JUST Two

Well, it’s been four months since our last update but in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago! We now get what our friends-with-more-than-one-child meant when they told us that once you have more than one kid, you really have no time to do anything!

Ah, yes. Hudson Lorenzo was born on July 3, 2009 @ 12:50p.m. He was 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 in. He’s now three months old. Being the second-time-parents we are, we’re not exactly sure of his weight, height or percentiles. But we can tell you he’s about 18 pounds and wears 9-12 month clothing! He’s a mellow boy who is generous with the smiles. He’s stolen all of our hearts, especially Samira’s.


Samira has taken to her big sister role well. Nothing puts a smile on her face like seeing her baby brother. The first thing she wants to do in the morning and the last thing she wants to do before bedtime is give him a kiss. Seeing the two of them interact, as limited as that may be at this stage, is surreal and heart warming.


Samira just turned three years old on September 23, is fully potty trained (thank goodness) and enjoying preschool. She enjoyed a lot of swimming this summer and her new hobby is driving around the truck she received for her birthday! The kid never fails to surprise us with the funniest sayings. For example, during the potty training process, we’d give her one Oreo cookie for doing well. Before we knew it, she’d ask for two! But of course she’d put it in the cutest way…”JUST two cookies, Mommy. JUST two.” And no, she wouldn’t get two but an E for effort.




We hope you enjoy some of the pictures included in this update. We’re really more timely posting pictures and updates on Facebook. So if you haven’t already joined, please do so and add us! It really makes it so convenient to stay in touch with everyone. From our family to yours…

Blessings & Babies

Someone once told me, “The only thing you can be absolutely sure about is that you can never be absolutely sure about anything.” There is much to be said for people that face adversity on a daily basis. I am humbled by those who have known nothing but and yet continue to see light in life and good in others.

There are so many different ways an event can change the course of one’s reality, where nothing will quite be the same again, and yet the future possibilities are endless. Whatever it may be and whenever it may occur, everyone finds a different path of getting through.

Our family has proven to be nevertheless immune to these challenges, challenges which we have been enduring over the past couple of months. In light of it all, several things have become apparently clear:

• We are blessed beyond belief by the love and support of family and friends.
• Our health and the health of our children are things we couldn’t be more grateful for.
• Despite the tumultuous California economy, we have been fortunate to have been relatively unaffected.

It is in counting our blessings and searching for insight that we have been able to get through these past months. While none of us ever really know what tomorrow holds, we may find peace of mind knowing that giving 100% of ourselves today, and being completely present, is half the battle.

I started maternity leave on June 8th which gave me about one month to prepare for the arrival of our son, less time if he chooses to make his debut early. I am looking forward to spending extra time with Samira before my attention is split between the two children. While she has certainly exhibited behaviors of the terrible-two’s, she has also pleasantly surprised us with her astonishing ability to be quite the comedian. Her spunk and quick wit remind Darryl and me both of our grandmothers. She appears to be getting more and more excited about the arrival of her baby brother. At least once a day, she’ll whisper to my belly to tell him “secrets”. Her imagination has really taken off too. One of her favorite games is one we made up called “Walking in the Zoo” where we pretend that we’re, well, walking in the zoo. We talk about all the different animals we “see”. The details she comes up with fascinate us. Samira also loves to bake cupcakes, ride her tricycle and kick around the ball in our backyard.


Samira and I are really looking forward to spending time with our Mommy & Me playgroup again. They were our lifeline when Samira and I “stayed at home” and we sure have missed them since I returned to the corporate world in January of 2008. My maternity leave ends in November, and while that seems like a long time from now, I realize that the time will fly by quickly as it always does anymore. I’m excited about my extra time with the family, as well as returning to work as I will be coming back to a new challenging opportunity in the Marketing department. This was an unexpected, but nonetheless, welcomed opportunity – yet another blessing to be thankful for.

A couple weeks ago, Darryl, Samira and I had a 4D ultrasound done of our little boy. It was truly one of the most amazing things we had ever seen. We have a 20-minute DVD of him moving around -– opening his eyes, sticking out his tongue and sucking his thumb -- all things we never thought we’d see until he officially entered this world. Below is a picture from that ultrasound. We can already make out the signature cheeks (which will soon be showered with kisses) and either the personality of a hard-thinker or one who likes to show off his muscles!


On the Siefker side, there were four of us expecting…now there is just one! We’re happy that all babies have been healthy and are all doing well. It’s abundantly clear that the arrival of our boy is just around the corner. We will keep you all posted as the big day draws near!

Chaotic Bliss

Friends warned us that the second pregnancy would go by fast – they were right. Between the holidays, our busy daily routines, and just “life” itself, the last couple of months have flown by. Before we knew it, it was time for our 20-week ultrasound where we could find out the baby’s gender. So this past Tuesday, Darryl, Samira, and I all went to the appointment and discovered we’re expecting a baby boy!

Our baby boy is VERY active – his kicking started earlier compared to when Samira started kicking. We’re now going through the fun process of picking names and decorating the kids’ rooms!

Samira is getting excited about having a baby brother. In an effort to prepare her for more independence, we’ve recently transitioned her out of the crib and into her “big sister bed." Potty training is definitely a focus now as well. She actually is well-trained at preschool, which tells us we just need to get our act together at home.

Samira’s latest hobbies include “reading” to her baby dolls, helping us cook, and styling my hair. The funniest thing is when she’s done styling my hair, she’ll stand in front of me, hold up my chin and say, “Look at me, Mommy.” As she assesses her work, she approvingly says, “WOW.”

The Siefker side is expecting many new babies in the coming months. Between Darryl’s sister, his two cousins, and me, the four of us are all due within four months of each other! We’re excited to welcome all the babies to the family very soon and joke about how “interesting” Thanksgiving will be this year. Ahhhh, chaotic bliss...

Welcome

Welcome to our family blog! This blog has been a long time coming. I first toyed with the idea when I was on bedrest while prego with Samira. Fast forward two years later, we're finally setting it up in hopes that it will be the best way to keep those we love, near and far, updated on the latest and greatest.

Speaking of the latest and greatest, we have news to share...we're expecting!

Our due date is July 4th and we couldn't be more excited. I'm just about 12 weeks along and feeling pretty good. Unlike my pregnancy with Samira, I'm experiencing nausea this time but nothing too bad. We had our first ultrasound a couple weeks ago. I almost forgot how amazing it felt to see the baby for the first time. We pointed out the little peanut to Samira and told her it was her baby. She had a confused look on her face as though she were thinking, "That peanut is a baby?"


Samira, a.k.a. Miss Chatty Cathy, continues to be a ton of fun! Darryl and I have to be especially careful of what we say around her now that we have our very own parrot at home repeating our words. Samira did wonderful on the planes back to Missouri this past Thanksgiving (thanks to a whole lot of help from Dora and Diego DVDs) and really enjoyed spending time with the Siefker side. She was facinated by the snow for about a minute until we went outside to play with it.

Christmas is just around the corner and we're looking forward to it! We're hosting it at home again this year and are looking forward to another fun family get together. We hope that you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

Feel free to check back often. We'll look forward to hearing from you via the comments postings. From our family to yours...