Welcome to West Virginia

Okay, totally kidding about that heading :)  These cousins just love each other.  I got to watch my two nephews and 1 niece over the weekend (just Friday and part of Saturday) and it was so fun.  I must say, just in case I was ever considering five children & a dog (which I wasn't), this might have changed my mind.  How do mommies with five children cook or clean?  Just wondering.  Other than that, we had a blast.  Elyse loved having someone to play with other than Mommy and Em, and E & S were so gracious to share their toys with the girls.  Several times, I'd see them helping each other with toys, or tasks, and I was just so impressed with their sweetness.  Elyse was especially impressed with the boys' marble racer.  HOLY COW.  I need one.  It was pretty much all she talked about both days, and she shed a great deal of tears whenever it was put away (whenever 2 certain cute babies were awake).  So, Jordan seems to think he had one as a boy, so I'm on the hunt!

I especially enjoyed my time with the kids because I wasn't at my house.  I had no cleaning, laundry, or other necessary distractions to keep me from enjoying the kids and just being able to take care of them.  NOT that it was boring, by any means, but it sure made it fun.  Ahh, if only every day were free of distractions like laundry! :)

This and that

It's beginning to look a lot like Spring!  I must say, it's lovely.  We enjoyed some time outdoors today, and it made me eager to enjoy this spring with two little girls who like to be outside.  Notice I didn't say LOVE to be outside.  Elyse isn't exactly a real "outdoors-woman," but I think Emily will most likely LOVE it.  Here's a little bit of what's going on with the girls. . . unless anyone wants to hear about my recent new habits, new words, or funny personality traits?  Yea, didn't think so.

Emily.  Miss Emily.  Don't even know where to start.  I'll probably save most of her news for her 10 month post, but here are a few updates:

* This girl is serious about her food.  I think I've hinted at that in the past, but I have never seen such an impatient baby.  Seriously, her spoon can enter her mouth once every 2 seconds, and it's still not fast enough. I've got to start planning bigger meals for this baby.  She is eating a TON at meal time.  She has really liked meat so far, but cottage cheese was a bit too much for her.  I'm hoping that changes?

* Em is also enjoying finger foods.  We're still working on expanding her repertoire, but she's doing well.  She loves to clap when she manages to get something in her mouth.

* I am still seeing a goofy side that frightens me a bit.  I do believe Em would love to be tickled all day.  We've started getting a lot more giggles out of her, too, which is fun.  Along with that goofy side comes a little smirk when she's scolded.  Already.  9 months old.

Elyse is a small tornado around here most days.  I love all of her creative energy, and at times it can be a bit challenging to keep up with her.  I am extra thankful for the quiet moments of reading & focused playtime that make the craziness more fun :)  Here's what she's been up to:

* I love seeing her imagination develop.  I love that she'll talk to her toys, or about her toys, when she's all by herself. I love seeing her "boss" her toys around by telling them where they will sit, or what they will do.  Yep, she's turning out to be a great big sister.

* I love watching her dance.  Seriously, she has one move she uses over and over again, and it's so funny to me.  I admit, she might need a lesson or two.

* Somewhere over the course of the last few months, certain table manners have disappeared.  I totally take the blame on this one, as I should have been continuing in my instruction on manners, but she has become quite a messy eater.  I've resorted to having her place her left hand flat on the table most meals to keep her little fingers from wandering around her plate.  I'm fortunate if I can get her fork and spoon to engage the food at all with some meals.  SO, we're working diligently to retrieve some etiquette.  The worst is when I catch her in the act of reaching for her yogurt with her fingers, and she'll look up at me with the cheesiest grin and say, "Hi, Mommy!"

* I love the random things that come out of her mouth.  She'll say "Hi, sweetheart!" to us and give us the kind of side-hug we give her at times.  She'll also say, "You're my sweetie-pie!" when she is trying to get out of trouble...  I do love when she says "lay on Mommy's shoulder" and puts her head down.

* Here's a recent funny:  The other day I took Em to her 9 month check up, and Elyse and I had a conversation about it afterwards.  It went like this:
Elyse:  Mommy took Emmie to the doctor!
Me:  Yes, Emily had a check up.
Elyse:  Mommy?  The Doctor said, "No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed!"

* Elyse has been loving her potty sticker chart, and we're pretty much "day" potty trained.  Momma is one happy camper about that.  Seriously.  And, not just because I'm no longer giving her treats for succeeding :)  She's done super these last two weeks, and I'm realizing how big she is.  This is one major milestone that makes her seem so grown up!  Negative: I actually took her potty seat to church with me Sunday.  A new low.  Positive: No more diaper purchases for Elyse!

* Elyse loves her kids' class at church.  She talks all week about going to her big girl class, and though she acts all shy when she gets there, it's all we hear about afterwards.  I love hearing her talk about her friends.

* Elyse loves to answer questions with "um... maybe..." or "how 'bout...."  She also loves to make suggestions.  For instance, from the minute she wakes up in the morning, she's asking about breakfast.  When I ask her what she wants for breakfast (mostly just for amusement), she'll say, "umm.. how 'bout cinnamon rolls... or banana bread with butter... or cookies... um.. or peanut butter!"  I'm not sure where she gets this stuff!!  She had half of a cinnamon roll one time, and it must have impacted her greatly.  And, no, I don't serve her cookies for breakfast.  :)  She just learned the word "because" and has NO idea what it means.  Her sentence might go something like this: "Need to be nice to Emmie, because, it's time to eat in a litta-bit."

* She's turned all of the words with "ooo" sounds into "ew" sounds.  For instance, she'll say "Mommy does that tew!" or "just like yew."  I'm not sure if that will stick around or not, but it is kind of funny.  Food is fewd, do is dew, etc...

* She loves her Curious George book.  It's a book containing 8 stories, and she will sit on the couch and slowly move through every page.  Did I mention that I love her Curious George book, too?

* She's still not super adventurous, and I find that unfamiliar situations bring extra challenges. . . especially if my arms are already full with a certain squirmy baby.  We're working on friendliness & kindness a LOT.

I love my two darlings.  They sure keep life interesting and fun!  

9 Months

Kind of crazy to actually think about the fact that it was 17 months ago today that I found out I was pregnant with Miss Em.  Still seems like such a blur to me, but here we are with a little girl getting so big.  Well, the getting so BIG part is a bit untrue... Emily is probably under 17 pounds still (she was 16lbs 10oz at her doc's appointment 2/9), and it's still pretty hard to find a genuine fat roll on this baby, but she is growing :)  Emily hasn't changed drastically over the last month, but the gradual changes of a baby sometimes sneak up on you.  She's currently interested in Duplos, Elyse's plastic groceries, and anything Elyse is playing with.  Most of her play time is spent watching Elyse (if she's around) or "swimming" on her belly.  She loves to sit up, and I've caught her a couple of times in the sitting position when I left her on her belly.  Unfortunately, I have yet to witness this feat of hers.  I hope she's not a sneaky one!  Other than the very random scootching across the floor and spinning/rolling in all directions, she has no interest in crawling.

She is eating well, but she has started screeching between bites, and it makes Mommy insane.  I know it's possible to still love your kids to pieces and be annoyed with bad habits at the same time, right?  My index finger seems to be getting a workout as it's pressed against her lips most of mealtime.  I must admit, it is kind of cute to watch her try to lick my finger :)  She loves all of her veggies and fruits for now, but she will not eat plain avocado.  That is one veggie that I must be sneaky about.  I can slip it in with another veggie, but if she even tastes the slightest avocado taste, out it goes.  I'm just starting to think about finger foods with her (now that my baby food stash in the freezer is getting low), but since she's not much of a "put-things-in-the-mouth" kind of kid, she's got a LONG ways to go.  I hope we get there soon.  I'm ready to move on from mushy foods, as I'm sure she is!  Sleeping is going well.  I can tell she's not a child that naturally loves a tight structure, but she's keeping at 12-13 hours a night with only a random wake-up now and then... Could be due to two head-colds, one bout of random fever, and an ear infection in the last month.  COME ON, SPRING!  She's been inching towards a 6pm bedtime, but I'm just not quite ready for that :)  That makes wake up 6 - 6:30 every day.  Right now, she's going to bed at 6:30 (maybe 7) and waking up between 6:30 and 7:30.  I'm embarrassed to say she takes a lot of naps- sometimes still 4.  Thankfully, she's fine if we're out & just can't get her a nap, but she loves them if we're home :)  She is definitely girl who needs & likes her rest.

Em's still not much of a giggler, but she's very pleasant and goofy in a "quiet" sort of way.  She loves to be outside & LOVES having wind blow in her face.  She'll sit in the living room and stare at me as I work in the kitchen, just waiting for me to look over and grin.  She'll clap and coo as soon as I see her.  If I had to pick, I'd say she's more of a mommy's girl than a daddy's girl, but I love watching her with Daddy.  His voice, sneeze, cough... anything will make her eyes get big and her little mouth hang open.  She adores when he tickles her or just plays with her.  She's enough of a clown that when her audience is gone, the whining begins.  I love seeing more glimpses into her personality.  It makes me laugh and frightens me at the same time :) I really do have two little goofy girls on my hands.  I STILL have a feeling Emily's a going to be a little spit-fire.  Oh, dear.

fun's:
* She almost always smiles with her mouth OPEN.
* I love that she'll try to hold my face with both her hands.
* Fishy lips
* Bathtime
* Clapping & cooing at the same time
* Pigtails :)  Sometimes they're like palm trees, and other times they're like little buns :)
* Watching Em bop to music
* Em still loves to play with her toes.
* Her feet still twirl like windmills, & she loves to pull off her right sock all the time now!
* Seeing how funny she looks sitting in the high chair with the tray on... she looks so tiny!

not-so-fun's:
* She's definitely bonding with things that aren't toys.  Whether it be a wrapper, a piece of paper, or some other strange object, when I take it from her: WATCH OUT.
* As I mentioned before, the screeching is NOT cool.
* She's getting a very firm grasp on things- whether it's my hair or jewelry, she does not want to let go.  Ow.
* She's still into blowing raspberries when she's had enough to eat.  I think I need to post a sticky note on her forehead that will remind me to start teaching her some sign language!
* She is into exercising her bad temper if I put her down for a nap she doesn't think she needs.  Funny thing is, as soon as I shut the door behind me, I'll hear her start to play or talk quietly to herself.  Booger :)
* Since she's had her fair share of sickies this month, she will cough & inevitably sputter out veggies at me, but only if I'm wearing a nice outfit or if the veggies happen to be neon.
* I wish I could freeze time.  It's so cliche, but so true for me right now!

Emily Mae, you are one funny baby.  We love you to pieces & can't wait to see the toddler you will become!

Just Gorgeous

Elyse learned the word gorgeous today as she was helping me prepare lunch.  I had made the comment that the day was absolutely gorgeous, and she picked up on it.  She also picked up on the word "stupid" that Daddy used in relation to something trivial, so we're now using "silly" as a substitute.  So it begins...  But, it was a gorgeous 66 degree day, so the girls and I spent a good hour outside.

We walked and played in the yard, and Emily couldn't take her eyes off the grass.  That's why I have zero pictures of Emily with her eyes up.

She was mesmerized by the grass Elyse was generously piling in her lap, and again, I am thankful that my second born does not love putting things in her mouth.  I love watching my girls in the great outdoors as they take in all of the sights and sounds.  

Elyse especially loved walking by the school bus that was parked on our street.  What is it that makes buses so fascinating to toddlers???  How many studies were done as "they" determined what color would magnetize these little kiddos?  

Moving on, in addition to the beauty, I also love how the great outdoors seems to place an incredible desire for my girls to nap extraordinarily long.  

We've had some interesting happenings around the house lately.  The first of which was a thoughtful gift from my neighbor.  She gave Elyse a very fun Crayola easel!  Elyse loves the chalkboard (I'm kind of thankful that she didn't inherit my hate for chalk and chalkboards) and the magnetic white board.  In fact, it was that special magnetic side that led to our next interesting happening of the week.  Okay, MY interesting happening.

My neighbor also gave Elyse a fun LeapFrog magnetic letter toy.  Elyse can insert the letters into the little toy and it will sing and talk, etc...  It's a great educational toy, and Elyse was very sad that the batteries Daddy found in some drawer did not last long.  They lasted a day before they died.  Well, I picked up some new batteries when I was out yesterday, and I decided that I was qualified to replace the batteries in this special toy.  Let's just say that a fairly simple task of replacing batteries ended in an unplanned movie evening for the girls, a lacerated finger for me, and lots of questions of disbelief from my hubby :)  A few butterfly bandages later, and my finger is healing.  I spent a great deal of time laughing through the details of how this mishap occurred, and we pretty much decided that the toy was now ruined (yes, I skillfully marred it.  Still not sure how.).  IRONY:  Elyse still wanted to play with it, and 1 hour later, the thing starts working.  *sigh*  I think it was possessed.

On a lighter note, Elyse sat down to her lunch today and stated that her baked potato was Mister Potato Head.  I hope we never have to resort to eating him.  Seriously.

Emily had another sick week.  She started with a little cold on Tuesday, and the little cold turned into a fever which turned into a very sad little girl.  She woke up from her lengthy nap today fever-free, so we are rejoicing in health.  

Rejoicing, though we're never sure how long it will last.  :)  

Elyse has survived another week of potty training, and we are hoping that Mommy - er, I mean Elyse learned a lot.  I guess we won't know until she actually starts making the decisions.  Will Mommy always be the whistle-blower, or will Elyse someday learn that an empty bladder is a much more pleasant way to exist?  That is the question.  Stay tuned.

It was a nice day, altogether.  I'd even say it was gorgeous.

LOVE.

Love is surprising your wife with an overnight to a sweet hotel on the beautiful coast.  Love is sneaking around so she doesn't find out until the week before.  Love is splitting an amazing dinner with someone you adore.  Love is cherishing every moment you get before reality hits :)  Love is also being okay with life going back to normal 24 hours later... 

I love you, Jordan!

Never a Dull Moment

THIS would have been much more fun today if I been able to bribe a little helper...  Somehow, a fever has, yet again, infiltrated our house.  We've tried to bar the doors & the windows, but it was all for naught.  I will say this, though.  A random fever is much better than many of the symptoms that typically follow fevers (aka FLUIDS).  Elyse is buried underneath blankets and pillows on our couch, and I can just almost feel what she's feeling.  Her glassy eyes, flushed cheeks, sweaty head, trembling voice... it's all pretty heart-breaking.  She's always been one to cuddle, but she outdoes herself when she's sick.  She lets me play with her silky ringlets 'til my heart's content.  Her ailment has only slightly impaired her jabbering.  She's spent the last hour lecturing me on grapes, the blankets she's using, the fact that Em will be up from her "tiny nap" in "just a minute."  She's asked for movies and has actually been sitting through them (I must say, I can see why parents get hooked) for the most part.  Mommy can't go far, though, or we have some major tears.  Thankfully, I have a few good reads going on, and I can't say I hate sitting down at the computer to relax.  We have a few noteworthy (that term is totally relative, right?) events going on, so I figured I should share them.  Don't get excited, they're actually quite boring.  I decided this post would be far too depressing if it only included details of sickies.

* Emily has figured out how to do fishy lips.  Seriously, it might be the most hilarious part of the last two days.  Well, it's a toss-up between that and this video that I stumbled across.  I love that Emily will pull out those fishy lips at random times, too.  It makes us all smile.  I'm still trying to capture the illusive fish on camera.

* Elyse has been working on her pronouns.  She's very interested in using pronouns, but she's a bit confused on her masculine and feminine.  I must say, it's funny to watch her correct herself two or three times before she gets something right.  This morning, she said that her cousin Eli was at her own house.  No, Eli was at his own house.  No, Eli was at a BIG house.  There's a solution!  So creative.  That's what I do, Elyse... I just rephrase it so I won't sound grammatically incompetent.

* I've always been repetitive when I've communicated with Elyse.  Mostly, I've been that way because I learned early on that she responded very well when I would talk a lot to her.  I might spend lots of time telling her what might happen if she... blah, blah...  Anyway, I always remind her when I put on her big girl undies how she is supposed to behave in them: DO NOT GO IN YOUR PANTIES!  Sure enough, every time we get dressed now, she'll put on this Mommy-sing-songy-voice and say, "REMEMBER: Do not go in your pannnntttiiieeeeeeeeesss!!!"

* Elyse loves to chat with Emily about nothing, but the other day I had to laugh as she told Emily that at night, she would get to see the big, big moon, and lots of stars, and the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.  Really, dear?  "Away In A Manger" gone awry.

* I've always done "this little piggy" when I've cut the girls fingernails or toenails.  Hey, it keeps me amused.  Elyse fills in the gaps with "this little piggy has toast & beef."  Yum!

* Emily always seems up to something.  Her newest trick of random screams is probably only a small indication of the spunk she has.  Em's current "this should drive me mad, but I keep laughing" issue involves blowing raspberries & food.  I often wonder why we don't produce docile children, but then I am reminded of what we are like :)

* Elyse was just chattering on about her potential treats for going on the potty.  The list sounded like this: "Umm.... some candy, um.... some cookies, um... or a sucker, um.... how 'bout some jelly beans, um... and green beans!!!"

* I gave Elyse her bath this morning, so Emily got her bath tonight.  Elyse was very sad that they didn't take a bath together.  When Elyse was Em's age, I bathed her in the kitchen sink most nights because it was just easier  :)   Emily got her first bath in the sink tonight, and she loved it.  Elyse came around, and she ended up loving it too, as long as she could pull a chair over to watch.

* I'm feeling especially thankful for my two little darlings tonight.  I gave them lots of extra kisses & hugs and they were OUT by 6:45.  Times like this, I'm especially aware of God's amazing gifts.  What a thought it is that these amazing little gifts given to me are just a teeny tiny reflection of who God is.  Crazy.

How do you explain it?

Communication is extraordinary.  In my opinion, trying to communicate certain things to a toddler must require a degree in toddler-ese.  I'm not very good at that.  I'm amazed that each new little person has to start from scratch with all of life.  Hey, I encounter at least one thing a day that makes me wonder!  Like, why do some people think that legging can pass as pants?  Or, why is it that Murphy's Law gets harder to overcome the older my children get?  OR, even better, why can't my favorite evening snack be vegetable sticks?

* I think I mentioned before that my witty hubby taught Elyse the phrase "make out" when it comes to Mommy and Daddy kissin'.  She now thinks that hugs and kisses are "makin' out."  Oh, yes, I totally defer that issue back to DADDY.

* Elyse pulled up a chair as I prepared dinner the other night.  She proceeded to jabber away while I chopped onions.  A minute later, she looked up at me, completely dumbfounded as tears streamed down her cheeks.  It only took a second or two before she started rubbing her eyes and shedding tears of sadness.  Ahh, good ol' onions.  Poor baby!!

* Emily has been getting more and more vocal.  She's discovered a very "fun" new noise that she loves to make when she is just being a goof.  It comes out much like a scream.  Of course, Elyse looks right at me with a challenging expression and says, "Mommy?  Emmie screamed."  I know it's only the beginning of tattling, and I have a feeling that it's going to get old really quickly :)

* Elyse has always "bawked" like a chicken when I tell her she's eating chicken for dinner.  She started doing it as soon as she figured out what sound the chicken makes.  Now, however, that sound she makes seems to have deterred her from wanting to eat chicken in general.  Food coming from animals just might break this girl's heart.

* After Elyse went on the potty the other day, I gave her a scoop of ice cream.  She was ecstatic!  She got SO excited, though, that she ate it way too fast.  She looked up at me with a look of horror on her face as she grabbed her head and screamed.  I felt awful, but have you ever tried explaining a brain freeze to a 2-year old?

I'm glad she'll probably forget every lame explanation I'm giving her...  

Habits.

Habits in general die hard.  I've had a few of my own over the years that have died slow deaths (apparently, grinding my teeth was a classic when I was a child).  My two little girls have habits, though, that are so cute, I'm going to have a hard time helping them STOP.  My Elyse has always loved to put her thumb in her mouth.  I can't say that she sucks her thumb, because it's typically just resting in her mouth, but she definitely has a thumb habit.  In addition to the thumb habit, she also loves to hold something in her hand.  That something is usually her blanket or her favorite blanket/animal, "Hippet."  We've managed to keep Hippet for bedtime alone, but how, oh how, to break that habit?

Emily Mae has her own special habit.  She started sucking on her index finger knuckle months ago, and it is a wonderful way to put her to sleep, let me tell ya'!  NOW, though, she's added a new touch: she now holds her ear with her other hand (I still haven't captured the ear-holding on camera).  What am I going to do with these girls???

Pacifiers can go in the trash, but my girls' fingers will not be coming off to cure this habit :)  So, for now, I'll enjoy how cute it is.  I'll try not to think about the pending dental work that will inevitably be on its way.  *sigh*

Where, oh where have we been?

Well, it was a very NOT NORMAL January for us.  We were busier than normal, sicker than normal, and I'm really hoping February is different!  I'm looking forward to finding my footing in 2011, and if it the rest of the year is anything like January, we're in trouble :)  Here's a little of what's been up around our household...

* We're still dealing with leftover cold symptoms: coughs, drips, LONG NAPS... Oh, that's one I'm actually thankful for!  I am ready for flu season to be GONE, but I am so thankful for health most of the year.  So many would love to have health most of the year.

* Gramm Heijermans came to visit last week, and we had a blast.  The girls loved their time with her, and I probably used her visit too much as an excuse to do nothing around here.  :)  BUT, it was a wonderful visit, and I sure wish we lived closer.

* Elyse has been asking to sing "Bobbalo."  I've figured out that she just wants to sing the "B-I-B-L-E" song :)   Another favorite song is "Jesus, Thank You."  We sang it in church together on Sunday, and her face was priceless!  Elyse has been sitting on my lap for the first portion of the service before she is dismissed to her big kid class, and she is very perturbed by how long she is required to be quiet.  She was especially annoyed when Daddy sat by us for Scripture reading and then had to get back up to lead worship.  "Where'd Daddy go?!" I also coughed one Sunday, and she responded with, "Mommy burped!"

* Emily probably hasn't had a day without a drippy nose in weeks.  Poor baby.  She is surprisingly in a great mood, and she is seriously turning into a little goober.  This child is just cracking up at everything!

* I took a cake decorating class with a friend in January.  We had such a great time!  I had to miss a class due to sickies, but the other three were very fun.  Here's a picture of my graduation cake :)  (NO MOCKING)

* Elyse is talking even more than she used to.  Is that possible?  Yes, it is.  It is, and she does.  She loves to say, "Say thank you, Mommy, for the milk.  Thank you, Mommy!"  I think she's a little parrot :)  I also love hearing her tell me she's doing a good job at something.  The problem is, she's now reminding me when to thank her for something... Oh, boy.

* Em is into clapping things together & grabbing everything she can get her hands on.  She's ALSO incredibly scared of hair dryers, elevators, vacuum cleaners, and anything else that might startle her.  Poor girl!

* I ordered a book from amazon.com last night at 8:30pm.  I got it this morning at 11am.  WOW.

* My girls love to play, and I've chosen to enjoy that lately instead of fighting it.  Often, I'll be doing dishes while they giggle in the living room, or I'll be picking up toys around them while they're having a blast in the middle of their room.  Seriously, I have a feeling I'm going to regret that.  Sure, I know my house needs to be clean & that my girls need to be able to play alone every so often, but sometimes I just need to enjoy them.  SO, I am.  My house can still get clean, but I'm finding more ways to enjoy these two little girls while they like my attention :)

* I have a secret.  I normally don't get stir crazy.  I have to say normally, because there are times (especially after sickness!) that I feel the walls closing in around me.  BUT, on a regular basis, I'm a homebody.  I really have to make myself get out, and when I do, I always have a great time.  All that to say: these wintery days aren't getting on my nerves.... YET.

* Jordan and I have been laughing a lot at the dinner table.  Let's just say, our conversations have become kid-infested :)  So, THIS is what it's like to eat with kids!!?!?!  Not only will she repeat every other other word we say, but Elyse will also pepper our conversation with other goofiness.... like informing us of every time she burps, or getting our attention just to make a funny face.  Needless to say, we now see how important it is to move her bedtime up to 5pm so we can eat in peace.  Okay, just kidding on that one...

* Well, that's enough boring for one night.  Now you know where we've been :)

Big Girl Glasses

That's what we've been reminding Elyse.  She's wearing big girl glasses!  We call them "big girl glasses" because they no longer have those special cable temples that wrap so neatly around her ears (and, as of late, have caused her earlobes to stick out quite noticeably).  We picked up her new glasses this morning, and she has adjusted without a hitch.  They're snug enough to stay secure, so we are thankful for that!  Emily has already given them a good tug, but they stayed on quite nicely :)  I must say, though it was hard to say goodbye to a couple hundred buckaroos, it is great to see her wearing glasses that fit her!  Her prescription has changed a bit, but nothing too significant.  Elyse has a little book entitled "What Will I Be Today?"  Each page is a profession, and of course, she loves the Eye Doctor.  She did inform me today, however, that she'd like to be a boat when she grows up.  Hmm...  

Yay for purple glasses!!!

Eight Great Months

Emily is just not allowed to be eight months old!  Em's had a busy month of learning all sorts of things, most of which keep us laughing.  She lives up to the reputation of being sweet & spunky, and she's always surprising us with the funny little expressions she makes or the goofy things she does.  I'm cherishing these simple months with her (the months that don't yet involve mobility), as I'm not sure how long they'll last.  This month, Emily learned to sit on her own.  That might be the highlight of her month as far as milestones go, but she has definitely been having fun.  She's been rolling over both ways more often, and she'll pull her knees under her, but only if she's getting tickled.  She LOVES her toys.  She will fight for the toy she wants, and she will also let out a nice screech when she doesn't get it.  Her latest antics include bopping to music & pulling off her left sock consistently.  She'll almost always leave her right sock alone, but that left one must have some significance.  She's living up to my mother's "hunch" that all 2nd daughters on our side of the family are left-handed (me being one of them).  We'll see!  She's discovered that she can make fun sounds like, "ra-ra-ra" and "ba-ba-ba."  She's said a few "da-da"'s, but nothing consistent in calling our names yet.  She's back to sleeping through the night after our rough patch, and it does Mommy good!  She's still up by 7am, but I'll take it.  Her bedtime right now is typically around 6:30, and she's still holding on to that evening nap most days.  Speaking of bedtime, she gets all riled up at bedtime.  I'm not sure how this got started, but she thinks that every time she goes down to bed, it's play time :)  She usually just starts laughing, and then she  immediately rolls over to play.  I usually can't resist tickling her a few times, and I always feel badly leaving her there.  Elyse steps in and does her fair share of entertaining, though, so I'm not sure why I feel badly  :)  Emily is a good eater, and I can tell she's going to be a fan of fruit!  She's fairly patient, too, which is handy when I'm getting interrupted by a certain other little girl at times.  Em just has two bottom teeth at this time, but I have a feeling more could be on the way.  Okay, I know they're on the way, but... you know.  Here are some of my current fun's and not-so-fun's for this age:

fun's:
* Em can sit up now in the bathtub!  Let the fun begin!
* I love, love, love going to get her up from a nap.  Smiles galore!
* She still scrunches up her face and most of her upper body when she knows she's going to get tickled :)

* Em still cracks up at almost whatever Elyse does.  Love that!
* She's into clapping things together- the best is watching her face as she does it.. it's like she's holding her breath.
* Em's so ticklish just about everywhere.
* She's not spitting up nearly as much as she used to.  YAY!
* She loves bath time, and lately her newest trick is to eat the bubbles.  Yum.
* She plays with her feet whenever possible.
* Emily still fidgets all the time, which is so funny to me!  Her fingers are always moving.
* This should be under the not-so-fun category, but she gets so startled when Jordan sneezes or coughs (which he's been doing a lot of lately), and it's hilarious to watch her jump!
* She's started twirling her feet like little windmills.  This means nothing, but it's something I did as a baby, too :)  I'm so thankful that I could pass on such a special trait to both of my daughters.  Ha.

not-so-fun's:  
* I'm not sure how intentional it is, but Em is pretty persistent in getting my attention when I leave the room.  If Elyse is playing with her, she's fine.  BUT, if she's alone & figures it out, she is NOT a happy camper.
* As snoopy as she's getting, she's not nearly as much of a cuddle-bug as I'd like :(  When she had the flu last week, however, I enjoyed every minute of the times she'd just crash on me.
* Emily does have a temper.  I'm sure she got that from me, but we can always blame Adam & Eve.
* Emily is starting to get on Elyse's nerves a bit.  Can't say I blame Elyse, but it's just been a good opportunity for Mommy to teach Elyse a lot about sharing.  I have to laugh, as I know it's only the beginning.  Emily's hands just grab at EVERYTHING.
* We about have a world war on our hands when we need to wipe Emily's nose.  2 weeks ago, this was not an issue.  After her recent bout of flu, she has turned on us.  BAD NEWS.
* My baby is getting big.  Seriously, I wish I could bottle her at this age, but I say that about every age :)

We love you, Emily Mae!

You keep us guessing & laughing,

and we love you to pieces!  

Satisfied

I've had a lot of time for reflection over the last 7 days.  Our house has been plagued by flu, and despite the "great" excuse to be home together as a family for the last week, I've found that it's been anything but fun.  You'd think sitting on the couch with my hubby watching a movie after the girls are in bed would prompt the nice, quiet conversation we look forward to on an evening with nothing but time.  Instead, our conversations run along the lines of, "Can you please pass me a Kleenex?" or, "what time did you last take cough medicine?"  Times like those make me so thankful for health on a regular basis.  My girls have been struggling to stay happy & awake, and we've gone through more tissues around here than seems humanly possible.  I've missed talking with my husband, being with others, and I've missed giggles from my girls.  Okay, though this might sound like one big WWWhhiiinnnnnnnee, I must say that times like this have the power to renew perspective.  I only had one day of sickness (unlike my dear husband, who has been laid up for four days & counting), and I found that I genuinely missed caring for my girls during those 24 hours.  Times like this remind me even more of what a privilege it is to take care of my family.  BUT, beyond that.  I am so thankful for the grace to say that I'm not looking for satisfaction in health or happiness.  I've already found it in Christ... and keep finding it in Christ.  Mommy's been doing a lot of singing to her girls this week.  We've been rocking & cuddling on the couch, and I've had lots of opportunities to sing over my girls.  And as I listened to this song by Matt Maher today, I am unspeakably grateful that God sings over me.  Wow.

      Sing Over Your Children

I flirt with the world

It steals my love for You

My fear grips my faith

And I am left unmoved

Your gaze stops my heart

Your voice fills the dark

Your love is the spark that lights this life

So we rise

Out of the depths you cry

"Come and be satisfied!"

Father, you sing

Father, you sing over Your children

You quiet the storm

Inside my shipwrecked soul

Your Spirit will lead

It calls the wayward home

At the sound of Your name

Our sin is washed away

In Christ we're crucified

In You we die, in You we rise

Out of the depths you cry

"Come and be satisfied!"

Father, you sing

Father, you sing over Your children

Let us see through Your eyes

We are Your great delight

Father, you sing

Father, you sing over Your children

And we're singing along

Your daughters and sons

We're singing Your song

We are Your children.

Welcome, Owen Isaiah!

My new nephew arrived this morning, and he couldn't be cuter.  He came just over 3 weeks early, but he seems to be doing just great!  I'm so happy for my sister, as I know her girls will love having a little brother...  just as she and I did many, many years ago.  And, he's a better man because of us.  *cough, cough*  Anyway, I'm so thankful he's here safe and sound.  I can't wait to hold this little guy in April!

More Snippets

* We've had the flu all week.  We're not better.  I'll leave it at that.

* My husband was a wonderful nurse on Monday, and not only did he man the house, care for the girls stupendously, but he also took Elyse to the library, grocery shopped, and even bathed the girls.  I am impressed :)  He also brought home...

Yes, what a guy.

* Elyse had two appointments this week: pediatrician & ophthalmologist.  She did poorly for one, and okay for the other.  I found out she is 75% in both height and weight, and she apparently despises those who examine her ears, nose and mouth.  At the ophthalmologist, however, she requires a new prescription, and she tolerated getting her eyes dilated fairly well.  Who would have thought that someone looking in her ear was more offensive than someone pouring drops in her eyes?

* Lesson learned the hard way: The eye doc gave Elyse a special pair of "disposable" sunglasses to sport around while we made our way home (the sun was shining rather brightly).  Anyone who has had their eyes dilated knows that it can be very uncomfortable to navigate sunshine without sunglasses.  She looked absolutely hilarious in these things (as you can see), but I was determined to make them fun for her, if possible.  We had lots of "don't take off your special glasses" talks on our way out of the office, to the car, in the car seat, etc... and I was almost convinced she would heed my wisdom.  Nope.  As soon as we got on the highway, her glasses were on the floor, and we were a long ways from home.  She was VERY happy when I put them on in our driveway so we could wear them the 25 feet to the house.

* Emily Mae learned to "bop" today.  She's groovin' to tunes & grinnin' like crazy.  Oh, yes, we encourage it!  She may still look a bit like Rudolph with her bright red nose, but she's as cute as can be.

* Tonight, the three of us girls sat down on the couch to sing some bedtime songs.  I started singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and at the same time, Elyse suggested, "Away dinda Manger!"  I had already started singing my song, so I continued (I know, so mature).  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elyse close her eyes slowly and let her head fall dramatically to her chest as she let out a huge sigh.  :)

* Elyse has been telling me "sweet dreams!" as I leave her room at night.  I love it.

* Emily has been giving me sweet dreams by sleeping like a champ, despite being sick!

* I have been stretched a LOT during these days of sickness.  I am reminded of how blessed we are with health on a regular basis.  I'm also reminded of what true love looks like.  I'm learning how sinful I am & how beautiful God's grace & favor are towards me ALL the time.  All he has shown me is grace, love and mercy.  Wow.

* This post is noticeably missing more pictures, but it's for the best.  We're lookin' a little shabby these days.  Maybe the flu shot isn't a bad idea after all?

Suzy's Zoo

I resorted to keeping track of the girls' info/funnies on a calendar hanging in their room.  As I was meandering through the dollar section at Target a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a Suzy's Zoo calendar that was just the style I wanted to use for 2011.  It was only a few days later that the irony hit me.  I often think of my small domain as Suzy's Zoo :)  Here are some of our happenings of late:

* We had such a wonderful Christmas.  We headed up to Indiana to celebrate with my parents, as it had been way too long since we joined them for Christmas.  It was just awesome, marked only by the not-so-fun absence of my sister and her clan... staying put while they wait for the arrival of their little guy, due ANY DAY.  Have I mentioned how excited I am?!?!  

* I've got another niece/nephew in the oven, courtesy of my sweet sister-in-law, Bethany (I guess I should give Seth some credit, too :) !  I am so ecstatic, I can hardly stand it.  

* The girls have LOTS of new entertainment around the house, after such lovely gifts came their way.  Elyse is enjoying all of her toys so much, and as a result, so is Mommy!  Emily is enjoying them, too- she loves to play with just about anything she can get her hands on.

* Em is finally sitting up!  It's so fun to see her sit up so straight with such a concentrated expression on her face.  She has her fair share of topples, but she's doing pretty well.

* Elyse has started asking where "Baby Daddy" is.  What?  Not sure how that came about, but I have a feeling it goes hand in hand with Baby Emily.  Poor Jordan :)  Thankfully, she hasn't made it a permanent label, but it's sure to get a laugh out of Mommy.

* Elyse has another fun phrase, "I like that!"  She will comment that she likes that song, or that cd, or even that breakfast :)

* Jordan so graciously shared with Elyse that Mommy and Daddy "make out."  Thank you, hun.  Today I listened to Elyse repeat, "Mommy?  Daddy and Mommy make OUT, Mommy, Daddy and Mommy make OUT!!!"  Why do I have a feeling that will come back to bite him?

* Emily is jabbering all the time these days.  She's into saying "ra-ra-ra" and has even let out a couple of "da-da" noises.  It's so fun to watch her enjoy her voice!

* Elyse describes everything lately as "little, tiny" OR "big, big, big, big."  She doesn't always get them right, though, and lately our bed has been the little, tiny bed.  The other day she noted that Elyse was big, big funny :)  AGREED.

* Elyse is also into making everything take a nap.  Her milk takes a little, tiny nap, and so does her blanket.  She loves to see Daddy resting on the couch (which doesn't happen very often, much to his chagrin) and note that "Daddy's takin' a snooze!"  

* Speaking of blankets, Elyse has really started to get clingy with blankets.  She doesn't have a favorite, but they seem to be the new companion.  If she's sad, she immediately asks for a blanket.  If we're sitting on the couch together, she MUST have a blanket present.  I'm not sure if this is normal for a 2 year old, but it sure is funny.  Thankfully, we've still been able to leave the house without them :)

* Elyse has also learned to ask us to sit by her.  She says, "Sit-a-by-a you, Mommy, sit-a-by-a you!"  She pats the floor, just to make sure we get it :)  

* Emily is really turning into a clown.  Seriously, she's just waiting to goof off with someone!  I sure am curious as to what personality this little gal will develop.  She seems to be a stinker!

* Em cut her first two teeth while we were up in Indiana (it's always something, right?) - the first bottom tooth on Christmas Day, and the second bottom tooth 2 days later.  It could have been worse, and we only ended up with one night of sadness.

* Jordan and I both got sick on the tail-end of our trip, and we had to delay our departure a day to make sure we were road-worthy :)  Thankfully we made it home in one piece.  Rats, another day at Mom's and Dad's. :)  

* Tonight, Emily was sitting in her high chair, playing with a rattle while I got her dinner ready.  She dropped the rattle (NOT unusual), and Elyse walked right over, picked it up and handed it to Emily.  I make sure I went right over to Elyse to tell her what a kind gesture that was, and how kindness shows love to Emily...  Anyway, Elyse got a shy little expression on her face, reached over for the rattle, threw it on the floor, picked it up, and handed it back to Emily.  Yes, she then looked at me with great anticipation for praise :)  Back to SQUARE ONE.

* We hung out with friends on New Years' Eve until after 2am.  Seriously, that might be a personal record since mommy-hood.  I definitely paid for that later.  These two didn't get the memo that Mommy would have loved to sleep in :)  Happy New Year!!!