This missing momma has just been having fun!

Maddy is now coming up on her one year birthday and I am busy planning for that some time in June/July. Christopher is headed towards the 3 and a half mark and I have been busy looking into preschools and finally got him on a waiting list for the school hubby and I picked. Swim lessons and soccer have kept us busy through the last couple months. In June Maddy and I will be road tripping it for a short visit to New Mexico and then back home with my sister in law and kiddos who bring great company and joy. I can't wait!
I have started my garden. Christopher helped me plant some peppers, lettuce and tomatoes. We have plans for carrots, corn and peas but had to hold off because we ran out of space! We are working on clearing an area for more yummy things but running out of time as it is getting hotter! I also have secret plans of a bonfire pit, I know Christopher would love to help play in mud and build with bricks!
We spend our days hiking, playing out doors, painting, drawing and playing various games like puppy and red light/green light. Here are some pictures of random fun-ness! Have a blessed day!

A push, fall, scoot method

Oh my dear Madelyn has turned six months and when I look at her I find myself thinking how did she get so big. We have entered the stage of introducing foods and mobilization. With Christopher I was not ready to introduce foods so we waited and waited and he seemed to be perfectly happy and content. And when Christopher was finally introduced it was a slow, slow process. It's amazing how different the two of them are already. Madelyn has been showing signs of food readiness since she noticed people putting and chewing food in their mouths. I held back. I just couldn't, my little heart was breaking just thinking about introducing a change that would break our bond, again.
You see Madelyn has already had other food. She had to be on formula for a month when I contracted MRSA shortly after her arrival. I was so so very sad. I cried and cried. I was angry, upset, sad, heart-broken, and in disbelief. I wanted the best for my baby and the best was not to expose her to such strong medications. So on formula we went. I prayed and prayed some more. I was scared. I scheduled appointments with lactation consultants and the pediatrician and a follow up with gp. But everything went so smooth. I ended up canceling the lactation appointments because they were not needed. Transitioning back and forth was as if it was completely normal. Wow, how great our God is! As I start to think about this next step, a step that is obviously so essential, I am a bit torn.
She is six months now and we have started the food journey. She loves eating food. She squeals and gets really excited and slurps the food off the spoon and doesn't spit it out ( like her brother did) and she is easy and seems to expect that if I am eating she will be getting her food too. I love that she enjoys this next step, it is so exciting. The fact that Madelyn enjoys bitting me when she breastfeeds makes me feel anxious for that first tooth to appear and much calmer about introducing new foods.
After she eats she loves to go on the floor. She gets on her elbows and pushes up onto her knees. The front of her body falls to the floor and in attempt to straighten herself out she scoots her body all the way forward so she lays flat again. She will continue this pattern until she gets to where she wants to go or gets tired and decides to roll to where she wants. I love getting on the floor with her and watching her push, fall, and scoot her way around. I am a very proud mama.

I must be a really tired mommy

Last night I must have been extremely tired and I have proof! Madelyn was crying and Christopher was whining as I am frantically throwing blankets in search of 'E' (our infamous binky). I finally found it, YAY!, but instead of giving it to Madelyn I shoved it into Christopher's mouth. Silence, ah, wait why is the baby still crying? I look up to see Christopher staring at me, very confused. I laugh, pull 'E' out of his mouth and say, "sorry that was not meant for you."
Wow, sleepy. Best part is it was only 7:30pm. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Life with my 3 year old

Future comedian, future engineer, future linebacker... many things have swirled in my mind. Tonight something else was floating around but I couldn't place it. It was part comedian, part linguists.
Now I know I make up words and love finding new words for things, it's what makes me smile, giggle and really I like to think I might be at least semi-talented in this area.
So on with the story...
Since Christopher was born we have been snuggle bugs. We co-slept until he was about 2 and sang or told stories or both until he fell asleep. Now that Madelyn has taken his place, he has moved on to his big boy bed, so I lay with him until he doses off into lala land. Our nightly ritual goes somewhat like this: Read countless books, tell a story, sing one of his favorites while rubbing his back. Well tonight I was in the middle of my song singing, rubbing his back when he rolls over, puts my arm around him and says I need a huggle twitterpate. I smiled, of course who can resist such love from a sweet boy! But just in case I had to make sure he knew what a huggle was. His reply, "MOOOOM! A snuggle and a hug!" So a huggle twitterpate is a snuggle hug while giving what most people call a butterfly kiss. Sweet little boy, I am so proud to be your mama. I feel so grateful that I am able to snuggle and sing you to sleep. It is moments like these that makes whatever happened during the day all better.

"Mommy I am a big boy."

It seems like forever since Christopher was born and yet at the same time it was really just yesterday. Now he is potty trained, walking, swimming and talking! He counts to ten, sorts objects, knows his colors, matches, and when he hears words that rhyme he laughs hysterically!
It was not yesterday that I had him and now that he is three, only 3, I find myself looking back at pictures a year and a half ago. Thinking wow, that was so long ago!
Tonight as I tucked my big boy into bed I couldn't help but smile. As Christopher likes to remind me, "Mommy, I am a big boy not a baby." You will always be my baby.

A sneak peek

I got this amazing camera for mother's day three years ago and had yet the chance to set up studio and test out my skills. With the second child and lack of money in these economic times, I have set up shop! Uh well studio, so to speak. Make shift at best, no lights or professional backdrops. I am thinking these things will come in time. So without further ado, met my baby girl Madelyn Rae!

Hello blog I have seem to have forgotten you

Well, well here I am talking to myself because I know nobody reads this thing but hey, why not.
Now that I have two babies and not just one life seems to be so much busier so neglect of the blog went first.
There was no way I was going to change two sets of diapers so onto potty training Christopher we went. It was so successful that I think I may have waited a bit too long.
Other than that we have been trying to survive and learn the ins and outs of having two. Yes, we still forget diaper wipes and diapers and nuk nuks, and blankies but we always improvise and at the end of the day get a laugh or two about it. While I was pregnant with Madelyn I kept thinking to myself that when she came I would be able to remember better because I hadn't done a great job remembering those items with the first. You think, and I thought, lesson learned. Well not the case. So instead I reverse tactics. Now instead of trying to remember when I need to be somewhere I just randomly stock various family cars with misc. items. Seems reasonable enough.
I also have what we have begun to call "rent a husbands." I have to admit I get a lot of help around here with hubby and he does so much but when he is at work, I am usually visiting with family or they are over here. In fact, we see my family so much that I usually get help doing the grocery shopping, clothing shopping or on my outings to target. Whether it is one of my brothers, my sister or my mom and grandmas, I have come to call them my "rent a husbands." They in no way replace my hubby but they make outings more doable and calm so I can get a few extra things done so when hubby is home we can just spend it together relaxing. And because I like company it makes things entertaining, interesting, and easier.
The other day we took family pictures and newborn pictures. I haven't dumped teh camera onto the computer yet but I know they turned out great! I am debating on getting prints for christmas cards or if we should take new ones closer to the time.
Well who knows when I will be back on this thing. So until next time...