Change..

That is what my kids do best...Change...Grow...Learn...Explore...I wish they would slow down...I want them to stay small longer...but alas, I think that is the wish of every parent. We get excited for them to walk and talk and then we are ready for them to sit down and shut up!

My Princess is now 2. When did that happen? Seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home. She is talking in sentences. Day time potty trained (since about the beginning of June!!). Running, jumping, hopping, galloping - there just is no walking involved. She has more 'boo-boos' than can be counted - most simply because she doesn't slow down long enough to even keep up with herself! She is so smart, lovable, and adorable, she is a little spit fire - she loves to test the limits and can throw a tantrum like no other! (fortunately, this side of her is not often seen!!) She loves the water, and can pretty much swim the doggie paddle with the aid of a life jacket.

Little Man is now 10 months, crawling everywhere, has 2 teeth, gets to sitting and standing, said his first 'real' word yesterday - Ball - and he even says it at the appropriate time. He of course said 'mama' first, because he is a huge Mama's Boy, followed by dada, and now Ball. I have a feeling he will soon be walking (much earlier than his sister) and talking (again, earlier than his sister).

Things are not too much different with the husband and myself - both continue with the same jobs (hoping to change this fall!), we have a wonderful home and amazing family and friends near by to enjoy our children with! The summer so far has been busy, we go nonstop it seems. Both of the babies loved the fireworks on the 4th of July. They are both like fish when it comes to water. Being outside takes up most of our days.

My sweet girl has developed an obsession with the Ice Cream Truck, though, who can really blame her ;P And to think I had her convinced it was the music truck and we danced every time it passed by our house (sometimes twice a day) - then 'G' comes along and lets her in on the secret! We have since (after finally locating the thing again - of course once she knew what it was, it didn't come by for a few weeks - not really a bad thing, but it was hard to watch her stare out the window everyday saying "Iceee creeeam truck, where are yoooou?") enjoyed 2 ice creams from the truck!

well nap time doesn't last long, a few things left to be done that are easier without help!

We're a family of four now!

Welcome to the world Nikolas!! Our sweet "little man" arrived September 2 at 1:19pm weighing 7 pounds and was 21 1/4 inches long! He was born with a full head of dark brown hair and dark (think black) eyes!! Big sister Isabelle didn't know what to make of him at first. She arrived in the delivery room not long after he was born - just long enough for me to be cleaned up and decent. I was holding Nikolas in my arms, all wrapped in a blanket, screaming his head off (this was the scene for about the first hour after he was born!). Isabelle looked at him, got a huge pout on her face, and then started crying! It nearly broke my heart! She eventually warmed up to him after some loves from mommy. The next morning when she came to visit at the hospital she walked purposefully into the room, right over the edge of the bed, patted it, and said "uh" - we then lifted her up onto the bed, where she promptly looked at Nikolas and patted her lap and held her arms out!!! <3 She held him for a moment, then pushed him back to mommy, then wanted him back...we continued this scenario until she became interested in his hospital bassinet. It was very cute and reassuring though!

Now that we are home (and nearly 5 weeks later) she goes about her own business as usual, with a few more tantrums - but what can you expect...a new sibling coupled with being nearly 2? we're bound to have tantrums! She likes to hold him, when she is good and ready, give him kisses, then hand him back off and go about what ever she was doing before! Life is going great as a mommy of two. I'm dreading my return to work - I don't know how I will make it - I remember my first night to work after having Izzie...I cried the whole way there, and sporadically throughout the night. Someone asked me how she was and I nearly broke down right on the spot. It was awful, I was a blubbering mess! lol I can't imagine my first time away from my TWO babies will be easier.

Well the wool soaking in the sink is calling my name...nap time only lasts so long!

MTM...Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

Well it is Muffin Tin Monday again!! If you are unsure what that means...be sure to check out Her Cup Overfloweth! Today's theme is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! I had fun coming up with a lunch to fit today's theme, even with the house nearly eaten empty of lunch type foods!

So today...Izzie Jo enjoyed...

• A waffle car, with sunbutter holding on the banana wheels, and homemade strawberry jelly windows.
• A forest of broccoli trees, since we see lots of trees when we go in the car!
• A "red sea" of dried cranberries.
• A hotdog boat with a rice cheese sail!

I STILL need to get a muffin tin, and didn't feel that ghost tins would work well with today's theme, so we had our lunch on a plate!

Muffin Tin Monday

I have been following this blog for a little while now. Each week I read it and think to myself that Izzie would probably enjoy Muffin Tin Monday...to mix things up a little! What is Muffin Tin Monday, you ask? Each Monday, a meal or snack, catered to a theme presented on Her Cup Overfloweth, is provided in a muffin tin! I have been following for a few weeks now, and it is amazing how creative people get with their muffin tins. This week was a No Theme week, and I decided it would be a good week to give it our first try. While out and about yesterday, I attempted to find a smallish muffin tin, as Izzie really doesn't need 12 choices, or 12 slots for a meal/snack. I wasn't successful in finding a muffin tin, but remembered that I had some little ghost shaped tins at home, so decided our first week would use those! Our tin was for lunch time today...she had: Vegetable Soup, Oyster Crackers, 1/2 a banana, and some dried cranberries! She really seemed to like the idea of her lunch being served in separate little containers!!
But I have decided that I do need to invest in a suitable muffin tin, as the tin ghosts ended up crumbled in her lap by the end of lunch! Guess they were as fun to squish as they were to eat from!

Cupboard shopping and pockets....

The other day I was scurrying around the playroom picking up toys while exclaiming to my toddler, who happened to be in the next room (kitchen) how much fun it was and that mommy needed help. Suddenly, I heard a noise..a noise similar to a box of crackers being dropped...I silently moved to the doorway, so as not to disturb whatever goings on were occurring in the kitchen...and to my surprise...found my toddler, beagle, and one of the cats "shopping"!! So instead of telling her, that no, we do not get into the cupboards....Mommy ran for the camera!

It was no real surprise to me to see that the dog was in on her adventure....it isn't often that you see my toddler around the house without the beagle somewhere close by...they are becoming fast friends...and I'm afraid of what trouble this twosome may some day cause. The cat helper did somewhat surprise me...and she soon left the festivities...guess a nap was more exciting than cupboard shopping!

Not long after we cleaned up from cupboard shopping I turned to find Izzie with her hands in her pockets...this is a new thing, and might I add VERY adorable!! She doesn't quite get that her balance is off with both hands in her pockets...so she has taken a couple tumbles with no way to catch herself...but I think she is starting to get the hang of it!

Notice her trusty accomplice still at her side....

Beach baby, beach baby, give me your hand...

Now that the weather has finally decided to grace us with some summer days we are getting out and about more! We have quickly discovered that Izzie LOVES the beach! More precisely, she loves the water...any water will do really, a bath, a shower, the sink, her kiddie pool, but she really loves the beach! She loves the sand and water, and is happy as can be to just sit at the edge of the water splashing and playing with a bucket! If we plan to head to the beach for the day, we had better plan on spending most of it by the water's edge! Forget about lunch and lounging under an umbrella reading a good book while she plays close by in the sand...NOPE! Water's edge it is for her!


Izzie even enjoyed being buried in the sand! Grammie and Uncle buried her legs in the sand on a recent family trip to the beach. She thought it was great to wiggle her toes free while they scrambled to try to keep them covered!


Needless to say, we will be planning several more beach days...should the weather cooperate!

Getting Ready....

I feel so unprepared this time around. But really, we aren't. We have most all the big stuff we need - we will be getting Izzie a toddler bed a few months after the baby comes (daring, aren't we!), so he can use the crib...therefore he is also getting the dresser that is now in her room (since it matches the crib), so we are looking for a new dresser for her. But really, those are the only big things we really need.

He has some clothes that will fit, and I plan to take a shopping trip sooner than later to get them both some more clothes.

As far as diapers go...we are nearly set. We need to get the next size up in prefolds, just in case he is bigger than we anticipate and we need them really soon after he is born. We need a few more wetbags as well, but really, those won't be 100% needed until I go back to work, although it would be nice to have a few more on hand before then for any outings we may take. I washed through his newborn diapers last night! They are soooo tiny! I can't wait to use them. I think we are going to use sposies in the hospital, and then start cloth as soon as we get home. I just don't want to have to worry about losing any or having to wash if we run low/out.

So overall, I think we are fairly prepared for his arrival, whenever that may be. I think I just feel unprepared because, really, we haven't had to do too much to prepare, since we already had everything. Yes, we cleaned out and decorated his room, and washing clothes and diapers. And just getting the house clean in general...(THANK YOU NESTING!). But I think we are ready. And if we find something we need, we'll just have to go get it once he is here!