The Adventures of... Paige

A member of our family since Christmas, Paige is Makayla's side-kick, buddy and most often "baby" to which she cares for alongside me while I care for Kaiden.  This "care" encompasses A LOT of hard work and effort for Mak to rock, breastfeed, push in the stroller (more on this later), read stories, dress, potty-train, discipline and carry her in a sling (Mak's coat buttoned up and Paige's head sticking out at the neck -- however, this latest activity caused Paige's hair to get sopped in syrup while attempting to eat our pancakes at breakfast). Paige often the recipient of conversation, treatment or punishment that Makayla herself has experienced at the hands of her parents. (Author's note: Arnold is grateful for Paige)

So here it is. The first documented adventures of Paige (and Mak)...

One morning running errands, Mak requested to push Paige in her stroller in every store we attended. At one point while perusing the shelves and therefore taking my eyes briefly off Mak I soon hear several feet away "Paige, you are not listening (said w/ a 'y'...so yistening)", "If you don't listen I'm going to put you in the stroller and strap you in" -- (a common threat of mine to ensure child compliance during shopping trips... works every time...it's like death to sit still in a cart). We discuss what Paige did wrong, and I supported Makayla in discipling her.... on to the next store.

At our favorite grocery store, Paige helped in the search for P.J (stuffed bear kids find and get a treat), so she & Mak each got a sucker (see picture above left). Upon finishing her sucker, Mak looks over at Paige and says "Paige, you want to share your sucker? Ok...great...thanks!" <takes Paige's sucker and puts in her mouth>.

Paige is currently potty-training. Sometimes she doesn't make it (see picture below left) as I was informed by Makayla that she "pooped in her underwear <sigh of disappointment while cleaning Paige up>"

At other times, Paige is the subject of just plain silliness... as shown here where Mak was attempting to get Paige into a chair by using her legs.

Old McDonald had a...

DEER. Three to be exact, one female and her two tween-age offspring, were part of our most recent walk and experience in Hocking Hills. Thanks to today's "heat wave" - we were able to spend several minutes (at least 20, maybe 30... no I'm not kidding) talking to the deer. After 5 minutes, they seemed to be bored with us...the youngest actually coming as close as 30-40 feet from Makayla as she explained "we won't hurt you", "we aren't going to come into your forest" while also offering to feed them leaves, sticks and rocks from her yellow bucket. I could not help wondering if the reason they were not alarmed by our presence, and failed to high-white-tail out of there, is because maybe... just maybe... they had mistook Makayla as a large (and friendly) rabbit (see picture). 

In other news...Jay is enjoying a much-deserved ski trip with friends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After 2 days of skiing he's sore and tired - but loving every minute of it. However, he will be ready to return home... just as much as we are excited to have him back soon.

Kaiden is growing bigger by the minute - laughing and talking more and more during his waking moments. He's sleeping through the nights now (sometimes sleeping longer in the mornings then Mak!)... and generally just observing in earnest (and learning from Big Sister for sure), the rhythm of our days.

Introducing...

Kaiden is growing so much - and fast - already almost 2 months old. He is sleeping a bit less in the day to have playtime with Mommy (he seems to have a good sense of Mak's routine - and is usually awake with me during her nap)... Coincidence?
Here's a little taste of his squeaks, squawks and grunts... (He has a little cold too).

Kaiden - Jan 2011

A happy, happy new year

It was with great joy that we (finally) welcomed Kaiden Wilson Cahill into this world on December 5th, 2010.  He was 8lbs 6oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Another long labor, but easy delivery (thankfully, he arrived in just one big push) and Jay, Makayla and I have been smitten with him every since....  

December went by quickly needless to say. The holidays were filled with the "spirit" of the season, with Mak leaving Santa cookies and unwrapping gifts (everyone's gifts if she can get her hands on them!) and especially as Jay & I take stock of all the things we are blessed with and the many adventures (and challenges - ha!) we have to look forward to in the years to come... 

Jay had some time off after Christmas so we spent time together as a family at the cabin - eating, playing games, baking, sledding, walking -  and moved into the New Year with little fan fair (Jay & I were asleep by 10pm).  

As we approach the end of January, Jay is back at work and me, Makayla and Kaiden are slowly getting ourselves adjusted into a new routine. Kaiden eats well (his 1 month doctor appt. he had gained 2 pounds and grew 3 inches!) and sleeps 5-7 hours at night already most nights ... which is a very much appreciated by yours truly. Mak now is involved in a Monday music class, and still enjoys participating in gymnastics and pre-school each week - all of which helps to keep us entertained during the winter months, and allows for time/activities just for Mak -- since so much of the last 6 weeks has naturally been about Kaiden - and will continue to be over the next several months... 

Makayla is wonderful big sister and takes this role very seriously by helping mommy (& daddy) around the house - reading to him, playing nearby during feedings,  helping with bath-time, making him art and giving him A LOT of kisses & hugs (it's common to hear in our house "stop squeezing him..", "Mak! not so hard..." or " let go!"). Kaiden however doesn't seem to mind being loved so much and in return - LOVES his big sister... he watches her, listens to her and laughs when she talks and sings to him. He can't get enough of this lively little person. Between the two of them the days are certainly full and go quickly!

Fast Forward.... (1 year later)

I know, I know... it's been way too long since our last entry. It's been a very busy & eventful year - to say the least. I hope this entry will serve to get us back to the present - but for now... a trip down memory lane...

Nov/Dec 2009 -- Jay and I found out we were pregnant for the 2nd time. However, in early November we also found out that this one did not make it past 10 weeks in the womb. Although statistically common for women, it was sad, heartbreaking for both (all) of us. Thankfully we had Mak to distract us and make us smile every minute of every day... so we soon felt & knew that in time it would come to be...

Jan/Feb 2010 -- Jay & I enjoyed a vacation by ourselves in San Juan, Puerto Rico for 4 days. Mak had a great time at Oma & Opa's house -- keeping them VERY busy. Jay was recognized as part of the "leadership team" at Chase and was invited with only a few 100 others to NYC to celebrate this great achievement. I also negotiated a part-time schedule with my work at Resource Interactive which allowed me 2 days at home with Mak a week. Mak continued to go to "school/daycare" and spend time with Cecilia on the other days. Her ability to communicate in almost full sentences was becoming increasingly better - and makes everyone laugh. Her independence and determination starts to peak out as she learns to put on her shoes, socks, backpack, seatbelt etc.


Spring 2010 - We find out we were pregnant with our 3rd! We proceed carefully - cautious not to get our hopes up - but excited & anxious nonetheless. (Thankfully as I write this we are waiting for this baby (TBD boy or girl) to arrive any day now.) So as the days of spring came to be - and with it warmer weather - the days I had home, Mak & I would enjoy play-dates with friends, going for walks -- LOTS of walks -- we both like to be outdoors. Mak likes getting dirty and thankfully there are several playgrounds and parks to choose from nearby. Mak enjoyed celebrating her 2nd birthday with several friends & family members joining us for a great day at the cabin. She had so much fun...enjoyed every minute of the spotlight. It was hard to convince her that other "parties" we attended after her b-day party were not all for her.


Summer 2010 - My belly grows and grows with baby "TBD". Mak loves to paint on her easel in the yard, go swimming and of course walk and/or go to the playgrounds nearby. She practices on her tricycle - and slowly learns how to peddle with help from Mom or Dad. We enjoy several days/weekends at the cabin, Makayla gets to drive the boat (with Daddy closely supervising). We spend a lot of time at the beach area across the lake where she can practice her swimming (blowing bubbles, using a raft, etc.). She has no fear, and is determined to learn something if she sees other "big kids" doing it. I am slowly coming to realize the difficulty of working part-time -- especially in my line of work, it seemed I was putting in the same 40hr week, but in only 3 days. I was feeling stretched thin, with the inability to really focus and succeed at any one thing I was working at (work, Mak, etc.). As a result, (thankfully) Jay & I decide I will resign from my current job and stay home with the kids for a few years...

Fall 2010 - Pregnancy is good to me - albeit the rather large belly, which is at this point causes challenges when Mak & I want to enjoy those long walks! But (sigh of relief) I am home now full-time - last day at work was 8/27 - and loving every minute of it. We have been able to concentrate on some much needed home improvement projects, along with allowing me some time to get ready for baby "TBD". I'm incredibly grateful to have these past couple of months at home with just Mak -- especially before baby comes. It has allowed me to be truly present with her every day and get to know the depth of her personality which is slowly being unveiled in different ways each day. She & I still walk outside almost every day, she is in gymnastics (and loves it), play dates and 1 day/wk at preschool. Mak loves to make "friends" anywhere, she's athletic and brave (thankfully compatible qualities), is very open and communicative to other children and adults. Many people state their amazement of her vocabulary, communication skills and physical coordination/ability. She's very strong-willed - which Jay & I compliment and encourage -- however, it's hard work to direct and guide. The "terrible two's" are certainly fully upon us!

TODAY, 11/22/10 - Due date for baby is this Friday 11/26. As of dr. appt this morning - still no further progress (a very frustrating prognosis). So we wait....
Mak will be almost exactly 2 1/2 years old at the time this baby is born. She is extremely excited to be a big sister and has gotten recent practice helping with her baby cousin Kira. She will be a big help to Mom once baby does arrive.
As we quickly approach the holiday season - we have much to be Thankful for...

Stuck

Makayla likes to sit, in or on everything… it’s takes great precision to pick a good spot, turn around, shuffle backwards and stick out her butt and slowly squat to finally sit down.
Upon a successful sitting – she yells, claps and kicks her feet in celebratory bliss.

However, yesterday's latest attempt left her stuck (like Winnie-the-Pooh when he goes to visit Rabbit).

Jay and I did what any good parents would do - promptly took photos of her stuck and laughed our asses off for several minutes as she tried to remove herself from the box (I almost peed myself) ...

I'm # 1!!

Mak took her first 4-5 steps today! It was commercial-esque in that she "ran" into my arms and we laughed. Seriously... it happened... I have witnesses.
It's amazing to Jay & I how fast time goes by - even faster, it seems when we are both working full-time. We cherish our time with her especially as her personality comes alive. Here's some highlights as she eats, crawls, swings and stumbles into her 2nd year on earth...


Let's get one thing straight dogs. I, Makayla Cahill, own you. You are my pals and should do what I want you to do when I want you to do it. So if I force a toy on you - take it, but give it right back - it's called sharing. If I lay on you - don't move or I will have to get up off the floor yell and crawl after you. You can't hide - I will find you and hug you till you want no other human interaction and are begging to be let outside (which makes me sad and I holler after you to come back "dah-dah")...



We spend time in the living room and kitchen, playing and sometimes get the camera out and take self-portraits - right now I spend a lot of time practicing balance and walking w/ my Brio cart. I am learning and understand spanish, just as much as the english.


We went for a family hike on my b-day - it started out fine. We were the few only people up at 8am on a Sunday so peaceful, quiet...
Well until I started crying - it's tough to be stuck in a back pack that long!So time for the good stuff - a party & chocolate cake (Mommy made it special for me)!!
I wasn't sure about all the commotion, and cried during the opening of the presents... but when that birthday candle was lit and the singing began... I loved every minute of it.

So close...

Mak is really close to walking. She has gotten pretty good at pushing her Brio cart around the room with out any help. And lately, her sleep routine changed as she dictates that she no longer needs that extra little nap in the morning after eating. So, Jay and I spend mornings balancing our time getting ready for work while trying to keep her safe as she crawls/climbs/scoots into and onto everything...

9 Months Old

Multi-tasking has never had more meaning...

Thankfully Makayla is not a picky eater - her favorite (shown right) is oatmeal w/ raisins. She stopped wanting us to spoon-feed her about a month or so ago and has preferred to do everything herself - including eating. Additionally, crawling has made Makayla (and us) all the more active - her curiosity and "no-fear" approach to exploring the world keeps us on our toes each day. We just recently (yes...just recently...give me a break) bought & installed gates, electric socket covers. A kitchen drawer full of stuff has also been provided in which to amuse a little one while doing my own multi-tasking in the kitchen/dining/living room or upstairs.

Swimming is Mak's sport of choice...she LOVES the water.
In one of our adventure's to the pool I decided we would try out the kiddie-slide .... together... her on my lap. Little did I know I would not be able to stop, sliding as only a good slide would allow you (fast & no-friction) which plummeted us both butts first - but heads under - into the water. She was unalarmed and seemed unsurprised by the event...while I was still catching my breath.

Her actions, communications, expressions seem to get more "person-like" every day. I so treasure this time...and am enjoying every day (hour) I am able to spend time w/ her.
Jay and I are in a flurry of our own daily, weekly multi-tasking and somehow seem to still be able to manage to keep the things that are important to us in some sort of balance (work, friends, house, dogs, family, ourselves, soccer/basketball). It's not that I didn't know going in this would be challenging at times - but the reality of it all is more then I could ever have imagined. Multi-tasking has a positive connotation attached to it...usually. But lately I can't help but feel I am missing out on the full-awareness of any one thing.

Ok so its been a while... we know. Time seems to move at lightning speed these days w/ Jay and I back at work. Weekends are even more precious and "Me time" is something one holds dear... for all of us. Here's a recap of the past 2 months:

Christmas came and went so quickly this year. The spirit was dampened (pun intended) by the most awful flu bug Makayla brought home from daycare. Jay and I spent a day before X-mas Eve in bed w/ help from Lita & Lito. Christmas Eve day & night it was our turn to play nurse to Makayla. It was next to impossible to get her to keep fluids down - but finally Jay held her down and I dispensed Pedialite via a dropper down her throat. She kicked, screamed and spat... yet, several outfits later (Jay and I too) her fever went down and her spirits rose in time for Christmas Day. Jay and I were exhausted but felt triumphant that we made it through one of the many small battles to come. However, her reign of sickness and despair did not end there - as we attended Christmas festivities w/ all the usual family members... who exactly 12 hours later were struck w/ the "plague of Makayla". (Merry Christmas, Everyone).

On a happier note, Makayla's first Christmas entailed grabbing bows/ribbons, trying to eat wrapping paper and sitting in quiet awe at Opa's train around the silver christmas tree.

The new year has been filled w/ new surprises, triumphs and changes. Makayla is eating all kinds of food and loving almost (not the fish, OJ & sweet potatoes blend just yet) everything I make for her. Yes.... you read right - and I truly love it. Making and experimenting w/ all the tastes and textures of foods w/ her is so much fun. She is independent in everything - but especially likes to feed herself. Pieces of banana, blueberries, grapes etc. are some of her favorites. Mak and I just recently decided it would be good to feed the local birds (all the snow and all) so we put out 2 bird feeders outside the big main dining room window. After just a couple days of bird-gossip, we have quite a menagarie of birds to watch during meal times.
Just recently Makayla began to emulate the action of waving (she sticks our her hand and moves her fingers together, up and down). However, when you wave back she looks at you as though you are crazy, funny or both - so we don't have the communication and meaning nailed down quite yet. She also started CRAWLING yesterday! She had been rocking back and forth on hands and knees for a couple weeks - and then all of sudden (after daycare told me she was moving around everywhere - and yes...I felt a sad little sting that I didn't get to see it FIRST) she was off...
With each of these milestones it's bitter-sweet...
Sweet in that she is growing, learning and becoming her own person. Bitter in that the flip side of that very same coin is the stark realization that one milestone means the end of the stage or phase that preceded it.

Close call

Recently, we spent the weekend at the cabin in Hocking Hills. On a typical sunny, but cold afternoon we took the dogs and Mak P for a walk. All of us love these walks and the cold weather makes the warm cabin even better to come back to...
On our way back, however, Arnold made a quick decision to cross the street when a truck (who had stopped for us) began to move forward. The moments after that have thankfully become not as easy to recall... Arnold's front rt leg (and what I assumed at the time to be chest/head) had been hit/ran over. In a panic, I took off on foot - running - w/ Makayla in the stroller back to the cabin...pulling Ramona along w/ me (she was concerned for and wanted to be w/ her brother). I was so out of breath by the time we got there I could hardly stand... meanwhile Jay had gotten Arnold back to the cabin (calmly and via a truck) and into our car and was heading to the nearest animal hospital...
After finally getting to the only open animal hospital just north of Columbus I joined him and we waited to hear the results of Arnold's x-rays. Both of us were beside ourselves - and thinking the worst... But when the doctor came in - she showed us the x-rays and he had only a broken toe to show for it. They placed a splint on his leg and sent us home w/ several meds...

In the next few days, Jay did most of the carrying of Arnold - in and out side, up and down stairs - we catered and spoiled Arnold knowing he must be in pain and would not be mobile for a while. Then at one point Jay thought to offer Arnold a treat - some motivation to try and make it on 3 legs and get outside on his own. No sooner did Jay mention the word and the sound of the treat jar clanked - was Arnold up, and HOPPING on 3 legs into the other room. We laughed so hard w/ relief ... our buddy Arnold was going to be just fine.