Our sweet baby girl has started to smile! She actually began smiling at about a week ago (at 5 weeks) but I wasn't able to get a picture of it until now. It is hard to make her smile and take a picture all at the same time. Lily Kate has the most beautiful smile in the whole world! It simply lights up the room. She looks so much like Cole to me when she is smiling. It is so wonderful to see that cute grin and know that she is so happy to be with us!!! We simply adore her!
About a week and a half ago I became so sick (sooooo sick) with Mastitis. I never, ever had trouble with that with Cole but it came on quickly and horribly. Rhonald was working another 12 shifts in a row and could not stay home to help me so we ended up calling in reinforcements. My parents came as soon as I called them and stayed for a week. My mom cooked, cleaned, did dishes, laundry and shopping. They played with Cole and loved on Lily Kate and allowed me to rest and recover. It was wonderful and so very appreciated. Cole was able to get out of the house and get some great TLC and Lily Kate was able to get to know her Grammy and Pops a little better. Rhonald and I were so thankful to have them here to help and to spend time with them. There are not enough words in the English language to let them know how much we value them.
A couple of days ago my brother, Mark, called to say he would be "near us" (as in 5 hours away at a meeting for work) and he wanted to come meet our newest addition. We were all beyond thrilled! Mark and his family live in Michigan and we have not seen them since Easter. Mark arrived and was able to spend one night with us...not nearly long enough. We had so much fun catching up in person and, of course, playing. Mark works for John Deere and arrived with a toy tractor for Cole - huge hit!!! I was so happy to introduce Lily Kate to him and let him see how much Cole had grown. When he left, very early this morning, I was so sad. These visits do not happen nearly enough....
A few weeks ago our dear friend and photographer, Kim, came over to take pictures of Lily Kate. It was so neat to talk with her and think back to the time when she took Cole's newborn pictures. This is just a sneak peak of the wonderful job that Kim did for us. She was, once again, able to capture such a precious time in our lives. Thank you Kim - we love them!
Our sweet girl is one month old already!!! That is so hard to believe. This month has flown by! Rhonald, Cole and I are more in love with Lily Kate now than ever...she is really the sweetest baby I have ever known. Lily is right on track with everything that she is supposed to be doing...she holds her head up well (not steady but well), she makes eye contact...and today she smiled at me for real! It happened only once but it was real and it was beautiful!!! Lily Kate loves to watch Cole and follows him with her eyes whenever he is near. Cole is still full of love for his sister and has been doing great with her. We have had a few bad days lately where he is more disobedient and is looking for attention. When we realize it and we sit down with him, even for 30 minutes, his whole attitude changes. I have to keep reminding myself that this has been more of a change for him than anyone else. Lily is still eating wonderfully and sleeping well. She is very pleasant to be with. Lily does love to be held...that girl thinks she should be in some one's arms 24/7. She loves to be talked to and read to. I often will put them both in my lap and read to them together. Cole loves the stories and Lily just loves the interaction. One thing about Lily Kate is that she is the most gassy baby ever...I am really trying to watch what I am eating and when I eat it just in case that is effecting her. She is not normally fussy but I assume it is uncomfortable. Lily is still not a huge fan of her car seat but once the car reaches about 20 mph she calms down! We are still adjusting but we are loving our family of 4. Nothing has made us happier than these 2 kiddos and we are so excited to watch them grow and develop right before our eyes!
As you can see, Lily is not a big fan of bath time! She usually cries from the moment we start until the moment we wash her hair! Yes, she likes getting her hair washed! Cole loves to help with bath time. He always tries to calm Lily Kate down which is so sweet. Poor guy - it never works but he tries very hard!!! I can't wait for the day when she loves her bath and gets to sit in the tub as long as she likes playing with her brother.
I have always loved Halloween. I loved it as a kid who got to trick or treat, I have loved passing out candy ever since I became to old to trick or treat and I really loved it this year...we were first time parents of a real live trick or treater! I don't know who was more excited about the night...Cole or us! We kicked off the weekend by attending a Halloween party at Audrie and Annie's house. It was super fun to see all of the kids all dressed up and to have a "trial run" for Halloween night. That night Rhonald came home from work to a yummy chili dinner and then off we went. Lily Kate and I only went to our next door neighbors house before she voiced her opinion on the entire night...not a happy camper...so we headed home to pass out candy. In the meantime Cole and Rhonald went house to house ringing bells and collecting candy. Cole was so tired and so excited when he got home. He told me all about the various costumes he saw and what he wanted to be next year. He spent an hour going through his treat bag and then helped me pass out candy to the kids who came to our door. Cole commented on every costume and always yelled "Happy Halloween!" as the kiddos left our door step. It was really one of the most fun nights we have had in a long, long time!
