Mia Alexis

Mia Alexis joined us on March 5, 2010 at 7:47 am weighing in at 7 lbs 4 oz and measuring 19.75" in length. She surprised us all by arriving almost 2 weeks early, but everything fell into place. Uncle Eric stayed with Isabel while we headed to the hospital and Grandma and Grandpa Schaeffer arrived from SC later in the evening to relieve Eric until we left the hospital on Saturday. Mia is doing great, is a champion nurser and is sleeping well for a 7 day old baby.

We are settling in as a family of four and Isabel has really taken to her little sister. It certainly helps that she also has Grandma and Grandpa Schaeffer here to play with, and Mommy and Daddy are enjoying the extra sets of hands.

Many pictures have been taken and these are just a few of my favorites from our first week.

Miss Mia after getting weighed, measured and checked out.

A very happy Daddy with his littlest girl. I was still in the process of recovering from the delivery (and will spare you all the details). :)
Later in the afternoon, Geoffrey went home for Isabel and brought her to meet her little sister. She walked into the room and immediately was looking for "baby Mia." She was delighted to see her, gave her many kisses and didn't seem to mind at all that I was holding her.
A happy Mommy (feeling much better) with her Mia bean.
We were discharged from the hospital on Saturday night, and Mia work home the same "baby hokie" hat that Isabel had worn home.
"I don't like this carseat!!!"

"OK, that is much better."

Mia was kept toasty warm by the beautiful afghan that Cousin Rita had made for her.

Our first morning home, Isabel was excited to see that Mommy, Daddy and Isabel had come home in the night. She continued to love on Mia during the day.

Mia enjoying some good awake time.

Daddy snuggling with his girls. (Yes, Isabel was wearing a Tigger costume)

On Tuesday Geoffrey assembled the Bob Duallie and we went on a nice (and short) family walk. Mia wasn't so impressed with the ride (the infant car seat adapter had yet to be delivered), but Isabel loved the ride and getting to look at Mia.

And finally, some super great pictures from today. Isabel wanted to hold Mia and did such a great job.

Random Friday Fun

Just a few random shots from Friday. Isabel has become very interested in picking out her own clothing (I usually allow this on days we aren't going to work/school), and Friday she insisted on wearing a new dress I'd picked up for spring/summer. In addition to the pink dress, we found a NASA sticker which immediately had to go onto the dress. She loved wearing the sticker and kept pointing to it saying "a NASA sticker!" all day long.

It is no secret that Isabel loves ducks...probably stemming from her love of Emmy Duck, her special sleep friend. I picked up this halloween costume at the end of the season last year and at least once a day now she asks to wear it. Sometimes it stays on from morning until night. After finally charging both of my cameras, I remembered to snap a few duck pictures.

Mia's Room

Tuesday will mark 37 weeks and I definitely am slowing down and taking more naps. My hospital bags are almost all packed, the car seats will be installed this week and Mia's room is done. Although Mia probably won't be spending much time in her room those first few months (besides many diaper changes), it has been fun getting her room ready and seeing Isabel's excitement as she goes into "Mia's ROOM!!!." I hope she is equally excited when we bring her home from the hospital :).

Fun With Brick Blocks Fun with Brick Blocks

Back in the day, my mom and dad took the time to save 1/2 gallon paper milk cartons, put one into the other, so there would be two solid ends and then covered them in "brick" contact paper to make giant brick blocks. My brothers and I had countless hours playing with them (they were rainy or snowy day favorite). I was super excited when my parents told me they had saved them and planned to bring them to Vienna during one of their trips.

When we got our third snow of the winter on Tuesday night and playgroup was cancelled for Wed morning, I knew we had to do something fun or else we both might go crazy. So I got the blocks from the basement and Isabel had a blast. She enjoys rotating between stacking them herself (sometimes with help), other times just making lines with them, or having them stacked up as walls to knock over. Her favorite is when Geoffrey makes a snowflake (??? not sure why she calls it this) around her and she gets to bust out of it all at once. Since we have more snow, I've left the blocks out and will put them away early next week when hopefully the snow melts, and we can once again get outside.

January Snow

Isabel is definitely my child. She just loves the snow. We had our second snow storm of the season last weekend, and after her nap she climbed onto her red chair in the playroom, looked out the window, then looked at Geoffrey and said "play in the snow?" So we suited her up and she went out with Geoffrey while he shoveled the driveway. My snow pants aren't exactly fitting these days, so I stayed on the porch and snapped a few pictures before I got too cold. Isabel had been outside for about 30 minutes before I had to bribe her to come back in. Her face was getting very red and chapped, and it was time for her to warm up. She finally came back to the front steps after I promised we'd have a warm treat - hot chocolate...although she wasn't very impressed and opted for normal white milk.

Sunday it was back outside to play in the snow again. Since it had stopped snowing I ventured off the porch and was at least able to capture this one picture where she was looking at me. I'm guessing that we'll be heading out into the snow again over the next couple of days, as we get covered in another 12-30 inches, depending on who you ask.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

This video is for the Grandmas (and of course Grandpas) who have been hearing for a few weeks now about Isabel's new found love of "singing." I'm not sure we have a future singing sensation on our hands, but I'm glad that she enjoys singing as much as I do (and I certainly don't have the gift either).

If you are wondering about the large knife, don't worry, it is plastic and Isabel was busy cutting a creation with play do while we caught her musical debut on video.

First Trip to the Air & Space Museum

I've been bad about blogging. I have no excuses except that I'm busy growing little Mia and prepping for her arrival, while soaking in all the one-one-one time I can get with Isabel, before she has to learn to really share. I'll keep the words brief, but am going to try and get up some of the pictures from January.

Geoffrey took Isabel to the Air & Space Museum for the first time on the 8th of January. She had a great time, but wasn't too interested in posing for pictures. She enjoyed riding on the metro, although with such a long ride there and back, and a 12:00 nap time, they didn't get to spend as much time there as Geoffrey had hoped.