Breakthrough?

Have we had a breakthrough?  We'll see tonight!  Amanda slept for almost 9 hours last night!!  2 nights ago she slept 8 1/2 and the night in between was only 5 1/2 to 6 hours.  I have decided that since she has not settled into a regular routine as easily as Abi did that I am going to create one for her :)  We are starting it full force today, so I'll let you know!  She seems to take one short nap in the morning, one longer one during mid-day (this is the one that I am adding to her schedule) and one 30 minute nap just after dinner.  Then it's bedtime at about 8!!  It seemed to work for her yesterday, so I am trying it again today.  

Abi is beginning to talk up a storm!  She loves to dance and sing and she is beginning to really learn her alphabet and counting from 1-10!  I was shocked when I was reading a counting book to her and she got every one except for 9.  Amazing!  She really is a sponge right now so I am trying to work with her on a lot of these things.  She has an alphabet puzzle (thanks Nana!) and she is really starting to learn her letters.  So exciting!  She is very animated and dramatic (not sure WHERE she gets that) ;P  which makes things very funny.  She absolutely loves her baby sister and loves to help get her dressed, change her diaper, feed her, give her the pacifier - even if Amanda doesn't want it.  She is quick to let us know if Amanda is crying (even if we are sitting right in front her) because she can't stand to hear her cry - it makes Abi sad too!  It is all very sweet.  Amanda loves to watch her big sister and even give her kisses.  So cute!  we are blessed!

Amanda continues to grow so fast!!!  She is also talking a lot and loves to be in the kitchen with me while I am cooking.  She talks through the whole experience and smiles as I imitate her sounds.  She has the biggest smile!  AND the cutest little dimple in her left cheek.  She is very alert, wants to see everything that is going on and is VERY strong.  She is becoming a little chunk, but that's just extra sugar to love :)  She was even laughing in her sleep the other night!  She is a happy baby and oh so cute!

I continue to adjust to being a mother of 2 and have to admit that I love it more and more each day.  Abi is at a really fun stage as she is learning so much and Amanda is really starting to develop a personality of her own.  The girls are so different, but both very happy and bless us so much.  I had a dream a few weeks ago that I made a sippy cup birthday cake for Abi's birthday, so now I am wondering if I should attempt it!  I am not sure I could pull that one off.  She doesn't even like cake!  Maybe I should make a giant green bean instead :)  I can't believe she is almost 2 already....

Mark continues to work very hard not only at his job but also around the house.  Relaxing is not something he does well, but much of what he does is very therapeutic for him.  He loves to spend time with his girls and we all love it just as much!  He really is the best dad and husband.  I am so blessed!!!!  

Well, as we are continually blessed, we pray all of you are as well.  Have a wonderful weekend and I will check back in soon!

Green Beans for Breakfast?

I have heard of having breakfast for dinner, but green beans for breakfast?  One morning I asked Abi what she would like for breakfast and she said, "Bean" with the sign she made up for green beans.  How funny is that?  I asked her a few more times just to be sure, and then I gave her some.  She gobbled them right up!  Then she wanted some banana.  At least it is healthy, right?

Abi has also just started putting words together to form sentences.  It just seems to come out of nowhere!  Just when you think she is not learning or will never be able to grasp the concept, she comes out with a gazillion new words and starts putting them together!  I really is amazing to watch.  

Abi has also started coming out of her room at about 4:30 am, climbing up onto the couch and sleeping there until people get up.  She doesn't want to miss Papa in the morning and wants to make sure she is a part of everything that happens!  Mark caught her sleeping before he moved her to her room.

She also went pee-pee on the potty the other day!  Well, sort of.  Let's just say she is off to a good start!  It will be off and on for a while as she gets used to the thought of it all, but the first signs have begun!  Another new phase for all of us.

Because there is water everywhere and Abi loves the water, we enrolled her in swimming lessons.  She did fairly well for the few lessons and now asks us to sing the songs for the movements so that she can do them in the tub and pool!  we will continue to work with her in the pool, but she is able to let herself into the pool.  She climbs in the side!  Fortunately there is a bench that catches her and she usually only goes in when Papa is in the pool.  However, we do have to watch her now!  It is exciting to see her get so excited about things though.  Too cute!  Now we have the opportunity to relive all these moments again through the eyes of Amanda!  We are blessed!

Amanda is as cute as ever and is growing like a weed!  At her 2 month appointment she was 21 1/2 inches and 10 pounds 1 ounce!  She is smiling at everyone and everything and loves to be outside.  She is developing quite the personality.  Here are a few shots of both our girls!

Ummm... This Weekend?

Hi!  Okay, did I mention what weekend I would get stories and pictures up?  It is still a weekend :)  I ended up in the hospital for an unexpected gallbladder surgery so I have been a bit out of commission.  Now I am back and almost 100% again!  

Okay, story number one.  As we were driving home from the airport, Cara was trying to give Amanda some milk as she was screaming.  I am not sure if I have mentioned anything about her screaming, but she could really do some voice overs for horror films!  No exaggeration.  She has quite a set of lungs.  So, as Cara was leaning over a seat to give her some milk, all of a sudden she says, "Are you getting anything?  What is wrong with this thing?  It's like there is a stopper or something in it!" 

 

My reply, "There is a stopper in it so hat it wouldn't spill or overflow on the plane!"  Yes, this was the start of our weekend.  Once Amanda finally got some milk we were all in business. Conversations could be heard and Amanda was guzzling like she had not eaten in days!  

Story number two.  We decided to have dinner out on the patio one night and make use of the grill as well.  Cara grilled the chicken while I put some things together in the kitchen.  As we were enjoying dinner, having some "remember when" conversations, all of a sudden we hear something over near the cabinets on the patio.  We both stopped and looked, but didn't see anything.  We continued with our conversation and heard it again!  We were both a little freaked out, so Cara went to see if she what it was.  She was on the outside of the cabinets when we heard it again.  "It was a bird over there - I saw it," she says.

"No, I saw that bird, but the noise was in there."

"Oh."

Cara came back to the table and we were going to just let it go..... until we heard it again!  "There is something in the cabinets!" Cara screams!  Cara decides to be brave and head into the area where the cabinets were - armed with a little broom!  She lunges forward and smacks the first cabinet.  Nothing.  She lunges even further and smacks the second cabinet.  Nothing.  Then she walks very slowly in to the back portion and we hear it again!  All of a sudden at the same time I said, "It's the ice maker!"  while she asked (screamed), "Is there an ice maker out here?!"  Too funny!  To have had all that on video would have been perfect.  Yes, the ice maker sounded like a very large rodent rifling through the cabinets.  Laughter is such a great thing.

Here are some pictures from that weekend.  

Here we have Amanda sleeping peacefully in her stroller at the park - while squirrels were trying to climb up and join her!  I had to chase them away!  And let me tell ya - that was no easy task.  They are strong-willed squirrels!

                                            

                Here are Cara and Abi on the slide:

Is it okay if I climb up this thing?

Abi loves the park and it is a nice little walk there and back.  She also loves the pool!

I was not able to get into the pool yet, but here are a couple of shots at the pool:

Abi LOVES to watch people jump into the pool!  I am not sure if it was Caroline or Cara jumping in, but she got some good laughs out of it.

                                        Cara and Abi