My New Obsession

Thanks to one of my favorite baby gifts from my Aunt Andie (these darling summer dresses), I think it's time to admit my new obsession (on top of my already-existing ones of Diet Coke, The Bachelorette, Chipotle burrito bowls, and huge flowers on top of little heads): matching sister outfits. Aren't they too cute to resist?

You'll all be relieved to hear that I DID NOT make Drew wear a hot pink tie to church (although I wouldn't put it past me).

(If you look closely, there's a pretty nasty cut on Makenna's left eye due to her jumping over-exuberantly on top of her silky princess sleeping bag and falling into her wooden bed frame...poor thing. The girl is SO accident prone; I don't quite know what to make of it.)

Dear Addison...

Dear Addison,

Today, on your 4-month check-up, I thought I'd write down a few things of importance in your short life thus far.

Just so you know, you are 100% breastfed. However, I must tell you that both your height and weight are above the 99%. Hear me: OFF THE CHARTS. You are so big that you've grown out of your little infant carrier and have graduated to a big-girl car seat. Tonight we went shopping to buy your big sister a booster seat. We learned today that you are more than half her total weight. Sometimes we sing you songs like: "Your hip bone's connected to your ham bone"; "All you need is blubb(er)"; "Beast of Burden"; and various songs by Biggie Smalls.

On a lighter note, though, you are our social butterfly. You put your sister to shame (who's a bit shier than you are) by making new friends and winning people over with your big, warm smile. You'll laugh out loud at just about anything. You're extremely ticklish in the rolls between your neck and chest. When it comes to nursing, you'd much rather hold deep, mommy-daughter conversations than buckle down and focus on the task at hand. I've resorted to holding your head still so that you won't be tempted to flirt, unabashedly, with me.

You are a sleeping champ. Of this, I cannot be more grateful to you. I've almost forgotten that it's not normal for a baby your age to sleep 10-11 hours straight at night. I'm knocking on our wood desk as I write. Keep it up, and you'll have one happy mama on your hands.





(Your legs barely fit into the Bumbo seat. I'll give it a few weeks before we have to oil your thighs before setting you in it.)




You sister is preoccupied with other things, namely, fashion. We are not to leave the house without jewelry and shades on, and some sort of purse to hang onto.



(Watching a movie with a friend)


(Sporting her mama's black cowboy boots)





(Playing fairy princesses with new BFF, Neve)


(Striking her best supermodel pose before we head to the pool)



I can't wait to see what type of little girl you grow into. I know it will fly by, so I'm eating up every single moment of your little babyhood.

I love you,

Mommy

Motherhood

My dad just sent me this and I loved it so much I just had to share it with you. It brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart.

To all you amazing mothers...




I am so grateful for the profound blessing of being a mother, and also of having one who has been such a phenomenal example to me.

HAPPIEST BABY EVER...

 

Love this girl. Never met a happier baby...truly.

Count Your Many Blessings

Name them one by one.

1. My darling daughters.
2. My fabulous husband.
3. My amazing mom who was able to fly out last minute to be part of Addison's special day.

We blessed our second daughter on Sunday. I don't entirely know why we waited so long (other than my recovery period from a C-section and then gallbladder surgery...13 weeks in total). I suppose that takes us into her fourth month, but it just seems she's been a part of our family for a lot longer now. Maybe it seems that way because of how big she is. I should tell you that the dress she wore was actually given to Makenna by one of her great-grandmas, but she was literally swimming in it at her blessing day (not quite 6 lbs.), so my first-born wore my blessing dress which was a bit smaller. By waiting almost 4 months, my little ham of a girl could barely fit in the beautiful blessing dress. The buttons were busting open across her tubby little back and I was forever thankful the dress had ties in the back for extra support. Nevertheless, she looked like an angel and sounded like one too as she cried from the stand for 3/4 of her blessing.

I'm so lucky to be blessed with a strong husband who holds the priesthood, supportive parents who don't let living 2,329 miles away stop them from being a part of their granddaughters' lives, and 2 beautiful girls who fill me up in so many ways every single day.

Sunday was a good day.

All in a Day's Words

Did you know Makenna didn't have more than 4 words until after she was 18 months old? Did you know our little girl went to Speech Therapy for the better part of last year? Did you know that when she broke her tiny arm at 19 months, she couldn't tell me where she was hurting, or even that she was hurting? Lately, all that has been hard for me to remember because of what a loquacious little thing she's turned into.

The last few weeks I've noticed how funny Makenna is becoming. Many times during the day I find myself laughing out loud at little things coming out of her mouth. However, when I tried to tell people about it, I forgot completely what had been said and ended up laughing alone at the thing which I forgot, but knew that it was funny. Sad, isn't it? So in an attempt to share some of her 2-year-old humor, and also to not look so lame laughing alone next time you see me, I've decided to write down some of them.

The following are just from Friday, when I made the goal to record her laughable lines:

Makenna: I'm going shopping to get a new purse right now.
Me: What color is your new purse?
Makenna: Pink.
Me: How much money did it cost?
Makenna: Four years.
Me: Hmmm.
Makenna: (2 minutes later) I'm getting a new one. This purse died.


Makenna in the bathtub, me in her room nursing Addison.
"Mommy."
"Mommy."
"Mommy."
"Mommy."
"Mommy."
(I just didn't answer her. I don't know why. Don't judge me.)
"ANYONE HOME HERE?!"


Makenna still in the bathtub, 5 minutes later. I'm trying, unsuccessfully, to wash her hair, which she despises.
Me: Hold still while I rinse your hair please.
(Struggling. More struggling. Even more struggling.)
Makenna: Stop it Mommy! I'M GOING CRAZY!
(I swear she hasn't heard that from me)


Serving dinner earlier that evening, I hand her a plate of food.
Makenna: Thank you Mommy.
Me: You're very welcome.
Makenna: Nice manners Mommy. Thank you for saying "you're welcome."
(A few minutes later)
Makenna: Is that food good Mommy?
Me: Yes, it tastes very good.
Makenna: Okay, good. Because mine is delicious.

Rockin' Mother's Day

Does life get any better than this? I really don't think it can. I am so blessed to be these two precious girls' mother. It takes my breath away how much love I have for both of them. That's not to say I don't have my days of pure craziness and utter impatience, but weighing them out, they're few and far between when I think of what joy these two little souls bring me.


I don't want to make anyone insanely jealous out there, but I've got to relay the amazing day that was my Mother's Day.
8:30 am Delicious breakfast in bed (thick cinnamon french toast, bacon, and OJ...I'm salivating as I write) delivered by my hubby and overly-anxious daughter, homemade card in hand.
9 am Walk downstairs to a clean house and beautiful flowers in my very favorite vase.
10 am Wonderful hubby gets the girls ready in their little dresses while I take an extra long time pampering.
Noon: Church, where I received a delectable little Mother's Day chocolate truffle bar that was totally worth the 360 calories it contained.
Afternoon: Naps for the little ones and some oh-so-coveted time with my hubby, where he presented me with the very unexpected (but very lovely) gift of... a chocolate fountain. Who knew we needed one? I tell you, friends, it is a little gem of an appliance, truly. We had fun trying it out Sunday night and stuffing ourselves silly with chocolate; (don't worry, we rationed it by taking time to dip things in it too).

Oh, thank you to whoever instated this as a National Holiday. I love you forever.


Now, onto Addison's two-month check-up...


The little chub is nearly 13 pounds, which puts her in the 82nd percentile. She's measuring in the 99th percentile for height (not entirely surprising). I will forgo mentioning her head circumference since it is nearly off the charts in the other direction (our clan clearly has rather small heads).

She is a chub-of-all-chubs and sported her first pair of 6-9 month pants today (she's 9 weeks old). She is smiling often and we are all collectively falling in love with her wide, toothless grin and happy, squinty eyes. She sleeps like a baby champ, going 5-7 hours at night to start and then 3-4 after that. I am counting my blessings on a nightly basis. I should mention that 5-7 hours starts around 11pm after her bouts of colic have worn off for the night. Other than that, she's a happy, easy-going little baby who puts up quite well with Makenna's constant mothering and very physical affection (think inadvertent body-slam..."I'm giving Baby Addison loves Mommy."