Big Talker

Luke's vocabulary has skyrocketed! He's counting to 10, sometimes consecutively 1 through 10. He's saying some of his ABCs and humming the sounds. And, he sings along to songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus." It's so much fun to have real conversations with him. Every night at dinner, we go through all of his friends at daycare to talk about what they did:

"Did you play with Isaac?"

"Isaac cried."

"He did? Oh no. What about Tristan? What did he do?"
"Tristan cried."

"Oh. Tristan too? Hmmm. Did you play with Carson?"

"Carson cried."

"Carson cried too? Did you play with Ainsley?"

"Ainsley go bye bye."

So, according to Luke, his friends at school either cry or go bye bye. And, sometimes his teachers cry, which I hope isn't true.

Some other funny things he says and does:
-- When we're driving in the car, and we see a real schoolbus, he yells, "Mama bus!" Then, he holds up his little bus, "Baby bus!" Then, he makes baby bus cry and gives it a kiss.
-- I found several toys in the Christmas tree including a football, trucks, trains and his hammer. He'd toss them in the tree, then look into the tree and say, "Truck, where arrrreee you?"
-- He gets going so fast wheeling around on his firetruck or running through the house that sometimes he rams into the wall or a door. "Door! I don't like that!" he'll say, then spank the door. It is so funny and makes me laugh every time.

6 Months!

Maddie is half a year old and counting! I'm not sure if I think she's advanced because I'm her mom or because she actually is, but she seems to be doing everything at a faster pace than other kids, including Luke. She's already army crawling and should really crawl soon. As I'm posting this, she's actually almost 7 months old, but she's been army crawling for about a week and a half.

At her 6-month appointment, she took her vaccines like a champ and weighed 16 pounds, 12 ounces. She's in the 50 percentile for height and weight, which surprised me. I thought she was really chubby!

I think she might be teething because she has a constant runny nose, hasn't been sleeping well and gnaws on her teethers. But, nothing yet. She recently was waking every 2-3 hours every night for about a week. I was so delirious at work! But now she's back to waking twice a night.

Her face lights up when she sees Luke and he's willing to share some of his toys with her. Usually, he wants the toy she has, even if it's one he hasn't noticed in months.

Setting the (Nativity) Scene

My mom handed her nativity scene down to me. It really means a lot because she's collected the figures for years and worked for a long time to get a nice set together. And, it's the one I grew up with, so I love that I can set it out for my children.
I'm pretty positive Luke didn't feel the nostalgia for it as we put it up, but he did recognize the baby Jesus (he loves to play the snowglobe that Grandmother gave him for his baptism, "Night night, baby Jesus!") who, unfortunately, dropped on the floor. But, we dusted it off with a kiss, and we're good to go this Christmas.

 "Uh oh, Luke. Baby Jesus fell."

Good thing Aunt Brookie was there to help.

All set!

Thanksgiving 2011

 I see you, Amy.

Sweet O getting sweet XOs from her daddy.

What a year -- so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! First of all, I had my beautiful baby girl this year. Secondly, my son is happy and healthy this year (same time last year, he was recovering from septic knee). Thirdly, I have an outta this world husband who makes me so happy. Full heart. Full stomach.

We had it at the Scotts this year. Great Thanksgiving! It's too bad that we didn't get a full family photo, though. These are the only ones I snapped.

After lunch/dinner, we all headed outside to enjoy the weather and let the kids run around on the golf greens. Luke and Max took off down one of the greens and kept running farther ... and farther ... and farther away. So, I channeled my inner track star and sprinted after them. (My friend Summer would've been proud. She always loved a good foot race. hee hee.) "Run, Nicole, run!" Oh -- those Scotts are funny. I might have overreacted ... just maybe. But, they were running so far away!

Bananas About Bananas

I've started Madeline on solid foods, and I think it's safe to say that she's not too interested. We're on week three. Pears, squash, and now bananas. Tonight was the most successful night. She seemed to like them ... a little. At least she didn't gag at every bite. Even cracked a 'nana smile.

All "Truck"ered Out

It's no secret that Luke loves his trucks. He rides around the house on a little four-wheeler firetruck and tonight he wanted it sitting next to us when we read books. I didn't think anything of it, leaving it in his room while he fell asleep. Madeline woke shortly after, and as I was putting her back to sleep, I heard Luke stirring around in his room. When I went to check, this is what I found. This is definitely the biggest truck he's gotten into bed with him.

Earlier this week, I had to move his little Christmas tree to the dresser. I had it on his nightstand next to his little bed and couldn't find some of the truck ornaments while he was napping one day. Lo and behold, he had three ornaments in bed with him.

Halloween 2011

  Halloween might be my least favorite holiday. But, since I have kids now, I have to get into the spirit. I'm sure that I'll start liking it more as they get older and get to participate in the trick or treating part. Luke didn't quite get it this year, but next year, I know he'll have fun. We met up with some of our friends from the neighborhood and hit a few houses. The first couple Luke cried, but once he figured out that he got candy if he mumbled "trick or treat," he was into it.

Adam's parents helped us out by manning the house while we were roaming the neighborhood. Who knew that getting two kids dressed and ready to beg for candy was such a process? Madeline was a bumble bee, using the same outfit as her cousin Lauren. Luke was a UPS man, and he apparently hates wearing tshirts, pants, caps and anything with a UPS sticker on it.

The night before, we went to the Goblins in the Garden event at the Wildflower Center (where we got married) with our neighbor Robyn and her son Colten who is Luke's age. They were so cute and had the most fun running around with the other kids:

5 Months

Madeline is 5 months old and getting bigger every day. She's such a happy girl, always squealing and talking. Right now, she:

1. Loves her stuffed animals and cuddles up to go to sleep. It's so adorable, and she's fun to sleep with because she likes to snuggle.

2. Rolls over back to front and front to back.

3. Can sit up for a couple of seconds before falling over.

4. Will wiggle and roll her way across the floor.

5. Smiles so big when big brother comes around. She just loves him, and he's been so sweet to her, bringing her blankets, trucks and animals.

6. Wakes up one to two times a night. She's slept through the night a few times, but I wake up anyway, worried something's wrong. One day, we'll all be on the same page.

7. Puts everything in her mouth.

8. Eats a little bit of solid food. She hasn't quite mastered not spitting it out, so we're slowly introducing it.
9. Wears 6-9 months clothes. The 3-6 are a little snug, but we're squeezing into some of them. She's a chub, and I love it!

Madeline's Baptism

Our sweet girl was baptized this Sunday. The same pastor who baptized Luke baptized Madeline. And, it was on All Saints Sunday, which my pastor friend says is an extra special day to baptize someone as it celebrates all the saints, known and unknown.

Our immediate family (minus Suzy, Michael and Katie), including her godmother Brooke and godfather Ryan, were there. The private ceremony followed the late service. Madeline was great during church and fell asleep on Grandmother. Luke, on the other hand, worked himself into such a tizzy that he definitely made use of the cry room. When I finally got in there, he had been crying so much he couldn't catch his breath. But, then, Nolan came in the room and all was well with the world again. During the baptism ceremony, the two of them and Olivia ran around the sanctuary. Madeline was, of course, an angel during the whole thing.

Her gown is an antique gown that Mom originally gave to Luke, but Adam put the kabosh on him wearing it since he's a boy and all. But, it's perfect for Madeline! And, so beautiful! And, she wore a handkerchief bonnet that Adam's mom gave her when she was born. The idea is for her to pass it along at her wedding or to her children.

  

 

 
 
Afterward, we had lunch at our house and let the kids play their little hearts out. I had to include this picture of Luke and Nolan. It's funny what kids will find to entertain themselves. Who would've thought that bushes could be so much fun?

Pee Pee in the Potty!

Yip yip! Yay! Yeehaw! Woot!

We are so excited! Luke went pee pee in the big boy potty! This has been a long time in the works. We talk about it every day. "Luke, don't you want to pee pee like a big boy?" "No!"

But, a couple nights ago, after bath, he said, "Go pee pee in potty!" When he sat down, he gave that look that says "I'm pushing" and the potty started singing! (Literally -- music starts when the pee pee hits a sensor). So, he got really scared and I got really excited and Adam ran in and got even more excited. Eventually, after several high fives, Luke was excited too.

Inspecting his work. He was pretty proud of himself.

We tried again tonight, but that was apparently a one-time deal. He just looked at the potty and said, "All done."

Boob Job

It’s that time again. The time when I really have to motivate myself to keep on pumping at work. Madeline’s growing so fast and getting hungrier, so I increased the amount of milk in her bottles for daycare. I kind of panicked when I picked her up yesterday -- her teachers told me that she slurped the bigger bottles down like they were nothing. I was secretly hoping that she wasn’t going to take the extra milk I sent. But, she did, so the pump and I meet again. And again. And again.

I’ve started to look at my pump as my business partner. We’re in this for the long haul. This is our second business venture, this one going on five months with another seven to go. My boobs are our employees. The left one is definitely a gold star employee, but the right one is completely insubordinate. I’d just as soon fire it, but it won’t leave. It refuses to produce the amount necessary. So, I have to pump and pump and pump. I even try to psyche my boobs out into producing more -- sometimes I picture rivers of milk coming out or I think of how cute Madeline is. Is that weird?

Just today, I fed Madeline this morning, pumped twice at work and another time at home, then fed her two more times before going to bed. And, that’s not counting the one or two overnight feedings. And, since the pump doesn’t pull out as much milk as Madeline would, I have to use the dang thing more often than I’d like to make three bottles for daycare each day.

With Luke, I stopped breastfeeding at seven months mainly because I just despise pumping. I regret not sticking with it, so I’m committed to going for a year for Madeline. The pump and I will continue our meetings. For the next seven months.

Lake Living

Adam's brother Eric and his wife Jennie turn 40 this year, so Adam's parents rented a house on Lake LBJ for the weekend. It was great! Such a fun way to get the family together. The kids and I went up on Friday and Adam came up Saturday. Luckily, the day before we left, we bought a new car so I was able to schlep all of the stuff for Madeline and Luke. It's just unbelievable the amount of stuff that I take with me. Two pack-n-plays, toys, clothes, carseats, stroller. Plus, my stuff. Oh -- and Max. Couldn't leave him behind. Whew. But, it was fun, and the cousins enjoyed each other. Lauren and Katie are such sweet older cousins and like to help me with the kids.

Apparently, Lauren "almost died!" When she was kneeboarding, she got hung up as the boat was pulling her. Eric and Amy were just about to jump in the lake to help her out when the skies opened up and Chance the Boat Driver pulled off his shirt and dove in to save her! It's a good thing he was there -- he evidently "saved her life." So, she wrote him a note. I don't think it hurt that he was cute. I'm sure it made his day.

Such a doll face. She's just the best little baby. Always so happy and easy going. And, so cuddly and squishy. These two fill my heart.

Pumpkin Patch

Today, I took the kids to the pumpkin patch. I was so excited! I was going to get a picture of them together. I tried to match their outfits. It was going to be great. But, Luke had another plan. No picture! No pumpkin! No. No. No. Finally, at the very end, I snapped them together, But, he wouldn't look at the camera. No!

Four Years!

Four years ago, I married my best friend and my favorite person in the world. I love you, Adam, and I'm so glad that I get to spend my life with you. It's definitely better now that you're in it. Here's to many more!

Rachel Getting Married

My cousin Rachel got married the same weekend as our anniversary. (And, for the record, it was nothing like the movie, but I needed a clever title). She and her now husband Aaron live in Boston, but they got married here. It was beautiful! And, it was the first time that we've taken both kids to a formal event. Before this, we've only gone to Mexican food restaurants or burger joints. So, this was a stretch. I have to say ... weddings just aren't the same when you have two babies with you. For instance:

First off, we arrived at 6:00 p.m. on the dot. On time! With two kids! That's a complete accomplishment. But, the ceremony started early, so we were late all the same.

Then, I had to feed Madeline but I didn't plan my outfit accordingly. Sure was glad no one walked by the car. They'd have seen a naked momma in the front seat.

Thirdly, Luke was hilarious but a handful at the same time. He talked throughout the ceremony and clapped and laughed his head off at the toasts. I'm pretty positive he had no idea what they were saying, but he thought it was just the funniest thing when everyone else started laughing.

Finally, tearing a toddler from the dance floor is a task. Who knew that he was such a good dancer? Takes after me, for sure.

All in all, it was great. Rachel and Aaron are the cutest couple and we had such a good time. Congrats, sweet cousin! 

 The rehearsal dinner was at Rachel's parents' brewery in Johnson City. Luke beelined it for a forklift.

 Obviously, Grammy and Luke were not on the same page here.

 Cheers! Cousin Bobby, sister Suzy, Uncle Mike (my Grandpa's brother), Aunt Connie

 "Look, Sis!" Luke shows Madeline her picture on the iPhone.

 Dapper Dude. He's so adorable.

 Suzy, Aunt Bridget, Madeline and Grandma.

 Sister Brookie Cookie was there, too!

 Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Kakos! Congratulations!

 And, it's time to go home. The babes fell asleep immediately.