Too Fast

Jane is growing up too fast. She was just a baby. Seriously, only 7 months ago she could barely talk. Now she's carrying on full conversations with me, helping me do actual tasks, following directions. I cannot believe how fast she has grown. I think Lucy's birth has helped/ forced her to become more independent and better at communicating EVERYTHING. Each day, she says something new that surprises me and Scott with her level of comprehension and intelligence.
Since I'm feeling nostalgic, here is a glimpse into the not so distant past...

Can't believe baby #2 is already so close to this age. Life goes by too fast.

The Cutest Sound in the World

Time's a Flyin'

I can't believe it's almost May! We have had a few adventures this last month and a half. Here are the highlights:

Lucy's baby blessing went smashingly. I am lucky enough to had a friend that took some beautiful pictures and lucky enough to have great in-laws that came for the fun!

From Spring 2010

I now know how to get poop out of tan carpet (OxyClean Carpet Spray!). Oh, and something that rotted under some toys, yogurt, and miscellaneous dark spots. Good times.

We have 2 girls in one bedroom which I thought would be a nightmare...but it works! While one screams, the other sleeps, and vice versa. It's like magic. (Hope I'm not jinxing myself...)

Jane LOVES the circus. Lucy DOES NOT like loud clowns. I don't like sitting by the animal waste bucket.

From Spring 2010

2 kids + cold season = Never ending sickness. Nothing is more sad than a coughing, stuffed up infant.

There is a light at the end of the Ph.D tunnel. I can almost see it! (Especially when we can bug daddy all day long on the computer. ;)

From Spring 2010

Babies grow way too fast! Lucy can now do circles on the carpet, enjoys gnawing on her hands, and just found her feet today. Sniff.

From Spring 2010

Nebraska has 4 seasons. Stinking hot and sweaty, cold and windy, freakin' cold and windy with too much snow for a human, and warm and ridiculously windy. Yeah, it's not my favorite place.

Making Freezer Jam is so easy! Why didn't I know this before?!?!?

From Spring 2010

I love to make things for other people (and myself). I've been trying to keep busy with some sewing and crafting projects. (And enjoying my new camera and tweaking the photos a little.)

From Spring 2010

Spring has sprung!

From Spring 2010

Being a mommy has ups and downs, but the ups win. I love my goofy kids (and hubby)!

From Spring 2010

Jane's Float 4 Life Swim Test

Jane has just finished her first Float 4 Life session and had her first swim test today. This swim class is to help her learn how to survive if she falls into a pool and no one is around to help her immediately. She has learned how to come up from the water by kicking off the bottom of the pool, kick her way up onto her back and float. Then she can kick until she reaches the edge of the pool and turn over and climb out of the pool. She is still a little nervous so we are going to do another session of lessons, but she is doing so well! Eventually she will be able to blow bubbles as she kicks face down, turn over to her back to float and breath, etc.
So, this video is of her test. She needed to wear her shoes, clothes and regular diaper to simulate a true scenario. Her diaper was HEAVY when she got out, so I am so proud of her being able to float even with so much weight strapped to her waist. She was a bit scared and cried while doing it because it was such a different experience, however, she did it again later after I turned off the camera without crying and came out of the pool feeling giddy and proud of herself! She kept calling herself a big girl and was saying that everything around her was new, ie, "These are new shoes, that is new mommy, new Lucy", etc. So cute! We are proud of our little fish.

Gratitude

Do you ever find yourself lamenting your life or situation? Things could be worse. That's what I remind myself when things are hard. I'm not necessarily feeling down or anything, but someone near me was having a bad day today. While I was driving this morning I saw a car with a pizza box for a window. It was snowing and super slushy outside, and this poor guy was using a pizza box as a window. Those things aren't exactly waterproof. It was on the driver side window and he had a little hole cut out near the side mirror so he could see out the side. Talk about a blind spot.

I remember that once one of my uncles had a car that was so bad, he had to drive with a pipe out the window that he would breath through so he wouldn't suffocate from the fumes in the car. In the middle of a Utah winter. That's pretty bad.

At least I have windows in my car that work and a safe way to drive my family around. Even if we don't live in a house with a yard right now, at least we live in a clean and safe environment. Even though Scott is just a student (no $$$), at least we have a happy little family. The "at least's" are endless. I am grateful for my little family and the many ways we feel blessed each day. I hope you can feel and find some gratitude in your life today.

Sleeping Like A Baby

Yeah, I sleep like a baby. Up until midnight, up at 4am, up at 6am, up at 8am, no nap... I am fully rested.

But isn't that face cute enough to get no sleep over?

Photo Phriday

Toddler Insanity

I'm about ready to scream.

You mommies out there understand.

Sigh

Here is a list of things Jane has done today, before 11 am (which used to be before I woke up...a million years and lifetimes ago)...

1. Lucy eats at about 8am so I usually do this task while still laying down in bed, and Jane likes to come jump on me while this is happening. I am a victim of my laziness, yet refuse to change my circumstances. Today she nuzzled up next to Lucy, but in a bad way, and I had to keep shoving her off of our tiny baby.

2. While mommy and daddy are busy getting up and ready and changing a mother load of a Lucy blow out (this was bad, it took 4 hands to keep from getting poop on her head), Jane sneaks into her bathroom and somehow opens the Children's Tylenol and starts gobbling them down. I think, "Jane is awfully quiet"... I catch her in the act, scream at Scott to call poison control and start doing exactly what they always say not to...try and make her throw up. She is amazingly calm while all this is happening. Scott gives the guy all the stats, then we stop and count to see how many she actually ate and it turns out to only have been 4-6 max. So, the poison control guy tells us all is well. He even called me a couple of hours later to make sure things were okay with Jane (saying that "we don't normally do this for kids who eat that little of an amount...etc").

3. I'm doing the dishes in the kitchen and asked Jane to clean up some toys, giving her specific directions (which have been falling on DEAF ears today) and she comes into the kitchen and puts a Target plastic bag over her head. SCREAM!!! Yeah, that's the story of my day. I am a screaming mom.

4. I'm trying to put sad Lucy down for a nap, patting her back just like the Baby Whisperer told me to do. Sigh...sometimes the effort is not worth it...
...Jane is awfully quiet again...
I catch her with an open bottle of infant Ibuprofen to her lips.
We thought we'd cleaned the medicine cabinet out. ARGH!!!
I'm pretty sure she didn't get much at all because that stuff moves like molasses and there wasn't much left anyway.

As a side note: yesterday Jane stuck a closed pen down Lucy's throat and Lucy obviously screamed bloody murder. Could have been worse (that's what I keep telling myself).

Well, since she's all drugged up, I just might get a decent nap out of her today.
Don't judge.
As Jane would say, "My tired".

Update: Jane also decided to stick both ends of a pipe cleaner into 2 sockets. Luckily nothing happened except for my screaming again.
Good times.