Some videos of cuteness

Just normal life

Life has returned to the new normal. Rob is back at work, I'm home with two girls, we go out most days, play puzzles, read books, and are enjoying life as a family of four. Erica is growing like crazy-she's almost 13lbs at 7 weeks (Amelia wasn't 13lbs until 3 months). Erica is fitting comfortably in most 6-month size sleepers and although I can still squeeze her into a few 3-month onsies, they show off her curves more than I'd like in my infant. 

Amelia is adjusting to her new position in the family well. She loves talking and singing to her sister and without my constant intervention, would probably accidentally catapult her right out of her bouncy chair. Amelia has started to read to Erica. She has most of our books memorized-at least in part-and holds them precariously over Erica's head while clearly explaining the exciting plot of "Baby's First Christmas-a book about Colors". Erica smiles when Amelia enters the room and has laughed for her a few times, I can already see the sister relationship developing and it's amazing to see!

Other than that, Erica does a lot of sleeping (she's slept until 5:30 in the morning twice so far!), Amelia does a lot of playing and talking, I do a lot of nursing and baby holding, and Rob works and then comes home and cooks and cleans-what a great guy.  Some pics...

Snuggling

 She sleeps so well on her belly, wish we could put her down like this at night.

Cousins snacking together.

 Getting ready for a birthday party, all dressed up.

 Enjoying bath time!

 Tummy Time

 Flying on mommy's legs while she does sit ups...

 "Mommy, Erica needs socks and baby legs. Awww....she's awfully cute, isn't she!" 

 Thanks, Steph, for the adorable purple outfit!

 Erica makes some great faces.

 Sister time.

 7 weeks and 3 weeks bathtime. She's grown a lot!

 She's all smiles in her bright outfit!

Erica is One Month

Well, a month (and two weeks actually) have gone by and our baby girl is already so grown up! At her one month check up she was 11lbs 8oz, a full 3 pounds more than at birth. That's a 35% weight gain in a month! If I put on weight like that I'd be 240lbs by February. She's also grown two inches (to 22 inches) which is why she is busting out of all her 3 month clothing already. It's certainly different having a chubbier baby this time. She's going to catch up to Amelia soon. 

Erica has just started to coo and make eye contact. She has smiled a lot (and no, it's not just gas), and I even think I heard her laugh when Amelia started singing today. She focuses intently on toys and faces and turns toward noises nearby. She even kicks and flails her arms in excitement when she hears Amelia's voice.

She's a spit-up queen, just like her sister, although she eats like a champ. I remember congratulating myself if I was back in bed in an hour when feeding Amelia at night. Now I'm annoyed if my head doesn't return to my pillow for 15 minutes after waking up. Erica chows down so fast sometimes that she sputters and has to catch her breath multiple times. Maybe that's why she spits up so much. With her great weight gain, however, it's just a laundry problem (to quote Linda-the Lactation Consultant at Mercy). 

Speaking of sleep, Erica has been letting me sleep from 10 to 3:30 or so on a regular basis. Then she gets up again around 6 or 7 and joins me in bed until Amelia wakes up. When Rob wasn't working over Christmas break, the whole family slept until 9:30 a few times! 

For the first week or so, having two kids was a harsh adjustment. But now that we've settled in and Amelia has realized Erica is here to stay, it's becoming easier. Plus, I've really enjoyed having a baby to snuggle with again. We love you, Erica!

One Month

 One Week

December Candids

"That Giraffe is looking at me again"

Tasting the icing from...

 ...our paint your own cookie party. 

"Daddy, she is taking pictures again"

"Mommy, you want a bow on your hair too?"

Ready for the snow!

Don't they look thrilled?

"Don't eat the yellow snow, Daddy."

Amelia plays with her manger and animals for at least 30 minutes a day. She lines them all up in rows, makes them all lie down in front of Baby Jesus, and puts them in a circle at the "playground" which apparently is the left side of the table. A few quotes from her latest play: 

 "You want to go to the playground, giraffe?" "Mary is talking to the angel." "Ok, have fun mister monkey, see you tonight." "Everybody is in a circle"

 "Mommy, I want to read my puzzle book in the fence"

Contemplating sleep...

Looking under the couch for the lost green ball...

 Erica has started really interacting with her toys. She looks intently at them and flails her arms in delight. 

 And she sleeps, a lot.

Hard at work.

Green girls.

Loving the tree.

"Daddy, do you have a big shovel and I have a little shovel?"

 and of course, the purple face.

Cupcake Sisters

 Yes, I became that mom that likes to dress my daughters alike. I am also in love with The Children's Place clothes. I was mostly a Carter's mom when Amelia was young but these sleepers are so stinkin' cute! Amelia is thrilled to wear the same thing as Erica-she typically requests the same color at least since she (usually) wears actual clothes and Erica is still in the sleeper-all-the-time phase. Here's a short photo shoot of the two of them in their cupcake jammies-I would have had some great pictures if I didn't have to keep Amelia from excitedly squishing Erica. I need a personal photographer.

"Uh oh, here she comes..."