at home with our kids

Everyone has been asking how Liam is adjusting to being a big brother. It's really going so much better than I ever expected. I knew he would be alright since he has been "practicing" with his cousins Ari and Kaia for the past 9 months. But he has really surprised me at how loving and attentive he has been toward Vivian.

morning snuggles

he loves his sister

my two kids

Several times each day he asks to hold her, which he does for a few seconds and then announces that he's done. But I am so glad he is even interested in her at all. In fact, he sometimes asks at bedtime if she can sleep in his bed with him. He loves to hold her hand in the car when they ride next to each other and he is so pleased when she grabs his little finger. When he talks about our family or things we are going to do, he always adds "and Vivian too!". I am surprised at how he incorporated her in to our family right away and wants her to be a part of everything. I'm sure the jealousy will come sooner or later but I am so glad it has started out so well. 

reading together

This week is the first full week of Phil being back at work. I have started back working too (thankfully not that many hours yet) and it is a little hard to go back to our normal schedule after having such a wonderful time being all home together. Our "home vacation" was great while it lasted. We intentionally took time to do a few special things as a family, which made some really great memories. Over the course of the week we had a picnic at Seattle Center by the fountain, rode the monorail (something Liam has been asking to do), walked through Pike Place Market, went for treats at Cupcake Royale, rode the new ferris wheel downtown, had dinner on the pier, played at the park, and spent a lot of time in our back yard just being together. It was bliss. It was so perfect just being home together and enjoying our new life as a family of four, and being so thankful for our two healthy happy children.