Just like Mom...and Dad

I spend most of my time wearing Kayden. It is the easiest thing to do with two kiddos. Kayden is safe this way from Keeley and I still have both hands free to play with Keeley and pick her up. Keeley wanted to do this as well yesterday after her nap.
Is she not the cutest ever?! She wanted to "wear" her new baby doll like I wear Kayden.


Eating a snack with her baby. Look how sweet she is with her arm wrapped around the doll.

After this, we cleaned fruit and read books with her baby still strapped on. Then, I went to nurse Kayden and this is what happened.She is naked from the fruit washing. I'm quite certain that she got as clean as the fruit. She brought me a nursing pad and said "help". So I helped her unwrap it and stick it on. She and the baby walked around like that for a while!

Sunday, we had gone to Mom's to swim and let Keeley burn off some of her afternoon energy. Once Kelly was outside, she insisted on sitting on the side and kicking her feet - just like Dad.

True Love

Today at lunch I asked Keeley if the cracker she was chewing was good. She quickly opened her mouth and handed me some partially chewed food. What more could a mom ask for?!

6 weeks!

Kayden is six weeks old today! She is so very sweet. Apparently, Kelly and I just have loud children. Keeley cried a lot and Kayden grunts ALL the time! Last night, we kicked her out of our room and all three of us slept better! She has been enjoying lots of time in the moby wrap. When she isn't in her wrap, she is in her pink bouncy chair or on the floor watching Keeley. Keeley loves to dance for her, give her kisses, and lay down next to her. There has only been one incident that involved a toddler's shoe and an infant's face! Here are some pictures of my sweet baby.

Look at her chins! She likes to eat.

Sweet face - even with the baby acne.

First smile captured. She's been smiling for a long time though.

Toddler Antics

Everyone from friends to family to the lactation consultant at the hospital told me that I should make sure I nursed Kayden some place safe for Keeley to play. A couple of people suggested that I have a "busy box" of toys for her that she only played with when Kayden was eating. One of my friends even made me said busy box.

My "safe" location has changed in the six short weeks since Kayden joined our family. We were in my bedroom - until Keeley learned to move the step stool around and started climbing on the bed while I was nursing. Then we were in the living room - until Keeley learned to pull the kitchen chairs out and climb on them by herself.

Today I thought we would nurse in Kayden's room with the door closed. The first time we tried this, Keeley pulled Kayden's swing down on top of her and cried. The second time we tried, Keeley became obsessed with the monitor in Kayden's room. In the short 10 minutes that I fed Kayden, Keeley managed to unplug it and then, with much concentration, plug it back in. Somehow I feel that my toddler shouldn't be playing near the electrical outlets while I try to feed her sister!

I'm not sure what our next "safe" space will be!

"da"

Keeley has learned to point. I know, she's a little late. For a long time, she's been holding her hand toward things and saying "ooh ooh ooh" when she wanted it. I guess we said "you want that" a lot. So, with the newly acquired skill of pointing, we also get "da" for "that". She says it 50 million times a day. I swear that both her pointer fingers are permanently extended. She says "da" as she points at whatever it is she sees. If you don't respond quickly enough, it turns into "ooh ooh ooh" and then to foot stomping and crying.

Here she is pointing at something behind me.


Here she is pointing at something in the water.

The endless pointing and "da" wears everyone out - even little Kayden.

2 under 2

Am I tired? Absolutely. I am beyond completely exhausted. Is it hard to have two babies at home? A lot of the time, yes. Do I miss having time with just Kelly? Yes. Would I have done it any other way? Absolutely not.

We wanted our girls close together and that is what we got. We knew that we'd be in for a rough couple of sleepless years. We were okay with that. Some one told me today that I seem to have a great attitude and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel (her kids are close together too). Truthfully, I don't feel like I'm in a tunnel. To say I live in a tunnel would be to imply that I was trying to escape. Escaping my life is the last possible thing on my mind!

Day by day, I realize that we are getting close to things being "easier". I, by no means, wish to imply that parenting ever gets easier. However, I realize life is bound to be easier when we get more sleep. Each day that passes, Kayden gets closer to sleeping through the night. I'll get my precious sleep back. But at what cost? My littlest baby will be one day closer to going to school, college...

I try very hard to remember each day that it doesn't matter if we all sleep too little, cry too much, and spill too many things. All that really matters is that we have another day together as a family. When the goal for the day is to make it through and appreciate that you have each other, it really helps put life in perspective and re-frames your expectations for the day.

While I may miss things like uninterrupted sleep and late night movies, I certainly don't miss my life before Keeley and Kayden. They have blessed our lives and my experience of living beyond measure. Watching them grow, loving them, watching them love each other...those are the priceless gems of parenthood.

How can sleep seem that important when you have these blessings to enjoy every day?!

Worn out! Still napping after Mom woke up.

Snuggles with Dad.

Two pairs of sunglasses - inside the house.

No pictures please.

My other "baby"

Keeley is still refusing to allow us to read her book, rock with her, or sing her songs at night. She just wants to get straight in bed. I'm not happy about the fact that she is too big for her nighttime routine!