Leyna

My Favorite Daughter
ParenthoodSchool Age Days

My Favorite Daughter

by Jill
written by Jill

Every morning I wake my kids and ask them, “Did you grow last night?” And then I exclaim, “I think you did!”

Kendall, almost 8, is nearly to the point of rolling his eyes, though he does indulge me with a smile every now and then.

Lowell, 2.5, chatters excitedly, “Yup! I grow, momma! Beeeg!”

Leyna, 5, is the one who thoughtfully considers it. Somedays it’s yes, somedays it’s no. Side note- she keeps confusing “human” and “grown up” so she’ll often say things like, “I did, but I’m still not a human.”  I don’t try too hard to correct this because that’s just funny.

The thing about Leyna is that while I don’t notice her physical growth as much anymore (and hopefully not for a while because I need to take a break from buying this girl clothes), I see her personality, intelligence, and wit exploding right now.

IMG_0763

I love that I was never the mom who was overly invested in what my precious baby girl wore because that would be one hell of a fall for me right now. She dresses herself with confidence and minimal direction from us, mostly just reminders to choose weather appropriate clothing and that leotards are not the right thing to wear to preschool.

IMG_0720

Kendall loves music. He’s a KidzBop junkie. He’s never had an issue with me singing in the car. Leyna? Yeah, no. She’s gonna let me know real quick that I’m hurting her ears and to “please be quiet.” BUT! It seems I DO have permission to sing Bieber’s “Love Yourself” as long as she’s singing louder than me.

You guys, her “My momma don’t like you, and she likes everyone” line is so full of Texas twang. I must get a video. I’ll try to post it to Instagram soon.

IMG_0764

For show and tell day at school, she took her dear Lambie, of course, and her book of choice was an Organic Vegetable Gardening book.

I know I’ve written about this before- about how she is nothing and everything I thought a daughter would be.

IMG_0762

We spent a lot of time together yesterday, just doing girl stuff (if you classify washing the car as “girl stuff”).

She has Kindergarten Roundup next week, and I honestly only feel joy because she is going to slay at school and I can’t wait to see what she does when she gets a little more room to fly.

IMG_0712

1 comment
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
PhotographyPopular PostsSchool Age Days

9 Times Leyna Just Could Not With Me And My Camera

by Jill
written by Jill

Every now and then someone will question or comment about why I don’t write and share more about Leyna.

Listen, I promise she’s not some poor, neglected middle child.

I try to be careful about only sharing what is my story to share, and as my kids get older, the story becomes more and more theirs.

But mostly, she’s just… not putting up with my shit, not having any part of my Instagram game. Every now and then I’ll luck out, or I’ll literally PAY her to take pictures (when it’s part of a blog campaign that I’m getting paid for, which I think is only fair).

She really just doesn’t enjoy posing for me, or modeling, or showing off stuff. Or standing still. Or looking at me if I’m holding a camera.

As evidence, here are 9 times Leyna just could NOT with me and my camera:

1. Just this past weekend at A Day Out With Thomas…

IMG_9626

Can you… not?

IMG_9638

Oh, I’m sorry. Were you trying to get us to all take a picture? TraLaLaLaLa! After I finish this jig. Maybe. Prolly not.

2. At the pumpkin patch

IMG_6603

Meh

3. For this project that I PAID HER FOR

IMG_9463That’s right. It was a PAID gig. Not bribery. There’s a difference. Okay?

4. At her birthday party

IMG_8088

Yeah, if you could just not mess up the makeup… mmmmhmmm… air kissses! Are we done?

5. Basically every normal day of her life

IMG_3812

Um, it’s a cup? With a straw? I’m drinking water? Is this.. worth documenting?

6. When she just wanted a freaking cupcake and everyone was doing the Chicken Dance

IMG_3306

7. That Easter she just wanted to eat her Peeps in private

IMG_1697

8. When I brought her to her brother’s football practice

A photo posted by Jill Krause (@babyrabies) on

9. Every. single. time. those damn bluebonnets bloom

IMG_1914

58874_10200345022161030_1680716905_n

457048_3182805721918_867389765_o

No, but really, you need more of that bluebonnet protest in your life. Go read this classic post now. 

21 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
We Are All Here
Parenthood

We Are All Here

by Jill
written by Jill

So, so many of you reached out, commented on, and shared this story of motherhood, loss, appreciation, and immense love when I posted it in February.

Meet Maggie & Another Leyna was originally an email I got from a long-time blog commenter, turned friend.

And now, I’m so happy to say it’s a video of a live reading, titled “Here,” by Leyna herself at the Listen To Your Mother, Austin show this past May.

I promise you, it is worth the 7-ish minutes of your time. Just brace yourself for feelings. And tears.

“I am forever thankful for all the mommas in my life, and this motherhood journey we’re all on together because we are all…. here.”

Beautiful job, Leyna. What an honor it is to know you, and to see this story come to life.

Leyna

 

2 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
BabiesStuffThe Story

“Little” Leyna Lorelei

by Jill
written by Jill

And by “little” I mean, yeah, she’s not as big as my 2.5 year old, but HOLY HELL this kid is huge for a newborn.

Leyna (an Old German name meaning little angel, pronounced LAY-na) Lorelei (also German, the name of a rock on the Rhine river- yeah, that’s a Pica reference on purpose, not a shout out to the Gilmore Girls) Krause was born at 2:38 today, 2 hours after we checked into the hospital and 1 hour after my midwife broke my bag of water. She was born med-free on a wet, rainy day. It was intense, but it was fast.

She weighed in at 9 lbs, 9 oz and 20 inches long! And she is breastfeeding like a champ.

Kendall met her earlier this evening and was adorable. First, he walked into the room and said, “Where is she?” and began looking under the bed. Upon discovering her in my arms and seeing that she moves, he exclaimed, “It works!” Yes, honey. She works. We put the batteries in her and away she went. He also wanted to know where all her toys were. I had to explain I barely had enough room for her in there, so no, she did not come with her own toys.

I’ll have to post the full birth story later. Suffice it to say, it was totally different than Kendall’s birth, but just as amazing. Intense (did I mention that already?), but amazing.

Kendall is 2 years and nearly 8 months old and Leyna is 9 hours old.

107 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail