Activity corner

Caroline loves to play in her new activity corner that Meghan helped set up this past weekend.  We rolled out her quilt that Nana B made and set it up next to the mirror.  Caroline thinks that the baby in the mirror is simply hilarious.

Our Bumbo is also in the corner.  C is not a huge fan of it yet but she tolerates it for a little while.  I think her butt is too skinny to fill it out and be supportive.  Regardless we had some Bumbo time today and Caroline grasped her crocheted rattle with her big ol' hands.

She is getting pretty good at swatting and grasping separately, especially her simple montessori toys (again, thanks Megs). But she has a ways to go before she can truly seek out a toy and grab it.

Finally we love love love our butterfly mobile.  Caroline likes staring at the butterflies more than either of her colorful newfangled activity gyms.

Our nanny comes tomorrow and Thursday for a few hours to meet the girls and get the lay of the land.  I am looking forward to some time to prep for the return to work, but am not at all looking forward to being without my sweet lady for entire whole days next week.

xoxo

A visitor from Texas!

This weekend our friend Meghan came to visit!  She left her sweet babies with Casey in Houston and basically kept us fed all weekend.

Caroline got all dressed up in her Marc Jacobs booties and new hair bow to meet her Auntie Megs.

For lunch Caroline got her first Clyde's experience!

For dinner on Friday, Megs made us pork chops.  Dinner on Saturday included Cousin O and the kids, and featured pot roast and veggies (and tons of yummy desserts).

Caroline likes to be close to the dinner action, which cuts down on sadness a bit.

(This photo makes me think "I saw Cady Heron wearing army pants and flip flops, so I bought army pants and flip flops.")

We also are getting better at swatting at dangly things.  It is still not super deliberate, but she can do it and gets REALLY excited with herself when she connects.  Here is a video of her in action.  It isn't great, so blame the videographer (me).  Also blame the blogger (me) if it doesn't work.

Meghan left today to head back home, but not before making us some delish homemade cinnamon rolls!

xoxo

Cloth Diapering, Part 2 - washing and nighttime

Washing.

It is not gross to wash the cloth diapers and no, the poo does not get on all of your other clothes through the washer.  It does smell if you let them sit for too long however.  So far since her business is pretty harmless, we have the following wash routine:

1. dump all the diapers and bag in the washer

2. put a scoop of Rockin' Green detergent in the compartment

3. set washer to "heavy duty" and select prewash and second rinse

4. hit start
5. dry on warm
6. hang any diapers with staining on clothesline

I use a ribbon as a clothesline since I don't have twine!  (I also haven't had any diapers that were in need of some sun this week...I waited and tried and almost faked it for the photo, but I needed the diapers in her drawer.)

It is super easy. Since I am home all day it is not hard to wash this stuff every other day or so.  It takes a little time to stuff pockets, but no more time than it takes to say, fold a shirt.

Thats it!  So far I love them.  Caroline has mostly avoided diaper rash, though she did get a bout of it once she started sleeping through the night (for 8-10 hours) at 8 weeks.

Speaking of sleeping, I have her in a disposable still at night.  I had been using a one-size funnibunz pocket, which worked great when she was only sleeping for 4-5 hours at a stretch.  However, on our trip to Atlanta at age 8 weeks to the day, Caroline slept 8 hours.  We did not bring cloth on this trip.  Since then, I am scared to put a cloth diaper on her at night because I value this new sleep too much, and the plastic diapers are soooooo absorbant.  So for the past week and a half, we have used the disposables at night.  I hope to get my courage back soon and switch, but like anything else with a new baby, you do what you can when you can.

She just looks so cute in her Bumgenious.

And a big shout out to the Donnellan ladies for ordering me some new Bumgenious!  I cannot wait for them to arrive :)

The new and the familiar

This weekend was pretty eventful, as Caroline met new friends and got to hang out with the Nichols clan for some food and fun.

On Saturday, my friends Asha and Leah and their kids Rehka and Nolan came for a visit to meet Caroline. We played in the basement and caught up.  Both Asha and Leah are due with their second children in May! With the two toddlers it was hard to take pics, so all I have is a few shots of C from before everyone arrived.

Look at these skinny legs!

On Sunday we had lunch at Catherine and Eric's with the Nanas, Papou, James and Amanda, and Cousin Olivia.  C had some good grandparents time.

(She was totally smiling in the above shot...promise)

We hung out and ate soup and sandwiches.

O was as sweet as ever!

Then Caroline hung out as Catherine and I sewed a door snake.  I wish I had a photo of our door snake.  It is quite functional.

It was John's idea to rest her there BTW.

After sewing time, we had photoshop time and learned lots of fun tricks.  Of course there was no time to put any of our new skills to work since it was home, dinner, bath, bed.

Until next time, xoxo

Two months old!

Happy two month birthday pretty lady Caroline!

At her two month doctor check up today, she weighed 10 lbs, 3 oz, which is the 25th percentile.  She is 23 inches tall, which is the 75th percentile!  Her head size is a perfectly average 50th.

At this point in time, our sweet girl can:
- smile socially
- look you in the eye
- see her hands and grab her shirt
- toot as loud as an adult
- sleep for 8-10 hours at night
- roll over accidentally from front to back
- coo and giggle

This was Caroline last month:

And this is her today!

Quite a big change in my eyes.

Then:

Now:

She can also be very serious, and often is fussy at night.  A bath is quite calming!

And we now get distracted from our play mat jungle animals by whatever is on the television.  Sigh...

The doctor is super impressed by Caroline's strength too, however it is hard to tell from this photo:

She tipped over.  Photo shoots with mom can be very exhausting!

We are looking forward to a fun weekend hanging out with a collection of pregnant ladies (two Saturday, one Sunday (Auntie Misses!!), and one Monday), meeting new little friends, and hanging out lots with Dad.

xoxo

A visit with family and 8 weeks

This weekend, Kate and Caroline flew to Atlanta to visit the Chapman clan, and see Nana and Papi.  C was great on the plane!  I took the advice of many and wore her in a sling and checked all of the baby stuff.  It worked out great.  Kris picked us up from the airport.  Here is a shot of her Mothership with three infant seats.

No crawling to the back should Sophie need something in that car!  Nana Babs and Papi arrived shortly after we got home.  Nana must always have a baby in her arms :), below are two of Caroline and Nana.

We attempted a group photo while all together.  The lighting was bad (and I haven't yet had my Misses photoshop lesson) but we managed to get two of three smiling.

Kris has the house all organized for play.  Here is Sophie amongst her playpen toys.

Auntina put a bow on my baby.  Too bad it doesn't match her pjs. Uncle Matt is holding Baby C. 

Some shots of the girls.

Then Baby Anna came to visit!  Annie Jo and Caroline snuggled while I held Anna.  Anna is 6 weeks or so older than C and she has the prettiest blue eyes.

The girls and Auntina in the playpen.

Finally, I cannot leave out the big cheese, Chester.

He is just the handsomest.