The joy's of motherhood!

I dreamed while were waiting for Lily's that when she finally came home I was going to be the perfect mother. I thought it would be all sunshine and buttercups, coloring and flower picking. That I would never have a child that "acted like that." I watched all the shows about how to be a good parent and read everything that gave advise. I thought I would be Mother Earth, someone who did all right the first time, I mean how hard could it really be???

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

There were some day's this week that I thought I would literally pull out my hair. I love my girls sooooo much. But Friday night, I told Chris, 'ya'know I love those girls, but sometimes Mommy loves bedtime even more!!' They were never really naughty (how naughty can a 5 month old be?!?!) it was just everything we had going on that just pushed me farther then they have ever pushed.

It all started Monday, Chris and I talked over the weekend that we were going to really start Lily on the path to being fully Potty Trained. We figured that all the major life developments were far behind us and that she was ready. She has been "playing" potty time more with her dolls, and she can pull her own pants up and down. So on Monday and since then Lily has worn panties at all time while we are in the house. I braced myself (or so I thought) for what that was really going to mean. By Monday night we have gone through I think 8-9 pairs of panties, before Chris got home. Ok first real day of this. By today she only wet through one pair. WAHOO!! if I catch her at the first little grunt of a poopie and send her in she goes just fine too!

Lily probably announces that she has to use the potty anywhere from every hour, to every 15 minutes. Which means I get to go the bathroom every hour to every 15 minutes too. On Friday I sent her in alone (I could still hear her) because she had "cried wolf" one too many times! Of course this was the time that she came back into the hallway with her panties at her ankles yelling "poopie poopie!" I am thinking sure riiiiight, but she was insistent, so I went in with her and she did! High fives all around, a sticker for her board, and I have one proud kid!

Now imagine if you can even bear it.. having to go to the bathroom up to four times an hour. Change panties that many times when we are unsuccessful, and clean out the potty when we are. Now think about it, where is Charlotte while this is all going on??? Yeah, Charlotte has been teething like a big dog this week. We are on Def Con 1around here for her two bottom teeth. She was at times shrieking this week because of it, my poor baby. :-( Chris called from his job this week to check in on us, I asked him to hold on because they were both hungry and SCREAMING about it. When I got back to him, he asked what was going on. I think his exact words were "what the #$%, is everything ok?" I calmly responded that everything was fine this was just the normal for the day.

In the end, it was a successful week, everybody is still alive, Lily is extremely proud of herself in her Dora panties, and Charlotte through all that pain will smile at me when I eat her belly! Chris had a great first week at his new job. Mommy, well Mommy had two beers Friday night and went to bed early! :-0

All that and I still couldn't even start to thank Chris for going to work everyday. Allowing me the once in a lifetime chance at my dream job.

Abc's and 123's

Just FYI I am once again going to be doing a full week in review. Hopefully soon I can get back onto my every few day schedule. So hang on tight this week has been full of new things!

It shouldn't be a secret that Lily LOVES to sing and be sang too. I am NOT kidding when I say that we sing about 50% of our days. Thankfully Charlotte doesn't mind too much! Lily just really loves it. Nowadays, she has been making up here own rendidtions of these songs. It is out of this world cute, or as Lily says (dute!). A few days ago she started singing (very loudly) one day as I was trying desperatly to get Charlotte down for a nap. I can usally tune her out if it is needed, so I didn't pick up on it until I came out that she was singing her ABC's..... Lily's way! She sings it to the tune of ABC's. Ready for it....

ABCD,ABC,ABCD,ABC,ABCD,ABC,ABCD,ABC.... I think that you get the idea! Beyond cute!

Also on top of the singing she LOVES to learn new things. Chris and I have taught her to count to 13! It is clear and understandable. Which I think is pretty good for a 26 month old! Lily doing everything Lily's way likes to skip 6 & 7. I really think it is because it is hard for her to say words that start with a S in general. She will get to 5 and then very loudly say 8. We taught her by having her count the steps leading to and from the playroom upstairs. We have gone beyond that now and she can reconzie some of them too! Today while we were out she totally flipped out yelling random numbers, when she saw a hop-scotch on the floor! The people around us just looked at her amazed!

I just can't wait to see what she learns next!

Think SPRING....again!

ok Blogger is having an issue tonight here is Charley!

Think SPRING!!!

Last Friday when it was coated in ice and snow outside Chris and I decided it would be the prefect day to do the girls Spring/Easter Pics! We did these at home on our bed and the one together we did in our living room!After about 140 pictures these are our favorites! I hope that you like!

NEW SKILL ALERT!!!

Miss. Charlotte can sit up ALL BY HERSELF!! She is has been doing it since yesterday. I put her in front of me on the floor and just let go. She only did one face plant on the floor.Which I thought was pretty good! She can go about 30 secs to about a minute before getting to excited and Webbles over! We thought that she would sit early because she really doesn't like to roll over at all. I think since that post saying that she had, I don't think that she has done it more then twice! But, she LOVES to sit up and look out while she is on our laps and she really loves her Bumbo sitter. She likes to watch Lily dance and just laughs like crazy at her. She is on her way! Next week is already 5 months! It goes too quick!


ONE MORE POST COMING>>>

We started the paperwork!

For Lily's readoption! GOTCHA!!! HA

We are taking full use of Chris's week off between jobs to get some things done that have been left undone WAY too long. Sadly, one of the most important is getting Lily's name legally changed and the best way to do that in Maryland is to re-adopt. It is not at all as bad as it sounds. Lily came home on an IR-3 Visa. Because Chris and I went to visit her before the adoption was completed in Guatemala as soon as our plane crossed the magical United States line in the sky she was an American. We are doing this to make it easier for her in the future and to FINALLY change her name.

There has been a small change to what we are going to make Lily's legal name. For those who don't know, when Chris and I named Lily we decided that we wanted all of our children to have a name that they can grow into, but also have a cute nickname. Lily was supposed to be Lillian Catherine, Lily for short. That has never seemed quite right. We have over the past 2 years batted a few different versions of Lillian. Today we HAD to settle it. SOOOOOOOO we would like to formally introduce (well in 6-8 weeks).....

Lilliana Catherine
Pronounced Lilyana

I tried to push for that spelling but was quickly informed that it wasn't going to happen, then something was muttered about being a flower child and lots of head shaking (he knows he loves me!! LOL)

I will keep everyone informed when we are going to have our day in court (insert Law & Order Theme Da Daaant).

Rub a dub

Three girls in a tub! Heehee Tonight all the girls got a bath together in the big tub! Chris was pale from the time the water started until everyone exited successfully! Normally, we use Mommy & Me bathtime as part of Lily's reward system. When I asked her if Charlotte could share tubby time she got super excited! So after dinner, Lily ran around the house practically begging us to get 'nadid' (naked) and in the bath tub. She helped wash Charlotte's feet and showed her all of her bath toys! LOL Then very shortly there after Charlotte got out and Daddy took her to get dressed while Lily and I played until Daddy came back to help Lily and I out. She gets a little too excited exiting the tub so extra hands are needed when we take Mommy & Me baths! Too Cute!

Stay tuned I am updating with a few more posts tonight.... things are brewing here in Henry world!! Megan

Whew what a week! And pics!!

I have been wanting to post all week, but we have been so busy during the day, then by the time the girls get to bed we are wiped!

Chris and I earned another parent badge! We have had our very first, very sick child. Now a little side note... Lily other then being a little under weight (only 23 lbs @ 2 years), is super healthy. She has been home over a year now and we have only been to the doctor as a sick visit two times. Now don't get me wrong she has had colds and GI upsets but nothing bad enough to warrant more then a call to the doctor for advise. I guess she thinks she will give us a break for waiting so long or her! :-) Now Miss. Charlotte on the other hand we have already decided is going to be our problem err umm more challenging child.

It all started last Wednesday when she coughed I think twice, but it was more then a normal clearing of the throat. Thursday esp in the morning it was increased, by Friday morning my Mommy senses were tingling telling there was more to this then a cough/cold. She just looked like she felt bad. So off to the doctors we went. Chris came home to stay with Lily b/c I didn't want to expose her to anything. Charlotte had to have her weight checked ready for this... she is 16 LBS 10 OZ!!! She gained 2 pounds in a month! She doesn't seem overly chubby! She and Lily are only 7 lbs apart!! I was still giggling about that to myself when doctor checked her over and said that her lungs sounded clear but that her right ear was pink. My heart stopped.

Now I am a Nurse and I have dealt with much worse then this, but when it is your baby, your brain tells you that you have failed and now your child is going to be deaf. A little irrational anyone?!?!?! It doesn't help that when I called Chris and told him what the doctor said he was totally devastated and asked about 3 billion questions. He is such a good Daddy! Charlotte is now on Amoxicillin for the next 6 days. It is looking like all of our efforts (and antibiotic) are paying off and she is feeling better. Friday night and Saturday were the worst for sure. She and I bonded over steam in the bathroom. Today I even got her to laugh a little when I ate her belly. ;-)

I can just tell that Lily is a child that will continue to amaze throughout her life. On Friday Charlotte was so miserable, I was being super fast to meet her needs but she was in tears a lot that day. At one point I was telling her "it's ok Mommy is hurrying I promise, it's ok Charlotte" Lily came into the kitchen and looked up at her on the table (she was in her bouncy seat) and said to her "tay rdette, tay" in the sweetest little voice. I turned around for just a second and let myself take that moment in. I don't know if you have ever seen Kermit the Frog in the Muppets Christmas Carol (strange I know just go with it:-)? Lily looked like Kermit the Frog when he sings to the moon. I tell Chris all the time that she reminds me of a little Kermit b/c she has a little round tummy and little thin legs and hips. IDK I was just in awe of her at that moment.

It is also great to see Charlotte light up whenever Lily comes to talk to her. Lily has this really squeaky way of saying 'Hi (insert name)', So she will come up to Charlotte and say 'Hi Rdette, hi!' give her a ugg (hug) and a tiss (kiss). Chris and I have made up songs for both girls (necessity is the mother of invention). We made up Lily's at the US embassy! LOL Anyway, Lily loves to sing and especially those songs. I have walked in on her singing Charlotte's song to her! It is so sweet even sweeter b/c when Lily "sings" she only sings the last word of each verse. I have to share this...

This is Charlotte's song..

Charlotte, Charlotte, how do I love you so
Charlotte, Charlotte, I can't wait to see you grow
You are so short and tiny
and you have a little hieney
But you are mine
Baby mine
and I love you oh so much

So when Lily sings it to her we hear
rdette, rdette....oooo
rdette, rdette....row
iny
heiney (she gets that right every time!!)
ine
ine
uccccchhh!

The best part is that you can see her singing the other words to herself, she just can't vocalize them yet. We are going to try to tape her.

Man oh man I love those girls!

Ohhh and this is Chris's last week @ Alcore. He has accepted a new position with a company much closer to home. No more 45 minute trips up 95!! YEAH! He is going to take a week off with us girls and then start his new job on 3/3!! Like anyone else leaving one for another he is mixed with excitement and terror! I know he will do great. :-)

This weekend Chris and I are going to have our monthly date! As long as Charlotte keeps improving. So excited, we are going to do Easter shopping for the girls... wasn't it just Christmas?

Wow I REALLY need to make time for posting, if not I seem to end up with Mega-sized posts!

If you made it this far I should at least reward you with updated photos!

Full circle

Today is a special day for Chris and I. We will never view President's Day the same. A year ago today I took a test that forever changed our lives. We found out that we were pregnant! I was going to title this blog exactly what I said to Chris that morning... 'OMG WE ARE PREGNANT!!!' It is a moment burned into my mind forever. Just like the day I first saw Lily's tiny face. Both took my breath away! Something that only my babies have ever done.

I don't know what I did to deserve these girls but whatever it was I am sure glad that I did it!

Big Day for the Girls!

*****************DISCLAIMER****************************************
I am not writing this to start a debate. This is purely why I think that today is an important day for our girls.
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Ok on with the post!

Today it is FINALLY our day to go vote in the Primary! We are going to take the girls with us. I know how silly that sounds but I am proud that we are going to teach our girls from a very young age the importance of voting. This is a historic thing. I am not at all saying that they will win but either way there will be a African American man, or a female on the ballot for president. I hope that when the girls are able to vote this will be the norm, and Chris and I can say that we took them when it was a first. We think it is especially important because we have a rainbow family to show our girls that anyone can do/be anything they want.

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Moving right along....

It is has been pretty quite around here. We (the girls and I) just got back from a stay at my parents house. We went there so that Chris could get the house ready for the appraisal. We had some painting to be done and we didn't want the girls around that. Chris was also busy last week going on interviews and he was made an offer on Thursday. It is with a company MUCH closer to home, that alone sold us on it. His drive now is over 45 minutes this will be 20 or less! The only draw back is that this company brings all their new employees in under contract (yuck). But he has had ample reassurance that as long as he does a good job and proves his worth then they will bring him in full time. So I have full faith that all will go as planned and he will be brought on sooner then we thought!

Well my afternoon alarms are going off... the girls are awake! Will update more soon