The things she says...

This afternoon Amelia looked out the window and saw a group of teenage girls gathering on the sidewalk in front of our house.
She opens the door and exclaims, "Look mama!  My friends are here!"
(Never mind the fact that we had never seen these girls before in our life.)
She then walks right up to them and joins their circle...she also joins their conversation.
Quickly, her entire body language morphed into that of a teenage girl...she had her hand on her hip and was smacking her lips as she was talking.
She began asking the girls random questions.
She asked the girl who had on short short and a sparkly tank top if she was wearing her baiting suit.  She asked the girl who was wearing pajamas if it was dark outside.
Best of all, she asked the birthday girl if she could have one of her balloons.  
At one point, she found a wrapper for a breast pad on the sidewalk (must have fell out when the trash man emptied our cans).  She picked it up and started shouting, "Look everyone, I have a boooobie pad, a boobie pad, a boobie pad!"
The teenage girls of course thought she was hilarious.

When the girls began saying goodbyes and parting ways, Amelia sauntered back into our house.....
complete with a gold star balloon tied to her wrist!

Slow down...

I need to find the magic button...you know the one...it stops time from passing...

This sweet boy is growing up way too fast!

Seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant.
Actually, it was just about a year ago, a little after Christmas.

Where does the time go?

Fast forward a year.

Soon we will have a four month old and a two and a half year old.

Please time....stop moving!

In only six short months, I will have two toddlers.  I will never be the mama of a newborn again.  This is very bittersweet for me.  On one hand, watching your child turn into a mini-person is simply amazing...on the other hand, watching your baby slowly slip away is heartbreaking.

I have been working on slowing down and savoring moments....and for those of you who know me, know that is extremely challenging.  The type A, add, hyperactive, multi-tasker in me can always find something that needs to be done.  A dish to be washed, clothes to be folded, a counter that needs wiping, closets to be organized.  It is in these times that I have to remind myself of time and how it is passing so quickly.   It is in these times that I have to pause...sit down with my babies, cuddle, read, just be.  Because that's more important than a clean counter.

Look how much this sweet boy has grown already.

He really does have quite the personality too!

At almost four months, Graham...

• loves to hear his own voice and talk to his reflection
• is a very happy baby
• loves being held
• will fall fast asleep as soon as he's put in the Ergo
• is mellow and easygoing
• almost always has a hand in his mouth
• loves to cuddle
• smiles BIG as soon as he hears his sister's voice
• likes to pull my plate towards him as I am trying to eat
• is a mama's boy
• is SO loved

Sick Days

Having two sick babies at home means major isolation for mama.  Amelia and Graham have been sick since Monday and other than one solo trip to the store and one family trip to the doctor, I haven't been out of the house at all.  I am usually out running one of my many errands.  Getting out of the house is a necessity for me.  It also helps Amelia who tends to get a bit stir crazy when cooped up at home for too long.

This week has been different. 

I hate having sick babies. 

It is heartbreaking to hear baby G coughing like someone who has smoked for a lifetime, coughing so hard that he makes himself puke. 

It is heartbreaking to watch usually spunky little A sleeping on the couch all day, waking up only to moan or cry. 

Heartbreaking.

Even Oliver was under the weather...

That being said, between coughs, moans, and cries, there is something strangely calming about staying home with sick kids.  

It's quiet...

It's peaceful...

It's cozy...

It feels good knowing my only responsibility is to stay home and make sure my kids get better.  There has been lots of medicine dispensing and runny nose wiping.  Most importantly, there has been lots and lots of relaxing and snuggling.  I may or may not have let both of them sleep in my bed when daddy was at work last night.  

Thankfully, both Amelia and Graham seem to be on the mend....although, I think we'll enjoy one more sick day at home just to make sure.

  

  

Just Can't Get Enough!

This boy can't get enough of his hands these days.


It starts off like this...a tad aggressive if you ask me..

Then things start to get a little crazy..

He gets really focused.  Need. To. Put. Fingers. In. Mouth. NOW!

Oops....Too far!

Bleh!

So he decides to start over....

He'll try a new approach...

 Ahhhhhhh, much better...

Finally, he checks to make sure I'm still standing there.

So he can show off his fist eating talents.

On Talking to Oliver...a lesson from Amelia

The other morning Amelia woke up and found Oliver enjoying a small bowl of cereal at the dining room table.  She thought it was really silly that he was sitting on the table eating cereal with a teeny tiny spoon.

I made our breakfast and brought it to the table so we could eat with Oliver.  As we were sitting down, I said..

"Good Morning, Oliver!  How are you today?"

Amelia looked at me and quickly said...

**Sigh**  " You know, he's not real Mommy."  

The look on her face was worth a thousand words....it was a mix of irritation and concern, not to mention disappointment. She seemed utterly shocked that I was nutty enough to be talking to a stuffed doll.  

But.....because she's only two years old, I quickly convinced her that mommies speak "Elf" and that we can talk to each other without her hearing. And again, because she's two, she totally bought it. Thank goodness because cell phone calls to Oliver have been priceless during not so nice Amelia moments!

Oh, and because Amelia is Amelia, she was upset with Oliver for using HER bowl and HER cup........

The Napping House

I have recently discovered something quite awesome about this adorable boy...

He is a sleeper....yes, a sleeper!

For now at least....

He takes a couple really long naps during the day and sleeps quite well at night.  

I am so not used to this as Amelia was a horrible napper as an infant.  Thinking back, I know it was my fault.  I never gave her the opportunity to develop healthy sleep patterns. We were on the go most days which meant she spent barely any time in her own crib, even for bedtime.  I just assumed that the sleep she was getting in the car, in my arms, or in her stroller on the go was good enough.  I didn't really know any different.

Until Graham...

Graham naps in his crib daily and would probably even sleep there if I didn't move him into his bassinet in our room because I have attachment issues and sleep better when my tiny babies are close.
G is relaxed, comfortable, and completely content.  Watching him sleep...watching both my babies sleep is definitely in my top three most favorite things in the entire world!

As for sister, she is now a champion napper too!  She sleeps anywhere from one and a half to two hours every day...in her bed!  Getting her to this point has not been an easy road considering this is where we were only months ago...

She napped with on me every single day!  As much as I enjoyed it, I was scared that once G arrived, she would no longer nap at all.  Boy, was I wrong.  Sister turned into a napper too!  She always slept well at night but now she naps well too.

So on the not so rare days of late, when they are both napping, I am in pure mommy bliss!  I can do whatever I want while my little sugarplums are both tucked in their beds! 

Today, I got this done...

And boy do these cupboards make me smile!

So, thank you Graham for being such a well rounded baby who so far takes naps on a regular basis.  And, thank you Amelia for adjusting so well to change and learning to nap by yourself in your own bed in your own room!  You both make mama proud!

Today I feel rested and calm and that's a wonderful feeling!

A not so proud mama moment...

The moment when your daughter imitates you in the worst way possible has happened in my house tonight and I shall share my shame with you....

While we were cleaning up Amelia's toys and books before bed...

Amelia:  (in the sweetest little voice)  "Oh F*ck!"

Mama:  (pretending I didn't hear what I just heard)  "What did you say, honey?"

Amelia:  (in a louder and clearer voice)  "Oh F*ck!"

Mama:  (in shock...)  "Oh, where did you hear that word from honey?"

Amelia:  (proud as punch)  "From YOU, mama!"

Mama:  (heart sinking in my chest)  "You know honey, that word isn't very nice and mama should NOT have said it and so you shouldn't say it either.  It's just not a nice word to say."

Amelia:  (trying to make sense of what I just told her)  "Why not F*ck, Mama?"

Mama:  (trying to decide wether to laugh or cry)  "Because honey, it's not a nice word.  You know how you always ask mama if I'm happy?  Well, that word makes mama very, very sad and I will probably cry if you say it again."

Amelia:  (completely casual)  "Okay, I won't say it again. Are you happy now?"

Mama:  "Yes, mama will be VERY VERY happy if you never say it again."

Amelia:  "Okay mama."

And that was that.....for now....

All I have to say about having that conversation with your adorable two year old daughter is....

Oh F*CK!!!!!  

The things she says...

This morning I was in the living room feeding G.  Amelia was eating her granola bar as she sauntered over to where I was sitting.  She propped her elbows on the footrest and said...

"So mama, what's new in YOUR life?"

Hilarious I tell ya!

And if that's not funny enough....

Really sister....always washing his "privacies"?????
This will either make for some really hilarious or really disturbing stories someday.
Either way, it sure does make me laugh today!

Meet Oliver

This is Oliver.   He only just arrived late last night and yet he is already part of the family.  Amelia loves him and even included him in her nightly rounds of kisses!
Here he is helping himself to a cup of joe...he is extremely exhausted after his long trip from the North Pole.
Here's what he has been up to since he arrived at our house...

Yo Gabba Gabba, YO!!!!!

Today was a big HUGE day for Amelia...
We went to see Yo Gabba Gabba live in concert!!!

If you know Amelia at all, you know she is a lover of all things Gabba.  As I mentioned before, she sings all the songs, knows all the dances, constantly makes Funny Faces, and teaches everyone the lessons she learns from the show.  As if that weren't enough...she sleeps with her Muno doll most every night.  Thanks to my dad, we not only attended the show but sat in the SEVENTH row!  We were pretty darn close to the stage and man was my girl excited!  Grandpa even gave her some spending money and she knew what she wanted as soon as we got there....

An almost life size Brobee backpack, what more could a girl want, right?  We thought the same thing until we saw these little pieces of YGG cuteness....

YO GABBA GABBA hair clips???  Um, heck to the yes!  And of course my girl had to put ALL FIVE in her hair at once!
When in Rome I suppose...

Now on to the show.

To say she had a good time would be an understatement. She loved every minute of the show and even went into the pit and danced with her daddy!  It was so refreshing to see the excitement , joy, and awe on her little face!

This little guy was pretty mesmerized too.
(The blue glow is actually from the colored lights in the theatre. ) 

Until this happened right in the midst of screaming toddlers and million decibel speakers....

Thank you grandpa for giving little A the opportunity to get her sillies out and have the time of her life. And, thank you for giving G the opportunity to get a good nap!

So in true Gabba fashion.....

Now 

it's 

time 

to 

end.

You're my best fwend!

The whole family was hanging out on our bed as Amelia and Graham were getting their pajamas on.  Amelia already had her footie jammies on but insisted on waiting for Graham to get his on.  We were hanging out and singing silly songs on the bed.  Amelia wanted to hug Graham and as she did, she said this....

"Hi brother!  You are my Beeeeeeest Fwend....my Beeeeeeeeest Fwend!!"

Melted my heart right there all over our bed...she really can be the sweetest little thing!

Funny Faces!

My girl loves herself some Yo Gabba Gabba!  At any given moment, you will catch her singing yo gabba songs, doing yo gabba dances, acting out yo gabba scenes, or making yo gabba funny faces.

Here she is at Tutti Frutti, our favorite yogurt place...don't even get me started on their salted caramel, making some funny faces.

Sitting next to us was a dad and his two kids, a girl who was about 8 and a boy who was about 11.  These kids were super cute, especially the boy with his tan skin and sun kissed wavy hair.  Amelia noticed them right away, of course!  My girl has a knack for spotting the cutest boy in the room.  She kept going up to their table giving them random bits of information such as her favorite yogurt flavor and so on...and so on...and so on...and so on...
She finally just asked them if she could sit with them...she's obviously painfully shy, right!

The conversation went down like this:

Amelia:  "Can I sit with you?"

The Dad:  "Sure but we are leaving soon."

Amelia:  (Pointing to the handsome young lad.)  "Well, is HE leaving????"

Boy, is this mama in trouble.......if not for her love of cute boys, possibly for her sticky fingers, since I caught her doing this a bit later....

When we fled from the police , got in the car a few minutes later, she had a HANDFUL of mini M&M's.....BOY, is this mama in trouble!!

The things she says....

Yesterday, I was getting ready to take a bath.  As I was filling the tub with water, Amelia strolls in the bathroom. She takes my razor off the ledge of the tub, puts it in the water and tells me.........


"I put that in the water so you can scrape yourself mama."


This girl makes me laugh everyday.


That's it....I'm off to scrape myself!

Big Sister + Little Brother = BFF

It really is a beautiful thing watching their love unfold... G simply adores his big sissy and lights up every time he hears her voice or watches her play.  
Amelia takes her role as a big sister very seriously.   Here she is teaching him how to find all the goods on mama's phone...a very important and official big sister job!

S'mores Please!

On our first annual camping trip as a family of FOUR, sister learned how to roast marshmallows and make S'mores.  She had so much fun and was careful not to touch the hot fire.   Not sure if she had more fun making or eating her new treat!