An Authentic Japanese Kimono

Uncle Chris spent 3 weeks in Japan and brought back a Kimono for Karter. We went to Sakana for dinner and Karter proudly wore his kimono!

Cousins

Julia and Baby Nola

Always Happy

Nola - 6 weeks

It's amazing how 2 children from the same parents can be so different.  Nola is a very relaxed sweet baby girl.  She does not like to be swaddled (Karter needed to be DOUBLED swaddled and we used all the 5 S's to sooth him).  She isn't interested in her swing (Karter lived in his swing for the first 4-5 months).  She prefers to be held during her fussy times - which in my mind aren't really fussy at all.  The only time you hear her cry is when she is cold or hungry.  Naps are taken in the bassinet that Frank Lavaia made 30 + years ago.  Nola sleeps on her side on an incline sleeper - sucking her pacifier.  I put her in drowsy and most of the time she can sooth herself to sleep.  If she does wake up and needs to go back to sleep all you have to do is stick the pacifier back in or put her back on her side.  Occasionally she needs me to rub her hand to dose off.  Breast feeding is going really well.  She eats for about 30 mins and can go 3 - 4 hours in between feedings.    We are very VERY lucky because we are all sleeping!!  Nola just started to sleep through the night.  I can brag about this because it was a completely different story with Karter.  It took him almost 6 months to sleep through the night.

I can't imagine life without her.  She is a perfect addition to our family.  When I was pregnant I always questioned how you can love someone as much as you love your first.  I now know first hand that it comes so natural without any effort.  It's a different kind of love than the love I have for Karter.  It's like any other relationship I have in my life - I care and love for everyone I know in a different way.  I love her some much and I know the love is going to just get stronger and stronger over time.

That being said... Karter sleeps through the night, he gets along with everyone and brings happiness into our lives each and every day.  So we'll see how things turn out... at this point life is good at the Maslowsky household!