It's time.

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how I was finally ready to let go of my girls' babyhood. Well, it's now time to let go of one of the time-honored and ever-revered tokens of said childhood--the pacifier.
I have always been a proponent of the pacifier. It has saved my sanity on multitudes of occasions, and quite honestly, who knows in what mental state I would be in had my girls not clung to them like their very lives depended on it. However, I did not plan on the fact that they would be 22 months old and still attached to them. Ryan also used a pacifier, and was easily weaned off around 10 months. In my mind, I assumed that it would be that easy again. Mmmmm.....wrong.

I do know however, that I do not want 2 year olds running around with pacifiers in their mouths, especially now that they are talking. It's already hard enough to decipher what they are saying!!
So, I have 2 months in which to accomplish my goal. They currently only get them at nap time and bedtime (and we do take them to church as part of the breakdownscreamcrywailSacramentMeetinggrocerystoreemergencybag), but those are also the most critical. In my favor, I have learned a few things. Now that Miss Houdini has somewhat been tamed, I realize that I will not be able to go into this casually. Oh no--it's going to require a full-on strategic plan. So, I've been pondering my options, and these are a few I've come up with.

1. Snip off the end, leaving them nothing to suck on, hoping they will lose interest.

2. Throw them in the garbage can while the girls are watching, after I have explained very carefully the merits of being a "big girl", and the fact that they no longer need them.

3. This one is a tricky one...it has led me to question whether or not there really is a "pacifier heaven".

4. Plain ol' bribery. I'm thinking chocolate.

I'm sure the public at large is also appreciative of the fact that we have used them for so long, especially those at church, the grocery store, the library, and Target. I admit, they will be missed, and the fact that I can no longer depend on them will take some getting used to (again, think chocolate). One thing I won't miss? Frantically searching on an almost daily basis (and many times in the middle of the night) every single nook and cranny of the house and car trying to find the ever-elusive pacifier. Seriously, they're like socks...where do they go?

I'm with ya, sista!

Seriously, I know how she feels! There is literally so much going on right now, that picture might as well be me. I'm really not complaining so much as explaining. :) We are getting into crunch time with our house, and the decisions keep piling up. I love choosing everything, but when you have 5-6 major decisions all to be made within the same fairly short timeframe it can be somewhat overwhelming. Lots of projects and commitments are on the forefront, and they seem to be all coming at the same time. The funny thing is, I normally really thrive on stress. I like being busy, and I love having lots going on. I think it's that all my major decisions are costing a lot of money, lol!!

Rick has been working non-stop since the beginning of January, and it has really run its course for me. I know this has made a huge difference in how I feel, and how much I can accomplish, because he is such a good support. I'm ready for him to be home, and tonight he'll be here at 6pm!!!! YAY!!!!

The real question is, would I actually give anything up? No. I'm a glutton for punishment. :)
Oh, and by the way, Emma does have a very hard life for a 1 year old. She has to take a nap in her crib everyday. The picture demonstrates her feelings on the subject. :)

February Favorites!

I'm so happy it's February! I love hearts and candy, chocolate and flowers, special dinners and the color red. I love Valentine's Day boxes and homemade valentines to go in them, and I really love a husband that surprises me with a girls' weekend in Chicago! :) I especially love that it's one month closer to spring! Here are a few more of my favorite February things---

Pocket Bibsters Disposable Bibs

LOVE these! I keep them in my diaper bag and in my car--they are perfect for on-the-go meals and any other messy activities!

Babylegs

These are perfect for those cooler spring and fall days to keep those adorable baby legs warm! It might be a little early to introduce these, but I love thinking about spring! Pair them with a onesie, or with a skirt to complete an outfit. You can look for them at www.babylegs.net, or there are also patterns available if you want to make your own. So fun!




Thick and Creamy Light Yoplait Yogurt

Can I just say DELICIOUS???!!! This is a fairly new product from Yoplait, and it is soooo good. The creaminess makes it taste like you're eating dessert, but with only 100 calories and no fat, it's the perfect snack or breakfast addition. Try the Lemon Custard---you won't believe how good it is! (sorry about the awful pic--it's the best I could do!)



Homemade frosting

It has been years since I purchased a can of frosting from the store. I much prefer the taste and texture of homemade frosting--hello...it's the butter! :)I have made it so many times that I can make it with my eyes closed. With Valentine's Day around the corner, it's perfect on yummy sugar cookies, heart cakes, or whatever else your "heart" desires! Try it--you'll never go back! I don't follow a recipe (I do it by texture and taste), but here is the general idea for my buttercream frosting:

4ish cups powdered sugar

1 stick butter, at room temperature

whole milk

vanilla

dash salt

Place the powdered sugar and butter in large mixing bowl, and begin beating with a handmixer on medium speed. Slowly add milk, until you receive desired consistency. It should be on the thicker side, but not too thick. Add salt and vanilla to taste, and mix well. Once completely mixed, turn the speed up and beat the frosting for another 30 seconds or so. This makes it creamy, and easier to spread. *I also like using other extracts, depending on what I'm making. Some of my favorites are lemon, mint, and almond.

Wilton products

I love Wilton products. They are durable, high quality, and last forever. This heart pan is so much fun to have, especially in February. I usually make a heart cake for Valentine's Day, and try a new recipe, and this year it's going to be a double fudge layer cake! I also love the Wilton sprinkles. I get the ones that have 4 different kinds in one jar, and I have them for every holiday and season! They get used a lot at our house, and they are the perfect touch for so many baked items.





Happy February all!

I didn't need to worry at all.

For a long time I wondered if the space between Ryan and any other children we might have would be too much, and that they wouldn't be able to develop the kind of closeness that I yearned for them. It wasn't all-consuming, just nagging--the kind that's always at the back of your mind.

I had always imagined having my children close together, and as the space got farther and farther apart, these wonderings became worries. I was one of 4 children, the oldest, with a space of only 5 1/2 years between us all. This was all I knew, all I could really draw any experience from.

Ryan was an only child, and as he got more independent, I knew the adjustment would become even harder. We became accustomed to going and doing, and he was at the center of our universe.

I did however, know what a sweet and sensitive boy he was, and how much he loved babies. I also knew that he would be a wonderful big brother, no matter the age difference, and that any siblings he had would be incredibly lucky to have him. These truths pushed away my fears, and when we were blessed with the miracle of two tiny baby girls, those worries were completely washed away--I wouldn't change the way things are for anything!
I know now that I was underestimating the true power of love, of family, and the sense of belonging. I have proof that the space in years has nothing to do with the space in our hearts.

.....

Ryan, holding baby Kate in the hospital


A happy brother


One of my very favorite pics ever--Ryan with Kate


This is the photo I used with the girls' birth announcement--I love it!


Ryan and Emma, happy with their snacks!


Love them!

Sunday Treat

We have a tradition in our family that we have affectionately dubbed "Sunday Treat". My boys especially love this tradition, and it is a very effective leverage tool during church. :) We take turns choosing what we make that day, and we love trying new recipes as well as enjoying our favorites.

Yesterday it was Rick's turn to choose, and I suggested one of his favorites, Apple Crisp. I am always on the hunt for a good "crisp", and I stumbled upon one in a recent issue of Family Fun. It was actually for a Pear Crisp, so I adapted it for apples. It was SO delicious, and definitely one that we will be keeping around. The following recipe is my adapted recipe, including a doubled topping amount. Everyone in our family loves the "crisp" the best!!

THE ULTIMATE APPLE CRISP!

FILLING:
6 c. Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
1/3 c. sugar
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. flour

TOPPING:
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1 c. rolled oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Butter a shallow 9x13 inch glass or ceramic casserole dish and set aside.

2. Combine the filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss them well. Spread the fruit evenly in the casserole and bake it for 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, combined the flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, and salt in the mixing bowl and toss them well.a Add the butter, then use your fingers to rub the ingredients together until everything is blended.

4. Remove the casserole from the oven and spread the topping evenly over the fruit. Return it to the oven and bake the crisp until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream! Makes about 8 servings.

I had a date last night...

with Ryan! I was the lucky one to take him on his monthly date, and we had such a great time! We had it scheduled for weeks, and he wrote it on the calendar to make sure nothing else was scheduled.

He wanted to see the movie "Water Horse: Legend of the Deep", which was playing at the local "dollar" movie (which is definitely not a dollar, but for some reason I can't help but refer to it as that). We both really enjoyed it, and it was definitely up his alley. I especially loved the fact that he sat in my lap for more than half the movie. :)


We went to dinner afterward to Fazoli's (his choice--one of his favorites!), and then headed to the mall to return a few things before it closed. Once they were returned, I mentioned that I wanted to go look at shoes (I know, I know, they're a weakness!) in another store. He gave me a look, and I said "Don't worry honey, I make dad do this on our dates too". :)

It was such a wonderful evening! I love date nights with him--he is so much fun, and it is the perfect time to spend some rare and precious one-on-one time with my baby boy!

When you're a mother...

-your first thought when you're overcome with sickness and your husband has to work is about your children and how it's going to affect them.

-even when you think you might d.i.e. from the flu, you are running through your mind the nutritional value of goldfish, and wondering if it's okay to just let them eat what they want, just this once.

-and you've seen a bowl of chicken noodle soup spilled on the floor by an oldest child doing his best to watch his two younger sisters, you let it go--and remember that the bright yellow stain in the middle of the floor is not as important as he is, and that there are such things as steam cleaners.

-and your two adorable little girls have cried for 90% of the day, and you're still not feeling good, it's okay to be glad for bedtime. All of you need a little sleep...and maybe some chocolate.

-you know that you do have the strength to get through it, even if it's an hour at a time.

-the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" really starts to make sense.

No matter what, home is still the best place on earth.

Houdini reincarnate...

is living at my house as a 21 month old baby girl! She has completed feats of amazing agility and precision, all with one main purpose in mind---to remove all articles of clothing, including her diaper, everytime I put her in her crib. We have been battling it out for the last couple of weeks, each coming back with a new strategy, and I'm afraid she's ahead right now. But never fear, she may have won a few battles, but I am bound and determined to win the war.

Round 1: I discovered her without clothes on for the first time one day during naptime, when I went to check on them about 10 minutes after putting them down. She didn't look guilty at that point, just really pleased with herself. I gently told her "no", and simply explained that we need to keep our clothes on. She smiled, looked cute, and I walked away. I never even considered she may move on to the diaper!

Round 2: Making the decision to be proactive, I checked on her sooner this time, thinking that I would catch her before she made any attempt. I was too late. Off were her clothes, including her diaper. We lucked out though, and everything was still clean. I talked to her again, put all her clothes on, and thought I would give her another chance. Critical error.

Round 3: Hmmmmmmm. Strategy not paying off. This time the diaper wasn't so clean---and neither was the crib, sheets, or herself. Time to get down to business. I used a cloth diaper pin to pin her zipper to her pajamas. I had triumphed...I just knew it. There was NO way she could get that off. What a smart mom I am.

Round 4: I entered the room, and what do I find? A little girl with nothing on, along with a diaper pin on the floor, o.p.e.n. Must have been a fluke, right?

Round 5: I tried the pin again. It's like I was having deja vu---the same clothes-less girl, the same open diaper pin on the floor. Now it's REALLY time to get down to business. I put her pajamas on backwards!! YAY for me!!!

Round 6: So the pajamas on backwards are fine and all for when she's actually wearing the pajamas---but what about when she's wearing clothes? I'll let you guess. Even bootcut jeans with a snap and zipper are no match for her.

Round 7: Today was round 7, and what I thought would be the final battle. I pulled out the packing tape. I wanted duct tape, but realized we were out, and thought to myself how the United States Post Office manages just fine with packing tape...millions of packages are mailed each year, travel millions of miles, and still manage to get to where they're going, arriving safe and secure, still clothed. Well. I went in a little while later when I heard voices, still completely confident in my taping. What do I find? Miss Emma, no diaper, tape on the floor, and the biggest grin I've ever seen. NOW it's serious. Duct tape, here I come.


You may be asking where Kate is during all of this? She points at Emma as soon as I walk in the room, looking completely innocent...and pants-less.

House update and checklist-

I can't believe we only have 3 months left! We first spoke with our builder last summer, and after a myriad of meetings, paper-signings, and appraisals, we broke ground on October 20, 2007. Our target move-in date is May 3, 2008, and I am seriously counting down. Drywall is going up as we speak, and I am frantically trying to get everything chosen within the next few weeks. It's funny--even though it takes 6 months to build, most of the decision making is done within a short 6-8 week period of time. I did have a good idea of what I wanted, and I love decorating, but when it really comes down to making a set-in-stone decision, it can be stressful. Add two toddlers to the mix, and whoa! I took them with me to one of the places I'm looking at counter tops, and out of the 1 1/2 hours I was there, I think I really only looked at the sample for about 15 minutes!

I have a timeline I'm working on, and this Friday is the deadline for granite and cabinets. Next Friday I need to be sure on tile, hardwood, and carpet, followed by paint and lighting. It can become overwhelming, but I started out with an initial color scheme and style and have been working around that. It has made it much easier to choose not only the bigger things, but smaller things like hinges, doorknobs, light switches that I never even thought of! I like clean, simple lines, and that's one of the main reasons I decided on a Shaker style throughout the house. The basic color palette will be reds, browns, creams, with accents of black, with the trim work white. Here are the things I know for sure:

Faucets: I decided on an oil-rubbed bronze for all the faucet fixtures, plus doorknobs and hinges. I really like this particular style, and I think it will go well in the kitchen and baths.

Cabinets: I chose a Maple cabinet, with a slightly darker finish. I really loved some other woods, like cherry, hickory, and alder, but the budget wouldn't quite make it! I'm really happy with these though, and I love the Shaker style doors. I couldn't get a good picture to show here, but here is a link so you can see them. It's the Sundance color, Concord style. We initially went over on our budget (it's so easy to do, especially with cabinets!), so we needed to start trimming costs. I wanted to leave the kitchen and master bath, so we made some changes to the upstairs bath and laundry, and went to white cabinets, but same style doors. Since the half bath will have a pedestal sink, we didn't have to make any changes there at all.

Appliances: We totally lucked out on appliances! Home Depot ended up having a pretty big sale a few weekends ago, and even though it was a little early to order them, they said they could delay shipping until we needed them. We had decided on stainless steel, but wasn't sure of the brand, and we wanted to stay within a certain budget. We ended up choosing LG, and I love the industrial, professional look of them. Rick really wanted the French door style refrigerator, and although I had initially wanted a ice/water combo in the door, I ended up liking the one we chose better. And just think--I won't have to be as worried about having kids in the water on my wood floors!

My next big decision is the granite for the counter tops, and this is seriously the hardest decision I've had to make yet. I have a vision for the kitchen, but I'm just not finding something I really love. I'm heading down the the warehouse this week to look at slabs, and hopefully that will help. It's so fun though--I can't complain.

I will be so happy to finally be in a house! :) We have waited such a long time, and we are really ready. We were in school for 7 years (married very young! :)), then we moved to our current town. We thought we would only be here for a year, maybe two, and since we only had one child, we thought we would rent. Well, we ended up being here longer, and once we decided to buy, I got pregnant with the girls. We decided to wait until after they were born to go forward, and I'm glad we did. I ended up on bed rest for weeks, and there is no way we could have managed it, at least not very well. Once they turned 1, we started making serious efforts towards looking for a home, and finally decided to build. It's been a long road, but really, I can't imagine it any other way. This is the right time for us. YAY!

My Dad

Today is my dad's birthday. In about 91 minutes, all of my family will be together celebrating the beginning of his 66th year. I can't be there, but I also want to celebrate my dad, and I hope to do that through my words here.
I was quite the child to raise--in fact, I'm surprised my dad made it this long! I have duly begun to receive my penance, raising two very lively girls, and I can finally understand just a little bit of what I may have been like as a daughter. I have always really liked to argue, and I put my poor father through an endless amount of "discussion". Maybe he never knew how much I loved, admired, and respected him through all of those moments--but I can tell him today.
I have so many memories and thoughts to share, and here are a few I would like to highlight:

1. He is an incredibly innate athletic ability, and has always been extremely strong. Add in a competitive spirit, and you've got quite the guy to beat! That was, actually, my goal. To just beat him ONCE, in ANY sport. I finally did, but only after he turned 60 and was injured. :)

2. I have so many memories of my dad in the kitchen. He is a really good cook, and has made many meals for me over the years. My son Ryan caught on quickly to his talent as well--and one of his very favorite things is when Poppy makes him pancakes.

3. I always knew that my dad would make sure I was safe. I didn't always appreciate that as a teenager, especially when he combed through the streets of the town I grew up in looking for me, but deep down I would never want it to be any different. To this day, my sister and I still can't figure out how he found us! He always looked the same--jeans, brown Sunday loafers (quickest to put on), a gray zip-up hoodie, and his hair sticking straight up!

4. Whenever, wherever, however I needed help, my dad has always dropped everything to be there for me. Believe me, I provided many such opportunities for him, especially through my teen/early college years. Can I tell you how many rocks/curbs/sharp things I ran over, how many tires I went through, or how many crises I had? Poor guy. Now it's a different kind of help, but appreciated just as much. My parents have traveled many times to our home that is almost 2000 miles away from their to give assistance. Moves, babies, a baptism, graduations, and other events have all been priorities for both of them. I am so lucky--and so grateful.

5. I love my dad's laugh. All four of us would gang up on him (we couldn't hold him down for long) and tickle him. He is SO ticklish!

6. I have a really special dad. He loves babies and children, and they love him right back. Whenever I was babysitting, and couldn't get a child to sleep, I would call him. Within 5 minutes, they would be fast asleep. After I had the girls, my parents came to stay with us for a couple of weeks. A few nights went by without me even waking up, and I wondered why they were sleeping so well at such a young age. I found out that they weren't---my dad was sleeping in the hallway so he could hear them first, and so I could sleep through the night.

7. This is a continuation of number 6, and I could probably keep going for awhile! Before Rick and I got married, he came over to my house to talk to my dad. They were on our study for 2 hours, and do you want to know what my dad talked about for the majority of the time? Yes, that's right. Grandchildren.

8. He's a wonderful grandfather. He was Ryan's first babysitter at 4 weeks old, and has always had a special relationship with him. One of my favorite memories occurred while we were visiting my parents' home soon after we moved away. My mom and I were out shopping, and Ryan stayed with Poppy. When we got home, they were side-by-side in the garage, Ryan stripped down to his diaper, and painting away on a project. Whether it's painting, cooking, playing outside, or building Legos, my dad makes him feel like he is the only one in the world.

9. My dad is very strong in the gospel, and has always provided me with an excellent example to follow. I am grateful for that, and I know how much my life has been bettered because of it.

10. He loves my mom. I love to find the little notes that he leaves her, and he loves to tease her. We love it too! :)

I love you Dad, and I miss you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

P.S. I wish I had some pictures to post, but they are all in storage and I couldn't get to them right now if I tried!

Wordless Wednesday

Bye-bye baby...

The time has come. At 20 months old, my girls can hardly be called babies, although admittedly I have stubbornly held on to the notion that because they weren't 2 yet, they could still be considered so. However, they are full-blown, chair-climbing, bookcase-scaling, ABC-singing, new-words-everyday-talking, messy-eating, adorably-funny toddlers.
I love toddlerhood. It is a new adventure everyday, and a pure delight to watch as they discover life in its entirety. The old becomes new, the routine becomes exciting, and all those things we've taken for granted are renewed once again. One of my favorite parts? Hearing their voices, and listening to what's on their mind--all that wondering while they were a baby as to what they were thinking is now there for discovery.
Now, don't get me wrong. Every moment is not pure bliss, and I'm certainly not rejoicing while mopping underneath the highchairs for what seems to be the 50th time that day. Nor am I jumping for joy about their excitement in taking off all their clothes and diapers when left to their own devices at nap time, or when their body goes into rigor mortis while trying to put them in the carseat (and always in front of other people, of course). Yet these things are quickly forgotten when a tiny hand brushes your cheek, sweet lips give you a kiss, little arms reach up to you, or when you hear a tiny voice call out "Mama".
So, while I wistfully pack away each size that no longer fits, and fondly look at pictures of babyhood gone by, I am reminded of all the wonderful things in store, and how lucky I am to be a part of their world. Bye-bye baby...I'm ready to let go.

At birth:


2 months:


4 months:





6 months:





8 months:




10 months:




12 months:





15 months:




18 months:

What a look!

Remember that blog I referenced last week, with such great ideas for girls' hair? Looks like I'll be using it sooner than I thought!

At least she comes by it honestly!

The other day when we got home after running some errands, I took Kate to the backdoor to set her down before going back to get Emma. I didn't get get too far though, because before I could leave the steps, I heard "uh-oh"! I turned around to see what the matter was, and there was Kate, staring down at a little mud puddle on the floor. We had to clean it up right away. :)

I want in on the secret!

Well, I tried my best. On Sunday I really wanted to take a few pictures of the kids in their nice clothes, but I'll tell you, it was quite the event! My girls were everywhere! They aren't really in to sitting or standing or doing anything at all in one place for longer than about 5 seconds, and that can really complicate things. Don't get me wrong, I love candid shots--in fact, they are my favorite--but even that wasn't working out for me. I want in on the secret--how do moms get those fabulous shots? Luck? Persuasion? Bribes? Talent? Lots and lots of practice? Patience? (if that's it I'm in big trouble :) ) If you know, please tell me, because I want in on the secret!

Emma, with her very fun balloon:



peek-a-boo



I tried and tried to get Kate to keep her skirt down!


two pretty girls!


A very handsome boy and his sister


All in all, they are adorable no matter what!