Lately : The Girls

So the chaos and the ridiculously overflowing plate has carried over into 2016. I had a feeling it might, and that's exactly why I set personal intentions instead of resolutions this year. So I don't set myself up for failure. 

But I am committed, as much as humanly possible, to document these sweet babes of mine and these precious and lightening-speed little years.

LYLA LATELY (3 years) :

Lyla is such an oldest child in every way, always taking care of her little sis while at the same time wearing her favorite pair of bossy pants. And it has been so fun to watch her develop and grow into 50% me and 50% Gabe. She's particular, can't stand when things are out of order, and is the biggest rule follower I've ever met (besides myself and my mom). We get a lot of correction lately, "Hey Dad, did you wash that apple? and "No, I'm not cute, I'm Lyla Green" and "NO! I can't have a banana until after I poop because it will hurt my tummy." But then on the flip side, she's never in a rush (at a painful measure), can't stand mornings, and often asks for quiet time or "a little rest".

Just like her dad.

And though two years was quite difficult with potty training and a new baby, three years has its own sets of challenges. (Though I much prefer over age two). But the tantrums, the constant negotiations, the emotions - all sky high, and I often find myself asking if this is real life. While at the same exact time, she says the sweetest things, and I want to bottle every ounce of her up.

Some recent Lyla-isms include :

- I'm the wine weader. - while putting her hands on her back and walking around the house, pushing Addie (and everyone else) out of the way to move to "the front of the line". Even on the way to the kitchen or bathroom. 

- Ok, I'll snuggle myself. - overheard after GiGi told her that her extra long period of snuggle time was over and it was time for her nap.

- Mom. What are you eating? Oh! I like pancakes/ketchup/(whatever it is I'm eating). Literally, anything I'm eating, she is quite enthusiastic over. 

- *yells from bathroom* HEY MOM. Can you come get Addie and shut the door? I need my private seat (privacy)." Already prepping us all for the teenage years. 

- I dropped my candy cane yesterday. Actually, I dropped it...hmm...two weeks ago. (it was actually earlier that day). Her little concept of time is so hilariously cute. Everything is either before or after nap or before or after lunch. 

- Can I wear my "Ballet : Tuesdays and Thursdays" shirt? referencing her favorite shirt that actually says "Ballet : All Day Everyday."

- She and Gabe have a new ritual after dinner - cracking and eating nuts. She can name every one. 

- *While making the "shh" face* Mom! I'm on the phone with my work. (HA! I guess she gets this a lot). 

ADALINE LATELY (14 Months) : 

Sweet Addie Bug is at that sweet, attached to mom, learning-explosion stage, but she complains a lot, has been really fussy and is desperate to be held all day. I think a lot of it comes from the fact that she's had 4 molars coming in for the last month, and she can't figure out how to tell us what she wants which INFURIATES her.

But there are so many fun things I want to remember about this stage : 

- She's *sort of* walking! A whole month earlier than her big sis, but she's still wobbly and tends to drop to her knees to crawl to get where she needs to go much faster. 

- This kid practically has a full set of teeth. And they have been making her miserable. Hoping we get a break from these nasty molars soon. 

- Praise JESUS I have a snuggler. She gives the sweetest cuddles and dives right into your face when you ask for "nuzzles". And she loves rubbing foreheads and lays her head on the shoulder of anyone who holds her. I mean, I'm dead.

- This little lady is our dare devil who is curious about everything and has the bruises all over her body to prove it. And there is nothing she refuses to climb - chairs, the couch, the window sill - anything that she can climb on, she does and will. 

- This socialite butterfly loves to show off her huge grin while saying Hi to everyone she sees. Then she waves "bye" when it's time for bed, or all done, or we're leaving.

- She knows how to whine and complain and throw tantrums already. She has quite the temper and gets so angry when she points to something and we don't get it for her RIGHTNOW. But then she's happy as can be when you finally give her what she wants - like her toothbrush, so she can brush like mom and big sis. 

- She's obsessed with playing with my eyelashes.

- She loves to clap, sing, and dance - pretty much loves all things music. And she swings her legs back and forth when Gabe dances with her.

- She L-O-V-E-S putting things away like "the big kids" and claps for herself.

- She has a signature high pitched "mmm" (with an inflection like she's asking a question) and points to anything she wants - books or food or things she wants us to name or get for her.

No matter how nuts life is, these times are the absolute best! Now if only I could slow down for 3 seconds to savor them.

Adaline's FIRST Birthday Celebration!

October was a whirlwind. A totally-nuts, jam-packed, weekends-full-of-fun month with birthdays out the wazoo, weddings, and Halloween.

Of course one of those birthdays was a little special someone's FIRST birthday.

And though Addie had one heck of a party - which included pumpkin painting, caramel apples, chili, and a bounce house - I admittedly did not put in the time that I would have liked into all the little details. Because I had no time. And I didn't take as many pictures as I normally would. Because I was too busy celebrating, having fun and loving on the birthday girl!

But of course our little Sweets had the time of her life eating her first cupcake, playing with her friends (who are really her big sister's friends), and getting a ridiculous amount of love and attention on her big day. I'm positive she didn't notice that I didn't cut out cupcake toppers or come up with special birthday dish names or pull an all nighter making birthday banners. #secondchildproblems

The morning of her birthday, Lyla couldn't contain her excitement. So, she barged right in and gave Addie a traditional Green birthday balloon celebration ceremony. And since Addie thinks Lyla walks on water, it was pretty much the best morning of her life. Because then we had PANCAKES, complete with a gold sparkly one candle. That I spray painted in the garage, and Gabe thought was ridiculous and toxic to our breakfast pancakes. But Addie loved that gold, sparkly one.

And she really loved all her new toys that she could climb on.

And then, birthday party day. You know how those are. So much running around, a laundry list of errands and things to pick up, prepping and making food, frosting cupcakes, last-minute vacuuming, adding some decor touches, telling children to stop touching the caramel apples and then the white couch.

It's pure madness.

However, with Addie's party this year, I truly did not have the time to go birthday party detail crazy like I normally do. Life handed us some heavy LIFE things to deal with this fall, and it just wasn't possible.

And you know something? Everyone still had a great time - especially Adaline. Which isn't that the point? She thought it was fantastic that so many people were in her house to play with. She loved watching the big kids jump in the bounce house, "learning to share" her new car with her friend Carson, the act of ripping into and opening presents, and she loved the happy birthday song (unlike her sister), and she LOVED the CAKE!

Oh, how she loved her homemade pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese frosting - topped with an adorable birthday sparkler.

Never mind the fact that I forgot to have Addie paint a pumpkin at her pumpkin-painting party or to throw her gold and white birthday confetti that I was SO excited about. And I'm a bit bummed I didn't get more pictures of the going-ons at the birthday, but I'm just telling myself that's the sign of a really good party. Too busy having fun to remember to do anything else.

Addie, it was fun. Happy Birthday, Little One!

I like to call this "Accurate Portrayal of Marriage"  

Adaline is O-N-E

To My Baby Bug,

One year ago, you entered the world.

A day I will never forget and a day I have replayed in my mind over and over again this past week. 

I typically do this on birthdays. I get lost in my dreamlike "Birth Day Zone", thinking about those first few days and ever so poignant moments.

But this particular birthday milestone has caught me off guard. I feel a bit sad deep in my gut, like the wind has been knocked out of me.

I suppose it's because I'm not quite sure how one year went by so quickly. I wish I could start over and remember to stop every now and again. I want to beg and plead to my one year ago self to slow down and scream THIS WILL ALL GO BY PAINFULLY TOO FAST. I probably wouldn't have listened anyway.

I could have sworn I was just in that delivery room dozing off to Law and Order SVU with your dad, exhausted from hours of intense contractions. When all of a sudden the nurse came in and said, Ok, time to push!

I can still feel the intense adrenaline and dancing butterflies, so excited and ready to meet you. All I could think about was getting you out of my belly and into my arms, so ready to cozy up next to you and get lost in newborn land.

Before I knew it, both grandmas' gleeful squeals of Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! were filling the room, and your dad calmly and matter-of-factly saying, Well, I won. (Which was his way of announcing that you were a girl.)

I couldn't get your naked warm body on my chest fast enough, and I was surprised as a heap load of emotions suddenly took over my entire being and forced me to bawl like a baby. Because you were here and more beautiful than I imagined. And a girl. Meeting you was overwhelming as you completed our family puzzle.

My heart had a mind of its own as it grew and expanded and smiled so hard, it hurt.

I really can't believe a year has passed since you graced us with your sweet spirit, calm demeanor and playful curiosity. The baby year with you has been so fulfilling and has brought me such joy.

I am thankful that you're a cuddler, easy going, and extra forgiving - even when I make you skip your morning nap or I forget your snacks/blanket/stroller/pacifier. You roll with the punches kid, and I have loved everyday since you've been born.

You have been my little buddy this year, happily going with me everywhere I go. You've been my coffee date tag-a-long, my co-worker in meetings, my partner in grocery shopping and errand-running, and even my travel side kick.

There are so many things I love about you and this moment in time.

You have the cutest evenly-spaced gaps in between your 8 teeth (I think?) right now.

You practically dive to give the most aggressive, slobbery, open mouth kisses.

You are finally starting to sign more. Thank goodness. Because meal time is the only time you are a major drama queen. Your teachers at school had to tell us to pack more food because you yell (loudly) when your food is gone.

You follow your sister everywhere, and she's not (always) the biggest fan.

You are busy. So busy that GiGi and Bots have to take a nap when you leave their house. And so busy that you can't stand even one second of changing your diaper.

You love peeking out the window. But you really love it when one of us is outside the window and waves at you. The giggles and happy screams are absolute music to my ears.

You still love to curl in a ball and lay on my chest before you go to sleep.

You love the dog water bowls, and we often find you soaked from head to toe.

Oh how we love you so, baby bug. I'm so thankful to be your mom and happy to be along for the ride of your little life.

Happy birthday, sweet girl.

XOXO


"I hope you don't mind that I put down in words how wonderful life is now that you're in the world."

Adaline Mae : 10 & 11 Months

Good grief.

How is it almost October? How is my BABY one month away from being one?

I seriously can't.

The past couple of months have been a blur, mostly due to demanding and completely overrated busy schedules, but also due to unavoidable life "stuff". So my apologies to my second born. If I sit down and think too long on the fact that all of this is going really quickly, I start to cry.

Because it really is going too fast.

Adaline, most recently called Lady A, is curious and feisty these days. She loves outlets and cords and getting into cabinets and drawers. This is all new to us. Well, not so new anymore, because Addie has broken us into the world of curious babies rather quickly.

She talks a lot, loves making loud noises with anything she can get her hands on, and barrels through the house like a wild animal. Quite the stark difference from her big sister who loves spending her mornings quietly reading in her room.

She loves cuddling and rocking to sleep. No matter how chaotic our days may be, I know I can always count on slowing down, turning my brain off and cuddling with Addie-Bug.

We are working really, really hard on signing "more" and "all done". Addie s-c-r-e-a-m-s for more. Screams. There is absolutely no patience when waiting for the next bite of food. This kid is 100% like her big sister in this fact.

My word, does she love the swing. Mostly because big sis loves the swing and Addie has to do everything Lyla does. But she smiles and giggles and kicks her feet back and forth, begging to be pushed.

Lady A is saying actual words. I can't remember for the life of me when Lyla started talking, but something tells me Addie will be the chatterbox. She says mama, dada, bye-bye, hi and lala (Lyla, her favorite person in the entire universe).

This sweet kiddo waves hi and bye-bye to everyone. When Grams comes over, when dad leaves for work in the morning, when we drop Lyla off at school. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Actually, I think Addie standing up and staring out the window is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

We took both babes on a lake trip with friends last month. It was so good for my soul on every account. I don't think I've ever heard a baby laugh as hard as Addie while riding the boat. She loved it. She did not, however, love the life jacket. Can't say I blame her.

She's going through this sharing phase. It's so darn sweet, I feel like my heart my rip in half. She picks things up and immediately holds them up for Gabe or I to see. She does this over and over again, looking up at us for approval.

This one is my littlest buddy. She happily totes along with me wherever I go - preschool drop-off, coffee with (adult) friends, work meetings, underwear shopping. And she loves it. Most of the time. Except when she skips her morning nap 3 days in a row. Then, she lets us know she's had enough of the running around all over town business.

Sigh. It is so strange that next month's post is O-N-E. I really can't quite grasp that.

So instead, I'm just going to focus on the fact that I have an 11 month old for now.

Adaline Mae : 9 Months

Late to the party.

Which is par for the course around these parts.

But here we are, celebrating my sweet baby Bug's nine month birthday. Because after enduring the torture of losing and then paying a lot of money to try to recover thousands of pictures off of an external hard drive, I am dedicated now more than ever to keep on keeping on with this little blog of mine.

- At Miss Bug's 9 month wellness check, she weighed in at 20.6 lbs (83%) and 28.5 in (84%). Big girl with some delicious rolls. And those little rubber band hands and chompable cheeks. I die.

- Littlest lady has developed quite the personality. She's the sweetest little thing with a side of dramatic flare. (Where did she ever get that trait?) She sure let's us know when she's feeling left out, wants more food or doesn't feel like sleeping. Oh, and she definitely puts up a fight when big sis takes her toys. (We love these little-big personalities SO much and love how different they are!!) She's feisty & determined and still the sweetest little cuddle bug. And the thing she has most in common with big sis? A strong-willed nature. It was the first thing Dr. Reddy commented on, "Well Angela, you've been blessed with two VERY strong willed little ones." (sigh)

- Addie (sort of) started clapping and waving this month. She gets so excited when people wave and say "Bye Addie". She starts waving her hands and flapping her arms and drooling and gurgling about. It's quite cute. And she thinks clapping is almost as cool as her big sister.

- Adaline Mae started officially crawling the day after 9 month birthday! After weeks of rocking back and forth, she's finally on the go. She is everywhere and happy as a clam now that she is on the move.

- From birth, Addie has been the easiest baby. So easy, that I've felt like I could have 5 more children. She slept through the night from the get-go, rarely cried and has always been super easy going and flexible. But this month? Girlfriend decided to give us some trouble. It all started with refusing to take a bottle. To the point that after trying for an hour each time, every single day for weeks, it was finally time to give up. The bottle wasn't happening. (Which, by the way, she used to take a bottle. Until I didn't bottle feed her for a good month or so. Now, she's too old and knows what she wants. And it's not the bottle.) I swear I've bought every brand of bottle, sippie and nipple ever invented. And since she's not drinking from a sippie much (something we work on all day long), she's developed quite the bowel issues. I'm that mom on the phone with the nurse every other day asking questions about poop. Let's just say we're up to our ears in prunes and pear juice, and we're experts at giving suppositories.

- She LOVES swimming so much. She splashes and squeals about. And I love it too because she sleeps hard and well after a day at the pool!

- Addie and Lyla are completely developing this incredible sister relationship that I always wished I'd had. It's a love-hate as they play and fight. Just like sisters do. And I love it!

- This child is into everything. Everything. I can no longer take a shower while she's awake, and I most definitely cannot leave her in a room by herself. We found pennies in her mouth 3 different times, she wrapped herself in a lamp cord, dove out of a baby pool onto concrete, and Gabe had to dislodge a ball of plastic wrap from her throat. Needless to say, we were (obviously) completely unprepared for the whole baby proofing thing. We've since covered all the outlets, put up cords, and lowered her mattress. (All of which, we never did ANY of with Lyla). And we still rack up an average of 3 or 4 injuries per day.

- I'm such a believer in teaching children to sleep. And I am quite confident all children, regardless of how much they fight sleep, can be taught to sleep well. Well Addie-Babe is going through a phase where she is fighting sleep really really hard. So hard, that I usually give in and let her stay up and play. She crawls all about for a good hour or two, destroys a few things and then (maybe) gets tired enough to finally go to sleep. It's maddening. And I'll let you know when I figure it out.

One thing's for sure. This stage is SO MUCH FUN!