Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Life with Two


We just marked Cali's 1 month birthday, so I figured it is probably time for an update. So far, she seems to be a pretty easy baby. Ellie had an even temperament too, so P is really fighting any mention of a third because he figures there is no way we'd get so lucky as to have 3 angelic children.

Of course, Ellie is having more frequent episodes of "being two". She doesn't listen when told to do something. For a week, she regressed to having non-repentant accidents (usually when we were talking about potty or had just asked her if she needed to go). And, she is easily upset into irrational fits. So, that part is fun. Of course, the rest of the time, she is her sweet and funny self. She chatters constantly, sings songs to herself, and has recently started using nonsense words. It just takes superhuman self-control not to react to her irrationality with a fit of our own sometimes.

Cali is a pretty good eater. She's risen from a low of 6th percentile to the 28th percentile at a whopping 8.5 lbs. In real world terms, that means she has graduated from newborn diapers and clothes into size 1's and 3 month clothes. She pretty much only cries when she is hungry or uncomfortable (ie. hot, cold, or has a messy diaper). She does seem to suffer a bit more from reflux than Ellie ever did. I'm not sure if that's just a side effect of being born a little early, or if it's something else. I remember Ellie staying in the same outfit for days or at least from bath to bath. This little one frequently has 4 costume changes in a 24 hour period. Today, 2 were due to a diaper explosion. (Most of the time, she just douses herself in milk or spit-up.) The girl has got some serious gas (ie. propellant). I'm tossing around the idea of using "Windy" as a nickname. We seem to be settling into a good eating routine though where she eats pretty lightly in the morning and then has a big lunch and continues to eat well until bedtime. The last couple days, that seems to have helped the spit-ups. She's also a pretty good little sleeper. I'm trying to establish a bedtime feed at 9 (ish) and be in bed by 10. The last few nights, she wakes up at 3 and then again sometime between 6 and 7:30. If I can get her to go until 7:30, I can jump back into the morning routine of helping Ellie get ready for school.

This is a red-letter week for Mom as well. I have my six-week appointment tomorrow and should get my lifting and exercising restrictions removed. Thursday, I have what I hope is my final appointment with the Orthodontist. If all goes well there, I should be able to get my little nubs removed and stop wearing my retainers during the day.

I've just about got the nursery finished. Grandma made a lovely quilt for the wall and came to the rescue on the curtains as well since I wasn't able to 1) Clean up the craft room and 2) Sew the curtains before Cali came. I may hang a few more things by the crib, but it's pretty much ready to go.


Through everything, Aunt Cat has been a huge help. Part of me will be sad when she finds a job, but for the time being, it's certainly helped make our transition to a bigger family a lot easier to have an extra set of hands.



Dad and the girls. Ellie likes to "hold" Cali.

Sporting a little Whoville hair while holding little sis.

Bubbles while swimming in a newborn outfit.

Ellie decorating eggs at school.

Kicking back in the "napper".

Big girl pigtails and a runny nose.

Cuddling with Mom.

Monkeying around with trains and blocks.

Cali's nursery.

Where Cali gets her midnight snacks.

Doorway shot.

The Ellie nook.

Where Cali will catch her Zzzz's in a few months.

Fattened up 5 week-old Cali catching Zzzz's before bedtime.