Life, in progress

Here we are, 3 weeks into our new life as a family of 4.  We have had our challenges (read: tantrums from a 3 1/2 year old, nap and tummy troubles with the newborn) but are overwhelmed at how everything just seems right.  I loved our life and freedom as parents of only one child and was worried about how things would change when the second one arrived.  So far it's been fairly seamless and seeing Colin's excitement and love for his little sister makes all worry and anxiety disappear. 

Lydia has been an easy newborn compared to Colin.  She's still pretty sleepy so maybe I'll change my tune in the next week...  Our day is pretty monotonous, starting at 7:15/7:30 by trying to coax Lydia's eyes open for some breakfast.  Her waketime varies each day/feeding but she seems to handle 40-45 minutes.  Quite often that means we only change a diaper and nurse before she's right back in the swaddle for another nap.  She eats every 3 hours and is in jammies and last eats at 7:15 each night.  Lydia has been good to us at night so far, sleeping 5-6 hour stretches.  She first wakes around midnight/1:00 and again around 4:00/5:00.  It's only been 3 weeks and I already can't wait to only get up once a night!  Her milk intake is doing her body good though, as she was up almost a whole pound (6 lbs. 13 oz.) at her 2 week check-up!  

Here are a few photos of the last couple weeks.



First sponge bath




Froggy girl




Escape artist




First real bath (2.5 weeks) - she loved it!





Reading to "my girl"
(wish it was in focus)




Lydia needed to get in on movie night




First bottle (3.5 weeks) - took it like a champ



    

Lydia Kae

 Our sweet girl decided to make an early entrance, arriving at 8:44 PM on Valentine's Day (38.5 weeks).  Despite all efforts to turn her she was still breech when I went into labor.  We rushed to the hospital after work on Thursday and shipped Colin off to have a sleepover at Will's house.  Less than 3 hours later, we heard little cries in the operating room!  The peanut weighed in at 5 lbs. 14 oz.



Froggy legs!





Meeting baby sister





Excited to be a big brother





Grandma





Uncle Andy & Auntie Susan




Grandma & Grandpa Rau





Auntie Alexa & Uncle Luke





All ready to go home



Colin has been such a great big brother these last 2 weeks.  He loves to give Lydia hugs and kisses and help wake her up from naps.  I can't wait to watch these two grow up together! 

 

All by myself

This is how Colin and John have been spending their Monday nights.  FINALLY, after 4 weeks (and lots of "I CAN'T DO IT!") Colin gave it a go on his own.  Now he's ready to put on a helmet and grab a stick!

Don't mind the crooked video...

Baby, Baby

Now that the holidays are over, we're creeping closer to becoming a family of four.  The belly (along with everything else!) continues to grow and the number on the scale continues to rise.  It really is a blessing and a curse to be pregnant over both Thanksgiving and Christmas!

22 weeks



24 weeks



28 weeks



30 weeks



32 weeks



We finally purchased a dresser for baby's room and spent our New Year's Day morning assembling it.  Big brother was especially helpful in that he sat in the chair and colored and played puzzles on the iPad.  I feel like we can now start organizing the room - 8 weeks might be here before we know it!



Ikea dressers have nothing on us!



Christmas Wrap-up

My camera finally came out of hiding during the month of December and this post is proof.  Here is our month in a nutshell.

I'll start by saying that this Christmas was by far the most fun with Colin.  He understood so much more and was definitely excited to celebrate.  We kicked off the season with our 2nd annual Holiday Lights parade.  Unfortunately, the photos from that night didn't turn out.  Just trust me that the three of us had fun looking at the floats and eating ridiculous amounts of Tootsie Rolls.

Up next was a visit to Santa.  What a difference a year makes!  Colin was pumped to sit on Santa's lap and rattle off what was on his Christmas wish list.  I think he was just as excited about donating the "green noodles" (Herb & Cheese Pasta Roni) though. :) 



"I want a Super Why skateboard & a Buzz Lightyear airplane."



Perhaps the highlight of the month for John and I was Colin's daycare Christmas program.  The preschool class sang "Away in a Manager", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", and "All I Want for Christmas".  We were so proud of him - he really did a great job!

Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Loppy came one Saturday to celebrate Christmas with us.  We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon by the fire and Colin was spoiled with treats, clothes, jammies, and a toy cash register.  He now requires us to pay him for sandwiches, fruit and pizza that he makes!  

This is the new equipment requirement when playing hockey downstairs:
Chest pads, helmet, and "hockey gloves".

We traveled to Tracy a few days before Christmas and spent the holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Rau.  The weather was pretty chilly so we spent a lot of time playing piano, cars, tennis, and foosball downstairs.  We did manage to get a few sled runs in across the street.

Colin helped leave a few cookies and a glass of milk for Santa before church on Christmas Eve.  He couldn't believe it when we came home and there were only crumbs left on the plate and a plump stocking hanging by the chimney!  His hat and coat didn't even come off - he dug right in to his stocking to find a Thomas toothbrush, book, lacing cards, and treats.



"Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"



Santa brought the "Super Why" skateboard - thanks to Uncle Andy.
He made stickers (which you can't see here) to transform it.

Each of us was spoiled over the last month and we're so thankful for the time spent together as a family.  Merry Christmas and Happy 2013! 

Merry Christmas!