Six Weeks

We're six weeks into being a family of four.
Julia is getting a tiny bit of control over her body. She's figuring out smiles, can use her hands to shield her nose from being suctioned out, has also learned how to take evasive action with her neck so as to further protect her poor nose (she's had a cold for a week and a half), and is beginning to grab things consciously (even if she has to wait until they just happen to settle into her hands).

 Rudy is growing up in warp speed. He started dressing himself this week. (He's never been interested in that before.) So far, he's mastered shoes and pants. Shirts are still a bit of a challenge. ;) He's full of wise little moments and silly one liners. He's very interested in learning letters and their sounds. Literacy, here we come! Rudy's picking up on all sorts of baby care skills. He knows if a baby is fussing, you should pick her up and walk with her or rock in place. He's offered to do so a few times. So sweet! He's experimenting with insults. His repertoire so far- "I won't talk to you/Don't talk to me, I won't play with you, I won't love you anymore." Kind of more like threats, but I think he means them as insults. We're working on using nice words, and on reassuring Rudy that no matter what insult he flings, he'll always be loved. :)

 Jason is one final away from completing yet another semester of school. Only two more to go, and we're done! He's a rockin' daddy of two. Not afraid to take the kids on a walk to the park by himself, a willing partner in Julia's somewhat high maintenance night care, an understanding Daddy to a three year old who just needs to be loud and rough and crazy for a while, and a loving husband to a somewhat exhausted and frazzled wife who sometimes asks him to fetch her 10 different things before remembering that he's as exhausted and frazzled as she is.

 I'm finally getting the hang of being mommy to two. I can finally parent both kids at the same time without almost having an aneurysm or sending myself on a giant guilt trip that one child or the other has to wait to get a need met. Sometimes I still take mini guilt trips, but it's getting better. I'm down to serving cold cereal only once a day...still reaching for the once a week pattern we were at before, but hey, it's progress. I'm reawakening my core muscles, and trying to be patient as they groggily respond to my workouts. I'm trying not to think about ever doing pregnancy/infant care again. It makes this stage easier to handle if I tell myself I just have to get through one week at a time, and never have to look back. Maybe there are more kids in our future, but for now, I'm just not going to think about it. :)

Julia's been struggling with some reflux issues that have made her care a little more high maintenance than I remember Rudy's being. We've finally got her on some meds, so here's hoping the fussing will diminish and I can see some more of those smiles she's been working on.

Sigh. What a ride. What a wild and crazy ride. We're all hanging on, though, ready for what ever loop-de-loops, sharp turns, or stomach dropping plunges lay ahead. We can handle it, 'cause we're holding on to each other, and now the Splendiferous Drummonds are one person stronger. Welcome to the family, Juila. We're glad you're here!

All these awesome pics come courtesy of my rockin' sister in law, Keala Jarvis. Check out more of her work and get her contact info here. :)