Santa Baby!

I posed a lot to get just the right picture for Mama. Grandma Kruger knitted me my outfit. My onesie says, "Who needs Santa when I've got Grandma?" So true!!

This was a great first Christmas. Right now, I like the people far more than the presents.

--Kyla

In the Christmas Spirit

Kyla poses in Daddy's too-big stocking (yeah, the rest of the family is still bitter that Dwayne has the biggest Christmas stocking).

California Girl

In her shades and holding her dolly, Kyla is holding her own in sunny California.

Sleeping like a....

....well, a baby, of course!

After lots of playtime with her cousins, Kyla is beat and zonks out in Denise's arms.

Family Line

Grandma Darlene and Cousins Kara and Esther find a unique solution to everyone wanting to hold Kyla!

Hands free baby

Mama is still able to play miniture golf with Kyla bundled in her Moby Wrap. She slept the 2 1/2 hours it took us (Dan & Deborah & Family and Dwayne & Denise) to play 18 holes.

First game of King and Serfs

Kyla is a good luck charm for "King" Dwayne during our lively family game of Kings and Serfs while we are visiting loved ones in California.

Family in the Park

Darlene (Dwayne's mom) wanted to get pictures of the family while we were all together. This is one of the few picture of all three of the Washington Needs. I absolutely adore the one of the Need cousins. (In order, Kara, Isaac, Esther, Jeff, Kyla, and Aaron).

Who are you?!?!

This wasn't the picture I meant to take, but I couldn't resist Kyla's curiousity about the Teddy looking down at her. She is now 11.5 weeks old and is just 3 days away from her first flight down to California to meet the other half of her family.

Giggle, Giggle

Clearly, clean laundry is a good joke!

Denise Turns 32!

And Kyla is still my favorite gift, just beating out the box of dark chocolate truffles...

A friend has been born

Kyla's friend, Abby, was born Nov. 9. Mama Marcie (looking fantaastic!) holds the future kindred spirits. And, yes, it's inconceivable (poor pun) that 10 weeks ago Kyla was even a few ounces smaller than Abby is in this picture!

I'm helping! Right?

Sure, Daddy can unload the dishwasher, but can he do it one-handed?

It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Kyla loves her bath, so we wanted to try her in the shower. Dwayne gets Kyla time, Kyla gets Daddy time (and clean), and Denise gets to brush her teeth before noon.

Two Months Old!

Kyla is two months old today! To celebrate, she had her 2-month check up with 5 vacinations. More interesting to the grandmas, she is now 10 lbs 2.5 oz, and almost 23 inches (about 4 1/2 pounds and 4 inches longer than when she was born).

This day includes another milestone--the first time she slept for 5 hours straight!

Kyla is thriving, and it's hard to imagine loving anyone more than we do our baby girl.

Today Kyla discovered her thumb...

Trick or Treat!

Keith and Julie throw a yearly October-fest party. The youngest members of Poiema certainly came dressed to impress. From left to right: Kyla, Alexandre, Noah, and Peter.



Here Kyla is modeling her duck costume (complete with little wings on her arms), and Noah demonstrates what it is like to be a pea pod.

Happy Girl!

After her feeding, bath, and massage, Kyla was quite the happy girl while watching her mobile. Tomorrow, she will be 8 weeks old!

Again, Kyla's favorite daytime activity...

....not a bath, not a massage, not a book, but a nap. With her daddy.

Eventually they will shop together....

But for now, Aunt Julie and Kyla will just nap before a family Sunday dinner.

Snoqualmie Falls

Jake and Vicky were the first from California to meet Kyla. They were up for the older son's wedding and we got to spend time with them and their younger son, Patrick. The Falls were perfect in autumn glory, and Jake treated us to a fantastic dinner at the Salish Lodge. Kyla regrets she was unable to partake.

Hanging out

Smile!

Sure, it's fuzzy, but I had to capture one of her "milk smiles". It's one of many reasons I love being Kyla's mom!

"Enough pictures for now..."

The paparazzi wears Kyla out some days.

Getting Bigger!

This is Kyla and Teddy at 6 weeks. She's over 9 pounds now--that's almost 4 pounds more than her lowest weight in the hospital!

Baby Shower--Meet the Family!

Aunt Janet threw Kyla and Denise a shower. Kyla loves her hooded duck towel!

Ballerina and Mohawk

You rarely see a mohawk atop a pink ballerina outfit, but this is Dwayne's little girl! (This picture was taken specially for Isaac, Kara, and Esther.)

Due Date

Today is both Kyla's due date and one month "birthday". Here she is again pictured with her giant teddy wearing her special occasion dress. For laughs, compare to the September 9th entry.

4 Weeks Old!

And lots of personality!

Kurious Kyla

I love her big, big eyes. What do babies think about?

Look--I'm wearing clothes!

In her natural state (sleeping), Kyla models a onesie in a trendy fuchsia. Notice the fine detailing of the embroidered flower and lace trim. The pastel blanket accents the fall colors of Kyla's outfit.

Tummy Time

Kyla is 23 days old.

Big Girl!

On her three week birthday, Kyla had a doctor's appointment to do a weight check. She really needed to at least be at 6 pounds (from her 5lb 13oz birthweight). She weighed in at 6lb 12oz! She's a genius....

Sleepy Head

Kyla's twenty days old now. In the last few days, we have received some premie clothes as gifts, so she has more to wear than a diaper and swaddling blankets.

Baby in a Basket

Denise is still able to keep up with the household and Kyla's schedule (with much help from others!). Kyla helps her mom with the laundry.

First Day Trip

Kyla and Denise met up with friends and family at the Hamilton Cabin for Kyla's first day away. She is 15 days old. Uncle Brian cuddled Kyla for two hours (the usual stretch between feedings).

Adored One

"I love her best when she is sleeping, and better when she is awake." LM Montgomery, Anne of Windy Poplars
We can't get enough of her funny faces as Kyla spends more and more time awake and aware during the day. But nothing looks more contented than a sleeping baby....

Doctor's Visit

Kyla and Denise got a quick check up today. Kyla hasn't quite reached her birth weight, but is now 5 lbs, 11 oz. She's eating like a pig, and making Mom feel like a cow (albeit, a successful dairy cow!).

Picture Note: After whining that we had no pictures of Kyla and Mom, I downloaded one off Grandma Kruger's camera from the shower.

Around her little pinky....

Daddy and Kyla

A Few Firsts

[Denise again] Last night, Kyla lost her umbibical cord. This morning she had her first projectile spit up. This afternoon she had her first bath. Coincidence? You decide.

(Technically, Kyla had her first bath about 4 hours after she was born, as part of her premie observation. However, this is the first time I bathed her, and if lack of crying can be used to judge the experience, she loved it!)

Family

[Denise writes] Somehow, Dwayne has no (acceptable) pictures of Kyla's mom. There actually are no pictures of just Kyla and I, so here's one of our family.

Baby Shower

[from Denise] Kyla is wearing a special dress over her usual swaddling (a gift from Aunt Julie and Uncle Keith) to celebrate her own baby shower. Notice the resemblance to the cast of VeggieTales. She is under the protective watch of Teddy Bear, of whom we have high hopes that she will dwarf someday. In the meantime, it will be fun to watch her begin to fit some of her adorable clothes.