleep
• her GI tract is very active
• her cheeks are getting chubbier, but those little bird legs are the same
• Winston always says "hello" to her in a sweet, calm voice, which she always seems very alert to listen
• we're sorta, kinda getting on a schedule
• though I still don't quite remember what you do with a newborn all day besides snuggle, smell and kiss them, and feed and change diapers
• made it five hours between feedings during the night

I feel a little more settled and confident in having two children now.  (I suppose I should qualify that by saying I haven't left the house with the two of them by myself yet.)  It's so unique having a boy and a girl.  They are so different from each other.  Yet perhaps it's my perspective and experience doing this for a second time that they seem different.  Regardless, I love having this sweet girl here.  Elizabeth is a gem.  She is patient.  She is calm.  She is the perfect complement to our family.  

In the weeks since we've been home, I have loved to see how sweet W is to his little sister.  Today I was reading to him while holding her.  Mid-book, and without any prompting, W turned to Elizabeth and gave her a kiss on the head.  As I continued to read, I felt so proud of him and so thankful for her.  She is lucky to have W as a big brother.  I hope he will always use that sweet little voice with her and give her kisses when he feels like it.  

Happy one month, Lizzy!