Kerstin's Blog

Okay, I know we need it. I know it’s good for our drought (which by the way is still at Level 2,)  but, could we get to spring already?  February is usually our wettest month and this year is shaping up to be no exception.  The problem is, when you have babies, your sanity usually depends on getting them in that stroller and outside!

When everyone is loosing their minds, I put G & G in the BOB ( and put P & G on their leashes,)  and we hit the town.  Everyone calms down and mom gets her vitamin D.

That is MY mom with Grace out during a break from the rain.

But, when it rains on and off for 5 days, getting out isn’t possible, and that makes our household a little cranky.

So what can you do?  Well, we’ve done the Big Bear trip, thats always nice when its stormy, since snow is more fun than rain.  Closer to home, Target is always a good place to go when it rains.  Any parent knows you can spend hours and way too much money in a Target.  Church works for us as well, that’s inside. Why not just stay for all 5 services, plus free child care!!!   Honestly, what we do is hunker down and watch movies, eat way too much, nap a ton and wait for a break in the rain.  When it does clear we get out as quick as we can.

Enjoy the stormy weather. It will be over next week. Hey, why not send me your ideas.  What do you do when its raining and you have kids!

We were driving home from a warm day at the zoo Valentines Sunday and had to turn on the air for our little girls.  I though, wow, this is so far the warmest day of Georgia’s little life.  Funny.

We kept the babies cool though.  We had them in their BOB, had them in hats and kept them in the shade.

They are a bit young to enjoy the zoo, but we had fun with our friends two year old daughter.  Plus it was a nice way to celebrate Valentines day with my hubby.

It was a gorgeous day to spend outside.  I need to start thinking about shorts once again and that kind of makes me cringe.  We put Grace in her bathing suit when she got home. What a beauty she is!

It was so warm in fact that we broke a record at the Wild Animal Park. It was 88 degrees, that shattered the previous record set in 1991. Im loving it!  Wish it would stick with us, but it looks like we will be back to rain by Sunday.

If you are new to the blog, go back to the beginning and you can read all about how Grace Isabella came into our lives.  Her birth mom and birth dad are different than her Mommy and Daddy, and different than her sister Georgia’s birth mom and birth dad.

We are in contact with Grace’s birth parents and this was an open adoption so Grace will always understand she is adopted.  This is something we think is a blessed part of her life and we want her to be proud of where she comes from and how she came to be ours.  Right now people see the two girls and ask if they are twins and then I explain that they are 5 months apart and Grace is adopted. However; I am getting concerned about what will happen a few years from now when she can understand what I am saying. It is by no means bad to be adopted but I know that being different can be a bad thing to a child.  I don’t want her to feel different. But, how do I explain two kids 5 months apart?

Sick Day

I got quite I’ll Sunday and Monday, I must have eaten something bad.  I think it was the soup that I made.  I just need to remember NOT to cook.  Anyway, I was in bed all day Sunday and I was hit by how impossible it is to be sick when you have kids.  My poor husband was stuck with two rowdy girls and I couldn’t even lift my head to help. I think my body is going through a bit of shock getting used to working full time and taking care of babies full time.

Speaking of work, we’ve heard your concerns that the blog will go away, and as of now it will stay  But, it will go through a transformation.  It’s no longer a maternity blog, and I want to be sure I give you, not only a glimpse at my crazy life, but also weather related info.  So, if you have any requests on what you want to see me write about please let me know.  I am also looking for new title suggestions.  Keep those comments coming.  Don’t forget to tune in 4:30-7am to ABC 10 for your most accurate San Diego forecast. – Kerstin

Thank you all so much for the wonderful emails and comments over the last 8 months!  It has been such a joy to share this life changing experience with you.  You have matched my candor and honesty with your own, and your words of encoragement and advice have been invaluable.

I am back to work now, maternity leave (twice in one year) behind me.  I was really dreading the return, not because I don’t like the job, but because my heart hurts when I am away from my girls (and my husband, I really got used to being around him all day long.)  The good news is ABC 10 keeps me SOOOO crazy busy that I don’t have much time to miss my babies.

I bit the bullet and went shopping for some new, bigger clothse.  The good news is they are already getting baggy, so the baby weight is still coming off.  I joined the gym down the street from ABC 10 so I have no excuse to work out, and I have become a pro at pumping all day long so that my chubby little babies don’t go hungry while mom is at work.

The girls have been adjusting well.  We have my mother in law with us all week, and a wonderful “daddy’s helper” 4 hours a day.  She is AMAZING.  The babies love her and she helps clean non stop which makes me so happy because it allows me to just spend time with the girls when I get home instead of spending hours cleaning. We have alot of help right now,here is a picture of Grace’s God Mother trying out the 2 baby juggle.

The best moment of the day is when I walk in the door and both girls light up.

It’s more subtle with Georgia but Grace is the most animated child.

We are getting into a routine at night where the girls and I go to sleep at the same time, sometime between 6 and 7.  Grace is sleeping through the night now and Georgia is only up once, which my wonderful husband takes care of.  They are both in the same room now in their matching mini cribs.

Yes, we have a very small 2 bedroom home, but we have made it work. Its cozy and intimate and we love it.

Keep those comments coming and don’t forget to watch me in action every morning from 4:30-7 and then again 11-12 on ABC 10.