a day in the life

 This is my sweet girl all dressed up to go shopping with mommy!  We have been having fun on little outings while brother has been at preschool.  She is great when we are out and about, and I hope that never changes!  I just love bringing her along.  We get quite a few oohs and aahs from strangers, too!  (Well, Kerigan, does, not me!  Ha!)

 This is probably my most favorite part of our day.  Kerigan usually eats around 6am, and after she eats I bring her in our room and prop her up in my arms or the boppy and we go back to sleep.  Andrew will normally join us when he wakes up about 7:30, and he likes to watch TV in our bed so mommy and Kerigan can catch some extra winks! (It is my little trick to keep him in bed longer if I'm not ready to get up yet!)  I just love Kerigan's face in this picture- she's smiling at her brother.  We all have fun snuggling together!  Wish it could last forever...

Then we usually make our way downstairs and hang out and watch cartoons.  This picture cracks me up because Andrew was less than thrilled!  Ha!  He just likes to be by himself and relax when he wakes up and listen to his shows without me bugging him (or Kerigan!)

She was just being so cute and smiley I had to take their picture!  Andrew just wouldn't work with me!  Ha!

 Most of the rest of my day consists of keeping Kerigan safe!  Ha!  Just kidding, but if I leave her with Andrew for very long by herself, she usually ends up mad about something!  The other day she started to cry and he actually picked her up!  Yeah, I freaked out a little bit.  I think he learned she can't hold her head up by herself quite yet!

 Andrew wants to be wherever Kerigan is, and plays with all her toys.  He won't stay off this play gym!  I set up all the toys for her, and next thing I know, he's got them scattered all over the room!

 She is just starting to grab at her toys dangling from the play gym.  She really enjoys playing here, whether on her tummy or her back.

Grabbing for her monkey...

Looking at herself in the mirror...

The other day I brought up the toy part of the bouncy seat and she loved it!  She'll sit in there and just watch everything and kick her legs- it's so cute!  

She naps pretty good for me too.  She usually plays after she eats for about an hour or two, then sleeps until her next bottle again.

 When brother isn't at preschool, we've been getting creative thinking of things to occupy him if I'm busy with Kerigan, etc.  He loved this the other day.  I bought a cheap plastic tablecloth at Walmart and let him go to town with play doh (I have a love-hate relationship with that stuff!) I don't usually ever let him play with it in the house.  But I am trying to let go a little! Step outside the box!  Ha!  I told him he had to keep it on the mat and he did great!  He was completely engaged for about an hour!  I never heard a peep out of him!  Why is it messy projects are always the most entertaining?  Ha!

 We all get excited when daddy comes home from work!  Even though we are all usually worn out by that time!  Ha!

 This little bright eyes is definitely a daddy's girl...

And I'm pretty sure she's got daddy wrapped around her finger already!

(Oh, and several of you have commented and emailed me about her "heart" shaped birthmark between her eyes... we think it's pretty special too.  In fact, I have a whole blog post spinning around in my head about it, just not sure what I want to say yet!  We definitely don't think it is a coincidence!)

andrew's antics

Well... there's been a change of plans!  Back to school = GERMS, which means Andrew picked himself up an ear infection and won't be having his cath tomorrow!  I'm sure he's really bummed about this (ha!) but in terms of rescheduling, etc, it is a huge pain.  He started getting cold symptoms, so I took him to the doctor and sure enough, that darn ear again.  One tube is out, but luckily the infection is in the one where the tube is still doing it's job so he's not too miserable.  So he started a course of antibiotics and ear drops so we hope he'll be in good shape soon!  We have rescheduled for September 29, so let's pray he stays healthy until then!  We have too many fun things planned to do to keep him confined for too much longer!  Thanks for continuing to pray for his upcoming cath to be successful in lowering the pressure in his heart. 

Now, onto an Andrew update!  Because he's been up to a lot!  And of course, I have to share more funnies... I think I'll have some in every update from now on, because this kid just comes up with the funniest stuff and I want to remember it all because I often have to stop what I'm doing to just laugh at the things he says.  Today we were in Walmart and I actually laughed out loud, stopped the cart to get a pen and paper to write down something he said!

•  One day we got home from his new tumbling class (pics below!) and he had also been at preschool.  We were on our way up to the bath tub and Andrew was moving kind of slow and I told him to hurry.  He said "I'm tired, I had a busy day!"

•  It seems like we are always rushing to get him fed before the bus comes for preschool.  He rarely sits still at meal times and is always up and out of his chair making excuses to not eat (potty, get a toy, etc).  One day I told him he better get back to the table and sit down or I was going to take his movie away (the one he was watching).  He came running over from the other room yelling "Noooooooooo!  Don't you dare!!!!" (where does he get this stuff!?  Ha!)

•  I love how he can watch something 100 times and he acts like it's the first time every time.  He's been really into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse lately.  In one episode, Donald is hiding and Andrew just plays along and pretends he doesn't know where he is.  He'll say "I wonder where Donald went!"  or "Donald must be hiding under the rocket!"

•  On the way to play with a friend the other night, we were having a conversation about being kind to others.  I told him he needs to remember to share, and take turns.  I also said that even if someone takes something away from him, he  needs to find something else to play instead of getting mad and fighting.  The whole time he's staring out the window of the van.  I said "Do you think you can do that Andrew?"  His response was very matter of fact... "No."  Ha!  At least he's honest! 

•  The other day my mom walked in her house when we were with her and said "Jim!  We're home!" (talking to Papa).  One afternoon when we were playing upstairs, Andrew said "Jim!  We're home!"  I asked him who Jim was and he said "Papa."  So I thought I'd see if he knew what our names were, just for fun.  I said, "Did you know that Daddy's name is Craig?"  He said, "No!  His name is Daddy!"  Ha! 

•  We were picking out his Halloween costume and we got 2 different sizes so I could try them on him at home and return one.  He was confused about why there were 2.  He kept saying "this one's mine... (and he acted like a lightbulb came on and said...) and daddy can wear this one!"  Ha!  (It was size 6 by the way!)

•  Andrew was walking silly like Rango again and we had the following conversation:

   Me:  "Okay, come on, Rango!" (I was playing along with his "walk")

   Andrew:  "I'm not Rango!"

   Me:  "Who are you?"

  Andrew:  "Andrew!"  (Like... duh!)

•  Andrew was looking for a toy he couldn't find (common thing around here, even with all my attempts at organization!) He was asking me to help him, and I was looking but told him we would have to play with something else and it would probably turn up sometime.  He kept begging me (and I had thrown in the towel at this point).  Pretty soon he said "You're makin' me mad!"

I could go on and on... but I'll save some for the next post! (Ha!)  Now for some pictures...

 Go Cyclones!  Andrew had Cyclone/Hawkeye day at preschool the day before the big game!  

 We won't get into too many specifics about the game (Clones win in triple overtime...AHEM!)

 Let's just say we're proud to be cyclones!

 Andrew calls these his "cyclone shoes!"  Ha!

 Touchdown!

 Here he is getting ready to get on the bus.  His two best friends at school were Hawkeye fans and he came home and told me about it right away.  One of the little boys' mom's told me that her son came home and told her that Andrew was a "red guy," but that it was okay, because red is okay too!  Ha!  That is so funny.  I'm sure the preschool teacher had to explain some equity lessons after this day!

 Andrew started tumbling last week and he loves it!

 He was pretty good at forward rolls!

 I was pretty surprised because a lot of kids didn't know how to do it, but he just jumped right in and rolled clear down the mat!  I'm not sure where he learned it!

 I think he looks so cute here, standing so still and waiting his turn.  There are a couple of naughty kids in his class that were running and jumping on the trampoline (which he was dying to do!) and also picking up these dots and putting them on their heads... I was super nervous that he was going to join right in, but I was so proud of him!  He looked at me and gave me a super mad face, but he knew he better stay put!  Ha!  I couldn't believe it.  I called Craig on the way home and told him Andrew wasn't the naughty kid in class this time!  Ha!

 He needs a little work on the balance beam, but he tried hard and did a good job!

 Since I'm home on maternity leave right now, it has been fun keeping Andrew home in the mornings before he goes to preschool in the afternoons.  We just snuggle in bed with Kerigan and hang out in our jammies and I love it!  He has been more into playing games with me lately, and he'll ask me to do a puzzle or game with him a lot.  

 This was so cute, he asked me to help him put his dinosaur puzzle together (which is super tricky, and he actually found several pieces!)

 Then once he was done, I noticed him going back and forth from his dino collection (he has a million), and putting them on his puzzle.

 I thought he was just playing until I realized he was actually matching them up!  He was laying them on top of the dinosaur on the puzzle that matched!  I was pretty impressed!  Ha!

 He's such a clever kid!  Like his daddy! :)

At preschool this week they had barnyard day.  Andrew dressed like a farmer!  I thought he looked so cute in his hat and Woody boots that are way too small for him now!  We're going to have to get him a new pair and hide the other ones!  He is so attached to them.

We've been enjoying the cooler weather!  It has just been beautiful and I hope it stays this way.  It puts me in the mood for all things pumpkin (there might be some baking going on this weekend since we won't be in the hospital!) and also sorting through the kids closets to get their fall wardrobes out (yes I actually look forward to this!).  Seems like every year I do that and then it gets hot the next week!  Ha!  Oh well, no matter, this is my favorite time of year!

Little Miss {two months}

My precious daughter... where do I even begin?  How does time go so fast?  You have changed so much in just a month I simply cannot believe it.  I want to slow it down and just soak in every single bit of your "newborn-ness" because I can already feel it disappearing right before my eyes!

We went to the doctor today for your 2 month check up.  You weigh 11lb 13oz and are 24 1/2 inches long.  You have just been growing leaps and bounds!  You are in the 85% for weight and 97% for height!  I guess you're going to be tall!  I look at you sometimes and can't believe how big you are already.  You wear 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes and size 1 diapers (although you had your first blowout the other day, so I think it's time for size 2's!) You love to have me help you sit up, and I hold you up while you stand and put pressure on your legs.  Sometimes I feel like I could almost let go and you would stand all by yourself.  You are so strong.  And you get this precious little look on your face like you are so proud of yourself.  It's your "I'm such a big girl" look.  And I love it.  You love it when I squeal at you and say "Look at you BIG GIRL!!!!!" in my overly excited voice.  It just makes you make the big girl face even more.  You are very close to rolling over already.  You roll from your back to your side all the time.  I just keep watching you because I expect it any day!

This month we took you on your first little "vacation" to Minneapolis.  You are a great little traveler and just go with the flow.  You also sleep great in the car (Andrew never did!)  You also took your first boat ride at Clear Lake and you loved it.  You love being outside and feeling the breeze on your face.  You just blink and get a little smile on your face. 

You are sleeping in your crib in your room.  Mommy wasn't quite ready for that big step yet, but our friends came to visit and needed to borrow your pack and play, so it was a good excuse to try you in your room and you slept great (well, the same as you did in our room!) so we have just kept you in there.  I love it that you like your room.  You always look all around at everything.  I can just picture you in there someday playing dress up and having tea parties with your dolls!

You have started smiling.  A lot.  You usually smile after your belly is full, which I think is so funny.  I always know the best time to take pictures of you!  Ha!  You also usually smile if we look at you and smile and talk to you.  You just look right at us and flash that million dollar smile and it just absolutely melts.my.heart.

You are definitely more high maintenance than your brother was when he was a baby.  But you are a girl and I know you can't help it!  Ha!  You have had a lot of tummy issues and horrible reflux.  We have been switching formula and trying different medicines to try to help you.  It has been a rough month with getting you to eat and sleep on a schedule.  You won't have anything to do with a schedule (which drives me nuts! Ha!)  Mommy likes to plan shopping trips and outings, and I just never know when that little tongue of yours is going to stick out, searching for food!  You are very inconsistent with how much you sleep and eat.  You sometimes will go 4 hours between feedings, other times, 2 hours.  Sometimes you'll take 6oz at a time, other times you only want 2oz.  You usually scream cry during one or two feedings a day, I think because your tummy hurts or your reflux is bothering you.  It breaks my heart because you really want to eat but I can tell it hurts too much.

(Getting good at holding your head up during tummy time!)

You have slept up to 7 hours overnight, but mostly you are teasing me because you usually wake up every 3 hours through the night.  You are all over the place, girl!  During those feedings in the middle of the night are when we really bond.  There's no TV on, the room is dim and it feels like you and I are the only ones in the whole world.  You just look at me with those captivating eyes of yours and it is like I can almost feel what you are thinking.  It is just pure love.  As tired as I am, those are some of my most favorite moments.  Just you and me, peace and quiet, surrounded by love.

You are truly my dream come true, baby girl.  Those are the times I look at you and picture all the dreams I had of having a daughter coming true right before my eyes.  I picture your future, and everything mamas and daughters are supposed to do together, and the simple thought of it just brings tears to my eyes.  As much as I want to keep you my baby forever, I simply cannot wait to make those beautiful mother/daughter memories with you.  Is it too early to paint your toenails??  Ha!

And speaking of eyes...

I am not sure if it is too early to tell, but I am pretty certain your beautiful blue eyes are here to stay.  You are unique, baby girl, because your mommy, daddy and Andrew all have dark brown eyes.  But do you know who had blue eyes?  Your Grandpa Bill.  You are named after his mother, your great grandmother Irene.  And I think it is no coincedence that your eyes match his.  It is like he left his mark on you when he sent you to us, to let us know that he is with us, and he knows you.  It makes my heart so happy to know that.  Your eyes will always be that reminder for me, and I love that.

I am trying to get you to take a paci.  I am not a fan of sucking fingers or thumbs, mostly because of germs that end up on hands.  You will suck your paci for a few seconds, then usually spit it right out and make a face!  Silly girl!  When you are very sleepy though, you will take it and you like to be in your swing and have me rub your blankie up by your face.  You will suck on your paci and your eyes get so heavy and you go right to sleep that way.  You know what you want, that's for sure.  I often catch you sucking on your fingers, which I promptly replace with the paci!  Ha!  We'll see who wins this one, girlie!

Your brother just adores you (and you him).  He calls you "baby girl" and he always tells you how pretty you are.  It just melts my heart.  When I bring you downstairs all dolled up, he'll come over to you and touch you and say "Oh, baby girl!  You're so pretty!"  And showers you with kisses and love.  You have started smiling at him, which he loves.  He makes silly faces at you to try to get you to smile!  I can already see your bond, and it just makes me so unbelieveably happy.  I never had a sibling to grow up with, and I always felt like I missed out.  I am so happy I was able to give Andrew a precious sister, and you a loving brother.  I pray that the two of you will always love each other and be close friends.

I just love dressing you up in all your adorable outfits and taking pictures of you.  Ga Ga says it is like I'm playing with my doll!  Ha!  I always used to love my dolls and playing dress up, now I have a real live baby doll!  This mama couldn't be any more blessed.  I love you so much sweet girl.  I feel like I've already written a book about you and you are only two months old.  But you have such a special story to tell, this is just a short chapter in the book of your life.  You are going to do great things!  And I can't wait to write the rest of the story...

what were you doing?

I had another post planned for today, but this morning when I woke up with my precious daughter in my arms and we came downstairs and turned on the TV, I decided I wanted to write about today... ten years ago today.  Someday my children will read this, and I want them to know what their mommy and daddy were doing on this day that they will only read about in their history books. 

We lived it.

I will never forget where I was on September 11, 2001.  It was my second year of teaching, and I was in my classroom with my students that morning, doing our normal daily routines.  Craig was also at his school teaching.  A fellow teacher next door to me came into my classroom that morning and told me that an airplance had hit the World Trade Center.  At that time, we didn't know if it was an accident, or what was going on.  Little did we know, three more planes would crash that day, which turned out to be a horrific terrorist attack on our country.

We immediately took the kids out for recess so the teachers could take turns watching the TV which we set up in the library.  I'll never forget sitting there, watching those planes crash and the towers collapsing into a cloud of dust.  I called Craig at his school and we talked about it.  I called my mom, who was also at her school.  We were all in disbelief.  My dad was still alive on that day, and I can remember all of us being so devastated.

Many parents came to pick their children up from school early.  I remember when it was my turn to take over recess duty for a while, looking up at the sky and how quiet it seemed.  No planes were flying.  It was so still.  Almost eerie.  It was like this for days afterwards, as all the airports shut down. 

As I sit here and watch the people announcing names of the loved ones lost on this day, I just can't help but remember as the tears are running down my face.  A little boy reads the name of his father and says he never met him because he was in his mom's belly.  He said  "I love you for loving the idea of having me.  You gave me the gift of life and I wish you could be here to enjoy it with me."  I also watched a girl read her father's name, who died on her 10th birthday that day.  They are dedicating the beautiful new memorial in New York City where the towers once stood.

I am watching all of this holding my sweet Kerigan in my arms.  I look at her and can't even imagine what it must have been like for those families who lost loved ones.  For the mothers who were pregnant and lost their husbands, who never got to meet their children.  I just can't imagine.  I definitely have different feelings about it this year, than I did back then.  Craig and I had been together for not quite a year at the time.  We were very much in love and knew we were going to get married and hopefully have children someday.  I'll never forget crawling into bed with him the night of September 11, 2001.  We just hugged and talked for what seemed like hours.  Our lives have changed so much in those ten years.  We now have created our special little family that we love so much.  A lot has happened in those ten years.  And yet still, we will never forget.  And we treasure each other even more after remembering such a tradgedy.  We are so thankful for our families, and that we are all together.

Our country came together that day.  Everyone hung American flags everywhere.  It was so amazing to see.  Everywhere you went you would see flags hanging... in people's windows, in restaurants, even stickers on people's cars.  There was such a sense of unity.  As devastating of a day it was, it also made you proud to be an American.

My sweet Andrew and Kerigan, someday you will learn about this tradgedy our country endured.  I pray that you will always feel blessed to be part of this great nation, and that you will always show respect for the lives that were lost by growing up to be good citizens and good people.  Daddy and I are doing our best to rasie you to always be kind to others, and show them that you care.  You are both our miracles because you didn't come easy to us.  We wanted you both so badly, and we are forever grateful that you have blessed our lives beyond measure.

Ten years ago, this was the life we dreamed about.  You have made our dreams come true. 

Our lives have been richly blessed in the last ten years.  And we will always look back and remember...