July

This 4th of July was the best one I can remember. It was so special because the kids experienced many firsts which will become wonderful memories for all of us.  New traditions are beginning.  The Tacoma waterfront has a Freedom Fair. We walked down and people watched, ate food, viewed the air show and Parker went in his first bounce house.  Parker loved the airplanes and people. He was nervous about the bounce house, but was starting to get the hang of it at the end.  Hadley, being just a few weeks old, slept the majority of the time.  That evening, we barbequed and then started a bonfire to roast marshmallows. Parker loved the s'mores! We also go Pop Its, a small, safe firework that you throw on the ground and it makes a pop sound. Parker thought this was really cool! We put Parker down to sleep for about 40 minutes before we woke up him and drove him to watch fireworks. Of course, he had no idea what fireworks were so I told him we were going to see "special lights".  We sat on a big hill with the kids in our laps to watch the show.  When it started, Parker kept saying in his little voice "special liiiiiights! special liiiiiiights!" He continued all the way home.

Parker has been a big helper with his sister. He likes to get diapers for her, bring me blankets and help with buckling Hadley in her car seat.  I think Hadley enjoys having him around too.  She seems to be watching him while he plays around her. He is constantly screaming and playing by her when she sleeps. She sleeps right through it. She's going to be very adaptable when she grows up!

Hadley has gotten on more of a routine. She eats every 3 hours, then is awake for another 30 minutes or so before falling back to sleep.  She is more alert and focuses on people or toys.  She started smiling at 6 weeks. Let me tell you, she has the cutest smile! Unlike her brother, she smiles easily and often.  She smiles with her whole face; her eyes light up and her dimple will melt your heart.   When Hadley gets upset, however, she has the saddest cry and a face that says, "why are you doing this to me!!" She's a dramatic girl already.

We went on our annual trip to Sunriver for our Alexander Family reunion.  It was great seeing so many relatives and introducing them to Hadley.  We did what we always do: eat, relax, go on walks and play on the river.  Parker loved playing with my cousins, Josh and Jonathan as well as my cousin, Scott's daughter, Kara.  Hadley had her 6 week growth spurt which meant she wanted to nurse every couple hours. I was on the couch a lot, but there were lots of people to visit with.  I love my family!
After a few nights in Sunriver, Justin, the kids and I rented a house in Bend. It was nice having a few days in one of our favorite cities. We swam everyday, per Parker's request. He's so comfortable in the water now that he finished a couple sessions of swim lessons. He jumps right in and isn't afraid to get his face under water.   Justin took Parker on a float down the river.  It was great making memories with family this summer! We can't wait to return next year!

June: A Family of 4

Once we brought our little girl home, life drastically changed. We are so in love with Hadley. She is absolutely precious. From day one Parker has been very aware of his little sister. He will run to her and give her a kiss, a pat and a snuggle. He says "pet baby" and pats her on the leg or tummy. He also says, "Hold you baby!" and wants us to help him hold her. While is loves Hadley, he has not been enjoying sharing his Mommy. As soon as I sit to feed the baby, Parker wants to sit in my lap or he needs help with a toy. When Parker first arrived, I could sit and stare at him for hours. All my attention was on him. Now I find myself nursing Hadley while on the floor playing blocks with a toddler in my lap. It's hard! I'm tired and sore but I'm quickly learning that a parent of two gets little rest. Granted, we don't yet have a schedule and we are not sleeping much at night. Parker's world has been rocked. He's acting out by throwing some fits and being more difficult in general. He normally is such a sweet, easy-going child. I hope this is just a short phase while he gets used to the transition.
Right now Hadley is feeding really well. After a week she had already gotten back to her birth weight. She loves to be held. In fact, she only likes be held. This makes sleeping pretty challenging. Justin and I need to rock her to sleep then try to set her in the bassinet without waking her. She loves being swaddled. Hadley does not like to be naked or changed. Justin says it's because she's a lady!
Justin and I have tried hard to keep life as normal as possible. We try to get the kids out of the house. We go to church, Parker's swim lessons and the park. We even made it out to dinner one night. It takes us much longer to get out of the house, but it is worth it for our sanity. Especially since the weather is so nice, it's hard to stay inside.
We've been very lucky to have so many friends and family members to help us with the transition. Our parents offered to watch Parker so we could have some alone time with Hadley. Friends came over to visit and play with Parker. Neighbors and friends brought us meals. This was really helpful since Justin and I had our hands full.