Update on life as we know it now

Ava is such a good baby. Life for the first two weeks with Ava in the house was a learning process but not a painful learning process thanks to the fact that DJ took two weeks off of work. DJ and Jayden majorly bonded and got to spend so much time together and that helped immensely. Jayden has done so well with having Ava around and he's gotten to the point where he will look at us with his eyebrows raised and say "sister?" if he doesn't know where she's at or if he hears her and can't see where she's laying. 

We're still trying to teach Jayden that he has to be super gentle with Ava because she's delicate or fragile or breakable or whatever word seems to be the most understandable to a 21 month old at the time. He loves to give her toys which is great unless they are hard plastic because he tends to toss them at her. Jayden also gets confused sometimes and thinks that whatever blanket Ava is wrapped up in is his so the sharing thing is also a work in progress. 

Jayden has started doing things to mimic how we take care of Ava which is super adorable. For example, the last few nights he has slept on the pillow that I usually use to prop up my arm when I feed Ava. He also has been wanting to cuddle with me on my chest, the way I hold Ava a lot of times and of course there are no complaints from me on that one! He also likes to have a blanket to wrap up in and he will either walk around with it wrapped around him or he just wants his blanket laid on him when he's sitting on a chair. He also likes to wrap things up like a baby. The other day he wrapped up his little cloth bird in a diaper insert. It was so cute! He walked around holding it to his chest. So Jayden is definitely observing the way we are taking care of Ava and so far nothing negative has come of it.

We decided to get Jayden a fish last week. It's a beautiful beta fish and Jayden calls it either Grover or Bert. We're not really sure which name to use because he seems to use the names interchangeably, like they mean the same thing. He feeds Grover/Bert two teency pellets twice a day and Grover/Bert's bowl sits up on the counter where Jayden eats his meals so it's been a good distraction for Jayden while we get meals ready. Jayden will set his chin on his hands on the counter and just stare into the bowl watching the fish.

Ava is sick this week which is NO fun at all, of course. She started getting really congested on Monday and got worse through the night. She had a fever this morning (Tuesday) but since she had her two week checkup in the afternoon, they told us to wait to have her seen until her appointment. She has a lot of trouble sleeping though since she is so congested poor thing and is always gagging and choking so that has not been a fun experience. Hopefully this early illness is not a sign of things to come! Jayden was never sick but then again he didn't have an older brother bringing daycare germs home either. I'm just hoping that (1) the breastfeeding will do its job and boost Ava's immune system and (2) any extra illnesses will also boost her immune system so she doesn't get worse illnesses when she has to start daycare.

DJ went back to work on Monday. Monday went fantastic for my first day on my own with Ava and Jayden. Jayden woke up early enough that DJ was able to bathe Jayden while I showered so as far as first days go, it really was perfect. I don't expect every day to go that well but I'm glad it wasn't a miserable experience for a first time. Jayden went to daycare for a few hours and we had a good time that afternoon together. We spent a lot of time watching construction trucks working and cars and buses drive by. 

The days have been absolutely beautiful with the exception of some crazy wind. My outlook on life is so much better and more positive when the days are sunny and warm and when we can spend our hours outside so God is good for giving me these beautiful days! I am loving being a mom of two!