Lydia is 2 months old

Lydia is starting to become more interested in the world around her. She smiles, even spontaneously, often. She does a lot of cooing and can bare some weight when she "stands" on our laps. She can hold her chest up briefly when on her tummy. And, though, she is still sleeping with me in the rocking chair, she usually is only up 1 or 2 times a night.

We have been concerned about her digestion since she was born. She spits up a lot and is very fussy in particular right after she eats. So far when we have voiced our concerns to her doctor, "Babies cry...babies spit up" has been her response. But Friday when I took her in and she only weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz., the doctor finally listened and gave her a prescription for something for indigestion. We're really hoping it helps.

Being the 2nd born is so unfair.

Lydia at 2 months old

first hair cut

before

during

after

"I will never..."

There were lots of things I said I would never do as a parent.

And then I became a parent.

There were still lots of things I said I would never do as a parent.

And then I became the parent of two babes in a year.

The primary example of this is Lydia and I have been sleeping together in the rocking chair. Yes, our baby sleeps with me. Once upon a time, I said my child can't get used to sleeping with me if I never let her. What I didn't think to consider was that my baby was used to sleeping with me long before I gave birth to her.

But with a getaway [from the kids] planned for May, we decided it's time to cut the umbilical cord. A little. Since I will never let my baby "cry it out", we are starting out with The No-Cry Sleep Solution approach by Elizabeth Pantley. For now, the goal is to just get Lydia taking naps outside of my arms. We will tackle nights later. Today is Day 2. Yesterday was awful. Today is going a little better.

We will see if I can hold to my sentiment against "cry it out" methods. I sure hope so.

Lydia at 6 weeks old

4 diapers in 10 minutes

This morning I changed 4 diapers in 10 minutes. I'll spare the details, but let's just say only one was Brett's and in the midst of Lydia's screaming, Brett found a dirty one to throw at his sister. Yesterday our morning started out around 6:30am. My goal was to get to the store. After two and a half hours, the kids were fed, I was caffeinated, we were all dressed, and out the door - both the kids on their second outfits for the day, as they had both puked on their first outfits. But between the pukes and poops, spills and screams, we are starting to have a few moments of sanity again. We are enjoying Lydia's first smiles and coos and Brett's discoveries and contagious laugh.

Here are a few holiday highlights:

rockin' around the Christmas treeplaying "manger" with cousins

all 11 cousins big smiles

all 4 cousins

kissing cousins

GREAT grandma!