Yoga

pic via Google Image search.

Next week I go to the doctor in hopes of getting the invaluable "all clear".  That all clear encompasses many things; one of them being exercise and starting the task of toning these tummy muscles back up!  I am going to wait until January to start running again but in the mean time I will look to my always loyal Yoga. 
I started doing Yoga in college and fell in love with it. Honestly, I know nothing about the background and spirituality of it I just know I love the movements and the flow of the exercise itself.  I know that even if I have been lazy or unable to work out for weeks and can't touch my toes anymore that doing one session of Yoga has me back able to put both palms back on the floor.
I have taken classes and used videos and tried the Yoga card things but I found the best for me was either a class or a video.  Since I have zero time or money AND there are no classes I know of around our area I use a video. 
I've tried quite a few videos but always fall back to the one I started with. Now, don't laugh even though it is kind of funny.  I use the MTV Yoga dvd.  I first bought it as a VHS and then bought the dvd version last year.  It's a great workout.  It's a little fast paced for beginners so if you try it make sure you watch it first (I suggest you do that with all your workout dvds) and then try the movements. 
I cannot wait until next week! And of course not just for the exercise, give me a little credit.

Seborrheic dermatitis

The baby acne did not take over our sweet girl. Something called seborrheic dermatitis did.  The doctor explained it as "like cradle cap for the whole body".  Basically it's got to work it's way all the way to Kyra's feet and then it goes away.  How long it will take to works itself through the system varies so she couldn't help me there.  I was relieved when she told me it was nothing I had done or eaten that caused it.  We could use a cortisone cream to relieve some of the redness but there is basically nothing else we can do for it. 

Let me just tell you, this stuff moves fast! Hopefully it will continue to move quickly and get through her system (it definitely bothers me more then her, I want to "fix it").  We had assumed it was baby acne for about a week and then it started to over take her.  Yesterday within an HOUR it had moved all the way down to her neck so I called the doctor.  It was unlike anything I'd ever seen. 


On the poop report Kyra is just fine.  The doctor said Kyra's bowels were just changing but they were moving beautifully (she said as she had the stethoscope against Kyra's belly).  Thankfully though, they had taken her temperature so within 30 minutes of getting home Kyra's bowels moved. Thank you thermometer! haha! 

Constipation or growth spurt?

So, Kyra is going on day two of no poop.  Oddly enough she doesn't seem bothered by it. She is peeing regularly and eating regularly and even passing gas.  I wonder if she is in the middle of a growth spurt and she is burning it off?  If she doesn't poop by tomorrow I will be making a nurse call.

A huntin' we will go!

Hunting for our Christmas tree that is!

We started a tradition last year with our amazing friends the Heavner's.  Our families go together and pick out our Christmas trees and take pictures.  This year was so much fun! Teagan and Miles trumped all over the place picking out our Christmas trees.  But of course before we even headed down the road from the farmer's house to the Christmas trees Kyra had her first official blow out.  Let me just tell you, had that happened with Teagan at 1 month I would have freaked out.  This time I just dealt with it and we went on our way.  Mark that up to experience.    
We had a great time.  A few temper tantrums between the three of them (Addie was the only one who didn't have a temper tantrum) and that was it..  We definitely count that as successful! After we picked out our Christmas trees and took a few pictures we headed to a nice little spot on the side of the mountain to have lunch.   and then headed home from there.  Next year we'll probably do like we did last year and head on to Asheville to spend the rest of the day.  Kyra was a little young for that adventure right now and both Teagan and Miles were exhausted after running around after Christmas trees all morning. 

 

And here is the temper tantrum pic...haha.

Kyra is 1 month already!

I still can't quite wrap my head around Kyra being 1 month old.  Some days it seems like we just brought her home and other days it feels like she's been in our lives forever (in a good way).

Kyra is weighing in maybe around 9lbs.  She was doing so well at her one week check up that we won't have to go back until her two month so we're not sure about her weight right now.  I did measure her though and she is right at 22 inches already! She's grown an inch in a month! This makes clothing a little difficult.  She is right at too long for newborn clothes but far too skinny for most 0-3 clothes just yet. 

Kyra is a pretty good sleeper.  We've started her on a routine, of sorts, like we did with Teagan so her body starts adjusting to wanting to sleep around 8ish.  Most times this works out and I can get her down by 9-9:30 and other nights I'm up rocking her until 10-11.  Kyra is swaddled and honestly could take it or leave it but it helps her stay asleep through the jerky movements she makes while she is sleeping so we will continue to swaddle.  She usually sleeps a good 4-5 hours the first round at night and then another 3-4 after I get up and feed her at night.  She is definitely up by 8 every day and typically doesn't want to go back to sleep until around 11-12ish.  She isn't the best napper and sleeps during the day in 1-2 hr stretches but if that is how it's going to be to get those 5 hour stretches at night then so be it!

Kyra was a great "nurser" from day one.  I think this is partly because I was able to nurse her within 45 minutes of her birth and I knew what I was doing this go 'round.  She is very efficient in her nursing ability.  Kyra can "empty" one side in 10-15 minutes and be done.  Done as in doesn't want the other side, is completely satisfied, just burp her and she's done.  This has been good and bad in some ways.  It makes nursing time shorter but my "girls" are getting adjusted to that and so pumping has been a little off.  She also isn't a fan of being put down for long periods of time so pumping is kind of difficult.  Hopefully this will remedy itself soon seeing as I have to go back to work in January.

Kyra is still kind of fickle about the paci.  She is slowly taking it more and more but so far she isn't a huge fan of it.  She still won't really take it at night but we're working on it. 

Kyra is holding her head up well.  I credit her and Teagan for that.  Kyra loves to watch Teagan and is usually instantly alert when she senses her sister is near.  When Kyra is on her tummy she can move her head from one side to the other with ease.  When I have her on my chest trying to walk/bounce her to sleep at night she likes to move her head from side to side before she gets settled.

Just these last few days she has started "talking". I forgot how darn cute it is! We had our first conversation the other day after I changed her diaper.  We just talked and talked for about 5 minutes.  Be still my heart!  Kyra has also started smiling more.  Not the gas bubble smiles but genuine random but super sweet smiles.

I have been using the Moby Wrap (thanks Jeana!) with Kyra and I am in LOVE with it.  Kyra likes it too.  She likes to be right on me and the Moby Wrap is perfect.  There is nothing between us (other then clothing) and she can just snuggle right on to my chest. It's amazing. I only wish I'd had it with Teagan!

We are dealing with baby acne.  Well, not really dealing with it because there is nothing we can do for it but Kyra has it.  Poor baby is broken out worse then a middle school boy that just hit puberty.  Teagan never had baby acne so it's a little odd for me.  The hardest part for me has been not to mess with it!  Kyra is still amazingly beautiful though, there's no debating that!


Every day we are adjusting to our lives with a new baby.  I often catch myself just sitting back and looking at Josh and Teagan and Kyra in wonder.  These are mine. Josh and I were blessed to put our hearts and souls into two new beings.  The Lord blessed us more then we deserve and I hope that we are reminded of that every time we look into these two girl's sparkling blue eyes.  May we never forget how blessed we truly are.

Thankgsiving.

Thanksgiving this year was a total blur. I'm learning quickly that a lot of days are like that when you have a one month old and a 22 month old.  It was a happy blur at least.  I took no pictures but it was one of those days where it was okay.  I was just happy enjoying the company of family, some of whom we don't see that often. 
Josh and I are lucky enough to have parents that genuinely get along with each other.  So, Thanksgiving for our families is quite easy.  We rotate. Every year it's either at our house, my parent's house or Josh's parent's house.  This year it was at Josh's parents house.  His mom is the kinda lady who can do everything. Literally. The woman made my wedding dress. Enough said.  So, the food was amazing but it wasn't the best part.  The best part was seeing Teagan running around being loved on by everybody and having Kyra be passed from loving arm to loving arm.  There were times when my arms were empty but my heart was about to burst.  We are so blessed with two amazing little girls but even more so with a family who loves them more then they'll ever know. 

Our big helper!

Teagan has such a sweet disposition about her and is always willing to lend a hand.  Her most recent favorite thing is to help her daddy vacuum!

And yes, our house has officially re-exploded with baby stuff. Don't judge.