The View from Down Here

When Will was born, he "gave" Charlotte a gift to thank her for being his big sister. This gift was something we had wanted to give Charlotte anyway, and we were able to use money she had recently received during Chinese New Year via lycee packets, which was good because it was kinda pricey.

The gift:  a kid's camera! We had passed down our old digital camera to her to use but it was quickly destroyed since it wasn't meant to be dropped and beaten up on by a 2 year old. So, while the kid's camera is kinda expensive and doesn't take the best quality pictures, we knew it would last a while because it is made to withstand being dropped and chewed on.

We definitely aren't into giving our kids lots of technology geared for children but this was one thing we thought would encourage her pretend play and imagination...plus could spark an interest in photography or capturing memories that continues throughout her life.

Now that Charlotte's been using the camera for a few months, we've realized that while the pictures may be a little blurry or at a weird angle, they are also a great view of Charlotte's perspective on her world. I can't think of a better way to document her life at this age. We hope to eventually put her pictures from this camera into a photobook.

Here are some things Charlotte has captured recently:

{a store window outside our apartment}



{her feet with the addition of some dropped ice cream!}



{Momma K visiting us in Hong Kong}

{Skype call with Papa & Popo}

{our friends April and Eric grilling at a birthday party}

{another Skype call with Uncle Boo and Marie}

{Mommy using the video camera}

{Mommy changing Will's diaper}



{Baby Bro!}

Charlotte "reads" Madeline

One of Charlotte's favorite books these days is Madeline. We've read it sooooo much that she pretty much has it memorized! (And also mixes in some lines from other Madeline books because there are parts that are very similar.)

Here she is "reading" Madeline. I know I'm biased, but I think she's pretty sinkin' adorable!

Precious sleeping baby

IMG_5334, a photo by brendanmkinne on Flickr.

I caught this picture the other day when Brendan was off work and had taken Charlotte outside for a while. I laid Will on the floor for "tummy time" but he decided it was better "nap time" instead. I was okay with that.
We don't normally lay our babies on their tummies to sleep (until their old enough to roll over and choose to sleep that way), so this is very rare shot of 2 month-old Will sleeping in this position.

"One is none, but two is a ton"

"One is none, but two is a ton." Twice, someone shared that with me while we were expecting Will. One child seems like nothing once you have two. Wow, is that ever true! I'm currently wondering how parents manage more than two! (And really admire my mother-in-law who had 6 kids!)

Will turned 2 months old last week, and I am slowly but surely figuring out how to manage two kids at home everyday plus other household/life duties that need to be done (ie. take a shower). Actually, I take a shower at night once Brendan is home...that works for me. I also have to laugh at some of the things I thought were difficult when I was first home with Charlotte. Of course, those things really seemed difficult then - I was newly transitioning into being a full-time mommy - but now they kinda seem like a joke!

Obviously, with two children I can't devote all my time and attention to just one of them as I used to. So now I often find myself facing these sort of dilemmas:

• Continue nursing the infant OR change the toddler's dirty diaper?
• Console the crying infant OR stop to discipline the toddler?
• Nurse the infant OR kiss the toddler's boo-boo?

AND that's not even counting taking care of myself...like eating and such!

As I mentioned though, I am slowly getting the hang of taking care of two little ones, and I know they will not be this little and needy for long. My days are full and I truly enjoy it that way.

Will has started to smile and "coo" at us, which we love! Charlotte has already gotten down "Don't kick/hit me!", which normally happens when she invades his baby space (ie. play mat or bouncy chair) and Will touches her with his uncoordinated baby movements. :) Ah, I can only imagine what will happen when he really DOES know how to bother her! Charlotte is actually a wonderful big sister. She enjoys "helping" me change his diaper, burp him, and often runs to get her baby dolls to feed and put down for a nap whenever I'm feeding Will.

So, two is a ton, but totally worth it!