The Worst Day

Today was the worst day yet of parenthood. We had to take Kara to the doctor for her 2-month vaccinations. It was awful. She is 22 1/2 in. long (50th percentile) and 11 lbs. 12 oz. (75th percentile). She is growing, beautiful, healthy and we got the 'All Clear' from our pediatrician for the last adoption paperwork. Then it was time for the shots. We debated, I stayed up many nights worrying, we went back and forth...we ended up having her have all of her shots. I guarantee that these four shots today were worse for ME than the hundreds of infertility shots over the last seven years. Aunt Nicole came over so I could make dinner while she comforted Kara.

Sick

Aaron is sick. He started getting a cold on Sunday and is now officially sick. I am taking tomorrow 'off' from my Bible study to stay home with Kara to sleep, eat and hope that we don't get it. The second I don't get enough sleep I get sick. Kara is supposed to have all of her 2 month shots on Thurs. and I am dreading it. Today I did a HUGE market trip. I haven't REALLY been shopping since we got home from Michigan. So many friends and family have been taking care of us (and the fast food restaurants nearby) that I have been able to get out of it. I got over $200 worth of tasty dinners and lunches to make.

Kara is doing great still--thank goodness. This is her new best friend. She smiles at it every time she sees it. Of course, I had to give Raggedy Ann a voice and then Kara really gets her arms, legs, and smiles going. It is hysterical. She even coos back to it.

Cousins

We were supposed to take pictures of the six grandkids today but it didn't work out. I got a few really cute ones of Kara and her cousin, Taylor. Taylor is 3 months older than Kara and I am sure they will have so much fun growing up together.

Our Week

Another great week being parents. Kara is sleeping so well and growing like a weed! We have had to clear out probably 15+ outfits that she is too long for now. She is going to outgrow both of us! She is smiling all the time and is such a content baby. We got her insurance card with Kara G Kirkland on it. It was weird to see her name officially printed out for the first time. It has been raining--a lot and hard. It was SO difficult to peel myself out of bed on Wed. and Thurs. for work (at 11) since Kara was peacefully sleeping next to me and Ellie was under the covers. Oh, I did get my hours changed so I have 2 more hours with Kara on Wednesdays. Yea! All is well in the Kirkland household. Tomorrow we are taking pictures with all of her cousins. I will definitely be posting some. I am sure they will be adorable.

Perfection

Ok, does every parent feel this way? Our daughter is perfect. Everything--absolutely everything is perfect. We have heard the strangest things--allergies to formula, milk, materials, latex, snaps!!! She eats, sleeps (a lot), grows, smiles, loves people, the swing, the sling, her toys, the dogs. Other than a few serious crying episodes, mostly about gas and poop, she is just happy and taking in the world. Baby Wise says the parents are to take full credit because so much of it is learned behavior. I just marvel at God and His blessings, her birthparents, and a teeny bit of us and our love and environment. Today was the most blessed day off. I am keeping a daily journal for Kara of what she does...etc. but I feel there is so much I can't even put into words. Other than what Aaron said today, "Finally, the hole in our family and in our hearts is filled."

This is Aaron making dinner while I got a bit of scrapbooking done. For those of you that really know me---I got up, on my own, on a rainy day, at EIGHT to feed Kara because I missed her. I brought her into bed with us (and Ellie, of course) we all slept for a few more hours. For those that don't know me---NOTHING can get me out of bed voluntarily on a rainy day off. We are in heaven.

Friday--finally!

Our first week back to work went relatively well. The worst part is how much we miss Kara while we are gone. I am waiting for the principal's approval to change my hours on Wed. from 10-3 to 12-3 because it is just WAY too long to be away from her. She is an amazing sleeper still. Last night she was completely out by 11 and didn't make a peep until this morning at 7. I fed her and then we went back to sleep until 11. This is all just so much better than I ever dreamed it could be.

I am posting the first inanimate object that Kara smiles at. She started smiling at it at the beginning of the week and it just cracks me up. It is in one of her three play gyms as she looks straight up if she is laying on her back.

This afternoon my mom was changing Kara's diaper when Aaron pulled into the garage. The second he came in and Kara heard his voice she started smiling. It was so awesome. She just smiled and smiled till he came into view and picked her up. Total Daddy's Girl. I am glad. There is nothing better than being a Daddy's girl.

First Day Back

Picture one--excited Gramma getting to babysit while I go to work
Picture two--me trying to sneak Kara into my library bag and take her to work with me.
Picture three--Mom and Dad home from work and excited to see our baby girl.

Today was our first day back to work. I was up with Kara until about 2am. (We have her on a great schedule--for vacation!) I managed to get a few hours of sleep. My mom came early because she just couldn't wait to see Kara. I got ready and left for work. Luckily today was a short day; I only see four classes on Mondays. I was so excited to come home. Aaron called on my way home and I told him I would beat him there and see Kara first. Ha ha ha. He arrived soon afterward and we had to fight over who got to hold her more first. Aaron said his day was long. Mine was good and it was fun to be back to all the excited 5-and-6-year-old smiling faces. They wanted to know all about my baby and then tell me that they got Wiis for Christmas.

Tonight I was motivated to get all of the paperwork in order to get Kara's passport going and to get her social security card. Come to find out there is A LOT that still has to be done. I am so tired of paperwork. Anyway, overall it was a good day.

Today

Today was the most 'smiley' day of Kara's life. She woke up smiling and hasn't stopped since. She slept from 11:30pm last night until 7:45 this morning then ate and went back to sleep until 10:30. She turned 6 weeks yesterday and is just Miss Personality. She smiles when we talk, when we tickle her, when she looks at a smiling toy...anything. We have been told to enjoy every second, and we have been, and she is still growing up too fast. We found out one of our best friends is pregnant and hope she has a girl. :) They will only be 8 1/2 months apart. Either way, we will have tons of fun having babies so close in age (hopefully they will move closer.) I still can't believe she is ours. Work starts Monday for both of us. Mine is only 6 hours this week and 8 hours the next. Gramma will be coming to our house to watch her so Kara probably won't even realize I am gone. Poor Aaron will miss her so much though when he goes back to teaching on Monday.

Smiles

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. We have been a bit busier than usual. We went to our niece's 4th birthday party on Wed. night. It was lots of fun. Yesterday morning Aaron's dad had a stroke. Aaron spent the whole day in the hospital with his mom while they were doing tests on his dad. Today we took Kara over to see him hoping that would lift his spirits a bit. He is doing much better today than yesterday. Though it has been scary and quite painful for him it could have been much worse. He is coherent and has all use of his limbs and memory. They are still running tests but we were glad to see him be able to open his eyes and carry on normal conversations...back to his witty, sarcastic self...just like we like him.

Other than that, Kara is smiling more and more. She is just a little piece of perfection. We have seen much better smiles but these are the only two we have been able to capture so far.

First Dinner Out

Tonight we got Kara all dressed up and took her to our favorite Italian restaurant with some friends. She was so good. Their girls just loved holding her. We had a great dinner and Kara seemed to enjoy the Italian music and the soft lighting.
I still can't believe this is for real. I guess reality will hit next week when we both go back to work. Kara is going 7-8 hours at night between feedings. She is so perfect. I keep telling her she must be an angel sent straight from heaven. We can never thank her birthparents enough for allowing us the opportunity to raise this miracle.

Dogs

I just don't get it. Is it a female dog thing? Both my dog and my mom's dog (who is scared of pretty much anybody who aren't HER five people) are just so loving, careful and protective of Kara. Of course, we are thrilled but it is just weird. Kara LOVES watching Ellie and Daisy play. They both want to lay by Kara and watch over her.

Today was a great day. It rained. We planned on not going anywhere. We got only one phone call. We wanted today to just be a 'family' day and it was definitely that. Kara is so much fun. She loves showers and just smiled before and after. Parenthood is so much better than I thought it would be.

Glorious

We are babysitting my mom's toy poodle for the weekend and were having very heavy rains/wind yesterday. Neither dog would go out to go potty and we were expecting a 3-ring circus in our bedroom once it was time for bed. My mom's poodle screams and yelps like it is slowly having a limb sawed off if we put her in her kennel so that wasn't an option. We just knew that she would be sleeping (and passing gas often) in between our pillows all night. The power kept going out and we didn't want Kara in her room because we wouldn't be able to hear her without the monitor. One more act in the circus when she would decide to wake up. We even invited Nicole to stay over to 'help out' without her knowing that was our intention. She declined--darn it.

This is what actually occurred. Nicole, Kara and I organized and scrapbooked until the power went off about 12:30am. Aaron and his friend, Mark, played computer games until they ended up sitting in the dark with their right hand on the mouse and their headsets still on. Eventually they found their way downstairs. Nicole went home to bed. Ellie, Daisy, Kara and I got ready for bed. Of course, the power came back on so Aaron and Mark continued playing. At 1:30am I fed Kara. She fell asleep quickly after. I put Ellie in her kennel. She fell asleep quickly after. Daisy and I got in bed and I started listening to a book on tape. Aaron came in at 2. All FIVE of us slept until Kara started grunting for food at 9:30 AM!!!!!! It was such a beautiful, glorious thing. Aaron fed Kara, let the dogs out (who both went #1 AND #2.) All FIVE of us got back into our queen size bed and slept soundly until 1PM!!!!!! Wow.

Rain Coming!!!

Finally we may have a bit of 'winter' here in Southern CA. It has been cooler and windy but barely any rain or even cloudy days. I love rain. Tomorrow and Friday Aaron and I have a couple routine Dr. appts. (since we have the time off still) but other than that we are looking forward to staying in and enjoying the rain with a fire in the fireplace and a new video game. I have begun Kara's baby book and what an overwhelming task that is. Life is good.

Happy New Year!!!

What a way to start off the new year. We wish you all a year of happiness and for YOUR dreams to come true. Ours did in 2007 and we are looking forward to all the fun in 2008.

Kara's First Book

Aunt Nicole is back in town! She brought this book home for Kara. It was the first book Kara sat through and looked at the pictures. Nicole also had the baby monitor in her room last night and took care of Kara while Aaron and I slept. It was joyous.

Four Week Checkup

Wow, is Kara growing! Today was her 4-week checkup. She had a tiny fever but the dr. said it could be because she was all wrapped up in her carrier since it was chilly outside. Nothing to worry about. She has grown 2 inches in 2 weeks and is up to 21 3/4 inches (75th percentile) and has gained TWO pounds since birth. She is at 9lbs. 8oz. (50th percentile.) The dr. seemed surprised when we told her how we were taking care of her. She has been sniffley--we got her the top-of-the-line humidifier. She has been gassy--we have been giving her the drops. We have been checking her temp. just to make sure and we knew that if there was a decline in appetite that means that she is sick. She has been eating like a horse (obviously) and hasn't had a temp. We felt like such good parents! We ran a few errands while she peacefully slept in her carseat. Tonight is a quiet night at home (well, maybe not so quiet. We got Rock Band for the PS2 for Christmas.) Kara just sleeps through it. Oh! And last night she ate at 10:20 and slept peacefully and quietly until 4:30!!!! I got up and fed her and Aaron just got up with her at 8:30! I know that just when we feel like we are getting the hang of things she will change her schedule on us or something. But, so far, so good. We are loving every second.

Lungs

Kara has discovered her lungs. And let me tell you they are strong and healthy. Luckily she still only seems to cry for a reason. Mostly gas. Finding out which end it is supposed to come out is our challenge. Tomorrow is her 4-week check up and I am anxious to find out how much weight she has gained. She just loves to eat. It is starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day--feeding, burping, changing diapers, washing bottles, doing laundry...as well as kissing, hugging, snuggling, smiling, laughing, and overall being parents...what we have wanted for so long. Neither of us want to go back to work. We still have another two weeks and 3 days off. (We are all anxious for Aunt Nicole to come back from her out-of-town family visit. She has been such an amazing help to us and Ellie misses her.)

Merry Christmas

Today was a wonderful Christmas. Kara slept through most of it but it was just great to have her here. She got a $70 humidifier (whoopee) but at least Santa knew what she needed. She got some fun toys from Grandma, Grandpa, and her aunts and uncles. Great-grandma and Great-grandpa spent Christmas at our house and got some very special gifts for Kara too. We had a very, very merry Christmas this year.

The Merriest of Merry

Here we are on Christmas Eve with a beautiful, healthy baby sleeping in her crib. If someone told me last Christmas Eve this is where we would be this year I would have either laughed in their face but more likely hit them and then cried my heart out for an hour or two. We are so thankful this year and trust that God knew all along that Kara was on her way for us. During this time of celebrating Jesus' birth we are celebrating the miracle of Kara and the love and selflessness of her amazing birthparents. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...(of sleep, hopefully.) :)

Family Pictures and First Smile

Today we took professional family pictures. The last time we did that Logan, our oldest nephew was about 2. There was no Emily, Katelyn, Jordan, Taylor or Kara. How special it was to have so many beautiful children in our photos today. It has been such an amazing experience to be a part of a big family. Being an only child, it took me awhile to get used to all the people around for family get-togethers. I enjoy them so much now. It has been awesome to watch as brothers and sisters get married and start their own families. Finally, our time has come. To be able to sit with my husband and my daughter to have our portrait taken was so special. This is what Christmas, what life, is all about.

Also, today our beautiful daughter smiled her first smile. She did it for Aaron this morning and I didn't believe him but she just did it for me and Aaron saw it too!!! She is just perfect. Wow, what a Christmas.