Fortunes. . .

Ok, so I really pay no heed to fortunes in fortune cookies. . . .but I always read them.  We like to eat at Panda Express in the mall on occasion.  The other night we were there and they gave us two fortune cookies.  We let the girls have them and here is what they said. 

Paige - YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR ALL THAT IS ARTISTIC
Alaina - YOU HAVE FIRM CONVICTIONS-STAND STRONG BEHIND THEM

Seriously. . .have you met my girls?!  These fit them PERFECTLY! 

Soccer Tots

This spring, I thought it would be fun for Paige to be introduced to soccer.  I enrolled her through the Rec Center.  It was just once a week for a month. 

Here is the group before warm-ups.

This is Paige jumping the gun on warm-ups.  She was ready to go.

This was the last day and they finally sat the kids down and tried to explain what the game was about.

Paige had no concept whatsoever.  She just stood in the middle where they started.

Here she is finally getting into it.

Judging by her expression, I would say she had fun.

I'm pretty sure all she knows about soccer is not to touch the ball with your hands.  Oh well, she got some exercise and always enjoys playing with other kids. 

Big Jack!

My sister, Amber, was visiting last weekend and on Sunday, this is what we heard from the back of the van on the way home from church.

Paige:  Hey Ammer, hey, hey, I'm going to call you Big Jack!
(Insert Much laughter from the front two seats.)
Me:  Why are you going to call her Big Jack?
(No response!)
A few minutes later. . .
P:  Hey Big Jack Ammer!
(Sounds like Big Jack Hammer.)

Hysterical!!!!

Monkey Bars

A few weeks ago Paige mastered the Monkey Bars at the park.  I was SHOCKED!  She is still just 3.  She really has incredible strength for her age.  (At least Mommy thinks so!)  Here are a couple videos of her going across.  Of course, the times I wasn't video-ing her, she made it all the way across.  Isn't that how it goes.  She loves them and spends the entire outing to the park on them.  She has even learned to hang upside down, as you can see in the second video.  (Don't worry grandparents, we made sure she knows to ask permission before she hangs upside down, so we are standing right there!)

Haircut?!

Yesterday Paige asked me if she could get a haircut.  Prior to this, she emphatically did NOT want her hair cut.  I had been toying with the idea for a couple months, but she never wanted to, so I didn't push the issue.  When she came to me and wanted it cut, without me even asking, I took this as my sign that it was alright.  (We asked Daddy, too!)  So we did it.  It is much shorter than I had envisioned and even asked for, but you can't glue hair back on.  It is cute and she really likes it.  I think it will be good for summer and hair grows.  I'm just having Mommy remorse right now, but we won't tell her that. 

When asked. . .

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Paige ALWAYS replies. . . .

 

TWIST!

He is on the show, The Fresh Beat Band and is their rapper/beat-boxer.  Hmm, not so sure I want my daughter growing up to be a boy rapper.  I can go weeks without asking her and her reply is always Twist.  Here is a little video of one of the songs on the show.  The video is poor quaility, but the best snipit I could find.

Pants on the Ground!

I thought this was an appropriate title for this post.  Alaina has been taking off her pants AND DIAPER every evening, morning, and naptime and throwing them out of her crib.  The other night we changed her sheets twice before she fell asleep because, of course, she pees, and the next morning Mark went in to get her and she had removed her pants and poopy diaper.  Yes . . .Poopy!  There was poo on her pillow, sheets, legs, arms, cheeks, etc.  NAST!  We have been changing her sheets almost every day and sometimes twice or more.  And last night she peed in Greg and Emily's pack-n-play after we had taped the diaper on.  Well, we rolled out the big gun. .  .DUCT TAPE!  So far, she can't get that off.  Oh the joys of motherhood!

Alaina's Birthday Part 3

Grampy and Grammy came to celebrate Lainey's birthday the weekend after.  They brought her fun balloons.

I love Alaina's expression about the gift.

Uncle Mat and Aunt Myra got the girls each a dress.  They both wanted to put them on right away.

Then they twirled!

Cousin Skylar gave Alaina a bubble machine.  They totally love it!

What do your kids do when you aren't looking?

Thank you Alaina! (Yes, it was a brand new double roll!)

Happy Birthday Alaina!

Happy 2nd Birthday Alaina Kate!  You are an amazing gift from God and you bless our family every day.  I can't believe that you are growing up so fast.  I still see you as my baby.  You have words for almost everything, and are starting to put a lot of words together.  You moo for every animal except a kitty, where you so cutely say "Neow" high pitched.  You still suck those two middle fingers and play with your belly button at the same time when you are tired or lack something to do. Fries and chich (chips) are your favorite things to eat and sweets aren't your favorite. 

Alaina, my dear, you are STUBBORN!  I find you naked every morning in your crib and you insist on dressing yourself.  You do a pretty good job of it, too, but do ask for help eventually when you need it.  Ok, to be honest, you like to do EVERYTHING yourself.  Mommy  and Daddy are going to try their best to help you use your stubbornness and independence for the glory of God. It is not a bad trait to have, and you are learning to ask for help when you need it. 

Whenever you are insecure about something you want to hold my hand or Daddy's.  It must be a comfort to you and it is to me, too.  I love it!

You LOVE to be outside.  Every morning you jump into my arms and say, "Go, Go" and try to get me to take you outside.  You love to Junch (jump) and go down the slides at the park.

You are a steller sleeper.  Bedtime is between 7:30 and 8pm and you are content in your bed until I come get you around 8:30 or 9am.  Plus you take a 2 hour nap every afternoon.  Bless your sleepy soul. 

Alaina, we love you more than we can ever express.  You delight us and fill our house with joy.  We are looking forward to watching you grow into beautiful little girl.

Alaina's Birthday Part 2!

We celebrated Alaina's birthday with my family on Easter.  The day before her actual birthday.  It just worked out that everyone, but Amber, was going to be in the area.  We all went to church together and had a yummy lunch.  Then we hid eggs for the girls.  It was fun to watch them.  It took Alaina a little bit to figure out what she was supposed to do, then she really got into it. 

Uncle James helping her open her eggs.

She got a princess dress from Unkie Patrick and Auntie Kathy. 

She LOVES to wear the pink cowboy hat.  Every night before bed she puts it on and rides her rocking horse.  It's so cute.  She pressed the ears to make it's tail wag and clip clop. 

The cake was inspired by her love of riding her rocking horse.

She got one candle blown out, but could NOT blow the second one.  Mommy had to help.

Here is the family having cake and ice cream.

The girls, minus Amber.  Sorry you missed it, Amber.  We had fun and I think Alaina did too.

Easter!

Easter Sunday is my favorite Sunday of the year for many reasons.  The most important being the resurrection of my Lord and Savior, but also because it signals that spring is officially here, the girls have new dresses to wear,  egg hunts, and yummy food. 

The girls with their friends at church.  Aren't they so cute?!

Papa with his granddaughters.

Nana and Papa, Paige, Alaina, and Olivia.  (Granddaughter #4 is coming in July!)

This is the best pic we got of the three cousins.

Alaina's Birth Story

I've decided that this year on the eve of the girls' birthdays I would write their birth stories.  I want to have them written so I remember and for the girls to one day read and enjoy.  Alaina, this is your story. . .

I don't remember the exact day that we found out we were pregnant with you.  We had been planning to have another baby and wanted you to be a couple years younger than Paige.  So it wasn't a surprise when the test came out positive.  I took Paige out to Barnes and Noble and we picked out a book titled, I'm a Big Sister.  When Daddy got home from work I told him Paige had something to show him and she took him the book.  We were VERY excited and a little bit nervous.  Paige had been such a hard baby that we were a little scared that you would be too.

I was really sick the first 15 weeks I was pregnant with you and ended up having to take some medication for it.  I sucked on Preggie Pops all day long.  But, after the 15 weeks, it was smooth sailing, no braxton hicks, no high blood presser.  We found out you were girl at our 20 week ultrasound and were really happy that Paige would have a sister.  We told everyone.  We started to think about what we were going to name you.  I had picked out Alaina and Daddy really liked Kate.  We both liked both the names, but neither of us wanted to give up our name.  It wasn't until a few weeks before you were born that we decided you would be Alaina Kate.  And we didn't mind calling you Lainey.

On Sunday, when I was 38 weeks pregnant I got Influenza A.  I was horribly sick.  This most sick I have ever felt in my life.  I was worried about you and concerned that you would get it.  The doctor assured me that you probably just didn't feel real good, but would be fine.  I did take Tamaflu along with Paige and Daddy.  They never got sick.  Lots of prayers were being said for Mommy and you.  That Friday I had my doctors appointment.  I was feeling a lot better.  I was dilated to 1 and she said that if I wanted, I could be induced the next morning.  My cervix wasn't very soft, so she said it may take a while to get going, but I could be induced if I wanted.  I said sure.  It would work out being a weekend that Nana and Papa could come and watch Paige, so Daddy and I could go in and have you.

Well, you had other plans.  I was supposed to call into the hospital at 6am to make sure they had a bed, then go in at 8am.  I couldn't sleep that night and was frustrated because it was my last night of uninterrupted sleep for a long time.  I started having contractions at 1am or so.  I guess you wanted to come on your terms.  (Sounds a lot like you now.)  We headed in when the contractions got to 5 minutes apart.  I think it was around 6am. 

I was dilated to 6 when I got there and immediately asked for an epidural.  Unfortunately, shift change was at 7, so I had to wait until almost 8 before I ended up getting it.  By the time it took, I was at 9cm.  I sent your Daddy to have breakfast at 8:30 thinking it would probably be a little bit.  The minute he walked out the door, I knew that was a mistake.  You were coming.  He must have known because he didn't stay gone long.  You arrived at 8:54am on April 5th after one push.  Yep, my one push wonder.  Thank you God!  You were healthy and strong.
 
You were beautiful.  And I loved you.  And you cried.  And you cried.  Then cried some more.  You nursed well, but sleep, not so much.  The first night was alright.  I even sent Daddy home to sleep.  But the day before we were going to bring you home, I lost it.  I cried because you cried.  I knew what it was like to bring a crying baby home and I didn't think I could do it.  I didn't want to do it.  I already had a toddler at home and knew that I couldn't survive on no sleep with a baby that cried all day.  Daddy stayed with me the second night.  When the doctor came the next morning, I was sobbing.  We were supposed to be going home.  I was supposed to be happy.  She asked if I wanted an anti-depressent.  I did, and I took it for 10 months.  I needed help, and it took the edge off. 

Initially, after bringing you home, I thought you would be a perfect baby.  You didn't cry as much as I thought you would.  And you slept.  I slept you on your tummy from the befinning, even though all medical personnel warned me that you would surely die if I did.  You didn't!  Then the dreaded two weeks hit and you started crying.  Not like Paige had, but definitely for like 6 hours a day. . .everyday.  We do think that you had colic and it did go away after 3 months and the world looked brighter.

I can't believe that 2 years have gone by.  I'm looking forward to watching you grow into the woman God has created you to be.  I love you sweet baby!

Weekend Fun!

My girls love bouncing on these. 

Papa and Nana gave Alaina one for Easter.  It's nice now that they each have one and don't fight over the one.

Papa bought Paige a kite and they had fun flying it.  It was nice that the weather was great.

This one's for Amber.  We missed her this weekend, but her dog Lucky came with Nana and Papa.  My girls love "Ucky" and carried her or chased her all weekend.