Breakfast, bottles, boo-boo's and more

A few moments captured recently that I want to remember :o)

** Breakfast
A typical early morning scene on days she goes to daycare - eating a bowl of cereal while watching Little Einsteins...

** Bottle
Camryn's first bottle! Taylor did NOT do well with bottles, and so far it is going a little better with little sister

** Boo-boo's
Taylor has fallen down many times (after all, she is a toddler), but after one tumble during a walk she scraped her knees and she got to have her first big girl bandaids (Dora ones, of course). It is amazing how they magically seemed to make her knees feel all better! :)

** Deanna's playhouse
One gray and cold morning, we decided to meet up with Ty and Addi for a playdate at Deanna's playhouse...they had a blast!

** Little sister is getting bigger!
We are still waiting for a full-on big social smile (only little smirks here and there for now), but here are a few pictures of Camryn we took recently to show how much she has grown! She turned 6 weeks on Friday, and already seems quite a bit different than when she was first born - although her hair continues to be just as dark and be growing even fluffier some days! :o)

(This pose reminds me of a super hero :))

Our little lady...

When I see the date the "17th" each month, I usually think about Taylor and how old she is now. She was born on the 17th. I don't know how long this tendency will last, but today is the 17th, and as I looked at my calendar this morning, I was thinking about our little lady.

She is 2 years and 3 months old today. We're cruising along to 2 1/2.

There is a lot of talk about Camryn lately because she changes so much each week, but Taylor has her own achievements that are so much fun at this age. I don't want to miss writing them down because I want to remember her at this stage.

I just read in my "Growing Child" newsletter that toddlers her age learn about 50 new words a month. Yep. I would believe that. Taylor's vocabulary amazes us, entertains us, and is growing and changing constantly. We LOVE when she becomes animated about talking about something. She will try so hard to get us to understand what she is saying - mixing words with random consonants and babble thrown in - sometimes stumbling over her own thoughts as her mouth moves faster than her brain can formulate the words. I love that we can talk to her like she is a little lady - she will pick up what we are saying as we talk to her like we would talk to an adult. She will follow directions to multi-step instructions we give her (if it is something SHE wants to do :)).

This new vocabulary also allows her to feel like she can really TELL us what SHE wants, too. She doesn't hesitate to exert her own independence many times throughout the day. Taylor will let us know what she is feeling. She has started using more feeling words to describe herself, describe something that is happening in a book, or (her favorite thing) to describe how Camryn is feeling (usually noting when she is feeling sad when she starts crying :)).

Other things I don't want to forget...
** Counting to 12
** Wants to walk on her own rather than ride in the stroller
** Remembers stories, favorite episodes of her shows, favorite songs (she loves songs with the "Professor" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse this week, and also a song by her favorite character, Pete, about how to burp a baby " top, top, bottom, bottom, middle, middle, middle"
** Had her first ponytail this week - so cute!

** Is starting to show signs of being sick of wearing a diaper - tugging at it, and preferring to not have it on at all :) - we're letting her take the lead on potty training and will start when she shows us she is ready
** Moved up to a size 7 shoe this week
** Is all of a sudden taking LONGER naps! Hallelujah! The past few weeks, more often than not, she will go down between noon and 12:30, and sleep until 3:00 or after (almost an hour more than before!)
** Has developed a shy streak that seems to happen randomly - but she will actually drop her head and refuse to make eye contact, and cling to Ryan or myself - we think this may just be a part of her adjustment to being a big sister
** Loved going to her first softball game for Ry this season - although she calls it a baseball game :) - "dada HIT the ball!"
** Can have a sensitive stomach in the car...2 weekends ago she got sick 3 times on our way to and back from BC, but last weekend she didn't get sick at all during the trip
** Is perfecting her toddler tantrums - which seemed to have increased in length and volume when they happen :)
** Would be lost without her favorite three things - blankie, Tony, and paci :)
** Is curious about everything - in this picture she was wandering around looking at bugs, ants and plants at my parents house, and then spotted Speedo, the cat, watching her from inside :) I feel like she looks like such a big kid in this picture!

** Favorite phrases:
"Uh oh, what happened, mama, what happened?"
"Oh man!"
"Scuze me"
"Look who's here, mama!" (usually referring to Camryn)
"Tickle me!"
"Aw, nice" (she will say this when she has 2 of something - 2 rubber ducks, 2 sippy cups, 2 similar stuffed animals - almost as if she is referring to these similar objects being "friends")
"Where dada go?"
"Not dat one!"
"Try again"
" Suit ON!" - this girl loves the pool and swimming

Ryan and I have moments where Taylor makes us wonder just how long our patience will last, but most often she just brings so much joy, laughter, and fun each day, that we are just LOVING this toddler stage!!

One month old!

Sunday, which was also Mother's Day, Camryn turned one month old! Time could slow down a little bit and I would be okay with it. :)

She has changed a lot in the past month ~

** Wearing size 1 diapers, 3 month clothes
** Yesterday we adjusted the car seat straps up one slot because she is getting bigger!
** Likes to be swaddled when sleepy
** Loves sleeping on her tummy - either while sleeping on one of us, or while napping during the day (we always keep a close eye on her!)
** Takes a paci...sometimes...
** Grunts like crazy when she starts to wake up...and in her sleep at night, which doesn't help with our quality of sleep sometimes
** Is a lot stronger and can hold up her head quite a bit better
** Still has a full, fluffy head of dark hair
** Gets pretty cozy when I wear her in the carrier
** Still is waking up every 2-3 hours at night to eat, goes back to sleep fairly quickly though
** Has longer awake periods - and doesn't just want to be held, we have to move, rock, and walk to keep her happy
**  Evenings are a little unpredictable - some are calm and peaceful, but half the time she is a bit unhappy with the world and can be fussy for a few hours
** Is a great eater, and filling out all those cute little baby rolls quite well
** Does the cutest little stretch sometimes when she is done feeding - back arched and arms stretched way overhead as if to she is doing a little cheer "yay, milk!" :o)

Camryn at 5 days old

Camryn at one month old - not too happy about having her picture taken ;)

Big sister had to get in the picture, too

Taylor usually likes to be where Camryn is when she is awake - even if Camryn isn't too happy about the extra big kisses and hugs :o)

And I had to include these three pictures of Camryn with her buddy Addi, and Ty and Taylor, too...

Ty and Taylor each with their paci and stuffed animal :) - those two are quite the pair! Their toddler relationship is definitely a "love-hate" one! Equal amounts of fun play time, and then also hitting, pushing and toy-stealing in the mix, too :)

After trying to take away the paci's - Taylor obviously unhappy, oh the drama! ;o)

Taylor loves helping with bath time (Camryn looks so big already! :))

Mother's day surprise - Sunday when I drove the girls down to BC to see Mem!

Taylor going in for a big hug and kiss :o) She loves being really close to Camryn

Mommy of 2 - couldn't be happier :o)

Happy Mother's Day!

4 Weeks ago our lives changed in a big way, as Little Camryn joined our family.  It was an amazing experience to watch, and I was in awe of everything that happened during the delivery, which was much faster and more intense the second time around.  But I was just as amazed by Kelly, she was incredible.  She was so strong, and so fearless.  I just don’t know how she did it!  I was pretty nervous throughout the entire delivery, but Kel was so strong and confident, that she eased my nerves.

For the last 4 weeks it has been a major adjustment for our family, but Kel has taken it in stride.  Nothing seems to faze her, not the lack of sleep, two little ones who want her help and attention at all times, or her sometimes-bumbling-husband as he tries to help out with a new infant!  Her strength and patience are amazing and inspiring!

Happy Mother’s Day Babe!  Taylor, Camryn and I love you, and we would be lost without you!

RY

So who does she look like?

When meeting a little newborn, most people ask the question - so who does he/she look like??

With both Camryn and Taylor I was not really sure who either of them looked like. And it seems as though these little ones change so quickly in the first few weeks - as they fill out and get more of that cute baby fat on them - that it is hard to tell anyway.

But this weekend we took the girls down to my parents house for a visit, and after a glimpse at my own baby book, we may be able to say who Camryn looks like - at least at these early stages. :o)

What do you think??
(Scanned picture from my baby book)
Me...

little miss Camryn

She is definitely her own little person...but she might have a little mommy in her, too. :o)

A typical day with a 2 week old and a 2 year old

**Edited to add - just creating this post took me 3 days. :) **

I have really appreciated being able to go back and read posts from when Taylor was a newborn, and I wanted to try to document what some of these first weeks have been like with Camryn, because they are going by quickly, and I know I won't remember what it was really like to have a 2-year-old AND a 2-week-old to take care of!!

This is how one day went this week...

After Camryn wakes up every TWO hours to eat at night (last night it was midnight, 2am, 4am, and 6:30am)...

Sometime between 6-7am, Taylor wakes up saying "all done nap!" - carrying her white blankie and tiger stuffed animal ("Tony") with her out to the living room (or into our bedroom if we aren't up yet - and climbs into our bed until one of us gets up)

Ryan gets up when Taylor does, changes her, and toasts her a waffle for breakfast to tide her over until I get up...and puts on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora, or Little Einsteins for her...this morning it was MMC, and her favorite character is Pete, by the way, and he happens to be the "naughty" character on the show :)

Camryn is usually up to eat between 6:30 and 7:30am and will have awake time after the feeding...but still looking a little sleepy

7:30 - Ryan is gone for work, Taylor is eating the rest of her breakfast, and Camryn is snuggling with me while I check my email, start a load of laundry, etc.

8:00 - Taylor gets in the tub for her bath, while Camryn watches from her bouncy seat as I get Taylor all washed, then Camryn and I sit next to the bath and hang out while Taylor splashes away for a good 1/2 hour

8:45 - Then it is Camryn's turn and she has her sponge bath and is dressed for the day while Taylor watches

(this is how Camryn feels about sponge baths - since this day, her umbilical cord has fallen off and she is MUCH more happy with a real bath now)

9:00 - Camryn eats, then goes down for her morning nap in the pack 'n' play in our room (check out that fluffy hair post-bath :))

9:15 - Taylor and I head downstairs and I ride my bike on the trainer for 30 minutes while Taylor runs around and plays, watches an episode of MMC, and jumps on her trampoline next to me while I ride (we both get some "exercise" time together :)) - oh, and I eat for the first time, chomping down a granola bar while I start to ride

10:00 - quickly jump in the shower, then have play time with Taylor in the backyard, the basement or her room until Camryn gets up around 11:30 - also this is when I usually get to eat my breakfast

11:30 - Camryn wakes up, feed Camryn while getting Taylor her lunch

11:45 - clean up lunch while holding Camryn or carrying her in the Moby wrap

12:00 - start naptime with Taylor - read Taylor 3 stories in her bed, with Camryn listening along, then say night-night to Taylor

12:30 - Taylor pops her head out of her room, "all done, nap??" - nope!! send her back to bed :o)

12:30-2:30 - Play and/or snuggle time with Camryn until she falls asleep (usually around 12:30/1:00), then when she falls asleep - I eat lunch, check e-mail, watch shows from DVR, nap

2:30ish - Taylor comes out of her room "All done, nap!" - and wakes me up on the couch :)

2:30-3:00 - Get Taylor a snack, play, read, sometimes watch a 20 minute Dora episode (if I am really exhausted), until Camryn gets up (usually no later than 3:00)

3:00 - Feed Camryn

3:30 - Get Taylor dressed to go outside, put Camryn in the Moby wrap, make sure to have kleenex, phone, water bottle, get Taylor put in stroller, walk down to the park

3:30-4:45ish - Play outside or at park until Ryan comes home

5:15 - eat dinner and feed Camryn at the same time

5:45-6:45 - play time, then start getting Taylor changed for bed

(this happened to be the night that our new stroller arrived - so stroller assembly was a part of our evening, too!)

Giving sister a hug during her tummy time

Noticing that Camryn is not so happy about tummy time anymore :)

7:30ish - Taylor is in bed - prayers said, books read, door closed (and she hopefully stays down - but sometimes will pop her head out of her room once or twice :))

7:30ish - feed Camryn, entertain her until she falls asleep

8:30-10:30 - watch DVR, eat cereal, and wait until Camryn wakes up to eat again

Feed Camryn at 10:30ish, and start the nighttime routine of sleeping in 2 hour increments until morning!

Oh - and I forgot to mention the many, MANY diaper changes that occur throughout the day. Diaper changing and laundry never seem to end with two kids!

There it is! It will be interesting to see how much things might change, even a month from now. Each day has it's own adventures, but at the same time we are slowly getting used to being a family of four.