This Saturday we went to the temple. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to recreate a photo we took of Sam when he was just a few weeks old as well. Sam is the one at the DC temple, obviously.

Sam likes to play with/on/in baby toys that he has outgrown. Especially since he sees Afton using them now.

This bouncy chair bends all the way to the ground when he's in it. I keep thinking the wires are going to snap and I'm going to get stabbed in the eye or something.

And just so you can marvel at how big Sam's gotten, here's a shot from now and when he was a few weeks old.

They grow up too fast!

What a difference a day makes!

Today is going much better than yesterday. I am no longer downtrodden. Putting Afton in the closet was a huge success. We could still hear her, just not as loudly. AND... she only woke up twice! That was majorly exciting. (Although she didn't actually fall asleep the first time until 11:20.) Dan and I both feel much less sleep-deprived. At least for today.

Today I'm also trying to do a better job of not keeping her up for more than 2 hours. I was really good about that with Sam when he was little but it's harder when you've got one to entertain. So far she's taken two naps not in my arms. I am just so happy!

Also, after lunch, Sam had his very first popsicle. I know, I know. He's over two and never had a popsicle! That has since changed. He got that bruise and cut by his right eye yesterday at Chick-fil-a but once he had some chocolate shake and a kiss from mom, he declared himself "All better."

I don't think I've mentioned that Afton has a herniated belly button. It looks like a skin ball the size of a marble. The doctor said it should go away on its own by the time she's 5. Let's hope so! I remember seeing a little girl at a waterpark whose belly button looked like a miniature elephant trunk. I thought it was so weird. Now I know what it was.

Other random pictures.

Afton's first bath, which turned into a Sammy photoshoot.

Just hanging out

Well, things here are quiet. Mostly because I'm lazy and tired. Afton likes to grunt ALL NIGHT LONG and it takes its toll on me and Dan. We're going to move her to the closet. But don't worry. We have a large closet. We'll still be able to hear her, just not as loudly. That way hopefully we can get some sleep!

Sam is still really sweet to his baby sister. He loves to kiss her. Lately he thinks it's funny when he makes a loud noise or something and she flails her hands in the air. I'm trying to get him to stop that.

I read The Hunger Games. It was really good. I read the sequel, Catching Fire, in 2 days. I haven't started the third one yet, but I'm planning on it once I finish this post. Or maybe I should try to take a nap instead. Pictures to come! Sorry this is so lame. That's all I've got for now.

P.S. Do any of you have majorly grunty babies? And if so, what did you do about it?

Fancy Photos

When Afton was 10 days old, we took her and Sam to get some professional photos taken. We never took any with Sam and we felt bad about it. We got to choose 5 to get on a CD and here they are! After Sam saw how easy it was to pose for the camera, he got in on the action, too. Hopefully that means that next time he'll do okay and not shy away like he's done in the past.

And here's a more recent picture of Afton at 3 weeks.

Well, if I can survive the next 90 minutes (that's how long until Dan gets home), I will have survived my first week alone - albeit a short week (thank you, Labor Day) - with two children. How the heck do people have lots of kids? It is hard. One is poopy, the other is crying. One wants to eat, the other is crying. I want to sleep, one is crying!

Afton is having a hard time figuring out that night means bedtime. Sam is having a hard time understanding that we're taking things easy while "Mama's hurt tummy" heals. He's usually really sweet to me and asks to kiss my stomach. The other day he accidentally pushed really hard on my stomach. I started crying and then he started crying, too. Then he asked to give me a hug and a kiss and then said, "Mama all done sad!"

Today I took the kids to play at a big playground inside a mega Baptist church. It went well despite the fact that Afton barfed on me and herself 5 times and kids kept trying to touch her. Sam had fun, though.

Here are pictures from our lazy days this week.

And here's a video of Sam doing "somersaults".

More Pictures

Yesterday was Afton's one-week birthday. She is so perfect! We love to hold her and snuggle her. She's been a really easy going baby so far - just eating, sleeping, snuggling, and going to the bathroom. At her first pediatrician's appointment, they measured her around 20 inches, so we just think they didn't measure her very well at the hospital.

Here are some pictures!

Wearing the same baby bonnet my mom wore when she was a baby.

My mom left on Monday to go and help my sister, who just had her baby on Saturday. We sure miss my mom! She was such a huge help. She made dinners, took care of Sam, cleaned, and helped us when we got home. I like to think of myself as pretty independent, but I really don't know what we would have done without her!

(I didn't know that having a c-section meant that you also kept a 6-month pregnant belly and didn't lose any weight...)

New family of FOUR!

Sam has done really well with having a little sister. He likes to give her kisses,

hang out with daddy and Afton in bed,

hold baby sister,

and goof around!

Dan has been such a wonderful husband through everything! Despite my random mood swings and being stuck at home most of the day, he's really been a great help and I'm so glad he got to take this week off to spend with us.

That's the latest from the Durst family!