Lila's Day

Lila's been a big sport about being inside and keeping to the house this summer. Between potty training, the heat, pregnancy and the baby, getting outside hasn't been top priority....especially in the last month. I braved a drive to Madison myself this past Wednesday, and yesterday, I was finally able to get out with Lila and do something fun. Clare stayed with Grammy, and Aunt Casey went with us! We headed to Bridgestreet and took Lila to her first movie...Winnie the Pooh. She was a little overwhelmed by the big screen and the loudness of a theater. Her one comment after we left was "Someone turned the lights off in there." She talked about Hinny the Pooh the rest of the day though ;). We also headed to lunch at Red Robin, and she got to change into her swimsuit and play in the fountains...which she loved. I so enjoyed getting to do something fun with her before another school year gets under way. I head back to work on Monday for 7 days before my maternity leave, but Lila's going ahead and starting her year at Sissy's. Where oh where did our summer go?!

Clare is one month!

Well, we have made it a month at the Cook house with two kiddos. Clare is a month old today and it has absolutely flown by (cliche I know, but the truth just the same). I won't lie -- I had a LOT of help this past month. My whole family was in town the first week she was here and my mom was with us for the next two weeks. It was nice and much needed.

A few things about Clare so far:

1. Went to the doctor today and she has gained 3 pounds from her going home weight of 6 lbs 10 oz. She weighed in at 9 lbs 10 oz this morning and was 21 1/2 inches (an inch and a half longer than her birth length).

2. She nurses SO much better than Lila -- I enjoy it and it is so much less time consuming than my experience with Lila. She's a good eater and never turns away a meal.

3. She sleeps really well. She eats between 9 and 10 at night and will sleep to between 2 and 4 in the morning, will nurse again, and then lay back down for another 3-5 hours. She then naps in the morning and early afternoon.

4. I think she's a touch colic. She tends to be very fussy between the hours of 4 and 8 at night. Makes the evening hours a bit more chaotic.

5. She LOVES to be swaddled ... it's her favorite thing. She sleeps that way and I'm convinced that's how we get those long stretches of sleep. She sits in her swing and bouncy seat swaddled ... and that's the only way she'll stay.

6. Has taken a pacifier from day one.

7. Is such a sweet baby. She loves to be cuddled and snug. Coziness is the name of her game.

I am quite lucky to be the mommy of another sweet and precious little baby girl. Trying to savor every minute with my little Clarebear.

Who's Who?

Can you tell??

Both girls, sleeping on their daddy when they're two weeks old in the same jammies.

Top is Lila, bottom is Clare.

I think they look like sisters, don't you?

Rainy Day Photo Shoot

Took advantage of a rainy morning to try and add to my photo collection of Clare. Poor thing has about half the pictures her sister did by this time. She's grown a bushel, and I can't believe we're a week away from her being a month old. Seriously?!And of course big sis couldn't miss out on the fun ... we're in the phase of fake cheesy smiles. Can you tell?

Two and a Hap

My big girl is two and a half (or "hap" as she likes to call it) today. Wowzers!

Some things about Lila these days:

1. She is pretty well potty-trained and doing really well with it. No real regression since Clare was born. She still wears a pull-up at naptime and during the night, but other than that, we're in big girl panties. She took to it pretty well and I was so thankful ... potty training when you're 9 months pregnant is no easy task! I'm glad she didn't make it harder than it had to be!

2. She can say her ABCs and her numbers up to around 16. The number she most frequently leaves out is 5. She's getting good with her one-to-one correspondance too.

3. She can write the letter L, O, and C. These are the letters she most frequently recognizes in text too....the L especially. It's her favorite letter.

4. She's gotten back into reading. All.the.time. And it's the same books over and over. She also developed a thing for flipping through magazines too.

5. She still enjoys watching movies and a little t.v. She's watched more t.v. than I care to admit to this summer.

6. She's incredibly helpful with Clare...Grabbing diapers and wipes, toys, checking on her when she's crying, etc. She hasn't been too jealous -- just the normal stuff.

7. She's not REAL great about going to bed. She sleeps great once she gets to sleep, but most nights it's a bit of a fight. We usually read one book, and then we sing songs...the same 5 every night in the same order. You are my Sunshine, Jesus Loves Me, the Barney song, London Bridge, and He's Sweet I Know. She doesn't forget the order .. ever.

8. She's not a great eater these days ... think she's just too busy to stop and eat. Her favorite thing is a "treat," or a fruit snack. She does love to drink milk, so that's good at least.

9. She's totally busy all of the time. She never slows down and she never stops talking.

10. She's got a shy side to her though ... especially in public. She's quick to hide behind your legs. Sometimes though she'll be in the mood and talk to anyone who's willing to listen. It's funny.

11. She's a sweet, sweet girl. She still can't say her "v" sound and I love to her say "I lub you!" She also can't say her hard "c" and it comes out as a "t" sound, i.e., Tasey for Casey or Took for Cook.

12. As sweet as she is, you don't want to see her throw a tantrum. She can have quite a bit of a temper.

13. She sleeps with her two bunnies and a blanket, as well as an assortment of teddy bears, a monkey, a couple of baby dolls and about half of her books.

I LOVE HER!
Happy Half Birthday, Bug! You're the best big sister around! :)

Sweet Sisters

A Big Thanks

Thank you so much to my mom. She has given up SEVERAL weeks of this summer to be down here with us ... before and after Clare's birth. I couldn't have made it without her.
Love you, Mama.

Haircut and a First Bath

Lila's hair was getting a bit on the raggedy side. She had this one hunk of hair in the back that was longer than the rest of her hair ... kind of looked like a rat tail. Not good. My mom's been here (thank goodness), so we all loaded up for Lila to get a haircut yesterday.

It's hard to tell but she did get a little bit cut off -- kind of looks like a bob and it looks much better! She was a champ and stood there so still and quiet. I was quite proud of her!

Miss Clare's umbilical cord fell off last night so we took advantage and plopped her in her first bath. Lila couldn't miss out and that made it more hectic ... think we'll try and distract Bug for Clare's bathtime in the future. Clare liked how it made her feel afterwards when she was all clean and warmed up in her pjs. She was so content and snoozed for most of the rest of the night. Look how big she's getting!

Clare's doing really well. She's eating great so far, and it makes our nights so nice. Thankful for such a sweet baby!

2 Weeks

A few days late, but here is Sweet Girl on Monday night at 2 weeks.

Doll.Face.

Sweetness

Date actually posted was Thursday, July 7

Airport Picnic & the Doctor

We headed to the doctor yesterday for Clare's one-week checkup. All looked great with her. She eats like a champ, and had gained weight back to her birthweight plus 6 more ounces. I was one proud mama!

After the doctor's appointment, Grammy and I promised Lila a picnic at the airport. We stopped by Zaxby's and headed over. Lila lasted about 5 more seconds on the blanket after we snapped this picture. The choo-choo came rumbling by and she got scared.

Clare slept through the ENTIRE doctor's appointment (weight check and all) and through the entire lunch. Such a good baby...

Date actually posted was Thursday, July 7.

My Girls

pure love.

One Week

Clare is one week old today!

Hope the coming weeks don't pass as quickly as this last one did ... hard to believe it's already been a week. Clare is a pretty easy going little lady. She's sleeping good and eating like a champ.

She's such a content little sweetheart, and I'm thoroughly enjoying snuggling with a little newborn again.
I'm trying to soak it all up ... don't want to miss a second!

p.s. Happy 4th!

Time at Home

Just a few pictures of Clare's first days at home ... from sister kisses, lots of sleeping, first baths, visitors, and plenty of love, it's been quite a whirlwind. :)

Lila's been pampered too...Josh made sure to get her out of the house for the city fireworks Friday night. From what I hear, she had a really good time!

And continuing with daddy/daughter time, those two are at the lake for today and tomorrow. I know they're having a blast celebrating the 4th!

Welcoming Clare

We are so thankful and excited that Clare has made it into this world. She has been a complete doll, and it's amazing how much she adds to our little family already. Lila has done so well with her, and will have the big sister thing down pat soon enough.

We decided to induce Monday morning, so we left the house rested and ready to start this journey!

After a pretty easy labor and delivery, we were so excited to see Clare Anne at 1:49!

She was greeted by lots of loving grandparents, one great-granny, and one doting aunt!

Lila was able to come to the hospital and visit -- we were so glad to see her! It was amazing how much we missed her.

By Wednesday we were ready to go home!!

And we were tickled pink (times 2!) to be greeted at the door by this munchkin!

Who welcomed Clare in her own way by giving her the bear that Lila had made for her just a couple of weeks ago.

It's been a pretty perfect week around here. We're so thankful to have two beautiful little girls!! Life is good :)