3 months already?

Where did the time go?  I just love spending my summer days with both kiddos.  We're settling into a perfect routine and I'm already getting sad as I realize how quickly time will fly from now until August.  Kate is one happy, smiley, adorable baby.  Lucky mom, here!

Weight:  Last time we checked, she was a little over 11 pounds.  It's wonderful to have a *normal* sized baby that follows the clothing sizes... =)

Diaper Size:  We've moved up!  Size two.  I'm still sticking with Pampers Swadders just because of the little blue line that tells me to change Kate's little butt.  When we hit the 3 mark, then it'll be up and ups from Target just like her big bro.

Clothes Size:  3-6 month (almost everything Carter's still.  {{Okay, slightly obsessed.}})  Baby girl clothes are just as amazing as I dreamed of them to be when I was only shopping in the boy section.  Ruffles, sparkles, adorable colors.  Carter's new line you ask?  Mint, cream, gray, and light coral.  Polka dots.  Skinny jeans made out of cotton.  Hello!  I want to kiss Carter's designers.

Sleep:  The Krieger kiddos are great sleepers!  We do bath for Jack at 7(ish) and down by 7:30...then Kate's bath at 7:30 and down at 8.  That's right, with two kids under three...our house is quiet by 8 p.m.  Then, I catch up on tanning, errands, hanging out with Eric.  So wonderful!  Kate sleeps all the way through and usually wakes up around 5:30 or 6.  WAHOO!  If you wonder how my kids sleep so well...read Babywise.  It was my baby raising bible.  So far, so good!

Favorite Activities/things:  If she's in your arms, she's happy as can be.  This is so wonderful because I recently signed up for our Y wellness center in Waukee.  2 hours a day FREE daycare for both kids?!  I feel like I'm stealing with my $76.50 a month membership.  Kate is completely content with anyone as long as they're holding her!  She's starting to find and chew on her hand.  She despises pacifiers...which tells you how happy of a baby she is!  Her bunny is her best friend.  Lately, she likes to be upright...standing, sitting, hanging in her bouncy.  Her personality is coming out and so far...she's just like her mum.  Poor Eric!  Two princesses...

Watch me roll!

Eating: LOTS of milk.  6 oz at a time most feedings now.  Good thing I can keep up with her! My deep freeze is completely full of frozen milk and we're 3 months down without a drop of formula.  Breastfeeding is a whole lot of work, but I think it's helping create our insanely wonderful little girl.  In the next few weeks I'm going to attempt cereal.  We'll see how that goes!

Nicknames:  Dolly, sweetie, baby Kate, 'sweeheart' and 'seester' from big bro.

Talking:  Gggggg and raspberries on demand!  Oh, and if you stick your tongue out at her, she'll do it back.  Smart little fart.

New adventures:  EARS PIERCED!  After Kate's 2 month shots, I decided it was time.  It has been SO easy.  Her ears are already healed and they never bothered her one bit.  And, if she has just a white hand-me-down onesie, she still looks like a girl.   Oh, and rolling, content, talking a whole lot more.  She's also grabbing and reaching for toys now.

I can't believe we are 1/4 of the way through Kate's first year.  I am loving every. single. minute of my pretend stay-at-home-mom life while it lasts.  I am so blessed to have two of my own healthy children.  I was made to be a mom!

Stressful mom-of-two-moment of the week:
We're grocery shopping for the first time just us three.  Kate is in the carseat and Jack is sitting right next to her (in a giant cart only found at the Jordan Creek Hy-Vee!)  This Hy-Vee is under construction and only one giant cart can get through the aisles.  Kate wakes up and is OVER being in her carseat.  {Pacifiers would be REALLY convenient here..}  She's crying, Jacks whining "let's go home, mom" and I still needed to grab a gallon of milk.  Word to the other people without kids/old people who have forgotten...don't stare or comment when children are having meltdowns!  It just happens...even with really good kids and patient moms.  =)

Kate's face says it all.  She's not having it.

babies are a piece of cake

Today, Jack got super soaked when I took a bubble bath.  So, we took his shirt off since it was pj time for him soon.  After awhile, he got his "bee bee doll", a little cabbage patch doll I bought intending for it to be Kate's that he's confiscated ever since she was born.  He slammed his doll down, climbed on the couch like a little monkey, and spent minutes getting into a perfect cozy spot right next to me -- just him and his dolly.  After insisting I "wrap her up" with his favorite blankie, he snuggled with his dolly.  Then...he said "momma bee bee hungy, I feed her with my boobs."

Oh goodness.

After a few seconds, he proceeded to burp her.  His sweet little hand patted her back oh so lightly while he said "time to burp sweehearrr".  It is a moment I will never forget.  He went on to change her diaper, dressed her, wrapped her up again, and sweetly placed her in Kate's bouncy chair.  He proclaimed "bee bee nigh night time mom, bee bee sleeping!" He even had the music playing!

Clearly, Jack could take care of babies already.  I hope his future wife appreciates how wonderful he will be with kids.  LOVE!

This picture...

needs no words. 

I love you, buddy.

Dear Baby Kate

Tomorrow is officially my last day of maternity leave.  Just typing that makes me sad.  Yes, I know I only have to go back to work for seven days...but it still is hard to believe three months has past already.  For the next seven days you won't be snuggled in my arms, staring intently at my face, in your own snuggly place we call home.   Next Wednesday, I assure you, your big bro, Jack and I will settle back into our little routine and soak up every adorable minute of you until August.

You know exactly who your momma is, that's for sure.  When you hear me you turn your little head...when I run around you you attempt to follow me with your eyes.  And when you catch me out of the corner of your eye you let out the most adorable nothing-in-this-world-gets-better-than-this look and smile from ear to ear.  You let out a big sigh every time I come near and I love that about you.

You scrunch the top of your nose for two things:  smiling and crying.  When I set you on the floor your little arms and legs go crazy!  I think you're practicing your swimming/future track star moves?  Must be.  You eat very slowly...you like to be snuggled up right next to me and I think you figured out that eating slow keeps you there longer.  You're smart, little dolly.  You roll from your belly to your back so effortlessly now.  It's adorable to see you grow stronger and stronger.

I'm certain that your first real love is me and your oh-so-wonderful daddy, however, your snuggle bunny comes in at a close second. Even strangers comment on how much you adore your bunny.  {and I can't even describe how many comments we get from strangers when we're out and about...}  You chew on it.  You snuggle it.  You grasp your little bunny as if it is the most important thing in your little world.  Maybe you love it because it's pink, and you and I will share that as our favorite color?!

I love dressing you up in dresses and bows.  I love that you sit oh-so-patiently for me to paint your tiny little toenails (three times already)!  I love having the perfect balance between blues and pinks filling every nook and cranny of our house.  I love how your tiny hands always find mine.  I love that your right little foot finds its way right out of the sling in the bath tub every single time.  I love that you adore Jack and bat your adorable lashes at him when he runs by and says "hiiiii bee bee Kate!" And, I love that you're my little girl.

Kate, I can't wait for you to grow.  I can't wait for future pedicure dates, shopping sprees, prom hair and more.  I can't wait to give you advice on learning, girl drama, and even your first boyfriend.  I promise you, sweet baby doll, you will always have your momma right by your side.

For ever.

And ever.

So there's this girl...she kind of stole my heart.

She calls me Mom.

When one door closes....

As I finished my first year of teaching, I realized I was missing something.  Yes, I had dozens of crazy first-year-teacher stories, wonderful coworkers that are now great friends, and a cute little two bedroom apartment decorated in nothing but stars.  However, mid-year I realized I wasn't bogged down with lesson plans or stressed about what to teach anymore and I missed learning.  I love to be challenged.  I love to think and discuss.

I love to learn.

In my second year of teaching (in a new district, teaching a new grade level, with a brand new baby while building a house...whew!) I decided I wasn't busy enough?!  Ha.  I decided to begin a graduate program in order to become a future school administrator.  I researched ISU, Drake, and Viterbo, and ultimately chose ISU because of the easy communication, similar set-up to UNI which I was familiar with, and weekday classes vs. weekend (mostly).

Then, life got crazy.  Didn't I say I like to be challenged?  Well that happened alright.

While keeping up with classes, 20-page research pages, discussions, group projects and more...I taught 140+ 8th graders all about rocks, raised a baby into a blossoming terrible-two's toddler, had another baby, and made our house into a home.  The last two years have proven to be interesting, challenging, and oh so rewarding.

I've officially graduated with my Master's in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University.

I said it!  I typed it!  It's kind of sort of sinking in.

With one door closing, another door opens.  I decided I wasn't ready to be bored next year without grad school so...

I have accepted a 5th Grade teaching position at our brand new elementary {not even finished being built yet} in Waukee!  I am SO excited for SO many things {including a giant list of pinterest classroom ideas for all things elementary....stay tuned!}

When one door closes another one opens.  Here I come, elementary school!

Sweet week-old Kate watching mommy type paper, after paper, after paper...

(I know you're jealous that this is how I got to spend my maternity leave... =)

More...

I have to be honest, going from one to two has been a relatively seamless transition in the Krieger household.  I heard horror stories of mental breakdowns and bratty-big-bro-syndromes, and so far we're in the clear.  I was not, however, informed of the new meaning of more.

When we go to the store we have to buy more stuff.  Before...I used to go on missions --- update Jack's wardrobe for summer...easy.  Stop at Baby Gap and buy everything in multiple colors....done.  Not anymore!  Now I go to Baby Gap (with a toddler and a giant Chicco stroller that only holds a 2-month-old -- how silly!  Double stroller search is underway...) and check the toddler boy section and grab a few things.  Then I make my way to the baby girl section and decide what is actually practical and wearable.  Yes, I said it.  Kate does not only wear Baby Gap as Jack did!  I have a new love relationship with Carter's baby girl collection.  I still refuse to put Jack in Carter's bright colors and dog decals...but the girl stuff doesn't usually have any of it!  There's ruffles, adorable on-trend colors, and oh so much comfy cotton.  So, Jack = Baby Gap...Kate = Carter's.  That means more shopping, more stores, and more clothes.

Buying more clothes means more laundry.  You wouldn't think adding one more kiddo to the mix would increase laundry...but my oh my girls!  There are leggings, and headbands, and skirts, and pajamas, and cardigans, and tights.  Me oh my!  There are so many little pieces in Kate's wardrobe that get separated and must be reassembled together.  Not to mention cute bibs, burp rags, and blankies.  Again, more laundry.

Two kids means more diapers.  I used to be okay with just tossing a diaper across the room and putting in the trash when I made my way to it.  You can't really get away with that with two kids.  It ends up looking like a diaper waste land and I feel like I'm living in a dumpster.  I have to find size 4 in the up and ups at Target AND the size ones in pampers swaddlers (I love the little blue line...and Kate is so picky about wet diapees, so I'm being a brat and requiring the more expensive ones..for now.)  And of course that means more wipes.

Having sippy cups AND bottles means more dishes. The list could continue.

There are, however, so many positives about having two kiddos...

More snuggles.
More laughter.
More poopy diapers to be laughed at!
More stories to tell.
More sweet, adorable, melt-my-heart moments that I hope to never forget.

Band-aids, boppys, and big brothers

Kate had her first round of shots today.  She was a rock star.  One giant scream and she was over it.  Two cute little pink and purple band-aids were the only remnants of her first pokes.  As always, I think it hurt Eric and me more than it hurt her.

As soon as we got home, I showed Jack her band-aid battle wounds.  He instantly felt sorry for her and started taking care of her.  First came his intensely high-pitched voice saying "What's da matta sweeeeehearrrrt?"  Then came her snuggly dolly.   After that, he ran to find her glowworm -- and pushed play in order to calm the newly poked babe.  Finally, he topped it all off with a blanket. 

Jack is the sweetest big brother (and 2 year old) I have ever seen.

Baby Kate loves to chill laying on her boppy pillow.  She's awake a ton now-a-days and loves to be in on all the action {and trust me, with Jack there's a lot going on}.  She's still super chill and just loves to lay there and be.

I just love our little family and all of the adventures we tackle together.