to do

I know, you're thinking, "More pictures of that baby?"
But what else am I to do?
Oh, I should be packing or doing something productive? I suppose.
While we're on the subject of productivity, I've been making a mental list of things I want to do instead of watch the television (to be more accurate, Hulu).

1. Read
2. Journal/Work on baby books
3. Meal plan
4. Draw in my birthday gift from Mallory. Click HERE.
5. Jog
6. Cook
7. Clean the bathroom sink (blech)
8. Get buns of steel (what?)
9. Write. Write about what? I don't know. Creative writing, perhaps?
10. Find bus people subjects (click HERE). Or something that would make a good substitute for bus people.

siblings

Jones likes Greta big time.
He wouldn't listen to me when I asked him not to climb on the chair she was lying on.
I had to pick him up over and over and set him on the ground, which resulted in screams and tears.
I think Scott eventually took him away so that I could snap a few shots of Greta.
Poor girl is getting a wicked dose of baby acne, just like Jones did around 4 weeks.
But don't worry, I'm soaking her face in Noxzema and and Oil of Olay every night for 6 hours. :)

Only a matter of time

I showered and dressed while Greta napped this afternoon and only upon getting her from her bassinet did I realize that we were twinsies. I guess when 90% of the clothes you own and 75% of your baby's clothes are striped, something like this is bound to happen.

I'm not a fan of mommy-baby matching, so Grets will have to find a new outfit for the day. Sorry, girl. I have seniority here.

(pay no attention to the crooked "art" behind me. i have no time to fix
or improve it. no time I say!)

4 weeks

In terms of personality, sleeping and eating, Greta hasn't changed much over the past 4 weeks. She now fits into her 0-3 month clothes, but just barely.

She is a dream and we are wild about her.
Greta is the kind of baby that makes you want to have more babies.

I'm not getting much sleep, but I am getting some.
I went out for a walk with both kids in the jogger this morning, but we couldn't go far because it started to rain. I'm determined to keep it up and be super awesome and fit by the very end of the summer.
Or maaaaaybe early fall. Check back with me then.

P.S. H&M started carrying baby clothes recently and I LOVE THEM for it.

haircut

Greta very much enjoyed listening to the buzzing of daddy's haircut.
Jones requested a haircut too, but declined at the last minute.

happy birthday...

...to me.
Scott's brother Mike and his family were in town this weekend and we got to enjoy a BBQ at a friend's house to celebrate my 28th. I had planned to capture the evening with my camera, but it broke after taking these pictures of Greta.
Let's hope it gets fixed soon.

I have to thank Scott for a wonderful birthday gift (new running shoes) and for trying his best to make my day special. Lots of love to you, Scott.

Next to baby

Greta was doing some tummy time and Jones got super excited and wanted to be on the blanket too. This is his favorite place to be. If Greta is on the couch or the floor or our bed, then Jones has to be "next to baby". And those are his words.

(too bad my camera died and I had to use my cell phone)

Bullet points

I've been wanting to write about this new phase of life we've entered into as a family of four, but I find my free time devoted to a) napping, b) eating, c) showering, or d) switching the laundry.
So here's the best I can do.

• Jones is a good boy, but he's pushing his boundaries to see if I'll follow through with threats of time out
• Greta's sleep skills are going in the wrong direction and her hours of wakefulness drive me crazy
• I feel the day is a success if I get to spend even a little one-on-one time with Jones and/or go outside to play
• I haven't recovered my desire to cook dinner...or make lunch...or snacks
• Scott and my relationship is less strained this time around than it was with Jones. I think the reason for this is that having a first child blows your mind and then the second one is more like, "Oh yeah, I remember this. No big deal."
• I really like to read while nursing. It makes time fly by. I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife and now I need to find another book.
  
• If I had the money, I'd hire a maid. Ain't no shame in not wanting to clean your own toilets and floors.
  
• We haven't had any visitors yet and I'm really looking forward to our various family members that are making their way to us this month. I wish my sisters could come for awhile, but maybe we'll make our way to them.
• I wish I could devote more time to something like Bus People or practicing drawing and Adobe Illustratoring (new word I just invented)
• We're moving into a 3 bedroom apartment in 2 weeks and I can't wait. I know it's doable to have 2 kids in a 2 bedroom, but I'm SO EXCITED about a bigger place.
  

I've now wasted half of my nap time as well as neglected to get my laundry from downstairs (which may result in someone tossing our stuff out of the dryer).

All By Myself...

Scott went back to school today and my parenting skills were put to the test. I would give myself a B. We did get outside to play and Jones had a nice, healthy lunch...but I fell asleep on the couch while he was watching Sesame Street this morning, so there's some room for improvement. :)

This was taken just prior to Jones exclaiming, "I made pizza!"

Jones found a Batman action figure on the playground, but he kept getting confused and called it "fireman".

Staying in

Scott took Jones to see his first in theater movie and Greta and I opted to stay home. I've been feeling tired today so I thought that napping was smarter than movie going.
Greta doesn't quite fit into her 0-3 month clothes, but I had to try one on her anyway.
And yes, I do use that many pillows when I feed Greta.

Swim Days

This is the best way for us to cope with weather in the 90s and what feels like 100% humidity.

Thank you Bethany for sharing your pool with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This is how Greta rolls.

two weeks

At Greta's 2 week appointment she came in at 8 lbs 12 oz.
Up 8 oz from the delivery.
And mom is down 368 oz. You do the math.

She has found her voice and cries when gas pain strikes.
She is incredibly sleepy and really makes me work to wake her up for feedings.
What else can you say about a newborn? She's awesome and we love her.

After baby came

Scott and Jones went out on the town to Madison's Bratfest and left a jealous mom at home. Have I ever mentioned that I love hot dogs?

Best photo of the day.

The following day (or even possibly the same day), the boys went to the local Splash Pad for the afternoon. I think Jones and I will hit up this place later this week.

Before the new addition

Scott took Jones out on some excellent father-son activities.

Ice cream on campus

Carousel riding at the zoo (mom was allowed to come to this activity)

Lunch at Five Guys

And I threw this one in just for fun. This is what Jones liked to do when we went to take care of our garden...play in the mulch mountain.

Love me a sleeping baby