Wild Women Wednesday

Sophie Kate's Official 2 Month Stats

35% head circumference
75% weight
90% height

11.8lbs
23.5 in long

I just want to make sure everyone sees that that says 35% head circumference and 90% height. That's not a misprint. Somehow, we managed to have a long, but tiny headed baby! I thought it must have been a mistake. In fact, I made him check it and repeat it to me twice. Bella was always 90% head, 25% height. WOW! She was ridiculously adorable with her ginormous punkin head, so it was ok. 

Also, Phia got her first shot yesterday. I had to take her by myself (well, technically not by myself, Bella was there, but she's not much for consoling others when it comes to shots-she's too busy making sure she stays out of the way so no one gets confused and tries to give her one.). I was so nervous. Who likes taking there baby to get shots all alone? Not me! The plus was that we are following a delayed vaccination schedule, so instead of the insane number of 6 shots most babies get, we were only getting 2! Hooray! One of them ended up not being an injection at all, but a liquid oral med! Double bonus!! She was such a big girl getting her shot too. She let out one loud  WAAAA! But then decided she didn't have the energy to muster up a real cry, and sucked on her paci instead. Mommy got all worked up for nothing. 

Great job growing baby girl!

Keep up the good work!

Shut Up Saturday

. . . .My what a big nose you have!
All the better to get all up in your business with my Dear!. . . .

If I had a dollar for every time people commented on how spaced apart my kids are, I'd be a billionaire. Seriously. It happens pretty much every time I am in PUB. LIC. And someone please explain to me why I feel such an insane need to defend it! "Well you see, technically, the oldest isn't mine, although I've had him since he was tiny, so really in my heart he is, and then we struggled with infertility for years and years, and we were told we couldn't have kids at all. . .yada yada yada. Why do I feel the need to share this with total strangers, and defend our family? Why can't I just smile, and shrug it off? Honestly, I have no idea. But even more intriguing, why does anyone care?
I have cousins who also blog (supremely fantastically, I might add) and they talk frequently about said public. I think about them every time I get the "wow, they are REALLY spread apart, huh?" i.e. "Why in the world would you do that?!" I want to be more like them in the way I handle my answers.
I hope they don't mind me sharing these stories. . . (if you do let me know and I will delete the post immediately :)
For example, cousin M has the most darling little one year old boy EVER, who because of issue with his eyes, must wear glasses and an eye patch. And trust me, you have never seen cuteness until you have seen A in his glasses. Holy all things that are cute goodness!! They are little round ones just like Harry Potter's and he is quite possibly the cutest things on earth wearing them. Well, it seems, anytime they go out, that they are constantly asked what happened to his eye. I can see where this could get somewhat obnoxious. But one day, her husband had the greatest answer ever. He looked straight at the person asking what happened and told them their pet parrot pecked it out. And then he walked away with out ever cracking a smile.  Brilliant!!
Cousin N sometimes talks about her super precious, but very opinionated little darling L (oh I can SO relate to that! My biggest Princess is just the same!), and how she sometimes likes to colorfully display her opinions in places like Target. And how public likes to stare as N simply goes about her shopping trip, gracefully pretending nothing is going on. KUDOS to YOU N!
These stories got me thinking-I have been guilty of both! BUT I can honestly say, it wasn't just out of ignorant curiosity (well, maybe it was before I had kids). Since, I have had kids, it is for other reasons completely. For instance, if I see a child with an eye patch, or a cast, or brace, I have asked what happened-but only because the moment I saw them my mommy instincts overwhelmed me, I I felt some primal urge to protect them. To stand beside their Mommy and punch out anyone that might say something insensitive or look at them mean.
If I have seen a child having a fit somewhere, I have been guilty of looking, but NOT for judgmental reasons, but out of empathy. I have been there. Oh, how i have been there. I always try to make a point of making eye contact with the Mommy and smiling, hopefully letting her know that us other Mommies get it, and she isn't alone in her current misery.
So take heart cousins-All of "public" isn't bad.
All of that got me thinking about why people might ask us about our kids age differences. Maybe they aren't all asking out of plain curiosity. Maybe some of them are thinking they wish they would have spaced their kids out a bit, and are wondering how I feel about mine. Maybe they don't have kids yet and want to get other people's opinion on how their lives are with their kids the way they are. Maybe they have kids close together, are totally happy with their choice, and are just wondering how the other half live. And yes, lots of them ask simply because they are nosy. But really, is that so bad? They don't know that is the 10th time in a day someone has commented about the very same thing. And really; we aren't the norm, it makes people curious.
So here is the answer (because yes, many of the curious commenters have been friends and family):
YES, our kids are really far apart.
NO, we did not plan it that way.
       We had MANY issues and went through a LOT of different treatments and that took time. In the      end, we were told (with both girls) to give up, look into adoption, it just wasn't going to happen. But in the end, God reminded us who was really in charge, and we have two beautiful daughters because of Him . No medications. No special treatments.
YES, I would do it again-space them out I mean. Having kids close together has its own wonderful advantages, of course. I am not knocking anyone who chooses that path. But for us, this seems to be the best path. It has given us so much special time with each one of our kids, to be with them "just us." It has allowed each one of them to kind of be our only one for a while-never really having to share us and having our full attention. We got to know them each as a person, what they really love  and are passionate about, what their personalities truly are like, without interruption.
When Bella was little and we were trying for another one, I remember really wanting another baby, but not at all being ready to share my time. I LOVED it being just us. I loved having the ability to focus 100% of my attention on her. I'm so glad God made us wait for Sophia. Now, although my two oldest still need me, it isn't the same kind of need a 2 or 3 year old has. They both understand completely why I can't be there the instant they call and why I can't focus completely on them all the time. I am not saying it is easy for (one of) them, but they do at least understand why. This allows me so much more special time with Sophie Kate, and I don't feel like she, or the other 2, are being cheated or missing out. Again, I am not saying our way is the right way or the best way (heck, we didn't even choose it-it was chosen for us!) But now that it has happened this way, I realize God does always know what He is doing. He doesn't make mistakes. Sometimes I just need to be patient to see His plan unfold. It is just the way it was meant to be.

2 Girls. 2 months.

If you asked me when I was a teenager what I imagined my adult life looking like I would have told you the following (among other things, but the following things would have been the most important):

Happy: check

Living in a cute, but modest house: check
Married to someone tall, dark, and handsome: CHECK MATE!

Driving a decent car: check

Having two children, boys, two years apart: WRONG!!

Growing up, I never ever imagined myself having girls. I just couldn't see myself with all that pink and frilly stuff. I was a huge tomboy, and loved the thought of the rough and tumble life that came with boys. Two of them. Two years apart.

Someone had different plans for me.

Thanks to the powers that be, I DID end up with a son. A perfect little brown haired, brown eyed darling.

Fast forward a bit. We're pregnant!! Whoohoo!! All I can think is BOY BOY BOY!! All Rob wants is a GIRL GIRL GIRL!! So badly in fact, that he changed my mind and my heart, and I wanted a girl desperately too. I won't pretend though, that a small part of my desire wasn't due to the fact that Rob wanted one so badly. In fact, I had a few serious panic attacks full of tears asking Rob, "will you even like it if it's a boy?!" (freaking pregnancy hormones). Of course he would have! But the day our little girl was born was the happiest day the two of us had ever shared. She was born on April 18, 2005 at 2:22 p.m., a perfect 7lb 8oz bundle of pink.

And we couldn't get enough of her. 

Fast forward 5 years. Through the trying, the crying, the fertility treatments, and the utter defeat. We find out we are unexpectedly pregnant! 

I don't know what happened, but in that moment I decided I did not want to know the sex of the baby until it was born. Mostly people laughed at me. 

No one believed me. 

I am a huge planner and *somewhat* of a control freak. This was pretty much impossible. But somehow I did it. I even found it easy. And on March 14, 2011 at 4:18 in the afternoon, our second daughter was born.  7lbs 13ozs of pink perfection.  

And once again, we just can't get enough.

 

And now here we are two months later, and I can't get over how much has happened in such a short amount of time!

So girls, here's the rundown on the past two months of your lives:

Sophie Kate, you were born! And just a few short days later, you came home! 

Not long after that, you had your first outing: to a park and then to lunch!

Bella, you decided you wanted to play soccer, and to everyone's surprise, actually PLAYED! In fact, you even liked it! 

Sophie, you got to go to your first soccer game!

Obviously, it was very exciting for you!

Bella, you've had a lot of other important things happening these past two months. For example, you went from an ordinary, unemployed 5 year old, to having the job of "official diaper changer soother". For this very important position, you sing and talk to Sophia during all of her regular diaper changes. This job takes up a lot of your time. But it pays in smiles from your baby sister, and that makes you very happy. 

During your free time, you have recently discovered a love for basketball! 

We bought you your very own REAL goal, and you want to shoot on it any chance you get! 

(you got mad ups!)

My favorite part of watching you play is your victory dance after you make a shot. We spend a lot of time watching you do your dance. It's crazy and goofy and always makes us laugh.

(blowing a kiss at the end of your dance)

You were also in your first play-The Flashlight Play-for drama class. I don't have many pictures because the whole thing was in the dark, except the light of your little flashlight. Daddy and I were so proud of you-you were not only the very youngest in the class, but you were the only one that didn't forget your lines! 

I know you are going to be a star one day!

Another big event that happened was your birthday!!

                                                   

I still can't believe my baby girl is SIX!!

Just the other day, I sent off your form for Kindergarden graduation, and as I was filling it out, I couldn't help but tear up a little. It just doesn't seem possible that that much time with you has passed. I wouldn't trade a single second I have had with you. I wouldn't change anything at all about you. I love the way you make life magical. I love the way you truly believe every time is a great time for singing and dancing. I love the way you instantly change into your pjs the moment we walk into the house (you get that from me). You call them your "comfy clothes". I love that you can find a reason to draw for anything-math, spelling, because it's sunny or rainy. I love that you see the art in everything. I love your tiny little gapped smile, and I adore your lisp. It breaks my heart to know that one day, they will both be gone. I even love your tendency to be just the tiniest bit dramatic all the time. You make me proud of you every single day. 

My little Sophie. These past two months have been very eventful for you as well. Not only did you do all the things listed above, but you also accomplished some pretty important things!

You got bigger. You went from 7lbs 13oz at birth, to 7lbs 1oz at 4 days old-they almost wouldn't let you leave the hospital! But thankfully they did, and by 2 weeks old you were up to 8lbs 8oz! And by 5 weeks, you were a whopping 10lbs 8oz! That's the 90th percentile! Mommy is so proud of you for growing so big!

You had your one month birthday. 

you weren't very happy about it.

At six weeks, you finally decided to smile. 

The way you wrinkle your nose up when you really smile shoots straight to my heart. 

You give out most of your smiles first thing in the morning; just like your Mommy and big sister, you are a morning girl. Lucky me, I'm the one you smile at most. It makes me feel so very special. 

You sixth week was a pretty big one for you. You started growing back all the hair that you lost, and it's so cute. It is growing in standing straight up. I call it your high and tight hair because it looks like a military haircut. 

You also started trying to "talk" this 6th week. Sound doesn't often come out, but we always know when you are trying because your breathing gets so fast and your arms and legs get moving frantically! When you do manage to muster up a sound, it always bursts out of you and almost sounds like a cry, but you have the sweetest voice. 

Other than sister, you have two best friends: column and fan.

You and column. It's a real love affair. 

 You smiled at column before you smiled at anyone. To be honest, I was a little jealous. Every night, Daddy would lay you on his lap and you would just stare at column with the happiest look on your face. It wasn't long after that, that you discovered friend fan, and he became the lucky recipient of your second set of smiles. 

We discovered you hate being swaddled, and you love falling asleep with a paci. 

EXCEPT you have no idea how to keep it in once you get right to the point of falling asleep. This makes for a very eventful bedtime. Usually, bedtime endures for 30 minutes to an hour before you finally give in and go to sleep. Usually, this makes me want to cry.

On a positive note about sleep, you moved into your own bed, right beside Mommy, but still, you are in your own bed.

 I loved you sleeping with me, but I just couldn't sleep very well with you right next to me. I was always worried I would roll over on you or somehow manage to cover your precious head with my pillow. Now that you are in your own bed, (right next to me) I sleep much better. I don't think you care either way.

You practice laying on your tummy, but you hate it. 

You try to hold your head up, but aren't having much luck. You DeFir girls have a reputation for having rather large craniums though, so don't worry. You'll get it!

This is your sister. Notice the huge head. See, Mommy wasn't kidding. 

Fat headed babies are the cutest though, so don't get a complex.

You had your first trip to the zoo. (Most of the pics are of sister because, quite honestly, you were content to lay in your stroller. Doesn't make for very good pictures. Sorry.) 

Sister got to stop and visit her statue. Notice she is copping a feel. 

One day, sister will share her popcorn with you. Maybe. If you're lucky. 

Can you tell she's proud to be your big sister?

Mommy and her girls

You had your first bath. You were not pleased. But, in your defense, the water kept getting cold. I would have been mad too!

You helped Mommy celebrate her first Mother's Day with you here. Having you made it even more special. 

You turned two months old!

You are such a serious baby girl. Usually choosing to sit and observe rather than talk and smile. Sometimes I do wish you would smile more often, but it's alright, it only makes the smiles you do share that much more special. 

I can't wait to see the kind of person you grow to be. I know you will be amazing no matter who you become!

My two girls. It still doesn't seem real. My life may not be exactly what I thought it would be, but it's better than I ever could have hoped for. I know this is the life God has planned for me, and I feel immensely blessed He chose me to be the mommy to two of the most amazing girls ever.