we're all smiles around here

At least we try to be. We try not to talk about the other 50% of the time.. We've all got cabin fever around here and it's only February. But, it is exciting to say that it is February and we've only got a couple months of winter left! I had a dream the other day that it was warm and green... that'll keep me smiling. I'm glad to say we missed the huge bunch of storms that hit the rest of the country but sorry to the rest of my family who are suffering through them. We're just dealing with frigid temps and getting sick of staying inside or rushing around doing quick errands just to get back inside! So, we've got to keep ourselves busy. Our latest favorite thing.. painting.

With pudding. Yum.

What a great idea mom! I'm a natural. See? I can paint my face really well.

And him! Look at him! Smiling away. I don't know why it turned the picture but I couldn't turn it back. A sideways smile will still melt your heart. Have I mentioned he's HUGE! He's probably already 12 pounds at not even 8 weeks. At 1 month he weighed as much as Sarah did at 2 months (10lb 6oz). The kid eats ALL THE TIME. He's so cute. I've decided he looks like Dobby, from Harry Potter. Not in this picture though, here he just looks like an adorable little marshmellow man. He looks a lot like Kurtis too. A lot. Does he sleep any better? Not really.. but we've been able to get in naps during the day when Sarah takes a good nap. For that I'm very grateful. So you keep smiling too. Just look at Scott again. Doesn't that just make you smile?

Like mother..

Like daughter. I guess I can feel good about my child being normal, despite her lack of speech. She looooooooooves her baby dolls. On that note, she's actually started 'talking' more and saying what things are in her little jibberish speech. Yay! Anyway, It's hard to divide your time between children. I always feel like I'm neglecting one and that one is often Sarah because Scott needs me more. But at least I'm setting a good example for Sarah because she does this all day..

She's very sweet about putting a blanket on her baby dolls and wrapping them up. She carries them around like that too. She likes (tries) to give Scott his binky too when he loses it (or takes it away.. and then after she tastes it herself). She never took one when she was a baby but now she's enamored with it! She tries to feed her dolls her snacks too. It's so cute.

The girl in the cupboard

All of our cupboards in the kitchen have a child-proof latch on them (and man, are those things annoying yet so helpful) to keep curious little hands out and safe from sharp or glass objects. Sarah's pretty good about leaving things alone and even closes the doors when they are left open. Probably because I close them right away so she's used to it. Well, she's got a door-closing-fetish at the moment.. anyway she found one open the other day and set out to explore it. It's a cupboard that holds big appliances (blender, rice cooker, etc) and she doesn't see it a lot. I had taken out the crock pot which left a good size space inside, perfect for a little behind to sit in. "mmmmmmmm mmmmm" came the jibber jabber from her little mouth as she made herself comfy inside. Then, she started to close the door a little bit.. then all the way so it latched. It opens a couple inches so she wasn't completely in the dark and even was giggling for a while at her mischevious self.

"I'm so sneaky" I'm sure she was thinking. Look at those eyes. So sneaky.

 Then it went to.. "hmm.. it's kinda dark and boring in here. No snacks."

 And escalated into "let me outta here!"

 I can't stop laughing looking at these 2 pictures..I confess I did leave her in there a moment as I took these. She was fine. Seriously.

FREEDOM! I know she totally wanted to do it again too.

Humor me

I've been up since about 3 AM, got maybe a half hour nap if you round up, dealt with a fussy baby and a whiny little girl all day, fed the missionaries, and put both kids to bed on my own while the husband goes out with said missionaries. I should be sleeping myself but I wanted up do something to help me unwind and remind me of the joys of motherhood. Cue the rolling of the eyes and small chuckle on my part.. I did just watch the Bachelor but don't know how that makes me feel exactly. But it's fun.

We're 6 weeks old now. I keep telling myself.. we can make it! You can do it! Yet still trying to live in the moment and savor the sweet newborn stage that is rapidly fading. Sleep is starting to come more consistantly but last night was a step back into old gassy habits. Of course, as soon as he was asleep at 4 AM (for the short time he was), Sarah woke up to add her two cents and demand for attention. Hopefully tonight will be better.. Kurtis says to keep my expectations realistic but I can't help my wishful thinking. Anyway, on to happier topics.

 Isn't he precious! This is how he likes his arms when he sleeps. So I try to swaddle him this way. I'm just grateful he likes the binky! My goodness has it been a life-saver so far.

Little miss goes to nursery now! (SIGH) Her little necklace says "I feel good when I say 'I'm sorry.'" Ha. If only, right? 

 Special moments like this make it all worth it

 Big sister.. big kisses (or licks)..lots of love

 She can't quite reach to kiss him.. hahahaha she's so cute to try

 She loves to hang from the pull-up bar

 Big yawns! I love them..

I love watching them when they sleep.

Playing around. It keeps us sane. :)

23 Days

Really? Has it been that long already since Scott was born? I can't believe I've survived this much. Half of it doesn't really count, well most of it actually because my parents were here when I got home from the hospital and then Kurtis has been working from home in the little office we created in our upstairs loft. So, I really haven't been on my own with these 2 little ones for much more then a few hours. I'm dreading the days ahead but figure if I've made it this far, I can make it even more.. right?

Scott is 23 days old. He's grown so much already! I'm know he's gained at least 2 pounds making him over 9 pounds now. He's fitting into some of his clothes better and filling out those little cheeks. He is getting better at sleeping at night, much to my relief. Kurtis has been sleeping either on the couch or on an air mattress also upstairs so I can have the baby in bed with me. It's much easier that way but I do miss my husband. Scott has some gasy issues that make him a little fussy but hopefully that will go away soon with some new nursing tips I'm trying. I'm hoping that I don't have to cut out dairy like some suggest. At least he's a good eater. He also doesn't like to be put down very much, probably because of his discomfort. Poor thing grunts all day and night. He sounds like a little horse! However, he DOES like a binky! YAY!! Sarah would never take one, or a bottle, and I'm so excited that he likes his binky. He still makes a face when we first put it in but it is a big help sometimes.

Sarah has been giving us trouble sleeping. Going to sleep is her big issue. She loves the attention she gets when she comes out of her room and I can't help but laugh sometimes when she comes out with a big grin, sneaks around the corner to see if I can see her and says, "Hi!" in her little voice. I can tell she's also a little bored and annoyed that Scott is taking up all our time. I try to keep her involved but it's hard. I also feel bad when I have to let Scott cry because I'm changing Sarah's diaper or otherwise have my hands full for the moment. Oh well, they won't remember this.. right? I'm not permantely damaging them.. right? She also doesn't know how to control herself around him. She is so sweet and gentle one minute and then slaps him another. She also likes to lick him.. those are her kisses. She is interested in him, which is good.. but maybe a bit too interested sometimes.

 He loves his tummy

Little homie

 What Sarah does ALL day. Did I mention she also likes to try to pull his hair? Nice sister

 Her kisses, more of a forehead kiss

 He's such a little old man!

 Sarah loves to hug him too

Oh, Sarah got this little teapot for Christmas from our neighbor. She LOVES it! It plays music and does all these cute sounds and she carries it around all day. It hasn't gotten annoying, yet. It's fun to see her start pretending!

It is still odd to think that I have children now. Meaning, more then 1 child. I mean, having 1 child takes getting used to but not I have kids. I think you enter a whole new world when you have kids. Now we're a 'bonafide family' Kurtis says. I'm so so grateful we're all healthy, safe, warm and have each other. I guess I just have to get used to an even more messy house, crying and tantrums becoming more frequent, absolutely NO time to myself (my vacations are the to the grocery store), food on the floor (but easier to clean with my new Shark steam mop!), kid TV shows (for Sarah to watch to give me a minute or two) and more kisses and hugs. It is a wonderful life.