Good Bye February!

I did it! I worked 30 hours for 1 month with a newborn who doesn't yet sleep through the night. I wasn't sure I could do it at times. My patience was definitely tested and some days were a total blur. I'm thankful God gave me the strength and energy when I needed it most. I'm also thankful that I have a great husband and partner who loves taking care of Karis.

My days off have been busy trying to get household chores done. No matter how much I get done in a day, I feel like there's so much more to do! As you can see in the picture, I took Karis with me to get the laundry today. I could have left her in the apartment, but it was such a nice day and she loves being outside. She seemed pretty content on top of the pile of clothes.

Starting next week I'll only be working 20 hours a week. Piece of cake! =) Karis has been sleeping more at night the past several days. I've been getting a stretch of 4-5 hours of sleep a night and that has made a huge difference!

Karis continues to bless us with lots of smiles each day. She loves to watch us talk to her and tries to do the same back. She is quickly outgrowing lots of her clothes and will soon move up one size bigger. We are continually thankful for our beautiful, healthy baby girl who brings us so much joy, love and laughter.

Karis & Grandpa

My dad came out to meet Karis. It was great spending time with him and watching him get to know Karis. He headed back out to Maryland this morning. I miss him already!

Blessed By Friends

Derek and I typically don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. We agreed that it feels a little forced and way too Hallmark-y. We typically find ways to serve others on that day. This year was different. Our friends around us know how crazy life has gotten since we became a family of three, and moreso in the month of February.

In the beginning of February, I went back to work part-time. I am working 30 hours a week this month. It wouldn’t be so bad if I was getting more than 2 hours of sleep at a time! I’ve been doing three 10-hour days. Any day without at least one 20-minute nap is pretty tough! 

Since we couldn’t find daycare for Karis this month, Derek and my sister have been watching her while I'm at work. Derek has been working four long work days so that he can get an extra day off.  He watches Karis two days a week while my sister from LA comes to watch her the third day.  

Derek also started his seminary class. His classes go well into the evening on Tuesdays and it’s crazy how many assignments, tests/quizzes, and papers are required of him.

All that said, it was such a blessing when our friends offered to watch Karis so we could go out. How could we say no? On Friday night, we went out for late night appetizers and desserts. We got a chance to spend some uninterrupted time together and talk about more than just “How was your day?” and “Quick, get me a burp cloth. She spit up.” On Saturday, another couple watched Karis while we went to see a movie and grabbed lunch. It was great! Thank you friends! We appreciate you! 

What I "need" doesn't equal what is best for me

I have spent a full three days caring for Karis. One of the truths from the Bible that has become much clearer to me in a very short time (three 12-hour periods versus three 12-year periods... plus a little more) is the idea that "Father knows best." Now before you start thinking that this is about me being right, hold on. Oftentimes we desire things but we don't get them. We question why God would not allow us to have them. Well, He knows what is best for us... and when it is best for us.

I'm feeding Karis a bottle of breast milk. She gulps it down in less than 2 minutes if left to her. That usually leaves her with a stomach ache, a lot of spit up, and her overeating. I try and slow down the process by giving her breaks where I burp her. She does not like taking a break. She will immediately cry with quite an impressive pouty face. She typically burps within one minute and then I immediately return to feeding her. Granted I have not fed her thousands of bottles, or even hundreds yet, but there is a good pattern of me returning to feed her after she burps. But she still cries each time I take away the bottle. She does not realize that she feels better later because she drank slower or because she burped frequently.

You see where I'm going with this? I don't get a baby that walks and talks at birth because I couldn't handle that. I don't need a position at work with additional responsibilities that will pay more because it will consume more time... time that I'm not managing well as it is. I don't need the newest and fastest laptop because I'm not tapped out on the speed or abilities of my existing laptop. I don't need to know more details about so and so's life because I cannot stop processing the info I already have.

Some things we just don't need. We might want them very badly, but maybe we don't realize how bad they'd be for us (or others). Maybe that's why I still have my 1998 original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). I don't need to spend time or money on the newest, greatest video games. =) Although hanging out with the guys doing drugs and driving sports cars while drunk may seem thrilling, they just aren't the type of friends we really need. And then some things we just don't need right now. We might have to mature a bit with our anger before being a black belt in martial arts. Maybe we need to work on some past hurts before we meet our future wife.

God knows best. It may not be the best timing for us. Or it just might not be good period. He does not withhold to punish us but rather to protect us. Maybe Karis will realize this when she's older and we advise her differently from her thinking to help her avoid making a mistake. But, she'll probably just think we are mean parents.

2-Month Old

It’s been fun watching Karis grow and getting to know this little person God has entrusted us with. I spend countless hours just watching her, staring at her while she’s sleeping, and dreaming of what she might be like when she grows up. Here is an idea of what she is like now and what I'm enjoying the most:

Can’t get enough of:

• Her sleeping on my shoulder after she’s eaten in the middle of the night. That’s when I get most of my hugs and kisses from her. She’s so cuddly and soft – I can’t get enough!
• She gives away a lot of smiles, but the best one is the first one I receive when I get home after working a 10 hour day
• Watching her lock eyes on a mobile (a new skill for her at this age)
• Watching Derek talk and interact with her.
• Watching her kick her legs to get all the gas and poop out of her (okay, maybe only a mother can find the cuteness in this!)
  

Take it or leave it:

• She hates being constrained – whether it’s being swaddled or in a car seat. Most newborns enjoy being tightly wrapped in a blanket or being all snug, giving them the sense that they're safe in the womb. Not our little girl. She’ll fight tooth and nail to get out.
• She is packing on the weight! At 2 monts old, she is in the 75% percentile for height and 90% percentile for weight. Her cheeks and thighs are growing fast!
  

This too shall pass:

• She fights taking naps. She’s so curious about her surroundings and probably feels like the whole world will pass her by if she shuts her eyes. When she finally does, we’re lucky if her naps last 45-60 minutes. Most of the time she’ll take quick 10-20 minute cat naps.
• She started skipping 1 or 2 feedings at night and I thought we had turned a corner.. unfortunately that only lasted 4 days and we’re back to waking up every three hours for feedings.
• She can’t seem to keep her milk down. We can often hear it coming back up, sometimes up to 3 hours after her last feeding. It sounds like she’s drowning. We have to keep her upright for at least 10 minutes after she eats. It’s not a big deal during the day, but it’s a little harder when I’m half asleep at 1 am and at 4 am.
• She seems to have a very sensitive stomach and therefore I am very limited as to what I can eat. I can’t wait until her digestive system matures and I can eat dairy and citrus foods again.

I've been warned countless times about how fast kids grow up. I'm trying to enjoy each day and appreciate the stage that Karis is in now -- sleepless nights and all!

Lena

In the midst of blatant crying from newborns, there is something special in the more subtle communications....

And for the record, her mother was taking these photos... but Karis still could have been communicating to me.

Karis' Superbowl cheer

Click to Play

Karis' pick for Superbowl...

Yes, that's a Steelers outfit. And if I could get blogger or google to upload .avi files like they should be able to... you'd be seeing a great video.

It's been too long...

I have been saving up content... I have plenty of it. But because I'm off to a men's retreat this weekend, I leave you with a few photos.





P.S. Go Steelers!

Patty Emo's visit

Lena's sister flew out from Pennsylvania to visit all of her nieces and nephews (but really to meet Karis and support Lena). The details of what we did are kind of fuzzy now, but...

• she took care of Karis so we could have a break (and get Lena on the motorcycle for the first time since Karis was born)
  
• she helped us find ways to put her to sleep, and
• she went for a walk with us all on the trail by our house