Five Weeks . . .

Same age, same onesie . . . similar looks, but very different demeanor!

Milla is five weeks old today, and I'm happy to say that we're all getting more used to each other and how life has changed. It's definitely a transition, in different ways for all of us. My days at home with both girls are getting easier (knock on wood!), Anja is doing a great job with more independent play, and the three of us girls even got to the park everyday this week (without any craziness)!

Milla is about 10 lbs. (subtracting our weight while holding her with us on the scale), so she's a good eater just like her sister. We think that she's got some reflux issues, which are causing her some grief (lots of spit up and some uncomfortable moments), but beyond that she's very healthy. She's also showing more smiles, which are sweet to see, and has started to throw in a few "ah-goos" here and there. We are very blessed!

Milkshake, Anyone?

Silly Anja tonight, offering up a try.

The latest Penzeys Spices catalog features several recipes that include strawberries (which are finally in season!), so tonight Anja and I gave their milkshake recipe a go. It's super easy and delicious!

1 cup milk
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1 cup fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries)
2 cups crushed ice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar (we opted for about 1/8 of a cup)

Put all of the ingredients into blender, and blend until smooth.

One Month!

Milla . . . all 22 inches of her.

Milla is one month old today . . . it's amazing how fast time really goes! She has surprised us with a few party tricks this week. On Monday, she rolled from her stomach to back and on Wednesday she was able to do tummy time and hold her head up for 2-3 minutes at a time. She's starting to put weight on her little legs as well. She's clearly a strong little one!

And to our surprise, she has also been sleeping through the night for about five out of the last seven nights (!). That being said, she cluster feeds at 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 10pm, so it's not entirely a picnic! :) We're thankful to be sleeping more like normal people though and are cautiously optimistic that it will continue!

It's 2:23 long . . . Milla just hanging out while Erik sleepily facilitates the action.

Already a Great Traveler

Milla on our flight to Chicago.

Our trip to Chicago this weekend was great . . . can't say we did much more than hang out at the hotel, but it was quite relaxing. Milla did wonderfully on both flights, I learned a lot from some coaching greats, and Erik watched more TV (History Channel) in one day than he probably has watched in the past month! (Okay, maybe not that much, but he finally got a chance to do some relaxing after a very busy spring.) We're looking forward to more travel with both girls as they're showing us they are great little travelers (yay!).

Erik braved a crazy diaper change in the car . . . could've been pretty messy!

Anja had a fun weekend as well . . . she played lots. From what we've gathered, she did lots of rolling down hills, made some sand castles, ate lots of popcorn, and even got her first fly fishing casting lesson from her G'pa Paul. And she wasn't even mad at us for leaving her for the weekend. We are looking to celebrate our 10th anniversary (2012) with a grown-ups-only vacation abroad, so these short stints away bring us great hope!

3 weeks, 2 1/2 years and the Big 3-0!

Today marks Milla's third week of life, Anja's 1/2 birthday, and my 30th birthday. Anja and Erik surprised me this morning by waking me up with cards and gifts in hand. Anja was so excited that she told me what she picked out (a cool purple Sigg waterbottle) before we finished opening the present. She's got great taste!

Erik, Milla and I are flying to Chicago today so that I can attend a coaches swim clinic. Headlining is Michael Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, who I hope to learn a few things from! I love Chicago, so it'll be nice to celebrate (kind of) three decades of life there!

Anja is staying with both sets of grandparents this weekend, one night at each. I'm pretty sure she's going to have a great weekend as well! Good times!

Two Weeks & Two Napping Girls (!)

Milla and Anja ready to go to the park!

Milla is two weeks old today, and has already reached her birth weight and then some (8 lbs. as of Wednesday). She's obviously a good eater and a super calm baby thus far. We feel so fortunate to have another healthy little girl!

Thanks to Anja's great daycare provider who gifted us two free days of daycare this week, I was finally able to get some rest (the whole "you nap when the baby naps" thing wasn't happening last week!). So, today was my first day with both girls. Milla slept almost the entire morning, and through her first trip to the park, so Anja and I were able to fully enjoy every piece of playground equipment at one of our neighborhood parks.

Right now, both girls are napping. This is a strange and wonderful phenomenon as Anja has been fighting naps since last June. Maybe Milla is rubbing off on her . . . we shall see! Guess it's time for me to lay down too!

Swinging and snoozing . . .

More Photos from Milla's First Week . . .

On Tuesday, before our second ER visit (this time for me), I promised to post more photos. Here are a few of our favorites from the past week.

Dr. Soneral (delivered Milla), Milla and Erik before we were discharged on Sunday.


Coming home, the first time. Our new family of four!


We're home!


Milla's first nap in her bassinet.


Anja serves up cake to celebrate Milla's birthday on Monday.


Anja helped give Milla her first bath at home.


It's tummy time!

One Week!

Milla . . . one week old today.

Milla's first week has been rather eventful . . . her birth, coming home, two trips to the ER (her own and mine), and in general, getting to know the world around her. She shows a quiet curiosity that is fun to watch and is quite the chill little lady. (Maybe we're just used to an almost 2 1/2 year old running around the house, just a guess!)

We've seen her first smiles and first rolls from side to side and look forward to many more milestones in the days and weeks to come!

Meanwhile, it was great to get out with Anja for a little one on one time today to celebrate the first day of May. We went to the library and park, played with her new dance ribbon (Thanks, Heather!), and instead of making traditional May baskets, Anja conjured up making a "stick garden" -- where we gathered dead grass and stuck it in our planter right alongside the tulips. She's a creative one!

Our stick garden (see right side of planter).