Just a Short Singing Clip

mommy finger, mommy finger

where are you?

here i am, here i am

how do you do?

She Always Seems To Amaze Me

This girl always seems to amaze me. She is growing up so fast. Just the other day she comes up to me with her little purse on her shoulder filled with her wallet and cell phone and keys in her hand and says to me "Mommy, I drive Daddy's truck and go shopping." I asked her what she needed to get and she responded, "milk, yoda (yogurt), and pickles!" She then counts her twelve singles that she has in her wallet and says, "Mommy, I rich!" She definitely keeps me on my toes. She has been repeating things that I say...just when I think she isn't listening to my conversation I hear what I said on repeat. 

And this top knot!! Stella is rockin' her first top knot! 

She is so sweet, shows us so much love, has such a big heart with a bit of sass; okay a lot of sass sometimes! Rick and I joke now about what we are in for it in about 16 years ;) She is already wanting say in what she wears, especially her shoes. I pick my battles! So what if we leave the house in a summer dress with polka dot socks and jellies...don't judge!

Since bringing Ricky home, she has started being a full time mommy to her babies. She imitates every.single.thing that I do with Ricky and it lasts all day long. I often find her baby swinging in Ricky's swing, or on his playmate or his bounce chair. Her babies wear diapers now and go peepee all day and need their diaper changed. Rick and I were laughing last night because not only was Rick changing Stella's diaper for the night, but he found himself changing Minnie's diaper too. 

you know you have a good daddy when you find him putting newborn diapers on a stuffed animal.

She walks around the house bopping them in her arms while burping them saying "shh shh shh." It really cracks me up.  I am always wearing Ricky in my sollywrap and so is Stella with her baby...

Stella you are my everything. I love you so so much. Yes, at times you make me crazy and can be a pain in my you know what...but my life is so much better with you in it and I would never want it any other way.
Some days I can't wait for the kiddies to be in bed because of a wild and crazy day, but the same thing always happens....when Rick finally puts her in her crib for the night- I miss her like crazy and want to run up and cuddle with her in the crib.

Stella- you have rocked my world in so many ways.

Cheers to it Being Friday!

making// not just any waffles but Minnie Mouse waffles! This weeks dinner menu was spicy sriracha shrimp and broccoli, build your own taco bar :), steaks on the barbie with grilled veggies, and garlic rosemary grilled chicken breast with grilled green beans!
drinking//  pumpkin beer, pumpkin beer and pumpkin beer...haha. In moderation of course since I am supplying the boobie juice!
reading//  a few old blog posts about Stella's routines as a tiny little babe. Crazy how much you forget in such a short amount of time. 
watching//  Getting ready to watch some good ole' football! Loving these game day shirts! Also loving the fact that all three of us could match on game day! 
eating//  Trying to appreciate the Sorbet since ice cream is out of the question- it's simply just not cutting it! When I scoop Stella her ice cream for her treat after dinner I would be lying if I said that I wasn't drooling a bit. 

smelling//  lactation cookies baking in the oven ;)
enjoying// all of the newborn smiles coming my way...so in love. 

loving//  early morning snuggles in Mommy and Daddy's bed with the babes. And Ricky's hair!!!

hoping// The Fall weather treats us right and that Stella's party is everything I am hoping it to be.
wearing//  still summer clothes! and nursing tanks all damn day, everyday! They really do make life soo much easier! Kudos to whoever came up with the idea! 
bookmarking//  lots of ideas for Stella's big girl room....it is finally in the works! Doing a little new decorating around her parts of this house :) We want to make it a BIG deal- make her feel special and like a BIG girl with her new BIG girl bed!
and looking forward to// Some good town action tomorrow including food vendors, craft vendors and fireworks and hopefully gettin' our apple picking on this weekend!

My Tiny Dancer

Thank god for kitchen dance parties...

1. we share infinite amounts of laughs

2. she wears off some energy

3. dancing in the kitchen can count as exercise right?!

it's a win win situation!

Ricky's 1 Month Update

Dear Ricky,
You are the sweetest, most cuddly baby boy there ever was. You have added an incredible amount of love to our little family and we are just so smitten over you. You are the beautiful   handsome rainbow that we were anxiously waiting for. Your dimples melt my heart every time you smile at me; the one on the right especially....keep those smiles coming baby boy. The sounds that you make while you are asleep are so precious. You sigh, moan and groan while you catch those zzz's. You know that Daddy and I love you so so much...but your sister Stella- she simply adores you to pieces and cannot get enough of you...literally. I loose count every single day just how many kisses she gives you. Oh that full head of hair.... it stands straight up and is simply perfect. Stella loves to tickle her nose with it.  You have fallen asleep in just about every bath that you have taken. When the warm water hits your body, it puts you into this trance. Ricky, you are so loved and we are so glad that you are finally here.
Love, Momma
xoxo

Weight: at your 2 week check up, you weighed in at 8 lbs 6 oz. So I am assuming a few ounces up from that. 

Height: 22 inches

Appetite: Holy Manga! You are quite the eater! You are still nursing every 2-3 hours :) We have had a few days and nights where all you wanted to do was eat, eat and eat! gotta love that cluster feeding :) When you were brought to recovery to see me while in the hospital after surgery, you latched right away. you made so Momma proud! You have been doing great nursing ever since! 
You have the same dairy intolerance that Stella had- so I will be 86ing dairy for now. 

Clothing Size: You are currently wearing 0-3 month clothing. We are still in newborn sized diapers but we'll be making the change to size 1s very very soon.

Milestones: We are doing about 20 minutes of tummy time a day. You are beginning to lift your head and strengthen those neck muscles.  You are beginning to focus and follow objects.

Thoughts: I feel so so blessed to have you as my son. You are my rainbow and I will always love you. 

Our routine:  Our routine that I wrote a few posts back still remains the same. No changes in our feedings, sleeping times and morning and nightly routines. 

Any big changes: 

Your favorites: Some of your favorites at the moments are:
1. eating
2. being held until you eat again- you love being carried in my the sollybaby wrap. 
3. sleeping 

All of the things a tiny little babe loves to do ;)

Momma’s Favorites: Oatmeal, Pumpkin Beer and spending time with you, your sister and your Daddy. Of course I am loving all of the newborn cuddles that you are giving me. 

Life Lately...

This is what life looks like around these parts lately...in mostly pictures.

our morning walks look a little something like this: a stop at the cafe for a homemade cinnamon donut, followed by a walk on the towpath as we share that yummy donut; toddler picks flower as baby is sound asleep in the sollybaby wrap. 

walks to the bank in town.

sorting our morning cereal into groups.

magic 'blanket' rides.

pumpkin beer and king crab legs! 

Stella couldn't get enough of them.. girl after my own heart!

love this guy....and the life we have created together...

our new whip...go double or go home! more walks on the towpath :)

A Few Things I Have Learned from Having Two at Home...

Having two at home I have learned a few things...

1. I remember when we first found out that we were expecting thinking to myself how can I ever love another baby as much as I love Stella.  I thought my capacity to love was maxed out with my little girl. Boy was I wrong. I love this little guy more than I ever thought was possible. I can love him just as much, I do love him just as much. The amount of love I am able to love grew...the heart just grows.  This sweet little boy now holds a very special place in my heart. My love these days feels limitless- like some sort of superpower. 

2. Somethings become more challenging of course, but somethings become a bit easier. Like diaper changes- what went from a Mommy and toddlers chasing game around the house just to change a toddler's diaper now volunteers to change her diaper when little brother is getting his diaper changed. Same goes for the jammies and getting dressed for the day some days. so yes, I have been using this to my benefit quite often ;)

3. Newborn snuggles and cuddles are just as good the second time around. I really can never get enough of the newborn smell  (I wish I could bottle it all up), or the feeling I get when a tiny little babe is asleep on my chest, or the sound of their tiny breathes when they are asleep. I just love it so much. Yes...it is just as good the second time.

4. Spending that quality one on one time with Stella is much easier at the moment than I thought it was going to be. I was truly worried about this. I know it will become harder as Ricky gets older; but at the moment Stella and I still find ourselves in the playroom- just her and I. We are either baking a cake in her kitchen and singing 'happy birthday to you' over and over again, playing with some sort of stationary, or dressing and undressing her baby for the millionth time. 

5. Taking a shower is more than a luxury now. the words say it all- no explanation needed.

 6. I am doing okay. There are raw moments as a parent where insecurities creep in. But the way my first responded to the baby with gentleness, excitement and love I felt I could explode with pride for her! Sure there were times I was like "where the hell did she learn this?" I am sure it's part nature, but damn straight it's my husband and me too. We are raising these children and I am so proud at what I am seeing. Moments like this make me feel like I am doing okay. Moments with those big sister sloppy kisses and hugs that make me sigh with relief make me feel like I am doing okay. 

7. I just plain love life more. Everything comes together and becomes better all because of these two tiny littles and all the love that I have for them.