52 : 16 (part 3)

In May Kevin started a new job at Genentech so this past weekend we got to attend their annual summer event, which is tied to major philanthropic work that the company does.

The event was held at AT&T park and was pretty amazing/overwhelming. There were 3 performers - Colbie Caillat, Foo Fighters, and Usher - we were definitely most excited for Foo Fighters. 

Ewan was drumming the seat in front of him like a mad man and making his best rocker face, which is seen in this week's photo. We are counting this as Ewan's first concert, when we asked him what he thought he said, "loud!" He is definitely Mama's son.

Darby 9/52

Oh Darby Darby --- slow down! 2 months already pudgie peanut.

You are such a good girl, we didn't think a better baby than your brother could exist, but you have proved us wrong. You sleep a little more each night than he did, you are up to 10 hours and your pediatrician says we can't expect much more of you at this point and not to tell our friends, and you don't have that dreaded afternoon witching hour that he did. You are truly sweet as pie!

At your 2 month appointment Dr. Fong complemented you on your neck strength (illustrated with tummy time), how well you are growing, and your wonderful disposition. You weighed 13 lbs 4.9 ozs (97%tile) and measured 22.25 in (47%tile) - your height confuses us a little, but it makes your chubby rolls all the more abundant and your Great Uncle Kevin was the shortest baby in his family and is now a very tall 6 ft 7 in so we are expecting you will trick us like he did your Great Grammie Jean. 

We are truly amazed each day how simply you have incorporated in to our family and how overcome we all are with love for you. You are truly a delight diamond baby.

Darby Moira - 2 Months

52 : 15 (part 3)

We have heard that parenting is putting your heart outside your body and watching it run around in your kids. Since Ewan was born we have definitely found this to be true as he climbed structures at the park, was found halfway up a ladder in the garage, or toppled constantly with those first steps. He brings us joy regularly and extreme fear occasionally... Last week was one of those weeks, but thankfully it all worked out and he has a (mostly) clean bill of health.

One morning last week Ewan sat with us watching tv and I noticed a lump on his throat and lost my breath, my head knew not to worry but my heart still sank. After a trip to the pediatrician a virus was assumed, but a veinous hum in his heart was found, which is harmless and extremely common in toddlers (especially big ones), but since it was found with the other symptoms a blood panel was run with a chest X-ray. 

Ewan was a champ, didn't even flinch at the blood draw and was only slightly freaked out by his first X-ray. The blood panel showed Epstein-Barr virus, yes our ladies man has the kissing disease, but all we need to do is wait out any symptoms that may appear like any other virus and we can happily check the swollen glands off of our worry list. 

The X-Ray was another story, while no lymph nodes were swollen in his chest an unexpected shadow was seen by his heart, which was likely nothing, but couldn't be ignored as it may have been an indicator of a serious heart defect. Ewan has no other symptoms of the heart defect, but we must do our due diligence and with a potential wait of weeks/months to get into the heart center at Stanford our (amazing) pediatrician got us in touch with a private practice in San Mateo that had a cancelation and could see us on Friday, I wasn't thrilled it was Friday the 13th, but I would have made any day or time work to know the situation. The staff at the cardiologist office was amazing, as was the doctor, the toys were plentiful, and after an EKG and an echocardiogram we now have 100% assurance that while there is a veinous hum and an innocent murmur, both of which will likely be gone before he is 10, the anatomy of his heart is pretty damn awesome. The doctor told Ewan his job is to play hard, eats lots of fruits and veggies, and maybe have some fish occasionally --- we promise doctor was said with a huge sigh of relief and a few mama tears. 

This is not the sort of sharing that typically occurs here, but this blog will be printed as our boy's baby book and we want him to know this story for when his own kids scare the hell out of him and for his basic health history. We also want to be real about the ups and downs. 

Don't let this week's picture fool you, while he does have a virus plenty of adventures have been occurring, but this captures one of our favorite things, morning cuddles and typically a little tv before we all face the day.

Darby 8/52

So fun! Cuter and smilier everyday, sleeping 10 hours a night, and sporting her 3-6 month fashions. Our friends and family were very generous with this size so styling this girl is very fun, but I fear this may be her fashionista peak.

52 : 14 (part 3)

Another month and more love for this sweet boy, who weights 38.4 lbs and measures 38.25 inches as a 2 1/4 year old. 

Ewan is currently infatuated with animals --- in real life, in books, on tv, he doesn't care. Given this we are frequently asked to sing the animal song, aka "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". Ewan likes to throw in random animals like bees, who buzz buzz here and buzz buzz there, here a buzz there a buzz everywhere a buzz buzz. He also requests Ewan who he claims says a no no here and a no no there, and Darby who says a wah wah here and a wah wah there with a cute crying hand gesture to boot. But the best of all was when he asked for Daddy, and when we asked what Daddy said, Ewan exclaimed love you with a hug gesture --- so on Old MacDonald's farm he has a Daddy with a love you here and a love you there, here a love you there a love you everywhere a love you love you. 

EP @ 27 Months

Darby 7/52

This week Darby gave us what all new (exhausted) parents wait for as it signifies the burning off of the newborn fog, she smiled. Prior to this she would randomly smile in her sleep so we knew it was going to be cute!

The first few smiles were of course given to her brother, who was so close to her face (he likes to smuggle her with love) we couldn't capture the moment, but since she has indulged mama and daddy (and the camera) too. 

Darby 6/52

It seems like everyday Darby has a first, she either does something new or has a new adventure. We keep track of as many as we can on her 1st year calendar and here of course. This last weekend we took Darby to one of our favorite places, Monterey. We went to Monterey for our first mini-break in 2004 (we actually got a membership that we have maintained since on that trip), took Ewan there for his first weekend away (K's first Father's Day), went there when I was full term pregnant with Darby for our last trip as three, and we could not wait to get Darby there. While we were there Darby saw the ocean for the first time and enjoyed the aquarium... lets be honest, she slept through basically the entire trip, but we did get her a pink seahorse to commemorate the occasion. We have named the seahorse June as we took this trip on June 1, Ewan insisted on horsey but we out-voted him! 

52 : 13 (part 3)

Getting energy out of this two year old can be quite the feat, Ewan's energy seems to be limitless. Last Friday we picked him up a little early and took him over to a park near his school. The park is right on the bay and there is a path where Ewan practiced his balance bike and watched planes land at SFO. After that we went to the playground, they have a rope structure that is probably 9 or 10 feet tall and is full of ladders, which Ewan loves to climb - he hates that we won't let him go beyond our reach and climb on to the top (basically the roof)... we discuss when we will allow this, Mama says never and Daddy says in a couple years.