Acts of Kindness

My best friend from childhood (we met when we were 5), Aubrey, just flew back home to Fresno, CA after being here for a week. Aubrey gave us the most wonderful gift - the gift of kindness and total selflessness. She flew up here, left her husband and almost 2 year old little love (Zack) at home, in order to help us out with our transition into parenting 2 kids! How awesome is that! I had the best week ever with her. It was just so wonderful to have someone to sit and drink coffee with every morning and gossip about life, parenting, love and random things with. We had late nights of conversation and laughter and lots of days filled with serious belly laughs - like the day she watched me try to squeeze into a size too small pant or a top that shows off way too much nursing cleavage - it's good to have a friend in the dressing room to tell you that your pants are too tight or your shirt is too low, or that something is a bit "mommish" - keeps you grounded - that's for sure! Aubrey, cooked the most amazing meals while she was here and taught me a bit about meal planning, while sharing new recipes - love that! We did partake in some wonderful food and drink together - not the low fat kind either, while Aubs was here too - as that is a ritual for women when they get together!
Aubs is a great parent herself and took on both kids so that Mark and I could go out to dinner - we didn't make it to the movie that we planned on going to - a bit too tired! Jakob developed a bit of a crush on Aubrey - this was evident by him telling his buddy Ian to "Look at Aubrey!" (with a big smile on his face) instead of "This is my friend Aubrey". Aubrey played soccer with Mark and his team one day, she even kicked some of the guys butts - or so I hear! Aubrey got to experience our oh so luxurious Volvo and all of it's amenities - like the door handles that don't work- we all had a great laugh at Mark trying to fit in the back of the Volvo with the 2 car seats on each side!
Aubrey is planning on trying for a girl with her next pregnancy and may have just got pregnant by taking care of Sarah - Aubs has some serious motherly instincts kicking in!! We will cross our fingers for that little girl.
While Aubrey was up here giving us all her selfless acts of kindness - the kindness continued around the world. The day Aubs flew in, her son got a pea stuck in his nose (as you do when you're an almost 2 year old boy)- Aubrey's boss (a Vet) so kindly removed it, instead of them having to take him to the Pediatrician. Aubrey's husband Danny, was on his own with Zack for a few days and was invited to eat dinner with neighbors - which Aubrey was happy about as they wouldn't be eating pizza or fast food. And, Aubrey's Mom, Christi, continued to spoil Zack and took him overnight one night, so Danny could rest by himself! So, the acts kindness continue! Oh- Danny did come to realize how important Aubrey is as a Mother and Wife, while she was gone - this was probably the best thing to happen for her while she was away - right ladies!!!

I have always known this, but it became very clear to me how important it is to have friends that you can trust to see you and your family in not the best light and actually want to stay with you - while we all are a bit cranky and testy from lack of sleep etc. It is so important to have a good friend that doesn't judge you one bit about your cranky attitude, your pudgy body, your small and a bit unmanaged house, your cars that are breaking down and/or anything else that might not be perfect.
We do have the most perfect friends though!!
Anyhow, I had a wonderful week with a great friend. I can not wait to return the favor!!! Aubrey and family - thanks so much from the bottom of our hearts May the kindness continue!

Aubrey and Sarah

Sarah is 6 weeks old!

Sarah will be six weeks old tomorrow. She is changing so quickly, she's getting so big and has actually outgrown a few newborn outfits. I have taken to calling her "My polka dot", "My purple polka dot (related to a purple polka dot outfit), "Pretty in Pink" and "Coocoocachoo" - random. Mark calls her "Sweets or "Sweet girl". She is so sweet and really likes Jakob, she smiles at him all the time and totally relaxes around him. You can tell already from her little coos that she is a girl, she has a total girl voice.
She has started wanting to stand - which makes for a lot of spit up. She likes her Baby Einstein gym and smiles at the star and the stuffed animals all the time. She coos a lot when she is on the changing table too - she likes a clean diaper - I guess. She still isn't sleeping that well at night - but that's to be expected. We have started putting her in the "g" diapers and they are working well, just using them at home right now. These diapers are an alternative to a cloth diaper but are environmentally friendly as the insert/pad biodegrades in 50 days and can even be flushed or composted. They come in super cute colors - they are a bit bulky but work great. Sarah has taken to finally relaxing in the bathtub, likes the water on her tummy. Lastly, we are in the middle of a battle with baby acne and cradle cap - oh the joys!

Standing Girl!


Talking


g Diapers

Oh to be able to sleep like a child!

We are desperately hanging on to Jakob's nap and hoping his nap will continue for a long while! He naps great at preschool, of course! At home, on the weekends, he wants to nap on the couch or in his "cave" - built with pillows. On Sunday, Jakob decided he would sleep in his "cave". He woke up a bit earlier than he should have, was super cranky but didn't want to go back to sleep, so he said he would "rest" on the couch with a cup of milk and crackers. I went to get him some milk and crackers and came back to find him hanging off of the couch - snoring!! I so wish I could fall asleep and stay asleep like kids do!

Reading - what is that?

Carla tagged me with this,

* Look up page 123 in the nearest book
* Look for the fifth sentence
* Then post the three sentences that follow that fifth sentence on page 123.

It's fun to read everyone elses so I will post mine! But honestly, I am getting on average about 4 hours of sleep a night - if I'm lucky I get an hour nap - but that hasn't happened in over a week as my infant is very gassy and demands a lot of bouncing to stay asleep! Anyhow, I don't have any other excuses on why I'm not currently reading a book - I did just finish the first Harry Potter last night - when I should have been sleeping (only took me 4 months to finally get into it and finish it). Damn Harry Potter, I didn't think I would like it and Mark, who reads voraciously, has been on me about finishing the book and now I'm hooked - if only my eyes could stay open for more than 3 pages at a time!

Anyhow, the book I have next to me is "How To Talk So Kids Can Learn", not so intersting but that's what I've got - it's that or "Your Baby's First Year Week by Week" and that book is so basic it kills me - but it is a great reminder on development for me as my brain is totally shrinking right now!
So, here goes:

To preface - this section in the book is talking about punitive practices, their long term affects on children, as they relate to teachers and their students....(kind of a depressing subject, sorry!)
"Some children start bed-wetting, nail biting, or stuttering, or suddenly develop headaches or stomachaches. Some experience nightmares or have trouble falling or staying asleep...our children are entitled-to be treated in humane and caring ways by those who claim the privilege of educating them."
(I kind of cheated on this and only typed the most important 3 sentences or what I felt were the important sentences after the 5th sentence - geeze I hope that makes sense) Off to bed I go!

Little Monkeys

Jakob 2 weeks old



Sarah 4 weeks old

Feeding the Babies!

A couple nights ago, Mark fed Sarah a bottle of "Mommy's milk". Jakob held Sarah to feed her for a split second then decided he was going to feed his baby (a bit easier to hold) - but he fed her "strawberry milk". Obviously that sounds a bit more appetizing!



P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!
Jakob headed off to preschool today with his first bag of Valentine's Day cards, filled with chocolate hearts, that he enclosed in the envelopes! Some day soon, he'll be picking out the candy hearts by what they have printed on them and will have to figure out who to give the heart that says "Kiss" or "Love" to - all while wondering why he has to give a heart candy at all to his guy friends!

A day in the life of Jakob...

At the park, climbing a ladder...

Busy making a track for his monster truck to do jumps on...

Singing songs to Sarah at bedtime...

Did someone say kiss?

"Are Those Guys Pirates?"

Jakob woke up while I (Mark) was watching a Nova documentary about space, and he was fascinated- asked a million questions a minute. During a scene where a bunch of astrophysicists are in lab coats huddled around a strange looking machine, the narrator says the word "telescope" and Jakob asks "Are those guys pirates?" Pirates and persicopes, astronomers and telescopes... easy to be confused. I told him they were astrophysicists which prompted Jakob to ask "Do they steal treasure too?" I held it together, but just barely.

One of the best things about being a parent of a newborn...

Sleeping with them. It is the sweetest thing to hear them breathe, sigh, laugh, grunt, watch them make funny faces and feel them twitch, and stretch - even if it keeps you awake!




I didn't know I'd enjoy parenthood this much. I was so afraid that I couldn't love another child as much as I love Jakob, but somehow your heart grows even bigger - it's truely a miracle.
I'm probably just getting super sentimental because Sarah will probably be our last newborn in our house, until we have grandkids! So, I am really enjoying this time I have with her.

OH - another great thing about being a parent of a newborn - Touching, kissing, and even sniffing BABY FEET!!
(I know this picture is blurry but it's so cute how her toes are all flared out!)

"Aren't we so lucky!"

Yesterday we were playing with one of the many paper airplanes that Daddy has made for Jakob, and Jakob proudly announced "Aren't we so lucky... to have these airplanes." Amber and Josh were over visiting, Amber pointed out to all of us how nice it is to be appreciative of something so small - so true!
Kid's always have a way of keeping us honest and grounded.

Baby Buddies

Sarah and Dillon (Ian's 3 1/2 month old brother) met yesterday - not that exciting, but they are super cute together!!
Jakob and Ian are both very proud of their siblings.
Of course all the parents are proud of their babes!!

Sarah's 2 weeks old!

Sarah turned 2 weeks old yesterday. She had her first bath last night with Jakob, of course! I took Sarah to her 2 week check up this morning, she weighs 8 lbs 4 oz - she has gained 1 pound since birth - she's a piglet! I had a parenting first while at the MD's office, Sarah pee'd on me, thru her blanket, just before I got her on the scale - nothing like looking like I pee'd my pants as I leave the office!! Oh the joys of being a parent!

Jakob helping bathe Sarah


Cutie Pie


Looking cute on the way to the doctor!