We have been swearing up and down that Grace and Hazel don’t look a bit alike. “Not true,” says Grammie, “look at those NICU pictures again!” So I did… I think you can tell which baby is which…
Cousinly love
17
Feb
That may sound like a reality show based in Arkansas but it is what showed when Aunt Christie brought two of Grace and Hazel’s biggest Southern California fans (Ryan and Jack) down for the weekend to meet Hazel and to help out. Since Grace brought an ear infection and 103ºfever to our normal level of chaos, the help was more than welcome. For Grace, Ryan was better than Elmo and “Mick-uh Mouse” rolled into one (which is a very scary mental picture). Everything her oldest cousin did was so hilarious she barely noticed being ill. Jack would have spent every waking moment with the girls but he had to stay down at Grammie’s house (and had to play video games and had to go to the Exploratorium). He ultimately got to spend time with both girls and claim the title of the youngest person yet to hold Hazel. Christie and Ryan even took care of Grace for a night so Jenn could force me go see “Valentine’s Day” go on a date with me (with Hazel as a chaperon).
The visit was so fantastic for all of us we are hoping to do it again ASAP, next time with Uncle Jim and Evan included.
Hitting the Bottle
17
Feb
If we haven’t been completely clear before, Hazel is a pretty amazing breast feeder. She took to it immediately and surpassed her birth weight by her 1 week doctor’s appointment. So she sucks and grows pretty well. Unfortunately (for Jenn) that sort of tethers her to Mommy. Every 3 hours she remembers that eating is fun and starts a high pitched wail that makes the smoke alarm sound like a lullaby. As soon as “that sound” starts Jenn complains that it is making her ears bleed and any teenagers within a 5 mile radius stop breaking whatever laws they are breaking and spontaneously purchase some sort of birth control.
Over the weekend, we started the process of shifting the burden away from Mommy (and presumably on to Daddy) by introducing a bottle. Jenn has been dutifully pumping whenever she can to build up a freezer full of boob juice to untether herself and try to regain some sanity. The good news is that Hazel took to the bottle as well as she took to the breast. The milk comes out a little faster so we have to regulate things to make sure it stays down, but this first baby step has been pretty successful. Next step is to Rho-Sham-Bo to see who has to get up at 3am.
New look(s)
12
Feb
We are trying to find a new look for Graceandhazel.com, so don’t be surprised if the Blog looks different everytime you look at it. I don’t think this will affect the emails, but I’m not sure. The look we had was trying to look like the original graceperiod but never quite made it.
If you like one in particular, take a screenshot and let us know.
-the parents
Water Baby
11
Feb
Of course, she is really a Water Big Girl, but it had been awhile since we’ve taken Grace to a swimming pool, what with winter and…you know…little miss Hazel causing a ruckus inside and out. Last weekend, we finally managed it again and after a little reluctance, she LOVED it! She didn’t quite get the bubble-blowing part but kicking was ALOT of fun. So was floating on the noodle (“noonal”) and going FAST with daddy. The look on her face suggests a long, wet summer ahead.
Bouncy House Party
08
Feb
While Grace has certainly seen a bouncy house before, she has thus far lacked the coordination to make any use of one. On Superbowl Sunday while Mommy (conveniently) had to nurse Hazel in front of the game, I drew yard duty and Grace rocked the house.
Virtual Hazel Holding
04
Feb
For those of you who can’t just pop in to get some quality baby holding time, here are some virtual substitutes. Enjoy, and see if you can resist calling…
Bug boots and stripes
04
Feb
For the first time ever, Grace let me put her ladybug boots on her this morning. Somehow they even seem to go with the outfit I picked out. Even Mommy approved without a hint of sarcasm…which is rare for my fashion choices.
Good Job, Hazel
02
Feb
It’s been one week since we brought home our “Take Home Baby”, so now is probably a good time to review how she is doing. Here’s the rundown on her current responsibilities…
Packing on the ounces
7 lbs 4 oz, at last week’s pediatrician weigh-in, Hazel had already surpassed her birth weight by one ounce. It usually takes a week or more to level out the expected decline but Hazel leveled while we were still in the hospital and is now on the road to thighs like croissants. There is still a long way to go to get those flaky, buttery, pastry-like limbs but we know she is getting what she needs from Mommy.
Eating and sleeping
Breastfeeding was such a challenge with Grace, we were hoping that the experience would be different this time around. And it is. Hazel is like clockwork for most of the day announcing that 3 hours has passed since the start of the last session with a high-pitched wail that would make a good deterrent for loitering youths. Since a feeding takes about 45 minutes, that would leave about 2 hours and 15 minutes for Jenn to get some quality sleep...IF…Hazel didn’t also need a certain amount of cuddling to stay alseep. Grace never required or really wanted much cuddling, she just wanted to be left alone to catch her zzz’s and grow. With Hazel, there is a lot of room for our friends who like holding babies to get their fix (please make an orderly line to the right). Fortunately, she lets Mommy get some extra winks as the sun comes up as she seems to like that particular time to catch a few of her own.
Happy 22 month- and 1 week-iversaries
28
Jan
Dear Grace and Hazel-
Your mom and I have now spent a week being the parents of two children and we feel like the luckiest, most relieved and tired people in the world. You are both beautiful and completely different from each other and from anything we could have expected 4 and a half years ago, when we met and gave up our “normal” lives.
Grace- you are the most independent, funny, stubborn and loving little girl. You love almost everything and everyone you meet. You say hi and give hugs and kisses to people and trees and cars and dogs and anything else that crosses your path. You love to color, push your toy stroller around the house (with anything from your dolls to your toothbrush to several pieces of cereal in it) and throw memorable tantrums when things don’t go your way. The funny thing (or “fuddy” to you) is that even your tantrums are cute to us. You spontaneously potty trained yourself and then lost interest in the potty. You like to recite the alphabet with us, but you will only do it yourself when you are alone with your dolls. You can count to 10 but you omit 4 and 6 most of the time. You love to watch Sesame Street (but you call it “Elmo”) and you love Cookie Monster, Elmo and Ernie the best. We rarely know what to expect with you, Grace. When we think something is going to make you mad, you shrug your shoulders and roll with it. On the other hand, if we hand you the wrong color cup full of water, you express your disapproval by hitting the ground with your adorable head…repeatedly.
Hazel- Welcome to our little family. Until we met you, your mom and I couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as we love your sister. We thought there was somehow a finite amount of love that we had to dole out, but we were wrong. You are already so very different from your sister that you simultaneously remind us of all of the things we love about her while still being your own person and you are only a week old. While Grace liked to be left alone in her crib and we thanked our lucky stars that she was “easy”, you like to be held and cuddled and we have found out how much that warms our hearts and the hearts of everyone that has met you so far. You mark a new adventure for us that is both scary and exciting as we try to figure out what you like and what you don’t. Currently your likes include food, pacifiers and the swing and your dislikes include waking up, waiting for food or pacifiers and diaper changes.
Grace and Hazel, you met for the first time a couple days ago. Hazel regarded you, Grace, in the same way she does almost everything she sees, as a blurry blob that is not mommy’s boob. You will most certainly mean more to her than that as she gets to know you. You, on the other hand, have had almost 22 more months to form opinions about things (which you certainly do) and we were very interested to gauge your reaction. Initially, you didn’t know what to make of this new part of your life. You pointed and smiled and were clearly excited that something new had happened but you still don’t quite know what. Over the last few days, we noticed that you start to cry when you hear your sister cry and you have started to say “Hazel” before “Elmo” when you wake up in the morning which is as clear a sign as any that a bond is forming.
Your mom and I love you both very much and we look forward to the coming months and years as you grow up as individuals as well as sisters.
Love, Mom and Dad