Sweet Summertime

Both girls are napping... At the same time. One went down without a fight and one told me it was an awful day (between sobs) because she had to take a nap. A very overdue nap might I add. I haven't been pushing naps with her this summer because we've been pretty busy and she doesn't give in easy (reread "nap time shenanigans")... 

So we have already completed two weeks of summer break and I'm already dreading going back to work in August.

Reason #1: Both girls have been sleeping in until almost 8:00 everyday! Yes, that is sleeping in. Madelyn still wakes up around 6:00 but I just plop her in the bed and nurse and she's out again. It has been glorious. So much better than 5:30.

 

Reason #2: Madelyn is the cutest one year old in the world and I get to have her all to myself all summer. This is seriously my favorite age (minus going out to eat.. That's usually a disaster). She is walking all over the place, climbing on stuff, and laughing at the word "no". She is such an explorer. She loves books and being outside. She loves taking anything away that her sister is playing with. She loves pointing at things. She loves music. She loves animals. She loves food (although her growth chart says otherwise...) She has an exceptional vocabulary 🤓 that consist of "mama", "dada", "wow", and my absolute favorite "UH OH". She's still a little shrimp weighing in at 16 lbs and still only has two bottom teeth, although a top tooth is popping through! She's still nursing and I'm not sure when that will end. I don't have a plan set in place, pretty much the story of my life! I wish I could point the remote at her and press the pause button. I'm sad to see her grow so fast but I'm excited about what's to come. 

Reason #3: Lilly is the cutest 4 year old in the world and I get to have her all to myself all summer. It's been nice not having to wake her up early... She is NOT a morning person. We have been hanging out with her cousins and she's pretty much obsessed with them so that's been great. We have spent our days going to the pool, doing makeovers, riding the golf cart, playing barbies, and watching movies. She's also taking gymnastics again which she loves.

I love that I have a job that allows me to spend this time with my children. Even when they are driving me crazy. You stay away August, you hear me!? I don't want this to end. 

One

Lord have mercy, this has been the fastest year of my life. I feel like you were just born. My tiny little 6lb baby that came into this world so fast. You were on a mission to meet me, your daddy, and the best big sister in the world. The first thing I said to you after the sobbing was over was a comment about your beautiful hair. I held you for what felt like a lifetime, right there on my chest. The most favorite moments of my life.

Your sister was so proud. You looked nothing like her, which surprised me. You had your own little personality. She loved you from the minute you were born. I think she's just as sad to see our little baby grow as I am. She has helped give you baths, changed your diapers, fed you, and played with you this whole year. She's teaching you words and animal sounds. She reads to you. She also does a great job of making sure you don't put your fingers in light sockets or eat dog food. She will always be your protector, I can tell. 

And your daddy. Boy oh boy is he wrapped around your finger. You are the sunshine of his day. There was a time when we were a little nervous about loving somebody as much as we love your sister. Our hearts only grew bigger the day you were born. A million times bigger. 

You have grown and changed so much this year. I couldn't imagine living life without you. My sweet sweet Maddie Lou. Happy Birthday. 

Happy Mother's Day

A note to my daughters on Mother's Day. Thank you. Thank you for being patient with me as I learn the ropes. Thank you for loving me even when I make mistakes. Thank you for showing me how important the simple things in life are. For the laughs, the joy, the incredible amount of love and hugs and kisses. But most of all, thank you for making me a mom. 

I was not prepared for this thing called motherhood. I knew how to change diapers and wash bottles and fold your little onesies. I learned how your car seat worked, how you liked to be held, and what your little cries meant. But I had no idea how incredibly hard those first weeks would be, how emotionally hard those first days back to work would be, and how heart wrenching it would be to see you in any type of pain or discomfort. I was not prepared. Your first shots were hard. Your first fever was hard. Your first booboo was hard. You reaching out for me and crying morning after morning at daycare drop off was hard. Your sleepless nights due to teething and ear aches were hard. I was not prepared. 

But you trusted me. You believed in me. You needed me. You kept me going. You gave me the confidence I needed just when I felt like I was failing. 

Your sweet smiles reassured me. Your contagious laugh reassured me. Your endless amount of hugs and kisses reassured me. I wasn't doing it all wrong. I was learning and growing, just like you.

And because of you, my name changed to mommy. The best name in the world. And on this day, I am so very grateful and honored to be your mom. 

Happy Mother's Day ❤️

Did You Burn the Eggo's?

On a typical weekday, I wake up around 5:30, get myself ready, pass baby off to daddy if she's awake, get Lilly up and ready (huge battle because she moves like a turtle in the morning) go downstairs and pack up lunch, pump parts, bottles, coffee, and throw an eggo in the oven for Lilly to eat on the way to school. I can't tell you how many times I've burnt her breakfast. The first thing she asks me when she comes downstairs is "Mommy, did you burn my Eggo's?" Sometimes I flip the burnt side over and hope she doesn't notice. Everything is so rushed during the week. 

(Bedtime snuggles) 

But this week is SPRING BREAK and today I felt like I had it all together. We slept in until 7, watched some cartoons, went downstairs and I ate some cereal and had a nice cup of coffee while Madelyn ate some toast. 

(This baby LOVES food) 

Then my nieces came over for a few hours. They played in the basement while I started a load of laundry, put Madelyn down for a nap, and took a shower by myself without any interruptions. Then I put on makeup and dried/fixed my hair in something other than a ponytail! Then I put pants on (not yoga pants!) and a cute top (not a t-shirt!). 

After my nieces left, we all ate lunch and then I loaded the girls into the car and we went to the park. This is the first time I have taken both of them to the park by myself. They had a blast and Madelyn really enjoyed swinging. 

Yes, I even put them in matching outfits today! 

After the park we went to sonic for some ice cream and Lilly played at that park also. Nobody cried, threw a fit, got hurt, lost, or sunburned. I was feeling totally legit by this point. 

Then we headed to the doctors for Madelyn's 9 month checkup. Both girls were very well behaved and we got in and out in 40 minutes. When we got home, Madelyn napped while Lilly and I played "super girl" and I folded up some laundry. 

Thank you spring break for helping this mommy not feel like a crazy person. This time with my girls was much needed. They bring me so much joy. The countdown to summer break is on! 

And I didn't burn Lilly's Eggo's this morning! :) 

21 Questions 2016

I asked Lilly these questions a year ago. I love her responses and how they have changed. She's growing so so fast and I'm trying my hardest to soak it all in. 

What is something mommy always says to you? I love Lilly's heart. 

How old are you? 3

How old is mommy? 4

How old is daddy? 5

What makes you happy? That you say thank you for singing and that you love me. 

What makes you sad? When I have to go to sleep. 

What is your favorite movie? Cinderella 

Who is your best friend? Leah (from daycare) 

What do you want to be when you grow up? A cheerleader and a princess. 

What is your favorite color? Pink and purple. 

What do you like to wear? A dress.

What is your favorite food and drink? Apples and milk.

Where does daddy work? I don't know.

Where does mommy work? Right beside my school. 

What is your favorite toy? My Cinderella doll.

What do you want to teach your baby sister? Her can jump.

What is your favorite thing about your sister? That she crawls. 

What do you like to sing? Cinderella 

What is your favorite animal? An elephant and a giraffe. 

Where is your favorite place to go? Elizabeth's Pizza and Lindsay and Addison's house. 

What is love? Love is giving people some valentine hearts. 

A Very Merry UnBirthday

Yesterday was Madelyn's 1/2 birthday. The fastest 6 months of my life. I remember last Christmas when I was pregnant with her and trying to figure out how old she would be this Christmas. And now it's here! Madelyn has been such a blessing to our family, just like her big sister.  

We have come a long way since this summer. I think back to when she was a newborn and Mike went back to work and there I was with a tiny baby that  nursed 24/7 and a three year old who was trying to figure out this new life with a little sister. We would stay in bed until 11 before I had the energy to move. Lilly spent those first few weeks on the iPad. I couldn't leave them alone in the same room for one second because I was scared Lilly would try to pick her up. I don't know how I survived, but I did. Then slowly but surely we all adjusted to our new little family of four. 

I absolutely love watching Lilly and Madelyn interact with each other. Lilly lets Madelyn lay all over her and pull her hair. She sings her songs and she even helps me change the diapers. I am so happy that Madelyn gets to grow up with a big sister like Lilly, and vise versa. What wonderful adventures they will have together. 

Madelyn is getting pretty good at sitting up. This is a great stage because you can plop them down on the floor for a few minutes without them trying to crawl off. She definitely loves to be held and the dogs are extremely entertaining to her. She doesn't sleep through the night. She slept 9 hours straight one night and that's it. Totally like her big sister. And that's ok because I enjoy the nighttime snuggles. I figure I can just pawn them off on each other when Madelyn is old enough and they can sleep together. Or either we will have two kids in the middle of our bed. 

Madelyn has also started to eat something other than breastmilk! She has had some oatmeal over the past week and some apple. She likes the oatmeal and hated the apple. Today I let her taste some banana which was followed by a bath! Only time will tell if she copies her big sisters picky eating. 

Now there's only one week left of school and then I get two whole weeks with my girls. They love sharing germs back and forth so I'm hoping for a sick free Christmas. We all survived the stomach bug. It knocked down the whole house, one person at a time. I seriously need to win the lottery so I can give it to my parents. Maybe I shouldn't put that in writing.... :) Merry Christmas! 

Riding the Santa train with daddy! 

Sweet baby girl right after her birth, June 12, 2015. 

The Struggle is Real

Inhale

Exhale 

Repeat... 

Sometimes I just have to sit and remind myself to breathe. Life is busy. And when life is busy sometimes I lose focus on the important things. 

Current situation: Madelyn has a double ear infection. She just wants to nurse and be held. I've missed work this week. I missed an important meeting. I have used almost all of my sick days. We still haven't found a house of our own. 90% of my belongings are in storage. Madelyn doesn't have a nursery. Lilly talks about having her own purple room all the time. I share a super tiny closet with a three year old that has more shoes and dresses than I do. I have piles of laundry that need to be folded and put away (this will never end). The struggle is real. 

But the good always outweighs the bad. Madelyn is healthy and growing and babbling and rolling over and smiling and laughing and I just love her so stinking much. She is almost ready for her first taste of real food. She's moved on up to size 2 diapers and she totally loves pulling my hair and grabbing my glasses. Lilly is the best big sister in the whole wide world and has been so helpful. Their special bond warms my heart. She is learning so much at school. She has a thanksgiving program this afternoon. She is so excited about Christmas. 

The other night Lilly threw a fit about wanting some milk before bed. After telling her over and over that we don't drink milk before bed (mostly because neither one of us wants to go back downstairs) she looks at me and says "Well Maddie Lou gets to drink milk before bed"... Well played kid, well played. 

Yes, we still live with my parents. We haven't found a house for us...yet... But we will. Pros- I didn't have to decorate for Christmas and there are two extra hands besides Mike's to help with the kids. This will seem like a distant memory one day... "Hey remember that time we lived with my parents for over a year AND had a baby!?".... 

This picture helps too.

So even though life is kind of.. weird... right now, there are so many awesome things yet to come. The struggle is still very real, but I'm going to try very hard to focus on all the positives and blessings in my life.