First moments

So many pictures...so little time!

At least my internet issues have been resolved (goodbye wireless, hello network cable) so I should be able to update soon! Stay tuned. :)

Quick Update

I apologize for the lack of activity on this blog, but as you can imagine, things have been rather crazy around our house the last 3 weeks. Let me just sum up things by saying that Kiersten and Leila are doing fine. Kiersten is still gradually recovering from surgery & birth, but she went to the doctor on Friday and the doctor said she was healing just fine.

Leila has (so far) been a very easy baby. She hardly ever cries, is an efficient eater, and is getting cuter by the day. (By the way, that is an entirely unbiased opinion that has been verified by a panel of objective experts: Leila's parents, grandparents, and aunts & uncles. ... They all agree that she is as cute as a button. I rest my case.) She too has been to the doctor for a followup checkup and she is officially doing great.

Benj & Talia still love their baby sister. They often ask to hold her and kiss her, so jealously issues have not come up yet. However, their have been some behavior issues that have developed that will need to be addressed when the dust settles. For instance, they seem to have forgotten some of their good manners at the table. But overall, they are adjusting well to being the older brother and sister.

A big thanks is due to Mima (Kiersten's mom) for the help that she has been the last few weeks. She single-handedly took care of the kids while Kiersten was in the hospital, and since then has been a great help around the house by making meals, doing laundry, cleaning dishes, and tending to Benj & Talia's needs while Kiersten takes care of the baby. Her help has been invaluable.

Mima leaves on Tuesday and Kiersten feels ready to take over the responsibilities of tackling 3 children at once. (Although I hope she doesn't literally tackle them ... although I think Benj would enjoy a good wrestle now & then.) :-) So off we go into the world of parenting children who will forevermore outnumber us!

Now, for the pictures you've been waiting for, here's some shots since Leila has come home. Kiersten may post some more polished shots soon, but for now this will have to do:

More Pictures of Leila

For those of you who can't get enough ...

Leila and her teddy bear.

The proud father.

Mama & her baby.
(Kiersten is enchanted with her new daughter.)

Leila & her Mima.


Benj & Talia check out the baby's "stump."
(Yes, that's a puzzle box lid on Benj's head. Crazy kid.)


Talia & Benj enjoying their new sister.
(Talia's helping already. Good job, Tali!)

Leila Beth Rodriquez

Leila Beth Rodriquez

Born: 8:03 am (Eastern Time),
Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

6 lbs. 12 oz., 20" long.

Mama & baby sharing a quiet moment in recovery.

The big brother's first chance to hold his new sister.

A head of inch-long hair!! Must be a Rodriquez baby.

The moment the big sister has been waiting for!

Having fun already!

The Rodriquez trio: Benj, Talia, & Leila. ...
Otherwise known as "the BLT." :-)

Annual Mother's Day Pix

9 days out from "baby time."
I love the laughter!
Sweet smiles :)
I love Benj's "picture pose" and Talia's angelic look heavenward
Hug Mama!
The girls

She loves to pat the belly :)

Interview with a Big Brother & Big Sister

A little over a year ago we started circulating what is known as "the cousins box" between our family & Seth's siblings' families. Since we all live in 3 different states, we put various fun representations of the kids' lives in the box to help them get to know each other better. Recently I decided it would be fun to interview Benjamin & Talia about the upcoming baby for something fun to put in the cousin's box. The results were so entertaining I just had to share!

So without further ado...

Interview with a Big Brother & Big Sister: What Benjamin & Talia “Know” About Their Soon-to-be-Born Baby Sister

What do you know about our baby?

Benj: I don’t know what to say.

Talia: Come out of Mama’s tummy.

Is our baby a boy or a girl?

Talia: A girl.

What do you think her name is going to be?

Benj: Baby.

Mama: You don't think she might have another name? What would you name our baby?

Benj: Baby.

What is the baby going to look like?

Talia: I don’t know!

Mama: Do you think she will have hair?

Benj: Yes.

Mama: What color?

Benj: I don’t know. I’m going to think about it.

Mama: Do you think her eyes will be open or closed?

Talia: Open.

Benj: Closed.

Mama: How many teeth is the baby going to have?

Talia: Um… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!

Benj: Um, no teeth!

What do babies eat?

Benj: Um, just milk.

Talia: Milk!

Why do new babies cry so much?

Talia: Cause she’s hungry!

Benj: I don’t know.

Mama: Well, how does the baby say “I’m hungry”?

Benj: Waah, waah, waah. Like that.

Mama: How does the baby say “I want my Mama”?

Benj: Cause she say “waah, waah, waah.”

Mama: How does the baby say “I’m sleepy”?

Benj: (giggling) She say “waah, waah, waah.”

Talia, tell me about what you like to do at bedtime…

Talia: Kiss the baby…hug…kiss…hug…. Put the belly away! (She does kiss & hug my belly every night then she tells me, “put that belly away!”)

What are you going to do to help Mama with the baby?

Talia: Change her diaper

Benj: Um…Talia will.

Mama: Well, you can help too! What are you going to do?

Benj: Well…hold the baby like this (grabs his doll and shows how to hold the baby)

How do you play with a baby?

Benj: I don’t know.

Talia: Play cars.

Where is the baby going to sleep?

Benj: In Talia’s bed.

Where is Mama going to go when the baby comes?

Benj: To the hospital!

Talia: Hospital!