Back to work

After 7 great weeks, Jose returned to work yesterday.  I wasn't looking forward to it, but we've faired well so far.  The first day Aubri asked to be rocked to sleep for the first time in forever. She was throwing a fit after waking up early and I was pretty over the screams so I agreed. Then Ezra woke up and needed to be fed so I found myself wishing for a few more arms! Somehow I managed, but when they were both asleep I found myself in a predicament trying to get up!

Today I had to go in to work at the church and Aubri stayed with Nana and Papa. It was my first day at the church without Jose's help, and since Ezra is more alert and awake now it was a challenge! I worked on my Sunday School schedules typing with one hand!

I don't take for granted being able to have 7 weeks of adjustment together. I am SO lucky and blessed that  Jose's job allows it. We were a lot lazier than I thought we would be (most days we hung around in bed or on the couch until 10!) but I think we needed it. Most days the crumbs stayed where they were, and the dishes piled up but it was worth it! There will be plenty of days ahead of chores and laundry, but only a limited time of uninterrupted togetherness,

Now time for a photo overload to show you a bit of our last 7 weeks.

Daddy makes mowing fun! Aubri loves the free ride, and Mommy likes that she is safe and occupied!

 We had lots of naps and snuggles.

 Visits from grandparents, and great grandparents!

Relaxing

 For awhile the house was clean and my mom had decorated so cute for Ezra's homecoming.

 We were blessed with friends and family who brought us meals....and fun desserts!

Aubri loves to ask Daddy to carry his "two little ones"

First bath for Ezra! Both my kids love bath time!

We couldn't believe how cuddly Aubri was this morning! Didn't realize until night that she was sick! 

Aubri got to spend a lot of time with her grandparents. Nana does her hair in the cutest pigtails. We get a good laugh when we take the braids out! She's a toddler- hear her ROAR!

Loving on "Little Brother"

She asked to have a picnic and thought it was so fun to have one inside!

A few family walks!

Lots of baking (not so smart when I'm trying to lose baby weight!)

Silly "babywearing"

Aubri loves taking care of her babies.

Aubri loves running around the park. Our first park trip was when Ezra was a few days old!

Papa joined us for a picnic to Waller Park.

Ezra didn't really care about feeding the ducks.

And of course we had to go Aubri's favorite place Avila Barn!

Still here

Don't worry, we are still alive.  It is a little bit harder to blog often with our rambunctious toddler and a new baby. Seems like the only time I get to sit is when I'm nursing, so I actually am grateful Ezra is hungry a lot!

Even now I write this quick update with the little man eating his bedtime meal! Aubri says the craziest things, and I try so hard to remember them. As a couple are coming to mind I thought I would "blog them down."

First of all I just heard her tell Jose as he is putting her to bed "Boom-shaka-laka" (How the heck do you spell that?) Where in the world did she learn that? We definitely don't say that. For now I'm blaming her Tapia uncles.

On the way home tonight as Ezra is screaming and we have the radio blaring (it calmed him down for a bit), She yells "It is loud in this place!" What makes it funny is she was forgetting she was also throwing a crying fit.

Every time she does something fun, or goes somewhere new, or has something yummy to eat, she tells me that "Next time Ella come too," or "Next time we bring Canaan," or "I want to eat this with Ella next time." Everything is usually about her friend Ella, but Canaan comes up a bit too. Yesterday she said "I want to go there with allllll the cousins. Jesse, Gulianna, Jaclyn....." and proceeded to name them all.

If I asks her to do something or put something away she says "Mom! But I love this______"  Like when I asked her to get up out of her reclining chair and clean up, "But I LOVE  this chair!" She says it with so much attitude. Really cute and funny the first time. Now, no so much.

She has also started telling us about something she wants to do and adds, "That's a good idea!" or "I think this a good idea!" Or she will say "How about we go to park? That's a good idea!"

Aubri loves to put my nursing cover on and carry her dolls (or Elmo!). I finally asked her one day when she had her baby in there if she was feeding the baby. She looked at my like I was crazy and said,  "Mommy! I carrying it! Toy babies don't eat, only real babies eat!"

There has been a whole mess of other surprising statements from her sweet little mouth, but I'd rather forget most of it. Where she comes up with some of it is beyond me!

For fun here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks.

One Month

We have been a family of four for a little more than a month. I can't believe how fast time flies! This little guy sure has changed our lives- definitely for the better!

Now that Ezra is 5 weeks, we are starting to figure out what kind of baby he is. He for sure is mellow, and easygoing. He hardly cries, unless he lets us know he is hungry and mom takes too long getting to him. This happens occasionally in the car, but usually he sleeps great on the road or loves looking around.

He sleeps a lot! But...mostly likes to sleep next to mom or dad. He doesn't have very long stretches at night, but since I fall asleep nursing 75% of the time, I honestly can't tell you how many times he eats a night or how often he wakes up! I do know that we usually get a 3 hour stretch with him in his bassinet next to our bed during the first part of the night.  After that it is a blur!

He loves being worn in the sling! He gets so cozy and usually falls asleep. This is great considering the above (he sleeps good next to mom or dad!), and I still am able to manage getting things done.  I'm a baby wearing mama, so on all our outings you will find him hanging out with me marsupial style.

Just like Aubri, the minute the car is off or we set his car seat down, he is awake! I don't understand how everyone else's babies seem to just chill in their car seat. Since I'm a baby wearing mama, it isn't really a big deal for me, but a little funny. I will say we have had amazing luck out to eat a couple of times with him sleeping in the car seat, but that is about it.

In the past couple of days he has started to coo and smile more! I love it! And I also love the little dimples he has! Too cute!

Fortunately without nursing problems, we have no weight concerns. Unlike Aubri who we had to weigh before and after every feeding for 6 weeks, this little guy hasn't seen a scale since he was 2 weeks. He is starting to chub up, and I'm kinda dying to know how much he weighs.  He is stretching out of his newborn sizes, but still having a hard time filling the 0-3 clothes- especially pants! Poor Ezra doesn't have quite the clothing selection his big sister had, so we are having a hard time picking cute outfits (especially since he tends to spit up as soon as we get him in clean clothes!)

Ezra loves the bath! He just looks around and takes it all in. I was brave the other day and let him join his sister in the bathtub. They both loved it! After he is clean, his hair fluffs up and gets a little wavy/curly. Cute little ducky!

As long as he isn't hungry, Ezra will let anyone hold him. Whew!! Aubri went on a stranger strike from 2 weeks until 3 months- no one but Mommy and Daddy could hold her without screams. I'm glad to share the snuggles!

Big sister Aubri continues to love on her brother. She always wants to hold him, kiss him, rub cheeks with him, see him.... I wish you could hear how she says "Little Bru--ther!" when she thinks he does something funny. "Little Bru--ther! Don't spit up anymore!"

Aubriella seems to get bigger and more mature everyday. I thought for sure she had a growth spurt because she feels so heavy, but after weighing her she has only gained maybe half a pound. She has the most amazing memory (she got it from her mama) and will remind us of things we promised days ago, "You told me that!", "You said we could."  Of course she tends to remember everything as she is climbing into bed.

Her vocabulary for sure is growing and she cracks us up with all she says.  Yesterday, her question all day was "Guess what Mom?"And then she'd proceed to tell me what she planned. She also has such personality and emotion behind all she says, "OH....MY....GOSH! Little brother just spit up!" And "What the HECK?!"  Oh my....She is quite the character. But, I know one day she is going to do great things! This girl has so much persistence and a strong will, she will achieve all she aims for. Lately I've been praying that her heart always remains for the Lord, and she will seek after serving Him. Watch out- when He uses her it is going to be awesome! In the meantime as we discover what God's will is for her, I pray for patience every day, no every hour, as we figure out how to guide our little spit-fire!

Well there is an update on the kids- pictures will be added soon!

Life is Good

It has been way too long since an update. Things are great, but I haven't made time to post. Somehow I am still surprised how much time a tiny little being can take! Jose is half way done with his paternity leave, and we are loving our family time! We still haven't figured out what our new "normal" life looks like, but for now normal is cuddling in bed till 9, showering around 10, and maybe getting out the door at noon! Ahhhh....

Mr. Ezra is as sweet as can be. He is the perfect addition to our family. He is a great, mellow baby. He is allllll boy! He poops all the time, burps easy, and loves to eat around the clock. I feel like I am always nursing, but that is just fine with me. I prefer this to the nursing/latch problems we dealt with when Aubri was a newborn.

Big Sister Aubri couldn't be more in love with her brother. In fact we hear her say 20x's a day "I love Little Brother!" She loves to hold him, kiss him, touch him, and talk to him. She is the best big sister!