Oh Gemma

I don't even know what to say about Gemma besides that she's awesome. I've been somewhat scared of the "terrible 2s", but besides her little stint after Makael was born, she's been pretty great. The last few months have actually been my favorite with her so far. Watching her "pretend" play and have conversations with her toys is probably one of my favorite things right now, as well as the way she interacts with her friends...she seems so grown up at times. I find myself stopping to just watch her several times throughout the day. I love the way she hikes up her knees way too high as she runs, the way she concentrates while drawing, the way she "sings" to herself while she looks out the car window, and the way she manages to make a friend wherever we go. There's just so much cuteness to take in.

Last week I reserved her spot at preschool, and couldn't stop the tears from welling up when I got off the phone. I know she will do great and will absolutely love it. She'll for sure be the girl who excitedly runs off and instantly makes a friend, oblivious to the fact that her mom is standing at the doorway wanting a kiss goodbye and trying her hardest not to cry. I'm so thankful that's still a year and a half away!

Some days I wish I could just record everything she says. She has become quite the conversationalist. Some of my favorite recent one liners:
"I'm not funny mommy, I crazy"
"My outfit is so beautiful today"
" You're my best friend"
"I went potty in my pull up...you sad mom?"
"Oh my gosh!"
"That's a catholic church" (David and I still don't know where she learned that one)
"My brother is crying mom...make him stop"
"Don't cry baby Kael...I'm your best friend"
I could keep going...

I had my favorite 2012 moment with her! We made a chocolate cake together, and then sat on the kitchen floor and licked the bowl. It was so fun to share a moment with her and know she was enjoying it as much as I was, and as I watched her lick chocolate off her fingers I started thinking of things we'll get to start doing together as she gets older. We'll go on bike rides, bake cookies, watch "Anne of Green Gables"... To be honest, I have never been able to picture myself as a mother of kids older than the age of three. I could always imagine having a baby, but never a kid...until now :)
I don't know when I became such a sap.

She LOVES the ipad!

How dads wipe noses :)

4 Months!

I think it's crazy Makael is already 4 months old. I think time must speed up exponentially with each kid, because I could have sworn I just had him yesterday. He continues to be a very content baby and definitely has his mommy smitten with him. He cried for the first time because someone else was holding him last Sunday. I'm not going to lie...it made me feel very special :)

At four months Makael...

• weighs 12 lbs 6 oz, and is 23 1/4 inches long.
• has officially found his fingers, which reside inside his mouth at all times.
• has figured out how to blow rasberries.
• hates loud noises (which is a problem with his big sister around).
  
• loves the jumperoo.
• is getting really close to being able to sit up on his own.
• loves it when I sing to him.
• still takes the prize for most smiley baby. Even during his biggest cries he'll figure out some way to smile at me. It's pretty amazing.
  

I got a phone call from the pediatrician's office yesterday reminding me that he had his 4 months check up today, which was good since I had completely forgotten! It was kind of nice to forget though...I didn't have time to dwell on the visit like I usually do. I always dread taking them in for shots. Unfortunately he fell from the 10th to the 5th percentile in both weight and height which isn't ideal, so we've made some adjustments in hopes he gains a little more weight. I'll take him in again in a month to make sure he's gaining weight and eating better. The doctor did mention he looked very proportionate and healthy so he wasn't overly concerned.

Fascinated by the toys on the jumperoo...I love the concentration.

Onward to 2012

So I have no idea where to even start. It's been so long since I last posted, and so much has happened, that I don't know what to include and what to leave out. I'll do my best to keep this short and to the point.

I always get a little depressed after Christmas. There's so much anticipation leading up to it, that it's inevitable to feel a little sad when all the festivities end, family goes home, and it's time to take down the Christmas tree. This year was especially hard to see the season pass. There were a few things that made Christmas 2011 extra special. For starters, Makael was with us, making our family feel more complete...and I don't know what it is about him, but the boy just melts my heart. It was also incredibly fun to watch Gemma throughout the whole season...watching her pick out her tree ornament, watching her excitedly point out which stalking was hers, watching her face light up as she opened presents, and then appreciate them during the following weeks. My favorite thing this year however, was the fact that we had our first "official" Christmas together as a family. It was so surreal for me to have Christmas with "my family", in "my home", and watch "my kids" open presents. Definitely a Christmas for the books.

We are now in 2012 and I have already taken a gazillion pictures...that's what happens when you get a new camera lens for Christmas :) I'm usually the type to be sad that things have passed instead of being excited about what's to come. Thankfully, having Gemma and Makael has changed that somehow. I'm not sad last year is over, I'm actually anticipating 2012. I'm excited to see Makael learn how to sit on his own, crawl, walk, say his first words, and start demonstrating more and more of his sweet personality. I'm excited to watch Gemma continue to experience all the exciting things that come during toddler-hood, as she approaches her "childhood". There's going to be a lot of picture documenting on my part :)

Like most first posts of the year...I have to give a rundown of the previous year. 2011 was a fun year!

• We found out I was pregnant with baby #2.
• We survived 18+ inches of snow.
• Gemma learned how to walk!
• We redecorated our basement.
• We finished off the room in the basement and made it the new guest bedroom.
• Gemma moved into a big girl room.
• Gemma grew enough hair to wear pigtails :)
  
• I started potty training Gemma.
• I took a break from potty training Gemma.
• I re-started potty training Gemma.
• I'm still potty training Gemma.
• We bought a Ford Explorer to better accommodate multiple children.
• David and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary.
• We welcomed Makael into the world.
• Gemma turned 2 years old.
  
• We had our first family photo shoot as a family of 4.
  
• Makael learned how to smile, roll onto his back, babble, and sleep through the night :)

All in all a WONDERFUL year!!

There were too many pictures I wanted to post, so I've resorted to posting a link again.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.333380073352463.85423.100000414194522&type=1

Giggles

Nothing like a good case of the hiccups to get a few giggles on camera :)

Yay Makael!!

Little man is really growing up. Our bedtime routine consists of me feeding him and then laying him in his crib awake and on his belly. He typically turns his head from side to side a few times before settling in and dozing off. I fully expected to see that last night, but instead of settling in to his favorite position, he put his arms under his chest and propped himself up. Not only did he exercise perfect head control, he then proceeded to throw himself over onto his back. What?! When did he learn how to roll over? It wasn't even a struggle for him...it was like he had been doing it for weeks. I considered that it might have just been a fluke so I tried it again...and again he propped himself up and rolled onto his back. He's a pro!

We've been practicing some more today, and at one point he leaned forward, put his little butt up in the air and scooted himself forward...I'm thinking we might have an early crawler on our hands.

I think it's funny that he's so blond you can't even see his hair in the video.

Big White Dog

Woah...two posts in one day...crazy I know.

Really I just have a short story about Gemma.

Yesterday morning (Sunday) Elly and I were out for a run and found a dog. She followed us for quite a while so it was clear she was lost. We got scared she was going to get ran over when we crossed the street so we called her over. She was so sweet! Elly determined she was an Australian Shephard, and while she was wearing a collar, we didn't see any tags. We decided the best thing to do was to take her home and call the humane society..but of course it's closed on Sundays. So the sweet dog spend the rest of the day and night with us. She was incredibly smart and sweet, and I decided that if no one claimed her that I was going to keep her. How great to find a trained, sweet, and smart dog that's great with kids! Unfortunately after a trip to the humane society we found out her name was Clara, and she did in fact have an owner. How sweet of a name is Clara!? The owner called me and shortly after came to pick Clara up. I was so relieved that the ower was a super sweet lady and Clara could not have been more excited to see her. I guess the family went out of town and accidentally left the gate open. Gemma was especially nice to the lady. The second she walked through the door, Gemma began telling her about our Christmas tree and how she had just broken an ornament. I don't think I've ever seen Gemma open up to someone so quickly. Once I told her the lady was here to get the dog, she grabbed the lady's hand and said "common, I show you"....The lady was quite taken by Gemma as well. After a million "thank you's" from the owner, we watched Clara leave. Surprisingly Gemma started crying and telling the dog to come back...break my heart!! When we walked back inside, Gemma stated she wanted to get a "big dog that's white".
We retold the whole story to David when he came home from work, and at the end of it Gemma cheerfully added she wanted a small black dog. Hahaha. I guess we might just have to get her a dog soon....and it might just be a big white dog or a little black dog.

Cute!

Gemma has obviously seen me wearing a headband for my runs recently.

My favorite..."I so cute"