Posts per page?

Use two query post loops.

See query_posts().

Or use plugins such as:
* https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/postlists/
* https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/list-category-posts/ (uses shortcode)
* https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/simple-posts-list/ (uses shortcode}
* https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/nurelm-get-posts/ (uses shortcode)
* https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/sb-child-list/ (display pages either parent or child and has shortcode)

and:
https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/custom-post-limits/