My Loves

My two little darlings are cuter than ever these days, Georgia continues to love being a big sister and Leo is growing like a weed, at last check he was in the 95% for height and weight!  Despite the age and ability difference these two are two peas in a pod!

 

 In their matching robe and sleeper

 

 Morning snuggles

 

 Leo LOVES the bath, so fitting for my Pisces

 Bath time beauty

 

 I really don't think he could be cuter!

 

 My strong boy can hold himself up in the Bumbo

 

If he can do it so can I!

One Month

Leo,
Yesterday you turned one month old, it's so hard to believe we only met you four short weeks ago.  In the past month you have been doing some serious growing, at 3 1/2 weeks you were 11lbs 10oz!  Your eyes quickly turned dark brown, something that came from daddy, and I like to think a little from Grandma Claudia too.  You and Georgia certainly looked related but you have features that are uniquely yours, namely your cleft chin, no one knows where this came from. Your sister adores you, each morning coming in and giving you kisses on the head saying, "hi bud!" in a high pitch voice that mommies are know to use.  You're a snuggler and prefer to be held, you love the bath and are overall a pretty mellow little guy.  You have a sweetness about you I can't quite describe, in the past month you have brought such a sense of peace to our family.  Of course things with a newborn are hectic but there is a new calm that arrived with you, things just seem to flow better, seem calmer and that brings such a feeling of completeness to our family.  We love you Leo and can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead.

 Proud Papa

 

 Can you feel the love?

 

So curious and so strong!

 Having a little father & son chat

 

 Good talk son

 

My hunk of burnin' love

Sweetness

A couple of days ago I got the rest of our family photos from Leo's newborn shoot, I kept looking and looking at the pictures, thrilled with images that Michelle captured and filled up by looking at the sheer sweetness of my beautiful children.

Leo's pictures were taken in Michelle's studio which she keeps very warm so the little babes will stay asleep.  We all gathered in as she worked and as time went by layers started coming off.  Georgia had been fully dressed but ended up in just her jeans, while going through Michelle's treasures she found an orange necklace and immediately put it on.  Brian took off his grey shirt leaving only his plain white t-shirt and we continued to watch Leo sleep peacefully.  Just before she finished she asked if I wanted a few shots with Leo, sure, I said!  I scooped him up and just as Michelle started to shoot, Georgia jumped in the picture, never wanting to miss an opportunity for a photo!  Minutes later, Brian was in the shot, what was captured is so us, nothing fancy, but all happily together, I love it.  

Here are some of my favorites from the day...

Photos

We have a lot of pictures that I cherish, when Georgia was first diagnosed there was a sense of wanting to protect her, writing about what's going on is one thing, showing pictures of your daughter who has a horrible rash and is losing her hair is quite another.  I'm so glad that I moved past those feelings, we have been so fortunate to have some amazing photographers capture moments of pure joy during such a horrific time.

Michelle Enebo contacted me just before leaving the hospital post transplant, she'd heard about Georgia through a friend and offered to take family pictures for us.  Let me just say, Michelle is amazing, her style is exactly what I love in a photo, freezing a moment in time but letting the feeling of the moment come through.  Michelle has generously done photos for us at 100 days post transplant and one year post transplant.  When she heard I was pregnant she contacted me and said, "I want to do your newborn photos!"  I was not about to pass up another generous offer!  Last week we went to her house and not only did she take pictures of Leo, she got several of Georgia as well as our family.  Here are the sneak peeks I've seen so far, another incredible job, thank you Michelle!

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a link to a few more photos:

 

http://enebophotoblog.com/in-like-a-lion/

New Normal

We have been busy establishing our new normal over the past couple of weeks, adjusting to very little sleep, juggling two kids with different needs and despite the challenges we're loving every minute.  When I find myself exhausted after being up every two hours through the night I just need one whiff of that baby smell to perk myself up, I wish I could bottle that scent.

Leo is healthy and growing, at his two week check up he was already up to 9lbs 14oz!  He's starting to spend more time alert and is doing a good job of putting up with his sister being right in his face.  Georgia is a wild woman, I don't know if it's because of Leo's arrival, seeing how mellow little babies are or if she has hit a new stride of constant motion.  She literally talks from sun up to sun down, is curious about everything and enjoys pushing the limits on everything.  She's very sweet with Leo, always giving him kisses and saying "hi buddy" or "I love my brother."

Brian had his first trip this week since Leo was born, and I have to say I think I did pretty well for the three days I was on my own, meals were cooked, laundry was done and Brian even commented on how he was impressed with how picked up the house was.  As with everything once we find our right balance, something will shift, but so far our new normal is feeling just fine.

 

Baby Leo

 



I love these rolls!

 



If only I could sleep so soundly

 



Brian and Georgia enjoying the sunshine

 



Clearly a Seattleite, 65 degrees and the clothes come off!

 



 

 

Georgia & Daddy having a little jam session 

 

This was so funny to watch, a little girl chasing two grown men around the yard.. everyone slept well that night.

 

 

This is one of the ways Georgia has been burning up some energy!

 

An alert little Leo