Keeping up with a 2 year old

July 19, 2015 

We're a week past Sierra turning 2 and Eve is now 1 month old. Life has been changing over the past few weeks. It has seemingly gone by very quickly, as is the saying. I just started exercising again yesterday and today. It was nice yesterday because I was able to run a bit with a new mom friend at the high school track while Gus ran around with the kiddos and Eve slept in the shade. I checked on her every lap to make sure she was doing okay. Today I ran Sierra in the Bob around our neighborhood while Gus held Eve. We saw a horse (that welcomed the carrots we gave him), a donkey that snorted at us, and sheep that baaahed at us. Sierra and I both enjoyed it, and since I am only a month post-delivery I feel absolutely no pressure to be fast or run long which is nice.

                       

We have been popping over to Anne and Jerry's house at least once a week and it has been truly great to have them as neighbors. I realize how wonderful it is for Sierra and Eve to have them so close and accessible! We have shared dinners here and over there in addition to just saying hello. 

When the weather is hot we have to find more activities to do inside... sometimes that means ripping up baby wipes and jumping on the bed, and other days it means going to tumbling class and the library.

Sierra received a few more birthday gifts in the mail this week (along with cards that she has really enjoyed). It has been really fun for her (and she is well aware that it was her birthday).

Tumbling class has been great for Sierra she is learning how to take turns, wait, listen to directions, as well as meeting new friends and getting out her energy.

She has been thoroughly engrossed in playing with her new dolls she got for her birthday, although she doesn't have self-play nearly as much as she used to. She always is telling you to "have it," so that you can play with her.

She was given quite a few Frozen themed gifts, which she was very pleased with.

Eve is growing everyday and becoming much more aware. She smiles now (not just a reflex anymore). At her two week visit she was 9lb 14oz and 23 inches long! She is feeding and sleeping well. Sierra is learning how to be gentle with "baby Eve," but it is far from an easy concept with her. She is such a strong physical girl that sometimes she doesn't realize her hugs and kisses could literally crush an infant. We try not to get upset about it, but we are stern about being soft and gentle with her.

Nana Maryann truly enjoyed herself. She loves having two granddaughters and was very helpful while she was here. She put Sierra down to bed a few times, and played pretend with her while I was taking care of Eve. She also held Eve while I was playing with Sierra for extended times.

We went to Fresno State Farm Festival while she was in town. Sierra made a craft with flowers and we all ate delicious free samples and bought food for Sierra's party there.

Eve fits in Sierra's hand-me-downs very well and the time of year they were born is a perfect fit!

Sierra had her first lollipop at her birthday party. We were lucky enough to meet a family with 5 kids right before her birthday party and invite them over. They made up all of the kids at the party and truly made all of the difference to Sierra.

She loves her Grandpa Jer Bear.

Sierra listened to music and ate blueberries with Daddy before guests came over (and before her beautiful dress came off).

I enjoyed seeing Sierra so happy and having people over for the first time (outside of family).

We went to Shaver Lake while Nana was here, one of Sierra's favorite places. It was unseasonably cool while my mom was in town.

Eve is looking less red these days, but those first few weeks she was always bright red. This was Nana and Eve's first meeting.

We went out for dinner the Thursday before Sierra's birthday and Sierra got a birthday song with her ice cream! Nana gave her some whipped cream and birthday gifts there.

My mom was in heaven; getting a chance to bond with the granddaughters.

On cool mornings we go to the playground, and have a little picnic with the dollies before going to the library.

There are summer events for the kids at the library, and we try to attend all of them. They are a good way for Sierra to interact with other kids and to mix up the day's activities.

Life has been busy and we've surely needed our sleep.

We made dinner and drinks for Auntie Lyn as a way to say thank you for all she does!

She brought Sierra down to Great Grandma's for a Forth of July party, which allowed Gus and I to get a lot done around the house (and a chance for me to take a nice long nap with Eve). Our family support has been great and essential. Especially after having just moved not too long ago. The newest change on the horizon is that Great Grandma will be moving into her finished apartment at the beginning of August. So things won't be slowing down here for awhile.

The Sierra and Eve Show

July 1, 2015

Grammy Anne's Birthday

Eve's 12 days old

Sierra's 11 days away from 2 years old

Today was Grammy's birthday and her girlfriends were all having a get-together to celebrate this morning. The thoughtful person that Anne is, she invited Eve and I to come along since Sierra and Gus were in Davis for the past two days. Eve took a nap while we had our brunch. She eats three times in a row (hopefully doesn't spit it up), has to be held upright for 30 minutes after, with at least two burpings, and then takes monster naps. The ladies were all wonderful this morning. It was great to see how warm, welcoming, accepting, and loving this group of friends were together. Thick as thieves, a saying that Gus always uses. 

Gus had two dental appointments to go to and dropped Sierra off at her old daycare for two hours for one of them. She was able to spend time with her old buddy, Matthew, while she was there. Afterwards, he met up with all of our friends and their kids at Sudwerks. By chance, Matthew and his family ended up showing up there too. So five 2 year olds were pretty much occupying one corner of the brewery. Afterwards Sierra was able to spend some extra quality time with Ariana. So while I was hanging out with Anne and Jerry at dinner, Sierra and her very best friend Ariana were playing together in Davis as Gus was enjoying Eric and Sophia's company.  

Sierra was so happy to spend the night at Auntie giggles house, and get to spend the day with her and Gus. She cuddled all morning with her while Gus was at his second dental appointment. Later on they went swimming at the UC Davis Rec pool together. So much fun! I had been looking forward to this trip for Sierra. I knew she would just have a blast seeing all of her friends again. I know we will start meeting friends for her here, but that will just take some time. 

Grandpa Jer Bear was able to spend some quality time with Eve when we came over for dinner the other night. So adorable. Grammy Anne also got in some good holding time with Eve, and has obviously been taking her arm day seriously when it comes to her biceps!

Although I am sure this is slightly out of order in terms of dates, Great Grandma enjoyed the visit we had to her apartment and was able to get to hold Eve. I was able to read to both of my girls at the same time, and I felt so much love from them. Grammy Anne and I went to the Woodward park library for an event for Sierra (singing and dancing) before visiting. Sierra had SO much fun. She was jumping and cheering the whole time. Anne and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her enthusiasm. Gus was on a 2.5 day camping trip at Mono Hot Springs with Jerry and some other friends from the area. Yes, I encouraged him to go, even though looking back it might have been a lot for me to take on alone being 5 days post-partum (good thing for those helpful neighbors!).

One of Sierra's birthday gifts came! Personally my favorite one (and I think her's too). We have already given her the other ones (cowgirl boots, toy cars, and tumbling lessons start the week of her birthday). She can swing everyday for 30 minutes plus and not get bored.

I made her a play table, with Gus' help, for her toy kitchen supplies and paints. Here she is using her finger paints.

We took a family trip down to the San Joaquin one morning when we had some good cloud cover. Sierra is getting much better at scrambling over boulders and really enjoyed getting in the river with daddy.

Eve and Sierra were gifted a pair of sunglasses for the forth of July from our family friend Nancy, she has also given us plenty of art supplies for Sierra to use. We're so lucky!

Our new addition is well loved!

Auntie Lala enjoyed her time with baby Eve while she was out visiting.

Auntie Lyn (Giggles) was happy to meet her too!

Grammy enjoyed her cuddle-time with the new girl too. Although we didn't snap any pictures of Pop-pop or Auntie Crystal with baby Eve they both visited in the hospital too.

Most of all, big sister, Sierra was super sweet and caring to her new sister.

Daddy was happy and proud of his new bundle of joy. He helped me tremendously throughout the labor.

Sweet baby, Eve. The labor and delivery was excellent. We came in on June 18 at 3:30pm for a scheduled induction. I was given a cervical ripening medication and labor pretty much started happening on it's own a few hours later. My water broke and then things really picked up. I went until about 3:30am before I decided to have an epidural. Once again, I'm so glad I did. I might have lasted longer if it wasn't so late at night, but honestly I was very happy with how everything progressed throughout the whole labor. The nurses were great and the doctor was awesome. They were very accommodating to my post-partum wishes too. They put her directly on me, delayed the umbilical cord clamping by almost 15 minutes, allowed Gus and I to cut the cord, and post-poned the bathing and measurements for quite a few hours. I was very happy with everything. Even though we were extremely happy with everything, we wanted to be with Sierra again, and get our family rhythm going as soon as possible. We ended up leaving the hospital on June 20 before noon. What a wonderful Father's Day gift for Gus and my dad to be able to hold this little cutie in their arms!?

We went for some adventures before delivery. Tamarack Ridge was a perfect spot to hike with Sierra. Essentially a fire road.

Sierra has been loving her new chair that she was given for an early birthday gift from Grammy. She loves to make her's and Eve's into a fort.

We went for a hike before it got too hot one morning.