Busy Summer

Julia's second month was a bit more challenging than her first. She was quite fussy and really only liked being held. The moby wrap was our friend most evenings during dinner, bath and bedtime routines. She was not a big fan of any seat including her car seat. She was usually okay after we started moving, but she would scream every time we stopped for a red light. She was especially fussy after eating and ended up trying Zantac at about 6 weeks and oh what a difference. Julia became a content and happy baby.

Aunt Holly, Margaret and Anne came to meet Julia in mid July. Gammie came with them too! We were able to make it up to the mountains several times and even managed to stay longer than a weekend a couple of times. Gramma and Grandad spent a week in the mountains too in late July and Granpa came up for an overnight to help Joe at the new house in early August.

Ivey has been into umbrellas all summer with all of the rain. She got her very own umbrella and wants to use it everyday. She had a ball dancing in the rain at Shops on the Parkway.

Julia's First Month Home

What a joy it is to have Julia with us. She is such a sweet baby and loves to be cuddled and held. Ivey seems to really love her and enjoys helping us with her. She loves to shake up her bottles, help hold the bottle while she eats, throw away dirty diapers, put her pacifier in her mouth when it falls out and rub her back when she's crying or needs to burp.

Julia seems to be beyond her age. By 2.5 weeks she was smiling, eating 4oz bottles, scooting herself all over the mat with her feet/legs during tummy time and even once rolled from her tummy to her back. She also seems to be following in her sister's footsteps in terms of being a good nighttime sleeper. At four weeks she was sleeping 6 to 7 hours after her last bottle.

It is definitely harder being parents of two, but it just feels right - like Julia was the missing puzzle piece to complete our family. We think we'll keep her!



Granma & Granpa came to stay when Joe had to travel overnight Julia's second week home



Julia (like Ivey) is allergic to Pampers -
It took weeks to get rid of the awful diaper rash they gave her



Ivey decided Julia needed some stickers on her feet

  

 

             Sweet Cousins sporting their patriotic outfits over July 4th weekend



Happy Birthday Mommy & Daddy

We celebrated our birthdays with my family a week and a half after Julia arrived. We had pizza, salad and carrot cake on our front porch and games and bubbles in the front yard. So much fun!

Julia's First Week Home

Bringing Julia home has been an adventure for all of us. Ivey had some trouble getting used to her new sister being home and decided the best idea was to act out and misbehave. The combination of a defiant toddler, two sleep deprived parents and a high maintenance baby was just one big recipe for disaster. Thank goodness Ivey's new attitude was short lived. Once she figured out no one was tolerating her devilish acts, they quickly subsided and now she is even better behaved than ever. We are so glad to have our sweet Ivey back.



Sleeping and eating are my two favorite things




Daddy's little girl



Bathtime and diaper changes are Julia's least favorite things right now

Ivey opening her "big sister" gifts

First ride in the big double stroller



Aunt Allison came to meet her new niece
She was a big help with Ivey and even let us sleep while she got up wih Julia overnight



Julia is all about some tummy time- falls asleep every time



Gammie finally holding her new grandaughter
Ivey had some trouble sharing Gammie with her new sister