4 weeks home

Another week in the books :)

Highlights:

Katie: Katie is talking up a storm. Most of it is still babble but you can hear her working through sounds. She has picked up a couple new words: Hi and Happy. We think she has also said dog. She knows what a dog is as when we say dog she will point to one of the dogs. We are working on body parts and sometimes if I ask her where her nose is she will point correctly to her nose or mine. She is also starting to get better at holding my hand and walking which she had previously refused to do. Same with stairs. She had no interest in walking up or down stairs and now with help she will do a few and twice has walked all the way up the stairs holding on to one or both of my hands.

Kiya: Kiya is truly a remarkable kid. She is responsible and loving and I rely on her for help. I can give her directions like go feed the dogs and she can go do it by herself. She is such a big girl. This morning I really wanted to take a shower and Katie was still sleeping but woke up just as I was finishing up. Kiya went in and kept her company and played with her. She loves being a big sister most of the time. Kiya is also determined to wear underwear to bed at night. Her goal is to stay dry for 2 weeks straight and then we will do underwear. We have 5 days down :) So proud of her and it is so true that kids will do these things when they want to not when mommy and daddy want them to.

Me: I am getting into a rhythm. I am starting to feel more comfortable with Katie and taking care of both girls together. I even ventured out this last week with the two of them which was a first. Kiya and I got flu shots and then we went to the coffee shop and then the grocery store. We did it. We survived and all parties left smiling as we headed home for lunch.

Challenges:

Katie: We aren't really sure what is going on it could be a total change in diet, a food insensitivity or teething but let's just say Katie's diapers are less than fun to change. We have good days and bad which leads me to think her little body is still adjusting but there are some trends emerging that have some things like milk or gluten issues on our radar. I have talked to the nurse so we are keeping an eye on things and giving her some more time to adjust. Katie also appears to be getting her first cold with us anyway :( Poor thing has a constant face full of snot.

Kiya: Well Kiya is still having some emotional days at school. She is mostly fine at her private school. It is her old school that is the problem. I am not really sure what it going on. Her best friend is there and gets super excited when Kiya shows up but Kiya just shuts down. Yesterday she refused to participate in art and spent a lot of time by herself looking at our family picture. I have tried talking to her about it and she says she misses her mama. We have read and re-read and read again Llama Llama Misses Mama. We are 3 weeks into her new schedule so I am hoping in time she will adjust and get used to it. She has told me that Monday she will be happy at school so we shall see.

Me: I don't have a lot of patience and I never really did. Some days I have more than others. I am trying to find some as I need it with two very loud, very silly and very messy girls. I am also not a baby person so things like spoon feeding, diaper changing are not my favorite past times. I need to learn to enjoy the little things. She is going to grow up so fast and I know I will miss those little times where she spits cereal at me or slyly feeds the dogs. I also need to learn to let go. I want Kiya to learn things at her pace. Things like writing her letters. She asks to practice and I have to learn to not get annoyed when she doesn't do it like I want her too. I need to be better at encouraging her free spirit and give her the time to figure it out for herself.

Overall we are really doing quite well. Time is the key to this all getting easier. For now trying to soak up every moment I can as my girls are growing up too fast.