Room With a View

Well, we’ve found our temporary home away from home while we’re living in DC!  It’s hard to believe that in little more than 2 short months we’ll be packing up and heading to the nation’s capital.  Check out our digs; it’s a very different type of living than what either Kirk or I are used to, but it’ll be a fun adventure.  For those of you who are curious, we’ll be living in the Liberty Tower apartments.  Here’s the website: www.libertytowerapt.com.

  Courtyard side of the apartment building.

Views from our balcony.  Left – view of DC.  (The tall spire in the background is the Washington Monument.)  Right – view of nearby Quincy Playfield.

Just so there’s a little something about the kiddos.  Here’s a recent pic of the “3 amigos” hanging out.  I wonder if they’ll continue this relationship: Cole oblivious to Zoe, Zoe watching over Cole like a mother hen, and Zeke wanting desperately to join in the fun.

Comparison Shopping

It’s hard to believe that Cole is 10 weeks old now!  We just had his 2-month check-up at the doctor’s, so I thought I would mention what he’s up to these days.  And, even though they (not really sure who “they” are) say not to compare children, I thought I would put down Zoe’s stats and her doings from birth to 2 months as well.

Birth:

Cole was born by c-section 7 weeks early.  Check out the blog entry “Craziness Ensues” for more details.  Weight – 4 pounds, 6 ounces.  Length - 17.72 inches

After I was induced, Zoe was born vaginally and full term.  Weight – 6 pounds, 13 ounces.  Length – 19 inches long. 

1st month:

Most of Cole’s first month was spent in the NICU.  He came home when he was three weeks old, and after he dropped to 4 pounds, 1 ounce, he weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces at the time of discharge.  After that, it was pretty much eat, sleep, poop, repeat.  1 month check-up stats: Weight – 6 pounds, 4.5 ounces.  Length - 18.5 inches.

Zoe came home after 3 days in the hospital and weighed around 6 pounds, 2 ounces.  She pretty much slept, pooped, and ate, but she did have a difficult time eating in the beginning.  1 month check-up stats: Weight – 7 pounds, 12 ounces.  Length – 20 inches.

2nd month:

Cole is now spending more time awake and will even stay awake between feedings occasionally.  He can hold his head up for short periods of time, can smile and coo, and he’s rolled from his tummy to his back once.   His little quirk: all of his “noises” - he bleets like a goat, trumpets like an elephant, and occasionally whinnies like a horse.  His favorite things: Halo sleep sack, being held, watching Zoe.  His least favorite things: the carseat and generally being strapped into something (swing, stroller, bouncy chair, etc).  2 month stats: Weight – 8 pounds, 14.5 ounces.  Length – 20.5 inches.

Ahhh, the 2nd month of Zoe’s life.  I don’t really remember the 2nd month of her life except the crying and lack of sleep (on all of our parts!).  I do remember that she had really good head control and was beginning to roll over at this point.  Her favorite things: the sling, the water fountain in our backyard, being outside in the scorching summer heat.  Her least favorite things: being on her back or not being held; cold air.  2-month stats: Weight - 9 pounds, 8.5 ounces.  Length – 21.5 inches.

New Rides

Like most toddlers, Zoe has decided to move away from the rattles and cause and effect toys and on to bigger, better, and more exciting toys, like riding toys.  So, a few weeks ago, we (Kirk and me) went and bought her a tricycle (the kind with a push handle) and a helmet.  She loves going for a ride; especially since her feet can’t quite pedal all the way around.  (I secretly think she likes going for a ride just so she can put on her spiffy helmet.)

With 2 kids under the age of 3 and one being an infant, Kirk and I did a lot of research and going back and forth on what type of stroller to purchase.  Here’s the winner: the Phil & Ted Sport Stroller.  It’s the footprint of a regular jogger, but 2 kids can ride.   Zoe’s seat is removeable.  Once Cole is able to sit, Zoe’s chair is removed and placed “underneath” Cole’s current seat.  Zoe’s seat then becomes Cole’s seat.   Here’s the configuration of an infant and toddler: Where’s Cole?Still no Cole!

 There he is!Zoe’s seat removed

Growing Up

A few months ago (sometime shortly after Ikea opened), the fam took a trip to Ikea to find Zoe a big girl bed.  The plan was to transition her to a big girl bed in March so she wouldn’t have so many transitions close together (new bed, baby brother, potty training, moving), but of course, Cole had a different plan in mind.  Zoe’s bed and her crib had both been in her room for about a month, when I caught her with one leg on top of the railing getting ready to climb out one morning.  So, we had to get rid of the crib.  The transition could not have been easier!!  Zoe has been sleeping in her bed without any difficulty, and even better, when she’s not ready to go to bed or nap, we don’t hear her running around her room (although, we do hear some pretty humorous singing and conversations!)

  Where’s Zoe?

 Caught in the act of taking her picture (remind me to strangle Zeke one day)!  She usually sleeps ”upside-down” – with her head at the foot of her bed.

Springtime Fun and Cole Comes Home!

  Zoe takes time to smell the azaleas.

The weekend before Easter, we attempted to take part in the Queens University Easter Egg Hunt, but we arrived about 10 minutes too late.  Even though Zoe didn’t get a chance to find some eggs, she met Rex (the school’s mascot) as well as the Easter Bunny and had a little fun running around on the lawn.

 

Zoe and the Easter Bunny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following Sunday, Cole was discharged from the hospital – yipee!!  We have a video of us leaving the NICU and of Zoe meeting Cole for the first time, but I haven’t had a chance to look and edit it yet (Hmm, wonder why?).  Here’s a picture of us when we got home (not sure why, but we don’t have a pic of all 4 ouf us).

The week before Easter was Spring Break as well as crummy weather (boo, hiss), and Zoe was literally running up the walls.  So we invited a few of Zoe’s friends over for Easter egg dyeing, an Easter egg hunt, and a picnic lunch.  I think the kiddos had a great time, and Zoe burned some pent-up energy (although she got a massive sugar high from all the m&m’s)

 Ooohh!  Zoe found a pink egg!

  What a difference a year makes!  Where did our babies go?!

 

 

 

Mia, Kate, Zoe, and Aston pig out on M&Ms.