Emily's one-month check-up

Emily had her one-month check-up today.  She is growing well! She weighs 9lbs 11oz (nearly two pound more than she weighed at birth) and is about 20.5in. long.  She's in the 60th percentile for weight and 25th for length.  This is all healthy and normal, and more like her parents than her sister was (Belle remains "long and lean," though these early statistics mean little in terms of predicting what the girls will look like when they're grown).  Emily overall looks healthy, which is great news.  The pediatrician commended me on keeping Belle's icky germs away from Emily during Belle's bad virus earlier this month. Belle joined us at the pediatrician for a few reasons: 1. To "help Emily be brave," though Belle got upset every time Emily fussed.  Belle is really sweet and compassionate and was worried for her little sister; 2. To make sure Belle is all recovered from her horrible illness earlier this month (she is good as new- doc checked out Belle's ears, nose, and throat); 3. So Belle could get her flu shot (she didn't enjoy the shot, but she appreciated the bandage on her arm after). Emily today before her one-month check-up.   Might she be a red-head? When we three came home after the trip to the pediatrician (which was, by the way, preceded by lunch with Daddy at his office), Belle said that she did not want to take a nap.  I told her just to go to her room and play (in her pajamas- her request- with her "baba," the pacifier, alone).  She played nicely for a while.  Then she read herself a book, sang herself "Edelweiss," which I sing to her, and lay down to sleep.  Craig and I are clearly obsolete since Belle can put herself to sleep with her own bedtime routine. Craig and I are happy and lucky to have two healthy little girls.

Emily is one month old!

Good morning

"Let's get in our Kajamas!"

When I was changing Emily's outfit for the third time today (just glad she's healthy...), Belle wanted to change her clothes, too.  She asked if she could put on her "kajamas" and hold baby Emily.  Here they are:

Emily's milestones

Just shy of one-month old, Emily has reached two wonderful, rewarding milestones: 1. She has just outgrown the newborn-sized outfit she wore home from the hospital on Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy Monday, October 29.  She will soon be wearing all 0-3 month-sized clothing.  Keep growing well, Emily! 2. Emily revealed her smile (and what a sweet, warm smile it it).  The social (non-gas-induced) smile is the best: a glimmer into her personality (what makes her smile?) and her beauty (her face lights up with her smile).

Touchdown!

Craig took Belle to her first football game.  She enjoyed it, especially when the home team scored a touchdown.

Bar Flies

The Ceplers and the Bingers enjoyed a night on the town, including a trip to the bar for Belle and cousins Isabelle and Owen and a look at the moon.

Emily and Gaga (Great-grandma Maxine)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Emily meets two of her great-grandparents

Emily left White Plains for the first time today to travel to Queens to meet her father's maternal grandparents Great-Grandpa Leon and Great-Grandma Selma.  Emily is named for Selma's mother Nana Mary.
The trip offered the opportunity for another milestone: Emily's first meal out.  She mostly slept through our lovely lunch at the Blue Bird Diner, which was much appreciated by yours truly.

Belle and Emily are lucky little girls to be loved by so many, including four great-grandparents.

Two healthy little girls!

Sit-n-Spin

We acquired a hand-me-down Sit-n-Spin, which Belle is enjoying. Craig and I both have fond memories playing with our respective Sit-n-Spins when we were little. How cool that Belle can play with a newer version of a toy her parents enjoyed.

Big sister kisses

Our little fashionista

Hugging Daddy showing off the back of the outfit she insisted on wearing: a lavender top, a fun patterned skirt, teal leggings, and pink Uggs. Quite the fashion statement. I have a new appreciation for Emily allowing me to select her clothing for her.

Things we didn't know when we named our kids.

See the trains in the middle? We didn't know about that. Our third kid, if there is one, will not be Thomas.

She has some time

But Belle is ready to be a soccer mom and drive a minivan.

Great Grandma Ann and Emily

From November 11.

Getting some fresh air

 While on the mend, Belle enjoyed some fresh air.  She insisted on wearing her "ka-jamas" (Belle-speak for pajamas) and her rain boots, and Grammy got her to wear a hat, scarf, and mittens.  Belle sported quite the look walking down our block:

By whatever means necessary...

OK, so I bent a few rules.  At least Belle is eating!  Dinner tonight was the most she's eaten since Friday.  I hope appetite = strength = good health.
Good thing I called in reinforcement.

Trying to remain healthy

Here's Emily, trying super duper hard to remain healthy despite her big sister's persistent illness (today is day five of fever for Belle, which warranted a trip to the pediatrician for the third time this week).

Stay healthy, Emily Mattea!

NOW we're pushing it...

I accepted the fact that two-day-old baby Emily and I were discharged from the hospital during a hurricane, and dealt with it when we lost power just hours after returning home.  I rolled with it when we newly-rechristened "QuadriCeps" had to move in with friends for a week because we had no power at home.  When we finally were able to move back into our warm home, I didn't complain when our carbon monoxide detector went off during a snow storm and the fire department had to come over at 9pm.  And, speaking of that snow storm, the Nor'Easter that dumped four inches of snow on us didn't bother me so much.  When Belle's school was cancelled or opened with a 90-minute delay, I went with it.  Our broken garage door?  Rolled off my back.  

But when Belle came down with a high fever this past Friday night, has been sick for the past three days, and I have to try to keep two-week-old Emily away from Belle's unhealthy germs, NOW my tolerance is being tested.  Craig and I joke that we're playing man-to-man-defense with the two little ones, and last night demonstrated this to the extreme: after Belle vomited in our bed (she wouldn't sleep anywhere else and we are eager to make her comfortable since she has been battling high fevers for a few days), Craig slept in a sleeping bag on the floor of Belle's room and I slept in the chair in our bedroom holding Emily.  Give me a break, please!  

Sick but snugly

Sasha and Emily

A fifth generation of friends: baby Sasha and our little Emily

Halloween

Belle was a dragon.  She walked around saying, "I like my costume!"  Each time the doorbell rang, Belle bound to the door.  She waited for an adult to open the door and give her a candy that she delightedly put in the trick-or-treaters' bags and baskets.

Belle Singing Her Lullabies

I have always loved singing to Belle, and now I sing to Emily.  I didn't think Belle ever listened to my songs.  Now that she is old enough to ask me for songs, I assume that she is really requesting a delay in bedtime (and I'm such a sucker, I give in and sing another song before saying goodnight).
One of the song in my repertoire  is "Your Daddy's Son" as sung by Audra MacDonald in the 1998 production of Ragtime.  No, it is not the most uplifting song, but I didn't think Belle was ever listening to my words.
Until today.
Belle received a toy piano as a gift from Grandma and Grandpa.  She is excited to have her own "pinano" and, in her excitement, she walked around this morning singing, "Daddy played pinano, played it very well."  She repeated  that first line of the song "Your Daddy's Son" over and over, to the correct melody.  I was shocked and flattered and now realize that I need to select my lullabies more carefully.

One happy Daddy

Small Milestones

I always find it odd that Belle's abs weren't strong enough for her to get up from her back without rolling over or otherwise not doing a sit up.  Until last night.  Last night, she sat up using her abs.  Another small milestone reached.

Emily looks up at big sister Belle

Success!

Excuse me while I toot my own horn: Craig had a very busy day professionally so he left the house this morning before 7am, leaving me alone with our little girls.  Somehow, I was able to shower and dress and eat breakfast; make the bed; feed, change, and dress Emily; get Belle ready for picture day at school and feed her breakfast; take out the garbage; get Belle to school on time; run to the Teachers' Association office to vote on my Union contract; leave a message for Emily's pediatrician; take a deep breath and snuggle Emily.  All before 9:30am. Feeling good, but I need a nap.

Welcome Home Emily Mattea!

Last night, we welcomed home Emily Mattea (Leora Mattea in Hebrew).  We had been staying with friends while our house didn't have any power.  Emily is named for my great grandmother (Nana Mary) and Seren's great grandmother (Nanny Emmeline).  Her Hebrew name is for my grandfather, Lou Seaver, and it means my light, which we thought appropriate as Emily was our light during a long blackout.

On Sat, Oct 27, 2012 at 9:55 PM, Craig Cepler <cepstar@gmail.com> wrote:

We are filled with joy to announce the birth of a baby girl last night as the newest member of the team that has been rechristened the "QuadriCeps."  Our beautiful baby girl was born on Saturday morning, October 27, 2012, at 1:37 a.m.  She measured 7 lbs, 13 oz. and 19.5 inches long.  Mommy and baby are doing well.  Belle is very excited to be a big sister and to have a little sister.

Information about a name will come later.  In the meantime, we're all going to recover.

Love,
Seren, Craig (An absolutely beaming father), Belle and a gorgeous new baby

Emily and Seren voting

Voting

Belle and I took a morning walk today to the local polling station.  Before leaving, I told whom I was supporting and encouraged her to support the same candidate.  I think she's on board.

We hopped in the wagon and walked to the local middle school.  We walked into the gym and took a few minutes to find our check-in table.  All the while, Belle and I discussed the fact that we were going to vote.  When we finally got our ballot, Belle said, "I don't want to vote."  I guess she thought that voting was like going to the doctor.

We got our ballot and found our spot to fill in the dots.  There is no more lever in the booth system which I used to enjoy.  Belle found that voting wasn't so bad, and it was pretty quick too.  We voted, Belle enjoyed it, and then we ran down the hall back to the wagon and home.

All in all, a fun morning activity.

On our way to voting

We passed a phalanx of bucket trucks waiting to go out.

What I Came Home To

It doesn't get much better than this:

Belle and Her Playmate

Here is Belle sitting around in her matching pajamas with Sophie, our hostess for the last week.  Sophie and her parents were wonderful hosts, and we really appreciate their generosity and hospitality.

The "It's a girl" balloon makes it official

Baby wearing

Wearing Emily in a wrap makes for efficient two-handed tidying.
We are so happy to be home.

Emily's homecoming (take 2)

Ice cream makes everything better

Belle and I had our first date, just us two, since Emily joined the team. 

We went for ice cream at a nearby Ben & Jerry's.

I asked Belle what flavor ice cream she wanted.  She requested purple ice cream.  Here she is enjoying her kiddie cup of raspberry chocolate chunk.  She was a delightful ice cream date. 

2 little girls