2 months old!

Gianna celebrated her two-month birthday with three wardrobe changes, nine diaper changes, three smiles and several spit-ups. A few stats on Little G:

* Gianna is developing so quickly. She has great neck control and looks from side to side with just her eyes as well as with her whole head. She opens and closes her hands, especially grasping my hair. She bats her hands and waves her arms. She is always kicking.

(Notice the wink at :03 and the near flash at :10.)

* Today, Gianna graduated to a size 1 diaper. Her chunky legs and tummy were causing (what 30 Rock's Liz Lemon calls) Spanx elastic line infections.

* For the past week, Gianna has slept 6 and 7 hour stretches at night. Awesome! She goes down at about 8:30 or 9 pm and hungrily wakes at 3 or 4 am. She then sleeps for 3-4 more hours. I feel like a lucky mama at night, but tied to my nursing pillow all day. She is super hungry every 2 hours all day long.

* She is very slowly losing her hair. She has a fivehead and side curls like a Hasidic Jew. I wonder, however, if the hair on her shoulders and on her low (LOW!) back will disappear. Her new hair appears a little lighter than her OG hair.

* Her stomach problems persist. She cries and cries and cries, obviously in a lot of tummy discomfort. Her arms and legs flail around. It's painful to watch, but almost exactly the same as what we endured with Enzo. And for the past few weeks, she spits up with increasing frequency and velocity. The Zantac anti-acid prescription isn't doing a thing, nor is the gripe water and Mylicon. Today began my diet restrictions - no dairy or eggs. I'm giving it two weeks. I really hope it makes a difference.

* These two get along great. Enzo has started saying "Hiiieeeyyyyy" in a soft high-pitched whisper. Just like me. He sits on the couch or floor and after getting in position says "Sissssy" with his arms out. This means he wants to hold her. She isn't phased by his rough clumsiness.

* Her smile muscles are getting a workout lately. It's a lot of fun watching her experiment with her new skill: the sideways smirk, the toothless gape, the lopsided silent laugh.

* Little G loves the bath. And looking at the baby who lives in the mirror.

* We had to start a new plastic bin for clothes she's already outgrown. The size "newborn" is a no-go at this point. Throw em in the bin. Baby G is wearing size 0-3 month and the ambiguous 3 month clothing. Does that mean 0-3 or 3-6?? I never know. It's a mystery. She seems to have doubled in weight and seems so loooong all of a sudden.

We love you, our sweet little girl!

Memorial Day fun

We had a wonderful Memorial Day celebration at my mom's house. With 84 degree weather, a bbq, and swimming pool -- it feels like summer! Check out the mini lawn chair with attached umbrella!

Cousins Kayden and Enzo sharing toys.

Having fun with balloon rockets.

Enzo's first run through the sprinklers. And he likey.

Big shoes to fill

Cute randoms

Enzo loves looking down upon the neighbors -- checking out what they're up to. This is the farthest-most corner of our yard.

"Want some Go-gurt Baby G?!"

With the folded laundry behind him, Enzo looks like a hungry little bunny.

Tummy time for Gianna! She just might have her brother's eye lashes. And freakish upper-body strength.

Enzo discovers iPod earbuds. And the fact that music comes out!

We taught Enzo how to take pictures with the REAL camera. This was his first self-portrait.

...and his first picture of Dad.

Gianna co-sleeping one lazy Saturday morning.


Springtime is here! Not sure why it's so blurry. (Maybe Springtime is time for a new camera.)

Enzo in his Grandmother's beautiful garden.

Dad and Enzo test out the new kid-pack. And take it on an urban hike around the neighborhood.

Happy birthday, little boy!

I can hardly believe that my little boy is two! I'm not gonna lie -- the first year of his life was pretty long, but the past year really has flown by.

*Enzo walks, runs, climbs, bounces, walks backward, rolls, kicks, and dances. A lot.
*He says a lot - always babbling on about something. He actually says about 25 English words (up, down, light, more, please, thanks, cracker, cookie, cheese, mama, dada, sissy, ball, car, out, clock, juice, yogurt). And he knows about 7 signs in American Sign Language (more, all done, please). He mimicks lots of sounds from airplanes to lawn mowers to dogs and cats.
*Enzo is super loving. Although he is still quite shy around other kids, he will always give them a hug goodbye. And a kiss if you're lucky.
*He loves reading. He could have a million toys in front of him, and he'll choose a book. Among his favorites are "Goodnight, Hawaii," "Are you my mother?," "Nobunny's perfect," and "You're all my favorites."
*He gets frustrated easily. If he can't fit a puzzle piece in it's spot, he'll throw it and walk away. Then I'll notice him returning to this puzzle after he cools off to try again. It's the cutest thing.
*On the occasion of bad boy behavior, he sits in time-out (in the corner next to the front door). Or the corner of the floor in the Costco Tire Center. Whatevs. The other day, I warned him with the threat of timeout, and I found him sitting there five minutes later. How obedient.
*He loves his little sister. Loves holding her (only for a few seconds before he's "all done.") He kisses her lots each day and likes rocking her in the swing. The first thing out of his mouth in the morning when I get him from his crib alone is "Sissy?"
*He is a great sleeper. Goes to bed between 7:30 and 8 pm and wakes between 7:30 and 8:30 am. He also is holding on to his afternoon nap. Usually two hours, and sometimes three!
*He likes washing his hands. And cleaning up spills with a towel. Heh.
*His lovies have evolved. First it was Caterpillar Buddy. (I, II, and III). Then it was Foxie and Mini Foxie. Now it's Hedgie and Mini Hedgie. (Not sure what we'll do if he keeps biting the noses off these creatures.)
*He loves taking pictures. He stops, poses, smiles and freezes. It's the funniest thing!
*Enzo loves rolling people. As soon as you lay down on the floor, he'll start groaning in an exaggerated fashion as he tries to steamroll you.
*Some of Enzo's favorite foods are yogurt, cheese, hummus, crackers, eggs, raisins, dried fruit, vegetable juice, ranch dressing, chicken nuggets and edimame. He's fairly vegetarian. And not a fan of milk. Or pizza. Or hamburgers. What?!?

Happy birthday, sweet Enzo. You have made us very happy and very proud. We love you!


The Jesmer cousins.

...and the silly shot...

Sidewalk chalk!!

Me, Mother of Two

Well, the Mothers' Day photo shoot didn't go as planned, but hey, it's a metaphor for motherhood. Despite your best-laid plans, at least one child doesn't cooperate.

Mother and daughter. I still can't believe I have one.

My mom and sisters had our annual Mothers' Day theater excursion. This time to Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont to see Thoroughly Modern Millie. And, yeah, I have balls of steel. I brought a baby to see some musical theater. And I only spent a quarter of the show nursing, rocking, changing diapers or otherwise consoling Gianna outside. How my life has changed. I instantly went from the girl who says "Who would bring a baby to the theater?!" to "Hey, I don't have enough milk saved up to put her on a bottle while I'm out gallivanting for 6 hours."

Happy Moms' Day, Ma. Thanks for teaching me through your example!

Discoveries

La Habra Children's Museum

Choo-choos!!

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

The aviary at the Long Beach Aquarium. And more shots taken during our last few trips.

1 month old

It's hard to believe that Gianna is a month old today.

*Gianna stills sleeps a lot - mostly during the day. She's still figuring out what is night and what is day.

*She nurses every two hours for about 30-40 minutes. Including at midnight, 2 and 4 am.

*When she's awake, her eyes are wide open and is very alert. She seems to carefully take everything in.

*She still seems so petite. She wears "newborn" size clothing and "newborn" size diapers.

*She makes direct eye contact, especially with me. She takes note when Enzo walks into the room.

*Gianna seems to have a bit of intestinal distress. She cries for 20-30 minutes several times per day and is only consoled when she fills her diaper or fragrences the air.

*She prefers for me to wear her in a sling, and I've been carrying her on me for a few weeks.

*She is experimenting a bit with pacifiers. A lady in the waiting room at my doctor told me to try the Soothie. Gianna has taken more to this one that any other we've tried.

We all have enjoyed getting to know this sweet baby. We love you, Little G!