Week 98 and Week 11.5 - Bali!

Bob and Shirley and Dan are visiting from the Great White North (eh, ok, Wisconsin).  Our first trip with the two girls came and went as we ventured again to Bali, Indonesia.  This time we stayed in a lovely villa in Ubud.  We ate at restaurants and it was difficult.  We ate a lot in the villa with me breastfeeding in the corner.  Traveling with two under two is not for the faint of heart (especially when the older toddler is almost untire-able).  But we lived and we will probably do it again. 

It is interesting to note that you cannot travel with 2 infants under two in a row of 3 on AirAsia as there are only 4 oxygen masks per 3 seats.

Also - it is a good thing to tell your father-in-law that he is carrying a breast pump in my carry on, so he can answer intelligently on what it is. 

Charlotte was sick for the trip (with a cough and a snotty nose) and Sophia is sick now (with a snotty nose).  Sophia pooped twice last week and I am doing the happy mom dance of pooping idiocy.  Matt told me Sophia needed to have her diaper changed and I stuck my finger in her diaper and was yucked out by the poop!  He was so nonchalant.  Argh.  I call him any hour of the day to tell him that Sophia pooped.

Sophia seems to be eating a lot - nothing like a growth spurt on a holiday!  Hey, anything to get her weight up I suppose. 

Charlotte is talking a lot.  There are a variety of statues that dot the middle of traffic circles in the slow moving traffic that is Bali.  Charlotte says "Nice!  I like it!" in reference to all of these statues.  She also told Imee the other day, "I like that hat, Yaya."  So she is in a positive 'likey' state at the moment.  She also is showing a keen interest in money.  When you ask her the value of any amount she responds with "eighty nine dollars."

Charlotte enjoys her al fresco dinner:

Sophia watches on:

Char shows off her hip hop moves poolside at our villa:

Bob smiles while demonstrating the famous "Drake Shake":

Sophia at Potato Head:

Sofa fun:

Sophia is a proper lady, even when she naps:

Charlotte gives away $89!

Week 97 and Week 10.5 - Poor Bucky

Our sweet and beloved Bucky has been diagnosed with bone cancer. We are devastated as it appears to be an inoperable growth in his upper jaw near his ear. He does not seem different behaviorally -- he is stoic so it is hard to assess his pain threshold. Bummer bummer.

On a happier note - Charlotte is talking a lot (still!). These days she is saying 'yes' which is so deliberate and cute (before it was all "no no no" and if she wanted something, her response was just silence). She said 'love you' to me yesterday and that was so cute too. I had asked Imee to buy almond butter the other day, and before she went to bed she kept saying 'almond butter.' She is in a copycat phase at the moment - it is adorable but I have to watch my swear words now more than ever! She is definitely talking 80% of the time coherently.

I would like to believe Sophia is getting chubbier but it is hard to tell. She pooped on Thursday and not again this week. We are giving her 5-6 extra ounces of breastmilk a day.

I am emotionally tired this week. On with the photos:

Char in the bathtub:

Sad Sophia:

More interest in the baby gym:

Charlotte in the park:

Charlotte distractedly walks Bucky into a neighbor's house:

Charlotte on the go!

Charlotte preens:

While Sophia smiles:

Serious Charlotte:

Sophia in the Bumbo:

And an older favorite shot of the Buckmeister (courtesy of Em):

Week 96 and Week 9.5 - Talking

Charlotte is talking a lot these days.  She has just begun to say "Bless You" when we sneeze.  The other day Bucky was in her way going up the stairs and she said "Excuse Me, Bucky!" 

As I thought she was ready, I let her walk down the stairs by herself (holding the wall and handrail).  Success!

We are also potty training - albeit not aggressively.  She has pooped in the potty twice (success!) and peed several times.  Matt is the most vigilant of us - which is good.  Having 2 kids in diapers is not a huge issue until you realize how much diaper waste your house is producing.

Sophia had her first jabs yesterday and is running a slight fever. She is 57 cm and did not cry so much after her jabs.

I am doing this 'pumping and nursing' at the same time which is kind of a pain but I am conscious that I am not making enough milk.  I think I have hypoplasia as my breasts never really got full during pregnancy (and it took a good 5 days before I got milk).  My friend Tina has recommended this supplement that has goats rue which is supposed to help with the improperly developed glandular tissue.  It is coming with Matt's dad in a week!  Yay!

Sophia pooped on her own on Saturday!  She is getting enough milk (I guess) but is an infrequent pooper.  O, the chronicles of the infrequent pooper.

Charlotte has been ok but her jealousy does manifest itself.  I went jogging in the morning and asked Imee to watch Sophia in the park.  Charlotte was SO jealous!  I wanted to take her with me but our MacLaren would make for a hideous ride!  Thank goodness Matt's dad is bringing a jogging stroller (forever grateful to Bob for the BOB).

I have met a lovely mom in the park - Natalie.  We had coffee (or a water for me) at her house across the park from us.  I marveled at the schedule of her adorable son (now 6 months or so) Reese.  I love the park.  It is the water cooler of the mom's world!

We also went to dim sum with our friends the Briggs and it was a great way to pass time on a Sunday.  And our Charlotte (they have a Charlotte too!) is a champion eater of Chinese food!

Videos:

Trying to get Charlotte to do the Peanuts dance. Man is she a fast runner!

And Ila almost driving into me! :)

Pictures..

Charlotte's crabby...

And crabby wearing TT's hat:

TT shoots...

Comfy with Monica (the baby whisperer):

Playing in the sandbox with daddy:

Sophia happy in her Ergo insert - I call her "Souvlaki Sophia":

Charlotte in the park:

I feel like a paparazzo here at Vivo City:

Playing in the water:

With a super wet diaper:

Ila is a serious driver:

Reese is a serious cutie:

The Bumbo is slightly more successful:

More Sophia smiling:

Week 95 and Week 8.5 - Smiley

First, onto the important things.  Big poop on Thursday.  Happy Ho!

Had a great week with Sherry - she is amazing with the girls!  She also got me into Downton Abbey and I am sad I have seen every episode except the Christmas one.

We went to John Ivor's new moon (full moon?) party on Saturday where Sherry was taking  charge of all the kids outside.
Sophia is in the midst of a growth spurt and I nursed 15 times yesterday.  Matt was in India the last few days and said she looked bigger when he got back this morning.

Sophia is near to having some neck control but is a couple of weeks away from Bumbo.  She is also smiling more - she has a brilliant smile if I do say so myself.  Very sparkly.

I washed dishes with Charlotte this morning (at her request) and she said "dress off" - I was impressed as I did not know she even knew what a dress was.  And we always take off her clothes because dishwashing is a proxy for a bath, really.  Charlotte can count to twelve too!

I am desperate to take a video of Charlotte dancing - she dances like the twin girls in purple in this Peanuts video:


Let's start with the pictures this week:

Sophia has a widow's peak at the top of her head and the bottom of her neck:

Charlotte plays with some neighbor's plants:

Channeling Pepsi and Shirley - again:

I love this picture...

Sophia is not so sure about these matching shirts:

Charlotte tries to burp Sophia as she tries to figure out the Bumbo:

Successful Sherry burping:

Charlotte blows bubbles...

...and wears random shoes...

Cute Sophia:

Cheeky Sophia:

"Watcha talkin' 'bout Willis?" Sophia:

I spent some time with Charlotte in the park earlier this week.  She picked and brought me this flower:

And some more videos:

Sophia and Charlotte with Aunt Sherry and Uncle Neil in the background:

Trying to get Sophia to smile: