23 months

I need to get this post in before it is too late.

This girl....

turned 23 months and her personality is just shining through each day.  'Though she be but small, she is fierce' pretty accurately sums her up. And one of these days, I'll get that printed for her room.

This has been a pretty crazy month for us.  In case you can't tell from the picture,  we moved at the beginning of August, and things are pretty chaotic (and in disarray) right now.  So, not too many pictures.  Maybe next month?

Malaikah's vocabulary improves every day, and while she still speaks in sort of half words (mo' for more, for example) you really can tell what she's trying to say.

Things she loves --

Music.  I've said it a lot, but it just continues to be so true.  When we're in a store with music she'll start dancing to it.  If you sing to her and stop, she'll say, "Mo'! Mo'! Mo'!" I've got her signed up to do Music Together next month and I'm assuming she's just going to love every second of it.

Biking.  She's been riding Kyalo's old plastic bike up and down our drive way (because of the move we're not on a busy road + we have a longer driveway which has gotten a LOT of use). She is remarkably brave and daring.  She has fallen off the bike (and on to her head) more times than we can count, but after a few tears she'll dust herself off and get back on.  Plus, she just goes zooming down the hill.  She seems fearless.

Books.  We read a lot around here.  Plus story time at library.  She does like reading the same books over and over again, but that makes things easier because then I have them more or less memorized.

Brothers.  She wants to do EVERYTHING Kyalo does, and is constantly asking after Koko.  It won't be long, I think, before she can really take Kyalo down in a wrestling match.  Fun to see her navigate life with her brothers.

Getting her into the carseat has become a battle of epic proportions.  I'll be glad when we're done with the car seat stage (or, at least, I can turn her around).  I'm currently listening to her screeching at Kyalo about something which never ends well, so it isn't always sunshine and rainbows.   She still sleeps well, though lately it is taking her a lot longer to fall asleep.  Hoping it is just a phase.

This smile-y spitfire brings us so much joy.  And, I'm fairly sure, I'm going to have a few heart attacks because of her dare devil antics as she grows older.

one month

Here we go again!  Monthly posts begin for Kioko...he's already a month old (technically, six weeks, since life is too busy to blog).  And what a month it has been!

I'd forgotten just how much having a new born slows you down.  I'd have grand plans for the day, and they'd all have to be tossed out the window because of nursing/diaper changes/outfit changes/falling asleep on the couch with the baby.  Good times!  I'd also forgotten just how much I love the new born stage.  It is so fleeting -- two weeks, and that squishy newborn-ness is gone -- that I really tried to soak it up since this is our last baby.

Here he is August 1, one month old.

a serious old man!

And here he is, next to big sister Malaikah.

At his one month check up, August 5, he was:

9 pounds, 7 ounces

22 inches

He's going to be our tall child!

And now, for some photos from the month....

One of the best things about being in Maine is that we are 2.5 hours door to door from my parents' house.  That means I can coerce Grandma to come in for some baby snuggles a lot.  A lot a lot.

July 15

 July 22

She snuggles the other kids, too. 

If you ask Malaikah to give Kioko a kiss, she will give him this forehead to forehead head butt.  I'm not sure how she got that idea, but it is pretty hilarious.

Kyalo, especially, loves having Grandma in town.  

I must admit, having three kids -- and two under two! -- has been a hard transition for me.  I have not yet managed to get Kioko on much of a schedule/routine/rhythm (too soon?) so it makes for unpredictable days.  And Malaikah still needs a solid 2+ hour nap which, if it happens too late in the day means she's up way too late, and a vicious cycle ensues.  Also, going to the store with all three basically terrifies me.  All that to say is, I'm so glad my mom is willing and able to come as much as she does.  She is coming on Thursday and I'm already planning a trip to Wal-Mart.  My life is thrilling, let me tell you.

those curled toes!

These pictures were taken Juy 17, and he already fills that outfit out so much more.  My baby is growing up so fast!  

These faces of Kioko really make me laugh -- that furrowed brow, the pursed lips.  It is all too much. Could he be more of an old man?  The ring of hair around the back of his head just adds to that look, too.  

Everyone says he looks a lot like my dad.  So the first grandkid (of 9!) that has more of a Mering look than the other family.  Kioko's hair is very different from Kyalo and Malaikah's.  It is thinner, silkier, and looks like it could be straight!  That has GOT to change, though, since everyone on both sides of our families has curly hair.  Can't wait to see what it does end up looking like.

Over all, Kioko is a good sleeper, and a great nurser.  He is already down to waking just once or twice at night.  What a champ.

We don't currently have a crib for him -- Malaikah's still in the one we have -- but a friend lent me this rocker thing that has worked well (but probably won't for too much longer) for the time being.  Here he is all snuggled up in it.

And that wraps up the first month...