March 27, 2006

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

"I'm drawing a doggy!"

Today Jim was saying "Boo!" to Annika while hiding and peeking around a book we were reading. She busted out this hearty, raspy, deep belly kind of laugh! Gorgeous!

March 26, 2006

Happy Birthday, Sami!

This one's for you, Uncle Franny.

Serena's on a funky sleep kick. She suddenly really doesn't like going to bed. Once she finally gets in her bed, she often cries "HOLD YOU!" while we stay right outside her crib and assure her that we will stay there until she falls asleep. "Daddy will stay right here." whimper, sniffle - she finally concedes. "Tell the kitty story?", she asks. So, we (daddy at night and often for nap, sometimes I, when Jim's out doing work stuff) lay on the floor next to her crib and tell the story about two kitties named Clea and C-Bone (named after Cleo and T-Bone, dogs from Clifford the Big Red Dog) and how they go for a walk with their green sunglasses and blue sunglasses then they run into Scout who borrows an orange pair of sunglasses then Serena who has on her purple sunglasses. Eventually they all come upon a house in the woods that has a bunch of beds, into which they all lay down and Scout tells the story of Five Dogs in the Window (modeled after a book, Ten Dogs in the Window that she loves to hear when she can't sleep (Auntie Jennifer got her that book, Ten Dogs in the Window - it's been very handy)). Maybe you see where this is going... as all the characters lay down to rest, Serena is often beginning to doze as well. She falls asleep. Ahhhh... then, she wakes up about 50 minutes later. At night, Jim usually ends up just sleeping up there on her futon after her first wake up, either while she flails around in the futon with him, or on a good day, while she lays in her bed nearby. Man, we really thought we had the sleep thing handled before. Ha.

Incidentally (or not so incidentally), I don't think the Zoo visit helped. She often says randomly in the middle of the night, "We saw the animals at the ZOO!!!"

March 25, 2006

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Resty Daddy

Annika is testing out the exersaucer. So far, while she's intrigued,it seems a bit overwhelming for her. She only visits it for a few minutes at a time.

March 23, 2006

S

Clunked out while gazing in the mirror

Sharing precious, favorite candles

March 22, 2006

Kisses for Ha-kah!

One of Serena's many yoga postures - The Plow

March 21, 2006

Window Kissing while Daddy does business during breakfast in Portland. While he would rather be inside with us than on the phone, we can't help but just be so grateful that his business allows the flexibility to be anywhere and doing his work. That's how we take sooo many vacations and getaways. We can easily tolerate the occasional phone call interruption (especially since he always goes outside to talk on the phone.) Isn't it funny that the person on the other end likely had NO IDEA what he was up to at this moment?

As I roamed the bookstore today during our killing-time travel strategy maneuver, I noticed this familiar visceral excitement and anticipation.Scanning the mega-bookstore I could feel in me the thrill that maybe, just maybe, in one (or many!) of these books was the answer to my prayers. I wasn't even sure what my prayers were... it's just this feeling that if I look hard enough then read enough of these promising ideas, philosophies and tips, my life will be more exciting, fulfilling, thrilling. I will feel whole, complete, totally satisfied. It isn't even that I walk in the store feeling a lacking in any of these areas in my life. On the contrary, I would say I am very happy with my life. And yet, the unknown possibilities in these books allure me... fascinating. I love the feeling. I also love the feeling of ordering a special coffee during each visit, to acompany my browsing (grande, non-fat, decaf, two-pump, extra hot, light foam, no whip white chocolate mocha, most of the time. I'm often embarrassed as I order - but "I just like it how I like it!" (name that movie!))

March 20, 2006

We went to the Portland Zoo today. I am always torn at the zoo. I love to see all of the beautiful, amazing animals and I also wonder if they are sad or feel confined by their life there. Serena did LOVE seeing all of the animals in real life that to date she had only read about in books. That part was cool.

Seals

Giraffes

Here's what drew Serena's attention at the Portland Zoo store. She spent most of the time putting on and taking off the lady bug boots and some similar frog boots.

I know they say you don't take as many pictures of the second baby as you do the first, and while by sheer volume we may find that to be true, I have to defend the situation (for my own peace of mind, I suppose), since I see there are many days here of just pictures of Serena. Annika is still so little that she mostly just sleeps and lays around soaking up her surroundings- and, let's face it, how many pictures do you want to see of her sleeping and laying there? Whereas Serena puts on ridiculous butterfly sunglasses and ladybug boots and grins for the camera. Who doesn't want to see that?! (So, Annika our little Smiloh, as you read this many years after it all happened, know WE loved watching you sleep, Bug, but we just didn't take as many pictures of it. xo!)

March 19, 2006

Serena's "special pillow" really did work for the car ride to Portland. I'm always skeptical of these kinds of things (though clearly still hopeful enough to buy them). This time, I was happily surprised. She slept comfortably for over an hour, which is more than she does for naps at home lately.

March 18, 2006

March 17, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

"Under covers with Ha-Kah and Daddy!"

Bubbles!

Annika has really discovered her hands over the last week. She will lay on her blanket for many minutes just watching them move in front of her face, smiling, staring - like they are jewels, treasures. It's so amazing to watch.

Today Serena touched Annika's face gently and said, "Hi Lil' Munchkin. How are you?" (characteristic high upswing on the "you" at the end.)

March 16, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!

Don't forget to wear green.

Hmmm... what delicious pastry shall I choose today? (We went to Nancy P's for Nancy S's departure breakfast this morning (fitting, eh?)

Serena went along to entertain Nancy and Jim on their drive to the airport. This, after lots of running around the house yelling, "Going to the airport!" She didn't even wake to wave goodbye to Nancy, much less watch the planes take off as planned.

In case you're wondering, that's a candle in Serena's lap. Candles are the latest addition to her new loves. She carries one around everywhere. We try to encourage the "little purple candle", which is a votive and therefore much easier to transport. But sometimes she insists on a particular candle - lately the "big orange candle" is popular. She also likes to carry around soap (especially after it has been used for a while so it is flat and smooth and fits in her hand), and crayons with the paper removed from the outside. It must be something about the smooth, waxy texture. Jim and I do not have a particular interest in any of these things, which just goes to show that there are things (I'd argue, many things) that aren't learned, or socialized - they just show up for a person. For Serena, it's candles, soap and naked crayons right now. And shoes.

March 15, 2006

Annika is THREE months old!

I remember when Serena was three months old. It felt like such a milestone. It feels like that with Annika, too - only I don't have as much time to dwell on it.

Serena is practicing her stacking. I don't think I could stack this many spice jars, frankly. I'm not even sure when she got so good at this.

March 14, 2006

Serena is 21 and a half months old

In case Serena ends up either a podiatrist or a shoe designer, I want to document her obsession with all things foot at such a young age. Daily, many times a day, in any circumstance (the car, a restaurant, Costco...), she exclaims "See my toey's!" and proceeds to fling off her shoes and socks. "My toey's are OUT!", she then announces. The sight of her toey's never disappoints her. You know how sometimes it's the anticipation of an event that is really the thrill? Not for her - it's the actual release and sight of her toeys. Her love of shoes has sustained as well, with her latest beloved pair a fancy red shiny set with a big bow on the strap that velcros across her foot that she found on consignment at a local baby store.

March 13, 2006

Nancy Jane (our very special friend from Ohio) at the slopes at Mt. Bachelor. Jim summed up her first skiing adventure with two simple words, "Nancy carves." Totally impressive. I wasn't carving until at least my third ski trip - and, frankly, I still barely slice on a good day, much less carve.

Serena has taken to dressing herself. Fortunately, she hasn't started insisting that she dress herself and we leave the house like that (yet!)

March 10, 2006

If you have the inclination to read a very funny, slice-of-life book, I highly recommend Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Jim and I spend alternating little snippets of time reading it, cracking up and resisting asking each other what's so funny (so we can save the surprise for our own reading of it.) For me, it's so very nice to hear that at least one other person in the world has similary funky internal dialogue (for example, the whole clapping thing - when to start clapping along to a song, then when to stop if it seems like the crowd's clapping is fading... only she says it funnier than I am here.)

March 9, 2006

Just as Annika is beginning to stretch her sleep times into the hours category again, Serena is into nap refusal. "Stay downstairs?! Snack?! Color with you?!" (in her characteristic high pitched upward tonal at the end of the sentence.) For example, today Annika took a beautiful three hour nap - and I spent the whole time trying to get Serena to fall asleep. We rocked in the glider chair telling stories, we lay on the couch reading a book, we watch Baby Einstein... finally, I put her in her bed. She cried and cried. I just can't stand that. So, I got her out and we lay on the couch again. She agreed to lay there until the timer went off - she was asleep in two minutes (of course!! She was exhausted!) She slept a whopping half hour. I hope we aren't beginning some crazy stage.

March 8, 2006

Serena's favorite request lately is, "Mama, color with you? Daddy, color with you?" (with a very high tonal jump at the end of the question) I love coloring with Serena right now because we color all over the page, no regard for staying inside the lines. Trees are purple, Clifford the Big Red Dog is orange, the sky is pink. It's just total abandoned artistic freedom.

March 7, 2006

A-Boo!

Serena's "OWN GOGGLES!" (purchased in the hopes of keeping Jim's goggles in working condition since "glasses" (of any kind) are also a fixation for our litte girl.)

March 6, 2006

Annika is 2 and 3/4 months

Unlike her big sister at this age, Annika seems to enjoy tummy time.

We rarely do tummy time (though we have many pictures of it here, misrepresenting the frequency) so I was surprised to see Annika almost instantly roll over when I set her on her tummy. She's a strong little babe. S

March 4, 2006

Imagine our surprise when we got this swimsuit in the mail from Grammy all the way in Florida. It's the same exact swimsuit I almost bought two days ago when Jim said to wait because Grammy said she was sending a swimsuit. Funny.

Serena is having some nap trouble. She just doesn't want to miss anything, I suspect. I try all kinds of pre-nap strategies to help her calm and get in the mood for sleep. Today, I made the mistake of telling the story about our visit to the Humane Society and seeing the kitties and puppies. She got all wound up. In her quivering, crying voice, "Serena and Dean play with the black kitty." sniffle, sniffle. "Maya put the kitty away." sniffle, sniffle.

March 3, 2006

Poncho from her Graunty Ruthie. Super cute - and handy to put on and take off. She loves it.

We met Maya and Dean at the Humane Society today to pet the kitties and see the puppies. It was Maya's idea - and a great one. They loved it! Serena loved naming all the kitties colors. Then, as we walked around the dog kennels, she'd say, "Reminds you of Scooby!" (Maya and Dean's dog) "Reminds you of Scout", then when we got to a big hairy dog, she said, "Reminds you of Mama!!" I've decided not to take it personally.

March 2, 2006

Check it out! Annika can aim and grab her dangly toys now! And, she's ticklish! If you finger walk your hand up to under her chin and say, "ticka-ticka-ticka!", she makes this funny, throaty sounding laugh. We all end up cracking up. I had almost forgotten how fun these small developmental changes are.

Annika is really her own little self. It's so cool - and sometimes challenging, I have to admit. She just really knows what she wants and she'll tell you until you figure it out (in the form of some very serious, hearty crying.) Once you do figure it out and respond, she's totally happy and you are completely forgiven. No grudges. But, whew, the process of determining the wish of the moment can be really stressful! I can't wait until she can talk. That will be very handy. In the meantime, we have learned that she gets very angry (sometimes) when her diaper is just a bit wet (change it, she's happy again!), she gets very angry when she's tired and we don't help her fall asleep (bounce on the exercise ball for a few minutes with her in our arms, she's peacefully asleep in no time), and she gets very angry when you leave her by herself in the room for a moment and she wants you to play with her (arrive with smiles and talking and she's all smiles back.)

Maybe my biggest lesson so far with Annika is that "parenting philosophy" is silly. Okay, maybe that's extreme. We have some philosophies that are ours, regardless of her personality (good nutrition, no spanking - that kind of thing), but the one about holding our kids as much as possible hasn't been on Annika's high list. It's funny, it took us a long time to figure out that she was crying many times because she wanted us to put her down. Finally, we started to realize that she'd stop crying only when we'd set her in her bouncy seat or on her play mat, at times. Even the sling, which is still very handy for feeding and napping on the run, seems to be to confining for her many times.

One cool thing about having already gone through this process with Serena is that we know what's coming. Annika will have her own process, of course, and the details will be different (when she'll walk, talk, what foods she'll like), but we know she'll continue to reveal all of these fun things about herself as time moves on. I feel like I really get it this time that they are only this little for a moment. It helps during this time of trying to figure out how to get her to stay alseep for a nap, getting up in the middle of the night, trying to figure out why she is crying. I now really do know that whatever it is, it won't last forever. In fact, at least looking back, it will feel like the fleeting moment that it was (though it does not feel that way when it's happening, even with this awareness I have.)

I do find myself wishing I could remember what we used to do to get Serena to go down for naps - and stay alseep. That's our latest challenge with Annika. It's funny, at the time it felt so huge, I remember. I read many books, asked many friends, consulted my horoscope (jk!)... and yet, now, I can barely remember it all. Maybe there's some kind of adaptive advantage to that memory loss, so you don't just apply old tricks to a new kid. You have to learn all over again, specific to this babes needs. Maybe.

Speaking of Serena, it's so cute when she says "other" - she says, "ulthen." For example, she'll say, "Serena's putting on her ulthen shoey!" (Another is pretty cute, too - "anulthen")

It's not as cute when she decides she doesn't want to take a nap, like today. She just kept coming up with new other (ulthen!)ideas when we'd get down to time to get into bed - "snack! snack!" (She must know I have this strange fear of her ever being hungry and us not knowing to provide food.) Though, it was pretty cute when Jim went in to lay down with her to help her fall asleep and he came out an hour later with his hair sticking up in back from his impromptu afternoon nap. He didn't even know when she fell asleep because he fell asleep first. She took a virtually unprecedented almost two hour nap, though.

February 26, 2006

Serena is 21 months in two days

Annika is almost two and a half months

First shared bath

Here we are on the front page of the Community Life section of The Bend Bulletin. It's a big giant picture! I'm quoted a couple of time, too. The article is about babywearing (using a sling to carry your baby during regular daily activities, essentially) The section from my interview says:

For Bend mom Michelle Franco, wearing 2-month-old Annika in a sling helps both of them and her husband, James. "It's a way for him to hold her and be close with her regularly," she said. The 34-year-old, stay-at-home mother wore her other daughter, Serena, 1, in a sling, too, and now wears Annika in the sling several times a day.

"I can do things around the house, and she can feed and nap," Franco said. "I can walk around the bookstore. The other day, I did the dishes with Annika in the sling."

Franco said using a sling takes some practice. Not all parents find it easy to use the first few times. (end of quoting from the newspaper)

That's basically the gyst of what I said, though it's interesting they use quotation marks even though she was paraphrasing and rewording our conversation. Anyway, whatever. It was fun to see us all in the paper! And I am such a fan of the sling that I am happy to get to do something so cool to endorse the use of one.

February 23, 2006

The Coulters took off this morning. The house has that quiet, empty feeling. We miss them already.

Serena has her first regular babysitter! Her name is Katie. Maya and Lydia and I put an ad in the newspaper looking for a "nanny" to share between us. We thought this would attract someone good since we could offer 15-20 hours a week between us and this might make up that person's whole part-time job, if the person was so inclined. Anyway, we interviewed two young women and chose Katie. She's AWESOME! She's studying to be a pediatric nurse (perfect!) and you can tell she loves to play with kids. Serena wasn't even sorry to see me leave!

We actually started the babysitting thing last October and tried a few young women. The first one was just too tentative. She didn't engage Serena in playing enough so Serena was always looking for me. We tried it a couple of time with me here (though Serena didn't know I was here) and I could just tell it wasn't going to work. Plus, I really want to know that whoever I leave Serena with is assertive enough to take action if a crisis occurs (ugh.) Then we found a fantastic person but she was older and busy with her husband's business so she just wasn't available enough. It's hard to find a good babysitter!

Katie comes once a week for a few hours to play with Serena while I run errands with Annika. It's just a lot harder to run silly little gotta-be-done errands with two babies! The cool thing is, since she's basically just sitting for Serena, Dean and Grant, besides going to school, we can all work between ourselves for the days we need her to sit with our kid. And because the kids have played together since birth, and Katie has watched lots of kids before, we can even have them cared for together if our needs overlap. (I realize some of this stuff isn't that interesting to you all, but I like to have it here because we use this website both as a way to share with you and a sort of baby book for the girls. Thanks for bearing with (or skimming over) the boring stuff :~) )

February 22, 2006

"Shissy's Laughing!" (either "Sissy's laughing" or "She's laughing!" not sure.)

Swinging on the bar at tumbling

Summersault

In the "marshmellow pit" with Auntie K. Serena jumps in from about four and a half feet above the foam blocks. Auntie K kindly got in to "catch" her and put her back up on the edge (so she could jump in again)- then, Auntie K had to hoist out. I am so sorry I didn't get a picture of that. It's no easy feat - imagine having fluffy, bouncy blocks as your launching pad and trying to get up four and a half feet. Let's just say there's a lot of leg throwing and booty twisting.

We met the Bulletin newspaper photographer at Newport Market today so he could take pictures of Annika in the sling while we shopped. I was supposed to just "go about my shopping as if [he wasn't] there." So I'm trying to do that (does that seem easy to you?) when he says to me, "Don't pose for the camera. I'll just take shots when I see a good opportunity." "Was I posing?" I ask him. I felt like I was being pretty natural (as natural as I could muster while TRYING to be natural.) After he said that, I found it even harder to be natural since I thought I was already being natural when apparently I wasn't. (Incidentally, this picture that Kehau took while the guy was taking pictures of us LOOKS like I am posing for his camera, when in fact I am talking with Serena who is on my other hip and almost entirely hidden by my body. So I was being more natural than this picture might indicate!)

Julie Johnson of The Bulletin had called a few days ago and wanted to talk with me about using my sling with Annika and Serena. (I responded to an email I received on the Attachment Parenting email list asking if anyone uses a sling with a newborn.) It'll be interesting to see the article. I am such a tremendous sling fan that I am really happy they might be printing an article about using them. Then she asked if they could take my picture using the sling. Ugh! I just had a baby two months ago and you want to put my picture in the paper?! Why can't anyone ask to put my picture in the paper two days before I got married, when I had been running for a few months and was in a bit better shape?? I trampled my vanity and agreed, in the name of promoting the sling!

Serena loves to be with Daddy

Uncle D and Jim in the kitchen - doing dishes, cleaning up, getting dinner ready (really!)

Sweet Annika smiles

February 21, 2006

Coulter family all ready for some snow tubing action!

Katie and Wendi in a snow tackle

Annika having Tummy Time

Making cookies for the Coulter family is, um, not boring. Here's the lineup: Uncle D likes white chocolate chip with macadamia nuts, Auntie K and Katie like semi-sweet chocolate chips with nuts, Wendi likes either kind of chocolate but without nuts. So, we made some of each kind. And check out these cookies, by the way - see how some are flat and some have more rise? That is simply the difference between two pans - one airbake pan (the flat ones) and one old fashioned just plain cookie sheet. I was wondering why my cookies always turn out flat. It's that fancy airbake cookie sheet!

These very cookies inspired the COOKIE CONGA video. It's a MUST SEE!

February 20, 2006

Tent hair static

Serena and "UNCLE D!!"

Wendi and her incredible melting snowman (which, sadly, melted in about a day - after Scout ate it's carrot-buttons.)

Miscellaneous toe tricks

Pretty Katie

February 19, 2006

Lots of backyard snow play for Wendi and Serena

Just the girls, hanging out and looking at books

Annika in her Valentine's Day hat from Daddy

Auntie K and family brought Serena some super cool orange basketball shorts which will fit a bit better in a few months, but have the distinct benefit of being easy for her to put on herself right now.

Wendi and Serena sharing some chocolate cream cheese frosting

February 17, 2006

Here's a video glimpse of Annika's amazing changes in emotional expression - all in a matter of seconds she's seemingly uncertain or unhappy, then busts a great big smile then on to a contemplative look.

Annika-blue

Update on the swaddling: swaddle and add significant white noise and super-dreamland for Annika!! We moved the air purifier into our room where Annika sleeps and the white noise coupled with extra-tight swaddling made for two two-hour naps today! While we haven't seen much of her open eyes, when she is awake, she sure is happy.

Today the high was 11 degrees. We are blanketed with shimmery crystal white snow. It is stunning outside - really beautiful. And way too cold out there! I am sorry that Aaron, Jenn and Miles missed it. The fun thing is, my sister Kehau, her husband Uncle D, and my nieces arrive tomorrow. It's really fun when there's snow right outside the door so you can play for a few minutes then come inside and have a big cup of hot chocolate... hmmm, that sounds yummy. I think I'll go make a cup now.

February 16, 2006

Swaddling is a miracle!! Jim is going to be upset with me when he reads this because he is a strong believer in the idea that if you say it out loud, the good luck will vanish. But I can't help but share my excitement! We have been having a really hard time with naps for Annika and she gets really upset right around bed time and cries for a while before she goes to sleep. We are always holding her and trying everything we can think of to comfort her, but it just doesn't seem to help. I really think she has been over-tired because she has a hard time staying asleep now for her naps. The hard thing about having a toddler and a young baby is that the house can't be silent for naps. I know there are many people out there who insist that an infant will sleep anywhere and that you just have to get them used to noise and they'll sleep right through it. Well, Annika is evidence that it just isn't true for all babies. She will wake up! Then she will be crabby all day because she didn't get the sleep she needed. And to top it off, she seems to be a baby who needs a lot of sleep. For example, she goes to bed somewhere around 8pm and wakes up somewhere between 8 and 9am on most days. Yes, she wakes to eat throughout the night, but only long enough to eat then she's back to sleep. That part, I'm grateful for! Anyway, back to swaddling! So, I got this book called The Happies Baby on the Block, even though I said I wasn't going to read any more baby guidance books. I just needed some new ideas to try. This doctor insisted that super-tight swaddling would make a dramatic difference in our baby's sleep. I tried it and it worked! She slept for a six hour stretch at the start of her night sleep and her naps have been longer without interruption.

February 15, 2006

Annika is two months old today!

A productive trip to Nature's food store today turned ugly at the checkout stand. A trip like this starts out with sufficient complication: load Serena and Annika both into the car, overstuffed diaper bag hanging on my shoulder, Serena saying "hold you!" repeatedly while Annika cries at being strapped into her car seat (so much for the fancy pants car seat to allay all discomfort!) So, I'm pretty tired and sweaty to begin with. Nonetheless, all was going fine. I took Serena to her tumbling class, where she had a lovely time sideways walking on the balance beam, crawling through the tunnel, hanging on the bar and practicing her summersaults. She didn't want to swing on the rings or slide down the slide into the foam pit, but that's okay - spirits were good overall.

After tumbling, we stopped at Nature's to do a bit of grocery shopping. I loaded the girls into their limousine length double stroller and off we went. About twenty minutes into the shopping, Serena asks to get out. Not unexpected. She's toddling around while I shop (fortunately, it's a small family-style store). Annika starts to cry off and on. I replace her pacis, shake the stroller, adjust her in the seat. She's okay... until, the checkout stand. Annika starts to wail. Serena starts to whine "HOLD YOU!!" Then Serena starts to remove all small items off the nearby shelf and toss them on the floor. I'm frantically removing Annika from her car seat in the stroller and trying desperately to get her to nurse (I can't believe I forgot our sling!) while I balance her on the check-writing stand at the checkout. The line behind me is lengthening, my breast is totally exposed with Annika flailing around unwillling to nurse, and a clerk is crouching by Serena saying, "No, we don't throw those on the floor." I'm trying to tell the clerk that I will pick them up, not to worry (ha, ha - I have no idea HOW I'm going to do that). Finally, a woman with two kids in her cart comes up to me and says, "Good for you for nursing! How can I help?" I am simultaneously terribly embarrassed by the mayhem and grateful for her very kind words. "If you could just put my bags into a cart, I would really appreciate it. Or even on the floor, just so they're out of the way." I was just planning to tuck myself into that highly visible but at least out of the way corner and work through this unprecidentedly high stress mother-moment. At this point, all of the available clerks came to my aid. One cleaned up Serena's mess then loaded Serena and my bags into a cart.. The others opened other checkout lanes to help the people in line (I have no idea how many because I couldn't bring myself to look in their direction.) I somehow thanked everyone as genuinely as possible without making direct eye contact and pushed our Annika in the stroller-limo out to the car, with the clerk pushing Serena in our grocery cart behind me. I said something about this never happening before - how it usually goes fine... ugh. She said something about how she had two kids about 18 months apart and she has no idea how she did it. I had the vague feeling that she actually had a number of suggestions she'd like to make about how I could have done that differently - but maybe that's just my insecurity.

Serena fell asleep in the car and Annika let out a significant size burp when I removed her from the car seat. So, Serena was tired and Annika had gas - both things I thought I had planned around (by burping Annika and planning to be home well in time for Serena's nap.) Ha!

February 14, 2006

Happy Valentine's Day!

Serena is 20 and a half months old

Serena got this darling little tank style top (with another longs sleeve blue top) from her very first Valentine - her Daddy! Annika got darling blue cords and a matching beret from Daddy, too! We all scored for Valentine's day actually - I got a gorgeous silver bracelet and purple tulips. We all got sweet cards with a special note inside for each of us. Most fun, we spent a fun evening together at the bookstore walking around and having coffee and treats. Then we picked up take out Thai for dinner. He's a really exceptional Valentine, which is good because he's got lots of girls here.

Annika and I had our first conversation today. She was looking into my eyes cooing, googling, gurgling. I'd reply with my best rendition of the same sounds and she'd give a huge smile and respond with more of those amazing sounds. It was indescribable.

When Serena was very new - just a few days old - my mom came to visit (and, with my sister, Kehau, set up and clean our whole temporary apartment at the time). I was talking about how amazing it was to look down at Serena and stare at her while she nurses. I was trying to describe how precious the time was for me, how incredible it felt that we get to have her forever, and how honored I was to get to care for her in that important way (by nursing.) My mom said, "You think you'll remember what this looks like forever. You think you can hold it in your mind, this picture. But you don't, somehow. No matter how hard you try, you forget exactly what that looks and feels like with that particular baby." Like so many things, I thought to myself, "Oh, I'll remember. I'll just think it really hard. I'll take mental pictures. I'll be ultra-conscious, and that will make the difference." Sadly, I can't really remember. She is so much her little person-self now, that feeling her as that little infant is hard to grasp. It's almost like two different people, in a way... But, then again, I have so much fun enjoying her now! She's such a little being. She's so HER. And I think I'm learning an important lesson here: I don't get to have this moment forever. It will pass. New ones will arrive and be splendid, but I better get everything I can out of the one I've got right now because it will move on. It's one of those strange bittersweet realizations I've had so many of in mothering.

February 13, 2006

Rocka-rocka on the snail rocker at the gymnastics center

RUNNING! on the trampoline - not quite jumping yet, though she does use a special left-leg-lead type of skipping run for style and pizzaz.

February 12, 2006

High five in the swimming pool (we just missed it with the camera.)

Here's some video of Serena sliding down the duck slide to her Uncle Aaron.

Post swimming "own shower" in the locker room

From warm, tropical indoor pool climate to freezing snow sledding in the near twilight hours on the same day! Gotta pack in the fun on these short visits!

Miles and his Papa prepare to take off down the mountain on their "snow board" (okay, it was a very gradual hill.)

Miles and his Mama just hanging out in the snow looking super-cute.

Mostly, in spite of all of the sledding, boarding, and snow saucer fun, Miles wanted to sit on the snowmobile at the rental place. It's just not often you get that opportunity in the San Francisco area!

February 11, 2006

Uncle Aaron reading Clifford The Big Red Dog - for possibly the tenth time in a row

Not the best "wind down for bed" kind of bath we usually try for, but they had a fantastic time exchanging toys and laughing at Uncle Aaron's funny voices. I think Serena finally settled for sleep around 8:30 or so, somewhat reluctantly - and Miles may have been up until around 10pm. Too much fun.

Serena likes to drink from the faucet

Those eyes - wow

February 8, 2006

Today was Serena's first day in tumbling class and she's already working on a headstand! We arrived late, as usual, but she had a fun time. We did walking on the balance beam, backward summersaults, crab position (belly button to the sky!), and a few other things. The best part for Serena was at the end of class when she got a blue star stamp, one on each hand. She looked at and talked about it all day.

Check out the new double stroller we ordered, in large part thanks to Gruncle Nicky's generous Christmas gift. After I ordered it I had all these fears it was a mistake because I might not even use it very much. HA!! I use it all the time and LOVE it! We take walks around the neighborhood and to downtown and I use it for shopping all the time. Check the huge basket at the bottom to carry my goods. And it has a cup holder for my coffee (I'm clearly naming the essentials here) and cool snack trays for each stroller seat. It holds Annika's car seat beautifully and when she's old enough, she can sit up in that back seat and it's set a bit higher so she can see over Serena's seat. It's also a relatively easy maneuvering machine, considering it's sheer size. We've deemed it the CHARIOT.

February 7, 2006

Serena loves to hang out with her friend, Zoe. They are the same size and very similar personalities - generally more contemplative than energetic and easy on the assertiveness. Zoe is the first kid I have really seen Serena play with, as opposed to alongside. Today they were high fiving at the stop light as we were about to part ways. At lunch, they were chasing each other around the restaurant. It was really funny because neither of them is inclined to run fast or far from us, so they just sort of chased around and hid behind the double stroller right there with us.

Here's a picture of Zoe from the Super Bowl party we went to at their house.

February 6, 2006

Scout is four years old (sometime around now.)

For those of you who've missed seeing pictures of Scout, here you go. I know we don't talk as much about her as we used to, but she's still our first baby and we love her very much. She's doing so great with the girls. She's taking to Annika much more quickly than she did Serena, I think because Serena paved the way. And we can already see how she and Serena are going to become lovely pals in just a few years - as she wil with Annika when she's older.

February 5, 2006

Here's video of Annika using her play mat toy as a speedbag and chatting it up.

February 3, 2006

Serena's new favorite things to say: "Put Ha-kah dowan!" (Put Annika down!) Sometimes she adds "please" at the end. And, "Ha-kah's SAMILING! SMILOH!" (Annika's SMILING - SMILE!)

February 1, 2006

At Annika's Dr. appointment today, she was 10lbs, 9oz and...I can't remember how many inches long. That's 75th percentile for weight and 90th for height, just like Serena was at this age. It's kind of wierd how they are so close on size - born at the exact same weight and on the exact same growth pattern. I wonder if/where that will diverge.

January 28, 2006

Serena is 20 months today

Annika is six and a half weeks

I was holding some plastic keys in front of Annika today and she clearly aimed for and batted at them. Actually about two weeks ago she was laying on her play mat and I was just certain that she was aiming for and batting at one of the dangling toys. I wasn't sure if it was possible at her age, but now I am certain because it looked just like what she was doing today. I guess she's just advanced - hee hee.

January 27, 2006

Serena sits at her own table to eat lunch. We often join her. It's crowded and the chairs aren't the most comfortable, but we're big fans of togetherness.

January 25, 2006

Annika is 6 weeks tomorrow

Serena is 20 months in two days

Serena's favorite morning activity is to join Annika in our bed, once Annika wakes up. She says, "Serena Annika under covers!"

Serena is regularly providing the pacis for Annika, who most of the time would rather not indulge at that moment. It's a tough situation - we want to encourage loving interaction, and at the same time give Annika a sense of safety and personal space.

We have been receiveing meal deliveries from friends and members of our UU fellowship. At first I was nervous about having meals delivered. It felt like a big thing for someone to do for us. Shopping for, preparing and delivering a meal is quite an undertaking, as we all know. Plus, I have to admit, I was a little nervous about all of those visitors, not being sure how our new life with two kids would be. I am SO GLAD we took them up on the offer! How amazing it is to answer your door to a smiling, friendly face holding a steaming bag full of delicious, healthy sustenance! We have had so many new flavors: black bean soup with corn bread, vegetarian chili with fruit and Ben & Jerry's frozen yogurt for dessert, chicken curry soup with homemade dill bread, cranberry, blue cheese & candied hazelnut salad with homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert, ratatouille with rosemary sourdough bread... is your mouth watering?! And check it out - soup is the new casserole! It's delicious, warm and friendly (as Grammy would say), and generally very healthy. The best part is how supported the whole thing makes us feel. I highly recommend it if you or someone you know is having a baby.

All of this support we recieved from friends comes on the tail of the many weeks of meals and clean up we got from the 3 G's and Grandma Chris, when she was here. Here's how the night would go: 6pm they'd arrive with steaming hot dinner. We'd all eat together. Jim would take Serena up to have her bath and bed routine. I would nurse Annika while they all cleaned the kitchen to sparkling lustre. They'd all leave, a delicious dessert waiting on the counter for our later pleasure. We'd be fed and cleaned up by 8pm, ready to just hang out with Annika until she and/or all three of us went to bed. Can you imagine? That exhausted new parent thing people talk about - we didn't have it. (This doesn't even count the laundry, sweeping, projects, and general toy picking up that Grammy would do throughout the day.)

I'm afraid we're going to starve in a pig pen within weeks now that everyone's gone.

The first month or so, Annika slept so much that I was searching online for reassurance that she was okay. They say she should be sleeping 16-18 hours a day, but it seemed like more than that. Now, however, she's up more - so I'm searching online for how to get your baby on a regular sleep schedule.

Annika is very chatty - she makes lots of noises, and has since her first week. At her Dr. appt, Dr. Bailey said she'd likely be "verbal very early." It's going to be very interesting to have two "very verbal" little girls in this house. (okay, three)

How do you reconcile ambition and motherhood? My ever question - which has interestingly intensified having two kids. I love mothering. It is an honor to me that I get to steward these human beings through their development. I'm not just saying that because it's the right thing to say. I really feel it in my soul. This is what makes it so hard to have this "fire in the belly" feeling about wanting to make things happen outside of my mothering as well. I work hard to be truly present with my kids - and that belly fire makes it a challenge at times. It is truly an irreconcilable situation, the desire to care for and share in your children's every developmental milestone and the desire to be out in the world doing work (or other things) you love in a meaningful way. I keep ordering books on the topic, and having conversations with other moms about it, hoping someone out there has the perfect resolution. So far, there isn't one. I remain searching...

In the meantime, I get to witness the coolest phase of development so far in Serena - verbal explosion. Here's a sampling of the things she has said lately that we have so enjoyed:

"Airplane going to Hawaii." "Tricia going on plane to Hawaii." When Tricia and Jeanne were leaving we kept saying they were going to the airport to get on a plane. Before this, we would see a plane and say it was going to Hawaii. She now associates airplanes with Tricia going to Hawaii.

She hears a train from miles away (we never notice it until she does) and says, "Train! Loud!"

Other recent activity reporting: Daddy going work! Mama feeding Annika (sometimes the more descriptive - "Annika eating Mama's boo-boos!"), Tricia's going daddy's black car. Daddy driving Mama's white car.

Serena loves toes. She loves to take off her shoes and socks and exclaim, "toeys!" and she often insists we either take off Annika's booties or, if necessary, remove Annika's feet from her onesie to show off her toes.

Serena just learned to put on her new velcro style shoes.

Generally, Serena handled well the transition back to just our little family from having so much grand-family here. We know she misses them all because she often randomly says each of their names - "Grammy! Jeanne! Tricia" or "Papa!" or "Grandma Chris!" She is especially excited when she sees their pictures on this website (which we just went through a round of a moment ago, during which she gleefully identified each person in the pictures.) It's the one thing I don't love about living here in Bend, being so far from everyone.

January 20, 2006

The offering of the pacis (Serena's OWN pacis) - a grand and meaningful gesture.

Ever the loving sister, Serena likes to be sure Annika is nice and well-wrapped in her blankets - cold or not.

January 19, 2006

Serena with her new, super-cool Clifford backpack from Grammy. Also sporting her play-dough necklace and (broken) bracelet.

Goodbye cuddles the morning of departure

January 18, 2006

Post underwater "dipping"

Swim class - from Serena to the right: Jim, Matthew's dad then Matthew, Swim Teacher (we don't know her name, it's a hard one and we can't seem to hold onto it), Andy with Grant a distance in front of him. Isn't it cool that it's all dad's taking their kids to class?

Sliding down the duck slide at swim class

Size perspective

Blue eyes?

January 17, 2006

Sharing a smile with big sister.

January 16, 2006

Here's a bit of video of Annika's chatting (with Serena chatting in the background.)

January 15, 2006

Annika is one month old

This morning Serena counted to 9, while knocking on Annika's door with her hand inside an oven mitt.

We were watching Baby Einstein in Spanish yesterday and Serena was repeating the Spanish names of the animals like this, "blub blu blub bluh."

I may have experienced my first real live tantrum from Serena last night. It started because she wanted to be locked into the baby swing. Then she'd want out. Then immediately she'd put the tray down to lock her back in. After three rounds of this and asking her which she wanted to do, I said, "Okay, you're staying out then." She totally freaked out. Crying and following me around. They tell you to just ignore the behavior, but it is sooo hard to do that! I just wanted to have a rational conversation with her - explain how she could do whichever she wanted but I wasn't going to stand there while she cried when I opened the swing as well as when I shut the tray. It's just not a rational thing she's going through, though, is it? The bummer is, the aftermath lasted throughout dinner, bath and bedtime routine. I was exhausted at the end.

It's 8:48am and Annika is still asleep. Of course, she went to sleep last night around 11:45pm. While she's a good sleeper and when she wakes to eat it's only briefly, she's a noisy sleeper. She grunts and chats and stretches around during various periods so loud that I can't sleep.

January 14, 2006

Serena likes to report on the things going on around her. This morning she said, "Daddy taking shower.", which he was. She just said, about the picture below, "Ha-Kaa's taking bath." She also has just started singing the ABC's song. Mostly we sing a few letters then she fills in the letters we leave off on. She sings it very quietly and the letters and words still just vaguely resemble the actual song, but she can fill in pretty much anywhere, including singing the last part, "now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me."

Thanks to Teletubbies (who says tv programs are ALL bad??), Serena loves to march around the house, lifting her feet and knees high. She also does sideways walking, stand up - sit down, reach up high... all from her Teletubbies DVD.

I asked Serena what she dreamt about last night and she said, "Hawthorne", which is her toy bear Papa gave to Annika when she was born but Serena adopted. We couldn't find Hawthorne for bed last night or this morning, so apparently she either dreamt about Hawthorne or he's just been on her mind.

January 13, 2006

Annika and Dad take their first shared bath

Afterbath

January 12, 2006

I recently heard a pregnant woman say, about the impending birth of her second child, "Having a new baby is like falling in love. I am looking forward to falling in love again." I play that quote in my mind every day since Annika has arrived. It feels exactly true.

To everyone who told me that there is no need to worry about loving your second baby as much as you love your first - you were so right on. I am amazed at how much love this one body and spirit can hold for these two little human beings. It is at once an intensely vulnerable feeling - and a blissful one.

January 11, 2006

Annika is four weeks

Serena is 19 and a half months

I know you're not supposed to do comparisons between your kids, but let's face it - you just do! I mean things like comparing their features - do they look alike? Are one's eyes set further apart? She has a rounder nose... or she has fuller lips... Here's a side by side set of pictures. The first is Annika at almost a month and the second is Serena at around five weeks. Unfortunately, Serena's picture is darker. Our new camera is much better.

They are certainly both super-cute, aren't they? Am I allowed to say that as the mom? Really, it has nothing to do with me! They just showed up that way!

At four weeks, Annika is a pretty good sleeper. She wakes a couple of times at night to eat but goes right back to sleep. It's relatively uneventful because she sleeps with us so I barely wake for it, unless I need to change her diaper. She has a fussy period around 5-6 or 6:30, then goes back to sleep until about 8. Jim gets up with Serena around 7 and lets Annika and I sleep. I wake around 7:30, pump (so we have milk for all of my outside of the house adventures I plan to do someday!), then get up with Annika and we join Jim and Serena for eggies (Serena's scrambled eggs) and morning chatting.

Papa came to visit for a few days. He took Jim and I (and Annika, who slept through the whole thing) to dinner at Staccato, a new restaurant here. It was scrumptuous! I had halibut cheeks (I didn't even know halibut had cheeks!) with fried balls of mashed potatoes. Here's Papa cuddling with Annika.

January 10, 2006

Grammy and Annika, both beautiful in blue.

Graunty Jeanne and Serena in a crazy hug-tickle-tackle.

January 6, 2006

Really, you wouldn't believe the shows Serena puts on for her 3 G's! She walks into their house and TA-DA, the show begins! She hides then peek-a-boo's, and they all just scream, laugh, show enthusiastic surprise... it's just over-the-top fun. Here, Annika is just hanging onto Graunty Tricia for dear life while Serena "hides" in Graunty Tricia's apron.

Just nonstop fun and games. Serena is even napping earlier, she's so exhausted from all the wild fun.

January 4, 2006

Serena's very own apron, to match Graunty Tricia's. The put them on, lift the hems and dance around singing "La, la-la-la... La, la-la-la..."

January 3, 2006

Wathercolor painting - which means mostly swishing the paintbrush around in the murky waterbowl then smearing the messy water onto the paper.

When I ask Serena, "How did you sleep?" She says, "sleeps and dreams." That's what we have always said to her when she goes to bed, "Have good sleeps and dreams."

Annika had a doctor appointment today - just the usual two week old appointment. She now weighs 8lbs, 15oz, which is a whole pound and seven ounces over her last weigh in on December 20th. She's also now measuring 21.5 inches in lenght. This girls is growing! Her head is 37cm, so it's even grown 1.5cm in that time. Weird.

January 2, 2006

Annika peapod

January 1, 2006

Happy New Year!

Annika is two weeks and three days

Here's how we spend New Year's now: It's 11:50pm and we're all hanging around chatting, sort of waiting for New Year's but also just visiting. Just as we realize how close it is to the New Year, Serena's voice comes over the monitor "Mama - Daddy!", crying. So, Jim goes up to take care of her. I realized with 30 seconds to go that we hadn't even poured the pear cider (yep, non-alcoholic pear cider) to cheers the new year! So, I spend the grand moment frantically pouring pear cider while Jim lays on the floor next to Serena's crib. Luckily, I got to toast the new year with Annika, Angie, Kirk and Matt - that part was cool.

We had a fun visit with Angie, Kirk and Matt - if too short. They were here less than 24 hours. We just hung around and caught up for a while. It was cool that Annika got to meet them so early in her life.

Uncle Kirk draws a "horsey" for Serena. If you pick up a pen near her, she'll usually request a horsey picture, in every color available.

Matt, Annika, Angie, Serena. Kirk's in the picture too - dutifully loading the car in the background (under Scout's watchful eye).