We are having more and more days where the girls play well together. I think they are best friends most of the time. (As they are approaching their 2nd and 4th birthdays). I read what I wrote a few months ago, and I take back what I said about Ella having frequent tantrums. We found out around that timeframe that she was sick. She is such a good baby, err umm, toddler! She is easy most of the time and it is appreciated!!!

Christa has learned so much. She knows her ABCs and numbers, and I think shows signs of reading readiness. She loves books–both girls do. I try to read to them as much as I can. Roger is the best at it though….he has more patience and energy than I do most days.  Did I mention lately what a wonderful dad he is? I am so proud.
Today she is saying “oh man” when she drops something or messes something up. Lord, it is funny to see what she picks up from Christa and other kids AND Dora and Diego characters. They love that cartoon!

Anyway, I don’t have time to write much, but we are doing great. We just have to have time outs and threaten spankings and life is pretty decent. We are very blessed for sure.

Here are a few pictures…

ABOVE, FUN AT SEAWORLD

Well this is the theme of most of my blog entries. Fun and stress. The two words are used frequently in this house.  We are having fun and we are stressed this week for sure! Christa got her first nosebleed today; she fell and hit her nose on a chair pretty hard. She is fine now. Ella? WELL, she is our new TANTRUM child. Oh dear does she know how to scream. Mommy is about to quit this job somedays. What happened to my easy peasy child? She was always the easy one since born July of 2007. Getting the two of them in and out of places can require some back strain, a load of coffee and a little bit of patience.

Other things going on? The Easter bunny is coming and we’ve already had pics with him and been on one egg hunt. We go to our neighborhood hunt this Saturday. Ella is talking more and Christa is being sweet and helping her. It is fun to watch. Well that is it for now….here are a few pics. Gotta go get some coffee to wake up.

PS, we think Spring is almost here in Wisconsin. YAY.

AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW, WE GOT A TASTE OF WARM WEATHER AT OMA and OPA”S HOUSE LAST MONTH…GOOD OLE TEXAS-

Here we are in the north pole and it is very cold. We stay busy with playdates and the YMCA, preschool, the wonderful grocery store, etc. However, some days it is just too cold (where it hurts your face) and we stay in. Or, someone gets sick. (That happens all too often it seems)….Ella just got over a stomach virus and is now teething so she isn’t eating much but sleeping a lot. She wants mommy to hold her often!! I will look back and love that I am sure. Ella’s favorites right now–she loves, loves crackers and cheese. I think that is all this child eats. And Juice! Juice! Is her favorite word. She likes this book called “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?” and giggles everytime I read it. She scoots her bottom back up to my lap and gives it to me several times a day. It used to be just any book, but this one is her latest. I think Nana bought it for her for Christmas. (We got lots of great books so it is hard to tell). She has also learned the word no! That is fun. Later it will not be…

Christa is talking much more and making sense. The funniest thing she has said lately is this–”Mom, I want to be married.” What???? I don’t know where she heard that. I tried to ask her but she said, I don’t know. I just want to be married. (Well wait a while kid!)
Christa loves her little sister. She is always hugging and kissing her. They play hide and go seek and that is so fun to watch.

Gotta sign off, but more later! Pictures – oh dear – I have a ton. If you read this and haven’t seen any lately, ask me for them. I take too many!

So a few weeks have passed since my last post. The girls are wonderful! We are having so much fun! Christa is listening, wanting to follow the rules, using her manners. The sweet girl I used to know is back.

Ella is walking very well. She is already graduated into the big kid room at the Y when I leave her in the Kid’s Corner. She runs from me when I tell her it is time to change her. Ella loves to eat whatever Christa eats and will scream if she doesn’t get it. So fun.

I went to be the Parent Helper at Christa’s nursery school. She was so excited to have me there that she was in with me doing the arts and crafts the majority of the time. (Even though she was supposed to be in the other room when it wasn’t her group’s time). It was cute, she wanted to help me clean up and help the other kids…she was a great helper. I was so tired after that day! I can’t believe how much work that is to manage groups of 5 groups of 4-5 kids at a time constructing a fire engine craft! Lots of glue everywhere. And, am I supposed to draw for them or let them do it I was thinking….no one told me the rules! We also brought the snack for the day and she was so proud of the cheese and pretzels she picked out. My darling Christa. God let me keep this Angel. (I am trying not to say it….don’t bring the devil back)…..

The girls are both going to bed about 7 p.m. This is a great break for me and gives Roger and I time to relax and be together. It is also kinda sad for me. I don’t go to bed sometimes till after 10:30 or 11 so I miss them already.

Funny thing, Christa dresses up in my nightgowns and heels. She also likes to tell me that “Ella doesn’t know better mommy, she can’t follow the rules.” She also says “It is OK, It is OK mommy.” (Or to whomever). She says that all the time. I must say that?!

Gotta run…..getting late. I hope everyone enjoys these and LAUGHS WITH ME.

The part where I said things were cute, fun, etc.

I AM SO EXHAUSTED. THIS IS SO HARD!!!

Daddy and Christa went to San Antonio, Texas to visit Oma and Opa. Ella and mommy stayed home. We had quiet time! Oh my Lord was it nice. Roger and his parents really had a treat taking Christa to Sea World! I can’t wait to hear all about it; they aren’t back yet. This is my time to have just one kid and get a few things done AND watch two movies in one weekend! Yes. The best part is Roger and Christa had some bonding time and he loved that.
Christa is REALLY enjoying preschool. She is in 2.5 hours four days a week. The time goes fast for me to get a work out in and pick up and drop off and manage Ella or to get errands or laundry done, again, I of course take Ella along and then her naps are messed up. But she makes it just fine. The second kid has to be much more flexible. Roger and I are reading some books on discipline since Christa is our spirited child, we have to get creative to have a happy household. We are being more lenient on little things like what clothes she wears (she can dress herself), what food she eats (most food offered in our house is very healthy), and what she wants to play, watch, do….I mean what kid will die living off of fruit Popsicles and watching Dora the Explorer five times a day? How can anyone judge us the parents if she doesn’t match or even have this season’s clothing on??? It is a challenge but we are choosing our battles more wisely. We have decided to focus on safety, respect and listening to important rules like bedtime. We have lots of friends with three-year-olds and they all say it is a phase. Three is the “new 2″ they are saying. Wish us luck!

Here is a recent picture of Christa, who like I said, is putting together some great outfits!

So I thought I’d post a picture of Ella now that she is into everything. She has that look on her face like LOOK WHAT I FOUND. Nothing is baby-proofed, so since we have tons of cabinets and shelves in this house, I just put everything up higher.

Ella is now saying BOOK, DADA, CHRISTA and Uh-Oh! often. She also points to the table top when she wants more food. It is cute. She loves dancing, singing (ok I call it that), bath time, ice cream, talking into a cup to hear her voice, and just waddling around. She is so fun.

What else is going on? Well Roger is putting both girls to bed when he is not traveling and that is a huge help. He also is picking up groceries and things for the girls when he can and I so appreciate that.

Anyway, as for the dreaded bedtime for the big girl, Christa prefers daddy to put her to bed because she loves how he reads her many books whereas mommy is usually too tired He sings her songs like I do too….so cute….I love listening. (Sorry Roger!)
Ella loves the way daddy rocks her patiently too. Roger and the girls are going to Christa’s swim lessons and swimming at the Y after this Sat (and most Saturdays) as a daddy day. Mommy goes to do errands alone, for coffee, or works out and joins them later at the Y or the house. Gotta have time for everybody.

Roger is also doing the Chicago marathon in a few weeks–a full marathon. I don’t know how he does it but I will be there to cheer him on!!!

I am staying busy with moms nights out, Bunco club (about every other month), playgroup, working out at the YMCA and going back and forth to preschool. Our favorite activity when we are just hanging out at home is playing baby–the girls and I…. Christa loves it when I sing to ALL of them (there are several babies) the goodnight song and then put them all to bed. Ella is starting to try to sing along. Then Christa wakes them up and says it is good morning time and fixes them all breakfast. Cute stuff. The girls play peek a boo a lot around the kitchen and dining room and it is fun to watch Ella chase Christa around.

We will post some Sea World pictures next. Hope everyone is having a great week. (This WI weather is not normal….it was hot outside today!)

I am happy and sad. My little baby is now walking. I cannot believe how the time has flown. She loves walking around the house, Christa’s preschool, the YMCA, wherever we are. The stairs are scary but soon she will learn how to climb down and then I won’t have to worry so much.

Christa started preschool. She loves it! I think it may help with her behavior too. (WE CAN PRAY ABOUT THAT). Ha ha.

They got sick again recently–both had ear infections. I think now they are all better and Christa is following rules more again. She is always a handful when not feeling well. Ella wants to be held and nurses a lot when she is sick too. Very time consuming.

We went to Granite City, IL to see Grandma and Nana for Labor Day weekend. We had a great time!

Mommy and daddy had a super duper date night and the girls were very well taken care of.

Pictures coming soon.

More later….gotta run!

Yippee!! Yay!

Big girl just wears underwear now during the day. She is so excited and accidents are fewer and fewer!

We will write more later, but wanted to put this in the “diary” as August 2008, potty training, done!

I just thought I’d write a quick update. Things are good. They are stressful but good. I read somewhere recently that you should use another word besides stressful to focus on the positive. I guess I can say things have been INERESTING or TIRING or CHALLENGING.

Roger’s traveling wears us down but we are all getting through. We girls have a routine and are making the best of the days when daddy is gone. What else can you do? The girls and I actually have had a lot of fun keeping busy and starting some new pastimes and making new friends. We appreciate and cherish each other so much after a trip. Daddy is going to travel a bit less for awhile….he is so tired!

Christa is still having a very hard time without her pacifier; she whines and cries a lot! It is either that she still misses it or she has gotten spoiled by us giving her extra attention since we took it away (the fairy really) two weeks ago.  She doesn’t ask for it very often, but she just cries. We’ve rocked her, held her, read her extra books at bedtime, etc. But now is the time to be firm! We are now starting to be stricter at bedtime and enforce the 8-8:30 pm bedtime. After all, mommy and daddy need some alone time once in awhile.

Ella is teething and has a cold. She is fussy but she is such a sweetie pie (Christa now calls her sweetie pie). Ella is so trying to keep up with big sissy. She is still nursing and not wanting to wean, but she does take a bottle now that we got a new one. She takes a sippy cup too, but just a little bit at a time.

So we are also still unpacking, really. We were saved by OMA AND OPA who essentially unpacked and put away this entire house. And this house is big! We can never, ever, thank them enough for as Roger said the other day “worked their butts off” when we moved here. Every weekend we comment on something that they did. However, it seems we still have those extra boxes of STUFF in the garage that Roger has to move since they are heavy and unpack them or PURGE. I love purging! I have been working on it in between decorating the girls rooms…. I love doing that…….GRANDMA and NANA and gang are coming in two days. That is a big deal to Christa (and all of us) for sure! Grandma will help me finish decorating the baby’s room and Nana always likes to help cook and stuff around the house. Yippee!  We will have fun celebrating the girl’s birthdays with them and HENNY and Uncle JOHN and Great GRANDPA Jerry! More later all…have a great summer. It is going fast!

On a recent trip to Aruba (with the girls and the grandparents)…

Love was in the air–MWAH!

I love this man