Look-Alikes

The picture on the left is Alex at 3 months old, and the one on the right is Kathryn at 3 months old.  It's safe to say that they are related, wouldn't you agree?!  I can see some differences of course, but it is kind of amazing how similar they look! Kathryn is a bit cheekier (ha!) and I think her nose is a little different, but if you aren't comparing their photos next to each other, I bet you would have a tough time picking out which one is which!  I'm pretty sure they will start to look quite different as they grow, but it's kind of fun seeing how similar they are right now! :)

Maternity Leave and Family Planning

Life is moving so quickly right now.  I have 3 more weeks of maternity leave, and I have to say that I am dreading my return to work.  Once I get back into the groove of things, it will all be fine.  But thinking about leaving Kathryn for a full work-day when I have not been apart from her for longer than a few hours is making me so anxious.  She is so sweet and easy, and I just savor our days together.  We spend our time snuggling, listening to her cooing and smiling when we talk to her.  She loves to watch her big sister, and she is obsessed with the ceiling fan and lights.  

I'm sad thinking that this might be our last baby.  I wouldn't say that a third baby is an impossibility, but it's definitely not a probability.  We like the idea of being a family of four.  Two girls, two parents.  It works.  But then I snuggle with Kathryn and take in her sweet baby smell, and I think, are these the last snuggles I will have with a newborn?  Are these the last few times I will marvel at my baby smiling at me and cooing when I say her name? It makes me want to stop time!  But three children seems impossible to us.  Especially as a working mom.  And I think it would take a small miracle to convince Rich to try for a 3rd!  He doesn't even miss not having a boy; he is completely happy with his two girls.  

And why, you might wonder, are we even thinking or talking about this only 2 months after I had a baby?  Because I'm a planner.  And part of me needs to know if this is it.  So that I can prepare my mental image of what our family looks like.  So that I can tell myself to savor each and every milestone.  Which is hilarious, because it's not like I wouldn't be savoring them even if we were planning on having another child one day.  But I just want to know.  And life is funny, because sometimes you just can't plan things and you just can't know what the future holds.  

Do other people think about this so shortly after having a baby? 

Alexandra is 2!

Time to get some updates done!  We celebrated Alex's 2nd birthday by going to San Diego with the family.  It was nice not to plan a big party while I've been occupied with taking care of the new baby.  Next year, the parties will recommence! :)

Alex and Kathryn were pretty good for the car ride because we left at 8 p.m. and they slept through most of it.  I sat in between their two car seats so that I could calm down Kathryn if she got fussy for the long ride.  It was beyond uncomfortable and totally unnecessary since she was completely asleep for the 6 hour drive.  I won't be doing that again!

We got to the hotel around 2 a.m. and got in a few good hours of sleep to help us make it through the day.  On her actual birthday, we went to the beach.  Although we took her to the beach in Maui when she was 7 months old, of course she was too little to get it.  But this time, she looked out at the ocean with huge eyes and she played in the sand like it was the coolest sandbox.  It was adorable to watch.

The next day, we woke up early to get to Sea World at opening.  It was a perfect day!  Alex got to see all of her favorite animals (fishies, turtles, penguins, whales, OH MY!) and she was the center of attention.  The best moment of the day was the Shamu show.  Her mouth literally fell open when the show started, and she clapped and laughed through the whole thing.  It was awesome to see the wonder on her face and to try to see the world through the eyes of a two-year-old.  

We inaugurated the double stroller for the trip, and it worked out great.  Kathryn slept in it for nearly the whole day, and she was pretty much an angel baby for the entire trip! We are so in love with this sweet mellow baby! 

We had cupcakes and gifts with the rest of the family when we got back in town.  I would say that Alexandra was one spoiled birthday girl!

Happy Birthday to my BIG GIRL! I cannot believe it was only 2 years ago (and already 2 years ago!) that she came into our lives and brought us such happiness.  I can't even remember what our family was like before her.  We can't wait to see what this next year holds for her!

Sister Photoshoot

Photos

I am having a wonderful time on maternity leave.  I have been enjoying my photography hobby with my girls.  Alex is not always willing anymore, but she tolerates me sometimes.  And of course, Kathryn is too little to protest, so I have a captive subject at all times, although all this eating and sleeping that she does really can get in the way of her modeling time! :)

Alex updates

Alexandra is growing up so fast.  She will be turning 2 next week, and I am absolutely loving this age! I mean, yes, she is extremely difficult and willful and throws temper tantrums like any 2 year old out there.  But maybe it is because she has always been a strong-willed child, it isn't much of a shock to have a little more of that behavior thrown into the mix.  I think what I love about this age is seeing her personality come out more and more.  We love all of the new words and expressions she uses.  It is amazing how quickly she learns things.  I have heard the expression, 'an explosion of words,' and it is so true! She says so many new words each and every day.

Some of our favorite things that she does or says lately:

She says "OKAY!" instead of saying yes to things.  It's kind of strange.  She will ask for something that she wants (like an M&M) and if we clarify, and ask, "Do you want an M&M?" she responds with "OK!"  As if we are the ones who brought it up in the first place!!  She uses different intonations and levels of enthusiasm depending on how she feels about the question.  If we ask, "Do you need a nap?" she will say really slowly, "okkkaaaayyy" in a soft reluctant voice.  If we ask, "Do you want to go play at the park?" she will say "O!!! K!!!!"

Her new obsession is climbing onto the barstools and sitting at the kitchen island.  Of course I don't want her climbing on them unless I am sitting with her because I'm afraid she will kick off the island and fall off said barstool and break her neck.  So as she was crawling onto one, I said, "No, get down from there.  You don't need to be up on the barstool, you already finished your breakfast."  She looked me straight in the face and said, "No! I DO need to be on it!"  I couldn't stop laughing (to myself) at what a complex sentence she put together!

As we were leaving the house the other day, she looked over her shoulder at the dogs and said, "BYE BYE guys! See you in the morning!" We have no idea where she learned that expression.  So funny, and such a long string of words for a 23 month old to put together!

We are going to skip the big fancy birthday party this year for Alex and instead we are taking her to Sea World next weekend.  She is a bit obsessed with FISHIES!! lately.  One of her favorite movies is Finding Nemo, so we are really excited to see her reaction to some real fishies (and whales, turtles and penguins)!  It will be our first trip with Kathryn, and we also have both sets of grandparents coming along too, so it should be a great trip!

1 month

Kathryn is 1 month old, and I sound like every other mom, but seriously, time is flying by!

We are adjusting to life as a family of four.  I wouldn't say that it is easy yet (will it ever be?) but I'm managing the chaos with a bit more confidence every day.  I even had my first evening parenting solo when Rich worked late one night---I made dinner, baths, books and bedtime for both girls--and I'm here to tell the story, so I guess that means we all survived!

Kathryn is an easy baby.  I have been hesitant to really accept it, because I keep thinking that I will jinx it by saying it, but it's true.  With all the days of endless crying, reflux and dairy allergies that Alex had, we were prepared for this crazy colicky newborn stage.  We weren't looking forward to it, but we knew we survived before, and we could do it again.  But Kathryn is just happy to nurse, sleep and be held.  She doesn't cry much, and it's always for a "reason" (food, diaper, sleep, etc....).  What a treat for us!  I don't like the expression, "she's a good baby," because it implies that their temperament is their fault, and even with all of the screaming with Alex, we would never say she was a bad baby.  Both of them are my good babies! But WOW, I will at least admit that Kathryn is easier.  (Of course, who knows what is around the corner, I'm preaching from 1 month here!)

We are getting the sleep thing figured out, and I am hoping she will be a champion sleeper like her sister.  She is doing great so far.  She wakes up once or twice a night to feed, and goes back down once her belly is full.  I'm having a harder time going back to sleep than she is! We moved her to her crib last week (from our room) and she adjusted right away!

Some pics at 1 month old: