Christmas Day 2011

On Christmas we packed the kids up bright and early to head to Westside! My mom was hosting Christmas lunch, so we wanted to make it there by 11:00. My sister's family was there, too, which is always a lot of fun. Mom made lots of our favorites (including my favorite: chicken and rice). After lunch, we opened presents. Quinn did a great job opening hers and Wes slept the whole time. He didn't take very good naps over the holidays, but he had lots of people who love him very much there to console him and snuggle him. We stayed overnight and left after lunch the next day. Quinn had a blast playing with her cousins!

Reading about choo-choos

Here, I brought you this!

Snuggling her new Fancy Nancy doll. She is a new favorite!

Christmas Eve 2011

We really enjoyed our first Christmas Eve as a family of four. The flu had hit the Kaspy house hard a few days earlier, so Randy and I weren't feeling the best, but it was a great day and evening anyway. After Quinn's nap, we headed to 5:00 mass. We have never gone to St. Boniface before on Christmas Eve, but I'd heard rumors of how busy all three services are. It really was crazy; we got there at 4:30 (plenty early with two wee ones...) and the place really filled up fast. Wes slept the whole time. He has never done that, not even when he was just a few weeks old! That was a blessing to me. Quinn wasn't perfectly behaved, but she did ok. I had made chicken in the slow cooker earlier that day, so we came home to a warm, delicious-smelling house. Afterwards, the kids opened presents, we all checked out what was tucked in our stockings, and then we put Quinn to bed. I love that Quinn is old enough to get excited about new toys. Wes was a sweetie, just hanging out and taking in the scene. :-)

Ready for our church! Quinn is NOT a fan of getting pictures taken lately, so this is the best I could get!

Quinn "helping" Brother sit up.

Alphabet board

"Dolly!"

Checking out her stocking!

Momma is excited about her new FitBit!

Quinn also got a set of ABC board books that I'd won in a giveaway earlier this year. I got new boots and a necklace, but I've been wearing those for a while. Randy got a new jacket and a saw but has been putting those to good use as well. We had so much fun just hanging out in our jammies!

Decorating cookies!

On Friday morning Quinn and I decorated and baked some cookies. I am not much of a baker, but I had great success with this recipe:

1 box cake mix (we used lemon)
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs

Drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet. Use a drinking glass dusted with powdered sugar to flatten into even circles.

Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool before frosting. Makes 3 dozen.

These were so yummy! We used cream cheese frosting and sprinkles to add the finishing touches! I think next time I will try using applesauce in place of the oil to make them healthier for Quinn.

Frosting one cookie, eating another...

Yummy!

My sweet girl. :-)

We had such a fun morning decorating cookies! I am excited for a new tradition with Quinn.

Watch me grow: 3 months

Our little man is three months old today! I have to say that I love that he celebrates his monthly milestones on the 24th, just like Randy and I do! He turned two months old on Thanksgiving and is now three months old on Christmas Eve.

Wes, at three months old you...
*Eat 6 times a day (6 a.m. and every three hours after that until 9 p.m.)
*Are an inconsistent napper and are still learning how to sleep at night. We'll get there,  buddy! You usually nap in your swing.
*Wear size 2 diapers.
*Wear mostly 3-6 month clothes. You have a few shirts and a pair of grey cargo pants (seen above!) that are 0-3 that Mommy loves, so you still squeeze into them. You usually wear a plain long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans or Adidas pants or soft sweatpants every day. Mommy loves to dress you comfortably.
*Drool like crazy.
*Love to be held in the crook of Daddy's arm and snuggle on Mommy's shoulder.
*Are growing and changing every day! Now that you are three months old, Mommy and Daddy are ready to see you roll all over the place, get some teeth (ouch!), laugh, and smile and talk even more. We love you, sweet boy, and can't wait to watch you grow!

What's wrong with this picture?

Someone definitely has baby fever. Look closely...there is a baby in the swing, in the stroller, in the bouncer, under the gym, in Quinn's arms, and there are two little critters in the toy cradle. However, the real baby is just hanging out on the floor. :-)

New bouncer!

Quinn and I were out shopping this morning, and we picked Wes up a new bouncy seat. We never got one when Quinn was small, but we need something else around the house to keep Wes up off the floor (and away from big sister's probing fingers and wild dance moves!). I hope that he will also nap in it while we are away for the holidays this year.

My little smirker! His shirt says "Big trouble, little shirt." What a handsome fella!

My sweet babies...

 

The first of many coordinating holiday outfits these two buddies will wear over the years! Love them! :-)

How are things going?

So we are one of the first sets of parents among our friend group to venture into life with two kiddos...(btw, so exciting that lots of new babies are being born/getting ready to be born/in the planning stages!). One of the questions we get most often: how are things going? This is usually followed by "you guys have it so together! You make it look easy!"

Well...

Last night was a rough one. Quinn went to bed well at 7:15, but was up at 11:00 screaming at the top of her lungs. I couldn't tell if she was hurt or scared. She wouldn't let Momma hold her or snuggle with her and didn't want a drink or a stuffed animal. She is working on molars, and I think that is what was bothering her. Since she was screaming so hard, I thought she was saying "milk," but it easily could have been "mouth." Poor girl!! I slept the rest of the night with her in her bed. She was restless and whimpered a lot, but a little Tylenol seemed to help.

Wes, on the other hand...I am at the end of my rope with this baby and his [lack of] sleeping! I feel like we've tried everything to get this little guy to STAY asleep and nothing works! Whenever we have a good night or two, the next three in a row are bound to be hellacious. We're staying firm on not letting him eat at night, but I am starting to question even that. We've done regular swaddling, swaddler blankets, sleeping with a paci, without a paci, sleeping in a crib, bassinet, swing, our bed, floor, a light blanket, quilt, no blanket, lights on, lights off, music on, music off, nursing before bed, bottle before bed, nursing AND bottle before bed, walking, rocking, talking, Momma putting him to bed, Daddy putting him to bed....you get the picture, right??? We had our best night ever a few nights ago, when Randy was in Moline. I fed Wes, then gave him two extra ounces in a bottle, tried unsuccessfully to get him to sleep for about 90 minutes, and finally plopped him in his swing at 11:00 p.m. He swung all night long! He could have woken up, but I didn't hear him. Last night, though, he slept in his crib for about 3 hours, then was up with Randy for the rest of the night. (Husband of the year, right??) I am not opposed at all to letting babies "cry it out," but when I have a little miss with a bad toothache right down the hall who needs her rest...it's a tough call.

In the past three months, I have been challenged more than I have ever been. I have cried myself to sleep at night out of sheer exhaustion, napped on the floor of my office, and convinced myself on multiple occasions that I can't do this. I have crazy high standards for myself, and I do not like to fail. Why can't Wes sleep all night? Is he getting enough to eat? Why can't I lose this baby weight? Is Quinn talking enough? Should she know more letters? Shouldn't she be in preschool? My neighbors' homes look more festive than mine. When will Randy and I ever get some time alone? Is our marriage suffering?  Why can't I make this work?


However, I know that I just need to stop and breathe.  I am so blessed. I prayed and prayed for Quinn to join our family, and she came along at just the right time. Watching her learn and grow and thrive has been more of a joy than anything I could ever have imagined. I see so much of myself in her, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for this perfect creature.

When we found out I was pregnant with Wesley, I couldn't believe my luck. Some people try for years and years to have children, or want a specific gender, and I am lucky enough to have two babies: a perfect little girl and boy!


So yes, we are very tired. Randy and I both work incredibly hard at our jobs and at home, and it's exhausting. But is every sleepless night worth it? Does every obstacle, difficulty, and hurdle make me a better mother, a more godly wife, and a stronger person?

Absolutely.

popcorn and pajamas...

...with my #1 girl! We had a relaxing, fun day at home, and this was the perfect way to end it. :-) Yes, my hair is wet and freshly colored!

2 month stats

On Wednesday morning, we loaded up the whole family and went to Wes' 2-month doctor's appointment. It had been originally scheduled closer to the time he actually turned 2 months old, but Randy wanted to be there, too, so we rescheduled a time that worked for both of us. Our pediatrician's office just built a gorgeous new facility right next to their existing building, and it was our first time there. Quinn loved playing with all of the fresh, new toys and books in the waiting room. Wes weighed in at a whopping 14 lbs, 5 oz. (90th percentile). Randy and I always try to guess what our kids weigh...we both thought Wes would be about 12 or 13 pounds. Wow, were we off! Wes is 24 1/2" long (90th percentile) and his head circumference is 16" (55th percentile). Our doctor was pleased with his progress. She was impressed with how well he holds his head up whilst on his tummy, which I thought was interesting because I never give Wes tummy time! Randy claims to, though, so I guess he is getting that practice while I am not around. :-) The doctor was also surprised that Wes still will only eat 3 oz. from a bottle, because he is such a big, healthy boy, and because most babies this age eat 4-5 oz. per feeding.

Our little man also got some vaccines! I can never stay long enough at our appointments to see our kids' vaccines (I see students bright and early every morning) but Randy assured me that Wes did fine.

I am hoping for a healthy winter with Wes; let's pray for NO ear infections!

Chubby cheeks

Wes has these chubby cheeks that are to. die. for. Love him!!!

Peeeeek!

Just hanging out

He's back!!

Randy is finally back safely from Ukraine. We missed him so much! Luckily for the kids and me, my dad came to stay with us Wednesday-Sunday. He was SUCH a big help. He cooked for us, did laundry, played with Quinn, held Wes when I needed a break or a nap, and as always, he and I had lots of good chats. He and I don't always get a lot of time for just the two of us, so this was a wonderful opportunity. I love that he is such an amazing grandpa and has a flexible enough schedule to help me out when I need him. Believe me, this week I really needed him! Thanks, Dad, for everything. :-) We love you!

Randy got home around 5:00. Quinn was SO excited to see him! She and I made a sign for him that he would see when he walked into the house. She has had a bit of a cold this weekend and isn't quite herself, but she gave Daddy lots of love and snuggles before she went to bed.

Trying on Mom's present: a beautiful new scarf from the Netherlands!

So very blessed.