27 August, 2010

Three

Paul and I debated A LOT about whether or not we were going to have a third baby. Not Stella, of course, just a third in general...It was a really, really tough decision. We love Noah and Sophie so much and we both felt so blessed that they were healthy, creative, intelligent children-we didn't want to "press our luck" in that area. In the end, we did (obviously) and wound up with Miss Stella. I couldn't be happier-three children feels way more right than two ever did. By seven thirty each night (when they are all happily asleep in bed) all I can think is, "I love my life". Every single day. How many people go to bed feeling that way every night? What a gift Stella has given us!

26 August, 2010

She's on the Move

I can't believe Stella will be two months on Sunday! She's a total joy (and more so everyday) and I love seeing her personality emerging. That being said, I'm not ready for it to go by so fast. Last night around 2 a.m. I heard Stella crying. I went in to check on her and found her on her back staring at me. She's a tummy sleeper and she had managed to flip herself over-clearly scaring herself in the process! This morning as she was on her playmat I noticed she was trying to roll from her back to her tummy. I was "interviewing" her about it when she did it! And I captured it on camera! I can't believe it. Slow down, baby girl!

24 August, 2010

Open House V.2

For all of our friends and family...this is our school! This was used for the Lower School Open House last week. Enjoy!


Open House V.2

22 August, 2010

Just Like Any Other Weekend...Plus the Babe

Around these parts we spend lots and lots of weekends just like this...


Stella's a new addition to the routine, but she's learning quickly!

20 August, 2010

Baby's Got Back




I dabbled in cloth diapering for Noah and Sophie, but was never fully committed. This time around I've started cloth diapering Stella from the get go. We use mostly prefolds and covers and I find it to be oddly enjoyable to cloth diaper. I even insist on doing the diaper laundry in the house (though none of the other laundry). I can't explain why it brings me joy, but I can explain why we do it! Look here for more info...The gross out factor isn't really there since she's exclusively breastfed and I find diapers made of petroleum, polyethylene, wood pulp, gel, polypropylene, and perfume to be much more disturbing. Stella wasn't too pleased with the cloth diapering initially, but once I added a fleece liner to her dipe she was much happier! I think we're on a roll now!


Much cuter than plastic diapers, right?
Besides, would you want to wear plastic underwear?

Little Sister

This is what you end up with when your big sister dresses you...summer dress, pajama onesie, and striped leggings.




Sophie also came up with a coordinating outfit for herself :)

16 August, 2010

Stella Smiles


Stella's a smiley girl these days...



Here's Sophie at the same age...what do you think? Do they look alike?

And Noah smiling? We didn't have a digital camera then!

13 August, 2010

Sophie's Arm Update



We found out late last week that Sophie will need follow up surgery on her left arm. In April Sophie fell off a trampoline at a friend's house and broke her left elbow. They placed pins and she had a cast for over six weeks, but unfortunately multiple x-rays and an MRI have shown there is still a large gap in her bone. The doctor's next plan of attack is to remove bone from Sophie's hip and use it to make a "cement" to fill the gap in her elbow. Unbelievably, Paul had the same surgery as a kid. We should know the surgery date by the end of the week and we'll keep everyone posted.

12 August, 2010

Back into the Baby World


After several years of no babies we're back in full baby mode around these parts. Words like "swaddling", "nursing", "diapers", and "please God let her go to sleep" are taking center stage. It's a change, for sure! Paul and I struggle a bit to embrace this change sometimes. It is hard when sweet Stella doesn't want to go down for the night until 12:30 and the other two are up at 6:30 (or earlier, Mr. Noah). I keep telling myself (over and over and over) these times are fleeting and to embrace the fuzzy newborn head, the first smiles, the "aaagggaaa" sounds, and the baby smells. It doesn't always work, but I'm trying.

Just So Stella Will Wake Up

I've decided to actually try and write on this blog because I need Stella to wake up. She didn't really nurse this morning when she woke up and so now, three hours later, I. NEED. HER. TO. WAKE. UP. I'm in pain. The only surefire way to make her wake up is to start doing something that I would like to finish. Once I start she is guaranteed to wake up immediately. Let's see how far I get writing to test my theory!

So, since it has been awhile....

On July 4, 2010 Stella Jane Kasky was born into my hands here at home. All nine pounds of her. It was an incredible experience and one I wish I could do over ten times. Except I don't want ten more children. According to Paul, I wasn't begging to do it all over again at the time, but now, six weeks later I think I would in a heartbeat. Except I won't.

We're adjusting okay-granted with a lot of help. It makes me really nervous to have all three children by myself at home. Noah and Sophie are less needy overall but they still need lots of time and attention-bedtime stories, homework help, games of Uno, etc...and I can't always do that with them. For that, I feel pretty terrible right now. I am hoping (maybe too optimistically) that once Stella is a tiny bit older and on more of a schedule it will get easier. I could be dreaming.

The kids are great with her-they love to lay on the blanket with her and coo in her face. It is awfully cute until she is MAD that they are in her face! Sophie likes to help with every diaper change and has begun insisting that I use the cloth diapers on her. Noah is great at getting smile from her. I can't wait until she can crawl around after them and giggle at their tricks. I think that is the best part of having multiple children-seeing them love on one another.

Noah started first grade and seems to love it. He's reading like crazy and writes stories every day at school. Sophie is a K-4 this year and already building words like mat, cat, Sam, etc...She's very proud of her work!

Paul started back at school and while busy, seems to be enjoying school so far. Stella can be a bit of a challenge at times (what with all the crying and all) so I wonder if Paul secretly enjoys heading off each morning. I'm off until late January and doing well with it most of the time. Of course, our nanny is here each day to help and let me sneak out for yoga or a run so it is a nice situation.

I'm going to make a commitment to get SOMETHING up here each day. It may just be a picture, but as someone pointed out, this is a great memory for our family and I want to add to it! So, check back. And she's up. Fool proof, I tell you!