What the girls are saying these days... C15L3 (I'm switching Lorelei's age from months to years now because it is too hard to keep track)

"I'm making a trap!" exclaims Lorelei when I ask her what she is building. "Who are you going to trap?" I ask her, hoping for an answer that is not going to get me called into the Director's office at preschool when she tells them what she did at home yesterday.  "I'm trapping the horses so the wolves and tigers won't eat them." Well, as longs as she is trying to keep the horses alive, I'm in the clear!  I know from my teacher days that when kids are in kindergarten, they tell the best stories and play with such imagination.  What they didn't tell me was kids start this at three years old- well at least my daughter does.  I'm going to try and record all these little sayings because they are so unique to this stage of her life and I can never recall them later. It must be "mom brain"- I wonder how long I can use that excuse?  And of course, I will add Camilla sayings as well as they occur.  Her most recent rambling today was, "Eeeebbbbbeee baby".  Then as we were getting ready to leave, I asked Camilla if she was ready to go the park and she vigorously shook her head yes and said, "Go park", quite clearly. She is growing up so fast!

C9L35

Looking at my last post I saw I never published it (that seems to happen... so I apologize for the delay.  So now, flash forward 3 months and Camilla is crawling, standing up using the furniture, and a tooth finally pushed through her bottom gums.  She also is loving to eat yogurt puffs and Lorelei meanwhile has become quite the musical girl (even at the moment she is dancing in the living room) due to her Tiny Tunes Music Together class. We always knew she had a love of music since John would dance her around to ABBA and Madonna as a young baby. Now she has the personality and sass to jump in the middle of the circle filled with ten adults and kids at music class and dance her little heart out!  She has quite good rhythm and can clap and stomp to the beat. Even when I watch Dancing with the Stars she is tuned into what the dancers are doing and tries to copy them.  We are also all finally healthy. It was a long time where the girls would be sick then John and I would get sick. It went through that cycle two times! So I am looking forward to spring and summer and hopefully the viruses will go into hibernation.

Lorelei 3 Camilla 1

I've normally kept track of the girls ages by months, but lately with Lorelei being 3 years old counting past 36 months seems kind of crazy. But for those of you who like to keep track, Lorelei is 39 months old and Camilla is 13 months old. It was a special day today because Lorelei had a playdate at her preschool and she officially starts in a week! We are all excited, but I'm also a little nostalgic because it's like where did these last three years go?! Of course looking back through pictures and videos I remember it all so clearly, all of her firsts (steps, words, phrases, and now she even has full conversations with jokes and intelligent comparisons and connections, it truly seems like she has made leaps and bounds). Of course this happens with all kids, but seeing your first child go off to school is pretty amazing! She told me she is going to miss me and even sang me the "Who says they're coming back" song from music class, but I know she will adapt, learn a lot, and become even more independent (even though she already gets dressed, brushes her teeth, sleeps in her own bed, and goes potty all by herself, with privacy of course!). I'm thrilled (and a little sad that she doesn't need me as much) for her to grow as a person without me always by her side.  Although she will be in school a few days a week for a couple of hours, I still have my sweet baby, Camilla, to keep me company. However, besides her bald head, she is hardly a little baby anymore! She walks, climbs, dances, claps, says "baby", tries to pick up other babies (yes, real ones!), bites and pinches Lorelei when she takes her toys, hugs and kisses us, and was playing outside with Lorelei and her other preschool friends like she was one of them! I have two sweet, sassy, opinionated, smart, and kind girls and I'm greatful everyday that I get to be there for them and with them to watch them grow.

As some of you know, I'm turning 30 in a few weeks, and as I reflect on everything that my life has become, I know I've done something special... I grew two babies (with the help of John, of course), gave birth to them (which will forever be my most powerful moments in life), and raised independent, smart, funny, and joyful girls (with many more amazing years to come). With all this, I still have time for date nights with John to strengthen our marriage, so we are not just "Mommy and Daddy" (thank you to all the grandparents for babysitting!),  activities with family and friends (i.e. Girls Night Out, Fantasy Football, Zumba, and traveling), and alone time to decompress, exercise, read, or go shopping (again, thank you grandparents and John:). So if I ever feel distraught over not having a career (which I do realize is incorrect because really, what harder job is there than stay home mom) and not having enough time to develop my own interests or feeling that my identity is wrapped up in being a wife and mom, I'm going to slap myself and reread this post! I wouldn't be who I am without my family: Noel=John=Lorelei=Camilla=Family=Friends=Life

C6L32

I just asked Lorelei if she liked an orange I gave her and she said, "Sure did".  It cracked me up and prompted me to write some more about our lives these days.  For one, Lorelei hit a major milestone by consistently using the potty when we are at home! For awhile I thought she was never going to give in and use the potty and I would be changing her diaper well into preschool, but everyone said eventually kids just decide to do it and it happened. Woohoo!! I'm still not brave enough to go out in public with no diaper, but I know we will both be brave one of these days and just take our chances that there will be a toilet really near by when the urge hits!  Lorelei amazed me once again last week when she was counting some coins. All of a sudden she busted out a new skill and counted from one to ten.... in Spanish. I guess Dora the Explorer does come in handy. One final adorable thing Lorelei does (of course there are many more, but I will only highlight a few:) is she likes to make up her own stories now. Her most recent story was about a princess in a castle and wolves try to blow her house down! She still surprises me every day with what she can do. This is what I love about being a stay home mom.  I'm always there to experience my girls' growth.  Now on to Camilla.  She has always been such a smiley, happy baby, but now she is getting a little demanding, in an adorable way of course.  She will shriek, cry, babble, and grab anything to get your attention.  She will also laugh hysterically.  Lorelei especially has a way of making her laugh.  Last night, John was holding Camilla and chasing Lorelei around the house. They were all having so much fun and it made me think about the near future when the girls will really play together. Camilla is also attempting to crawl often these days. She can push up her top half and then stick her rear up and scoot forward. I can even hold up her hips and she will hold her position on all fours for a few seconds.  She may be on the move sooner than later.

What a Year

    When I look back to January 2012, I was pregnant with our yet to be named baby girl and still in the throes of what they call "morning sickness" (although I prefer to call it "the most horrible all day nausea I've ever had in my life" sickness). Lorelei could only say a few words and phrases and still seemed like a baby to me.  Now fast forward to today and I have beautiful Camilla asleep next to me on the couch and Lorelei is singing the theme song to Dora the Explorer like she has been talking in full sentences her whole life.  It really is astonishing how human life is made and then grows in such rapid leaps and bounds.  My two girls are the best gift I could have ever asked of Santa.  And of course my girls wouldn't even be her without my wonderful husband, John, who shows me every day how much he loves me and our family.  If I ever give advice to a newly married couple (which I still feel we are although we celebrated our 5th anniversary this July), it would be to show each other their love every day with small acts of kindness. It could be making coffee in the morning, taking care of the kids on a Sunday morning so you can sleep in, or giving you the opportunity to take time for yourself after a busy day.
    We have had such a life changing year with the arrival of Camilla. Taking care of two kids is definitely double the laundry, diapers, and sleep deprivation, but it is also double the fun, love, and pure joy! Camilla is rolling all over the floor and has great eye-hand coordination when she grabs on to her toys and pacifier. She loves to play with her sister by grabbing her hair (this doesn't go over that well with Lorelei) and smiling and laughing.  I think she would win a Gerber baby contest with her bubbly personality and squeezable cheeks!
   Lorelei has had a year full of play dates with her friends, time with all her grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, art class, and dance class.  She is starting a music class next month and hopefully will be out of diapers soon! She can use the toilet, but chooses not to, even when I try to bribe her with M&Ms and gummy bears.  She sleeps in her big girl bed all night, but once or so a night she calls for John to come to her room so she still gets her present for sleeping in her room and not coming into our room. She is such a smart cookie! 
    As far as John and I are concerned, we are loving life in a sleep deprived haze, but we know it is a short term phase, right?! We are able to go out to eat together once a month and reconnect just the two of us, which is so nice. Sometimes it is easy to fall into being Mama and Daddy all the time.  John has changed to another group in Woodward, so he is back in Loveland.  He loves having a shorter commute and feels recharged working on a different project. He tries to work on his CNC mill when there is kid-free time and also makes it to the gym after work as often as he can. He also spent a few days after work going up to the mountain properties with his friends to chop down trees, clear brush, and go fishing. I have been enjoying spending time with my group of friends I met last year. We all have kids the same ages and I feel so lucky to have a group of women to share stories, frustrations, have fun with the kids, and offer support as "stay home and work all day" moms. I enjoy going to zumba once a week to shake off those baby pounds and making new recipes in the kitchen.  I love to cook and learn about nutrition and I feel passionate about the health of my family.
     Last, but definitely not least, we would like to thank all our family and friends who have given us their love, support, and time this year!  I would like to especially thank our parents who have helped us in all facets of life... making us dinners, taking care of the girls, helping with laundry, and giving us their time, advice, and support.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what 2013 brings us.

C4L30

Change is in the air.  It's not just that we are entering winter and have had our first snow that stuck, but Camilla and Lorelei are growing and changing faster than we can keep up with. Camilla is such a little ball of joy and energy. She loves to roll around the floor, play in her saucer (you know that chair that spins around a tray of toys), and smile and laugh with about anyone who lays eyes on her.  She especially cracks up around Lorelei and when I tickle her belly with kisses. Physically, she is getting so big that when I hold her to feed her, my arm always falls asleep under the weight of her head; I blame her, rather large head, on her father's genes. Although, we always say, "Big head, big brain!"  We don't have her doctor's appointment until next week, but I believe she must be tipping the scale at 15 lbs.  She is also chewing and sucking on almost all toys and fingers she can get her hands on. Teeth may be emerging soon.  She is such a sweet, happy, and mellow baby, but at night lately, we say her "inner Lorelei" is rearing her non-sleeping head because at 3 a.m. most mornings she is rolling around in her bassinet making pig/dinosaur type snorting noises.  She wants to eat and be held, for what seems, like the rest of the morning until she finally wakes around 6:30 a.m.  She is almost able to sit up on her own and right now she can hold herself up with the assistance of a boppy or bumbo (I love the names that are given to baby equipment!)  Lorelei is also continuing to change every month, which astounds me. I think I have her figured out, and then she learns a new skill or trick.  She has increased her running speed and I find it difficult to catch her these days. She thinks this is quite hilarious. John and her play a game at night where they run through the house as different animals. Her favorite seems to be the eagle. She also usually chooses to do things, that I normally wouldn't allow, when I'm feeding Camilla and can't get to her. Smart little cookie! She has mastered the Roku remote in order to channel surf her favorite shows (still Dora, and also Curious George and Sean the Sheep) and singing "The Farmer and the Dell". Recently, she has started to really pronounce her "R's", so instead of saying "Famer and the Dell" she really pronounces, "Farmer".  I take her to an art class once a week. It's been fun having special alone time with her.  I try to help her with her artwork, but she is still firmly in the, "I do it" stage.  This carries over to the kitchen now too. She says, "I want to watch you cook food", but she really means, "I'm going to make dinner". She is an expert mixer and pourer. I hope she soon learns how to use a knife and the stove so she can cook dinner for us (just kidding, Mom; definitely no knives until she is atleast 5!). Then she says at dinner, "You're a good cook. So yummy. So delicious." She is an independent firecracker and also a little sweetheart who loves to hug and kiss her family and friends and says, "I love you, Mommy. I love you Daddy. I love you Camilla", every night before bed.  Being a mom is such a joy and I'm so excited that two of my sister in laws will be having babies this May. Congratulations Ann Marie and Arella (and to you Dads, Josh and Justin!)

C2L28 Part 2

These last few months have been full of fun, laundry, cuddles, and spit up. In other words, it's life with a new baby. Things are going smoothly now that we know how to operate with two kids. John takes one, I take the other, leaving two exhausted parents! But we love it all the same. Somehow I've managed to handle them both when John is at work and still keep my sanity. That might be because Camilla is a model baby. She sleeps, eats, and poops like a pro.  She smiles, gurgles, and laughs when she is awake and is getting so big so fast! To keep her happy all we have to do is talk to her, swaddle her, and give her a paci. She is such a sweetie. Lorelei is such a good helper and is learning to sleep in her own big girl bed.She says things like, "That's delicious!" and "Camilla's smiling at me". She now reads books to me and twirls her hair as she falls asleep. She sings songs to Camilla and is in a dance class this month. John will be working in a new group at Woodward starting in November and this also means he will be in Loveland. We look forward to shorter work days (minus the commute to Fort Collins) and a few lunches a week with us! As for me, the girls obviously keep me busy, but I still have time to see friends and family, and I feel blessed every day that I am able to stay home with the girls during these early years. I'm fully recovered from Camilla's entrance into this world and am focusing on my health, which includes jogging, zumba, and eating not so much ice cream!