Anna's 2nd week....and of course brother Eli!

To start off the post, Eli has some news to share!:

Yes, our big boy is initiating his own potty training & is excited about it!!

This post I will post some about Eli, some about Anna, & some cute pics of the two of them together! Enjoy!

We set up our sprinkler in the back yard for Mr. Man & he loved it! We hope to get a fun attachment for future summer water time:

I didn't post this before, but the day before Anna was born, Eli came down with a strange rash. It came & went for about a week, & then with the help of a steroid & benedryl, it vanished!! Not sure if we'll ever really know what caused it, but thankfully it is gone!:

Eli LOVES to swim. Grandma & Grandpa Clarkson have a pool so on Memorial Day, Eli had a blast!!:

Anna will be 3 weeks on Tuesday!! She is growing like crazy & out of newborn, on to 0-3, & some 0-3 are too short for her! Not sure how long she is now, but definitely more than 21 inches as she was at birth. Oh, and the pediatrician's scale was wrong at her 1 week...she did NOT gain 1.5 lbs. since discharge. I weighed her again at lactation group at the hospital using a hospital scale & on Monday she weighed 9 lbs. 2.4 oz. So, she is gaining well, just not 1.5 lbs. in 5 days :) Anna is having more awake time these days & while she still sleeps A LOT, she is awake for a good 30 minutes or so several times a day. She does have some gas issues & can be particular during these wake times...as if to say, "what do I do now??"! Recently discovered she likes to face outward and look around & loves to be outside. Often during wake times she'll decide she doesn't want to be awake anymore & will fuss until she goes back to sleep. Silly girl.

Anna sleeps in my room, but we like to use her crib for some naps & to look at her mobile & toys. Here are some pictures of her doing just that:

She likes to look at these little guys due to their patterns & colors. She even reaches out & knocks them over!:

Anna is a side sleeper. She'll sleep on her back, but almost always rolls herself over to her side. Found out yesterday she also likes her tummy, which yes, is a no no, but for naps (usually just one of the naps) when I check on her constantly it is okay. She slept yesterday on her tummy for about 2 hours straight!! Usually she'll wake or fuss a little during naps, but yesterday she was out the entire time!! Eli hated his tummy so this is good if she keeps it up for her future tummy time!!:

Changing table is a favorite place...just like it was for Eli!:

My friend Cheryl finished the paper wreath she made as a gift to Anna. Isn't it gorgeous??:

Anna trying out her swing...not a favorite yet:

Now for Anna & Eli. Eli is doing better with Miss Anna. He loves to hold her & gets excited when he does & all the noises, faces, & occasional smiles she makes. He likes to say "She (smiled, looked, etc.) at me!" He has to be reminded often to be gentle, but has really done well with this. This was our first week home alone from 12-9pm (when Eric works) so we've have a couple of challenges. The first being mommy trying to figure out Anna's needs/preferences & also continuing to meet Eli's! Anna likes to be held (of course) & doesn't always enjoy being laid down. Other times she'll sleep through anything & I can wear her, lay her in her crib, swing, vibrate chair, etc. But of course, some days this week she has chosen to NOT want to be set down or in her wrap during times that I need her to such as when I need to make lunch, give Eli a bath, etc. So, one handed tasks have been completed by me numerous times this week. The 2nd challenge is bed time. A couple of nights have gone great & Anna has agreed to nap in her crib while I put Eli down for bed. Other nights, she says "Uh uh, I don't think so mama!! I am doing bedtime with Eli, too!". So, I've had to hold/nurse her while I sing to Eli & hold his hand in his bed. Oh the life of mothering two!! Overall it's been good, though, even though I will admit I've had a few tears shed over feeling guilty towards one or the other & how I can't split myself in half!! Time will make all better, though, & we are happy with our family of four :)

Here are some pictures of our 2 kiddos:

One day this week we did a picnic outside in our back yard. Since Anna pretty much passes out when outside, I try to put her in my wrap & head out when it's not too hot. Eli enjoyed the picnic & so did Anna:

Here is Anna in her wrap. She is hit or miss as to whether she likes the wrap or not. She will go in okay, fall asleep, & often wakes up screaming, as if she doesn't like the fabric or doesn't know where she is or something. Trying to wear her in it 1-2 times a day to get her more accustomed. Also considering a sling & eventually our Baby Bjorn. It's so much easier to hold her in one of these so I can actually make lunch, give Eli a bath, clean up, etc. Sometimes she can be set down okay, other times she won't have it, so with 2 kiddos, a carrier of some kind is essential!!:


My next blogging goal is Anna's birth story. I keep written journals for both Eli & Anna & have documented their birth stories there, but never blogged Eli's. I hope to blog Anna's soon, but at least I know I have it documented in her journal. But, some of you may be interested in reading it, so hopefully I can get to it!! I think my blogging will primarily occur on the weekends when Eric is home...much easier.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend & thanks for checking in!!