Problem Solver

Elaine is 29 months old now and is quite the problem solver. So I had to share this story from yesterday.

Mid-morning, she usually gets a snack and gets to watch The Backyardigans (our favorite show - but that could be another post). Yesterday I have her milk and a cookie. I made sure she was all settled on the couch, watching her show, and then I left the room for a minute. While I was in another room, I heard her walking around (which is unusual when her show is on) and then I heard the gate at the top of the stairs close. So I got up to see what was going on. Elaine was walking back down to the tv with only her sippy cup in her hand. I looked up to the top of the stairs and our labrador, Riley, was behind the gate.

Me: Elaine, did you lock Riley upstairs?
Elaine: Yes.
Me: Why did you do that?
Elaine: Because he ate my cookie.

She never once called for me - she just quietly solved the problem herself. So she got a second cookie.

Growing Fast!

Natalie had her two month appointment today (even though she's 11 weeks old - it takes forever to get an appointment with the doctor I want). She's already 24 1/4" long (4 inches in 11 weeks) which puts her at 97%! She's at 70% for weight (11 lbs 15.8 oz) and 80% for head size (just over 40 cm). I think she's going to be a tall girl!

How Time Flies!

I can't believe my last posting was in November! Since the three people who actually read my blog have all commented (more than once) that I need to update....here you go!

So what's happened since my last posting? Well, on December 3, I had a beautiful little girl. Natalie was born at 4:42pm and weighed 8 lbs, 3.1 oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long. We came home on December 5 and Elaine got to meet her sister for the first time. Elaine has really adjusted well and she says she likes being a big sister.

Daddy stayed home with us for two weeks, which was a big help. Then it was my birthday - we didn't do anything really. Too tired.

My sister got engaged shortly before Christmas which was very exciting. Love my new brother-in-law to-be!

Then it was Christmas and we just traipsed all over the front range with our two little girls - visiting family.

We were supposed to have company over New Year's but my dear friend, Becky, was too sick. Morning sickness and flu - it doesn't get any worse than that, in my opinion. So we went to bed early on New Year's Eve.

Since then, we've just been adjusting to life. I'm not working anymore and trying to take of the girls and keep my sanity (ha!)

Here are pictures of my two sweeties. I'll try to update more often.....but I make no promises.

26 Days and Counting!

I have 26 days left till my due date! I'm ready anytime now. I thought I'd show off the nursery now that it's finally done (well mostly - 95% done, I'd say).

Here's some before pictures of the room that was our office (I'd just like to say that the "painter's tape blue" walls were done by the previous owners - not us).
Here are the "after" pictures. I think it turned out pretty well (it's a small room so I know it looks cluttered right now but the swing and bouncy seat will probably not stay in her bedroom).

My New Job

Today I begin my new job - full-time, stay-at-home mom. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous. For the first time in almost 11 years, I am "unemployed." I'm definitely excited about being with Elaine and the new baby (when she gets here) full time.....I just hope I can handle it! Even the three days a week that I've been home for the last 2 years, I've still had work to do. Now I don't have to think about contracts or paying invoices or our department budget....just baby and toddler stuff. Hope I don't go crazy!

Trick-or-Treat

For Elaine's 3rd Halloween, she wanted to be Minnie Mouse. She had so much fun with Halloween this year.

Our neighbors went a little Halloween crazy this year. Elaine still talks about the "scary monsters" that she saw on Halloween. the picture doesn't really do it justice. They had the smoke machine going, the scary music, a "Lurch-ish" mannequin that took his head off and cackled when someone walked by, and our neighbor's son dressed up as a vampire or something scary and jumped out at the kids to give them candy (at least he did that with the older kids). But it still made a big impression on Elaine.

Here are a couple of pictures of her trick-or-treating at my parents' house. She pretty much refuses to look at or pose for the camera anymore so these are the best we can do....

Baby's Coming

Here's a picture taken today of "the belly." I'm 26-28 weeks, depending on who you believe (babycenter.com and my own calculations have me at 26 weeks, my pregnancy journal has me at 27 weeks, and today my dr. said I was at 28).


(Don't look at my face - the sun was right in my eyes and I'm very squinty - I think I could give Renee Zellweger a run for her money!)

Here's a typical conversation with a stranger/casual acquaintance.

Stranger: When's your baby due?
Me: December 1st.
Stranger: Oh! Are you having twins??
Me: No.
Stranger: Oh. Just one big baby, then!
Me: Um....I guess so.

(I'm not sure why people feel the need to say really stupid things to pregnant women, but they do.)

So I can't find pictures of me when I was at this stage with Elaine (D - if you have pictures from my baby shower, I'd love to compare them) but I don't think I'm THAT big - though I do think that I'm bigger than I was with Elaine at the same stage. But I certainly don't look like I'm carrying twins. However, from now on, if anyone else asks that question, the answer is "yes, I'm having twins."