strawberry fields

In early June, we went strawberry picking, as a family! Kaya found all the best strawberries, of course.

Liora and Daddy with her empty box, soon to be filled.

Hard at work.

Liora with strawberry juice on her cheeks and a half-full box.

Kaya is hidden, but she was there.

And now, some notes on where we stand on August 1 (pictures are behind, but for posterity):

• Kaya is smiling all the time now. Her first smile was around 4 weeks, but now it is something we see often. She is also talking: a-oo and ai are her two 'words', and we are most likely to hear them when she is on her back doing exercises or getting her diaper changed.
• Kaya started her first full day of daycare today. Yesterday she got a good report from her main caregiver Victoria, after a half-day test. "Kaya enjoyed Spanish class as she sat on my lap. She looked around at her new friends and smiled. She took two 15 minute naps. She was a little fussy which is normal for her first few days."
• Mommy goes back to work tomorrow, and I'm so sad to leave Kaya. She is in good hands though. Can't say the same for me. :)
• Liora continues to be a great big sister. Very helpful, and loving. She never shows any frustration with her, and gives her lots of hugs and kisses.
• Liora moves up to her first preschool class in mid-August. She's growing up! She can spell her name, identify the letter "L", and count to 20. Her favorite phrase continues to be "Whatcha doing?" and we hear this constantly, "I love purple and pink!"

That's it for now!

Kaya and her family

Kaya was so lucky to be born a Grasheim! So many people who love her!

Hugs from DeeDee.

One eye open with Aunt Nurit, at our first big meal out after Kaya's birth.

Cradled by Uncle Roy.

With Saba, cousin Tori, and sissy Liora.

Loving MeMe!

Chilling with Lexy.

Being protected by Boo. Or Boo is protecting his favorite seat...

Kaya's first day at home

Now we are back to life with Liora AND Kaya. Her first day home, she had to meet all of the other members of the household and get the lay of the land from Liora.

Boo checks out the new addition.

Lexy says, "Another one, oh great."

The first of many hugs from big sister

Liora reads to her little sister. So cute.

Kaya resting.

Thinking about waking up, but not opening those beautiful eyes just yet.

passover and easter

Passover and Easter fell on the same weekend this year. Daddy took Liora to Aunt Nurit and Uncle Roy's for Passover. Since mommy wasn't there, there were no pictures captured! Liora came home exhausted--she had a great time, and loved her new slippers and cupcake barrettes from Cousin Paula.

The next day, the Easter bunny visited and filled Liora's basket with lots of treats.

And, our friends came over for an easter egg hunt!

Going through her stuff!

And they're off!

Liora and Lilly with their fuzzy baskets.

crayola

In February, we visited Dee Dee, and had our first visit to the Crayola Factory Museum. It was great! Lot's of cool craft activities and things to color. And Liora is really into crafts and coloring at the moment. So this was the perfect place for her, and we will definitely go back another time.

Coloring on a big white car.

Covering mommy's tummy next to the crayola statue.

Making a paper envelope to hold her crafts.

Coloring on the chalkboard floor.

pre-Kaya, some catching up

We have some catching up to do! Here are some random photos from the past 9 months!

Liora has started coloring in other places than she should, including herself.

Test-driving her new bicycle from Santa.

All dressed up and ready to go to her play with daddy.

Reading a goodnight book to her doll, who is under the blanket.

A sick day at home with Boo and daddy.

First--and only--snow this past winter. Does this make you feel cooler on these hot summer days?

Pop goes the Boo kitty. He was hiding behind the chair and popped up as I was taking this picture.

New Name

Well, our blog has a new name: Life with Liora and Kaya! And with the new addition, comes a new look as well. I hope that I get back in the swing of things with keeping this blog up...I've been absent for too long.

We started Liora's blog 6 or 7 months in, so I'm glad that with Kaya we can document her very first moments in this world.

Connecting over our second child status.

Hooked up in the NICU. These came off fast, and she came home when I did.

And now, some photos of Liora, so you can compare!

Kaya came four weeks early, just as I knew she would. On Friday before her Monday brith, I insisted to Adam that I go get a pedicure, since I knew I would be giving birth soon and I didn't want to have ugo toes for the next month.

What I didn't know is that my water had broken some time that day. I spent the weekend wondering if I should go get it checked out, and deciding against it. On Monday's doctor appointment, I was sent immediately to the hospital--they wanted me to get those contractions started. So Adam and I headed home and pulled ourselves together. This time we were a bit more prepared. I actually had a bag packed, and the car seat installed. We did not have a name chosen at this point!

At the hospital, petocin brough on my contractions. They upped it and upped it until they were about a minute apart. That's when I got an epidural and made Adam agree with me on the name; Kaya came 20 minutes later.

I was worried about Kaya because the risk of infection was high because of my water being broken for so long. She was whisked away to the NICU, just like Liora had been. This time I was a bit more ready for it, and ready to make sure that we avoided some pitfalls that had kept Liora in the hospital.

We were so happy that Kaya was healthy, and rocked her way out of the special care unit. Our beautiful girl came home with us a few days later, and has been healthy and growing rapidly ever since.

This post comes two months after she was born; I'll try to post more to bring us more up to date over the next week or so.