Shosh at 3 months

Shoshana turned 3 months on October 13th. It's crazy to just go back and edit these now that she is 5 and half months and see how much she has changed.

Even though I haven't been writing blog posts, I have been making notes under each month heading for Shosh, so I can remember what she was up to during that month.

kindly ignore all the dog hair on my couch, please & thank you

When she was 3 months she had just recently gotten into holding her own hands. Surprise, I thought it was adorable.

She also started babbling. Surprise, I also found this to be very very cute.

She developed some light cradle cap right at her hairline. Nothing too bad and I could just pick off any that was snuck down past her hair.

She rolled from her belly onto her back for the very first time! She didn't do it often, but it happened and both Willie and I were able to witness it.

She giggled for the first time... for Willie! I didn't even get to see it, because it happened while I was giving Judah a bath. I could hear it happening though. Try as I might, I was not able to get her to giggle for me.

Her eyes were starting to show the first hints of color. She had the newborn dark grey eyes for the first couple of months and by 3 months they had flecks of brown near the iris.

She was also big enough to start sitting in her bumbo. Judah didn't get much use out of the bumbo, as he was too fat. His little legs got stuck in the leg holes. He is actually better able to sit in the bumbo now at two than he was as a baby. Shosh is not a skinny baby by any means, but her legs are significantly less rolly-polly than Judah's were.

Another major event in Shoshana's life was her very first sleepover at my parents' house. It left something to be desired. Judah did fine (he has had many a sleepover at my parent's house and Bill's parents' house), but Shosh absolutely refused to go to sleep. Instead she yelled at my mom for her attempts in the matter. My mom eventually gave up after multiple tries and Shosh stayed up with my dad watching TV until after midnight. She eventually went to sleep (a good 5 hours past her normal bedtime) and then woke back up at 5 am and was up for the day (and she is normally not an early morning riser).

We did not intend for Shosh to have an overnight so early in her young little life, but circumstances arouse that made it necessary.

A little after Shosh turned a month old, I started second shooting and assisting at weddings. This was a nice way to ease back in to working. I was able to get out and shoot, but did not have to commit to any extra work time (such as all the time that comes with editing or communicating with clients). It was a nice set-up since I never knew how much time or energy (or sleep) I would be able to put forth in those early months. Plus, weddings are most often on the weekend which meant that Bill would be able to stay home with the kids.

Ralph wins the award for being the best kid dog

However, Bill's work schedule is anything but regular and it turned out that out of the 8 wedding I worked on this year, Bill ended up working for more than half of them. Luckily, we have very supportive families who were able to step in and watch the kids (sometimes under extremely short notice as Bill's schedule can change without much notice).

I wouldn't be able to pursue my business as a professional photographer if it wasn't for them and all their help. Thank you, family! I super duper appreciate it!

Happy New Year...uhh, or Happy Halloween. Whatever.

Well, since tomorrow is NYE, I thought it was a good time to recap 2013 write about visiting the pumpkin patch and Halloween. Eh. So it goes.

We visited the pumpkin patch on Sauvie Island, just like I used to as a kid. Judah had fun seeing the animals in the barn: bunnies, chickens, goats, geese, and a llama- maybe a sheep too? It's been a while and I can't remember now. I guess that is why you should write things down right away, huh?

We then went and played in the mini hay maze and hay tower.

Then  we went to the near field (instead of riding the tractor to the far fields) and let Judah pick out his own pumpkin. The only requirement is he had to carry it himself.

We helped him find a perfectly adorable, round, orange pumpkin, but when we were walking back to pay he found what he considered an even better pumpkin.

It fit in the palms of his hands and had a bonus rotting spot in back. Well, done, Judah. Nice pick. We tried to convince him that his first pumpkin was superior, but he wasn't having it. He loved his little pumpkin.

Shosh is making the face Bill and I wanted to make about Judah's choice in pumpkin.

This was Judah's third Halloween, but the first time he has really gotten into it and understood that it is a special day. This was the first year we took him trick-or-treating, which he definitely got a kick out of.

We had some practice runs on trick-or-treating in the days leading up to Halloween. We would have him ring our own bell and say "trick-or-treat", "thank you", and "happy Halloween". One day, his Tito Kim and Auntie Katie were over, so he got practice with them, which made them and him very happy.

moments before throwing that pine duff directly at my face

When the big day arrived, he was a bit apprehensive about going trick-or-treating. There was some definite fussing going on while we were getting ready to head out. After a visiting a few houses, he started to hit his stride and realized how awesome it was to get candy.

We didn't see a lot of other people while were out, because we went so early. However, we had no problem filling up his little bat candy bag (which only held 15 pieces or so of candy).

Ralph didn't even care.

When we got home we let him pick one piece of candy to eat (he went with a bag of mini m&ms) and the rest we put away to dole out once a day (except he ended up forgetting the candy existed after 3 or 4 days).

We got him all ready for bed, but he was too psyched on having trick-or-treaters at the house to actually go to bed. We let him stay up and answer the door bell. I'm pretty sure he preferred handing out candy to actually going trick-or-treating himself.

We didn't get a ton of trick-or-treaters at the house, maybe only 20 or so. This was our first Halloween in our new house so we had no idea how many to expect. I was was hoping for more, but not surprised that we wound up with as many as we did.

Shosh is now the 3rd baby in the family to wear the panda costume for their first Halloween. The initial panda was her cousin Azalea (my brother's daughter), then Judah, and now Shosh.

Now we will have to pass it on to any future babies in the family. She was pretty ambivalent to the whole thing, which, of course, makes sense as she was only 3 and a half months old at the time.

family portrait

this is what it looks like when a triceratops is in time-out... for throwing pine duff in my face

Tis the season... For sick kiddos.

As you may have noticed, my posting has fallen far behind. Shosh is going to be 5 months on Friday, but I have yet to even post her 3 month photos. Sigh. 

I have made drafts with reminders of what to write about for each month (things like rolling over or just general adorableness), so when I have the time to write I will actually be able to remember what happened in her little life.  

It feels like lately has just been one big long bout of illness at our house. And when kids are sick, I get very little sleep (because they wake up 1,374 times a night). Then the personal blog is what gets left behind when I prioritize my to-do list. 

It's a constant struggle trying to find balance when at home with two little ones, especially two sick little ones. Hopefully this current cold will run it's course quickly and their moods and sleep patterns will improve (and then my mood & sleep will too). 

Umm, and here is a photo, because I know that is the only reason some of you even clicked on the link ;) 

Judah, the preschooler

Today was Judah's very first day of preschool, which I guess means he is no longer a toddler. He is now officially a preschooler.

He is at school right at the moment. For now, we are just doing two days a week and the program is mornings only. We were really psyched to find a Montessori Children's House not very far from our house with all the things we wanted (like half days, options on number of days per week, and, of course, being Montessori).

We visited twice last week. Once for a tour and then the next day for their Halloween party so we could meet the other kids and see how Judah did with them. He was super pumped for both visits, although he did cry the second time... but only because it was time to leave!

We were initially not planning on starting him right away. We figured we would start after the holidays, because then he would be two and a half (which is generally the earlist kids start). However, after visiting and observing how he did the teacher thought (and we agreed) that he was ready now. 

I think it will be really great for him. He needs more social interaction with his peers. Right now he mostly hangs out with adults (as in his parents, grandparents, and aunties... & his Tito). He also hangs with a particular baby girl as well. Lately though, when we have been out and about he has been especially attentive to other kids. He has even gone so far as to very slowly approach a toddler while we were at a coffee shop and start talking with (at) her. 

I'm definitely looking forward to having some one-on-one time with Shosh while he's away at school. It's amazing how easy one baby seems now, as opposed to when it was just Judah and me. Yay for experience! 

I am also looking forward to getting work done while he's gone, both on my photography and just general house work. I am totally behind on blogging (which, I guess, is kind of the norm for me). I currently have three posts that I need to prep: Shosh at 3 months, our trip to the pumpkin patch, and Halloween. Hopefully, I will be able to catch up on those now... Well, maybe next week, since I don't have tons of time left today and Shosh has a doctor appointment during Judah's second day of school this week. 

Toddler v. Camera

Does anyone else out there have this issue? Whenever I bring out my dslr Judah starts freaking out about how he wants to take the picture. Like freaking out to the point of tantruming. It's awesome.

I got a new tilt-shift lens last week and was super excited to play around with it... but that didn't happen. Instead I have over 100 shots by Judah of the dogs and the rug and his feet and the walls. I have chosen to share just a few of his photos with you, because, honestly, his style gets a bit repetitive. And I doubt anyone wants to see a photo (or ten) of where the wall meets the ceiling. I think I got to take maybe 4 images that day. Maybe.

Now, I'm not totally insane. I don't let him actually hold the camera and carry it around. I hold it and he just gets to press the shutter. He will sometimes attempt to look through the viewfinder, but usually just smashes his nose up to it instead.

I'm going to have to institute a straight-up Judah ban from my photography equipment. No picture taking. No touching. No. Nothing. He is not going to be pleased, but too bad. I need my camera, son. Deal with it.

It's really too bad there cannot be a happy medium, but at this age it seems to be all or none. I want to encourage him to take photographs and I love seeing what he comes up with. When he gets older it will be great to share my love of photography with him. I have an old canon rebel that is just sitting on my shelf waiting for him to be old enough to use it without breaking it (by throwing it. Always with the throwing.) Until that day, he will have to be content with being my muse (ha!) and only having access to the camera on my iphone.

Shoshana at 2 Months, The Sequel

I really meant to post this follow up a while ago. You know, when she really was freshly 2 months old. But, that just didn't end up happening. This month has been crazy busy. Bill has been working a ton of night shifts (including that 4 day trip to Tacoma that started the day Shosh hit two months). I honestly cannot even remember the last time he had two days off in a row. So, with me basically single parenting I didn't have a lot of spare time to spend on blogging. Thankfully, Bill is home all weekend! Yay! Plus, he took Thurs & Friday off too! Double yay! I spent the last two days catching up on errands and meetings, but now that it is Saturday (and both kids are napping. At. The. Same. Time. I know, right?), I actually have a moment to sit down and write this post.

So, Shosh is now 2 months old. Yup, this summer has flown by (what with moving, Judah turning two, and, you know, Shosh being born). Now the Autumn rain is starting. Well, right now it is actually storming. I just saw a huge pine branch break off an crash down in our backyard. The dogs got scared and started barking. Idiots.

Shoshana is still as cute as can be. And she is still a super easy, good natured baby. Which, I think you deserve if you have a two year old as well (even if your two year old is super awesome, they are still exhausting). She is fine just chilling in her baby bjorn bouncer chair. She only really fusses when she has a specific need that is not being met. Sometimes, when I am busy dealing with Judah and putting him down to for nap-time, she will be in her crib and be mildly upset. I know it will be quicker/easier to get him down first, so she just has to wait. Then when I finish with him she will have already gone to sleep and without ever getting super pissed of anything. I guess second babies learn quickly they just have to deal and make the best of it.

We haven't been doing very well with EC-ing her. It is just tough because we can't give her 100% of our time and attention. I can't sit there watching and waiting for her to pee so I can cue her with the 'pssss' sound, because I am also taking care of her brother, and the dogs, and the house, and maybe (if I'm lucky) myself. When one of us gets one on one time with her it is a lot easier to practice EC. Hopefully, our half-assed attempt will still pay dividends in the long run and the eventual transition from diapers to undies with be smooth and relatively painless.

She is doing lots of social smiles these days. Her little face lights up in a grin when she sees me or her dad after waking up from a nap. Same thing if you make little faces at her and silly noises. So cute.

She is still pretty much a champion sleeper. On average she wakes up around 3 times during the night. However, when Bill was in Tacoma she must have been taking pity on me and she only got up once all night every night he was gone! It was crazy (and awesome), but pretty much only lasted those few nights. Still, if was to happen at all those were definitely the nights I could use it the most.

Shoshi still hasn't had a full immersion soap and water bath. Her bedtime routine continues to be a warm washcloth bath, followed by a full body massage with coconut oil. And you know what? She still doesn't have baby acne or cradle cap!

Shosh is still barfing like a pro. I would say she averages at least one massive barf once every two days. There are little spit-ups here and there throughout the day, but those don't even rank. I'm talking about I need to go and change ALL of my clothes (and hers) because they are that saturated with barf. It is Exorcist style barfing (except it is white, instead of pea green, and her head doesn't spin around, but it does shoot out her nose).

She also is still quite gassy. It is weird, as her poop smells pretty inoffensive (as it is breast-milk poo), but her farts smell like rotten broccoli. You would think they would smell the same, but not so much (or at all, really). Sometimes I will put her down after nursing when it is time for her to sleep and she will be fussing slightly. Then she will fart, relax, and go right to sleep. The other night she actually woke herself up after she farted (just like a dog!). Silly gassy girl.

Shoshana still sleeps in her play-yard next to my side of the bed. We had to put her bassinet away, as she quickly outgrew it. When Judah hit two months we transitioned him out of our room and play-yard, and into his nursery and crib. We have no such plans with her. It help that our bedroom in this house is just that much bigger, so we can easily fit her play-yard and a nursing chair. When we had Judah we also still had both dogs in kennels in our room with us. He also woke quite a bit more and was more sensitive to when Bill had to get up in the morning for work (or when he came home in the middle of the night after a night shift). Shosh just sleeps through it (again, I'm not sure how much of that is due to the different layout/configuration of our room and how much is just that they are different little people).

Hopefully going forward I can actually write these posts closer to her actual monthly birthday. Oh well, at least I got photos of her on the 13th.

Did I mention she really likes sucking on her hand?