Kelvin is 2 months old!

Kelvin is 2 months old! Actually, he's already 11 weeks old...I got a little behind in blogging this month. Time continues to fly by! We took his 2 month pictures a day early since we drove to Wisconsin and I didn't want to take the board along with us. Kelvin is smiling and cooing quite a bit, especially when people talk to him. We got the high chair out so he can join us at the table for dinner. He's perfectly content as long as he's sitting at the table with us while we're eating. He's a good sleeper and we've figured out that he likes to go to bed early (around 7pm). This works out really well because John gets a little time alone with Ada while I put Kelvin to bed and then I can still put Ada to bed every other night or so. The biggest challenge we're having is getting Kelvin to drink from a bottle...hopefully he'll be better at that by the time I go back to work at the end of the month!

Big smiles for his dino 9.7.18

Grandma and Grandpa Lenz came down to visit in mid-September. John and I were able to sneak out for dinner while they watched the kids. I had been talking up how easy of a baby Kelvin was but apparently he's only super easy for his mama. Oops. Sorry, Grandma and Grandpa! Ada loved having them around!

We went up to Door County for the GA Lenz Annual Meeting the third weekend in September. We made quite a few stops but we made it! We had a few great meals, visited a farm, went swimming, and just enjoyed time with the Lenz family.

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There were some really nice days in September so we were able to spend a few afternoons out on the deck. Kelvin seemed to enjoy the fresh air!

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9.24.18

Tummy time! 9.26.18

We cheered the Brewers on in Game #163 against the Cubs at Wrigley to determine the NL Central Division champion. The Brewers won!

Go Brewers! 10.1.18

That face! 10.1.18

These past 2 months (okay, 11 weeks) have gone by so fast! This time around I know how fast it goes and yet it still surprises me. Kelvin is learning new things each and every day. Everyone says he's so alert (which is exactly what people said about Ada when she was a baby). He just takes it all in. I can't wait to watch him continue to grow and learn but I'm enjoying each and every day with him too. I love you so much, Mr. K!

Big sister getting in on the action. 10.5.18

2 months!

Kelvin is 1 month old!

Kelvin is 1 month old already. Well, he's actually 5.5 weeks old already as I'm a week late writing this post. I can't believe he's been here for over a month already and yet it feels like he's always been here.

He's a pretty sweet little guy who doesn't cry too much...except, apparently, when Grandma and Grandpa Lenz offer to babysit so we can go out to dinner. Sorry, Grandma and Grandpa! He really is a quiet baby most of the time!

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I have to say that this time around, the newborn phase isn't nearly as difficult for me as it was with Ada. What has been the hardest for me is that I have to spend so much time with Kelvin that I don't get to spend as much time with Ada. Luckily, John has been able to spend a lot of extra time with her one-on-one. They truly have a great relationship...and I think Kelvin is going to be a mama's boy. Kelvin nurses really well, sleeps fairly well, and is growing well now. He hadn't gained as much weight as the pediatrician wanted at his 2 week visit (which we scheduled when he was 11 days old) so we went back again a week later and then he had gained well. Last week we weighed him with the super accurate method of subtracting my weight from my weight holding him. I'm pretty confident he's at least 9 pounds though since the scale said 9.6 pounds!

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8.22.18

Ada is adjusting to life as a big sister. She really seems to love her brother and wants to help with him...but she also hits him on the head quite often. 😒 When he starts crying she usually says "eat" and sometimes wants to feed him. She even lifts up her shirt and grabs my phone (I use an app to track how long he nurses). Not much gets by her! She also likes to sit at the table with me when I pump. She fills up her empty Nuun tubes from her belly button. 😂

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Overall, we're figuring out how to be a family of four. It hasn't always been easy but we're getting there! Mr. Kelvin, you are very much loved already.

Kelvin's birth story

Oh, Kelvin. I so wanted you to start labor on your own so I didn't have to be induced like I was with your sister. But you were nice and cozy in there so I didn't get my way. I thought I was going to when I was 99% certain my water broke in the early morning of Saturday, August 4th, but the Prentice Women's Hospital triage nurses confirmed that it wasn't so. You made us wait about 60 more hours to meet you...

My induction was scheduled for 4:30 am on Monday, August 6th. We were told to arrive at 4 am so we did...but we weren't taken to our room until closer to 5 am. Like John said at that time, if it wasn't so darn early, we wouldn't have minded the delay but we could have slept another hour! It took the nurse two tries to get an IV in me which was unusual as I have pretty good veins. She hit a valve the first time though. I think she felt really bad once I told her I was a nurse too (at least I waited until afterwards and was super nice about it).

Around 6:20 am, Nathan, the resident, placed the CRIB (cervical ripening with balloon) which is a foley catheter inside the cervix to help it dilate. At that point, I was dilated to 1.5 cm so Nathan wanted it checked in 3 hours. When Johnna, my midwife, came in around 9 am and saw that Nathan wanted the CRIB checked in 3 hours, she left to find him and confirm since they usually check it after 6 hours. Sure enough, she came back around 9:30 to check it and it came right out. My water broke at that time too and I was 3 cm dilated.

The next step was to start the Pitocin but first, I got to eat some super bland oatmeal that John found. Unfortunately, Starbucks was all out of oatmeal and he couldn't find any toppings at the place he got it from. It was pretty gross but I managed to eat a decent amount of it. In retrospect, I should have put one of my GU energy gels on it. John left to go get himself a good breakfast/lunch around this time too.

The view from my exercise ball. Can't complain about a lake view during labor!

The Pitocin started at 10:20 am. I mostly sat on the exercise ball from then until they checked me at 2:15 pm. John watched the monitors and put counter pressure on my back during contractions just like he did during labor with Ada. When Johnna checked me at 2:15 pm, I was only 4 cm dilated but fully effaced so she thought it would go fast from there. Just before she checked me I told John I wasn't sure I could keep going without pain meds. I decided to keep at it for a bit longer. I stayed in bed, lying on my right side and squeezing the bed rail with each contraction because I was completely exhausted by this point. John looked on from a chair in the corner of the room.

I called the nurse around 3 pm because of constant rectal pressure and the urge to push. Johnna came in to check me again by 3:15 pm and I was 9.5 cm! I told her I wasn't sure I could stop myself from pushing so with my next contraction, she got my cervix around Kelvin's head. Then I could start pushing. 10 minutes later, Kelvin was born at 3:39 pm! They put him up on my chest right away and he started crying. I was wearing my Oiselle sheroes sports bra which Johnna and my nurse both loved and thought was very appropriate for the day. Kelvin weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Kelvin Sy Lenz

John wore the same shirt he wore when Ada was born.

Big sister Ada meeting Kelvin for the first time!

Dressed and ready to go home!

21 months

Ada is 21 months old today! Once again, she's changed so much in the last 3 months. It really is amazing to see how much she learns in such a short period of time.

We had a busy start to our summer with trips to Disney World and Washington DC in May. John's parents went along with us on our week long trip to Disney. Ada loved spending so much time with them. She was a big fan of the buses as well as the characters (except Princess Tiana). She never cried on a ride but finally seemed to enjoy them on our last day when she signed "more" after getting off Ariel's Undersea Adventure. She was pretty good on the plane too. It definitely helped to have Grandma Kathy sitting next to us!

Mickey Mouse! 5.13.18

We had a great time in Washington DC too. We all flew out the Saturday before Memorial Day. John and Ada flew back home on Tuesday when my American College Health Association conference started. Aubrey, Andrew, and Finley joined us for about 24 hours of our trip. It was so great to see them again! We visited the National Mall, National Air and Space Museum, and walked by a few of the monuments. (I did a more formal tour of the National Mall and the monuments during my conference which was awesome!)

Washington DC 5.27.18

In June, we spent an evening with Ben and Heidi while they visited Chicago, road tripped up to Cochrane for a long weekend to celebrate Great Grandma Rohrer's 90th birthday, and hosted Annie, Ben, Ella, and Natalie for a night. Plus, Grandma and Grandpa Lenz stayed with us for a couple of nights before and after their trip to Spain.

Heidi and Ben visited Chicago. 6.8.18

With Grandpa Lonnie during Great Grandma's birthday party - 6.16.18

Visiting Great Grandma - 6.17.18

Showing Ella some Disney World pictures. 6.24.18

Our July was pretty low-key with a visit out to Geiner and Marcela's to see Laura, Paolo, and Zulay plus a couple of days with Laura and Paolo at our place, and a quick visit by Grandma Jul so she could see Laura and Paolo too. 

Laura, Paolo, and Grandma Jul visited! 7.10.18

Ada took a gymnastics class through the Chicago Park District in June and July and also started Lil' Kickers soccer in June. She really seems to enjoy both classes. She still loves her daycare, especially Mr. Jesse. She also enjoys going to see the Old Town School of Folk Music Wiggleworms performances and is even starting to sing along sometimes. Ada still loves going to the park and is getting pretty good at climbing. She loves to walk instead of ride in the stroller, especially when it means she gets to pet the neighborhood dogs. Her favorite dog is Moose, an old chocolate lab. Moose's owner thinks Ada is something too!

Lil' Kickers 7.3.18

Gymnastics 7.3.18

Playing in the water after Wiggleworms 7.31.18

It really, truly is a joy to be Ada's Mama, even though it's tough sometimes (like when she's kicking and screaming to not be put in the stroller or to not have her diaper changed). But, we're figuring those moments out too. Tomorrow her baby brother will be born. I think she senses there are big changes happening because she's been a little extra clingy to me lately and a little tougher to put to bed. But, I think she'll be a great big sister and adjust well to this humongous change. Fingers crossed!

Our last photo as a family of three. 8.5.18

Grandma Jul 8.5.18

Race Report: Race to Wrigley

The three of us ran the Race to Wrigley 5K on Sunday. John was in Corral B so started ahead of us. Strollers were allowed but supposed to start at the back of everyone else so Ada and I were at the end. The route was a nice one through the neighborhood, on some streets I hadn't been on yet, and there were plenty of spectators cheering which was fun. The biggest downside was that I wanted to run with Ada in the stroller but we started behind walkers. So for the first 1.5 miles or so, we were dodging around people walking. After the 1.5 mile mark it opened up quite a bit, except when the course went through the stadium. My last 0.1 mile was a 9:10 pace (though the first mile was over 13:00)!

Ada especially enjoyed the music playing in the start corrals, seeing Clark the Cub on the course, and meeting a real dog named Wrigley at the post-race party. Running felt great for me and I was able to run the whole way except when I had to walk to get around other participants. We might just have to sign up for another 5K before the boy arrives!

Distance: 5K 
Time: 37:00
Cost: $39 + $3.75 processing fee
Pros: Close to home, fun course through Wrigleyville, tech participant t-shirts, medals, stroller friendly
Cons: Strollers need better integration into the race (corral of their own or left vs right side of course), post-race party wasn't very well managed which didn't matter much to be because I wasn't drinking my post-race beer anyway
Would I run it again?: Yup.

18 months

Ada turned 18 months old on Saturday! We took her pictures on Sunday after we ran the Race to Wrigley. Once again, she has learned so much in the last 3 months. It's incredible! She loves her Mama and Dada (and says those two words innumerable times each day). She's obsessed with her cousin Ella. She wasn't too interested in Ella when we met her on New Year's Day but at Easter time she was all about her...and long as mama wasn't holding Ella. Ella's birth announcement is on the fridge and every now and then, Ada will go over to the fridge and point to it saying "Ella." Every baby she sees is also Ella. Hopefully she'll be this into her baby brother when he arrives!

Ada holding Ella on Easter Sunday 4.1.18

She also really likes going to the park, climbing anything and everything, playing with balls, saying new words, and eating grapes (and really anything, especially fruit). Mr. Jesse is her favorite teacher at school.

Chicago Children's Museum with Grandma and Grandpa Lenz 3.9.18

There aren't too many things she doesn't like. At least, not that she doesn't like for more than a minute or two. The main thing is when Mama holds other babies. She's not a fan of that!

Chicago Flower & Garden Festival with Grandma Jul 3.16.18

I don't think she really understands that she's getting a baby brother. But last night when I asked her where her brother was, she pointed to my belly and then gave my belly a kiss. I thought maybe we were making progress but later she did the same thing to John's belly. 😂

Accessory game on point thanks to Grandma Jul 4.24.18

We haven't traveled too much in the last few months. We went up to Oshkosh for Easter and Ella's baptism and then went to Madison the last weekend in April for Crazylegs. Grandma Jul and Grandma and Grandpa Lenz all came down to visit us a few times. John also went out to Montana skiing with his dad and sisters. But, we're going to be busy the next month with a 7 day trip to Disney World, a long weekend in Washington DC (with Mama staying for a conference and Dada and Ada coming back home), and then another long weekend in Cochrane to celebrate Great Grandma Rohrer's 90th birthday. Whew! After that, it will be time to stay home and get ready for the boy!

Hugs for Mama 3.17.18

More and more each day, I feel lucky to be Ada's Mama. There are challenging times, of course, but overall, it's an absolutely amazing experience to be her mom. Baby Girl, thanks for making me a mom, for challenging me to be the best mom I can be, and for all the smiles, hugs, and kisses you give. You are incredible.

Race Report: Crazylegs Classic 2018

Once again, we met Mark, KJ, and Betty in Madison for the Crazylegs Classic. It was great to spend some time with them again. This was the first year I participated in the 2 mile walk instead of the run. I wasn't sure I could handle a hilly 8K at almost 27 weeks pregnant. The walk wasn't much of a physical challenge (though pushing a stroller up Bascom Hill is no joke) but it was so much fun!

On the school bus from the Kohl Center to the Square

Ada seemed to enjoy it too. She saw Bucky at the start and again in Camp Randall after we finished. She fell asleep for a little bit of the walk but enjoyed running across the finish line and climbing the steps in the stadium.

Camp Randall

On the turf at Camp Randall

We all enjoyed some Ian's Pizza afterwards before heading back to our hotel for naps and swimming. The weather was absolutely beautiful...among the best we've ever had for Crazylegs!

Distance: 2 mile walk
Time: untimed
Cost: $30 walk, $40 8K
Pros: Fun course starting at Capitol Square and ending at Camp Randall, nice tech t-shirt this year, options for both runners and walkers, free shuttles to start line
Cons: Merging run and walk routes before entering Camp Randall, especially when strollers had to cross the paths of the runners...yikes!
Would I do it again?: Yes!