My girls are growing up so fast. When I was first pregnant, everyone told me how fast it would happen, but I didn't know that this is what they meant.
Maggie is two years and two months old and has officially entered the language explosion phase. Every day she picks up ten new words. Tonight, we had a five minute discussion about how everyone we know hears with their ears. She is also a master mimic. Sometimes, I make up dances just to watch her copy them. People talk about the terrible twos, but my two year old is AWESOME!!
But then, so is my seven month old. She is so happy and smiley. People stop me all the time out in public to tell me how cute her smile is. It's to the point where I worry that Maggie might get a complex. She loves blowing raspberries and reaching for things (especially hair!) Then the switch flips, and you see the other side of Lucy. The banshee-shreiking, bloody-murder-screaming, why-can't-you-feed-me-or-change-my-diaper-fast-enough kid. Luckily, she calms down pretty quickly, and blows more raspberries.
As excited as I am for them to grow up, I wish I could freeze them just like they are today.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Double your pleasure
One of the things that concerned me most when I found out I was pregnant with Lucy was how I was going to have time to spend with each child. I know most parents worry about this with a second (or later) child, but knowing how close in age they would be scared me.
When Lucy was born a month early, the twenty months that were supposed to separate my kids' birthdays shrunk to nineteen short months. Even now, when I look back at pictures of Maggie when Lucy was born, she looks like such a baby herself. I think there should be a bumper sticker made that says "I survived two under two!"
It is difficult to find time for each of them individually. Since Lucy is still small, Maggie and I will often go on "Mommy and Maggie dates" while my husband stays home with Lucy. Usually, these are trips to Target or the grocery store, but mostly they are a chance for us to spend time one on one together. As Lucy gets older, we will switch out.
Some days their nap schedule is totally off so Lucy is wide awake during Maggie's nap. As frustrating as this can be for me sometimes (naptime is my break time!), it is nice to play with Lucy while Maggie is sleeping and then to play with Maggie while Lucy is sleeping.
Just recently, the girls started playing with each other. They make each other laugh and play little games that they (or just Maggie) make up.
This is the best part of having them so close together.
When Lucy was born a month early, the twenty months that were supposed to separate my kids' birthdays shrunk to nineteen short months. Even now, when I look back at pictures of Maggie when Lucy was born, she looks like such a baby herself. I think there should be a bumper sticker made that says "I survived two under two!"
It is difficult to find time for each of them individually. Since Lucy is still small, Maggie and I will often go on "Mommy and Maggie dates" while my husband stays home with Lucy. Usually, these are trips to Target or the grocery store, but mostly they are a chance for us to spend time one on one together. As Lucy gets older, we will switch out.
Some days their nap schedule is totally off so Lucy is wide awake during Maggie's nap. As frustrating as this can be for me sometimes (naptime is my break time!), it is nice to play with Lucy while Maggie is sleeping and then to play with Maggie while Lucy is sleeping.
Just recently, the girls started playing with each other. They make each other laugh and play little games that they (or just Maggie) make up.
This is the best part of having them so close together.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Dreams
Two nights ago, Maggie woke up around 3 in the morning crying. When, I stumbled into her room to see what was wrong, she was crying "Bea, Bea". Beatrice is her Winnie the Pooh lovey/ blanket thing that she tells me is her "best friend". I found Bea in the covers and gave it to her, but she kept crying.
I asked her if she had had a bad dream and she nodded her head. I told her that I would tell her a good dream so that the bad dream would go away. She liked this idea, so I laid down next to her and began to make up a story about two princesses named Maggie and Lucy who rode their flying ponies to Grandma and Grandpa's house to play. She LOVED it!! She curled up next to me while I told her the story, and then fell back asleep.
I figured that since I had been half asleep at the time and couldn't remember the incident too clearly, she wouldn't be able to either. Wrong. She not only remembered the whole thing, but now when it is bedtime or naptime, she tells me "Lay down, mama. Dream!" I tried to switch the story up a little bit this afternoon, but she wouldn't have it.
At least there haven't been anymore bad dreams.
I asked her if she had had a bad dream and she nodded her head. I told her that I would tell her a good dream so that the bad dream would go away. She liked this idea, so I laid down next to her and began to make up a story about two princesses named Maggie and Lucy who rode their flying ponies to Grandma and Grandpa's house to play. She LOVED it!! She curled up next to me while I told her the story, and then fell back asleep.
I figured that since I had been half asleep at the time and couldn't remember the incident too clearly, she wouldn't be able to either. Wrong. She not only remembered the whole thing, but now when it is bedtime or naptime, she tells me "Lay down, mama. Dream!" I tried to switch the story up a little bit this afternoon, but she wouldn't have it.
At least there haven't been anymore bad dreams.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Spring?
It is sooo warm here in Chicago today. We have had a very mild winter, but today is awesome. I think it is close to 60!
To celebrate the weather (and leap day), the girls and I went to Target this morning and got some new chalk and some bubbles for the backyard.
When we got home Lucy took a nap inside, and Maggie and I went out back to play. She had so much fun running around in and out of her playhouse and drawing on the sidewalk. I have a feeling she is going to take a really long nap this afternoon.
I also bought some new clothesline and clothespins so I was able to hang the cloth diapers outside to dry. This is my favorite way to dry the diapers. They might take a little longer to dry, but the sun gets the stains out and they smell much better. When we lived in our apartment, we had sun in the backyard all afternoon. In our new backyard, the sun starts moving behind the neighbor's tree around 1pm. I guess this means I'll have to wash the diapers the night before this summer so they will be ready to hang first thing in the morning. At least, there will be some nice shade in the afternoons when it is time to drag out the baby pool! Or to play on the swingset that the girls are going to get in a few weeks.
Lucy enjoying the weather.
Maggie drawing with chalk.
Diapers drying on the line.
To celebrate the weather (and leap day), the girls and I went to Target this morning and got some new chalk and some bubbles for the backyard.
When we got home Lucy took a nap inside, and Maggie and I went out back to play. She had so much fun running around in and out of her playhouse and drawing on the sidewalk. I have a feeling she is going to take a really long nap this afternoon.
I also bought some new clothesline and clothespins so I was able to hang the cloth diapers outside to dry. This is my favorite way to dry the diapers. They might take a little longer to dry, but the sun gets the stains out and they smell much better. When we lived in our apartment, we had sun in the backyard all afternoon. In our new backyard, the sun starts moving behind the neighbor's tree around 1pm. I guess this means I'll have to wash the diapers the night before this summer so they will be ready to hang first thing in the morning. At least, there will be some nice shade in the afternoons when it is time to drag out the baby pool! Or to play on the swingset that the girls are going to get in a few weeks.
Lucy enjoying the weather.
Maggie drawing with chalk.
Diapers drying on the line.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Girls Day Out
I worked the last four days in a row (which is a big deal for me since I work 12 hour shifts). So today, the girls and I really needed to spend some time together. I could tell that they had really missed me the past few days (Maggie especially) and I really missed them too!
So, today we spent the morning at the Museum of Science and Industry. Since I was a little girl, this has been my favorite museum ever! In recent years, they have a done a lot of work to fix some older exhibits and it is just AWESOME. My husband and I took Maggie when she was about a year old, but it was more for us than for her. Today, she loved it! When we pulled up across the street from the museum, I pointed it out to her and she started yelling "BABY CHICKS, MAMA! BABY CHICKS!" I had been telling her that the baby chicks would be there, but she had not even seen them yet.
I spent the rest of the time there trying to keep up with her as she ran from exhibit to exhibit. She was so excited at one point, that she just started shaking.
When we were finished with the museum, we hit up McDonald's on the way home for lunch. I don't normally eat fast food myself (fried food upsets my stomach) and I rarely feed it to Maggie, but I thought today called for a treat.
Here's the girls trying out the airplane at the museum. Maggie was so excited, she couldn't even sit still for the pictures!
Today is also Lucy's seven month birthday, so we sang Happy Birthday to her and she got to take an extra long bath. (OMG, Lucy loves the bath!)
Now that Maggie is getting older (and Lucy is not far behind!) I think I am going to start taking them for a girls day out once a week or so. It probably won't always involve eating out, but I think it would be a nice way to show them the city. We are so lucky to live so close to so many amazing museums, and I want them to grow up appreciating them.
So, today we spent the morning at the Museum of Science and Industry. Since I was a little girl, this has been my favorite museum ever! In recent years, they have a done a lot of work to fix some older exhibits and it is just AWESOME. My husband and I took Maggie when she was about a year old, but it was more for us than for her. Today, she loved it! When we pulled up across the street from the museum, I pointed it out to her and she started yelling "BABY CHICKS, MAMA! BABY CHICKS!" I had been telling her that the baby chicks would be there, but she had not even seen them yet.
I spent the rest of the time there trying to keep up with her as she ran from exhibit to exhibit. She was so excited at one point, that she just started shaking.
When we were finished with the museum, we hit up McDonald's on the way home for lunch. I don't normally eat fast food myself (fried food upsets my stomach) and I rarely feed it to Maggie, but I thought today called for a treat.
Today is also Lucy's seven month birthday, so we sang Happy Birthday to her and she got to take an extra long bath. (OMG, Lucy loves the bath!)
Now that Maggie is getting older (and Lucy is not far behind!) I think I am going to start taking them for a girls day out once a week or so. It probably won't always involve eating out, but I think it would be a nice way to show them the city. We are so lucky to live so close to so many amazing museums, and I want them to grow up appreciating them.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Valentine's Day
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. My awesome husband got me my own camera (since I am not a fan of the one we bought on Black Friday. This morning he also gave my a Lucy necklace. Last year for Christmas, he gave me a heart necklace with Maggie's birthstone, so now I have a necklace for each girl.
I gave him a new coffee mug with a picture of both girls on it. I have one more present to get him, that I need to go out and get when nap time is over.
We got Valentine's presents for the girls, too. A paint set and new paint brushes for Maggie and a stuffed monkey toy for Lucy. I love watching them open new presents and playing with them. It's probably a good thing we don't have a lot of money because my kids would be overflowing with toys and clothes if we did. (Girls clothes are just so damn cute!)
Although Valentine's Day is special for us, our dating anniversary is coming up in three weeks and that is my favorite day to celebrate.
I can't wait!!
I gave him a new coffee mug with a picture of both girls on it. I have one more present to get him, that I need to go out and get when nap time is over.
We got Valentine's presents for the girls, too. A paint set and new paint brushes for Maggie and a stuffed monkey toy for Lucy. I love watching them open new presents and playing with them. It's probably a good thing we don't have a lot of money because my kids would be overflowing with toys and clothes if we did. (Girls clothes are just so damn cute!)
Although Valentine's Day is special for us, our dating anniversary is coming up in three weeks and that is my favorite day to celebrate.
I can't wait!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Winter Warm Up
Last year at this time, Chicago was preparing for the worst blizzard in recent history. We got over 2 feet of snow in 24 hours.
This year, we are on the opposite end of the spectrum. This afternoon, the temp is supposed to get up to 55 degrees. The girls and I went to the park so they could burn off a little steam. Maggie is terrified of the swings and the slides but she loves to run up and down the stairs and to watch the other kids. Lucy loves the swings. I like getting out of the house. I think the fresh air and activity is good for all of us.
Lucy had her six month appointment yesterday where she got three shots, her regular vaccinations plus her flu shot. She has been running a temp and just wants to cuddle and rest. I am trying to get better about putting her down for naps instead of cuddling with her all the time but this week I think the cuddles are more important. I know vaccines are important, but it sucks how hard their little immune systems have to work to fight off these terrible diseases.
Hopefully all the running around will help Maggie take a long nap, so we can all rest well this afternoon.
This year, we are on the opposite end of the spectrum. This afternoon, the temp is supposed to get up to 55 degrees. The girls and I went to the park so they could burn off a little steam. Maggie is terrified of the swings and the slides but she loves to run up and down the stairs and to watch the other kids. Lucy loves the swings. I like getting out of the house. I think the fresh air and activity is good for all of us.
Lucy had her six month appointment yesterday where she got three shots, her regular vaccinations plus her flu shot. She has been running a temp and just wants to cuddle and rest. I am trying to get better about putting her down for naps instead of cuddling with her all the time but this week I think the cuddles are more important. I know vaccines are important, but it sucks how hard their little immune systems have to work to fight off these terrible diseases.
Hopefully all the running around will help Maggie take a long nap, so we can all rest well this afternoon.
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