Sisters

Yesterday McKenzie met her baby sister for the first time.  We've been preparing her for this day for months and she was very excited to finally see the baby.  She told me that the first time she met Kaia she would say, "Happy birthday baby Kaia."  I think she was a little too stunned to get it all out.  She did say, "hi," though, and couldn't wait to give her a kiss.

The very first meeting.

Today McKenzie was comfortable getting a little closer and continues to be fascinated by her little sister.  I think that in the coming days Kenzie will be very helpful and hands-on big sister.

She's Here!

Kaia (KY-ah) Marie arrived at 5:32 pm on 4/28.  She weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz and is 19.5 inches long.  We are all doing great!  She is my VBAC baby (woo hoo!).  Stay posted for more pictures and videos in the coming days.

Me Do It

McKenzie has come down with a chronic case of the "me do its."  I'm afraid there may be no cure.  This isn't always a problem; when we are not in a rush a I have no problem letting her put on her own shoes (which she can't do on her own, try as she might) and I'm more than willing to let her climb the stairs (it allows me to go up without her sitting on my enormous belly).  However, while I want to foster her sense of independence, letting her do everything on her own is simply not an option.  When I try to explain to her that she cannot pour the milk from the gallon jug onto her cereal  because it will most likely spill all over the place she screams and further insists, "Me do it!"  When mommy is exhausted at 7:00 at night and Kenzie wants to dress herself in her pjs but mommy wants her to be in bed before next week, she screams and insists, "me do it!"  Frankly, it's exhausting.

There is one "me do it" that I find rather endearing, though.  I wish I could get a video because it is so precious.  When we take walks Kenzie will often hold my hand.  Sometimes I will ask her if she wants to hold my hand and she will insist, "me do it."  Then she will grab her left hand with her right hand and walk down the driveway holding tight to herself.  I'm not sure what she thinks she is accomplishing by holding her own hand, but it's the cutest thing.

A boy? Oh boy.

I had a dream the other night that I gave birth to a baby boy.  I woke up in a panic.  Not because I don't want a boy, but because we haven't pondered any male names.  It has been so hard to come up with a name we love for a girl, the thought of having a boy (surprise!) then only having 48 hours to come up with a name is terrifying.  Dustin has assured me that it was just a dream and I shouldn't put too much stock in it.  My O.B. has only seen the sex of the baby incorrectly diagnosed three times in her career.  That should put me at ease.

Since this dream, however, I have had countless strangers in the grocery store, at the mall, at the dry cleaners tell me that I must be having a boy because of the way I am carrying.  Oh boy.

Dustin's Baby

Over the past nine months Dustin has been carrying and nurturing a baby of his own.  Last September he took on a "side job" (read: second job that was just as taxing as his full-time employment) creating a beautiful home library for another teacher at his school.  He put in over 700 hours completing this job and has worked a lot of very late nights.  Due to one last hiccup involving the finish on the floor, the job isn't quite complete, but it will be done by week's end.  

While it was difficult for me (and him) to have him working late nights and weekends for the past few months, it was impossible not to be proud and impressed when I saw the final product.  He is extremely talented and I am so proud to say that my husband built this.

The brown panels are fabric that allow air flow for the media components inside.

Yeah, it's a lot of shelves!

Dustin's brother, Alan, did all the electrical work in the room.

Note how the bottom of the top drawer and the top of the bottom drawer 

are from the same piece of wood.   Same for the panels. 
 Dustin's attention to such details is impeccable.

That's a wine nook. Every library needs a wine fridge, no?

The drawers along this window are designed to hold file folders.

The best thing about Dustin finishing this job is that he now has time to enjoy the simple things in life.

Lunchtime!

Kenzie and Lily make noodles fun.

1 month (give or take) to go

I am now eight months pregnant.  We can't believe that soon we will be a family of four.  Kenzie is very excited about the baby and takes time each day to hug and kiss my belly.  She often brings toys and books and puts them on my belly for the baby.  She asks the baby to "come out" all the time when she is playing.  I tell her that the baby isn't ready to come out and she assures me that she will "come out soon, come out soon."

The pregnancy has been smooth and although it hasn't been confirmed with ultrasound yet, we think the baby is in the proper head-down position this time around.  I'm hoping to have a vaginal birth after cercearan (VBAC), and as long as baby cooperates I should be able to.  There are lots of factors that make VBAC a little more complicated than a regular delivery so I am preparing myself for the possibility that I could end up with another c-section.  I know that the recovery from surgery promises to be more difficult with a two-year-old to chase around, so I'm hoping that everything goes according to the plan I've created in my mind (ha!).

We are still working on picking out a name.  We're putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to pick a name that is as meaningful to us as the name McKenzie is.  It is really hard.  We might have finally had our "ah-ha" moment tonight and if we still like what we've come up with we'll share with everyone soon.

I never feel like pictures do the size of my belly any justice.  I feel huge.  My weight gain has been nearly identical to the amount I gained with Kenzie, but I think my belly is two times bigger this time around.  I haven't had a good night's sleep in months.  This baby girl has lodged her bum and feet into my ribcage and it's pretty hard to find a comfortable sleeping position.  I know that I have more sleepless nights ahead, but at least I'll have a beautiful newborn to share them with.

Four weeks to the due date...will she be an April or May baby?  As soon as we have news we'll be sure to share.