Please welcome our newest addition...

She's here!  Our sweet bundle of joy finally arrived.  Please welcome Lucy Emerson Turner!  Born February 7th at 10:19am weighing in at 8lbs, 5 oz.  She is a beautiful baby and such a good sleeper and eater.  And her big sister absolutely adores her!  


The delivery was much quicker this time but no less painful (we opted for another natural childbirth).  I started having contractions the day before but they were mild and I was able to sleep through the night.  Then I woke up around 4am and decided it was time to call in the reinforcements - my sister and our friend Jillian who is also Amelia's daycare teacher.  Irene and her family were on standby to make the drive from Houston to Austin so they could take care of Amelia while we were in the hospital.  Jillian was on call to be the caretaker until Irene arrived.  On a normal weekday, Amelia would have gone to daycare during the day.  But she had come home from school the day before with a high fever and thus could not go back until she was fever free for 24 hours!  This threw a slight wrench into our plans.  Luckily we have good friends here who really came through for us.  Jillian arrived at 6:00 am and we left for the hospital.  Lucy was born at 10:19 am after only 30 minutes of pushing!  


Life with two kids has definitely been an adjustment for both Martin and me.  Amelia is still going to daycare part of the day but she's home in the afternoon with me and Lucy.  Since I'm nursing Lucy, that consumes my time and attention most of the day and night.  This is the reason for the very late post on Lucy's arrival.  It's been difficult to find time to do any of my personal stuff - including taking a shower:)  All in all, the second child has proven to be easier than the first go 'round.  We're less anxious, a little more experienced and not quite so scared of this baby.  It does help that Lucy is incredibly easy right now.  She sleeps very well and eats well; the only time she fusses is when she needs some attention or has gas.  She is also a bigger baby than Amelia was!  At birth she was almost one pound bigger (Amelia was 7lbs 9 oz) and at her one month check up she was already 10lbs!!!  Her stats at 1 month: 10 lbs (75th %), 21 3/4 inches long (75th %), head circumference 31.6 cm (80th %).  I do remember Amelia gaining weight very fast in her first few months so this may be a trend that only lasts a short while, but maybe not. Maybe Lucy will be the bigger sister!


I will definitely try to post more frequently now.  Here are some photos to enjoy!

Our awesome L&D nurses! The one on the right was a student and it was her first labor and delivery!  She cried when Lucy was born.

Sweet Lucy

First family visit

First day

With Mimi

Meeting her big sister for the first time!  Amelia was so excited. She had to wait until she was fever free before we could introduce the two.  It was a tough but Amelia was a champ.

Sisters

January 2012

The Zilker Tree

New Year's Eve isn't quite the party scene for us as it used to be.  Now we spend a quiet evening at home with Amelia, make a great dinner, get a movie and plan for a relaxing New Year's Day.  Too bad Amelia is not adventurous in her food choices, because we had an excellent surf 'n turf dinner with a beef tenderloin and crab legs!  Then we tucked the little monkey in to bed, watched a funny movie and rang in the New Year quietly.  The next morning I made an excellent challah French toast breakfast (that Amelia loved).

Yummy!

The most exciting thing happening to us right now is awaiting the birth of our second daughter, Lucy.  I'm 37 weeks today and we are very ready to see our new baby girl.  Even Amelia is very attuned to what is going on and is eagerly awaiting her little sisters arrival.  I'm at the point in my pregnancy where I'm quite uncomfortable most of the time, can't sleep, my hips and back hurt and people are very vocal about their worry that I will have the baby any minute.  It is quite possible, too.  My contractions are coming more often and the baby has dropped.  I was one week early with Amelia so the odds are good that Lucy will also be a little early.  37 weeks is good - technically I'm full term now.  Of course, it's always best to keep them in as long as possible.  I'm in full nesting phase right now getting everything ready for her arrival.  We finished her room, which is just a formality since she'll sleep in our room for at least a few months.  We are as ready as we'll ever be.

36 weeks pregnant!

 

Lucy's room

Amelia is growing up so fast.  She is unbelievable smart and such a little character.  She is quite the drama queen and we feel like she will do well in theatre!  Even besides that, she's really starting to understand things better and has become more empathetic than she ever has been.  Here are a few conversations that I wanted to put in writing so we always remember them:

The other day she was jumping on her trampoline while I sat and watched.  

She told me:  "I love jumping.  Mommy, you made this trampoline"

me:  "No baby, I didn't make it.  But daddy and I put it together for you."

Amelia:  "Oh.  I love my trampoline.  Thank you mommy and daddy for putting it together for me!"

When I picked her up from daycare recently:

Amelia: "Mommy, I was worried about you."

me:  "Baby, why were you worried about me?"

Amelia:  "Because I was worried.  I want to take care of you."

me (almost in tears):  "Baby, you don't ever have to worry about me.  Ok?  I am fine and I will always be there to take care of you."

Amelia:  "Ok"

I think she's really in tuned to my pregnancy and is worried about how I'm feeling this days.

For a 2 and half year old, I think she's got a wonderful vocabulary and has a really good understanding of things.  She is constantly telling us things that make us laugh.  It would be impossible to list them all.

My two favorite people

And last but not least, check out this cute video of Amelia singing the Hamotzi (a Jewish prayer thanking God for the bread).  

The next blogs will hopefully have some baby updates!  I will try to get something online as soon as possible.

Amelia's Big Girl Room and the New Nursery

As we begin to prepare for our newest member of the family, it was time to organize the rooming situation.  We have a 3 bedroom house and Martin and I both felt that the baby needed her own room at least until she gets old enough to sleep in a regular bed.  This meant we had to move Amelia's crib and "baby" furniture into the new baby's room and upgrade Amelia's room to "Big Girl" status.  I loved this!  We bought her a new twin bed and some new furniture.  And Martin spent a whole weekend painting her room a beautiful raspberry pink!  Our goal was to make it very special for Amelia so she wouldn't feel as if we were taking something from her to give to the baby.  So we moved Amelia temporarily into the baby's room while we made the upgrades.  Then we did a great unveiling (I'll post to YouTube soon).  She walked in and said "Wow!".  She loved that it is her favorite color and she got a new "big girl" bed.  I'm still in the process of decorating it and putting some finishing touches on the wall, but here is a cute photo of her in her new room.

Super Cheese!

With her Lulu

We're still working on getting her to clean up her toys

Christmas 2011

As expected, Christmas this year did not disappoint.  I really want to enjoy these younger years with Amelia when everything is exciting and awesome.  It's the teenage years I dread when there is disappoint for not getting exactly what you wanted.  But we have some time before that.  Amelia is almost 2 and a half now and she is so incredibly smart and funny.  We didn't go overboard with gifts but we did get her a few things we knew she'd love.  First, we bought her an early Christmas present in November - the trampoline.  A huge hit!  The rest that fit under the tree were dolls, toys, games and fun clothes.  She was most excited about the Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody dolls (Toy Story movie) that Mimi and Papa got for her.  But some of the other big hits included her dress up clothes - a lady bug costume and princess/cowgirl outfit.  And she got some pretty awesome scary plastic bugs from Grandma and Grandpa Turner.  Honestly she loved everything and that was the best part.  Hearing her say "Wow!" with each opening.  We spent the holiday with my family in Houston since I am now unable to travel.  35 weeks pregnant and counting!


Here are some great photos to enjoy!

We got a great Santa photo this year!

Just a funny hair photo!  She woke up looking like Snooky!

With Uncle Ray

The reason I love family - so many people and so much food!

Our little family

Opening some gifts on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning jammies!  Thank you Tia Norma!

Bug the Reindeer

Lovin' some legos she got from Santa

Little Lady Bug.  Notice the bunny slippers:)

Opening her Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear presents

Playing doctor on a very pregnant mommy

My little cowgirl / princess!

The mess that follows a wonderful Christmas!

Yo Gabba Gabba - 2011

We made our 2nd annual trip to see Yo Gabba Gabba live!  This time we had to make a road trip to Houston so we could be with our Brat Pack friends (Jack, Ava, Saoirse, Jude, Gunner & Ruby).  Next year we may have to consider seeing it closer to home but it was still worth the trip.  And as expected Amelia was in awe from start to finish.  She loved seeing all of the characters and hearing the music.  We had a great time and the only draw back was the never ending Gabba songs in my head throughout the night and in my dreams.  It just wouldn't stop!  But, Amelia had fun and that's all we wanted.

Laura & Jack

"Look at my Gabba shirt!"

Gabba crew

Entranced...

The Gilbrides

Ruby, Jude, Gunner, Saoirse & Amelia

(I had to promise a lollipop to Amelia to get her to take this photo)

Heading home