Louis & Nola

As I've said before, bringing home a 2nd baby rocked Louis' world along with mine.  I'll never be able to give Louis the attention he had before Nola.  And I'll never be able to give Nola as much as Louis had before her.  I think there are lots of factors that determine how another kid will change things.   Age difference, gender, etc. will all make a different experience.  When I feel bad about the attention thing, I remind myself of the great things siblings provided me and how great it is to have a brother as an adult.  

Things have been getting a lot better but just when I think I've got it all figured out, Louis does something naughty.  For example, we got him this mower since he likes to help daddy.  He was so excited about it so we got it out the next morning.  I explained it had to wait until later in the day and then left him alone to go up and change Nola.  I came back down to find the bubbles completely empty.  He had poured ALL of them into the mower on the rug.  I have to give him credit because he got most of them in the mower.  I didn't know he could get a bottle of bubbles open yet.   

He has figured out all kinds of things with the alone time he gets during diaper changes, etc.  He learned how to text message people.  He even knew he sent a pic to someone.  This lead me to put a code on my phone but then I caught him making an emergency call.  The number wasn't good but it started with 9 and 1.  Gone are the days when I could go upstairs without worry.

He watches a lot more TV now which makes me feel like a terrible parent.  We had been making a calendar each month to learn something new but May is almost over and we never worked on it.  Look at the joy TV brings him.  Ugh.

The good news is Louis has decided he likes Nola now.  In these newborn pics, we bribed him with ice cream just to sit by her. 

But now he likes helping as a big brother.  He might have to be told over and over again not to squeeze the bottle.  

And not to poke her eyes, stick his fingers in her mouth or head butt her.  

He insists on attention.  Nola is rolling over in this pic but Louis rolls over too to remind me he knows how!

But he likes it when she wakes him up from his naps.

He helps us put her toys together. 

And he asks to hold and kiss her.

When he starts acting up there are a few things I have to do.  Getting outside for a walk helps but this is easier said than done with nursing and diaper changes.  We try to go to the park most days but the main thing I've realized is I have to make one-on-one time for Louis.   This has made me super paranoid that Nola will get a flat head from lying down too much.  I've gotta have something to worry about, right?

Having two kids has brought some feelings of guilt, a messier house and more laundry.  It also gives me a feeling of being complete and joy in watching Louis learn how to be a big brother, share attention and forces me to play trains sometimes.  I look forward to Nola having a brother to look up to just as I did and to see them play (and I'm sure fight) together soon.

May Update

May is a fun month for us because Joe and I both have birthdays & Mother's Day happens.  Louis knows birthdays mean cake so he really loves celebrating!  Since I turned 30, I really have no idea how old I am anymore.  We don't do huge celebrations on our birthdays but this year we managed small celebrations at home and then a dinner date for the two of us.  It was so nice to get away from the kids but I still don't feel like the old me.

I can't eat dairy while nursing Nola, so these are vegan deserts.  They were delicious!  Best ones I've ever had & I really didn't believe they were vegan.

Best gift was getting to have a glass of wine in the backyard while Louis napped and Nola got a bottle. My friend Molly stopped by too!

The Brookside Art Annual was this month too so we decided to walk the mile to Brookside with our kids in the baby carriers.  I'm VERY out of shape so by the time we got there I wasn't sure if my legs would keep working.

We finally made it for coffee with our friends the Runquists.  Their little guy Landon is getting so big and walking now!

I also threw back a beer which I must say was delicious!

We were going to catch the bus on the way home but missed it.  It's called "The Max" but Louis drops "the" and leaves it at "Max".  I'm pretty sure he thinks it talks like McQueen.

My nephew, Zerano, had a soccer tournament in KC so we were able to see him for a short visit.  Luckily I made it to the 7 am game in time to see his goal!

We also took our first big road trip to Omaha for my nephew, Jonah's, high school graduation.  Louis loved the pool at the hotel and we took my niece, Aysha, to the zoo.  Man, I forgot how great that zoo is.  Nola did ok in the car.  We had to stop once for her but she really cries when she wants to eat and can't get out of her seat.  I'm not sure how our upcoming trip to Wisconsin will go.  I'm sure it will take much longer than expected.

Nola loved the aquarium exhibit.  I took most of our pictures in here.  I was too hot outside. 

Louis immediately asked where Dory was when he saw the jellyfish.  

And at the end he FINALLY found Nemo & Dory.  He was so excited about it!

Getting some shade with Nola before lunch.

My brother has a little boat so we met at a campsite.  This kid loves dirt and rocks.

Here is Louis playing in the hotel.  The first night I was frantically searching for signs of bed bugs.  I need one of those lights.  Joe was so annoyed.

Here we are with Jonah.  I can't believe he is all grown up!  Louis told me he has to go back to Jonah's because he had lots of chips there.

Mother's Day was great because Joe let me leave and get a mani/pedi ALL ALONE.

Nola is getting so big!  She will be 10 weeks Friday and is getting too big for some of her 3 month outfits.  We are having lots of fun as she is getting more interactive.  She really smiles a lot but the only pics I can get are of her serious face.

Louis is getting super tall.  He stays about the same weight so he is tall & skinny.

I'll leave you with a pic of my dad when he visited in April.

Single Parent

This year my husband has been traveling more than ever for work.  I really don't like being a single parent during these days.  I shouldn't complain.  Both of our parents help me out and he is never gone for more than a few days.  I really gain more & more respect for the real single parents I know during these times.

I always have these grand plans in my mind of how my days will go.  Like on Joe's birthday last week I had this vision.  There would be gifts wrapped when he walked into our spotless house.  His requested dinner and dessert would be ready at candle light and Louis would yell, "Ta Da!".  Well, the house was a mess, I was still in pj's scrambling to finish dinner and then he had to wait while I wrapped gifts after our meal.  I'm an AMAZING house wife.  Every man's dream.  

So Tuesday was Louis' "school" day and my plan was to clean and go to the store.  I dusted one room and did not make it to the store.  It's really not my fault.  I blame Nola.  (Oh, and my bum back that I hurt running around last time Joe was gone.)  In an act of desperation due to an empty pantry, I e-mailed Joe's always on time dad for some help.  I told him I'd be there around 9:30-10am Wednesday.  Well, when 10:05 rolled around I thought I better call to tell him I was just leaving.

I have this new look I've mastered since I stay home now.  I shower about every other day and only have time to dry my hair.  So if it's not pulled back it's down & frizzy.  Then I do this terrible 5 minute make-up job & throw yoga pants on.  

When I walk out the door I feel like this:

But I look more like this:

I decided to go to the new Hy-Vee with my very long grocery list.  Bad idea.  I don't know my way around this store and about half way through my shopping Nola starts crying.  This flusters me and I end up buying some expensive items.  I can't do math on my own and a crying baby makes it worse.  I get out of the store and Nola screams all the way back to Papa's.  Things were going ok when I made it home but I had to call my mom for help after dinner.  My back is so bad I can barely bend over so I had to admit defeat one more time.

So that's how my days go when I'm lucky.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for this stay-at-home thing.  I'm pretty sure I lost my mind the minute I got pregnant with Louis.  So I think I'll have a glass of wine tonight in honor of the single parents out there that probably have it more together than I do.  And if you see a crazy lady running around KC, it's probably me.  I will leave you will lots of Easter pictures that make it look like I'm a perfect mom.

Still not sure about the bunny at our neighborhood hunt but look how much Louis has grown!

He told us he found "all of the eggs!".

Nola says it's time to go!

Checking out his treasure!

Making our eggs for the real bunny to hide.

Seeing the basket the bunny left for him!

Hunting for eggs Easter morning.

Daddy and Nola.

Getting fancy!

Playing with cousins.

Fixing things like daddy and papa!

She does not appreciate being my dolly.