9 and 10 Months

Oh, Wessy Wes. My chubby, 9 month old bundle of joy. It is so much fun watching him grow. Everyone in public comments on how fat big he is and he just grins in response. He sits up independently and is just starting to crawl. Little Wes loves singing songs and is pretty easy to make laugh. He is developing some serious sass and gets angry if you take something away from him or he doesn't get his way. I think he's learning that you've got to stick up for yourself when you're the little brother. This baby also loves to read, which is SO nice. Owen was never that interested (until at least 18 months) and I always felt like it was my fault for not reading to him enough.

He has six teeth, four on top and two on bottom. He needs them because he loves to eat. He's still obsessed with nursing but will take any solids he can get his chubby little hands on. He has no interest in being spoon fed, he wants to put things in his mouth himself, so I've started cutting up little pieces of whatever Owen and I are eating and letting him have at it. If Wes is eating something that Owen doesn't have, Owen automatically wants it and gobbles it up, so I've also been taking the opportunity to expand Owen's culinary horizon. Owen wasn't previously a big fan of avocado, now he loves it. Bam. Weston has had all the fruits and veggies, eggs, dairy, peanut and almond butter. Now I just have to remember to give him three meals a day. He is a messy eater, no matter what I serve him it ends up all over his clothes, the floor and the highchair. I feed him, he eats two or three bites, and I clean up for 15 minutes.

After 8 months of being an angel when it came to sleep, the 9 month sleep regression hit and restful nights are no longer a thing in the Rallo household. The previous routine was for him to go to bed around 6 and wake up around 2 to nurse. I  would nurse him in bed with me and we would both go to back to sleep. It worked like a dream because I didn't really have to wake up. But now having Wes in bed with me is keeping both of us awake. He tosses and turns and wants to nurse every 30 minutes. The problem is I can't make myself stay awake while I nurse him to put him back in the pack n play. I am strategizing how to teach him to sleep through the night but haven't yet taken the plunge. The kid is in the 87th percentile, I know he won't starve if he goes through the night without milk. He still sleeps in our room because we haven't figured out a way to make him and Owen sharing a room work (and unfortunately I don't anticipate finding one anytime soon).

Wes had two wub-a-nub binkis, an elelphant and a duck. Owen was obsessed with both of them. I lost the elephant and then a few days later Wes and I were running errands and the duck didn't make it home. There was no way we could bring another new binki into the house without fueling Owen's addiction, so that was it for Weston and his binki. It took him roughly two days it get over it. Now he uses his blankie for comfort and I am super glad we won't have endure taking it away from him at three.

Owen is going to preschool so now Thursday mornings are mommy and Weston time. We are both throughly enjoying it. The end of the true baby stage is rapidly approaching already so I am doing my best to savor the time my sweet little man.

Seattle Summer

I'm going to be 30 next month. I'm married, own a home, have two children and now that I'm no longer in my 20's, I'm officially an adult. The last 29 years have brought some wisdom along with the wrinkles. I've learned to protect myself from the sun, become more self aware and to appreciate everyday things.

When I was younger my biggest dream was to travel internationally. And I did. I went to New Zealand for a month when I was 14, after I fund raised $3,000 to make it happen. I studied abroad in college and hit all the big name cities in Europe, I spent time in the Caribbean and have been on my fair share of tropical vacations. I spent a month in Namibia right before I got pregnant with Owen. These were amazing experiences that changed my view of the world and helped shape me into who I am today. After college I realized that while international travel is exciting and exotic, there is also remarkable things to see within the US. Ty and I went to New York, DC, and Boston. We road tripped to Yellowstone and Glacier and I visited friends in Iowa, Chicago and New Orleans. After Owen was born we decided that instead of trying to do big vacations we would take advantage of all the weekend trips available close to home. There is a lot to do in the pacific northwest. It is beautiful, which is why we love it here. We spent weekends in Chelan, Wenatchee, Suncadia, Seaside and Sunriver. It was lovely. We hiked, swam, rafted and I fully appreciated being close to home for the first time. This summer we scaled it back even more. We decided that in order to have fun family adventures, it isn't necessary to venture much beyond the city limits and during this season in our lives that makes the most sense. We've been staying home and having a blast without paying to stay in hotels or shaking up the boys schedule. We've gone on multiple hikes, taken the ferry to Bainbridge, strolled through the Tulip festival, swam at the Magnolia pool, had happy hours and spent lots of afternoons at the beach. We've had the nanny come while Ty and I have date nights at fun restaurants and even a date day where we tried our hand at stand up paddle boarding.

I took a lot of things for-granted when I was younger. I remember when I was in middle school my aunt Diane and I drove from Portland to San Francisco. It was a lot of hours sitting the car, which I considered to be boring, so I took multiple naps. I remember her telling me to wake up and enjoy the scenery, exclaiming how beautiful it was. I was unimpressed. Looking back it's a shame that I missed out on what could have been a wonderful journey. I'm hopeful I'll be able to make that drive again some day and see what she was saying. The 30 year old me spends my days marveling at the beauty that surrounds me. The sunsets, the sound, the mountains, the changing of the leaves, the breeze. Traveling will always be one of my passions and I want to see as much of the world as I can. But I'm grateful to have learned that whether it be near or far life is a journey full of adventure and awe, as long as you're willing to embrace it.

7 Month Love Letter

My sweet Weston,

I'm pretty sure you're the sweetest baby there ever was. You're always smiling and have the best belly laugh. You love your brother, you love your mom and you love your dad. You're a great sleeper and happy to be along for the ride. You love being in the ergo. You have started grabbing for things and can get your hands on anything within a few feet of you. We've started feeding you solids and you were a little apprehensive at first but now you seem to like everything we try. Sweet potato and blueberries are your first favorites. You think it's hilarious to have the skin underneath your chin wiped and love singing songs.

You're on a typical schedule for a baby your age-- morning nap from 8-10ish, afternoon nap from 1-3ish and bed around 6:30. You wake up to nurse once at night and quickly fall back asleep, usually cuddled in bed with me. You do great when we stick to the routine but are also totally content if we need to shake things up. It's no big deal for you to stay up until 8 on the weekends or catch a cat nap in the car. You roll over and are almost sitting up on your own. You've been teething and are getting 6 of them at once. The first time you really screamed in the middle of the night I knew something was up and the next day your first tooth cut through the gums. I can tell it's rough getting all those little teethers but you are handling it like a champ.

You have brought me so much joy and are helping me to learn and grow everyday. There is a huge part of my heart that I didn't know belonged to you until you arrived. I can't imagine my life without you and thank God for what gift you are. I love watching you grow and fall more in love with your sweet, squishy face everyday.

xoxo,
Your Loving Mama

A few of my favorite things

These are some of the things that I have recently come to love.

Avocados-- Seriously, how have I just become obsessed? An avocado makes anything taste amazing, they have replaced mayonnaise and salad dressing in my diet and become a daily staple. A few tricks I've picked up to feed my obsession; they stop ripening when you put them in the fridge, once you cut it in half, it won't brown if you leave the core in and they are part of the "clean fifteen" so it's not necessary to buy organic.

The Library-- It's been a long time since I've had a library card and I was a little rusty on using the system. Or maybe it's that the system has drastically changed in the last 15 years. Either way, now that I've figured it out, we've been going weekly. I find the books I want to read on amazon, search for them through the library website, put a hold on them and they are right there with my name on them when I'm ready to pick up. How great is that? I have pretty much every book we own memorized and reading them over and over kind of makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs. So it's perfect having some new material. Plus, there a list of books I've been wanting to read, so our new found proficiency with the library system has inspired me to get off of social media and read more! Thank you, Seattle Public Library!

iRoomba-- When Wes was born I was prepared to let my housework standards slide a little. I knew there was no way to vacuum every day, as I find necessary, while caring for two tiny humans. I was on Facebook while breastfeeding in the middle of the night and saw a friends post about the iRoomba vacuum cleaner. I thought they were worthless but her claim that they actually work was enough to convince me. From facebook to amazon, purchase complete at 4 am. Bam. And let me tell you, this little gadget has been a lifesaver. The boys and I leave in the morning and the carpets aren't coated in dog hair when we get home. Can I get an amen?! I don't vacuum by hand, really ever. Roomba works daily and the housekeepers come every two weeks. Therefore, I haven't had to relax my standards. I can be a good mom and have a clean house. Hallelujah. I love you, iRoomba.

Acure Organics-- There are my new go to face products. When Wes was about a month old my sister-in-law, Kelsi, sent me a package. It was one of the nicest gifts I've gotten in a long time, totally unexpected and really kind. Included were a few of her favorite beauty products with a little note saying she thought I could use a few things for myself during this season of life. I loved the Acure exfoliating wash she sent and proceeded to purchase their entire line of products. They are affordable, effective and organic. Love!

Pimp Your Mat Pilates-- Finding a way to exercise was another huge challenge in the transition from one to two kids. There is less time for everything. I was still walking a lot but since I started Pilates 6 years ago, my body doesn't feel right without it. A friend has been telling me about a subscription based Pilates website for years and I finally decided to check it out. Best. Thing. Ever. I love the instructor, who posts a new 30 minute work out every three days. She is classically trained and the workouts are awesome. Finding 30 minutes three times a week is totally doable. As soon as I worked Pilates back into my routine my back stopped hurting and I started to feel human again.

Lemons-- Along with avocado, I have started consuming lemons every day. In the morning I have a cup of hot lemon water in lieu of coffee. It's a great detox for the body and wonderful for the digestive system. It took a little getting used to but now it's as much of a ritual as coffee once was.

Stitch Fix-- What a brillant idea! Someone shops for you and sends you clothes. If you like them you buy them, if you don't you send them back. It's like Christmas morning every time a new box comes. Around March I had a little meltdown over having nothing to wear. I was pregnant last spring, so I didn't have anything from last year, I was too fat for most of my regular clothes and passed the grace period of continuing to wear maternity clothes. The problem is, there is no time to shop. If I have the boys with me, which I pretty much always do, Wes is in the ergo and Owen is running around. Not the easiest way to try things on at the Gap. I had heard of Stitch Fix before and honestly thought it sounded kind of stupid. But when a friend suggested it in response to my problem, I couldn't wait to try it. And I love it! So far I've received three boxes with five items each and I've only kept two things but it's been enough to get me though. My next box comes this week and I have a good feeling about it. How did people survive without the internet?

2 1/2 and 5 Months

At nearly two and a half, Owen is turing into a full on little boy. He is so fun to be around and I LOVE that he can finally communicate with me. It's so nice having someone to chat with rather than talking to myself all day long as I've done for the past two years. I am getting feedback and relish in the insight it gives me into his little world. I love being able to ask him what he thinks of something and what he wants to do. I love that we can discuss our day each night and talk about all the fun we had. My favorite thing is when I am asking him a question, and probing for a specific answer, but he says something totally accurate that I'm not expecting. Owen is my tender and sweet little soul. He is kind, loving and such a joy.

And my little Wes. My new nickname for him is squishy and I am obsessed with his chubby little face. I miss him while I am at work and just want to hug and squeeze and kiss him when I'm home. I feel like we have had found our stride and he is such a mellow baby. He likes to hang out on his play gym, the couch or his swing. He smiles every time you look at him and has started doing the belly laugh. There is really nothing better than a squishy little laughing baby. I'm officially enomored. He still puts himself to bed at night and has been by the book in developing a nap schedule. He is a mamas boy and I relish our sweet moments nursing and napping together.

Then there is the two of them together. It's really the best thing ever and there is so much love. When Owen wakes up in the morning, he wants to know where Wes is first thing. I put Wes in the bumbo chair and Owen does things in front of him while they both crack up. Owen is constantly stealing Weston's binki, but if Wes cries, he will give it back to him. I feel so much less pressure to entertain Wes every second of the day than I did when Owen was tiny because Owen entertains him for me. Brothers. Best friends.

Being back a work has brought a healthy balance back to my life that I didn't even realize I was missing. I miss the boys so much while I'm at work that I appreciate the days I am home with them even more. I enjoy being at work and being a nurse is a huge part of who I am. It feels good to use my brain in a different way and socialize with my coworkers. I am beyond grateful to have a job that makes me feel like I have a positive impact and brings me personal gratification. And I am so thankful that my schedule makes it so I don't have to choose being being with my boys and working. I feel like I am able to devote sufficient time and attention to both, which is an amazing gift.

It feels like we are hitting our stride. Wes is settling into a routine and having two no longer feels super overwhelming. I shower in the morning again and feel put together some of the time. Going to the grocery store with both of them no longer feels daunting, Wes doesn't scream every time I put him in the car and we've resumed some productivity around the house. The first year with any baby is full of transitions and things are continually changing. The last five months we adjusted to having a second child, Ty starting a new job and me returning to work. Each change has brought a set of struggles to work through and with every transition we have figured it out . I'm sure it won't be long before things change again but for now it feels good to be living, and enjoying, the new normal.

Tulip Town 2015

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers. 

Mama of Two continued

There are a few things about having two children that I really did not expect.

The most surprising thing is how hard it is for me to leave both of them. Now that I'm back at work things are much different but for those first 15 weeks I only left them twice. I went to a mom's night out when Wes was 14 weeks old and I realized it was the first time I had really been by myself since he was born. I could barley handle the two of them on my own, so it seemed impossible for anyone else. And it was starting to make me crazy. I didn't feel that way when it was just Owen and I distinctly remember happily leaving him to go shopping and get a a pedicure when he was 6 weeks old.

For this reason going back to work was really good for me. I left Ty with the boys for two 12 hours days and guess what? They all survived. Then I left them both with the nanny for two 12 hour days and guess what? They were fine. It is quite liberating to know that I am not the only one that care handle my little beasts.

The other thing that has come as a surprise is how much less helpful it is to have a second pair of hands with both kids. With just Owen, having someone else around to help was a lifesaver. It was so nice to pass him off to my mom or Ty or one of my friends while I took a little break. When my mom stayed with us I got massages, took long showers and checked things of my to-do list. Now, that's not the case. I still love having my mom here and she is incredibly helpful but with two kids and two adults, wether it be Ty or my mom, we divide and conquer.  I get a little bit of break in the sense that I only have to take care of one kid, rather than two, but I don't get time to myself like I did before. When Owen was a baby I would count down the minutes until Ty got home from work so I could pass him off. I still look forward to Ty getting home but I can't relax until the boys are sleeping and the dinner dishes are done.

With each baby I have had to let more things go and I know it is making me a better person. My vice used to be sleeping. I love to sleep. After working years of night shift I let go of the guilt society makes you feel for sleeping and logged between 8 and 12 hours a night. That's what I thought I needed. And I clung to it. Then Owen was born and the stretch goal was 8 hours a night. I realized I didn't need nearly as much sleep as I thought but I still tried to get it anytime I could. Now I have no idea how many hours I sleep a night but it has been a long time since I hit 8 (in 2 to 6 hour chunks). The surprising thing is that it's totally fine. I take naps and have finally let go of worrying about how much sleep I am going to get. I am even starting to become a bit of morning person, something I had written off as impossible many years ago.

When Owen was born I stopped wearing eyeliner on a daily basis and with Wes I have forgone wearing my hair down. I have about 5 minutes to get ready in the morning so I slap on some mascara, throw my hair in a messy bun, dawn my yoga pants and call it good. I shower every other night and am lower maintenance than I have ever been. I still try and put myself together on occasion and know how important it is to have a sense of self but there are more important things right now than freshly washed and straightened hair.

Having two is just as much of a game changer as having one. I go back and forth trying to determine wether the transition to one or two was harder. I've concluded they have been equally challenging for different reasons, many of which I didn't anticipate. Being a mama is growing and changing me in surprising ways and continually inspiring me to be better.