August 15 = Re-visit old toy day

One of the main challenges I'm facing when home alone with two under two is during times when I have to pump.  I can put Malia on the bed and feed her or help her with her pacifier but having Liam up on the bed too doesn't ever work- I can't be available enough to feel Malia is safe and even if I did, the likelihood of him staying on the bed is slim to none so I'd have to disconnect from the pump and go make sure he was safe himself.  So I pump when Liam is napping but having to pump every 3 hours at least, sometimes I have to leave him in his high chair or in his room with some toys.  In this picture, I had left him in his room with his toys but came in to see him doing this:

I had this out for Malia when we were all three in Liam's room.  When this was Liam's toy, he had no interest in it all.  Better late than never?

August 12 = Sibling Love Day

When we first introduced these two, Liam was a little less gentle than we had hoped but he really has taken more of an interest in his little sister and has shown much more restraint when close to her.  My hope for these two is that they will grow up being the best of friends and will maintain that relationship forever.  In order to do what we can to help that happen, we think it's important to have as little tension present when they are close to each other and to give Liam as many chances as we can to see her, touch her, kiss her, whatever he feels like doing.  So here's some pictures from a Tuesday night snuggle session:

August 11 = Shh Mommy Day

So before I show this picture, let me share a link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diana-west/smart-bedsharing-gives-br_b_5662733.html

So yes- sometimes Malia sleeps in the bed with us because if we put her in the pack 'n' play she will cry and cry and cry and I think it would take her an hour or more to finally go to sleep.  If I put her in bed with me, she falls asleep immediately.  For my sanity and for both of my kids' well-beings, me getting more sleep is a good thing.  

That being said- Zachary snapped this picture of me and Malia snoozing this morning.

August 5 = Talk a Walk Day

One of the best things we can do as this new family of four is to go for a walk.  When Liam is cranky and Malia is fussy- taking a walk is the way to go.  We either put Liam in the jogging, single stroller and I put Malia in the baby carrier or we put them in the double stroller.  Either way, both enjoy the fresh air.  This day we walked down to this little scenic overlook of the Severn River and let barefoot Liam out of the stroller to walk around a little bit.  I thought these pictures were too cute.

August 4 = MRI Day

Poor little Liam :( In order to wean him off of his seizure medicine (which we are not great about giving him anyway) Liam's neurologist wanted us to get a clean EEG, MRI and bloodwork.  The EEG wasn't too big of a deal but the MRI was a different story.  I stayed at home with Malia and Zachary and Liam headed off to Bethesda.  He was getting blood work done on the same day so that after they sedated him for the MRI, they could do the bloodwork and he wouldn't even know it had happened.  

That's not what ended up happening.  They start sticking him and it's not working so they have to try multiple spots.  Zachary ends up realizing they're taking blood, not starting the IV for sedation and immediately points this out to them asking why are you taking the blood work before he's sedated?  And they respond, "Oh... yeah."  

So the IV goes in easily and then they finish the bloodwork.  When someone called to give us instructions- he couldn't eat after a certain time, he had to wear clothes with no buttons or snaps, etc.- they told us after the MRI he'd have 2 hours to wake up.  If he didn't wake up within that 2 hour window, they would wake him up themselves.  So when they took him back for the MRI they told Zachary he'd come back asleep so to just relax and start reading- Zachary had brought his textbooks to get ahead in his school work.  Liam came back from the MRI wide awake.  They also said he'd have a hard time eating if he wanted to eat at all and not to rush it but he'd need to eat two graham crackers and a popsicle before he left.  Immediately, he ate all of it and had no problem at all.  Here's a picture of Father and Son enjoying their popsicles.

So we are really happy that is over with.  When he got home, he was very unstable when walking- it was actually kind of funny- Zachary said he looked like a little drunk.  But thankfully, he never got sick like we were warned about so all in all it was a good experience!

August 3 = Special Diaper Day

At Malia's baby shower, there were several newborn diapers on a table with markers just waiting for family members and friends to write funny messages on them.  We've been using plain ones for a while and those have run out so now it's time to use the personalized diapers.  This one is from my friend Kim and says "I love you baby bug."  Kim and I call each other bug so naturally, Malia is baby bug.

My other favorite so far is from Uncle Matt and says "Malia Mae or Mae not have done this."  Joey seems to enjoy the light reading as well.

August 2 = Malia meet Malia Day

Usually when people ask me what the little baby's name is and I tell them, "Malia," I get the response: "Oooh that's so pretty!"  A couple of times I've been asked where that name comes from, that they've never heard it before.  That clues me in that they don't know much about our president but I let that go and tell them about the time I met my good friend, Malia.  It was my junior year at Carolina and I had done something I would have never guessed I would do, auditioned for an a cappella group.  I've always loved singing but to actually sing by myself in front of several (and at the time intimidating) girls I've never met is a bit uncharacteristic of me but I did it.  And I made it!  The night they decided who was in, they came to each of our dorm rooms to give us the good news and took us to a common area of another dorm for us to meet the existing and fellow new members.  One of my fellow new members came up and introduced herself, "Hi! I'm Malia."  I responded, "Malia?!  That is beautiful.  I'm going to name my child that one day."  Over the next few years I got to know Malia- we were in Cadence for a year and a half together and then we really got to know each other better through studying for, and eventually kicking butt on, the GRE.  She is beautiful, so very kind, one of the smartest people I know and has an awesome sense of adventure.  We already know our little Malia is beautiful but as a mother, I hope to raise her to have these same wonderful qualities my friend Malia has.  So it was such a good day when Malia was able to Annapolis from DC where she's been living for the summer while completing an internship.  We went to lunch at potato valley... is there a more perfect restaurant for me to go to?  No.  We also grabbed some ice cream and then came back to the apartment and caught up.  It was a wonderful visit and I'm so happy that she was able to meet her namesake and also see Liam again!