good times

Here I am hanging with my buddy Zach. We decorated cookies, played dress up, played hide and seek, played chase around the house and ate pizza. All in all, a good night.
-A

snow rabbit

We stocked up on winter clothes for Addie recently and told her how she will look like a little snow bunny. When she put on her winter coat this morning, she announced that she is a snow rabbit.

J

Tree trimming

These boots are made for walkin...

back to yoga

I've recently started back to doing weekly yoga classes. After several weeks or not doing much exercise, it's so nice to feel my body waking back up. My local yoga studio offers a mother and baby class on one of the days that Addie is in 'school'.

We do some yoga for ourselves while baby is laying on a blanket at our feet. Then we sing baby songs while doing some strength exercises using baby as a weight, Then we do baby yoga moving baby in ways to stimulate left brain/right brain development, balance & coordination, or ease digestion.

If you have ever been to a yoga class you know that the class is generally pretty quiet, calm and serene. Not so with postnatal yoga. This class is a cacophony of baby coos & gurgles, diaper bags rustling, rattles shaking, mother's coos and the occasional wail.

I love the time to actively connect with Samantha one on one, the same special time that Addie got at that age. Plus she naps GREAT afterwords.

J

When getting the girls dressed this morning Addison was explaining to Samantha the different animals on her jammies and demonstrating the noises each one makes.
Very sweet.
J

Boo 'Mantha!

A very common refrain in our house is "Boo 'Mantha", usually spoken by Addison in a VERY loud voice an inch from Samantha's face.
Apparently we're practicing for some great peekaboo marathons in the near future.
Peekaboo Samantha.
J

Sharks say "ROARRRRRR!"

What I love...

What I love about infants:
All the squeaks, grunts, groans and hums. they are noisy little critters.
That sweet, milky, earthy smell on the top of their head.
Tiny little fingernails.
How their legs are folded up and they look like little tree frogs when laying on your chest.
Big toothless, open mouth grins that come from just looking at you in the eyes.
Little fists tucked under her chin while she sleeps.
Those dear first laughs that are more like gurgles.
Watching her feet and toes wiggle while she's nursing.


What I love about toddlers:
The random use of annunciation and tone when talking.
The ABC song sung at the top of her lungs when happy.
How clothes never fit quite right.
"I love you mommy" as I'm tucking her in at night.
That silly little run as she's happy playing around the house and cruising from room to room.
That great laugh that starts as a baby giggle in the back of her throat and ends in a belly laugh.
Singing her favorite songs to herself.

Halloween

pumpkin patch

first days on our own

So we have survived our first few days at home just me and the girls. It helps to have low expectations. I'm happy just to keep them fed and clothed. I feel lucky to have gotten something for me to eat and to have relatively clean hair. I have managed a few short naps with the help of cartoons on TV. A walk to the mailbox at the end of the block is a major outing for us.

It has been a blessing to slow down again and enjoy life at the pace dictated by a newborn.

J

similar sisters

The girls look so much alike to me. What do you think? Addie is on the left and Samantha is on the right.

Welcome to the family!

We are so excited to announce the birth of Samantha May Murray on Sept 26th at 1:24pm. She was 6lbs 14 oz and 19.5 inches long.

Here's Addie trying to look like Mommy with a balloon under her shirt....

Here and gone...

Well the infamous due date has come and passed. I'm trying hard to keep my anticipation from becoming a stressor that only inhibits labor. Thankfully, Steve, our OB and our labor assistant/doula have all been infinitely patient. And, I know that due dates are a rough estimate at best. More important than an arbitrary due date, I was really hoping this little one would have made an appearance on my mother's birthday.
J

"I like this, I like this...."

Well, we had a big family date at the Olive Garden last night. Addie loved looking at the pictures on the dessert menu. She'd point to every picture and say "I like this, I like this, I like this..."
OK, we'll order ONE!
so cute.
J

38 weeks

Well, I'm almost 38 weeks along in this pregnancy. A few things to get ready around the house but mostly we are just patiently waiting.

J

all accounted for

Addie keeps quiet an array of stuffed animals and babies on her bed. Some are jumbled at the foot of the bed. Some are arranged neatly around her pillow, each with its own designated spot. One glance at the array and she can tell right away if someone is missing.

J

35 week belly

A look back, a glimpse forward

I can't believe how big my little baby girl has grown. It seems like a long road and yet seems like the blink of an eye. And we get to do it all over again. Will there be enough love in my heart for two?

J

Favorite ways to pass the time

I'm into tea parties, taking care of Baby and playing 'cave' under the blankets.

It's a jungle in there

Here is my awesome new room. I've been sleeping there for a few weeks now. It's got lots of wild animals. Mommy says my old room with fish and other sea animals is now the baby's room. That's OK. I like elephants better now.

She can spot a tiny morsel of chocolate mixed in trail mix at 20 paces. That girl's good.

J

The Littlest Patriot

So yesterday at the neighborhood parade and picnic, Addie got a hold of a small American flag. She carried it around with her all day. I mean ALL day...in the baby pool, on the potty, while reading. It was even clutched in her hand as she took her nap.

29 weeks

I swear my belly is bigger this time around. It just has to be. However all weights, measurements and estimates line up with right where I'm supposed to be and on track with how my pregnancy with Addie developed. Maybe it is just hefting that extra weight around after a toddler that is the difference...

Turns out that I do have pregnancy induced anemia. Well THAT explains a lot about how I had been feeling. With some iron supplements my next set of bloodwork should be back to normal.

We've started to talk to Addie about the new baby. She has felt it kick in my tummy and then looked for it down my shirt. We also got her a few books about 'new baby in the house' and baby coming home'. As she is generally fascinated by babies, these have quickly become her favorite books of the week.

J

Dancing Queen

After practicing on the Dance Dance Revolution video game, I rock it in the living room. I have quite an eclectic taste...Led Zepplin and Mozart are some of my favorites.

Houston Zoo