Kaminski Kids: 2014

This summer, we were able to spend over 2 weeks in Buffalo with Meemaw and Peepaw. We made some great memories. Here are a few of the highlights.

Cora was baptized at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Williamsville, NY on Sunday, July 6, 2014. Aunt Ashley is her God Mother, but as she wasn't able to attend the christening, Meemaw stepped in. The Deacon pictured performed the ceremony, attended by Great Grandma, Peepaw and Meemaw, and brothers, Cade, Carter and Cooper.

Cora had her 3 month birthday while in Buffalo this summer.

Peepaw took Cade and Carter on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls for the first time.

Cade and Carter on the Maid of the Mist.

Meemaw and Cora

Great Grandma Herr with 4 of her great grandchildren.

Great Grandma Herr and Cora

Cade and Carter fishing behind Great Grandma's house

Cora all dressed up for her baptism

Our new favorite Buffalo restaurant

Enjoying a ride on Peepaw's boat

Captain Cade

Captain Carter

Captain Cooper

Peepaw and Cora

Handsome sailors

Cora's first boat ride

Putt Putt

Watching cartoons on the iPad

Cora in the pack and play

Lunch

Picnic in the driveway

Chuck E Cheese

Buffalo Zoo

Cooper loves his sister!

My mind is completely blown that two months have passed since the birth of our baby girl. Cora was born at 11:57am on Friday, April 11, 2014. (What a cool birth date, huh? 4/11/14. Three 1's flanked by 4's.) She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long.

We had a scheduled C-section with Dr. Levy and funny enough, I wasn't nervous this time around. I thought I would be, for sure, as the more experience I've had with having C-sections, the more nervous I have become for the next one. But, not this time. I was totally ready and completely confident that everything would work out perfectly...primarily because Dr. Levy is just that amazing. Surgery and recovery were also the easiest of all four C-sections. Strange, I know.

Cora came out screaming. And when I say screaming, I mean the kind of scream that conveys, in no uncertain terms, that she was completely furious about being removed from her warm, cozy home and brought into this cold, bright and not so cozy world. She did not like being poked and prodded by the nurses. She did not like being away from mama. She was not happy at all. As I laid on the operating table, listening to my baby screaming bloody murder, I heard several nurses make comments like "She sure has a set of lungs on her" and "Boy, she's a spunky one." At first I was nervous, as it seemed that the nurses found her screaming unusual. I quickly realized, though, that she's just vocal and she's not shy about telling you how she feels. I like that in a person. That kind of hutzpah will serve her well in her life. Like mama, like daughter.

Those first few days in the hospital with Cora were precious ones. Daddy and I had the opportunity to get to know our baby girl and love on her all day long. We had many visitors. So many of our friends and family were over the moon excited to meet her. First, we saw big brothers Cade, Carter and Cooper, along with Meemaw, Peepaw, Nanny and Papa. Later, Aunt Ashley came to meet her new niece. On Saturday, Anna Slater came to visit. On Sunday, Alisa Becerra came to take newborn photos of little Cora and Uncle Mikey and Aunt Erika came later that afternoon to meet the only girl in our big combined crew of kiddos. What a special weekend that was!

On Monday, around lunch time, we left the hospital and headed back to the Ranch where Meemaw, Peepaw, Nanny, Papa and brothers watched us pull up the street and into the driveway. I think Peepaw even got it all on video. How wonderful it felt to have our whole family here to celebrate Cora's homecoming. Beautiful, indeed.

Our first nights home with Cora were simple. Who says that about their first nights with a newborn? It sounds so phony and impossible, but it's true. Cora was, and still is, an easy baby. As long as she's well fed and her diaper is fresh (she really doesn't like a dirty bum...who can blame her, right?), she's happy. Thankfully, nursing has been the best ever with her. My milk came in quickly and the supply is just perfect to satisfy her. Amazingly enough, I don't have to pump at all. Cora and I jet stick together and whenever she's hungry, I feed her. It's quite simple, really. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and for the fact that my body has finally figured out how to produce enough milk for our baby. I will never take that for granted.

The past two months have flown by. Cora has grown to 11lbs. 6 oz. and she already fits perfectly in 3 month clothing. We will go tomorrow for her 2 month check up and shots, so I'll update with new stats afterward.

I feel so lucky that I get to snuggle Cora every night before I put her down for the night. Since she gets her last feeding around 11pm, we get several hours on the couch together after big brothers go to bed. Those hours are so very precious to me. I love rubbing her back while she's laying on my chest. I love smelling her sweet baby smell. I love feeling her breathe. I love her little squeaks and squirms. I love when she nuzzles her head on my chest. These moments are gifts and I cherish every single one.

As for me, I'm off to get some shut eye before my little angel wakes for her next feeding. Thankfully, she only wakes up once in the middle of the night (she has done this since the first night home), so we're both fairly well rested in the morning. Until next time...