Its finally here

Ever since the girls were born, I got many many people to tell me "Ohhh. It will get easier. It will get easier...." and all I could think was that they were LIARS. Finally its here. Its "easier" or is it different? I will say that they have turned a corner in the last few months. Playing together, taking turns, cracking each other up, running around silly and giving lots of love and hugs, telling each other they are their "best friend" and always wanting to play together.

Well almost always.

Typical day at our friend's (the Finches) house: Erin/Amanda/Mckenna are down in the basement playing "babies" and where's Nora? Upstairs reading books in Amanda's room quietly. Nora does tend to like being alone more often than Erin. Erin gets hurt feelings when Nora tells her "no" that she doesn't want to play. Getting to know the neighbors' kids as well, and the girls are having a lot of fun, finally leaving mommy and daddy's side to go explore and get into some sort of trouble. No, really they are good little girls. We couldn't be prouder!

They had their first Haircut Feb 14, 2009. Nora's hair was SO long!!! Erin's was pretty long but her waves made it seem shorter.

In March they went bowling for the first time. By that I mean Erin tried to pick up every bowling ball she could get her mits on (yes even the people the lane next to us) and Nora would "help" roll the ball down the lane.

In April the girls got to go to their first Easter Egg hunt. It was such a nice day that they had a huge turnout, was a bit crowded, but they liked seeing the bunny.

In May we went back to Brookfield Zoo (our membership passes had not quite expired from last summer) and they were big enough to ride on the large Merry Go Round that is in the front. They just loved it to bits, and have even picked out their next "animal" to ride on.

June is around the corner with Memorial Day coming up this weekend. Daddy is planning to go to the Blackhawks playoff game this weekend, he is so excited. We are happy he is able to go! Monday (Memorial Day) we are hoping to go out with Uncle Ed, Brighid and Conor and fly kites. Should be fun.

Conor is graduating 8th grade already... time does fly its so true what they say.

I'm planning a Dora the Explorer 3rd birthday party for the girls. Working on menus and party lists as of now. Gotta find that Dora pinata!

No major plans as of yet for summertime, hopefully lots of fun with neighbors and friends. Looking forward to getting outside a lot more.

What we are up to at two and a half

The girls turned two and a half on Dec 30th. What do they do all day anyways?

Talking. A lot.

Potty training, getting better. Some days are great, others are very wet.

Learning to share. More like whining and jumping up and down while waiting for their turn. Working on that.

Manners are being practiced. Love hearing "You're welcome mommy!" Please and Thank yous are coming along.








Things we love:
Dora
Spaghetti
Bacon (Nora)
puppy dogs
kitty cats
Jumping - We went to jump zone with the twins club. DEFINITELY a wonderful winter activity!
Running in circles



Erin jumped off the couch into the coffee table in December. Hit the corner of the table just above her right eye brow. (man does the head bleed!) That was a fun trip to urgent care. It was wonderful that it is within walking distance. Miss Tabitha got to come and help/watch. They gave her that skin-glue but unfortunately it rubbed off when she was sleeping on day 2 of having it.

Their memory still amazes me, as most moms will contest, you know that it will develop but its neat to see it in front of you.

I took a spill down the garage stairs in the summer. I was carrying Nora and the diaper bag, wearing flip flops and yes down I went so scared of hitting Nora's head on the concrete garage floor I took a big hit from the wooden stairs and the floor. Nora was fine thank goodness, me not so much. Giant knot on my shin and LOTS of black and blue bruises and scrapes. To this day if I am carrying Nora outside, she says to me, "Mommy no fall down!" ok, trust me I will be very careful not to, it hurt really bad!

They remember gifts they got for Christmas, such as "Grandma gave me these pajamas" or Miss Tab gave us these shirts. Its neat to see their memory expanding. They know that Daddy works in Chicago, and takes the train every day. If you ask where they live, Nora answers Illinois, but Erin is adamant that she simply lives "at home". They know that Grandma Ann lives in Florida and has to take an airplane to get there.

They know that to go to school (Kindergarten) they have to be 5. Every morning as we pass the school to drop them off at daycare, they see the kids waiting for the bus stops and going into the school. They love to talk about when they are 5 and can go to school with teachers and kids and fun. Oh are they going to be in for a surprise. :)

They really enjoyed playing in the snow. The last BIG snow was 1/10. They helped shovel the driveway too!

Getting Ready For Christmas

Looking forward to a few days off for Thanksgiving and spending time with friends. Oh yes, and all the FOOD!

Although its only Thanksgiving week, the girls are getting ready for Christmas! I've taken out a few Christmas items so that I can take my time to decorate.

Here is a video of the girls enjoying the Rudolph stuffed animal that plays "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." fun!

Sit N Spin

Oh what fun you can have when you're 2. Yes, they do own a sit n spin, No, they do not use it very much, but LOVE the lazy susan on the top of the table.

a little update

Its September now, and the weather has gotten just a little cooler. The girls are wondering why the need for light jackets and socks/shoes vs. tank tops and sandals. They are very adament on what clothing they want to wear - typical 2 year old behavior.

Other typical 2-year old behavior is biting. They are biting each other and nothing seems to help. Time outs - yelling - making a fuss over the victim - banishing to cribs... hopefully like everything else will be a phase and pass soon.

The girls love watching College Football with us, and Nora will throw up an arm and yell "GO go go!" too funny.

2 cute kid quotes:

When asking Nora if she would like turkey and cheese for lunch, she simply shakes head and says, No like that. So I asked what she would like for lunch, "Cookie" with a smile was her reply.

Watching bull-riding on tv (The girls thought they were "jumping cows) -- and no we typically DO NOT watch bull-riding, however Brent was explaining that they are not cows, but Bulls, and see that they have 2 horns, to which Erin replied, "Beep Beep."

Pool Time in the hot summer sun

The girls spend most weekends at home playing in the pool and sand table.

I will be wishing for these days come February.

more summer fun

remember being a kid and lying on your back and watching the clouds float by?

2-Year Doctor Appointment

Took the girls on Friday to the doctor for their well-baby checkup.

The doc wants us to take Nora for an echocardio gram, since her heart murmur is still present. They thought by age 2 it would be gone. They want to compare it to when she was 3 months old, to see if there were any changes. He talked about why we would want to do that, etc, with our heart history, etc. He said it wasn’t “urgent” but certainly something to have in her files as we are watching her grow up. If something were to change, her growth, activity etc then he would be very concerned, but he isn’t “worried” but wants to keep an eye on it. So have to schedule that, I think I will do that in sept at some point.

Otherwise, they had 1 shot each, I think it was called the HepB? They were both right around 24lbs and 32 inches tall. They are 25% for weight and 10% for height on the charts for girls at age 2. (so a little small) but they have always been on the “smaller” side so he isn’t worried.

He said they looked great, and are very active and talkative. Erin wouldn’t open her mouth for him to check her teeth / gums, but Nora did (I think since Nora went second, she saw what the doctor was doing, etc..) Plus I was holding Nora and talking to her, “See how the doctor will look at your ears, eyes, etc?” They have a little stethescope for an “animal hospital” toy they got so I was showing them that and how you can listen to your heart, etc at the doctor.

Overall they did well. Erin didn’t cry for her shot, but Nora did. I held each of them (facing me) and the nurse did the shot, I said the Nurse is going to put medicine in your leg – and then you get a Bandaid!!! Erin was happy with her Bandaid. Nora, not so much, but once we got out of there and each got a sticker AND lollipop, all was right with the world.

Diaper issues

Can't seem to keep their diapers on.

Tried the diapers on backwards. Tried the onsies on backwards. PJs, etc. you name it they can get out of it and then off comes the diapers. Yes a few accidents have happened because of it. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all well aware that when you are potty training, you will have accidents. BUT if we were amidst potty training (Which we are not--yet) that would be fine. We are just having accidents because they are naked at every chance they get. ah!

Erin's been using the potty every day. Not consistently, but if she asks to go, we let her go, and she will usually go. Nora has now lost all interest in the potty and can't even get her to try, that is fine, she is not ready. But she still wants to follow Erin through the steps of the whole ordeal!

So the question is, do I start to potty train Erin now and wait until Nora is ready? Is that harder or easier? I don't know the answer to that, so therefore, I will just let Erin go when she wants and praise her for it. No pushing or forcing. Still changing diapers....