New Year.

Time for a new year already again huh? 2012, you were...um...well, full of ups and downs. There were super highs and super lows but we survived it all!

We started the year with a trip to Florida with the family and super secret round of IVF.

 

We celebrated the wedding of good friends and found out we were pregnant all in the same day.

 

  

A few weeks later Andy was hospitalized with GBS. He recovered like a champ.

And then we finally announced Emmie was going to be a big sister.

 

We sold our house, moved into an apartment and started construction on our new home. And we spent as much time away from the apartment as possible the whole summer. The lake, the zoo...

 

 

We found out we were having a BOY!

 





 

 

 

We spent weeks picking out everything for the new house.

Finally it was time to move in.

 

And one month later, we welcomed Ethan Michael to the family.

 

 

And one month after that, our baby girl turned TWO!

 

What a year it has been. The highs have been high and the lows have been...ugh. We're hoping 2013 is a little more low key...less moving, less time at the hospital. But we will take the same amount of love, laughs, fun, smiles, friends and family.



Christmas

I feel like Christmas this year was a four day event, so it deserves more than one blog post.

We enjoyed our first Christmas morning as a foursome. Splendid indeed. Andy made muffins, his specialty, while Emmie and I played with her new toys. The fourth member of the foursome gave us a little Christmas gift and slept in.

If you don't have an Aquadoodle, you should get one. It's fantastic.

 When Ethan got up we took some pictures...I'm pretty sure he immediately regretted his decision to wake up:

Forgets to actually hold the baby sometimes

Thoughtful

I often wonder what my kids will be like when they get older. I have hopes and dreams for them, but really, it's their decision. More than a doctor or teacher or any occupation, I pray they have the qualities that make them wonderful people at heart. Kind, funny, respectful, grateful, you know, those kind of qualities (and punctual...I hope they're punctual). After this weekend, I'm adding another to the list: thoughtful.

thoughtful

Definition

thought·ful

[ tháwtfəl ]

ADJECTIVE 

1. considerate: treating people in a kind and considerate way, especially by anticipating their wants or needs.

 

It was a long Christmas weekend filled with fun and family and presents of course. But at every Christmas we visited, there was something extra special...something thoughtful.

 

First we headed to the Krueger's where Emmie opened fun Christmas books (which are her favorite). But when all the other grandkids had new flashlights the jealousy was raging...and then, a flashlight for Emmie appeared and all was right with the world! (Alissa also made my White Russian just right and made sure it was within reach while feeding Ethan...now that's thoughtful.)

 

Kate, Charlotte, William, Emmie and Ethan.

The girls posing under the tree...Emmie grabbed little stools to sit on. And Kate with her flashlight.

 

Then it was off to Christmas Eve at the Wermager's.  We walked in and there was the sweetest little table and chairs all set up for Emmie and Olivia...with new sippie cups and two little cookies waiting perfectly for the girls.

 

Loving their special table and "tookies" as Emmie says.

 

Slightly excited to open presents.

 

Christmas Day was more of the same, at the Olson's the girls were set up at another sweet little table just their size with huge Dora coloring books and markers to keep them entertained.

 

 

 

 

 

To think that everyone had thought of these girls ahead of time; to make their day a little brighter and that much more special...it warms my heart that is for sure. 

 

Thoughtful. It can be the littlest thing that matters the most. Thank you family for your thoughtfulness!

And a little Ethan for you too.

 

My Molly

Yes, you read correctly, my Molly.  I'm her godmother, so I officially get to call her mine. And according to the godmother handbook I read, I also get to blog about her whenever I want to without her parents' permission. I wonder if they read the fine print?

Ok, so technically I have to share my title with Alicia's sister, but with Andy as her only godfather, it evens out. I don't exactly know how to be a godparent and I'm not going to lie, Molly is more likely to learn her first curse word from me than a bible scripture...

Yesterday was Molly's baptism and the first time we left both kids with nana and papa. Everyone survived and church was like a mini vacation. And as we watched two little girls dancing down the aisles, trying to splash in the baptismal water and in general mortifying their parents, Andy and I were very pleased with our decision to leave the kids at home!

If you're wondering about Molly's gown...it is the gown handed down through generations in Alicia's family...starting in 1886. Yeah, you read that correctly too. 1886. And it was beautiful. Totally white and pristine.

 

We picked up Em and Ethan for brunch following the service. Emmie has been going through a shy phase, but apparently got over it real quick at brunch. She was running wild and loved playing the piano...this photo is before she decided to take her skirt off and just wear shirt and tights. It wasn't a battle I cared to fight.

And on her parents' porch, inviting you to brunch...the same chalk board door from Matt and Alicia's wedding. This time with a little message for Molly (drawn by her Grandpa).

I've got this new trick.

Hi, It's Ethan. And I have a new trick.

It's called I won't nurse at all during the day. Yeah, you heard me. I only want a bottle. And if you even try to show me a boob, I will wig the eff out. And did you know, I'm a loud crier. Not like a normal baby, I will pierce your eardrums, unless I'm crying hard enough to make no sound...mom loves when I do that.

Now, night time, that's a different story. I'm all about the boob. I eat, go back to sleep and do it again in three hours....but when the sun comes up....it's back to the bottle. Oh and I need it at a highly specific temperature, so don't be trying to give me something a little cold okay.

Mom says I'm on the fast track to formula if I keep this up.

Gimme the damn bottle.

NOT the right temperature you fool!

 

 

 

Ethan!

Ok, so I'm finally getting some more photos posted of this sweet little boy. These were from his newborn session at a couple weeks old.

A little crafting

So, when the boy is in his car seat...he sleeps. Or he does on occasion anyways. The other day he slept long enough for me to get a whole craft project done, thankyouverymuch.

We started with a trip to Hobby Lobby. Do you know how small the carts are there? Certainly too small for a car seat...wouldn't fit in, wouldn't fit on, tried it backwards, tried it frontwards, finally did it sideways and it worked. I bet I looked like such a jackass trying to figure it out.  Then I held on to the seat for dear life...until I found an overpriced glittery wreath that needed my attention, because the more glitter at Christmas the better. And poor Ethan looked like he visited the strip club after being doused with stray glitter.

Ok, the project:

Old mirror, minus the mirror. Wire. Voila. Christmas card holder!

 

And the prize goes to Elsie for getting Christmas cards out before December. Holy.

 

And after Christmas, a perfect place to hang Emmie's art. And then we need to discuss painting the frame. Yellow perhaps??

 

 

1 month old!

And what they say about that second kid....totally true. Y'all are looking for photos and I hardly have any. I don't even have the cute month by month stickers for poor Ethan.

And poor Ethan is right...he is in the middle of one heck of a cold. He can hardly breathe which means eating and sleeping are no fun...which means mom is no fun either.

He's such a sweet peanut, looking more like dad every day. He's normally a good eater and he's doing okay sleeping at night. He doesn't go to bed until 11 or so, but then he's only up to eat a couple times...and lets me sleep in...after getting Emmie ready for school that is.  My oh my, two kids are something to get used to! I have no idea how we will get this all done when I go back to work!

just a few days late

My baby girl is TWO years old!!

I had a parent fail and didn't think to put together treats for school to celebrate her birthday...so Tuesday night I hauled it to the grocery store to buy some fruit snacks. Emmie usually doesn't eat fruit snacks and if she does, they're tree huggin' organic. Well, the g store didn't have any organic, so I went with the standard.  Fast forward to school the next day and Emmie had an allergic reaction to them. Awesome. Happy Birthday kid. Red splotchy face, red hands. Not exactly sure what she broke out from, but good to know this happens.

Emmie is like two little people in one...there is one sweet little girl and another one stomping through the terrible twos. She's got attitude and sass and loves to say no. But then she can be the sweetest little thing, saying thank you daddy and giving huge hugs and kisses. I assume this is how the next 16 years will go.

She loves her baby brother. Every day she gets home from school and puts her sticker on his head. This morning when he was crying she grabbed his paci and put it in, quite gently to my surprise, and then just rubbed his head. He hated every second of it, but it was really sweet.

NemNems

We're technically still not potty training, just letting Emmie take the lead to see what happens.  And she goes on the potty every night and every morning.

I think she's trying extra hard because we introduced M&Ms as a potty treat and you think this kid is getting a pony each and every time she tinkles.

Three. Three M&Ms and she is literally jumping for joy. And she milks them...I've never seen an M&M take so long to eat...like at least five bites per M&M.  I guess that's what happens when you never see candy.

Oh yeah, and she calls them NemNems. It's hilarious.

I feel like I should post a video of the NemNem post-potty rant...but for some reason Emmie also thinks that she needs to be naked to go potty and I don't think that's blog appropriate?

Flu. We get it. You Win.

Blogging about being the only person in the house to not have been hit by the flu is like calling up Flu and issuing him a personal challenge to make your life a living hell. I was there Saturday...to hell and back. Sunday, a okay. Monday night and today...right back in the thick of it. Like Flu was all: oh you thought I was gone did you...sucker. 

It's been a rough start to maternity leave, but trying to find the positive I'm thinking it's helped the post baby weight situation. 

In the midst of the flu, I ordered baby announcements and Christmas cards. Now this may not sound like a big deal, but it was for me. This is the very first year I haven't designed my own card. I'm about as picky as you can get when it comes to fonts...so every year I scour through fonts and find the perfect one. Not this year. Not with the flu, a new baby, and a toddler. This year I picked a website, picked a card, dropped in my photo and hit the button. And oh my god, that was easy. I think they'll turn out just fine...considering photos were taken the day Emmie got hit with the flu...poor kid is looking a little under the weather...but such is real life.

And that's about all I've been up to. That and having a three week old! How did this happen? Okay, now back to praying Ethan doesn't get sick.

Initiation

If there is an initiation into parenthoodx2 I will consider this Hell Week.

Two week old plus toddler with the stomach flu = Omigod. We knew it was going around daycare, but Emmie has been a pretty healthy kid. Not this time. She got hit. We got hit. The carpet got hit.

She has been home from daycare all week and was finally keeping food down on Wednesday. Considering I'm only two weeks out of surgery, I'm still trying not to lift Emmie. So Dad was the primary puke cleaner upper, sick kid holder, and sleeping buddy in her twin bed and naturally, the next to get sick. And Ethan and I hunkered down as far away as we could.

The days were spent watching hours of Dora. Seriously. Dora was the only thing that kept the poor kid happy and thank god for the hours of episodes we have saved on the DVR. We watched Dora in the den, Dora in the tv room, Dora in bed. We were praying that she wanted to watch Elmo at some point, but not even that was happening.

So, we survived that shit storm (poo pun completely intended) and now we're just hoping a routine will set in again soon and everyone stays healthy!

Playdate

I can't believe week one of maternity leave is over...yeah I haven't been at work for two weeks, but the marathon stay at the hospital doesn't count in my head. It's been a really good week and God knows I won't be counting down the weeks like apartment life.

Highlight this week...playdate with Molly and Alicia.

As you know, Alicia and I have been friends forever. For a year in high school we went to her house every day for lunch where her dad made me eat everything in sight because he thought I needed it. And now...over a decade later, we're having lunch on our maternity leaves. How crazy is that?? I've been blessed with great friends and babies and couldn't ask for more.

The babies played, the mommies gossiped. Ok, the babies slept quietly in our arms for hours until we finally got them to wake up...

Please take note of the matching outfits Alicia bought:

Molly - 6 weeks, Ethan - 1 week

 

Hey, I just met you and this is crazy...but here's my number, so call me maybe.

It's snowing.

And I'm not going anywhere....for three months. I guess I can't complain too much.

I don't even know where to start, so I'll just throw out some random facts from the past few days.

*We were released from the hospital at noon on Friday. At about 11am that morning Andy got a call from daycare. Emmie had been crying all morning and had bit three kids, I guess she's just anxious for the new Twilight movie. They wanted to know what they could do to make her feel better. Of course I immediately started bawling, knowing how jacked up her little world was. Nana to the rescue. While we were flying through discharge paper work (it helps when your nurse is there to witness your breakdown and the doctor on call is an old college friend and sorority sister) Nana picked up Em and met us at home.

*Ethan is so sweet. Loves to be cuddled and held....all.the.time. And he's such a little peanut. Even though he came out almost eight pounds, he's got a skinny little body and long monkey toes...just like dad.

*I have already scared the crap out of Emmie with the pump. I asked her to bring me a water and she stood ten feet away and threw it at me. I tried to explain, etc. but she was not havin' it. I did overhear Andy having a talk with her later and the next day she was holding the little pump hoses up to her boobies. It was kinda funny.

*Recovery for me is going as well as can be expected. I don't know if I have euphoric recall from the first delivery or what, but this go round seemed to suck way more. I'm feeling a lot better now. Though the back pain I had with Emmie is already starting. Glad I'm stocked up on pain meds!

And now for what you really want...more photos. Some days Ethan looks a lot like Emmie, other days not so much. The consensus has been that he also looks like her in photos, but not in real life.



Ethan



Emmie

One of Emmie's gifts from Ethan was a doctor kit. She loves it.