Hi, hi baby!
Taya continued to be thrilled about the baby in Mama's womb without a view, so I made up a song with actions we called "Hi, hi baby!" Playing on the similarity between the sign for baby and a made-up sign, Taya amended my original version.
Taya strums the ukelele with Sarah
Musician Taya had the time of her life on my birthday, when Sarah brought over her ukelele and let Taya strum it.
The same day, Taya developed a groupie crush on Robin, whom she knows by name and also as "guitar-player man"; she also reports that he is "very, very friendly".
Daddy Loves Me
Taya absolutely loves this book called "Daddy Loves Me" (and also "Daddy's Girl"--she mixes up the titles). She continually requests it, and here she shows that she can now read it on her own, singing and turning the pages.
Sunflowers for Mama and Tivona
At the farmer's market, Taya and I got sunflowers for Ljuba and the baby--thanks to Dada's winning ways and a kind woman's generosity (we were flat out of cash!).
We loved going to the beach at Trout Lake. The first time I took Taya this summer, Ljuba couldn't believe that I swam out to the dock and back with Taya (holding onto my shoulders as we used to do on my dad), and jumped off the dock with her repeatedly. "Taya swim like Kapono!" she said over and over, referring to a character in a beloved book of ours.
Here's Ljuba at the same beach, sporting a beautiful belly.
Our second baby was due August 25. The day before, the midwife hadn't even been able to do a stretch-and-sweep because the baby was too high, but she nevertheless had a feeling Ljuba might deliver that day or the next. Ljuba did have a day full of contractions, but then, she'd had plenty of those in the 12 days we were overdue with Taya, so we didn't think too much of it. The next day (the due date), her contractions strengthened, and Ljuba had a chiropractic adjustment (which had really been helping her SI joint problems), and the contractions strengthened further. But they were still irregular, so our midwife-on-call recommended getting into the bath and checking in later. After a few long strong contractions, we decided it was time to go to the hospital. By that time, it was the middle of rush-hour, and as I turned onto the first major road there was a major accident and traffic jam. But--as if the heavens were smiling on us--one of the emergency vehicles moved as I got to the scene. I gunned it and made it through before a long line of cars waiting.
Welcome, Tivona!
Good thing! Minutes later, Ljuba rode a huge contraction, and I could tell by her grunty groan that she was pushing. She exclaimed that her water had broken. By the time we got to the hospital, Ljuba couldn't walk. I hauled her out of the car and then a couple dozen steps into the waiting/admitting area. We were both yelling for help and for someone to page our midwife. The various staff were apparently used to folks making a big fuss on the way in, so they were in no big hurry. When a man offered Ljuba a wheelchair to sit on she refused flatly, "The baby's coming--I'm not going to sit on her head!" To prove it, she pulled down her pants and started bending over, revealing the crowning baby's head to a handful of nurses that had finally gathered--and also a room full of people in the waiting area. Finally, the nurses realized she meant business, so they closed the waist-high door that separated the waiting room from the admitting room, and seconds later the head was out. As I gazed on the purple, swollen head, a nurse directed me around to Ljuba's head (apparently afraid I'd faint). A minute later, Tiva was born. In this video, Ljuba announces her name to our midwife, Laura: Tivona (Tiva) Katja Kovacic Chan.
Here's Tivona, on Ljuba's breast.
We already knew well that Tiva is a very different baby than Taya (based on their activity in the womb), and several experiences confirmed that. First, whereas Taya hollered and howled for minutes upon entry into the world, Tiva let out two small cries. Second, whereas Taya did the same every time someone dared to stick a thermometer in her armpit, here Tiva takes without blinking.
Tiva's first bath
And here Tiva takes her first bath, getting a shampoo without a peep.
And she was equally calm getting her heart checked.
The next day Taya came to visit her new baby sister with Nanna, who has been incredibly helpful with so many things. Taya was absolutely thrilled to meet Tiva. She's ramped up her care for her baby doll and so many of her other toys, feeding them, diapering them, dressing them, etc.
Nothing's ever perfect, but we're all grateful that nursing has been so much easier this time around.
As you can tell from the big smile, I love carrying Tiva. It's not as clear that the feeling is mutual, but I think it is!
But even if it's primarily good for putting Tivona to sleep, that's good too!
Tiva was a much smaller baby than Taya--a pound lighter at 7 lbs 6 oz (3.35 kg) and an inch shorter at 20 1/4" (51.5 cm). She dropped down just below 7 lbs, but at day 8 she had already regained her birthweight, weighing in at 7 lbs 8 oz.
We love it that Tivona loves to sleep!
Here's Tivona getting a kiss from her big sister Taya.
Tiva has precious few moments of quiet alert (of awake of any kind), but they are precious.
Taya has two striking hair whorls opposing each other at the back of her head. Tiva also has two, one right at the back and one right at the front, as you can see here.
Taya is in absolute bliss when she's able to hold and touch Tivona. She doesn't know quite what to do with herself.
But she really does try to be gentle.
We've been swaddling Tivona. Sometimes anything works. But it's also true that sometimes--especially in the evening--nothing seems to work. But she doesn't scream much at all--she grunts. It's very cute! Except when it goes on for hours after bedtime.
Some people say that Tiva looks just like Taya, and sometimes you can really see that. But while virtually everyone can tell that Taya is part Asian (the same isn't true for me), you can barely see it on Tiva. Except when you see her bum with her huge, stark Mongolian spots. But you can see a bit of Tiva's Asian genes here, I think--in her eyes.
The truth is, even with easy babies, parenting an infant isn't easy!
Of course, the cuteness usually makes up for it, when we aren't too bleary eyed to see them.
Holding Tiva is like holding a feather. Taya gained 10 lbs while we were in the hospital--or so it seemed.
Snuggled in ... mmm.
The one downside of breastfeeding working well (don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining!) is that I get much less time with Tivona than I did with Taya. I savour it.
We had a little family photo shoot: here are some of the better ones.
Taya and Tiva, sister to sister.
Mama and her baby girls.
Tiva with Dada's head for scale.
Taya holding Tiva on Mama's "lily pad".
Taya hamming it up.
And Tiva sleeps on!
