The past 2 weeks...

It's been a couple of weeks since the last post, and Isla has already reached her 4 week birthday! She's doing great - her neck is getting sturdy and strong, she took a bottle (like a champ) for the first time, she met her california grandpas, celebrated her first father's day and continues to be a REALLY good baby. I'm not 100% sure, but I think she even gave me a little smile today - the social kind, not the "I have gas" kind.

We had a great time with Dad and Dan visiting, including a father's day dinner with DJ's parents. It was awesome to have so many fathers together to hang out and BBQ with on what ended up being a beautiful afternoon. We've been incredibly spoiled over the last month with family in town from California to lend a hand - everyone has been such a huge help with the girls and life in general. Thank you so much Mom, Dad and Dan!

I swear Addison gets cuter and funnier by the day, some of which is captured in a few video clips below. It's so much fun to watch her grow increasingly fond of her baby sister. I'll often catch her laying a little blanket over Isla's legs if she's in her swing, and tonight when Isla started to cry, Addison said (in a sad little voice with a face to match) "No cry baby Isla". So sweet!

An example of one of Addison's blankets that she placed over Isla in her swing

Always checking in on her

Mmmmm...brownies!

Sleepy head in our bed

Getting her started on the idea of chores early :)

First bottle!

A very cool splash park we discovered

Grandpa Dan, the baby whisperer!

Father's Day fun

A favorite activity - throwing the ball for Callie. Nice because it wears them both out!

She met a dog named "Ity Bitz" at a park and talked about him for 3 days!

First Week Home Alone & Happy 2 Week Bday Isla!

Although most of these pictures are actually from last week, Iwanted to acknowledge my big first week at home alone with Isla AND her 2 week birthday! Where have the last 2 weeks gone, and why does time fly by so quickly? Her umbilical cord stump even fell out this morning, leaving us with a cute little innie belly button. Anyhow, we're both doing great and I'm REALLY enjoying being home with her. It seems so much easier this time, not as much stress and structure as I felt and imparted on Addison. I have even been preparing dinner each night, an activity I haven't participated in for about 2 years! Hey, I'm not a slacker, it's just that DJ enjoys the cooking thing so much. :)

Isla is spending more time awake during the day, mostly in the mornings. She is my little sensitive flower, HATES cold wipes when getting her diaper changed. Luckily Grandma Pam got her a wipes warmer and all is well now. She slept 5 hours straight last night which was a real treat. She just finished eating so we're about to head out to the grocery store to get ingredients for tonight's feast....our first excursion solo! Wish us luck.

Addison seems more and more advanced every day. The things she knows and syas blow our minds! She is a character, a real joker. She's been showing more unsolicited interest and love for her sister, something we're really happy to see. Every night she insists on kissing Isla goodnight and always says "Love you Baby Isla!" So cute! Her 2nd birthday is just around the corner and we'd like to plan something small but special for her. Stay tuned!

A woman I work with knitted this cute cap for Isla

She loves lounging on daddy

Big sister love!

Addison on the potty! She never "goes" on it, but is getting comfortable proactively sitting on it! A funny dinner moment with our neighbor Anna

Memorial Day Weekend

Grandma was here with us for 10 days, taking care of Addison while we were in the hospital, and then taking care of all of us once we got home. That she got up every morning at 6am when Addison yelled "Gamma! GAMMA!" from her crib so DJ and I could get a few more precious moments of sleep was priceless! THANK YOU for everything! Grandma flew home today, so we're wondering who will go fetch Addison tomorrow morning as she's calling for Grandma from her room. :)

The weather here has been incredible, and Memorial Day was no exception. We spent the morning at the park where Addison ran around pulling every flag she could find out of planters and pots. She's actually covered with bug bites from being outside so much over the past couple of weeks!

Isla continues to be a sweet little doll, so cuddly and cute. She's sleeping on me as I write this. Addison enjoys giving her kisses and love, but we can definitely see some different emotions coming out of big sister - more sensitive lately, a bit more dramatic and needy...her world has changed so much, but overall she's handling it like a champ.

Peonies!

Tummy time!

One last cuddle with Dad before work

She loves to tuck into a little ball on my chest

Kisses for Isla

She's saying "love you baby Isla!"


Isla loves the sling

Home Sweet Home

The first few days home from the hospital have gone pretty well, especially last night when Isla slept for 6 hours straigt! DJ and I finally feel like humans again today. Let's hope she has a repeat performance tonight - I know, I know, I'm not counting on it.

Addison has responded REALLY positively to her baby sister, going between being totally uninterested and unphased to wanting to touch, kiss and talk to her. I'll take that over jealousy and freak-outs any day. Addison has had lots of playtime outside for the past week with the weather being in the 80s and sunny. Our neighbors with three girls, along with Grandma, have been really helpful in keeping her occupied and happy. We're so lucky. It's funny how giant and grown up Addison seems compared to Isla.

In Isla's world, it's all about eating, sleeping and pooping - LOTS of sleeping. She's such a little snuggle bug, especially after she eats. She scoots her head down onto my chest and curls up into a tight little ball...I am in love! She's nursing easily and well, which is quite a difference from how Addison was - it took weeks for her and I to get the hang of it.

DJ goes back to work on Tuesday, but Granda is here until Thursday. Then DJ will take Thursday and Friday off to get me through the weekend and then I'll be on my own. Addison will go back to Brenda's during the week, but what's nice is that they're right across the street so I anticipate we'll be walking over to hang out, have lunch and play whenever Isla and I are able to. Time goes by too fast and before I know it I'll be back to work. I feel MUCH more relaxed about things this time, so hopefully my maternity leave will be less stressful than last time around. :)

Right before we left the hospital

In the carseat for the first time


First minutes at home!

Snuggle bug

Naping outside (in the shade of course)

Peony photos for Dan :)

Dan, we get coutless compliments on this!

Sleeping in our bed in the morning - reminds me of Addison here!

Daddy's snuggle bug

First bath at home - she loved it!

Trying on everyone's shoes

Addison's latest trick - playing hide and seek in her cupboard in the kitchen

Isla's Hospital Days

I remember writing about this on the blog when Addison was born, but the days in the hospital after a baby is born are some of the most special. It sounds weird to say that being in the hospital is special, but you are truly in a little bubble with your new baby and the love of your life/husband, with nothing to worry about or focus on besides each other and the miracle you have both just brought into the world. Everything else around you is taken care of in terms of food, your health, healing, and if you're lucky like us, family is taking care of things at home. The peace and comfort we have experienced during the first few days of bonding have been so appreciated, despite the exhaustion that comes along with it.

Similar to what we experienced when Addison was born, we have had nothing short of outstanding care and compassion here at Fairview Southdale. The nurses are all awesome and the accomodations are clean, quiet and comfortable. We're finishing up with all the check-out details and lunch here, and will be heading home soon. We're so excited to bring Isla home and to see Addison. We realize that here is where the REAL work begins, outside of our bubble environment of the hospital room. :)

We're so in love with little Isla - she is a precious little sweetheart who makes us want more, more and MORE babies! I think we're a little delirious right now. :) She's doing amazingly well, healthy as can be and nursing like a pro - that makes my job a little easier. She's actually GAINED 2 ounces since birth, which is pretty rare for 4 days old. I'm feeling pretty great myself - seems easier the second c-section around. We're about to get her dressed and pack up our things to go HOME!!!

DJ takes a turn in the comfortable (relative to the lovely pull-out chair he's been sleeping on) hospital bed