Savoring her roots

Thanks to a care package sent via Giddu from Isabelle's great-grandmother, Sittu Namey, Isabelle had her first taste of shanklish yesterday. Shanklish is a Syrian treat, made from farmer's cheese rolled in zaatar and other spices, then aged. It's served with finely diced tomatoes and onions and olive oil. Jay mixed up a batch yesterday and first Belle dug in with a spoon, then saw how we were eating it with our Syrian flat bread and did it herself, carefully folding up whatever she managed to scoop!

3 weeks old

Lucia is eating, sleeping (and pooping) like a champ, and growing, growing, growing! She was 8-2 at birth, 8-7 at two weeks, and 9 pounds even yesterday at her three week check-up. Her cord fell off just before one week, and tonight her belly button was healed well enough for her first real bath (with help from big sister).

(We have a pic of Belle in this dress at this age so was trying to capture one for comparison... their noses are the same, but I think they look pretty different at this point!)

A day with Belle

Isabelle and I spent the morning together at the Museum of Life and Science while Papa was on Lucia duty.




First we fashioned a sling for her baby bunny, just like my Moby wrap.








Happy to be at the museum, or "museum-a" as Isabelle calls it.




Going to see the bears! Grrr...


Stop at the wetlands water table... for a long time!


"Okay, here we go. I can do it all by myself!"




You know it's hot out when you walk into the butterfly house and think, "Ahh, it's cool in here."


I asked Belle if she wanted to smell this anthurium, and next think I knew, she had it UP her nose!


We had a good time despite the heat, and it was nice to have some solo time with Belle!

Sisterly "love"

Hmm... this didn't start out great to begin with, considering that Isabelle climbed up onto the changing table where Lucia was sleeping. My mantra (to myself) is "patience, patience;" for Belle it's "gentle, gentle!"

A visit from the Osterhoudts!

Lindsay, Chandler, and Brighton came over this week bearing gifts for the girls and dinner for all of us - thank you! We had a fun visit - and great meal. Thank you guys!!

Front porch photo shoot

(Will upload to an album.)

Lucia Analiese (and family)

(That's Lu-SEE-ah Ahn-a-LEESE for those who've inquired.)

Big Sister Isabelle

Isabelle has been adjusting pretty well... it's been a whirlwind for sure, and I'm not sure she's been to bed on time once yet, but she's enjoyed all of the extra attention (and presents) from our families. She still wants to hold Lucia first thing every morning, and is reluctant to leave the house without Mama, but she's entertaining us with her antics and expressions.

(Making faces in her dress-up clothes.)

Week One...

Started out a bit rocky with an unplanned trip to UNC Hospital (where Bellie helped me eat my lunch), but thankfully Gigi and Dodi were in town to help out. Dodi had to go back to PA to work, and Gigi stayed through Friday, when Gramma, Giddu, and Aunt Tanya also arrived. Highlights of week one included Lucia losing her cord stump (already) and having her first go at a bottle (which she downed).

Baby Lucia

We're home! Everyone's settling in and doing well. Off to catch some zzz's while I can. More later!

She's arrived!

Our new sweet baby girl, Lucia Analiese, arrived yesterday, July 31st, at 6:44am - exactly 9 minutes after we made it to the birth center! We were home by 1:00 to introduce her to her big sister Isabelle, but ended up heading to the hospital for some complications later that evening. Hoping to get home tonight to settle into our new routine! (and upload some pics!)