"Enjoy it, they grow so fast!"

      When you have a baby for the first time everybody admires the baby and then there leaving comments before they depart usually are: "Enjoy it, they grow so fast!"

      It's amazing how quickly kids really do grow and change.  Sierra still isn't even 2 yet and I feel like she should be 4 with all the growth and changes that she has done in this past year!  She is talking up a storm and adding 5-10 words to her vocabulary EVERY DAY!  It's amazing to see them learn to comprehend what you are telling them and obey.  It's fascinating to watch them discover something for the first time and really play with it and explore it.  Like today, she picked a dandelion.  She ran over to me to show me and then she studied it.  She smelled it and then she shook it and saw all the little seeds blow away.  She chased a few and wiped them off the things they landed on.  Such intricate attention girls can pay to the smallest of things!

      Probably the BEST thing that Sierra has really gotten into lately is singing and dancing.  I LOVE to watch her wander around the yard singing a nonsense song, or breaking out in hopping and clapping and jumping around, singing and saying "Yay," all at the same time.  She's full of personality and loves to laugh and sing.  She's an athlete and will stand on the edge of a brick ledge and shout, "2...3...GO!" and then proceed to run as fast as she can to the other side of the yard.  She loves to play basketball in the backyard and soccer out on any grass.  She's a natural...truly.
      The other day I could tell that she was wired and needed to get some energy out.  Jeff had just gotten off work and so we headed to the bike trail in Placerville.  I had the double BOB and we started both girls in that...but Sierra wanted to talk almost immediately.  No biggie, that was why we were there!  So she got out of the stroller and ran.  She ran, and ran, and ran, and ran.  Seriously, we were calulating the run and she ran a WHOLE MILE!  She is not even 2 yet!  She ran the WHOLE THING!  I ran beside her and traded off running ahead of her so she ran to us, or running beside her.  It felt so good to get out as a whole family and exercise together.  I love showing her that exercise and health should be, and is, a very important part of our lives.
      I took these photos today.  She is so fun to photograph (sometimes).  Today she is officially 22 months old!!!

      It's also beautiful to see the relationship develop between Sierra and Peyton.  Sierra can ALWAYS get Peyton to laugh and smile.  They really love each other and you can already see a bond forming between them.  Sierra loves Peyton and is always concerned with her when she is crying.  She says, "oh no, mama, Peyton's crying."  She gives her hugs and kisses when she is sad and often looks at her and says, "bless you 'Dayton', bless you."  Sierra will tickle her and point to her eyes and say, "Dayton's eyes" and to her nose, "Dayton's nose" and to her feet, "Dayton's beet...yeah!"

      Peyton is now 2 months old!!!  (9 weeks to be exact)  She is measuring about 13 lbs. and about 25" long.  She's a little weed.  Some people, when they find out she was a 10 pounder, say, "Oh my!  I'm so sorry!"  But, the thing is I really don't mind!  Both my girls are really good sleepers.  When Peyton was born, she was born sleeping through the night.  I had to wake her up for the first 2 weeks until the doctor gave me the go ahead to let her sleep.  At 2 weeks she was sleeping 6-8 hours a night!  At 4 weeks it was a definite 8 hours.  And now at 8-9 weeks she sleeps 10 hours a night straight.  I am very pleased with that cause my days are so crazy I really need that extra sleep!!!  She too is growing and changing rapidly.  She's smiling all the time.  She evens lets out a little sign and giggle once in awhile.

    Both my girls just melt my heart!  I love being mommy!

Small Victories and Epic Backfires

A friend of mine about to have a baby started a family blog so friends and family could follow their journey into parenthood.  I loved the idea SO much that I copied her, thanks Andrea. :)

I wanted to start this blog out with a beautiful story of our family and how we all came to be.  But, today was so epic in parenthood that I just have to share.  I will write the "beautiful blog" later.

Today, Monday morning, I woke up energized and ready for a good day.  Jeff and I are both on our game this morning.  We take turns eating breakfast and entertaining the girls so we can BOTH get showers.  This is a rare occurrence these days.  I decided it was laundry day cause I had the energy and so I began a load and got the others ready to go.  We also needed groceries and knowing if I wanted to continue to stay on board with my newly adopted healthy eating routine I needed to hit the store before dinner time, which meant I had to tackle it with Sierra (21 months) and Peyton (8 weeks)...ALONE!  For those of you who have a couple kids, you know why this is such a feat to take on.  But, alas, I finally made it out the door...it only took us an hour to get out (typical).  Peyton fed and a bag of popcorn and graham crackers for Sierra to last us through the store and we were ready.

We can do this Mom!

We made it through! Sierra ate popcorn and graham crackers for lunch, the whole time we shopped, but I made it through the grocery store.  I also ONLY bought what was on my list and looked through all the prices and got the sale items, the best deals and healthiest options.  When I left the store and I didn't have a meltdown from either child, amazing for being 30 minutes into Sierra's nap, and I didn't overspend or overindulge...I felt on top of the world!!!  This is a mighty victory in mommy land!

We got home, unloaded groceries and I put Sierra down for a nap.  I made lunch and sat down to feed Peyton and myself.  Yes, simultaneously...you learn how to multi-task VERY quickly with children.  Peyton ate fine for a minute or two and then just sat back and smiled and smiled.  She let out a giggle and was SO happy.  I smelt fresh, breastmilk, baby poop (distinct smell) and new she needed a new diaper, but I assumed since it wasn't really strong that there wasn't a lot and she could wait for a few minutes.  She was so happy and I got to finish my lunch.  I picked her up and patted her back and kissed her cheek and just snuggled a bit with her.  Jeff came home for lunch and I got to tell him about my, very proud and successful, shopping trip.  He was in the kitchen making some more to eat when it all happened.  

All of sudden I felt warm and wet.  Instantly I knew I should have changed the diaper, but had no idea it was that bad.  I held Peyton away from me as she is continuing to grin from ear to ear and giggle with pure baby satisfaction and slowly looked down to see the damage.  I was covered from chest to knees in fresh, yellow, baby poo.  I said aloud, "oh...my...gosh."  I hear Jeff from the kitchen, "what?"  I stand up, silent, walk into the kitchen, still holding my very happy little baby away from me as her feet are dangling in the air and her face all squished up between my hands, and I just looked at Jeff.  He looks at me, laughs and says. "Oh, wow!"  He thinks for a second and then goes on to say, "And that's my que to leave."  What?!?  Seriously!?!  You're going to abandon me like this?  Yep, he is.  I am a stay at home mom and he needs to go to work.  So, off I go to the bedroom to strip both of us down and throw the clothes in the washer...and of course FINALLY change the diaper now that it's too late.  

As Jeff is getting on his bike to head back to work I look at him and say, "Why do I even bother taking a shower?"  He says back as he rides away, "I don't know either.  You just shouldn't!  I love you, by."  Haha, I love my husband!  He is so amazing and I am so happy that I don't have the pressures to be perfect around him.  He loves me for who I am, and that is priceless and precious for every woman!

I look back at Peyton who is lying on the ground still in complete contentment and still wearing her exploded diaper and I just laugh out loud as I sit down to change it.  I do love being a stay at home mom.  Even these epic moments that seem like the worst thing in the world are enjoyable because it's my new job!