Three months

Here I am, finally getting around to the three month post and we're more than half way to four!  Needless to say, life is too busy for blogging much these days. Poor third child, let's hope I can keep up until he hits one, at least!

These three (and a half) months have been good.  Challenging, but good.   There were (are!) days I'm not sure I'm going to make it, but it is definitely getting better.  Kioko cries a LOT.  Of course, babies do cry, but he seems to cry excessively.  At his two month appointment his doctor said he has colic which is why he cries so much, needs to be held all the time, hates his car seat, etc.   Babies generally grow out of it by 3 or 4 months, and I'm happy to report it has already gotten so much better.  She also said that colicky babies are often the ones to fly the nest early and to do very interesting things in life.  So, we have that to look forward to.

Some pictures/videos from the last few weeks.

9.28.2016

wearing fleece for fall (he's already out grown it!)

won't smile for camera.  Serious. Always serious.  At least Kyalo smiles!

9.25.2016

Three Months || Oct 1 2016 || Chubby

at his 2 month appointment (Sept 19) was weighed and measured:

24 inches (65 %tile)

12 pounds 9 oz (31 %)

Our first baby who is in a higher height percentile than weight!  (For comparison, Malaiakah is 2% for height!)

A perfect, spectacular fall day warranted a trip to the park.  Obligatory photos followed.  They did not go as hoped.

 Oct 12 || working on his Elvis snarl.

Malaikah was not pleased to be plopped down into the leaves.  Where's her sense of fun? 

Malaikah really loves Kioko.  She likes to give us full reports on him. "Koko WAKE!"  "Koko CRIES!" " Where Koko?" She loves to take care of him and give him kisses (which are generally big clonking head butts to his forehead, but I captured a video of her giving a genuine kiss!)

Then there was the hand holding during songs in Music Together recently.

And then she began working on her babysitting skills this week.  Keeping the kid from crying?  Win. Crashing into walls?  Fail.  But she can only go up!

 sharing her baby. he's not so sure.

proof he sleeps. occasionally.

So that takes care of the last few weeks.  Here's hoping I'm not so late next month.

{ * T W O * }

Well, our little spitfire has gone and done it...she turned two this month.  Life is busy busy busy, and thus the lack of posts.  Let's see if I can get this out quickly.

Oh, Malaikah girl.  You bring so much color and life to our days!

Labor Day Weekend, 2016.  Essex.

Too cool.

She's a bright spot between two boys, for sure.  And she LOVES her brothers.  Does EVERYTHING that Kyalo does.  Follows him around the whole day long -- which doesn't, of course, mean they never fight -- like a little shadow.  She's tough, though, and won't let him push her around. She definitely holds her own.  I've seen her push him down or knock him off a chair!  As for Kioko, she loves to give him her little head butt kisses. Lately, she's wanted to give him lots of 'hug-gies' which is sweet.

Her speech has really taken often, and she has a lot of 2 word sentences. "Dat Mines"  "My turn!" "No, MY"  (are you sensing a theme here?)  My favorite is how she says 'Peas' so sweetly when asking for something.  Just recently she has started saying her name "Mika! Mika" (sounds more like she's trying to say 'marker').  She still doesn't call Kyalo anything.  

For some reason, she calls sunglasses, "guys guys".  So here's a little selfie with most of us...

Here are a whole bunch of photos from her 2-year photo shoot.  I couldn't come up with an original idea, so just got the letters for TWO and balloons much like we did last year when she turned one. 

took a while to get her to warm up.

sweet face

The picture taking didn't go exactly as planned, but we had a pretty good time.

The best part though, is that Kyalo wanted to get in on it, and so went and put this outfit on.

Love them.

Kioko slept through the whole event.

We had her 2-year check up last week, and all is well.  She's only grown 3/4 of an inch since March and is now in the 2nd percentile for height.   She is now 31 inches tall and 26 pounds, 8 ounces.  The doctor doesn't seem worried about her height.  I am :) I hope she has a growth spurt one of these days.

She is happy and loves life.  And we love her!

two months

Yesterday Kioko hit two months.  It just keeps on spinning!  The newborn-ness is completely gone.  He's filled out, lengthened, he's awake more, not so squishy.  He's a baby now!  Not just a newborn.  These days are sweet. . . and hard. . .and exhausting. . .and busy!

At exactly 6 weeks he smiled for the first time. It was so unexpected and wonderful - it really brightens my day when he smiles at me.

hello cheeks!

still has a furrowed brow, though.  Gives him such an old man look.  He must be a thinker.

Last week he had his first fever.  He probably had it longer than I realized because it didn't even occur to me to take his temp until it seemed like he'd been extra warm a day or so.  Took him to the doctor which involved blood work and a urine sample and was basically the worst thing ever -- it is hard to draw blood from tiny little baby veins so the technician had to try three times.  It was not fun for me.  I had Malaikah with me -- and no snacks or toys because I'd rushed out of the house at the end of the day to see the doctor -- and she did amazing.  She was calm and quiet and behaved the whole time.  And then at the end of our 3 hour visit, when she stated to get cranky, the nurses/medical assistants took pity on me and played with her.  It is nice to live in a small community sometimes.  Anyway... we all survived his first fever, and hope that it doesn't happen again for a long, long time.  

Intially, Kyalo didn't take too much notice of Kioko.  But lately he's been wanting to hold him more, and to try to make him laugh/stop crying/make sure he's covered, etc.  It will be fun to watch these brothers grow up and play together. Kyalo loves having a sister (she does everything he does!) but I think there's something special about him having a little brother to take care of.

I had thought we'd gotten into the swing of things with sleep, but alas, I was wrong.  Granted, he's only two months, but still...we've got to work it out.  Kioko likes to be held most of all - and of course that means especially at night when we're all trying to sleep.  It feels like if I put him down in his crib he's awake and crying with in minutes (seconds?).  I look forward to letting him sleep on his stomach because then I think we'll all get more sleep.  Plus his cry is. . .piercing.  It is this shrill squeak/squawk that is especially grating at midnight :) We'll get through it.  Malaikah was an easy baby. I wish I could remember what tricks I did for her that worked.   

 he does get tired!

that bandaid is from the blood draw.

because of seeing the doc he got weighed: 11 pounds, 4 ounces

we see the doc for the regular check up in the middle of the month

chins

smiles

He is a sweet boy, and we love him so.  We're just tired and can't really think straight.  But that's the joy of it all, I guess.

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...

22 months

Last week, Malaikah hit 22 months.  Two months until she's two (and all the craziness that comes with it) and it seems hard to believe.  Also hard to believe?  That she's now a big sister!  For a long time -- most of my pregnancy, really -- I was hoping for a girl. I had visions of that sisterly bond (something I don't have), of sharing a room, clothes, dolls, secrets, etc.  I though since they'd be so close in age that that would be important and sweet.  It wasn't until the last few weeks that I became convinced I was having a boy, and began to think that could have its own specialness to it, too.  Malaikah being the only girl -- MY girl -- is so special.  And she will have no trouble keeping up with  her brothers. Of that, I'm sure.

We have one feisty girl on our hands, for sure!

She's independent and confident and knows what she wants.  She's not afraid to push Kyalo around to get what she wants (basically, anything he touches).  It won't be long till she's bossing both Kyalo and Kioko around, ruling the roost!

Because, really, who can say no to this face:

July 10 - 22 months

She can climb into her high chair and car seat.  She's mastered some more words ("hi" & "bye") and some half-words: rhy-der {right there}, diz {this}, eeze {cheese} and so on.  She calls Kioko 'Bay-bee' or 'KoKo' with the cutest upward inflection, so we're all pretty much following suit.

She's working on her mothering instincts.

we will keep working ;)

She LOVES music and to dance, and reading, and imitating Kyalo -- she'll be playing baseball in no time.  She is happy almost all of the time, willing to help me with Kioko getting diapers and the like.

Some other recent pictures.  

Eating her first homemade Fudgescicle (they were amazing - def making them again) on a hot summer day.  She loved it, of course.

 July 17

July 17

those eyes!

These last two photos are from today - I even grabbed the big camera for these shots!  Her eyes are really striking to me - big, brown and soulful.  I love looking at them, esp in pictures like this one above where she's looking directly at the camera.  

Since she came home from my parents' house a week or so ago, I really haven't been able to get over just how huge she seems.  Compared to Kioko's 7 pounds 10 + ounces, her 24 pounds seems like a deadweight.  And her legs seem like tree trunks now compared to his scrawny little sticks.  Funny just how different they are.

I need to go. Can't seem to settle Kioko - back to late night fussiness and feedings -- but other than that little hiccup, we're doing well and Malaikah is doing well. She's going to rock the big sister/middle child roll.  

Kioko Kilonzo

It seems hard to believe that 8 days ago, in about 3 hours, we went from this.......

July 1, 2015 5 AM

39 weeks, 2 day

(blurry iPhone photo taken in a rush before the hospital)

To this........

July 1, 2016 -- 8 something AM

Kioko Kilonzo Mulandi

7 pounds 10 ounces

20 inches

8:13 AM

Kioko is a Kamba (Dexter's tribe) word meaning 'born in the morning' (turns out it is also a Japanese name meaning 'Meets the world with happiness' I'll take it!).  Kilonzo is Dexter's Dad's name.  Also, amazingly, July 1 is his birthday.  When picking the C-section date, that never crossed either of our minds.  A happy coincidence.  I hope Kioko can meet his namesake some day (soon).

Since I had a C-Section, delivery was easy and smooth.  The hardest was getting the spinal for the anesthesia.  Kioko was a little cool, temperature wise, so they cleaned him up and put him on my chest ASAP to try to warm him up.  Other than that, though, he passed all his tests and was perfect.  Once they moved me into the recovery room, he latched right on and promptly nursed for an hour!  I am so thankful that all three of my babies have been good nursers right from the start.  There is so much to be thankful for.

My first sight of Kioko.  Our lips kind of match.

Operating Room photo.

This was cool - this year, instead of having a cloth drape between the doctors and me, there was a plastic sheet, so I could see the doctors, and the baby as soon as he came out.  I couldn't see them operating (because, no thank you), but could still see them, see the baby right away, etc.  

My parents came up from MA to be with the Kyalo & Malaikah in the morning, and then to whisk them off to MA for several days so I could recover/adjust to a new baby/settle in at home a little bit.  I don't have the words for what a gift that was.  Before they left, though, they came and visited us in the hospital.

 flowers in her hair from Kyalo

Malaikah meeting Kioko.  She wasn't too sure about it all.

While I still recovering in the room, my legs were jumping all over the place, as if they had a mind of their own.  The nurse told me to stop doing that, but when I told her I had no control, she got a little worried.  Thankfully it did end on its own, but it was pretty amusing while it lasted.

Kioko was well bundled while in the hospital, but that didn't stop him from doing a cluster feed the first night.  I don't think either of the other two ever did that.  If we never go through that again, that'd be good.

Kioko was the lightest and longest of the three.  20 inches long seems quite long, and I wonder if he'll have some of the height that his Mering family has (not me sadly - Uncle Adam and Grandpa).  Also, it seems hard to know who he looks like.  The overall consensus seems to be like my dad.  Another surprise is that (so far) he has straight hair!  He has a tiny bit more than Malaikah, and it seems darker. But it hasn't yet shown any signs of curling.  Wonder what will happen.  There's no way it will stay straight.

After two days, they let us go home! 

On day four, I put him in the 'Silly' out fit that both Malaikah & Kyalo wore.  Had to be done.

There they all are!

This is one of my all time favorite pics of Kyalo.  

Who do you think Kioko looks like?  Maybe Malaikah?

I really love baby feet (who doesn't?)

 look at those legs!  Where did they come from?

here he is in his new car seat.  so tiny!

The big kids came home on Thursday night and we're easing into this new reality.  It isn't easy!  But we're getting the hang of it.  I think.

July 9, 2016

So that's it.  Tomorrow Dexter goes back to work, so it will really be the beginning of the new reality.   The biggest bummer is that because of the C-Section, I'm not supposed to lift Malaikah for six week. That'll be impossible, but will do my best. 

We got this.