Logan meets some family.

This past July, my mom visited Melbourne for... the seventh time I think? I've lost track. Anyway, it was a wonderful visit, and Logan loved meeting his first extended family member.

As usual, my mom was super helpful with both kids - staying in Arden's room at night (one less child to tend to in the middle of the night!), taking Logan in the early mornings so Ben and I could sleep in for another hour or so, watching the kids so we could go on a few dates, and helping to diffuse some three-nager temper tantrums.

During the week, my mom got to visit Arden's swim and music classes. And during Arden's childcare days, my mom got to have some good bonding time with just Logan. She's always been crazy about Arden, but it was nice to see her form a unique relationship with her grandson.

Arden and Ahma dancing at music class

we had beautiful weather during the visit!

our babies are always so bald.

Living abroad, it's always felt a little weird to not be able to introduce our newborn babies to our families right away. But I'm so glad that my mom was able to see Arden at two months old, and now Logan at five months. 

my mom and 2-month-old Arden, January 2016

...and now with 5-month-old Logan!

I loved seeing my mom witness Logan's baby-quirks, and hearing her compare his babyhood to Arden's... and also to mine and my brother Gabriel's. Logan does a silly little dance of the hips whenever he is happily lying on the floor (it makes diaper changes a bit challenging!), which my mom loved to point out. He's also generally a happier, more content baby and doesn't stare people down the way infant Arden used to (and how I supposedly did as a baby, too). And most people agree that Logan takes after me (his mother) a bit more, although he does resemble baby-Ben a little too. It'll be fun to see Logan's features change in the next few months and years. 

Logan was also lucky enough to meet someone on Ben's side of the family as well! Kay, who is Ben's stepmother's sister-in-law, was recently in Melbourne during a layover for her job. It was really wonderful to be able to catch up over dinner, and for her to meet both our kids.

We definitely feel the absence of family and close friends when we have babies, but we are so grateful for these sweet visits, and for the technology to keep in touch with everyone else via FaceTime, social media and messaging. 

Logan will have a chance to meet the rest of our families in a few months, when we make our first trip to the USA as a family of four! We're very excited for the visit, and we can't wait to introduce everyone else to the newest little Kortlever.

CK