Florida Fun

We just got back from a fantastic week in Florida visiting Molly and Brian and meeting baby Lucy.  I hope this is the start of a yearly tradition.  Not only is Lucy perfect in every way, Molly was a rock star Mom (up and about and looking wonderful) and Brian was a very attentive and loving new Dad.  It was great to escape the frigid weather we have been having in Boulder and get the cousins together for their first meeting in sunny Florida.

Samantha was her usual kind and loving self, doting over baby Lucy and holding her hand.  She continues to be quite fascinated by breast feeding.  Since I haven't been nursing Carina for a few months, I haven't seen her feeding her baby Daisy.  But, once we were in Florida for a few days, she decided to revive the feeding herself as seen here.

Now, Carina was not nearly as interested in sharing attention with the new baby.  We learned for the first time that she is quite jealous of other adorable babies, especially where mom was concerned.  If she spotted me holding Lucy she would start crawling quickly towards me saying an angry "MA MA MA MA" until I picked her up and held her at the same time.  Soon of course they will be the best of buds but Carina needs to work on her cousin rivalry.

The only downside of the entire trip was a nasty fall Carina had at the aquarium where she literally did a flip and nose dive to the ground, skinning the tip of her nose.  This photo doesn't do justice to what it looks like now that it has bled and scabbed over but she picked an appropriate time of year to go as Rudolph.

Best of all, we only have a month to wait until we see Lucy again for her first visit to Colorado. To see all the photos from our trip, check out the photos here.

Lucy!



I am very proud to announce the arrival of my first niece, Lucy Sylvia Auld.  I am thrilled to be an Auntie!

Lucy arrived on December 3, 2011 and was 8lbs 6 ounces and 20 inches long.  From all reports I've gotten, she looks like an Auld, luckily they are a good looking family!

We leave on Saturday for a week in Florida so I can get my hands on that baby and the girls can meet their first official cousin. Look at those cheeks - I adore her already!

Quatrochi Dinner Club

The Champions!
Sara, Matt and Dave sharing oven time
November dinner club was last weekend at Nick and Danielle Quatrochi's house.  We went to high school with Nick and he was quite the tennis star back in the day.  His wife Danielle is an olympic, marathon runner and needless to say there is a fair amount of competitive spirit in their house.  That's why this month's dinner club was suited perfectly for them.

For a fun twist on the traditional dinner club, they organized a pizza making competition.  Teams were drawn, basic ingredients were provided and the teams were off.  We were told ahead of time that we could bring two additional "secret ingredients".
Spice up your life!

Every pizza was delicious and while I feel I was slighted tying for 3rd, I do agree the winner was the best.

Order the pizzas came in with the winner listed first:
  1. Mike and Megan: Delicious dessert pizza with peanut butter between two layers of crust and chocolate sauce drizzled on top - yum!
  2. Dave and Josh: First to eat pizza with pepperoni, green chilies and mushrooms and grilled to perfection.  
  3. Nick and Carly: Spice up your life pizza with red sauce, tomatoes, jalapenos, spicy sausage and siracha hot sauce.
  4. Max and Danielle: Very fancy white sauce pizza with sauteed mushrooms and truffle oil.
  5. Matt and Sara Y.: Not too sweet, and very unique BBQ chicken pizza.
  6. Carly and Sara K.: Overboard pizza with too many delightful ingredients including but not limited to: sausage, prosciutto, artichoke hearts, capers, sun dried tomatoes, figs and three types of cheese.  

Skinny Mini

We took Carina in for her 9 month check up and her stats are shown below.  I've been feeling guilty that she is in the 10th percentile for weight.  I've always loved a nice, chubby baby but as I've said here before, Carina can't sit still long enough to eat much and she's so active that I think she works it all off.  The doctor wasn't concerned about her weight and was once again impressed by how social she is.  


Height: 27 3/4 inches: 50th percentile
Weight: 16 lbs 9 ounces: 10th percentile
Head: 18 inches: 90th percentile 

Sammy's stats at 9 month check up were:
Height: 27.5 inches - 48th percentile
Weight: 18 lbs 9.5 ounces - 50th percentile
Head Circ: 18 inches - 90th percentile



Samantha was almost two pounds heavier! But, look at my smart ladies with giant heads! 

Professional Travelers

Cousins Presley, Sammy and Lola
We just got home from a wonderful visit with my extended family in Oklahoma and Texas.  We planned our trip so we could be there for to celebrate my Aunt Gina's 50th birthday. 

We had such a fun visit and the girls were exceptional travelers during our plane and car trips.  Samantha had a ball playing non-stop with all of her cousins and Carina won everyone over with her smiles and personality. 

Next stop is Florida in about a month as we are on the two week count down to Baby Auld's arrival!

Nursemaid Elbow

When Samantha was about 5 months old, she had the hiccups and my mom was lightly pulling her arms above her head when she heard a pop.  Samantha was immediately in pain and crying and after we took her to to the ER and to see her pediatrician we found out that she had nursemaid elbow.

Nursemaid's elbow or Pulled elbow is a dislocation of the elbow joint caused by a sudden pull on the extended pronated arm, such as by an adult tugging on an uncooperative child, or swinging the child by the arms during play. The technical term for the injury is radial head subluxation.

It is awful to watch your baby in terrible pain and while it is fairly easy to get popped back in by a doctor, we were warned that some children are more prone to this happening and we could expect it to happen again.

Since then, it has happened three more times.  Once, as she was just learning to stand, she was holding on to Dave's leg and as she slipped, he pulled her arm up to keep her standing and popped it out.  As we were walking to the pool this summer, my dad and I were walking and tried to swing her one time and  it popped out.  And while we were in Oklahoma last week, my dad pulled her up from laying down and it popped out again.

Samantha is very serious, thoughtful, young girl.  For about a week after it happened this summer, when I went to get Samantha up in the morning, she would look at me very solemnly and the first thing she would say was "I'm sorry you hurt my elbow Mommy, I know that it was an accident."  Way to lay on the guilt child!

Last week when we arrived at the ER in Oklahoma at 9 pm, we were told it would be a 2-4 hour wait.  Luckily my cousin's boyfriend has a sister who is a doctor and was nice enough to come meet us and pop her elbow back in.  It is amazing to me that moments after it is fixed, it is 100% better.  I guess we need a lesson in how to do it ourselves - after doing some more reading online it looks like after the age of 6 we should be in the clear.

Sleep Training: Take Two

For the past five days, we have been doing some sleep training at our house with Carina, otherwise known as "cry it out".  I have been putting this off for awhile and feeling like it was harder this time around because Carina is my baby.  Luckily this trusty blog serves as my memory and after looking back, we did sleep training for Samantha at this exact same time in her life and it turns out it was hard on me then too. 

I started sleeping in the basement on Saturday but I could still hear her cries and went to her after about 5-10 minutes the first few nights.  The third night as I was going to her, she stopped crying and went back to sleep and last night she slept through the night.  I tell you, as painful as it is to let her cry, it totally works and it works quickly.  

Carina has also for the most part weaned me.  Unlike Samantha who I nursed until she was 14 months old, this little lady is too busy to be bothered with breastfeeding.  I still nurse her in the mornings (and was in the middle of the night feedings) when she is sleepy.  But, if she has energy she has no interest in taking the time to eat.  With my pumping schedule and travel I've been doing with work, I should be relieved but I'm still not quite ready.  I am coming to terms with the idea that Carina is my last baby and it really makes all the transitions sad to me.  I think I'll try to keep it up for one more month.   

Mollina?

From the time Carina was born, my mom has been calling her Davina because of her striking resemblance to her Daddy.  When he is holding her, it is clear that she is his, especially when they are both smiling and you can take in their matching, adorable dimples.  But, it wasn't until my mother in law was digging up pictures of Molly for her baby shower that we saw how similar Carina looks to her Tia Molly.  You be the judge.

Adoration

Aunt Patty came to town this weekend and brought Samantha's favorite cousin, Riley, with her. Riley is a year older than Samantha and Sammy just adores her.  On Friday night Samantha had her first sleepover when Riley spent the night at our house.  We could hear them talking away until they finally fell asleep and then they were back chatting to each other early the next morning.  We went to Anderson Farms where they rode on ponies, ran through mazes, fed goats, looked at animals and rode a train. They had the best time together. Sadly, Riley had to go home yesterday and when Samantha woke up from her nap she asked if we could go get Riley at the airport.   You can see how much they love each other in this photo, for more pictures you can go here.  Thanks Aunt Pat for coming for such a special weekend.  I loved to see them making memories.

Dinner Club

Three years ago, I came up with the idea to create a dinner club.  Really I decided to do it when our friend from high school, Nick Quatrochi,  moved back to Boulder with his wife Danielle.  I wanted them to meet some new people, have fun with old friends and get comfortable being in Boulder.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not much of a cook.  However, both Dave and I love to socialize and of course we love to eat.  We have many friends who enjoy both eating good food and creating masterpieces with their meals.

Dinner club was created with 6 couples and our single, most eligible bachelor in Boulder, Josh.   Each is assigned a month where they host dinner for everyone.  It is definitely not a small feat to throw a complete dinner party for 13 people.  And, as the years have passed the meals have become more extravagant, the company has become more lively and we have more fun every time we meet.  As we kicked off year three I decided to feature each dinner club on my blog so you can see the delicious food we are eating, the beautiful table settings and decor people create and the enjoyment that ensues. First up, Josh.

Josh hosted this past weekend on a beautiful, fall evening with a decadent Italian style feast including delicious pork ribs and the most amazing cheescake I have ever eaten.  Our guest of honor was Chris Oatey who is a close friend from college who happened to be in town for work and joined us for dinner. 

Menu:
Apps included cheese, crackers, prosciutto, almonds and chopped liver that Josh made.
Salad – arugula, cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan
Vegetables – roasted baby broccoli and braised leeks
Main Course – slow braised Tuscan style pork ribs in a tomato and red wine base over polenta
Dessert – “Dodo’s” Cheesecake – Josh's great grandmother’s cheesecake, topped with raspberries


Now, if you know of any single, fun, good looking, intelligent women who would be proud to be Josh's guest at our next dinner club, please send them his way! 

Empowered

Life has been chaotic these days.  Dave is doing a lot of networking and schmooze events, I'm trying to connect with my new coworkers by going to softball games and lunches, Carina is crawling and into everything, Samantha is becoming more imaginative and creative, I've had a few work trips, I'm still breastfeeding and Carina usually does not sleep through the night.

All that and I have to tell you that I can't remember the last time I felt so happy.  Don't get me wrong, I'm tired and at times it definitely feels like a wild juggling act.  But what a feeling to be able to (for the most part) keep all the balls in the air.  My job is stimulating and I'm excited about what I'm doing and what the company is starting.  I still feel like I'm really involved with the girls and thanks to my mom and my mother in law, I feel like they are always in the best of hands.

I've talked before about prioritizing life and as a parent how difficult that can be.  However, lately I have this sneaking suspicion that it may be possible to have it all. Could that be?  I may not exercise as much as I want to, read every book club book or keep in touch with as many friends as I'd like, but I feel like both Dave and I are accomplishing a lot at home and at work and we are kicking ass doing it.

On the Move

I've decided any attempts NOT to compare the girls is futile.  I'll do my best to avoid saying that one is better or worse but our two girls are very different.  Take crawling for example. I searched "crawling" on the blog to find that Samantha was crawling May 20, 2009, that meant she was over 10 months before she was mobile.  Carina Jean on the other hand is officially on the move now at 7 months.  You can see her crawling in the video below which was taken earlier this week and already she has improved.  Now, I leave the room for a minute and return to find her across the room and under her bouncy chair or the table, always somewhere precarious.  When I go to feed her in the middle of the night, she is sitting up in her crib, seeming confused how to get back down.  You may remember that we really did not baby proof the house with Samantha, she just wasn't ever "into things" but not Carina, she grabs at everything and wants everything she shouldn't have.     Looks like she is going to be quite mischiveous but she gets away with it with that endearing smile.

Culture of Giving

Last night, Dave and I attended the 20th Anniversary party for The Boulder Community Foundation.  Dave is on the Board of Trustees of this organization and works on the legal committee for the foundation as well.  I was so impressed with the work they are doing in Boulder County and am proud of Dave for his commitment and the time he gives.

While Boulder is an affluent community and one of the most educated per capita in the nation, the amount of community giving is far below the national average.  Many assume that people in Boulder County don't need help, resources or donations however, there are significantly more people living in poverty in our County than ten years ago.   The Community Foundation is committed to intimately understanding the greatest needs in our community and then connecting the right resources to address those needs.

I was particularly excited to hear about the work they are doing bridging the achievement gap, creating leaders in the community, working on early childhood education and creating a culture of giving in Boulder.  They have also just released an insightful Trends Report on key indicators that relate to the quality of our life in our community that I encourage you to read.

I'm very lucky to be married to a man who values giving and improving our community and I'm grateful that we are on the same page on teaching our children to do the same.


Easily Amused

Carina's Tia Molly says it would be wonderful to hear the thoughts going through Carina's head because according to her facial expressions, everything is "This is the most amazing, hilarious and wonderful thing I have seen!"  then the next thing she sees kicks it off again.  If you haven't met her or if you haven't seen her in awhile, this video will give you an idea of what Molly is talking about.  (I just got a flip video camera and although I just figured out how to edit, I learned after this video was posted so it's on the long side).


The Bumps

About six or seven months ago we noticed a few little bumps on Samantha's chest that looked like tiny pimples.  When I took her to the doctor back in March when she was so sick with RSV, the doctor told me that these bumps were caused by a virus called molluscum.  He told me that I could carefully squeeze these but to be very careful because they can easily spread if I or Samantha touched an infected spot and then touched anywhere else on her body.  


He also told me that with time they would go away and they are fairly common for kids under the age of 10 with weaker immune system.  Obviously holding down a three year old to squeeze these bumps was not a real option, we tried it a few times but it was overall very disturbing for everyone involved.  Unfortunately after a few months these bumps had gotten out of control.  There were more than 20 of them all over her chest.  When I talked to the doctor again, he prescribed an ointment to put on every other night.  


This whole ordeal keeps me up at night.  The ointment that we put on the bumps literally burns off the bump and instead of a tiny little pimple that we started with, now poor Samantha has scabs all over her chest.  In high school, I knew a few stupid people who would burn themselves with a cigarette...every time I look at my sweet girl, that is what it looks like to me, like cigarette burns all over her chest.  


As my mom says, it make you much more compassionate for people with true body defects.  It is difficult for me to look at them.  Luckily Samantha is not very self conscious but I definitely am for her.  She is beginning to be more self aware and the other night she woke up with a nightmare and when I went in her bedroom, she told me she was just "very sad about her bumps".  


The most horrible part is just when I think we have most of them under control, there are more that pop up.  We are done with the ointment and I don't want to use it anymore.  We have an appointment with the dermatologist in a few weeks to hopefully come up with a new solution or remedy.  

Taking After Mom

Last week both girls had check ups with the doctor, Carina for her six month appointment and Samantha for her year three.  Samantha who was once in the 50-75 percentiles for height and weight is gradually falling to the smaller side and Carina is just a tiny peanut to start with.  Their stats are below.  I always laugh because even though 20-30 percentiles seem fairly small like me, when I asked my mom about my stats growing up, she told me I usually held strong around the 4-5%.  Maybe they are actually taking after their Daddy.


Carina:
Height 25 inches - 30-35th percentile
Weight 14 lbs, 8 ounces - 30th percentile
Head: 17 1/4 inches - 85th percentile

Samantha:
Height 36 inches - 20th percentile
Weight 31 lbs - 50th percentile

First Time for Everything

Her first eating experience - 8/7/11
I have been delinquent sharing the milestones that Carina is passing at lightning fast speed!

First she was rolling over, from her back to her stomach and then a few weeks ago both ways.  Then, she was sitting up on her own, starting out fairly wobbly but now sitting steady on her own. 

Just when she had her six month birthday (on our 7 year wedding anniversary) we started her on solid food.  She approached it as she does most things in her life, with a big smile.  She loves food and we have been working on fattening her up. Samantha is an exceptional big sister and loves feeding Carina her new "real" food. 

Pure Joy

I can't describe how much joy this baby has brought to my life.  During and after my pregnancy with Carina, I went to see a massage therapist who was the quintessential Boulder, hippie, out-there, spiritual guru.  For the most part she was way too bizarre for my taste but she helped all my aches and pains of pregnancy fade away so I put up with her crazy theories and rants in exchange for fabulous massages.  One of the things she continuously told me was to listen to what the baby wanted me to learn.  To tune in to the message she was delivering with her presence. 

This seems to be a particularly rough year for a lot of the people I love.  Man, lately I feel like people can't catch a break, it is just one thing after another.  My poor friend Sara has two broken arms after just recovering from a broken knee....My friend Deirdre is on bed rest after her husband lost vision in his eye in a freak accident....I have a friend who can't get pregnant, family turmoil and fighting, people going through horrible break ups, lost jobs, car accidents, the list goes on and on. 

This baby though is incredible, it is hard not to find comfort in her smiles.  She melts the hearts of everyone she meets. Her message is clear, all is well with the world.  And, as hokie as it sounds, I felt that from her from the moment I was first pregnant.  She truly has brought a calmness to my life and a sense of peace that I was not expecting.   I know when I see those big blue eyes that everything is going to be just fine.  You can see some of the latest photos of her big grin here.

New Brantz Baby

Well, technically it is not a Brantz baby but rather an Auld baby but we are very excited about the upcoming arrival of a new baby in our family and Samantha and Carina's first cousin! Molly and Brian are expecting a sweet, baby girl who is due on November 30th. 

Samantha suggested the baby be named Daisy and is quite relieved that we will be having a baby girl cousin.  I love thinking of the three girls in a little pack running around creating memories together for years to come. 

Last weekend I went through all of our clothes to find the best of the best for hand-me-downs.  We are all planning to be in Florida for a week in December to meet this little star.  I figure as long as I can get some good quality time with her on a regular basis, we can fight off my urge to have a third baby in our house!

Preschool

Samantha loves going to preschool.  She now goes three mornings a week and each day she goes she is excited to see her friends and teachers.  I can really tell a difference in her now when she meets and interacts with new kids and I believe she is more confident and happy with the social and educational stimuli. 

One of the great things about her school is that each day they send a brief email with a document, video, slide show, etc. about what they did that day.  This is usually great fodder to get Samantha talking and remembering what she did that day.  It is also a treat for us while we are at work to see what she is up to.  This week as I was gone on my work trip, the update was especially hilarious for me and very focused on Samantha.

I couldn't post the full document with photos but it read:
Last week, Savannah, Sammy, Drew and Elise went to the materials room to build houses for our classroom bugs.They used a variety of materials to create intricate structures. Today, Sammy and Savannah returned to the materials room to continue this work.

After this experience, they decided to share what they had learned with the class. They helped create a slideshow of all their previous work to show their friends what they had been doing, they introduced the class to the best materials for building bug houses and then worked with their classmates to find a space in our classroom to store these new materials so we could all continue this work together in the future.




Super Dad

I just got back from my first work trip. I was only gone for 36 hours but I was nervous to leave both girls and especially to be away from Carina for the first overnight.  Actually, to be honest, I was nervous for about 15 minutes until I realized I was going to sleep through a full night for the first time in months.  The trip also coincided with Dave's first few days of work. 

I of course woke up in the night even on my night away and I missed Dave, Samantha and Carina terribly but we all survived. The trip was successful for me professionally and I got some quality time bonding with new coworkers.  Just as I expected, Dave was Super Dad.   He managed bed time with both girls for two nights and middle of the night feedings.  And, aside from finding Carina's outfit on backwards when I got a good look at her this morning, the girls seemed unphased by my absence. 

The Year That Was

...full of change!

Today is Dave's last day of work at the law firm where he has spent the last five years.  His job has been an incredible learning experience but he has decided to move his practice to Boulder and work with his dad moving forward. 

Change is always scary and I know this decision didn't come lightly for Dave.  He is extremely financially responsible and building your business also means that there will be a certain amount of uncertainty as he "builds".  I am confident that this will be very positive for Dave and our family and I'm proud of him.  I am lucky to be married to such a good person who looks out for and takes care of our family.

But seriously, after this, we need to slow down with the life changes.  With Carina's arrival, Samantha starting school and both Dave and I having major job changes, I am longing for a couple of months with fewer transitions before 2011 comes to an end.

Work, Guilt and Letting Go

I've almost completed my first two weeks of work and the transition could not have gone smoother.  The people I work with are sharp, fun and innovative.  My 5 minute commute to Pearl Street is amazing.  My  manager is encouraging but gives me free reign to develop marketing programs that I believe will be successful.  We end every week with a BBQ on our outdoor patio that overlooks the Flatirons, for a native of Boulder, it couldn't get any better. 

Of course I miss the girls and it is the challenge every working parent faces, I feel guilty being away from them and then I also feel guilty when I am enjoying what I'm doing away from them.  Both Dave and I talk a lot about the value I am providing - giving the girls an example of  a successful, working mom who enjoys what I do while also loving them whole heartedly. 

The main thing I have been stressing about is breastfeeding/pumping.  Because I was anticipating being home with Carina three days a week, I didn't stock pile a lot of milk over the months I was on maternity leave.  Now, I'm running low on supply and it looks like I'll most likely need to do some formula to supplement.  Of course this isn't the end of the world but it feels like it and I'm beating myself up about the idea of it.  It's one of many things I need to give myself a break on and let go.

Summertime Delight

A few weeks ago, Pops came over to share with Samantha, one of the best parts of summer - strawberry shortcake.  They cut up the strawberries together and as you can see, she loved it as much as Pops. And, don't you think these two look alike?

Giggles!

Not only is Carina Jean the smiliest baby you've ever seen but she has been giggling a lot lately too.  I know all babies have infectious laughs so this should help make your day. Can you believe she is 5 months old already?

Best Birthday Ever.

Those are Samantha's words after her wonderful third birthday party.  For the past two days, shortly after waking up she tells me "Thank you, that was the best birthday party ever".  I must say, it is pretty rewarding to have such an appreciative kid. 

After going to the Boulder Creek Festival over Memorial Day weekend, I realized Samantha's love for this train that was giving rides to kids.  I called to inquire how much it would cost to bring the train to the park we back up to for Samantha's party.  Boy was it a hit, all the kids loved it but it was only Samantha who got on the moment the train arrived and did not get off until it was time for the train conductor to leave. 

Actually when it was time for him to pack up and leave, Samantha looked at me with a quivering voice and said "But Mommy, you told me I could ride the train again and again." She was right, I did say that, I just didn't realize she would stay on one consecutive hour and a half ride.  I convinced the train conductor to let Sammy and her friend Meara ride the train out of the park and somehow we avoided a post train meltdown.

Loving every minute

We may get this train every year!

She's 3!

Nostalgia

I am feeling nostalgic that my baby girl, Samantha Lee is turning 3.  After further inspection on Wikipidia, nostalgia is defined as: A yearning for the past, often in idealized form.[1] The word is a learned formation of a Greek compound, consisting of νόστος (nóstos), meaning "returning home", a Homeric word, and ἄλγος (álgos), meaning "pain, ache". It was described as a medical condition, a form of melancholy, in the Early Modern period, and came to be an important topic in Romanticism.[1]

I don't feel the ache to go back to when she was smaller and I certainly don't feel any desire to go back to the experience of getting her into the world.  I do wish I remembered more of every moment with her, it sure has gone fast.

Samantha is an amazing little girl.  Genuinely sweet, gentle and very kind.  She soaks up the world around her and sees and hears everything.  She is funny and sensitive at the same time.  She is everything I always wanted and more.  Happy 3rd birthday sweet Samantha.

Smooth Landing

This month has been a roller coaster of emotions for me on the work front.  My mom was right when she said, "Getting laid off is like a bad breakup and is heartbreaking, until you start going out and getting hit on by a bunch of good looking suitors".  The week after I got laid off I sent my resume into three places, all three places looked like they would be an exceptional fit for my background and what I was looking for.  All three called and I immediately had a week full of interviews.  Two weeks after I got laid off, I had a really exciting job offer and I had to turn down other interested companies.  Now, that was the ego boost I needed!

I've always said that everything happens for a reason.  Dave and I argue about this philosophy because he believes that things don't happen haphazardly but rather you create your destiny. Over the years I believe there are pieces of both that are true.  I would have never left my job but getting laid off pushed me to find a much better opportunity for me.    I also got an extra month of maternity leave to spend with my sweet girls.  Now, I'm gearing up to go back to work mid July.  Doesn't hurt that my new office is right downtown on Pearl Street about 5 minutes from our house.  It was certainly not the turn of events that I expected but I couldn't have imagined a better outcome. 

Onward and upward!

Omaha Adventure

About three weeks ago, Samantha went on her second annual adventure to Omaha with Grammy.  So far, each time she goes, I worry for months about being away from her and how she will do without us and she does just great.  Not only that but I really feel like the trip is so good for her independence.  Last year she came back talking much more and this year she came back more confident and happy. 

It is a really special time for her to spend with Grammy and she loves playing with all of her Nogg cousins.  She has the best time staying with Aunt Patty and Uncle Steve, she played at the pool, visited with Great Grandma Carol and Great Grandpa Bud, went to Riley's dance recital and even got to attend Riley's 4th birthday party.  She had a blast!

This is only the beginning of fun summer adventures in Omaha and a great tradition. 

Storytime with cousins Jordan and Riley

Lock Down

In early May we were going through another rough patch with Samantha.  Bedtime took over an hour, she dragged the whole process out and usually it all ended with a tantrum and me or Dave holding the door shut while Samantha threw herself at the door and had a terrible fit.  I will say, she is a smart little girl.  She didn't just scream anything.  She always stopped half way in and yelled how she really needed help or she was hurt and needed her Mommy.  The whole thing was maddening. 

A friend of ours had gone through a similar experience and encouraged me to change her door knob so that we could lock Samantha in her room at bedtime.  It sounded awful to me but the idea was simple, no negotiating at bedtime.  After our pleasant bedtime routine, we would lock the door from the outside and that would be the end of it. 

I switched the door knob with Samantha by my side (days later she was going to all the doors with a little screwdriver explaining we needed to fix the doors).  She did try to exit the room with her daily excuse and sure enough, she couldn't get out.  She threw a fit and I was determined not to go in there.  The tantrum lasted about 20 minutes and then I could hear it fading and later checked that she was in her bed sound asleep.  The next night I prepared myself for another 20 minute show and I waited anxiously. Nothing. Not a peep, not a struggle, no throwing herself at the door or even trying to get out.  It has been over a month and I continue locking it but she has yet to make a peep. 

Dave and I keep saying this is very much like the whole "crying it out" phase.  It is painful for the few days you do it but once you reap the rewards, all we can wonder is what took us so long to do it. 

Carina Carina

I have a few blogs to catch up on, one is to document our Memorial Day weekend with dear friends.  Here is Carina with her namesake. We had the best time with everyone, Samantha played with Sophia and all the kiddos until she could play no more, we conquered the Creek festival and Dave did excellent once again in his annual test of physical fitness - the Bolder Boulder.  Photos of it all can be seen here

Just because....

She's so darn cute! You can see our latest summer pictures here.
Happy Monday everyone, thought this bib was perfect. 

Exciting Times

This week was big for us at the Brantz household, Samantha had her first week of preschool and Carina celebrated her four month birthday by sleeping through the night for the first time!

I am so proud of Samantha, she did amazing at her first day of school.  We have been regularly reading the book The Kissing Hand about a little raccoon who goes to school and before he goes, his mom kisses his hand so whenever he feels lonely he can hold his hand to his face and have her kiss close and know she loves him.  Samantha and I agreed that we would both give each other a kiss on the hand at school and then I would go and she would enjoy school and that is exactly what we did.  She had a great first day and will go back again tomorrow.
Little sweetheart on her first day of school!
Carina had her four month check up today and she of course is perfect in every way.  She gave her trademark smile to the doctor numerous times and even smiled at the nurse AFTER her shots, she is incredible.  She is healthy and growing, stats are:
Height: 24 inches - 50 percentile
Weight: 12 lbs 12.5 oz. - 49 percentile
Head Circ: 16.5 inches - 76 percentile

Four months old already!

The Week

I figured out that historically, the week after Memorial Day is not a good one for me.  Certainly while I have been writing this blog.  Three years ago, it was when I was put on bed rest.  Last year it was when we realized Dave's passport was expired and he wouldn't be able to come with me to Spain. This year, I got laid off from my job.

I'm not going to get into the details but it is definitely a sad time for me.  I will admit I'm feeling pretty low.  But I have a wonderful husband and two sweet girls.  The good news is that after every one of the unfortunate situations I have had, there is always a rainbow after the storm.....after bed rest came Samantha.  After Spain, came Carina!  And after this experience, I am hopeful something good will come as well.   

Smiley

I know I keep saying it, but Carina Jean is truly the happiest baby I've ever seen.  She smiles in her sleep, she smiles right as she begins to cry, she really is non-stop smiles.  Her Daddy calls her Smiley and after you watch this video, you will get a glimpse why.

Well, not quite...

Lately I have started to have the first of what I imagine will be many conversations with Samantha where she has me perplexed on the best way to answer.  Case in point, we were about to take the girls over to my parent's house on Saturday night so that we could go see the Billy Elliot play in Denver:

Samantha: We better bring a bottle for Carina because Grandma doesn't have boobs.
Me: Well, Grandma does have boobs, she just doesn't have milk in her boobs to feed Carina so you are right, we should bring a bottle.
Samantha: How about we bring that pump and we can pump milk into Grandma's boobs?
Me: The pump takes milk out of Mommy for Carina, but we can't use it to put milk into Grandma's boobs.
Samantha: Because Grandma's boobs are little?
Me: Umm...sure, it's because Grandma's boobs are little. 

It Takes a Village

As the proverb says, it takes a village to raise a child and that certainly rings true for all the help we will be getting when I go back to work. 

I will continue to work from home Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and my mom will come to our house in Boulder to watch both Carina and Samantha.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Samantha will be going to preschool in the mornings and my mother in law Judy will be watching her in the afternoons.  Carina will stay with my mom on Tuesdays and Dave's mom on Thursdays.

A little hectic but pretty incredible. Yes, I do know how lucky we are to have both of our families close by and to have mothers that are so generous with their time and love. 

Balance

I've had a lot on my mind lately but not a whole lot of time to write.  I am preparing to go back to work and while there are often times I am really excited to get back to parts of my job, I keep thinking that I am just figuring out how to mother two unique and wonderful kids - now I am going to be the mom of two little kids and a full time employee. 

About a year ago I wrote a blog post about the Four Burners Theory and I am constantly trying to work out in my mind how to get in all the areas of my life that help make me whole.  Forget four, I have a lot of burners that are important to me. 
  1. Quality time with my kids and husband 
  2. Meaningful relationships with friends and family
  3. Being an excellent employee
  4. Exercise
  5. Getting adequate sleep/rest
  6. God, spirituality, reflection, church
  7. Reading, learning
  8. Giving back, community service
I certainly don't have any answers on how to do it all.  I do believe that while you have children under the age of 5, there are simply some things that drop of the list. I think I need to pick my top four to burn up and do my best to balance or perhaps it is all 8 with less focus for each?  And, I suppose Carina is helping me prioritize by cutting out that sleep piece!

Happy Mother's Day

I am so lucky to be the mom of these two amazing little girls.  Not only that, but I have an incredible mom and mother in law as well.  Hope you all gave love to all the mothers in your life!

You can see our photos of Mother's Day and more here.

Last Boy, Newest Girl

My Papa and Grandma Modina came for a visit to meet Carina.  Here is a photo with my Papa, the last boy born in our family of girls, with his newest great granddaughter Carina.  She is the 23rd girl in a row since Papa. 
My Papa's older brother, Byron Allen passed away this weekend and we are all very sad for his passing.  I am sending lots of love and prayers to his children, grandchildren, my Papa and our family who is feeling the loss of a great man. 

Sensitive Sammy

I mentioned awhile back that Samantha graduated from speech therapy.  Now it is hard to believe we were ever worried about her talking.  What I never really described was her transition into occupational therapy.  She began occupational therapy because of her sensory sensitivity. 

She has demonstrated this through things like her aversion to getting her hair wet, avoiding loud noises, hating to get her finger nails clipped and a number of other similar things that cause her to isolate herself and act very shy.  This time last year we began to meet with Kate who is wonderful and works with Samantha doing things that are outside her comfort zone like finger painting or interacting with other kids she doesn't know. The idea is that Samantha has difficulty filtering too much sensory information.  If there is too much stimuli it causes her to shut down and retreat. At a birthday party with kids running around and loud noises, you will find Samantha off in a room by herself.   Kate has taught me techniques to better prepare her of the unknown. 

I have to admit that I go back and forth feeling like this is very real for Samantha and feeling like Samantha just needs to suck it up and act like a normal kid.  I know that sounds horrible but after an hour trying to wash her hair, or sitting out of gymnastics class because she won't interact with a new teacher and kids or having to chase her around the house to be able to brush her hair, I'm wondering if it is me that is doing something seriously wrong. 

I also feel like we had made a lot of progress and then regressed once Carina arrived which Kate tells me is very normal.  In June Samantha is starting preschool two mornings a week and I'm feeling very anxious and excited to see how that goes.  I truly believe it is going to be very, very good for her but I also think she is going to have a hard time.  That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger right?  All of this has certainly been a good lesson for me in patience and love.  She is the sweetest child, always very caring and aware of what is going on around her.  I just don't want her sensitivities and shyness to cause her to avoid enjoying things and having fun. 

Just What the Doctor Ordered

We had a fabulous week in Mexico celebrating the 60th birthdays of my in laws Jim and Judy.  The humidity and warm ocean air were just what Samantha and Carina needed to get rid of those coughs and we all had a great time.  We stayed in a big house with our family of four, Jim and Judy and Dave's sister Molly and her husband Brian.  The house overlooked the ocean and Samantha spent hours building sand castles, jumping the waves and searching for seashells.   Carina went for her first swim in the ocean, not bad for her first two months of life.  My main priority for the week was to sleep and I got very spoiled with the rest I got.  We couldn't have asked for more, the only downside was that our camera died on day one so the only photos I have are from my phone. 
First trip and it was to Mexico!

Beach Beauty

 

Sick and Tired

This will be quick because I've got my hands full! Both of my babies are sick just before a big trip we have planned to Mexico which has just about driven me to a complete meltdown.  Thanks to my mom's help, I've been going to yoga class almost every day which has helped to keep me calm and I *think* everything may work out.

Last Monday Samantha started to cough and was very congested.  After taking her to the doctor we found out she had RSV which is not terribly serious unless an infant gets it.  She had bronchiolitis caused by RSV and a terrible cough.  We did our best to keep the girls separated and the house disinfected but the following Monday night Carina began to cough as well.

Yesterday Carina had her two month check up and unfortunately tested positive for RSV as well.  The doctor did not want to risk giving her the immunizations because they could make her worse.  And he was hopeful that we could still go to Mexico if she doesn't get worse but we just have to wait and see.  If her breathing worsens he advised not taking her anywhere because he said we would just be getting off the plane to take her to the hospital to be on oxygen.  Fingers crossed that we will be able to go on this trip to celebrate the 60th birthdays of my in laws.  

In other news, we have another growing baby and even though she isn't feeling well she smiled at everyone at the doctor even the people who took her lab tests which was endearing.  She is a sweetheart.  Carina's stats are:
Height: 22 1/4 inches - 75 percentile
Weight: 10 pounds 9 ounces - 50 percentile
Head Circ: 15 1/2 inches - 75 percentile

Snuggles and Smiles

It is incredible to me how this early on, there are distinct differences between Samantha and Carina.  Of course I know that every child has their own personality but it is interesting to see them shine in my own children. 

My mom always tells the story of me as a baby fussing and she went into the other room put me down and I stopped crying.  My Aunt Paula asked what she did and my mom said she just put me down.  I cried to be left alone.  This is the story of my life ;)

When Samantha was born she snuggled right up on my chest and held on tight.  Even the nurses commented on how snuggly she was.  She wanted to be close all the time.  My father in law joked that she took so long to crawl because nobody ever put her down, but how could you when she was so cozy when you held her.  Carina on the other hand seems to take after her mom.  On the rare occasions that she cries, I've found that she just wants to be put in her swing.  I feel guilty not to be holding her all the time but often when I try, she wants her space.  When you put her on your chest to snuggle up, instead of nestling in, she pushes her head up to see where she can be put down.

Samantha is a serious kid.  Even as a tiny baby she had a bit of scowl and seemed to be trying to figure it all out. Of course she is a happy child and has fun but she certainly isn't the kid who is the chatting with new people and laughing at the park.  I looked in her baby book and I didn't record a smile until she was 6 weeks old.  Carina on the other hand was giving us big smiles in the hospital.  She is showing me those adorable dimples in the middle of the night when she is getting a diaper change, when she's getting a bath and really any time I tell her hello.  It will be interesting to watch to see if her happy disposition continues.  

I'm hoping the two girls will be able to help each other cuddle up and smile more. And for that matter, I hope they respect each others' space and seriousness as well.  I'll leave you this Friday with one of those smiles I'm talking about, have a great weekend.

Family Adventure

One of Sammy's favorite things to do now is go on adventures.  She puts Daisy in the stroller and heads off in search of something lost or to do something new.  Our adjustment to being a family of four has felt like quite an adventure as well.  I am settling into the sleep deprivation and am feeling pretty good.  I have even mastered how Carina and I can usually get a nap when Samantha naps which is a lifesaver.  Samantha is still having an occasional tantrum but I am not taking them so personally and they are shorter lived.

I imagine it is the hormones but even with the sleepless nights and juggling two kids, I spend a lot of my days thinking of how I would love to have a third.  (Ha - Dave is probably driving to get a vasectomy after reading that.) Don't worry, I just packed up my maternity clothes to take to consignment. It is all happening very quickly though and I already put away newborn clothes because Carina has outgrown them. 

What I really feel is that it is all so absolutely worth it.  Having these two girls in my life makes life incredible and inexplicably fulfilling.  Carina is worth it.  Samantha is worth it. Life is good and I would do it again in a heart beat. I mean seriously, look at them...

Greatma

Everything takes me just a little longer these days, I'm a bit delayed in my news.  However, we had a wonderful visit from family from Oklahoma who came to meet Carina over spring break.  My grandma, Aunt Paula, cousin Margrethe, cousin Jeanine and her two kids Lola and Presley came for a visit.  Samantha had a ball with Lola who is a week older than her. They played and played and we cracked up at them walking around and having conversations with each other.

I am lucky to have family that I love so much and who make a fuss over Carina.  Even when she is the latest of many, many girls - everyone always makes her and us feel special.  Here is my favorite photo of Carina with my grandma, Carina's Greatma. You can see more from their visit here

Family of Five

No naked family photos this time around, but our friend Cheryl did come take photos of Carina and our family.  Carina was the only one that got naked so she wouldn't completely be left out of the experience and as you can see, she wasn't happy about it.  You can see more photos than you ever wanted of our family, they are all here.  I think Miss Samantha really stole the show - she isn't at the most cooperative age but Cheryl got some fabulous shots. As you can see, I lucked out with two beautiful girls, a handsome husband and fine dog.    

Forgot to Mention...

I realized it has been 6 weeks and I haven't written anything about my most blogged about topic - breastfeeding! While having two kids is double the work, there are many things that are much easier the second time around and first and foremost is breastfeeding.  You may remember that I was determined to breastfeed Samantha and had a very rough start. To be honest, I think it was close to 8 weeks that were really painful for me before we got the hang of things.  Then, because of the many benefits and because I enjoyed the connection so much, I continued breastfeeding until Samantha was about 14 months.

In the hospital, one of the nurses asked me how long I breastfed my first child and without thinking I proclaimed "Forever! Well, not forever by Boulder standards".  She and another nurse laughed and then they both proceeded to explain that they had nursed their kids until they were 2 and 3, ha! 

I don't think people talk enough about the the ups and downs of breastfeeding and I'm always trying to encourage people to stick with it.  After a few weeks with Carina, we had things down.  She is a great eater and I know it helps that I'm not so anxious about it, there is much less doubt about what I'm doing and I know how convenient it is and what a great bonding experience it provides.  Plus, Carina even takes a bottle now like a champ so I can have a little time away too.

Zombie

Nearly six weeks of sleep deprivation is catching up with me.  Carina usually has one 4-5 hour stretch which is great but it is difficult not to ever get more than 4-5 hours of sleep at a time.  I feel like I am about 50% less witty, fun to be around and intelligent when I haven't slept.  We are getting pretty good at napping when Samantha naps but I never feel completely rested.  As I am up bleary eyed in the middle of the night, at least I have the Beatles to keep me company. I'm always reciting these lines in my head, I may really be losing it...

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no.
I'm so tired I don't know what to do
I'm so tired my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind
I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get.
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind

Daisy

Samantha's babies have been important to her for some time but since Carina's arrival, her favorite baby Daisy, has taken on a whole new importance in the family.  Daisy needs to come everywhere we do and do everything that Carina does.  That is why it was especially sweet that when our family friend Cheryl came to take family photos, Samantha got some time getting her picture taken with her prized possession Daisy.

Time Flies

Yesterday I spent Carina's one month birthday snuggled up with her for the day. Grammy had a special day with Samantha - they went swimming and out to lunch which Sammy absolutely loved. I got to nap the day away, take photos and just have some bonding with Carina which was a treat for me. Funny because having one baby seems so easy now - what was I so stressed out with when Samantha was tiny like this? I know they say that babies don't smile this early but with Carina I just don't buy it. She is melting our hearts with smiles all day long.

You can see how big she is getting in the latest photos.  

Jekyll and Hyde

I have mentioned that Samantha has been exceptionally kind and tender with Carina. She holds her hand, checks on her first thing when she wakes up, wants to help with diaper changes, sings her lullabies and says things like "Hey there little cutie" or "Hello Carina, I'm your big sister" and "We are best friends".

That is why it has been so difficult to handle and understand Samantha's tantrums that have begun to take place since Carina's arrival. Usually around bed time and lasting close to an hour, these are crazy, violent eruptions where our sweet daughter is barely recognizable. She screams and flails around, bangs herself into the door, hits and then screams so long that she comes close to vomiting.

As quickly as they come on, they also end abruptly which is almost equally as disturbing to me. She seems to understand more than a typical two year old and her screaming and thrashing will stop and she calmly will say "Mommy, I just really miss you right now, can you please come snuggle me".

I've been reading everything imaginable and every book explains that this behavior is completely normal but seriously?! I can't imagine that every child acts like this, it is too terrible. It is almost like she holds it all together 90% of the time that it is too much to handle for her. These tantrums on top of being sleep deprived have me feeling very anxious. Dave calls it her "Poltergeist" tantrums and I do live in fear that her head will start spinning and her next fit will start. That being said we have had two solid tantrum free days which has given me some faith that we may start to turn a corner.

We're Here

I have tons to write but not much time to sit and get my words down. Carina continues to be a very mellow, good natured baby. She is a content baby and makes a lot of happy faces as you can see here in this photo Madeline took for her digital photo class for school.

I've been giving Dave's parents a hard time for asking me who I thought she looked like because when we pulled out Dave's baby book it is clear she is a mini Daddy! And, I've been seeing not just one but two cute dimples. My dad was concerned that he had never heard her cry, she rarely makes any fuss at all. I've been posting more photos here, more to come soon on some of of our other adjustments.

Dear Carina

I wanted to share this letter to Carina from her sweet father that he wrote for her baby book...

Dear Carina,

I was driving my car on Sunday, the day before you were born, when the Alpha Blondy song Masada came on my radio and I thought it would make a great topic for my letter to you.

I had a chance to visit Masada when I was younger. It is a place that has special meaning to me for many reasons. Over the years I have been able to recall my special associations with Masada to warm my heart, and I hope that you will have the same good fortune.

The first way Masada is special to me is that it reminds me of our heritage. It may be a story from a long, long time ago, but it is a story about a group of people that make up a piece of who you are, and it is important that you remember that. Every part of your heritage is important Carina. In fact, what is most important is that you always remember your collective heritage – all of your personal history. But, as your dad, it is my job to make sure that you always remember your Jewish background as part of that heritage.

The second way that Masada is special to me is its symbol of sacrifice. For me, a sacrifice is a difficult choice made out of love. At Masada, the people made the ultimate sacrifice based on their love for God and for their beliefs. As you grow and become your own person, I hope that you’ll be aware of the sacrifices and difficult choices that everyone, especially your mom and I, will make for you. Keep in mind that we make each of those sacrifices because we love you so very much, and carefully consider who and what you want to make your sacrifices for.

And, of course, the last way that Masada is special to me is as a reminder of music and joy. I was first introduced to Alpha Blondy and his song Masada when I was in college. The song was actually part of a mix cd that was on heavy rotation in my life at that time. It was a time when music and joy were plentiful, and the song will always remind me that celebration and happiness are just as important as heritage and sacrifice in making your life complete.

Carina, I am so excited to see what kind of person you will become in the years ahead. Whether it is through Masada or something else, I hope that you will keep the ideas of heritage, sacrifice, music and joy close to your heart throughout all of your life.

I love you,
DAD

Divine Valentines

Feeling very lucky to have these two girls....
Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, my love tank is very full.

Hugs and kisses to you and your loved ones.  
XOXO

Home Sweet Home

We are officially home as a family of four...let the adventure begin! You can see a bunch of photos of Carina's first week that I finally got loaded at: http://samanthaleebrantz.shutterfly.com/2127
Dave and his Brantz Girls