Browsing Tag

adjusting to life with 2 kids

Daily Life

Realizing how alike my kids are

Play time with the girls

When I got pregnant with Isabelle, everyone told me how siblings are so different from each other. It made me a little sad because I love Katie so much, how could I love her opposite? But also, I thought, maybe I wouldn’t mind a quiet baby who thumbs through books independently while I’m cooking dinner and doesn’t stomp through the living room like Godzilla (not pointing any fingers…)

I love Katie so much, how could I love her opposite?

In some ways, Isabelle is different. She likes to be held more, she sleeps when she’s tired no matter where she is, and she’s also a lot smaller so she can’t get into nearly as much stuff as K could at this age. (Throwback to the time K got into a reed diffuser and I had to call poison control.) But the similarities end there. Every day, Isabelle gets a little louder, a little more daring, and tries just a little harder to keep up with Katie.

Every day, Isabelle gets a little louder, a little more daring, and tries just a little harder to keep up with Katie.

Today she did her first “hike” on her own 2 feet. We took her on the quarter mile trail to see how she would do. (And see how much patience Mom had trying to keep her on the trail the whole time…) She thought she was the coolest! She loved chasing lizards and running after Katie, and of course trying to hang upside-down like Katie… (Any guesses on how old I’ll be before my first heart attack?…) Watching the girls have fun together was such a joy and I can’t wait until Isabelle is old enough to listen better and can all go on longer hikes. I’m so lucky to have 2 little ladies who love adventure as much as I do.

Daily Life

Bringing in the New Year

Our 2017 in pictures ? ! (Starting May 7th because there just wasn’t enough space for everything!) The first pic was the night before I had Belles. After a difficult pregnancy, I was so grateful to have made it to 39 weeks but was also nervous about having a scheduled c section after having K naturally. It obviously wasn’t my first choice but I was more scared about delivering breech and the possible complications.
The c section went pretty smoothly but as expected, recovery was rough. K was excited but skeptical about the new tiny addition to our family. The first few months were a difficult adjustment for everyone, including me as I recovered from the surgery and started learning to split my love and attention between 2 kids.
Surprisingly, by 2 months I was hiking again and I had a new hiking partner. K became really interested in hiking this year and it was a great opportunity for us to start doing things alone together while Jason and Isabelle got a chance to bond too. K even joined me in the Color Run this year and did her longest hike at 5 miles in Eaton Canyon.
On Thanksgiving, I did my first official 10k as well. I can’t wait to see what amazing hikes and runs 2018 will bring for the 2 of us ?. Because Isabelle was breech, we also spent 2017 treating her hip dysplasia. She spent 14 weeks in a pavlik harness and in the next couple months, we will find out if the treatment was successful or if she will need a body cast. We are remaining optimistic!
K also started dance this year in September right before turning 2.5. She spent the first 5 weeks sliding around on the floor before agreeing to participate ?. It was kind of stressful for me as I debated if I was forcing it despite her always saying she wanted to be there. I was so relieved when she started joining in and enjoying herself and I love watching her progress.
Isabelle began swim lessons around 4 months. She has learned to close her eyes and mouth before being submerged… but other than that, she spends a lot of her pool time relaxing with her thumb in her mouth . At least she’s enjoying herself!
Lastly, Jason and I had an amazing but also difficult year as a couple. The arrival of a new baby is a big adjustment and comes with a lot of sacrifice. Sleep, alone time, a good chunk of your sanity… ? It’s not easy to stay on the same team when you’re running on fumes. But in the long run, it has only made our relationship stronger. (I’m pretty sure if your relationship can survive the breast milk being left out overnight and having to be thrown away, it can survive anything ?.)
I am in tears reflecting on how truly blessed we are and am beyond excited to see what 2018 will bring for all of us.