Kaia is on the lookout for Santa

Making Gingerbread Houses

Making X-Mas cookies!

X-mas lights then Ice Cream

My one month old

Ari,

I apologize for allowing you to fall into the second child trap. Life is much busier these days than it was when your sister came along. Rest assured, I am loving every moment of being with you. You are such a mellow child, which you'd have to be to survive your sister. You look perpetually terrified, but again, I think I would be too if Kaia were in my face every free chance she got. You love to move. Your Nana came to stay with us for a couple weeks and she was in love with the way you like to stand up when you're on her lap. You love playing upside down baby and standing up (with assistance) to look around. You don't HATE tummy time, though I wouldn't say it's your favorite. You seem to want to roll over more than you want to lift your head. You're a great sleeper and eater and an all around good baby. You have a bit of a cold and pink eye, so I'm not sure you've felt 100% for a while. I'm impressed at how happy you've still been. You haven't started smiling yet, but you're getting close. We've seen flashes of smiles, though it's never been for any good reason yet. Your brother and I are trying to ensure our names gets out of your mouth first. I vote for team Mama (but I guess team Noah is pretty cute as well). You are an extremely cuddly child, you refuse to sleep in your own bed for any length of time and I love cuddling too much with you to turn you away. We're going to see Santa on the Polar Express this weekend. It should be a blast. I adore you baby boy!!

Here are some favorites from your first month:

1 month photo- 8 lbs 11oz

2 week photo

Halloween Costume

Ari Stewart Watson Goldman

Kiddo,

I'm so glad to be able to write about you. I've had two miscarriages and was terrified that if I wrote about you it'd jinx everything. But here you are. Adorable and perfect. 

Your birth was fast more stressful than your sisters. It started with a bad blood test that indicated that I might not get an epidural. As a result we didn't start the induction until 2 pm. Once we started things seemed okay for a bit, but then my low blood pressure and your dropping heart rate panicked everyone and they cut my medicine. Occasionally I'd get them to up the dose briefly, but they'd have to give me epinephrine to keep your heart rate in line. That was all manageable and by about 9pm you looked like you'd be out within the hour. And then you weren't. From 9-1 we waited to dilate that last .5 cm. Your heart rate would drop, my blood pressure would drop, doctors would swarm and not much else happened. I started to get sick and the epidural was all but cut off. Around 12 the doctor came in to talk options. They were worried about your heart and needed to get you out. They didn't think me doing it on my own was a good idea so we were down to forceps, suction, or an emergency c-section. I was terrified. We decided to go with the forceps and the room filled with about 10 doctors/nurses. I pushed with everything I had because I knew how badly we needed you out and with a minimal assist from the forceps you were out 10 minutes later. 6.8 oz, 20 inches at 1:21AM on 10/21. You have been mellow ever since. Very alert. A great eater and an overall sweet heart. Your siblings adore you. Kaia stayed up until you were born and demanded to touch/hold you ASAP. Noah loved holding you every chance he got. Your grandma, uncle dobby and aunt teen stuck with me and daddy til the end and got to greet you immediately. I have more updates , but wanted to get this down while I could. I love you lots. 

Kaia survey

Had Kaia take a quick survey today, here are her answers. Love you sweet pea!

💟What is your name? Kaia

💟How old are you? 3

💟When is your birthday? "Mom can you tell me when is my birthday"

💟What is your favorite color? Pink

💟What is your favorite food? Watermelon and spaghetti-o's

💟Who is your best friend? Bethany 

💟What is your favorite television show? Rapunzel, Ariel, Tiana, Cinderella and sleeping beauty 

💟What is your favorite movie? "I already said it"

💟What is your favorite song? Baby Mine and Baby Ari's song

💟What is your favorite animal? Jaguars

💟What are you scared of?  Monsters

💟What makes you happy? Mommy's

💟Where is your favorite place to go? Chuckee cheese

💟What do you want to be when you grow up? Hello kitty 

💟What does love mean? Heart

Proud of our pumpkins

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkins!!

Mini me

Kaia enjoys her last few nights as the baby of the family. These gals are great bedfellows... but they both wet the bed more than I'd like.
-Dad

Kaia sooo excited about princesses!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNZDPhNR6f4

Buggle update

Hey there buggle,

I know I have been terrible at keeping this updated. I promise we have been doing lots and lots of fun things. You continue to be a constant crack up. You are not beyond the random 3 year old irrational fit, but for the most part you are a pretty happy silly bossy child. You are SO excited to be a big sister. You talk to you brother all the time and love to share your food and toys with him. He tells you how much he loves you and laughs when you do silly things. You are very amused by him, I'm not sure he'll live up to your expectations immediately, but he'll get there.

You started a new class, the big kid room (3A) and are likely that. Though you tell me you don't love it so much, you just love it a little.

You are very girly still, into princesses, mermaids, barbies, and dolls. You love Peppa Pig and Daniel Tiger and have a bit of a british accent due to your Peppa obsession. You love to eat fruit (especially blueberries), peas, broccoli, and carrots. You are the only kid I know that says no to pizza because all you want is a can of peas.

You started "Flip N' Dip" class where you do gymnastics and then go swimming. You seem ok with the gymnastics part, though it took some coaxing to get you into it, but you HATE the water portion. We think it's because the pool is too cold, but whatever it is, you are not a fan. We'll be starting soccer this Fall so that should be fun.

A couple good Kaia quotes this week:

On seeing a black and white horse: "Look Mommy, that horse has cow parts!"
Looking in a mirror "I didn't see my shadow, but I did see my mirror shadow"

And here are a ton of pictures we've taken of all your recent endeavors:

You decorated your brother

 

 

I love you so much and love watching all of your antics, even when they're a bit exasperating. Love you sweet girl!!

Sleeping beauties

Kaia at the farmers market

Note the bathing suit under her nail polish covered dress. She's ready to head for our stream!

Dinner with Kaia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVP0PJxJzxc

Kaia likes power hiking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y259pfW4Ffg

3rd Birthday Girl

We finally got through all your bday parties (you have lots) and you had a blast. We were very much mermaid themed this yar and we went all out. We had dinner at the Aquarium with Popo and Gammie and you were in high spirits. They got you all sorts of mermaid stuff which you love (your brother has not stopped his lobbying to steal your new mermaid tail since you got it):

 

Then we had your birthday party at the park. Princess Ariel made a surprise visit and you just weren't sure how to handle yourself. We got a glimpse of what a nervous Kaia may be like in the future as you kept inserting random facts into awkward places "I have a birthday party!", "I got a mermaid cake!". She was so nice and sand a song and read you all a book. You had a great time with her as well as all of your friends who came out to celebrate with you.

 

 

You're not sure you want to be 3, you keep talking about your next birthday when you get to be 2 again, so we'll see how that turns out for you. I can't believe how big you're getting, I love you sweet bug!!