a fall weekend

One of the perks of living in Maine is the natural beauty that surrounds us on all sides.  We've had some pretty spectacular weather (hello, days in the 70s) which has meant taking full advantage of being outside.  Cool, rainy weather is upon us now, and I think the glory days are behind us.

Two weekends ago we filled our tank to the fullest: apple picking, pumpkin fest, and a visit to friends on the ocean.  Foliage and sea, what could be better?

On our way to apple picking with Gayle and Lucas, Kyalo said, 'The last time we went apple picking was with Rua in New Jersey.'  He was absolutely right - we went apple picking in New Jersey with part of our 'fab four' group of friends from school.  He was just under 18 months.  His memory never fails to amaze me!

The orchard we went to was not that far away.  But the stunning views were astonishing after driving through tree-lined roads.

I mean, seriously

could this apple be any more perfect?

Here's our happy apple-pickin' guy with the beautiful view behind him. (Thanks to Gayle for grabbing this shot - I was in the car with Malaikah at this point, I think).

After apple picking we headed down to the farm stand for apple cider and donuts, and their amazing play structures.  I think the boys would have happily played all day.  

that smile. . . 

The next day was c-o-l-d but we headed out to a nearby Pumpkin Patch for the usual activities of bounce houses, corn mazes (my first one! fun), hay rides and pumpkin picking.  

Then on Sunday we dashed over to Owl's Head for a visit with Judy and Neil.  I'll get those pictures up another day, but wanted to share a few more fall-ish pictures...

Last week we had glorious weather, and so Gayle called me one afternoon to tell me that they were at the park across from our house.  Since Kyalo was in bed for nap, but not sleeping, we ditched the nap and headed over there.  The boys had so much fun playing in the leaves.  

happy boys

Let me just say, leaves and Kyalo's hair do not mix.  It was quite the ordeal (for Dexter) to get all the leaf crumbs and twigs out of his hair...and the bathroom looked like a tree died in there.  Well worth it though, for those smiles.

visitors

Having a new born, a new job, and a new house mean that there are plenty of reasons to come visit. Since Malaikah was born, we've been fortunate to have a few visitors - and more are coming in the next ten days.  I think everyone's trying to get their visiting in before the snow comes.  Then we're on our own - or we'll do our own visiting. . .if you live in warmer climes, of course.

Francis was able to squeeze a visit in to us after a couple of weeks in the US for conferences and other medical stuff.  Of course, he started in San Diego, so a trip to RURAL Maine after that was a bit of a let down.  Good thing we had a baby to entice him!  The visit was short, and sweet, and fairly slow-paced since I was 10 days from my C-Section.   But we did the usual things - lots of cups of chai, he got a hike in to see the beautiful Maine views, a nice dinner with the families of the dental clinic, and of course, a bit of baseball with Kyalo.  And of course, we didn't get any pictures until they were loading up the car to head to the airport.

One of these days, I hope, we will be all together again.  If only flying to Kenya as a family of four wasn't such an ordeal!

The next visitors are a couple I've known my whole life. My mom was pregnant with me the same time Lynn was pregnant with their daughter, Alisa.  They have a son the same age as my brother.  We only lived in the same city for a few years, but the friendships have remained strong despite the years and the distance. Bas and Lynn are retired now, and are traveling across the country in a little camper, seeing the sites and reconnecting with friends and family from their past.  After their visit, Dexter started researching campers.  Maybe some day we'll do a similar cross-country trek.  Having visitors in town who knew me as a toddler makes for some interesting story-telling...and of course, only the horror stories were told.  (Unless, there are ONLY horror stories?)

 Kyalo wasn't in a picture-taking mood, clearly

Malaikah was actually awake!

The nice thing about visitors is that you can get whole-family photos.

It is fun having visitors pop in on us.  We are on a main road that cuts through Maine, so it is easy for people to be passing by (on their way to NH or the mountains).  Next to come are friends Judy and Neil, and my aunt Ellen from Baltimore comes next week.

Any one else?

One month

Here we go again, with the monthly photo updates.  Except that life is a little busier these days, and I'm finding it hard to get out the 'real' camera much.  So, poor Malaikah, she's stuck with fly by iPhone photos.  I'll try to get better about getting more regular photos and posts up.

Last Friday, Malaikah turned one month which is truly hard to believe.  Already the newness of having her around is wearing off, and it just feels normal to have another baby in the house.  She's growing rapidly, and already phasing out of that squishy newborn stage.  It is a little heartbreaking, these fleeting moments of motherhood.  I'm trying to treasure them as best I can, but even still, it is zipping right on by.

I took her for her one month check up yesterday.  Can I just say how wonderful it feels to finally have a *real* pediatrician?  One who (gasp) takes appointments, who sits and talks with me about any concerns I have, and who weighs and measures without my having to ask?  After struggling for three years with Kyalo, this feels like a major step forward.  Can't wait to get Kyalo an appointment for his 4 year check up.  It is a whole new world we've entered! One more thing to be grateful for.

I digress.

As I look at these pictures, I realize I didn't get full-body shots on her one month.  I'll try again next month.

 October 10, 2014

October 14, 2014

Length: 20 1/2 inches (15th %)

Weight: 10 pounds 1 ounce (60th %)  

She's chunked right up, gaining close to two pounds in a little over two weeks.  Good work, little girl.

So, she eats A LOT, obviously.  She sleeps great in the day, but we're struggling right now at night.  Many nights I'll wake up and realize I feel asleep nursing her, or she's wide awake for an hour at a time, or I just give up and keep her in bed with us.  None of this is ideal, but I'm exhausted, so do what I can.

She is a good, easy, contented baby so far as I can tell in these five (today!) weeks she's been with us.  It is a bit surprising since she was non-stop movement in utero. I was sure it would be the same once the baby was born.  Not so much (yet, anyway) it turns out.

10 days after she was born, we had the joy of hosting our friend, Francis, again.  He flew in to Boston so we had a night in Essex with my folks.   He was eager to meet Malaikah!

9.20.2014

Why do you insist on living SO FAR AWAY?

It was great to see him.  I have a few more shots to share another time.

People have asked how Kyalo's adjusted to having a sister.  He's really doing great! In fact, after so much transition this summer, I think he's settling down and taking life easier.  Mostly he can ignore Malaikah because she still sleeps so much.  Every now and then he'll show interest in her, and want to hold her.

October 3, 2014

(Kyal turned 3 1/2!)

So maybe I should have propped her head up?  His smile was so radiant, I couldn't resist.

All in all, life is good! We feel richly blessed.  

Malaikah Grace

Dexter and I are pleased to {finally} announce the birth of our daughter.

Malaikah Grace Mulandi

September 10, 2014

8:15 AM

7 Pounds, 12 Ounces, 18 1/2 inches long

I must admit that I was actually surprised by the 'It's a GIRL' announcement!  In my mind the baby that was kicking me non-stop had to be a boy.  Plus, I'd really wanted Kyalo to have a brother, so I think in my head it just made it easier.  I was also surprised by how happy I was by the announcement - and just how right it feels that we have a daughter.  

So, the story:

Since I moved mid-way through the pregnancy, I had to find a new doctor and hospital, etc.  Unfortunately, the hospital in the town next to ours does not do VBACs (vaginal birth after Cesarean) which I had been hoping to at least try for.  The doctors were all very nice, telling me I could deliver in Portland (an hour away) or Auburn/Lewiston (30-40 min away) if I did want to try that.  Honestly, though, that felt riskier to me, and traveling that distance while in labor was highly unappealing to me.  The nice thing was I could select a delivery date for a repeat C-Section, and so I chose the one closest to my due date (Sept 14).  

On Wednesday, September 10, I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM (ugh) for all the check in procedures.  My parents had come Tuesday night to stay with Kyalo so we didn't have to worry about him, thankfully.  Surgery was scheduled for 7:30 AM, and by 8:15 she was born.  Interesting story.  After  my doctor had cut me open, the baby, who had been head down for 2+ months turned over (around?) and was in a breech position - and ended up being delivered feet first.  I guess that C-Section turned out to be a blessing!

Fun tip:  If you want to bring joy to the people in an operating room, tell them you don't know the sex of your baby.  There will be cheering, clapping, and possibly a bit of jumping up and down.

Oh, and small town fun fact:  I got talking to one of the anesthetists, thinking for some reason she'd just moved here.  Thinking we had something in common, I mentioned that we had just moved here, and that my husband was working at the dental clinic in town.  At least two of the women said, ' THAT's why he looks so familiar!!' Turns out one of them had been to Dexter the day before, and the other had recently been in the clinic.  Ah, small towns.

Anyway, back to Malaikah.  They cleaned her up and weighed her, etc, and then brought her right over to me for some nursing and skin-to-skin contact (something that didn't happen in Kijabe).  She nursed right away for a few minutes, but otherwise just lay on my chest while they sewed me up.

Here we are, with the newest member of our family.

Dexter was able to carry her over to the recovery room where I had to hang out for an hour while the anesthesia wore off.  This hospital is 'baby friendly' so they don't give out formula or pacifiers, and really emphasize the baby staying with the family. I appreciated that.  She never left my room for the duration of our stay in the hospital.

My parents came later in the afternoon with Kyalo.  He came running into the room all smiles and excitement, and then as he saw me with lots of wires coming out of me, and Dexter holding the new baby, he became reserved (best I can think of) and cautious.  He took it all in in his quiet, observing way.  

 the newest big brother on the block - he's not so sure about things

The nurse, who was great, got him to listen to Malaikah's heart.  He seemed to enjoy that.

Grandma and Grandpa got turns holding the baby (but we only got a pic of Gpa doing it for some reason)

After a brief visit, my parents took Kyalo down to Essex for the rest of the week.  I can't tell you what a gift that was to us - to be able to rest and recover and just soak in all the baby stuff without having to worry about Kyalo, and knowing that he was having a great time with Grandma and Grandpa.

We stayed in the hospital two nights, getting home late Friday.  It was nice to have a couple of days to acclimate at home before Kyalo returned.  I did a lot of sleeping.   My mom brought Kyalo back Sunday afternoon, and stayed through Wednesday morning.  Since I wasn't supposed to drive for a while it was nice to have her around to help with driving Kyalo to/from school and running other errands, and helping to keep Kyalo occupied.

Here are some other pictures worth sharing.

 getting ready to head home!

eyes open!

 I wasn't aware of Kyalo's arm around my shoulders til I saw this picture.  So sweet.

family of four!

September 17, 2014

So, while another C-Section wasn't my ideal birth story, all that matters to me is that she's here, and she's healthy.  In the hospital my blood pressure dropped pretty low, so they had to watch me carefully for a night, but all is well now.  She's nursing and sleeping well.  I take her back to the doctor tomorrow for another check up/weigh in.  I go on Thursday already for my two week post-op doctor's visit.  Time is already rushing by.  Kyalo's getting more used to her, and likes to kiss her and rub her soft head.  Oh! That was a surprise - that she had no hair. Kyalo had a head full of thick, dark hair that I was sure this baby would too. Instead she just has this soft little halo of peach fuzz.  I love it.

About her name.  I actually had the name in mind if Kyalo had been born a girl, so I've held on to it in hope for quite some time.  It means Angel in Swahili.  I chose Grace as a middle name as a reminder of God's grace to us through the lean school years, but really throughout the duration of our marriage.  She is just one more tangible piece of evidence of God's grace to us, and it seems appropriate to recognize it in this way.  And it is a good thing that she was born a girl because we could not decide upon/agree on a boy's name!!  :)

Life with a girl is definitely different, but we love and adore her and are so glad she's a part of our family.

Thanks for sticking with me here!

Family {of 3} Photos

Two posts in one day! It's a miracle.  Or I'm just really determined to cross things off my list before Baby comes.  I'm so glad that we took the time a few weeks ago to get our last family of three photos taken.  As I think I've mentioned, Kyalo was not cooperating very well, and we kind of gave up on getting him into many of the pictures (and a picture of just the two of us was quickly out of the question), but I'm pleased with how many turned out with him in them.

The garden where we went, here in South Paris, apparently has one of the largest collections of varieties of lilacs (color, type, etc) and many other beautiful flowers. Of course, we missed all those, but we can look forward to returning as a family of four in May.  {Aaron, can we book you now in advance :) }

So, without further ado:

 Kyalo's little smirk here! {kills me}

Many, many thanks to our friend Aaron for taking these gorgeous pictures - and for putting up with our misbehaving boy.

Next photos - family of four?

39 weeks

I'm taking full advantage of having Kyalo in school these mornings. . .getting things done, enjoying a kid-free breakfast with a friend this morning, and hammering out the final few blogs before this baby comes.

I'm happy to report that Kyalo loves school, but sadly, it doesn't tire him out as much as I'd been hoping - no guarantee of a nap in the afternoon.  Maybe we'll up his time at school in the future, but for now I like this schedule.

Sunday was 39 weeks.  As I did with Kyalo, I wanted to get a bare belly bump.

9.9.2014

39 weeks, two days

I have had no signs of labor yet - the Harvest Moon made me a little nervous last night, but Baby stayed put.  Baby continues to reside up in my ribs, it seems, so I'll be glad when that stage of life is behind us.  In general I really have no complaints in this pregnancy...very little sickness, or pain or problems. Baby has been head down for a while now, which is as it should be.  When I had the ultrasound last week, the estimate was about 7.5 pounds, so I guess he/she will be a little over 8, as Kyalo was. 

Alright, have to go pick up Kyalo soon so I better take advantage of the quiet house for the next little bit!

I'll be back later (I hope) with those family photos I mentioned the other day.