Libby and Sarah

Libby continues to adore Sarah. Sarah has had more kisses from Libby than I can begin to count. She has also started "shhh-ing" when Sarah cries. Libby wants to help wipe her face when she spits up and help pat her when I am burping her. Libby also wants to suck on Sarah's binkie (lots more than Sarah does, it turns out). When I put Sarah down on the floor with Libby and I, Libby wants to either, wrap the blanket around Sarah (she has watched us swaddle her I guess) or pick her up. Needless to say, Sarah is usually on the counter or the table, well out of Libby range unless I am right there. It is tough parenting two! But Libby has made it super adorable!

Trunk or Treat

Libby got her first taste of Halloween at the Edmonds Ward Party on Saturday night (which we technically crashed since we aren't in the ward anymore, but it was fun to see everyone). Here is momma bee and her two little ladybugs. Libby was so fascinated watching everything going on that she didn't even pull off her headband. (When we got official pictures on Monday, she wouldn't leave the headband on for more than 1 second.)

Thanks Grandma Debbi!

This is Sarah's beautiful bed. We want to thank Grandma Debbi for making the quilt and pillow. The wedge is from Libby's Children's Hosptial days. Sarah seems to enjoy sleeping in it, even though she doesn't seem to have reflux issues like Libby.

Sarah's Special Birthday Mates

Sarah shares her birthday with one aunt and one uncle (and one cousin's husband too!). Her uncle Leroy who lives in New Zealand and her aunt Sissy (Sandra) who lives in Reno. My cousin Shelley's husband Neil also was born on Oct. 14th. She is lucky to share a birthday with such a fun crowd! We almost decided to change her name to Sandra (as hoped by her aunt on this package label) but we thought that Sandra Leroy Neil Norton didn't sound very good, and we couldn't be unfair.

Homegirl Sarah

Sarah's Growth

Sarah had her 2nd weigh in today. She was 6 lbs. 9 oz. on Friday. Usually they like to see babies gain an ounce a day. I was so happy when Sarah surpassed this and has regained her birthweight! 6 lbs. 15 oz. Not only is this about 8 weeks faster than Libby regained her birthweight but faster than the average baby too! All this nursing isn't going for nothing :)

Libby on a Pedestal

Derek caught this great footage of Libby's new climbing skills. She can now get up on the couch, the glider, and the library footstool. Nothing is safe. (She also loves this Wisconsin Cheese Dave brought from Wisconsin :)

Sarah's First Sunday

Today Sarah went with us to hear the Primary Program in the Barrett's primary program in Everett. It is so nice to have cousins nearby.

Sisters

I explained to Libby that if she held out her finger to Baby Sarah, Sarah would grab it. Libby was super excited about this idea. But then she got distracted and wanted to poke Sarah--so I had to move her. But it is so adorable to watch them together. Here they are in matching PJs. Libby was so excited to be able to hold Sarah. She did a good job. She clapped for joy! She did start patting Sarah on the head eventually, but she held her for several pictures before that.

Sarah's First Days

Which is Which?

So do our girls look alike?

Guess which is Sarah and which is Libby in their hospital pics.

Libby and Sarah

Here is the video of Libby and Sarah's first interaction.

Welcome Baby Sarah!

Baby Sarah decided to make her appearance! And when she decided, she really was ready. She was born on Tuesday evening at 9:53 pm after about 5 total hours of labor, only 13 minutes of pushing! It was kind of wild and crazy labor, with some seriously long contractions, hyperventilation, and a failed epidural, but we made it.

Stats:

Weight 6 lbs. 15 oz.

Height 20 inches

She is already shaping up to be a good eater (it looks like so far). This is a huge relief after Libby. Libby loves her sister! Dave is going to post the best video of this love and I will link it later today.

I need to get pictures from those who took them, because I have only a few that aren't so good. But here is one so that you can see our new larger family (Libby was growling in this picture, btw--hence the strange face).

Libby's Newest

Derek taught her today to give herself a kiss. She doesnt' like to give us kisses, so I guess it is the next best thing?

High Chair Gymnast

I don't know how she managed this, but I was checking my email and she pulled her feet out and up. We keep trying to work on the "all done" sign...but she prefers making a ruckus however she can when she is done instead.

Milestone!

Today I let Libby out of the stroller at the park. She walked around and played on the big toy, even going down one slide on her own because I accidentally let go too early. (This pregnant body couldn't get down on the slide fast enough!) Anyway, the big milestone is that she did all of this WITHOUT PUTTING THINGS IN HER MOUTH! In reality she did pick up ONE woodchip and ONE pinecone, but she was more interested in playing than in eating everything in sight. HOORAY! She is growing up!
Then, she lost one of her new shoes on the walk home. 5 hours later a prayer and a tennis player at the park helped me find it in a place I never would have looked. What a day.

A day, however, with NO contractions. I guess I will carry little Sarah to term. I am wondering if she is still in there because tomorrow I am teaching a primary in-service lesson and the president is praying I will be there to teach it. Oh well, I can handle being pregnant a little longer. What can I do? I drank 3 pots of rasperry tea today and it doesn't seem to help.

Libby the Rockstar!

My brother Dave moved to Seattle yesterday. Hooray! He brought his playstation and his rockband set. Libby was trying to play while the boys were playing. She really wanted to! Finally after they were really done, Derek gave her a chance to hit the drum. She loved it. She also enjoyed tasting the stick.

Waiting for Baby

Well, there is a part of me that is starting to get frustrated with the waiting thing (no surprise here) but I am seeing some benefits. I was super worried about how I was going to nurse because Libby had not been at all interested in being read to, which I keep hearing is the #1 way to entertain child 1 while you nurse child 2. All of a sudden in the past couple of days she has had a total change of heart. She wants to be read to all the time! She doesn't just grab the book and start eating it or slapping it. She actually wants you to read it to her and she looks at the pictures and responds to what you read. Her favorite book is Hey Diddle Diddle. Wow am I going to get tired of that dish running away with the spoon, but I am feeling blessed with this new development.

Check it out!

My brother Dave (who is amazing!) is moving to Seattle to work for Tom and "Feed", his buddies from high school who now live up here. They do some amazing things with computers and photography. Their newest application is featured in iTunes in "What's Hot" under Apps. If you have an iPhone, you should buy it! It is 2nd today! It is called CameraBag and it lets you change the way your pictures look so that they look like they were taken with different kinds of cameras. Super cool.

Life is Like a Rollercoaster

Everything about my life right now is like a rollercoaster. Start with the contours of my body...that is an absolute hilly ride. But while Derek and I were on our hospital tour on Tuesday night I was like--wow, we have been standing in this line to get on this rollercoaster again--and now I think I changed my mind! A baby was born while we were standing outside one of the doors and hearing that newborn cry I was freaked out! At the same time I feel like I am already on the rollercoaster (still having multiple contractions today, and some this evening were pretty strong, I am now dilated to a 3 1/2) but we keep getting up that big hill and then stopping at the top. Man, how much longer can I go on like this? I am up at 4:45 am for a baby feeding already even though she is still inside, so she might as well hurry up and get here!

Libby's Toys

Libby has a real thing for making toys out of anything that isn't a toy. She had a blast with this metal mixing bowl on Sunday. She was walking around with it on her head, but we missed getting that on video.

Pregnancy update: I am now dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. Lots of contractions throughout the day yesterday, but not strong enough or close enough to be the real thing. I am now convinced I will probably make it to my due date which is only 2 weeks away. Tonight we have our hospital tour, since we are having Sarah at a different hospital than we had Libby. Guess we will be ready after that...I also finished the major purchases for Sarah's room yesterday. I got a used rocking chair for $35.00 and a baby monitor.

Getting Ready for Baby

To help Libby get ready for baby, we bought her a baby doll last night. She can rock the baby, pat the baby, kiss the baby, and hug the baby. Unfortunately she likes drinking the baby's bottle, carrying the baby around by the neck, and pulling off the baby's clothes more than the gentle stuff so far.

PS. Pregnancy update: As of yesterday afternoon I was 2 1/2 cm dilated, 60% effaced and the baby is at -2. Hooray! I keep progressing.

Genius!

Libby figured out how to get up on the table so she could get the camera case. Just pull the baby seat up next to the chair and voila! It works like a ladder. Yikes!

Trish's Last Class

Last night I finished teaching BodyPump for the duration of the pregnancy. It is now pretty hard to squat or clean and press without really getting out of alignment to accommodate my dropping belly. But, I wanted some photo evidence that I really did teach this pregnant (21 days to go). And it was actually making the participants quite nervous too!

Love and Kisses

Well, Libby and Reid had a blast spending time together last night. Libby is finally learning to kiss--with the little smacking sound and everything. She and Reid kissed several times (sorry Dan, we won't let it happen again). This is the one Derek caught on video. Libby looks more shy than she was later when she was swooping in for the kiss.

Fun with Food

Some kids apparently like to keep their hands neat while eating. Not our Libby :)