Happy 2 month Birthday!
From here on out, I will be documenting milestones etc of my Little Dollface as if I'm talking to her (like I did for her brother).
Your second month was marked by your paternal grandma visiting all the way from Florida. Your Nonna could not wait to see you and she was so happy when she finally did. She actually spent 6 weeks with us. Your brother continues "to love you so much." He is gentle with you and very protective of you. When someone comes around he puts his arm out and says "stop, that's my baby sister." He is attentive to you crying and cares a lot about you being ok. Your dad and I still adore you.
You are still very tiny although at your 2 month check up you close to double your birth weight (9lb 13oz) and grew over 3 inches. You seem to be filling out some especially in your face, tummy and legs. You still have a head full of bone straight hair when it's dry but when it's wet it gets a little curly. One day this week you woke up with a natural mohawk. Everyone we encountered thought it was the most adorable thing ever. You are not as pale as you were last month and your eyes are clearly brown. You still have the most adorable little pouty lips.
You still have a pretty laid back personality, it seems although you let your needs be known with your girly ear piercing screams. You began showing some social smile at around 5 weeks although not very consistent. I'm definitely less rigid and more laid back (if I dare say so) the second time around. Although this newborn stage is still rough, I feel less stressed when it comes to caring for you.
Nursing is still going well and you remain a pretty good eater--meal every 2-3 hours although very fast. Nursing the second time around seem so much easier. I am still having to wake you up every 3 hours to feed you but getting you to go back to sleep has been difficult. Your naps are still not organized during the daytime. We are still swaddling you when you sleep and this seems to help. You like the pacifier AND if it falls out you get really upset. That's been a bit challenging for us. Although I'm nursing you, you got your first cold (your brother goes to preschool and has been getting everyone sick). You did pretty well for being sick. Thankfully we took care of you at home without having to take you to your pediatrician.
We have been on several outtings this month--mainly to church, shopping, and a few hikes. You are such a trooper. The more I get to know you, the more I adore you. I just love you so much and feel very blessed to be your mommy. I think you will be just as sweet as your brother when you get older. You still look very much like him.
Mrs. K
Saturday, August 30, 2014
IVK 0-1 month
It's time to blog about my other baby. As you know I've been blessed with another wonderful child. It's an awesome feeling being a second time momma. It's just as good as the first time and the LOVE I have for my baby girl is just the same as the love I have for her brother. Our capacity to love amazes me. Anyway, she's almost 3 months old so let me introduce you all to my Little Dollface.
My little darling was born close to 4 weeks early on June 6, 2014--very tiny at 4lbs 13 oz BUT super healthy. She's a sweet California baby. I had to be induced AND the labor and delivery went very smoothly. She lost a few ounces and was down to 4lb 8oz but quickly gained back her birth weight and more (within a week).
She looked so tiny coming home in her car seat. She was swallowed up by the premie one piece she was wearing. We called her our little squirrel because she was so small. Her brother first saw her right after she was born and his love for her was instant. He wanted to hold her and he was kissing all over her. He loves her so very much and has shown no jealousy or meanness. When she got home, we showed her around the house. My cousin, Dee, was there helping us out for the first 2 weeks. Ryan and Carolina visited us while we were in the hospital, along with some of her dad's work partners.
As far as physical appearance, besides being very tiny, she was pale white with straight black hair, brownish-grayish eyes and super red lips. She had one of the cutest little faces that strongly resembled her brother's. She loved being swaddled and being held. The pacifier was her best friend and my savior. Her first real bath was at home right at 2 weeks when the stump of the umbilical cord fell off. Her brother and her dad helped with the bath.
She nursed like a pro immediately after she was born and has been awesome at eating thereafter. I had no problems with latching or any other aspect of breastfeeding. I did supplement with 10-15 ml of formula at each breastfeeding for the first week to help get her weight up. My milk came in fully on day 3 right after I drank mother's milk tea. We had the usual sleepy while nursing newborn stage but this ended after a while. I fed her mostly on demand but did not let her go past 2 hours during the daytime and 3 hours at night. She does spit up a lot but I expect this to go away in a few months.
Her sleep was pretty good for a newborn. Most nights I had to wake her at the 3 hour mark to feed her. One night my alarm did not go off and she slept 4.5 hours straight. She was sleeping in her bed since day 1. While sleeping she would make these funny little noises. Her dad and I joked that she sounded like a dinosaur. We swaddled her for naps and at night. Naps were irregular as usual. She seemed to be in a sleepy slumber for this first month.
Overall her personality seems pretty chill BUT she definitely lets her needs be known. She has the loudest scream I've ever heard. It's a super high ear-piercing screaming when she's mad. She definitely screams like a girl! She's been pretty alert from the get-go and has been trying to pick her head up.
At 4 weeks old we took her to church for the first time and she did very well. She also went on her first hike at 4 weeks old (in Lassen National Park). Its amazing how much more comfortable I am the second time around. She seems to fit in with the rest of our family perfectly. Her father, brother and I just love and adore her so much. We cannot get enough of our little munchkin. We took newborn photos at 3 weeks old and here she is:
Mrs. K
My little darling was born close to 4 weeks early on June 6, 2014--very tiny at 4lbs 13 oz BUT super healthy. She's a sweet California baby. I had to be induced AND the labor and delivery went very smoothly. She lost a few ounces and was down to 4lb 8oz but quickly gained back her birth weight and more (within a week).
She looked so tiny coming home in her car seat. She was swallowed up by the premie one piece she was wearing. We called her our little squirrel because she was so small. Her brother first saw her right after she was born and his love for her was instant. He wanted to hold her and he was kissing all over her. He loves her so very much and has shown no jealousy or meanness. When she got home, we showed her around the house. My cousin, Dee, was there helping us out for the first 2 weeks. Ryan and Carolina visited us while we were in the hospital, along with some of her dad's work partners.
As far as physical appearance, besides being very tiny, she was pale white with straight black hair, brownish-grayish eyes and super red lips. She had one of the cutest little faces that strongly resembled her brother's. She loved being swaddled and being held. The pacifier was her best friend and my savior. Her first real bath was at home right at 2 weeks when the stump of the umbilical cord fell off. Her brother and her dad helped with the bath.
She nursed like a pro immediately after she was born and has been awesome at eating thereafter. I had no problems with latching or any other aspect of breastfeeding. I did supplement with 10-15 ml of formula at each breastfeeding for the first week to help get her weight up. My milk came in fully on day 3 right after I drank mother's milk tea. We had the usual sleepy while nursing newborn stage but this ended after a while. I fed her mostly on demand but did not let her go past 2 hours during the daytime and 3 hours at night. She does spit up a lot but I expect this to go away in a few months.
Her sleep was pretty good for a newborn. Most nights I had to wake her at the 3 hour mark to feed her. One night my alarm did not go off and she slept 4.5 hours straight. She was sleeping in her bed since day 1. While sleeping she would make these funny little noises. Her dad and I joked that she sounded like a dinosaur. We swaddled her for naps and at night. Naps were irregular as usual. She seemed to be in a sleepy slumber for this first month.
Overall her personality seems pretty chill BUT she definitely lets her needs be known. She has the loudest scream I've ever heard. It's a super high ear-piercing screaming when she's mad. She definitely screams like a girl! She's been pretty alert from the get-go and has been trying to pick her head up.
At 4 weeks old we took her to church for the first time and she did very well. She also went on her first hike at 4 weeks old (in Lassen National Park). Its amazing how much more comfortable I am the second time around. She seems to fit in with the rest of our family perfectly. Her father, brother and I just love and adore her so much. We cannot get enough of our little munchkin. We took newborn photos at 3 weeks old and here she is:
Mrs. K
Sunday, August 24, 2014
IEK 2 year old update (w/pic)
IEK (Mr. Smarty Pants) is doing great! I haven't written an update on him in a while. He's 2 years and 6 months old. This will be a fairly long update, I anticipate, as I want to document as much as I can remember.
He turned 2 years old in February and had a joint birthday party with Abby, one of his buddies from North Carolina. It was a cowboy themed party held at the Little Gym and it was great. I made his outfit (kind of). I ordered a cowboy vest and chaps online. I didn't have to do much altering for the vest but I attached the chaps to a pair of jeans. He looked so cute.
First haircut was 12/31/13 and he has had 4 haircuts to date. They seem to be getting shorter and shorter each time. He's had 2 haircuts in NC and 2 here in California. He has done well with all his haircuts so far. He gets into the toy airplane or car or whatever he chooses, mommy acts like an idiot and voila haircut is over. I prefer his hair a little longer but the hairstylists seem to do whatever they want. Since we are talking about hair--interestingly, his hair has gotten very lighter (no longer dark brown (now a light to medium brown with some hints of red-ish-ness in the sun). I think that's because it's the summer. Also the more we cut his hair, the straighter it gets. He has no curls anymore.
His brown hair compliments his big brown eyes and his adorable smile. He's still not very tall--fairly average I guess compared to his classmates at preschool. Oh yeah, he started preschool the same day his sister was born--BIG BOY! Staying true to his pattern, the first few weeks of preschool was rough (for both of us). He cried everyday when I dropped him off and intermittently throughout the day until I picked him up. I felt so terrible and stressed everyday for the first few weeks. After about 2 months he started liking it and goes without crying. Everyone once in a while he'll tell me "mommy, I don't want to go to school" or "mommy come with me at school" but besides that he's great. I like his teachers Ms. Cindy and Ms Heather. The preschool is great although I wish the class size was smaller but he seems to be adjusting well (was worried because he was in a home daycare up until then). We were proud parents the first time he brought home something he made from school. It was a father's day gift for his dad--a card and a handprint (which his dad uses as a paperweight on his desk in our home office). The card is hanging in his room.
His second year so far has been interesting: we moved from NC (where he was born and lived for 2 years); we had our first vacation away from him for 1 week (Nonna kept him and he did great, I had the hardest time); he was potty trained fairly well with minor accidents before he turned two but fully potty trained during the transition period between moving from NC to CA. He actually traveled from NC to CA (2 flights) without an accident. He potty trained really easily and once potty trained he did not want to go in his pull ups. OK so what else happened this year...yeah we moved to California (different time zone), upgraded him to a big boy bed, and he now has a little sister.
He is such a good big brother. He looooves his sister so much and is very protective of her. He does get a little competitive at times for our attention but he's very sweet to her. He always says "I love my baby sister" and gives her hugs and kisses. I think it was love at first sight for him. He seriously immediately loved her. He's so funny, he goes "awww...she's such a tiny baby." LOL. He also looooves his daddy. He is currently a daddy's boy although he cries for me when he wants something. Ha! He and his dad will have private time in the hammock and if I go outside to say hi, he'll so "no mommy go back inside." He and his dad are so sweet to watch. My husband wrestles and rolls around on the floor with him but they are also tender to to each other. I love watching my husband giving him kisses and hugging him. He's a great dad. Anyway, I've been the enforcer I guess. He says "I love you mommy" mostly when daddy isn't around--haha! I'm very loving with him too but I'm also firm and consistent and doesn't let him get away with much. He likes to test limits like any 2 year old but it's not that bad. He also occasionally will try to whine or "tantrum" but these are also not bad.
So overall I think his behavior is great. There are few times he acts like "typical 2 year old" but most times he's pretty cool. He listens for the most part and responds well to counting from 1-3 before a consequence. I mostly reward him with something or take away something he likes as punishment. Although, sometimes I do pop him (ex. when he does something dangerous like ride his bike on the road). So he has a Strider (a balance bike) that he absolutely loves. He is sooo good at balancing on that thing. Since the first day we gave it to him he was riding it like a pro--I think the kid is ready for a big boy bike (without training wheels).
He's a terrible eater (still). I think this is one of the biggest challenges we have as his parents. It's so hard to feed him because he doesn't like to eat anything. He doesn't try new foods and once he makes up his mind, that's it. I have to be creative to get him to eat, like blending vegetables and putting them in whatever he's interested in eating at the time. The hard part is that he doesn't get hungry so missing a meal or two doesn't affect him. I've also used reward systems to get him to eat. IT's kind of crazy. I can't wait for this no eating phase to end.
He was sleeping great until we moved. He's been sleeping through the night since he was a young infant, however the move and the big boy bed (I think) has messed us up. IT was a struggle to get him to stay in his room initially but with some adjustments/training we were able to fix that situation. He now stays in his room fine but he continues to wake up several times at night (wasn't doing this prior to the move). He however naps very well--that required some re-training with the introduction of the big boy bed.
He's very athletic and loves the outdoors. He loves to play baseball and can throw the ball pretty well. We are still working on the batting skills but he's pitched some good balls to me. He's right handed and pretty coordinated. He loves throwing rocks too and picking up sticks. He's also pretty good at football. We like to blow bottles and shoot waterguns at each other. On a regular basis all 3 of us (me, dad and IEK) are outside shooting waterguns at each other in the backyard.
He's very smart and loves book and puzzles. He also likes to write on his blackboard and color. Language is definitely a strength for him. I mean, he talks better than most 2 year olds and a lot of 3 year olds I've met. It's amazing. He absorbs everything and remembers everything. He talks like a regular person, although he has the normal articulation trouble (like I "wove you mommy"). He asked "you check your blood pressure, I want to press blue button." He also is a thinker. On the way home from church one day he says "Mommy I pay at church." I didn't understand him so I told him that and he said "mommy not pay (meaning play), I pay (meaning pray) to Jesus," "Jesus made the trees." He really thought about how he could explain to me what he meant. He can count from 1 to 20 (almost). He can say ABCs. He knows a lot of the shapes but he has challenges with colors. IT's weird because sometimes he'll say the colors incorrectly but other times he'll say them right. I dunno. Oh, he loooves to sing and his little voice his so sweet. He's a bit "sassy" at times (according to my grandfather). I try to encourage his confidence but also balance that with some discipline.
He's unfortunately more interested in TV because he's had more exposure since the move. Before the move he probably watched TV once per week (if that much). Now he watches it several days per week. I've been working on curbing his electronic exposure but it's a work in progress. He's social in situations that he feels comfortable in but otherwise is reserved in novel situations. Although he's a rough and tough kid, he also is pretty cautious and isn't much of a daredevil. He still loves to listen to music and dance. Thank God for Pandora Toddler station.
Overall he's such a joy. He's so sweet, loving, compassionate, funny, determined, etc. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. I pray that God will continue to bless him, protect and guide him. I also pray that my husband and I will continue to be good parents to him. He makes us so happy and I would like to think that he's pretty happy with us too :). Ok (next update will be at 3yo). Month 1 and 2 for his sister coming soon (w/pic) too.
Mrs. K
He turned 2 years old in February and had a joint birthday party with Abby, one of his buddies from North Carolina. It was a cowboy themed party held at the Little Gym and it was great. I made his outfit (kind of). I ordered a cowboy vest and chaps online. I didn't have to do much altering for the vest but I attached the chaps to a pair of jeans. He looked so cute.
First haircut was 12/31/13 and he has had 4 haircuts to date. They seem to be getting shorter and shorter each time. He's had 2 haircuts in NC and 2 here in California. He has done well with all his haircuts so far. He gets into the toy airplane or car or whatever he chooses, mommy acts like an idiot and voila haircut is over. I prefer his hair a little longer but the hairstylists seem to do whatever they want. Since we are talking about hair--interestingly, his hair has gotten very lighter (no longer dark brown (now a light to medium brown with some hints of red-ish-ness in the sun). I think that's because it's the summer. Also the more we cut his hair, the straighter it gets. He has no curls anymore.
His brown hair compliments his big brown eyes and his adorable smile. He's still not very tall--fairly average I guess compared to his classmates at preschool. Oh yeah, he started preschool the same day his sister was born--BIG BOY! Staying true to his pattern, the first few weeks of preschool was rough (for both of us). He cried everyday when I dropped him off and intermittently throughout the day until I picked him up. I felt so terrible and stressed everyday for the first few weeks. After about 2 months he started liking it and goes without crying. Everyone once in a while he'll tell me "mommy, I don't want to go to school" or "mommy come with me at school" but besides that he's great. I like his teachers Ms. Cindy and Ms Heather. The preschool is great although I wish the class size was smaller but he seems to be adjusting well (was worried because he was in a home daycare up until then). We were proud parents the first time he brought home something he made from school. It was a father's day gift for his dad--a card and a handprint (which his dad uses as a paperweight on his desk in our home office). The card is hanging in his room.
His second year so far has been interesting: we moved from NC (where he was born and lived for 2 years); we had our first vacation away from him for 1 week (Nonna kept him and he did great, I had the hardest time); he was potty trained fairly well with minor accidents before he turned two but fully potty trained during the transition period between moving from NC to CA. He actually traveled from NC to CA (2 flights) without an accident. He potty trained really easily and once potty trained he did not want to go in his pull ups. OK so what else happened this year...yeah we moved to California (different time zone), upgraded him to a big boy bed, and he now has a little sister.
He is such a good big brother. He looooves his sister so much and is very protective of her. He does get a little competitive at times for our attention but he's very sweet to her. He always says "I love my baby sister" and gives her hugs and kisses. I think it was love at first sight for him. He seriously immediately loved her. He's so funny, he goes "awww...she's such a tiny baby." LOL. He also looooves his daddy. He is currently a daddy's boy although he cries for me when he wants something. Ha! He and his dad will have private time in the hammock and if I go outside to say hi, he'll so "no mommy go back inside." He and his dad are so sweet to watch. My husband wrestles and rolls around on the floor with him but they are also tender to to each other. I love watching my husband giving him kisses and hugging him. He's a great dad. Anyway, I've been the enforcer I guess. He says "I love you mommy" mostly when daddy isn't around--haha! I'm very loving with him too but I'm also firm and consistent and doesn't let him get away with much. He likes to test limits like any 2 year old but it's not that bad. He also occasionally will try to whine or "tantrum" but these are also not bad.
So overall I think his behavior is great. There are few times he acts like "typical 2 year old" but most times he's pretty cool. He listens for the most part and responds well to counting from 1-3 before a consequence. I mostly reward him with something or take away something he likes as punishment. Although, sometimes I do pop him (ex. when he does something dangerous like ride his bike on the road). So he has a Strider (a balance bike) that he absolutely loves. He is sooo good at balancing on that thing. Since the first day we gave it to him he was riding it like a pro--I think the kid is ready for a big boy bike (without training wheels).
He's a terrible eater (still). I think this is one of the biggest challenges we have as his parents. It's so hard to feed him because he doesn't like to eat anything. He doesn't try new foods and once he makes up his mind, that's it. I have to be creative to get him to eat, like blending vegetables and putting them in whatever he's interested in eating at the time. The hard part is that he doesn't get hungry so missing a meal or two doesn't affect him. I've also used reward systems to get him to eat. IT's kind of crazy. I can't wait for this no eating phase to end.
He was sleeping great until we moved. He's been sleeping through the night since he was a young infant, however the move and the big boy bed (I think) has messed us up. IT was a struggle to get him to stay in his room initially but with some adjustments/training we were able to fix that situation. He now stays in his room fine but he continues to wake up several times at night (wasn't doing this prior to the move). He however naps very well--that required some re-training with the introduction of the big boy bed.
He's very athletic and loves the outdoors. He loves to play baseball and can throw the ball pretty well. We are still working on the batting skills but he's pitched some good balls to me. He's right handed and pretty coordinated. He loves throwing rocks too and picking up sticks. He's also pretty good at football. We like to blow bottles and shoot waterguns at each other. On a regular basis all 3 of us (me, dad and IEK) are outside shooting waterguns at each other in the backyard.
He's very smart and loves book and puzzles. He also likes to write on his blackboard and color. Language is definitely a strength for him. I mean, he talks better than most 2 year olds and a lot of 3 year olds I've met. It's amazing. He absorbs everything and remembers everything. He talks like a regular person, although he has the normal articulation trouble (like I "wove you mommy"). He asked "you check your blood pressure, I want to press blue button." He also is a thinker. On the way home from church one day he says "Mommy I pay at church." I didn't understand him so I told him that and he said "mommy not pay (meaning play), I pay (meaning pray) to Jesus," "Jesus made the trees." He really thought about how he could explain to me what he meant. He can count from 1 to 20 (almost). He can say ABCs. He knows a lot of the shapes but he has challenges with colors. IT's weird because sometimes he'll say the colors incorrectly but other times he'll say them right. I dunno. Oh, he loooves to sing and his little voice his so sweet. He's a bit "sassy" at times (according to my grandfather). I try to encourage his confidence but also balance that with some discipline.
He's unfortunately more interested in TV because he's had more exposure since the move. Before the move he probably watched TV once per week (if that much). Now he watches it several days per week. I've been working on curbing his electronic exposure but it's a work in progress. He's social in situations that he feels comfortable in but otherwise is reserved in novel situations. Although he's a rough and tough kid, he also is pretty cautious and isn't much of a daredevil. He still loves to listen to music and dance. Thank God for Pandora Toddler station.
Overall he's such a joy. He's so sweet, loving, compassionate, funny, determined, etc. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. I pray that God will continue to bless him, protect and guide him. I also pray that my husband and I will continue to be good parents to him. He makes us so happy and I would like to think that he's pretty happy with us too :). Ok (next update will be at 3yo). Month 1 and 2 for his sister coming soon (w/pic) too.
Mrs. K
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Way past overdue update...
Well hello there blog buddies! I hope you all are doing fantastic. It's been a while since I last blogged and even longer since I last blogged consistently. I wish I could tell you all that I had a ball the entire time I was gone but I'd be telling a story. Overall things have been great and I'm definitely counting my blessings but things have also been challenging. I have been reading a handful of blogs while away although I haven't left any comments. I thought about blogging a lot but due to laziness, family, work and other excuses (lol), I didn't. Anyway, I want to catch you up on what's been going on, although I'm not quite sure where to start...
So, let me see...2013 was an exciting year.
--my husband and I celebrated 5 years of marriage and my son turned one.
--I finally completed school/training (after all these years) AND
--landed my first real paying job at 32 (well I was 31 last year). I liked the job overall because it was very flexible and paid well AND I loved what I was doing. I hated the administrative (paperwork) part of my job because it made life more difficult. Being the obsessive compulsive person that I am, not only did I enjoy the job, I did a pretty dang good job...maybe too good. For example, I would bypass eating, work after hours (without extra pay), pick up my kid late because I couldn't do a mediocre job. Well, that was stressful because I felt like I was doing a mediocre job as a parent (although I wasn't I don't think but my obsessive compulsive (ness) wouldn't let me think otherwise). LOL. It was my first "real" job and I learned a lot. I learned my worth and how to negotiate my time, pay, benefits, etc accordingly. I also learned how to stand up for myself. The two days I picked up my son late due to the company's inefficiency, the company heard about it and they rectified the situation. Overall it felt good to get reasonable compensation for my work (although part time) while not taking away from my family
--I also was able to stay healthy. I only worked 3 days per week so I exercised a lot (both running and weightlifting). I also ate better and was enjoying making fairly healthy meals for my family. I felt so good and lost almost all my weight from my first pregnancy (well, all but 5lbs).
--the latter part of 2013 was more challenging because my grandmother had a massive stroke which she later died from in early 2014. This has been very challenging because my grandma partly raised me and I was used to talking to her several times per week. I had not experienced the death of a very close loved one until this. It's still hard and sometimes I forget that she passed away because it feels unreal but then I'm reminded when I reach for the phone to call her to share some news with her.
--my son, IEK, had a great year too. My husband and I are truly marveled by his sweetness, smarts, and language. Language is definitely a strength for him. He was a good sleeper but still a terrible eater.
2014 has been interesting thus far.
--My wonderful son turned 2 in early February and had a joint cowboy themed party with one of his buddies. We all had such a great time and my husband's parents were there to celebrate with us. He began showing interest in potty training a few weeks before his 2nd birthday and was fully potty trained with ease in no time. He's an awesome little guy and we are so blown away by all he does. We saw him go from being a docile toddler to a bossy preschooler. So cute, but challenging :).
--In late March I stopped working and early April our family moved from North Carolina. We spent two weeks with my husband's parents as we were relocating to the west coast and wanted to spend some time with them. That was fun and very relaxing because for the first time in a long time we had family close by to help with our son.
--In April we went on so many dates. We even went to the Dominican Republic for a week. We did an all inclusive resort type trip and was not impressed at all. However we were grateful for the alone time that we spent together relaxing. It was my son's first time being away from both parents overnight. I cried my eyes out the first few days of the vacation. My son did fine and had a blast with my husband's parents.
--Late April we relocated to northern California because of a great job opportunity for my husband and a potentially great one for me too. We are using to hopping states a lot (although we are not military) but this was our first time living on the west coast. I love our town--it's a medium size town with friendly people, great for families, fairly good schools, great food options. It's bad for shopping but if I want something I usually can find it online if not in the stores. We love our new town although it's taken our family a little while to adjust.
--Our two year old started having sleep trouble for the first time for likely multiple reasons: the MOVE, 3 hour time difference, newly potty trained, converting to a "big boy" bed to name a few. The sleep issues were suuuch a pain in the butt for the most part they are resolved now, thank God.
--We celebrated 6 years of marriage in May.
--We expanded our family in June. I gave birth to one adorable little girl, IVK. She was born a little early but very healthy (had no complications and came right home with us--thk God). She is now 2 months old. She is a darling and her brother "loves her so much." I agree for the most part with the saying that one of the best gifts you can give your child is a sibling. I love seeing them together. He's already very protective of her (although he's hard headed about being gentle with her at times). Haha!
--I had some challenges during the pregnancy--I had a rib dislocation at around 7.5 months that was excruciatingly painful. Gosh--it was so bad that I could not sleep in my bed due to rib and back pain. I slept in a recliner for close to 2 weeks. I sneezed, heard and felt a pop, then was in immediate pain and that was hit. Thankfully it resolved after about 2-3 weeks with chiropractic care and regularly icing the area. Soon after that I developed hypertension during the pregnancy and was induced at close to 4 weeks early because it was safer.
--It was soooo stressful: moving to a new city with a sleepless toddler, no support, medical issues and the unanticipated early delivery of our 2nd child. Of course we also had a lot of other small challenges (like not having my car for about 2 weeks after I moved because the car transportation company lied about transporting the car. When they finally delivered it they dropped the car off at some random location 2 hours away from where we lived and left the keys on the wheel).
Of course, there's so much more but I've written too much already. Despite all this we feel very blessed and we are very thankful to God. Things have settled down a lot for us and we like it that way. It's weird living so far away from family but we haven't lived in the same state as family in over 6 years. We've had tons of folks visit us so far which has been awesome. We love our town and feel eternally grateful for our healthy happy kids. I'm also thankful for my husband who puts up with his "cray cray" wife with a smile on his face. LOL.
Overall life is good! I hope things have been good for you too. The plan is to pick up blogging again and to be more consistent but I'm making no promises :). I do want to document our history as a family so I will try my best. I will share pictures when I so updates on both kiddos. Also trying to get back in shape again (doing T25--because who has time for a longer workout, right?)
Mrs. K
So, let me see...2013 was an exciting year.
--my husband and I celebrated 5 years of marriage and my son turned one.
--I finally completed school/training (after all these years) AND
--landed my first real paying job at 32 (well I was 31 last year). I liked the job overall because it was very flexible and paid well AND I loved what I was doing. I hated the administrative (paperwork) part of my job because it made life more difficult. Being the obsessive compulsive person that I am, not only did I enjoy the job, I did a pretty dang good job...maybe too good. For example, I would bypass eating, work after hours (without extra pay), pick up my kid late because I couldn't do a mediocre job. Well, that was stressful because I felt like I was doing a mediocre job as a parent (although I wasn't I don't think but my obsessive compulsive (ness) wouldn't let me think otherwise). LOL. It was my first "real" job and I learned a lot. I learned my worth and how to negotiate my time, pay, benefits, etc accordingly. I also learned how to stand up for myself. The two days I picked up my son late due to the company's inefficiency, the company heard about it and they rectified the situation. Overall it felt good to get reasonable compensation for my work (although part time) while not taking away from my family
--I also was able to stay healthy. I only worked 3 days per week so I exercised a lot (both running and weightlifting). I also ate better and was enjoying making fairly healthy meals for my family. I felt so good and lost almost all my weight from my first pregnancy (well, all but 5lbs).
--the latter part of 2013 was more challenging because my grandmother had a massive stroke which she later died from in early 2014. This has been very challenging because my grandma partly raised me and I was used to talking to her several times per week. I had not experienced the death of a very close loved one until this. It's still hard and sometimes I forget that she passed away because it feels unreal but then I'm reminded when I reach for the phone to call her to share some news with her.
--my son, IEK, had a great year too. My husband and I are truly marveled by his sweetness, smarts, and language. Language is definitely a strength for him. He was a good sleeper but still a terrible eater.
2014 has been interesting thus far.
--My wonderful son turned 2 in early February and had a joint cowboy themed party with one of his buddies. We all had such a great time and my husband's parents were there to celebrate with us. He began showing interest in potty training a few weeks before his 2nd birthday and was fully potty trained with ease in no time. He's an awesome little guy and we are so blown away by all he does. We saw him go from being a docile toddler to a bossy preschooler. So cute, but challenging :).
--In late March I stopped working and early April our family moved from North Carolina. We spent two weeks with my husband's parents as we were relocating to the west coast and wanted to spend some time with them. That was fun and very relaxing because for the first time in a long time we had family close by to help with our son.
--In April we went on so many dates. We even went to the Dominican Republic for a week. We did an all inclusive resort type trip and was not impressed at all. However we were grateful for the alone time that we spent together relaxing. It was my son's first time being away from both parents overnight. I cried my eyes out the first few days of the vacation. My son did fine and had a blast with my husband's parents.
--Late April we relocated to northern California because of a great job opportunity for my husband and a potentially great one for me too. We are using to hopping states a lot (although we are not military) but this was our first time living on the west coast. I love our town--it's a medium size town with friendly people, great for families, fairly good schools, great food options. It's bad for shopping but if I want something I usually can find it online if not in the stores. We love our new town although it's taken our family a little while to adjust.
--Our two year old started having sleep trouble for the first time for likely multiple reasons: the MOVE, 3 hour time difference, newly potty trained, converting to a "big boy" bed to name a few. The sleep issues were suuuch a pain in the butt for the most part they are resolved now, thank God.
--We celebrated 6 years of marriage in May.
--We expanded our family in June. I gave birth to one adorable little girl, IVK. She was born a little early but very healthy (had no complications and came right home with us--thk God). She is now 2 months old. She is a darling and her brother "loves her so much." I agree for the most part with the saying that one of the best gifts you can give your child is a sibling. I love seeing them together. He's already very protective of her (although he's hard headed about being gentle with her at times). Haha!
--I had some challenges during the pregnancy--I had a rib dislocation at around 7.5 months that was excruciatingly painful. Gosh--it was so bad that I could not sleep in my bed due to rib and back pain. I slept in a recliner for close to 2 weeks. I sneezed, heard and felt a pop, then was in immediate pain and that was hit. Thankfully it resolved after about 2-3 weeks with chiropractic care and regularly icing the area. Soon after that I developed hypertension during the pregnancy and was induced at close to 4 weeks early because it was safer.
--It was soooo stressful: moving to a new city with a sleepless toddler, no support, medical issues and the unanticipated early delivery of our 2nd child. Of course we also had a lot of other small challenges (like not having my car for about 2 weeks after I moved because the car transportation company lied about transporting the car. When they finally delivered it they dropped the car off at some random location 2 hours away from where we lived and left the keys on the wheel).
Of course, there's so much more but I've written too much already. Despite all this we feel very blessed and we are very thankful to God. Things have settled down a lot for us and we like it that way. It's weird living so far away from family but we haven't lived in the same state as family in over 6 years. We've had tons of folks visit us so far which has been awesome. We love our town and feel eternally grateful for our healthy happy kids. I'm also thankful for my husband who puts up with his "cray cray" wife with a smile on his face. LOL.
Overall life is good! I hope things have been good for you too. The plan is to pick up blogging again and to be more consistent but I'm making no promises :). I do want to document our history as a family so I will try my best. I will share pictures when I so updates on both kiddos. Also trying to get back in shape again (doing T25--because who has time for a longer workout, right?)
Mrs. K
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
