Life with our two rascals!

The happy siblings.

Wow, what a whirlwind these last several months have been!  Time has just flown by.  These two little ones are sure keeping me busy.

As you all know, Tanner Jacob Grow (aka "TJ") was born at 9:38 p.m. on July 10, 2013 (one day before his due date) at UC Davis Hospital.  My water broke that morning, and a couple hours later my contractions started.  I got to the hospital, and they said I'd probably deliver him late that night, 9-10ish.  I thought, that seems so far away!  But lo and behold, they were right (I guess they do know what they're talking about after all!).  Everything progressed wonderfully, and without any major complications.  It was a natural birth, and although very difficult and exhausting, it was a wonderful and spiritual experience.  One day, I hope to find the time to write down his full birth story, but this will do for now.

It was an amazing experience to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).  To give birth the way it was intended.  It was like an out-of-body experience...magical almost.  I can't explain it any other way.  He was perfect.  A little angel just like I expected he would be.  Kylie met him the day after he was born, and was a little indifferent to him.  Once he arrived home, she immediately took a liking to him.  She would cuddle alongside him, and touch him softly, and kiss his head.  There were (and are) moments of jealousy, which I totally expected.   It's difficult, but totally normal.

We are lucky enough to have a nephew born to Tami's family, little Gabriel, and a niece, Gabriella, born to Stacy and Paul's family all within a month of each other.  These cousins are sure to be best buds.

Truth be told, these have been the most difficult last 5 months.  Having a colicky newborn and an over-active toddler has definitely taken it's toll on me.  I have been stressed, hormonal, sleepy, and overly sensitive.  I guess all these things are normal too, it's just an adjustment period I suppose.  Everyone tells me to enjoy these days before they are gone.  So every time I am trying to cook dinner, and the baby is crying or Kylie is tugging at my pant leg, instead of getting frustrated (which in turn angers her), I try to make the best of it:  strap the baby on the baby carrier, and let her help me cook.  It always means more mess to take care of later, but at least she's happy.  See...I AM learning!!  I have had tons of help from my wonderful family, mostly my mom and mother in law.  You guys are awesome, and we are so lucky to have you in our lives!

Well, here are some pics of the goings on in our family since Tanner's birth.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  We have created some fun memories, and I hope they will realize in the future what great lengths we as parents go to to provide fun experiences for them.  I know I sure do.  Thank you mom and dad :)

So happy together!

Snug as a bug in a rug!

Kylie's 2nd Birthday party.  Everything was "Yo Gabba Gabba" theme.
She loved it!

Proud momma moment.

The cousins at her party.

Their first Halloween together.
Kylie as Audrey Hepburn ("Holly Golightly"),
and TJ as a cow.

His first time to the beach.  Bodega Bay.

Playing in the sand.  Every 2 year old's favorite thing to do.

TJ with cousin Gabriella.
Their first time together at Apple Hill.

Family pic at Apple Ridge Farms

Our trip to visit the Matos' family.
We love our cousins, and they love us too!

TJ & Gabriel.  Double trouble.

Friends 

Kylie is 18 months!...and another pea in the pod

Well, another milestone has been reached!  My "baby" is now 18 months.  Hard to believe she is already 1 1/2 years old.  

This is a fun stage for us: tantrums, biting/hitting, teething, etc.  Seriously, I think the "terrible twos" are hitting her a little early.  Ryan thinks this may be a good thing, since maybe she'll get out of them quicker.  I'll let him keep dreaming!

It is amazing how her little personality has just blossomed over the last several months.  I was reading in  a book today about how there are 3 different "temperaments" for babies and toddlers:  easy, shy, and spirited.  Guess which one Kylie is?!  Everyone that knows her can guess this one!  Well, there definitely is the ups and downs, good days and bad days.  There is never a dull moment with our girl, and she sure keeps us on our toes!  She is fun and spunky, is very social, and is very active.

Her vocabulary has grown from about 10 to 50 words in the past 6 months, and keeps growing every day.  Her brain at this stage is like a little sponge, and she loves learning new things. 

Here is a list of some things that Kylie loves right now:

• Bubbles
• Making animal noises (she loves bears and doggies especially)
• Her "bucky" (binkie), weaning her at the moment
• Going to the park
• Books
• Going fast in the shopping cart with daddy

....and here are a couple of things she does NOT like:

• Goodbye's
• Bedtime routine (especially brushing her teeth)
• Diaper changes
• The noise of the garbage disposal
• BEING in the shopping cart (unless it goes fast)

As most of you know, I found out on my Birthday (Nov. 9) that we were again expecting another bundle of joy!  I think that trip we took to Maui for our 10 year anniversary really helped :)

We were so ecstatic, that most of our family found out right away.  After all, this was the miracle we've been waiting for so long, to naturally conceive a baby!  Our joy increased when we found out at 15 weeks that it was a boy.  I can't explain the happiness Ryan and I felt when we received the news.  It was almost like a hole in our hearts was being filled.  We will always miss our little Henry, but having another boy in the family will be such an amazing blessing!  What's more is that he will have 3 little cousins practically his same age, two on mommy's side and one on daddy's side!  This is going to be a fun summer!

Here are some moments captured of her over the past several months.  It's remarkable how much they grow between 12-18 months!

Apple Hill in the Fall '12

Her first chair, from cousin Bella 

Christmas '12

It's a boy! January '13

Fun at the Sacramento Zoo, March '13

At Fairytale Town with cousin Isaiah, March '13

Kylie is 1!...and honoring Henry

Kylie enjoying her Birthday cake!

Wow, my baby is ONE.  

Where does the time go?  

I can hardly believe it was a year ago today that I held my sweet babe in my arms for the first time. It was the sweetest, most rewarding experience of my life.  Little did I know that the loves just grows deeper and deeper every day.  She is a toddler now, walking since August!  She already has 6 teeth, and starting to pick up some words!  She can say momma, dadda, uh-oh, baba, up, bubble, and a few others.  

At the rate she's growing, I won't be able to keep up with her!  Oh well, she keeps me young at heart.  

She is very lucky to have a family that loves her, and to have many friends to make her happy.

Of course, my thoughts are with Henry all the time, but especially today and tomorrow.  

His picture still hangs on the wall in the nursery, and he is a continual reminder to me of many, many blessings I have and many lessons I have learned.  

He is the single greatest teacher I have had in my life.  Heavenly Father gave him to me to teach me the many things I could have only learned through him:

• To trust in the Lord
• Miracles do happen
• Personal revelation is real
• Families are forever
• Our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can comprehend
• just to name a few...

Friends and acquaintances have often said to me, "I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through". And it's true, I have had to endure a loss that was tremendous to bear.  But I feel that my experience has made me appreciate my children that much more.  I love Kylie and Henry so much more because not only did I have to wait for them for 9 years, but when they came, the experience was so profound that I love them on such a deeper level than I could ever have imagined.  Would I trade that for anything else? Probably not!  In some ways, I feel privileged to have had this learning experience.  My son is a choice spirit of God, and I know that my reunification with him will be that much sweeter!

So, on this 1st Birthday of Kylie, it does make me sad my son is not with us (I will always miss him), but it is a sweet reminder of all that Henry has taught me, and all that my Father in Heaven has blessed me with.  

Enjoy some of our memories:

Newborn photo (just hours after delivery)

9 month photo shoot

Taking some of her first steps!

At Sonoma Park (10 months)

Her first ponytail! (11 months)

Playing with the ducks (11 months)

Glad to see daddy after his vacation with mommy! (11 1/2 mos.)

At her 1st Birthday party!

In loving memory, Henry James Grow

Kylie at 9 months!

My lil sweetie!

Yay!  Kylie turns 9 months old today!!

My mom was right: every stage is precious, but they just keep getting cuter and cuter.  It's hard to imagine her getting any cuter than she already is, but I know she will!

At first I thought 3 months was the bee's knees, then I thought, no, 6 months is the best!  Now that she is 9 months, I DEFINITELY think it's the best.  Right?  How could she possibly get any cuter than she already is???  Hahaha, I know how this story will end!

Here are some of the many reasons why I LOVE 9 months:

giggles
cuddles
clapping
crawling
standing
walking (with help)
googoo, gaga noises
first words (hi, and dada)
two bottom teeth
sleeping in the crib

...just to name a few!

It's sad but exciting to think that my next blog post might be her 1 year Birthday!!

I want to share a special experience I had with Kylie the other day.

We were in her nursery and I was holding her and pointing to her baby picture that is framed on the wall.  On the opposite side of the room is a framed picture of Henry.  I turned her around to show her his picture.  She looked at him for awhile, then immediately looked at another picture of him across the room.  Just like she made the connection and knew who he was.  That was such a special moment for me.  To know that she is aware of him and knows who he is.  Moments like these are what makes motherhood so rewarding!

Here are some more moments we have enjoyed over the last couple months.  Enjoy!

Mother's Day

Photo shoot!

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco
(in the spot daddy proposed to mommy)

Swimming with auntie Heidi

Biking with mommy

Swinging with daddy

In loving memory,
Henry James Grow

Kylie at 6 months!

It is bittersweet for me to say, but my baby is 6 months old already.  *Sigh*  OK, I think I'll be alright :)

Kylie is growing so fast I can hardly keep up with her!  This little girl will be crawling and/or walking before I know it.  It is so fun to see her learn something new or do something different each day.  Lately, it has been a little something like this:

open mouth
insert (blank)
hold the (blank) with a death grip
cry like mad when mom takes the (blank) away!

But, hey,  that's what 6 month olds do, right?  As I type, she is trying to reach out and play with the laptop.  And, of course, put it in her mouth :)

Anywho, here is a little log I kept of Kylie on the progress she was making on each of the months between 3 – 6 months.  It’s not necessarily exciting news, but I like to keep track of things like this for her baby book.

3 months

Giggles in her sleep

Acting more alert and aware of her surroundings

Sitting up more (supported)

Turning her body while lying down

Responding to colors

4 months

Taking a bottle (this one took her a while!)

Taking a pacifier more regularly (also took a while!)

Sit comfortably in the bumbo

Laughs and talks more

Had her first headcold

Grasping and holding things

Responds to singing

Started teething

Started to roll over

5 months

Started holding her bottle while feeding (not quite a pro yet though)

Started on some solids (Rice cereal mostly)

Stands up in her saucer

Touching things like my face

Slept in her crib and not the swing (yay!)

6 months

Sleeping through the night  (YESSSS!  Notice it’s at the top of the list!)

Supplement breastmilk with some solids everyday (veggies mostly – she loves carrots!)

Smiling a lot

Crying is for babies, screaming is for 6 month olds J

Helps dress herself (putting arms through sleeves – very cool!)

Grab whatever is nearby and shove it in the pie hole!

I gotta say, however sad I may be of my baby on the fast track to toddlerhood, she is making me fall more in love with her every passing day.  I am learning to appreciate each stage, and enjoy each memory in the making.

Here are some memorable moments from 3 – 6 months old!

6 month "Birthday"

Easter 2012 (5 1/2 months)

St. Patrick's Day (5 months)

First time in the walker (4 1/2 months)

Valentine's Day (4 months)

Visit with cousin Isaiah (3 months)

Kylie's first 3 months!

The past three months with Kylie have been an absolute joy for me and Ryan.  It's funny how something so little can bring you so much happiness!

We can hardly believe she turns 3 months old today!  

Where did the time go?  Perhaps the photos below will help answer that question.

A baby experiences many things for the first time during their first few months of life.  Here are just a few of the many moments we experienced together, mother and daughter (and daddy).

First drive in the car

First bath at home

First walk

First visit to her brother

First latch on the pacifier

First Thanksgiving

First time at church

First purse (Vera Bradley of course!)

First "white dress"

First Christmas

First crocheted ear flap hat (handmade by mommy!)

First time on an airplane (to Boise to visit family)

First time to the acquarium

Also, please enjoy this video we made of the birth of our twins!