Spring has sprung!

Yesterday was 80 degrees and Myla spent a lot of the day outside playing in the dirt - which isn't hard to do since most of our backyard is dirt. And sand. She was pretty much a mess but loved every minute. She chased the dog, threw balls, poured sand in and out of her bucket and occasionally came inside because her hands were dirty and she needed to wash them. Which I thought was funny because she went right back out and got them dirty again. Its the thought that counts I guess. (Just for the record, she did NOT play in the dirt in the pretty dress you see in the picture. That would have been a stupid-mom move!)

Kinsley is definitely growing. I was holding her yesterday and was keenly aware of how long she is. She fluctuates between newborn and 0-3 months clothes - okay, so she's still tiny compared to some. She spent some time outside yesterday too and loved to look up. At the clouds, the airplanes or just the contrast in the light, I'm not sure. She's found her voice though, and has started talking a lot when she's awake.

Myla thinks Kinsley is pretty cool and has been a big helper. Her favorite thing to do this week is hold the bottle for Kinsley or give her the pacifier. And she's always saying "hello little sister" or "that's Kinsley." Sometimes she calls her honey or sweetie or sweetheart. It makes me smile every time.

What do you think?

Are they sisters or what?

Kinsley, 1 month old

Myla, 4 months (ok, 1 month adjusted)

One month!?

I can't believe that one whole month has passed us by! Kinsley is doing just great, growing and getting bigger every day. She's even on a sort of schedule that includes a little longer sleep over night. One night she went six hours for me! She loves watching Myla and Myla loves watching her and together they have a pretty good time. Although, to be honest, nothing rivals the red pillows. They are an eye catcher for Kinsley and she loves to stare at them when she can.

Myla has been all about the back yard. She loves to be outside. It doesn't matter if we have 40 mph winds to her, as long as the sun is shining. Ok, even if its not. The other night, my brother came over to help out with an electrical problem and Myla wanted to show him and his girl her flower bulbs in the back yard. In the dark. If its a little chilly, out come the "fancy hat and glove-mittens." Whenever Myla comes home, she has to go "check on my baby" and likes to give her the pacifier, even if she doesn't need it.

I have been taking full advantage of nap times and the opportunity to be home to get some things done - like Myla and Kinsley's rooms and some things in the family room. Johnny has been having a great time with his drill and hammer - at least I think he is. We are all doing pretty good I think.

Is it possible?

To be the best of friends two weeks in? That Kinsley is already half of Myla? To take a nap on the floor? That pink monkeys are the best animal to nap with? That pajama days really are the best? That sometimes, no matter what you're doing, laying down under a blanket with your family by your side is the best way to spend the day?

Finding the groove

Things around the house have been slowly settling into a loose rhythm. We've been home a lot which is nice and stifling all at the same time. Since we've been home, Myla has been perfecting her skills on the computer. You should see her work that mouse... she loves to play Curious George games and has an ABC game she's pretty good at too. She continues to dote on her baby sister and loves to watch her, sometimes even distracting her long enough while we change a diaper. Every once in a while, she'll put her hand on Kinsley's head and say how cute she is. I think though that we have hit a period of adjustment for her too - she's a little more feisty than usual. But maybe that's good too. Myla also got one of the finishing touches in her room - a nice twin bed that makes her look so tiny. And yet so big at the same time.

Kinsley has been doing what two week old babies do and not letting the rest affect her much. She had a check in with the doctor yesterday and he thought she looked good. She's had a couple of rough nights but overall is a good little baby. She's becoming more alert and makes all sorts of funny faces when she is awake. And she looks just like Myla. I'm trying to find a good comparison picture so you can see for yourself.

Mom and dad are tired and hanging in there - exactly as you'd expect parents of a newborn to be. I have found myself overwhelmed at having two and then something happens and I think how right it is. I know we'll get used to it and it will be like we've always had two. Right?

Welcome to the World!

Tuesday morning, 2-22 at 8:02, we became parents of another beautiful baby girl. Kinsley was exactly as "they" say she should be at just over 7.5 pounds and almost 20 inches. She has a face that looks just like Myla some times and a head full of dark-ish hair. She did really well all our days (days?!) at the hospital with eating and maintaining her temperature and we came home on Friday to our first night without any nurses to help. And I think we did okay.

Myla came to the hospital every day and was very excited to see her baby sister. It took a couple of days before she really wanted to get close to her, but now she loves to stand over her chair and stroke her gently on the head. Today in fact, she gave Kinsley her first kiss from big sister. She told us "Daddy, how about you and mommy go upstairs and sleep in your bed and I will take care of baby Kinsley, how 'bout that?" Tempting...

We had a check in with the doctor and she's lost just a little bit of weight, but we hear all babies do that. He thought she looked great and kept remarking what a different baby she must be compared to the first. Well sure, aren't all babies different? And even though we try not to think about the differences or compare, we know they are there. But we also know that Kinsley has an awesome big sister who is going to look out for her. We can tell by the way she stops mid run to look at her and how this morning after just getting out of bed, she wanted to know where the baby was. Yep, Myla loves being a big sister. And as far as we can tell, Kinsley loves being a little sister.

The final countdown

When Myla and I came home on Friday, Johnny had just gotten out of bed and was sporting a bathrobe and slippers. She immediately took off her shoes and went upstairs to find her bathrobe and slippers and has been a fan of them every since. First thing in the morning, bathrobe on. It doesn't really matter if she's dressed for the day or in her pj's, she loves to have her bathrobe on. Its funny, I pulled it out weeks ago when we were in sub-zero weather to keep her a little warmer and she wanted nothing to do with it. In fact, that Friday, Johnny had to take the tags off. But now she wants to be like daddy. Pretty cute.

Things have been coming along over here. I think we are almost ready for baby to come. Myla keeps saying "your baby is coming out of your tummy soon mommy." (Yep, for some reason, its still "my" baby.) She's pretty excited. We had a little scare last week thinking that she might have to come on Friday because the fluid was low again and they were concerned she was under stress. In fact, we had my hospital bag in the car just in case they had to admit me. But after another ultrasound, everything turned out to be fine and we are still cooking. We are scheduled for next Tuesday unless nature says differently.

Its kind of strange to be this big and this far with my stomach moving independently. Just for fun, we looked back in Myla's book and two days before her due date, she weighed 6 pounds 3/4 ounces. On Thursday, they estimated this baby at about 6 pounds 9 ounces. I know I shouldn't compare, but its all so different. We're excited though, freaked out, but excited.