looking at photos of when Jonas was 6 months...




taking a break while on our downtown adventure

the infamous BOB stroller is packed full and carrying both kids

Vancouver

Monday Morning....

These days, I enjoy my Monday mornings. Its when we all get back to a steady rhythm and schedule that allows me my room and space to return emails, play with Karina, plan meals and even do a little school work. Its just Karina and I so its usually fairly mellow. Not so relaxing if I actually have stuff to accomplish because it always seems that if I have high expectations of accomplishment for the day then Karina seems to become more of a handful and everything gets hectic. I know that if I come into the day with an open mind with what I will be able to 'get done', then I am always happy with the outcome - even if its just a blog and a healthy dinner and of course a happy baby!

By Friday, I am happy for the weekend and for all of us to be together. On Sat we went on a fun but exhausting (I have a bad cold) urban trek. We took the skytrain from SFU to downtown and walked over to Gastown where we checked out the trains, old steam clock and met a friend for lunch. Then we walked over to a newly revamped park along the water where we could see the trains, ocean, port yard with cranes and a new playground and Jonas was in heaven. We spent a couple of hours there with Pete - a childhood friend of Jordan's. We then wondered around dowtown some more and then found a little street cafe where we had strong coffees, Jonas had treats and Karina had a sleep. We then hopped back on the skytrain and then met some other friends at a park in Yaletown. Of course Jonas was thrilled with another great playground to run around in. We met Dane and Roxanne's baby Liam and visited until it began to get late and then once again we were on the skytrain and headed home at 7pm. I'm glad we didn't take our car downtown because we would have not been able to be as spontaneous and of course public tranist always ads a sense of adventure for Jonas. Its so quick and easy from our home on Burnaby Mountain and its also freeing to not have to always rely on the car.

We stayed home Sunday and Uncle Soren came up for a visit. It was nice to catch up and watch him play with Jonas - of course Jonas was so happy when Soren helped him build a marble tower. We are so excited that Soren's film, 'Play With Fire', will be having showings throughout Canada this Fall/Winter. He has worked for several years on this film and it is finally making its way to the public. Having written, directed, filmed and edited the entire film himself, I am especially proud of him for sticking through until the end. I enjoyed most of the work I did when I was involved in film, but I never had the passion that Soren has for it. I could see picking up the camera again for documentary work but that is all - I do not have the incredible creativity that Soren has in storytelling.

I have taken such delight lately in sitting back and observing Jonas as he is growing into a young boy. The other day I wondered if his stubborness and strong will are actually a part of his personality and not just a preschooler thing. I know that most kids his age seem to really want most things to go their way, but he seems especially so this past year. Maybe its just a real part of his personality. As well, he is incredibly social and senstive to those around him. He loves to hug his friends and is quite empathetic if anyone is sad or upset. He is so friendly and loving to everyone around him and is never shy to walk up to a new little friend and introduce himself. As a baby he was so easygoing and loved heing with and around people. Although he loves going to playgrounds and taking the skytrain and Science World, Jonas really just loves to walk around in the forest or anywhere natural. His imagination has blossomed and I love the stories he comes up with and the way he organizes his play. He is forever working on building railways, houses, hospitals, cities, roads, mechanic shops etc... Once I heard him talk about having a baby - that was just after Karina wa born. The only negative that I hope turns into a postive is Jonas's waking up crankiness. He always wakes up from a nap cranky. The more you say or try to do, the worse it gets until he is in tears. It is always best to just leave him alone to work it out. Until recently it was the same for morning wakeup - but I seem to have found a way to start mornings with some real happiness. Basically when he calls for us in the morning and I go to him, I will say 'Goodmorning! You have lots of work to do today - the trains are waiting for you to get them on the tracks' - or I will say 'the road crew is beginning work - you had better check make sure everything is running smoothly' and you know what? Jonas happily jumps out of bed and spends a few minutes reorganizing some of the scenes happening around his room and then he is good to go and joins us soonafter for breakfast and normal, happy conversation.

The Boys of LRH

This is where Jonas loves to go everyday - just outside of our yard. It is so funny to watch all the kids climbing - their continuous shouts 'look at me mom, look at me dad, LOOK AT HOW HIGH I AM!!!'.

Building Blocks and Garden Harvest...

YES, those are carrots and Jonas LOVED eating them. Better luck next year.

Parenthood

A Good Day...

Occasionally, Karina will wake up too early. We like to stay in bed until 7AM. Sometimes Karina will start stirring at 5AM. Too early, too painful for any of us. ugh. Jonas will normally start to wake up at some point between 7 and 8. That is a little easier.

Today, we all slept in until sometime after 7AM. It was nice. Karina had some rice cereal while Jonas built a road and some buildings with his blocks. Jordan and I enjoyed some coffee together. Jonas got dressed on his own without too much trouble and we were all out the door by 9:30AM. Karina watched as Jonas and I worked in the garden. We went for a walk and stood in line at the Tim Hortons on campus (for 15 minutes) for 2 Timbits, which Jonas shyly paid for. While in line, Karina sucked on my chin and fell asleep as her brother waited very patiently for his turn to order. We then wondered around abit more and then decided to swing by the childcare centre to visit his old school group. They were headed out for a walk, so we walked with them until we reached our building and then we decided to head home for lunch. It was 12:30 and before lunch was ready, Jonas fell asleep on the couch and Karina went down for a nap as well. How awesome was this?? So, of course I laid down and slept as well!!! All of us asleep at the same time for an hour!!! It felt great. We woke up, ate and headed back out and walked to the other side of campus to check out the Farmers Market and for some playing in the park. Karina sat in the swing for the first time and absolutely loved watching her brother swinging right next to her. Totally entertained.

It was a simple and smooth day - which is nice when I have both kids to myself! Jonas's new friend from Mongolia came over to play after dinner and then we all had a bath and the kids went to bed.

Karina is sitting fairly well on her own now and is also scooting around more and more each day. She does not like unfamiliar faces getting too close to her and she is very picky about who can hold her. She really only likes mom or dad holding on to her and seems to fuss fairly quickly when in others arms. Teething is a nightly irritation for her and a cold cloth or homeopathic remedies will sometimes work; other times its straight to the tylenol. When I wear Karina forward facing in the Bjorn, she will grab at everything so I can no longer do dishes with her in that position. She also lunges for our food whenever she gets the chance. She is getting lots of samples and tastes and can handle chunks of cooked apple, brocolli, pieces of rice and anything else off our plate that seems edible for a toothless babe. She loves food and has already started to feed herself using her fingers and is always trying with her spoon. The four of us went swimming on the weekend and it was Karina's first time. She loved it and splashed and kicked and watched her brother. Of course she was exhausted afterwards.

Jordan is back in classes and is also continuing to work on his research. He has quite the heavy load but still puts everything away when we are all together in the evenings. I make dinner, he plays with the kids and we all spend the evening together. We are exhausted at the end of the day but are happy to have an hour or so to ourselves before we go to bed.

It is beautiful at SFU right now and there are many new friendly faces. I am focused on getting us all settled into this new season - there is much more going on and the balance is even tougher to keep sustained but its workable and everything is already beginning to settle. I have an online course starting soon and next week I will begin abit of Doula work for Vancouver Coastal Health. I am excited to start meeting with the young moms again and will bring Karina along with me during the Childbirth Education classes. Jonas and I are also taking a yoga class together - he loves doing yoga moves!

Sweet Pictures....

Grandma Janet and Karina at Emilie and Nico's Victoria wedding

Our 5 Month Old Baby Girl

Have I mentioned that it feels as if Karina has always been with us? How could we have ever considered stopping at just one child? Of course, life is much more hectic with a second child but it is so completely worth having another personality within our family. Jonas has flourished and has never in any way shown any emotion towards Karina aside from pure happiness in having a sister.

I would say that both Karina and Jonas are very similar in that they are/were calm as babies. Not much crying. Very content. Jonas both demanded and invited more social interaction with myself and others. Karina is more cautious in her interactions with others aside from Jordan or I. I think that Jonas enjoyed interacting so much because we had such quiet surroundings when he was a baby - just him and I and Jordan in our big roomy Island house. He always wanted to know where I was in the house and would become fussy if I went upstairs or down the the basement. He didn't like being alone. But then, what baby or child does? Karina, on the other hand, is always watching and very observant in our little apartment. There is always lots going on and the space is small. She knows I am always just a few feet away - whether I am in the kitchen or another room, I am always almost within arms reach. This, I think, makes her feel secure and comfortable and therefor she goes ahead and plays on her own or listens and watches all of the activity. She loves to watch Jonas play and interact with us and his friends. She will often cry and become upset if he cries.

Karina will nap 3 or 4 times a day now for about 30-45 minutes if left alone and perhaps 1 - 1.5 hours if I join her. She feeds at least every 3 hours each night, which I rarely notice since she sleeps right next to me. I actually feel rested enough to function quite well throughout the day and often, surprisingly get alot accomplished. (alot is relative).

Karina started solids much earlier than Jonas. I started her very gradually just before she was 4 months. I went with intuition and shared some smoothy with her one day. She became very excited and wanted more so I started her on rice cereal which she happily took with no tongue thrust reflex whatsoever. I was quite surprised. I got the big no no from the public health nurse because most recent studies have shown that babies should not have solids until 6 months. But that is just an average for when babies are ready and of course each baby is different. Aside from any recent research, I believe that following our own intuition as well as following the baby's lead is most important. I often feel that we place too much trust in what others dictate based on this or that study and not enough on our own instinct. Anyway. She has been very happy with food and now eats twice a day with nursing as she wants. SO far she has had yams, carrots, peas, spaghetti squash and apple. She is incredibly involved and so very messy. She likes to try to feed herself now and loves to move the food into her mouth on her own. Its very sweet.

Aside from her food, Karina loves to be in the sling, the bjorn and just recently the ergo carrier. She also loves sitting in the BOB Stroller with her brother at the front. She is much better travelling in the car now and rarely cries, thank goodness.

When not being carried, Karina loves to be on her stomach. Much more than Jonas ever did. She loves to roll around and scoot and check out her toys. She can also sit on her own very briefly and for extended periods if helped. She doesn't like the BUMBO seat like Jonas did, but she like her rocker chair (which Jonas liked as well).

We have a crib set up in the bedroom she will eventually share with Jonas. She loves to play in it when I am cleaning or playing with Jonas. I can imagine she will be as excited as Jonas is to eventually share a room!

Its hard to believe that 5 months have passed since Karina was born. It has gone by so fast and when I think back to when she was inside me, I could never have imagined how beautifully our life would continue to unfold with our little baby girl! How so very smooth the transition has been... I feel very fortunate and am forever thankful to have Karina and Jonas in my life. By having them I have learned so much about myself and life in general. This experience has been, at times, difficult, yet overall the most fulfilling chapter of my life so far...