Grabbing

Nola started to grab things and I mean everything. She is an oral baby and everything go right in the mouth. I never had to worry with Karter but Nola is going to be a different story.

Sleeping beauties

Papou and Nola resting before dinner.

Way too much time on my hands

Breast feeding takes a good 30 mins so why not spend the time making your daughter look like a rock star!

Sweet Baby Boy

TRUCKS

Papou's trucks

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!

The best big brother ever

Karter is adjusting well to our new addition.  He is so gentle and kind.  If she is crying he tells us that she needs milk and brings her EVERY single toy that is hers to make her feel better.  He loves to hold her -always hugging and kissing her.  The first words out of his mouth when he wakes up is "bebe?".. to be translated as "Where is Nola I missed her while I was sleeping".  There is a little jealousy but that is to be expected as he is 2 years old.  He never takes it out on her.  I only got hit once out of his frustration that he wasn't getting my undivided attention.  He cried and I cried together and we were over it.

Karter loves his sister very much and I'm not sure if he remembers what life was like before she was born.  When I was pregnant I thought we were having another baby for Craig and I as parents, but I believe that Nola is more for Karter than for us.  And we will always have each other.

Big Bubby

We have been visiting Big Bubby in Queens on Tuesdays for almost 2 years now. Their bond grows stronger and stronger over time and they both light up when they see each other. Please notice that BB is sitting in Karter chair.. At 90 there are no limits for the people you love!

My wonderful husband

My hormones were all over the place when I got home from the hospital just like they were with Karter.  I had my fair share of crying for no reason but I expected it because I had the same post pardon blues with Karter.  This time around it lasted for a shorter amount of time.  I attribute this to the tremendous amount of support I got from Craig.  He stayed with me for 4 of the 5 nights in the hospital at my side the whole time.  If he wasn't with me he was taking care of Karter or making sure our family was together.  He told me he had this intense feeling of bringing his family together - that he didn't feel complete without Karter so he picked Karter up almost everyday so we could all be together. 

Craig went above and beyond when we all got home.  He didn't let me lift a finger and did everything around the house.  I didn't have to worry about anything but taking care of my children.  Karter and Craig spent a lot of time together too.  Craig loves his family more than anything else in this world and it was very evident in the past 2 weeks. I met Craig 8 years and never saw him so happy.  We so lucky to have a husband and a father who is so selfless and compassionate. 

Announcement Phots

Courtesy of Meghan Donovan

http://www.donovangirl.com/

She comes highly recommended