2 under 2: Another First

I've written before about how parenting is often about your childs "firsts". Today was a first - as the world stopped turning and my heart swelled with a love I've never known as my busy baby girl took 5 seconds out of her constant world - to give her mommy an (un-prompted) hug.

Old Man Winter

Winter is officially upon us here in Iowa.  Yes, I realize it's almost February - but (gasp!) so far Old Man Winter has been a little slow.  The effects of cabin fever are slowly creeping their way into our household - but nothing like I remember it being last year.

One thing that creep Old Man Winter did bring this year was a whole lot of Sickness.  We are (knock on wood) finally on the mend after 6 weeks of sickness at our house.  In the past 12 days we have had 6 ear infections between the two kids (for those of you that are parents you know that this constitutes 5 visits to the pediatrician - something I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemy).  Add that to: Two Severe Diaper Rashes, Two Rounds of week-long Diarrhea (thank you amoxicillin), Four Colds, Two Stomach Viruses (mommy and Drake) and sixteen bottles of wine and you've about summed up the month of January!

Ok, Pity Party for 1 = over!  I'm just thankful that (as of now) everyone is feeling good.

The past couple of months have brought many changes for the two monkeys.  Drake is crawling and this kid is 24/7 on a mission.  If he gets something in his line of sight - there is no stopping him.  What is REALLY awesome is that usually his main targets are:  Kinnick's dog dishes (icky dog water is SO fun), Gabby's ponytail (payback are a....) and anything that remotely resembles a ball.

He also talks - all. the. time.  It's quite funny as he has mini-conversations with himself, especially if he's falling asleep for a nap or just waking up.  It's like he's giving himself mini pep-talks: I WILL have a good day - I CAN dump the dog water out of the bowl 47 times in one afternoon, I WILL poop my pants...etc.

Gabby is still my #1 ornery, sassy diva.  She enjoys shoes (putting them on, taking them off...repeat, repeat, repeat).  We still love Dora and Boots and puzzles.  There was a nice day recently and she got to go sledding with Daddy - she loved it, which isn't surprising considering the child is absolutely fearless.

She is talking more - this week she counted to ten (skipping four and five - apparently these two numbers are irrelevant when counting to ten - who knew?).  She received an easel (among 138 other things) for Christmas from Grandma Dawn and enjoys coloring pictures (and her brother).

We are embracing the cold weather as we know Spring (and baseball) will soon follow!  This is a new experience for us because - Yes, even this exhausted, ragged, emotionally drained mommy of two under two is a little sad that for the first time in two years, there wont be a baby to bring home this Spring.

Oh, and then I snap out of it as I look over and SCREAM with excitement that I get to retrieve a pink crayon from a little red-heads nose.

Enjoy some pictures of G & D:

I-Pad

I have a new obsession - apparently I was good enough this year for Santa to bring me a new toy. I would hope so considering I've "given" Santa two children in two years and, after all the season is all about giving, right?

I must say the I-Pad is quite wonderful, I'm still attempting to figure it out but so far I'm in love. I can blog, organize my grocery list (by aisle!), catch up on all the celebrity gossip, email/facebook/twitter, pay bills...etc.

Thanks Santa!!

Too Quiet.....

It had been a little bit too quiet in our house (35 seconds) and so I began to wonder what my mischievous toddler was doing.

Well, of course she was (stuck) sitting in the toilet, in her pajamas, chewing on a hairbrush.  What else do you do at 10:00 a.m.?  I half-expected her to have a toilet-cocktail like usual - but there were no additions of puzzle pieces, kitchen utensils, whole rolls of toilet paper...just, her.

Duck, Duck , Hilarious

2 under 2: 20 minute Snapshot

At various times during the day I like to email Brandon "20 Minute Snapshots" of what the kids have been doing as I know he misses them terribly during the day. 

Here is an email he received last week:

Drake wakes up after only sleeping about 25 minutes - I go get him and bring him downstairs. I put him down and he starts to play, watches Frosty, plays with the rolling ball...etc. The whole time he's fussy though. I take his picture - because he's that cute - and put him in his merry-go-round toy. Still fussy. He's reaching for his walker so as I pick him up to put him in it - I smell it. That distinct - oh, my god he's pooped and it's everywhere smell.

Sure enough - he's pooped. And, sure enough - it's everywhere.

So, I start the process of changing him being ever so careful when lifting his shirt not to smear the poop all up his back and over his head. And (of course) it's not the nice hard poop - it's the runny, smells like the Iowa State Fair poop. I get him changed and somehow, someway there is runny poop in a nice little stripe on the carpet...which, your darling son immediately lunges for and now we've got poop all down the front of our bare (because who has time to wear shirts) tummy.

I quickly run upstairs for outfit #3 (squash for lunch = outfits 1 and 2) and get him changed while contemplating the poop stain as it sits just soaking merrily into our carpet. I grab the savior (Oxy Clean) and start working on the stain and the entire time he is still fussing.

Well, why the hell wouldn't you fuss when your mom has managed to put all of your clothes on you backwards.

Firsts....

When having kids you soon realize that your life revolves around their "Firsts".  Their first smiles, first steps, first words....

And first mini-mohawks!