Which baby am I?

Now that baby Juliet is a week old, we're more convinced than ever that she's the spitting image of her big sister.  See if you can figure out which one is which:

A.


B.



C.


D.


E.


F.


G.


H.


I.


J.

Meeting Juliet

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Luke 1:46-47, 49

Let's just say that these words from Mary's Song are especially meaningful to me this Christmas season.


The Lord has given us another child.  And we couldn't be more in love, more thankful, and more in awe of this special gift.




Juliet arrived on the scene just after midnight on Wednesday, December 12th. 





She came out healthy and perfect, with ten fingers and ten toes and the face that was quite familiar to us.  In fact, as her looks have rounded out over the past few days, Josh is convinced we've actually had the same baby twice!


Our care at the hospital was fantastic.  We were well looked after by a team of midwives along with my OB. I'll never forget the tenderness and empathy those midwives showed me while I was in their care.

Baby yawns.  They melt me.

Side note: my OB reminded both of us of a very odd combination of Gilderoy Lockhart (see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) and James Bond.  The quintessential English gentleman type with good hair and a lot of charm and personality!  But he took great care of me and Juliet, and for that I'm thankful.

Big Sister Caroline, along with Josh's mom and dad, met Juliet the next morning.  Caroline was interested in the baby for about 60 seconds, but those 60 seconds were extremely sweet.


Juliet "brought" Caroline a special gift - a Peppa Pig plush.  Caroline and Peppa have hardly been separated since.  


Our family of FOUR!

Grandparents!


By the morning of the 13th rolled around, we were all ready to leave the hospital and begin real life together.   

She's Here!

We're thrilled to welcome this little one into our family:

Juliet Victoria

7 pounds, 20 inches

Born 12.12.12

She's perfect and healthy and sweet.  We can't stop marveling over her every inch, dimple, and finger. 

We're beyond grateful for her.  Thank you, Jesus.




More to come soon, but for now I've got snuggles with a newborn to attend to... 

Finishing up ballet for the term.

It was a highlight of our week, each week.

And each week she gained more confidence.  She'd actually take - and use - the sparkled silk cloth one week.  Then the next week she'd get up off of my lap and bring the fairy wand back to her teacher at the correct time.

(Do you get the feeling it was a serious class?  Because it wasn't, but was entirely perfect for 1-2 year olds.)

And in the last couple of weeks, she would actually follow the rest of the class withOUT me being right there.  And at the end give her teachers a hug - and first pump - before we left.

New Girl Update

I'm 38 weeks along now.  It's that light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel portion of pregnancy.  Whew.

Why DOES pregnancy last forever and ever?  I feel like this kid has been baking for years.

But praise Jesus for health for both of us and an uneventful ride.

For the first two months after we moved to London I felt ZAPPED of energy.  So tired.  Just wanted to stay home - and on the couch - most of them time.  But for the past three weeks or so I've felt great.  Mostly normal, in fact.  If normal can include a bump and the feeling that I'm carrying around a bowling ball.

Here's me at 27 weeks and 33 weeks:

I was browsing through pics of my pregnancy with Caroline and have actually come to the conclusion that the 2012 bump has nothing on 2010's.  The scale says the same thing.  I WILL TAKE IT.

Especially since after I gave birth to Caroline I saw my pre-pregnancy weight ONCE.  The day I found out New Girl was on her way.  Ah, irony.


Is New Girl's nursery all done?  Nope.  Have we put her car seat in the car?  Nope.  Will she wear 98% hand-me-downs?  Oh yes.  But we have a crib, a double stroller, a few baby-wearing devices, and a pack of itty bitty diapers.  And like 25 newborn girl outfits (really, how DID they multiply so much since we had Caroline?)

I can hardly wait to meet this little sweetheart. 

Here's 36 weeks and 38 weeks:

Caroline's Birthday

She turned two a couple of weeks ago.


It was her first time opening presents without help, and not surprisingly she caught on quickly.  In fact, she's since found a few Christmas gifts I'd wrapped up in advance, and opened those up too. 

Technology meets expat life meets grandparents still want to celebrate.  Thank you Skype and FaceTime... where would we be without you?


And as the big birthday rolled around, we realized we'd become those parents.  The ones who overindulge their children on TV characters (in our case, Peppa Pig!) and organize birthdays around those characters.  We bought her Peppa Pig PJs and a shirt.  Oma and Opa helped with a Peppa dollhouse and a load of books.  And then we took her to the holy grail of Peppa Pig fun: Peppa Pig World.

The snob in me hangs her head in shame. 

But the mom in me LOVED seeing my little girl squeal with delight and wonder as she ran through Peppa Pig World.

Screw snobby me.  My girl loved it.

"Peppa Kig!  Peppa Kig!"


"Peppa Kig House," the most lame exhibit they offered, was a favorite with our girl.  The fake pig family moved only slightly and had a repeated conversation about making pancakes.


We also rode the rides - train, "balloon," and "cloud" along with enjoying the indoor soft play area.  Complete with major slide.










And a very fun ball area as well.


Caroline even got to meet Peppa and her brother, George.




As we won't be a family of 3 for too much longer, and Josh and I savored the opportunity to focus on and celebrate our little toddler girl.  We topped off the day with Caroline's favorite treat - an ice cream cone.

What a treasure she is.  We're so grateful for her life.  Thank you, Jesus.