My blue eyed baby

Brian has the most beautiful blue eyes and I wanted a blue eyed baby so bad.  Brian's eyes were one of the first things that I noticed about him and I love staring into them (of course he isn't too fond of that but I get my way sometimes :-)

When Hannah was born I hoped that her eyes would turn blue and a few times even convinced myself that they were.  The older she got, the darker they got.  Oh well....maybe the next one...?!

Then came Hailey.  Her eyes were blue almost the day she was born.  They say that all babies are born with the same gray cloudyness to them...not her, her eyes looked blue to me.  Could it be?!  Was I going to have a blue eyed baby?!  Everytime someone would come to see her I would point them out.  People would humor me, "oh yes, they are blue...but you know, they can still change". 

Now Hailey at 5 months...still blue eyes!  Of course there is always a chance that they could change again but for now....I GOT IT!  My blue eyed baby :-)

Whatcha doin'?

Hannah likes to play with my iPod.  I have downloaded a bunch of kid friendly games for her to play.  This morning she was sitting on the couch, with her sister and her baby, Sota (that is the new name for the baby this week), in her fancy shoes (remember from an earlier post?).  Hailey was really interested in what Hannah was playing and just sat there staring at her.  I love the concentration in both of their faces in this picture.  It makes me smile seeing them sit together and even though they don't have much to fight about they get a long so good.  Hannah has adjusted to our growing family so well and it makes me very happy. 

By the way, before Hailey got there, it was just Hannah and Sota.

Flexibility

Could you imagine being this flexible again?  I love this age when babies like to grab their feet and try to eat them :-)  As soon as she gets on her back, feet go into the mouth.  As soon as she is sitting in a position where she can reach, her feet go into her mouth.  This one likes to be moving, constantly....her little legs just kick and kick.  She sure is a cutie!

Tell us to say cheese

Hannah:  "Mom, tell us to say cheese and then tickle us!"

Hannah likes to 'watch' Hailey for me when I am cleaning up or trying to get something done.  She takes it very serious.  Usually they are sitting next to each other on the couch but this time Hailey was in her seat.  When I came back in to check them out I found Hannah sitting on the floor talking to her and when she saw me she started 'protecting' Hailey asking me to come and tickle them.

Hay-Dee

Little Miss Hailey

Hannah can't quite say your name perfectly yet. She calls you Hay-Dee. 

Daddy always tries to get her to pronounce the L but doesn't have much luck.

It's weird, she can say Parmley just fine but for some reason when she says your name it just doesn't quite come out right.  I think it's cute.  Mostly because your sister is so addicted to you so we get to hear her calling for Hay-Dee a lot.

The mean one

Hannah:  "Mommy, this is the mean one." while pointing to the doll on the left
Mom:  "Oh, she is is she?"
Hannah:  "Yes, she bite you.  I give her a time out.  That's my job, not yours."
She then strolls the 'girls' away while telling them "You don't bite, that is naughty girls.  Now you get time out."

My heart just melted a little

Last night while Hannah and I were playing store, Hailey and Brian were hanging out on the couch.  I couldn't stop staring at them.  Brian just sitting there watching her and Hailey holding onto Brian's finger.  Hailey has grown up so much in the past few weeks and it makes me so sad to think that her days of being a newborn are over.  On one hand it is so much fun watching her grow and watching her develop but at the same time I miss those days we she was just content being snuggled into a little tiny ball of baby.

Hailey is very expressive.  She is constantly making noise, flapping her arms, trying to reach for toys...she does not like laying down in a reclining position.  She wants to be sitting up as straight as she can be, just like the rest of us.

Price Check!

After dinner tonight Hannah wanted to play.  We decided to set the food up around the room and then took turns doing the shopping while the other was the 'store lady'.  Hannah has a little shopping cart that she got for her Birthday and even though she pushes it around a lot (she actually uses it more like a stroller, imagine that) tonight was the first time that she used it to shop.

Whoever was the shopper would walk around the room picking up the items that we were going to buy.  We then went to the 'store lady' where we unloaded our items and waited to pay.  We would greet each other with "Hello, did you find everything?"   Hannah would pick up each item, "BEEP" she would say as she used the scanner on her cash register, then put it into the cart.  At the end she would even tell me how much I owed and take either my credit card or money.

One time she couldn't find the price for an item and called Bob, the guy who works in the store' to tell her the price.  As she rang me up she would make small talk 'ohhhh...corn, that's good'.

We played shopping for a good 40 minutes straight tonight.  I hope she had as much fun as I did!

 

STRIKE!

Today we went with grandma, Bob, mom, Jennie, Kim, and Kristin for the 2nd event of the Grandmother of the Month Club and to celebrate Grandma and Mom's Birthdays for this month. 

I have not been bowling since before Hannah was born.  I was really excited to take Hannah bowling for the first time and even more excited to have Brian there with us. 

Grandma, who is now 84 years old, beat everyone with the highest score of the day!

Hannah sure had a good time bowling, using the bathroom twice (which is now always a MUST no matter where we go, gotta check the place out), walking up and down the stairs, sneaking sips of mom's Mt Dew, eating french fries and licorice, and playing with her aunties. 

I had a funeral to go to in the afternoon so Brian took the girls home alone.  Hannah talked his ear off the whole way home about how much fun she had.

BFF's

It was so quiet.  You always hear people say that when kids are quiet they must be up to no good.  Well, not in this case.  Once we realized that the girls were upstairs I went up to see what they were into.  This is what I found.  Hannah and Maddie, sitting so close to each other, in matching jammies, watching TV, eating snacks, and talking.

I absolutely LOVE when these two play together. 

Even though they are a little over a year apart, you would NEVER know it by how well they play together.  Hannah talks about Maddie all the time and is always beside herself whenever she knows that the Busta's are coming over or when we are on our way to their house.

A little while after I found them on the couch I went back upstairs to check on them.  This time, I found them on the other couch and they were actually cuddling.  Hannah had her arm around Maddie and Maddie was laying her head on Hannah's shoulder.  I hope they stay like this forever!

Too bad it is so pretty

I wish this picture would have turned out better.  Last Saturday the trees were filled with the most beautiful frost.  Every tree was white.  It was so cool looking that I had to go outside to take pictures before everything melted.  Even though I am so ready for this winter to be over, I will soon miss how cool everything looks right after a snowfall.

Getting used to the snow

It is nice to see Hannah playing outside in the snow.  I am not a huge fan of playing outside myself and for the past two years Hannah was taking after her mommy and was not a fan herself.  Last year when Brian would pick her up at daycare he would usually find her all bundled up, sitting in a sled, covered in a comforter, watching all of the other kids play in the snow.  Yep...that's my girl!

This year has been much different.  I remember after one of the first snowfalls this year, Brian went to pick the girls up from Jackie's and to his surprise, Hannah was sitting in a sled being pulled around the yard.  As the winter went on he would come to find her shoveling the snow, building a snowman, throwing snowballs, and even sitting inside the igloo that all the kids made. 

I am thankful for Jackie and for the fact that she takes the kids outside all the time....that way I don't feel so bad about not wanting to play out in the snow with her :-)

Pink Marshmallow

Each time we get Hailey bundled up to go outside Hannah giggles and tells me that Hailey looks like a big pink marshmallow.  Typically this is how we see Hailey...all bundled up in her seat with just her little face sticking out.

I should be...

I should be catching up on the blogging that I missed out on doing this past weekend.  I should  be blogging about the silly things that Hannah said this weekend or the adorable ways that Hailey looked and how amazed I have been about her development lately.  I really wanted to find a silly picture of Hannah and blog about a little interaction we had today.  Instead I sit hear crying.
I lost a friend today.  A friend that has been fighting for her life since before Christmas.  She went in for an elective surgery and here we are 2 months later having to say goodbye.  Thinking about all of the memories we have had with her.  Thinking about the person she was. 
She will never see her children get married...she will never meet her grandchildren.  It saddens me.  She was an amazing person and every memory I have of her is a fond one.  No words could describe the kind of person she was or how she made everyone around her feel. 
I have been having a rough couple of weeks.  Today, before I got this horrific news, I was feeling sad, defeated, tired.  I sat at work today and on more than one occasion started crying for no particular reason.  Knowing that things don't just magically 'get better' I made some decisions to take care of some unfinished business.  I made an apology (that was long overdue).  I also have decided that there are a few things in my personal life and at work that I need to take care of. 
First item....I will not let myself feel bad about missing out on the goal that I set to post a picture of the day.  I am just not in the mood tonight.
Hug those around you that you love and never miss an opportunity to tell someone how you feel about them.

Had to document this moment

I came home from work tonight and turned the corner to find Hailey hanging out on the couch holding one of Hannah's babies.  Daddy was cooking supper and asked Hannah to watch Hailey while he cooked.  Hannah gave Hailey one of her babies to play with.  It cracked me up turning to see Hailey with a baby doll on her lap, not much smaller than she is.  It reminded me of when Hailey was first brought home from the hospital and Hannah would hold her.  Before Hailey knew I was there she just sat, with her hand on the babies head, just hanging out.  As soon as she saw me she smiled so big her cheeks looked as though they were going to burst!

A girl and her shoes

Hannah's newest obsession is a pair of black patent leather shoes with a buckle.  They were in a bag of clothes that she got from Chloe.  She wore them for Christmas and recently found them in her closet.

If Hannah is home, these shoes are on her feet.  She prefers to wear them with bare feet but as you can see from the picture, they work out just fine with socks on too!    As soon as Hannah puts these shoes on she transforms into 'a grown up'.  She starts walking differently, starts talking different.  She likes to put these shoes on, packs her babies up in the stroller, and then 'goes to work'. 

I catch her looking at her reflection in the stove.  She starts back about 10 feet from the stove and walks towards the stove, talking to herself the whole way there.  She will get within 1-2 feet, stop, turn around, look at herself over her shoulder, put her hands on her hips and walk away.  Repeating these steps often. 

I think she likes the sound they make when she walks across the hardwood or tile floor.  I can relate.  I actually remembering watching myself through the magical mirror of the stove reflection when I was younger. 

I did the mom thing

Last weekend, Judy and Denny, invited us to hang out and swim at a local hotel.  Jennifer, Tom, and the kids would be coming too.  Now, the part about hanging out at a hotel sounded fun to me.  Swimming....are you kidding me?!  I don't even own a swimsuit. 

Now, I am not going to lie to you...I was looking forward to Hannah going swimming.  I checked with Judy and Jennifer and both of them were going to swim.  Sweet!  That would mean that I wouldn't have to.  I could sit on the side of the pool and take pictures.  Yes, that's a good plan.

So here we were, Saturday morning, I was packing up a bag getting ready for the girls to have fun with their swimming adventure.  Hannah comes along, helping me pack the bag.  She looks up at me with her adorable face and says "You swim wif me mom?  Hailey swim wif me too?"  Now, not only does this little girl have the sweetest face you have ever seen but the voice she uses to ask questions...so full of hope and joy.  How could I say no?!  How could I tell her that her mommy feels too chubby to swim with her and is embarrassed that she hasn't lost the baby weight (plus some) yet?  How do I tell her that my self conscious feeling about my looks right now mean more to me than spending time experiencing that moment with her?  How could I show her that it is ok to be ashamed of what you look like because you are scared of what someone else is going to think about you? 

At that moment, I was going to make a decision to do something that was going to be more than just swimming with my daughters.  So, I picked up and Hannah and I went to find me a suit.

We spent the rest of the afternoon painting our toenails and getting ready for our evening together.

I am proud of myself.  We had a great time and Hannah LOVED swimming.

P.S.  I didn't die.  Can you believe it?!  I survived AND my family still loves me :-)

Thanks mommy

 Tonight while coloring...

Hannah:  "Good job mommy.  That looks cool."
Me:  "Thanks Hannah"
     and before I could get a word out
Hannah:  "Mommy, tell me 'good job Hannah and say that's cool, Hannah."
Me:  "Good job, Hannah.  That looks cool."
Hannah:  "Thanks mommy"

What did you say??!!

Me:  'Hannah, I need to go upstairs and feed Hailey then it is going to be time for us to eat supper.  Are you going to stay down here and play or come with me?"
Hannah: "I come with you mommy.  I help you feed Hailey, it gets tricky sometimes.  I help you."

What?!  Where in the world does she come up with this stuff?  As we were walking up the stairs I could see Brian peeking around the corner to giggle with me about what just came out of her mouth.

What is so terrible about being two?

I am having a really hard time believing the 'terrible twos' exist.  I am thinking it is more of an urban legend.    Two has been good to us.  Sure we have our moments.  Hannah has learned what time out is.  I have learned how long it takes before I run out of patience.  I have had days when I wished I owned ear plugs.    

Things aren't perfect at our house...by any means.  But things are not terrible. 

We have yet to experience our first public tantrum. 

I realize that Hannah has only been two for 5 months, there is still plenty of time left.  So far so good :-)

It's a poo party!

She did it!  Amazing what a little one will do for a trip to Chuck E Cheese.  Hannah has been going potty in the toilet for a month now but going #2 has been a little more tricky.  Many times she would either ask for a diaper or complain that her tummy hurts so we would put a diaper on her hoping that she would get out whatever was giving her trouble. 
She decided on her own to start pooping on the potty chair at daycare.  Not interested at home but mastering this skill while at Jackie's each day. 
I had to do it, I had to bribe her.  I told her, one week of pooping on the potty at home and we could celebrate at Chuck E Cheese.  That was all it took.  Knowing that we would likely be heading to Chuck E Cheese on a weekend, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone (or bribe, rather).  We were having a little issue with Hannah letting Brian help her in the bathroom.  She only wanted mommy to help her.  She wanted mommy to wipe her, help her on the toilet, etc.  There were even a few times when Brian was home with her and she would refuse to go because she wouldn't let him help her.  I was desperate.
Me:  "Hannah, now all you have to do is let daddy help you go potty and we get to go to Chuck E Cheese!"
Hannah:  (saying this in the exact same tone as I used for her)  "Mommy, I already did poop in the potty chair.  I already did it."
I thought you were suppose to be able to 'trick' two year olds.  Guess not this one.
Needless to say, we celebrated her latest accomplishment with grandpa, Jennie, Kimmy, and Kristin.

Mom, I need you glasses

The other day Hannah and I were driving in the car. 

Hannah:  "Mommy, it's to blight (bright).  I need jew (you) glasses."

I handed her my glasses.

Me:  "Hannah, how are those glasses working?"

I got no response. 

I turn to look and realize that she has fallen asleep like this.

1, 2, 3, JUMP!

I am sitting here trying to think of what to say about this picture, taken just this week, and I am speechless.    I am usually a person of many words and there are very few times in life when I truly have nothing to say.    This picture makes me speechless at this moment.  I think it's because I am so in awe of this little girl.  I am actually shocked at how much she has grown and how fast the time has gone by.  I feel like I was just pregnant waiting for her to arrive and I look at this picture and realize that she is supporting herself in there.
Look at that spot on her face right abover her cheeks and right next to her eye.  That is my favorite part to kiss. 
Really...I just don't know what I could possibly say right now to help anyone understand how I feel when I look at this picture.

Mmmmmmm

Woo Hoo!  Hailey turned 4 months old, you know what that means?!  We get to start solids!

I love feeding babies!  I love watching them get excited about the new texture.  Watching them move the food around with their tongue and learning to do something that we take for granted everyday.    She looked so cute with that rice cereal in her mouth.  On one hand she could not stop smiling, I am pretty sure she just loved all of the attention.  Mom, dad, Hannah, all around staring at her waiting to see what her reaction would be. 

For those of you that know what a big helper Hannah is, you can imagine how much she is enjoying this. 

Hannah:  "Mom, I help you feed Hailey (pronounced Hay-dee), ok?"

Me:  " Of course Hannah, I would love your help"

Hannah:  "Hailey can wear my bib."

Me:  "Thanks Hannah, you are such a nice big sister."

Hannah:  "Your welcome mommy"

It takes three times as long to feed her and it gets extremely messy but that is the price you pay to experience that little moment of Hannah really embracing her role as the big sister and mommy's little helper.

Eighty year old you...

It is no secret how I feel about these girls.  Anyone who knows me knows that once Hannah was born, my life was forever changed.  

The other night I was snuggling with both of the girls on the couch and it hit me...I will never know the 80 year old Hannah.  I will never see Hailey turn 80 years old.  It made me sad.


That got me thinking about my grandma. 

Grandma is the matriarch of the family.  Not in a bossy-do-as-I-say-cause-I-said-so type of way but in a make-sure-everyone-is taken-care-of-and-knows-they-are-loved-sort of way. 

Walk into grandma's house and from the instant your feet hit the carpet until the moment you get in your car to leave, you have her undivided attention.  There is no question that she loves her family and that she would do anything for us.  She truly cares about us and it is obvious when talking to her that she really cares about what you are telling her.  She has instilled values in all of us and my sisters and I often joke about how we are more nervous about disappointing grandma than disappointing our mom or dad.  Nobody wants to disappoint their parents but you really don't want to disappoint grandma.  The funny thing about that is that I am not sure that any one of us could actually even do anything that would disappoint her. 

She is the most forgiving, generous, caring, and loving woman I have ever met.  She sure has set a good example of what a grandma is all about.  I sure hope that my eighty year old Hannah and Hailey are just like her.

Grandma Alice, my great-grandmother, would be so proud of her daughter.