Snow Day

So, last weekend we got a good amount of snow and Dylan had a blast in it. Aunt Emily and Aunt Valerie were in town and we got to play in the snow in the morning. A big snowman was built and a tiny snowman buddy was built as well. Dylan kept saying "best snowman ever!" The snowmen stayed up most of the week, but a few days ago they started melting a bit (especially the tiny one). The big snowman fell over yesterday and Dylan kept insisting that we "fix it." I've included a few pics of Dylan playing in the snow.

Also new this week - boursin cheese. We got some from my parents and we tried it a few days ago. Dylan had never tried it before - but since it was described as cheese, she was all about it. When she tried the first bite she said "Mommy, I love this cheese" with great enthusiasm. Lately, she will say a word or describe an item and then add "love it." For example, recently she has really liked watching the Pixar movie "Ratatouille" (pronounced "toopy" in our household). So, Dylan will say "toopy" (pause) "love it". Sentences have been getting longer as well. I think the longest one so far has been "cookie monster dancing Manny's song". She has a plush toy cookie monster and he was in fact dancing to Manny's (of the Disney cartoon Handy Manny) song. I might add that cookie monster had black patent leather Mary Janes on as well. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that.

Rainy Days

Here's some pics of Dylan running through some puddles created by our recent monsoon. And a few of Penny sprinkled in here and there - not running through puddles yet.

High Heels

This will just be a very brief post as I have to fold some laundry - but I had to show some pics of Dylan in her fancy shoes. We got these pink patent leather high heals (with shiny butterflies on the straps) from Lee and Christy's girls. Dylan tried them on for the first time last night and was so excited about them. We danced around for about an hour!

Two Months

So, it's been two months since Penny has joined our family. It has been difficult at times, but for the most part, the last two months have been fun and very special. As I've mentioned before, Dylan has been very sweet to her and even tries to feed or give things to Penelope to play with. Sure there's been lost sleep here and there, but life is pretty sweet with two young girls to hang out with. In fact, the weather is so nice today - we will probably head to the park to go swing. Here are some pics - Dylan loves being pushed in the double stroller - especially in the house. And Penny - well she just likes to be smiled at for now.

Fun while puking

On Dylan's birthday I came home from work to find her laying on Sarah and looking miserable. She had developed a fever and whenever that happens she just wants to be held. We knew something was wrong when she didn't even want cheese puffs. We put Dylan down at around 7:30, but at 10pm I heard her wake up and watched as she threw up onto her pillow. I got her up and cleaned her off while Sarah cleaned up the bed a bit. Dylan went back to sleep and I got her back in bed only to have her throw up again at 11:30. I figured it was going to be one of those nights, so I cleaned her up again (she didn't have much to throw up anyway at this point), and we went into the third bedroom for the night. She slept on me much of the time and then threw up on me a bit, but we mostly hit the towel and it wasn't a huge mess. Things went like this until about 1:30am when I was woken by Dylan saying emphatically "Man" to which I responded "Snow man?" knowing what she meant. "Yes" she said. "Socks!" ... "There's a snow man on your socks?" (with mock incredulity) ... "yes" ... "that's awesome!". At this point she got on her knees and started to bounce to a song that was in her head. The song is from a Pixar short that involves a snow man attempting to escape from his snow globe. He obviously wants to go play with the other shelf occupants that seem to be having a great time. The tune is quite bouncy. So I started humming the tune that I knew she already heard in her head and we laughed. "Window" she said next. The bed has a window right over the pillows. "What's out there?" I asked. "Fozzy" she answered. Fozzy is one of our dogs. "Boo Boo" (Naboo) she added. Naboo is our Labrador named for a Star Wars planet (I don't know why Sarah chose that name). "Do you see the trees?" ... "Tees" ... "Yeah, aren't they big?" ... "ya". And on and on it went, we were laughing about trees and the moon and snow men on socks and covers. We were up for 2 hours like that until we finally both dozed. At 6am she woke up and promptly threw up again. She felt fairly bad for the rest of that day, but she was feeling better by the evening. That 2 hour window was such a sweet time for me. We just had so much fun on a night that was otherwise miserable.
I thought i would share this moment with our friends and family, hope you all had a great Christmas and new year's day. I'm uploading some movies and pics. The movies are a bit long, but they are fun and show a bit of what life is like with a spunky 2 year old.

Big Sister

Dylan has really been super sweet to Penny ever since she arrived. Any confusion or unhappiness she has felt due to Penny's arrival and introduction into our family has been in the form of crying or throwing a small fit when she can't be held when I am holding Penny. She will hit Penny one day, I know, but for now it is very nice that she hasn't been aggressive. In fact, she's been very loving and sweet. She will come up to Penny in the car seat or bouncy seat and say "hello penny" or "hello baby" and then show her a toy or offer her something to eat or drink. she doesn't ask to hold her anymore, but she does interact with her every now and then.

we had a super fun christmas. we spent early christmas morning with nonny, pop, GGP (great grandpa), Josh and Annie. then we headed over to the Job household and had fun opening presents with uncles, aunts, cousins and mimi and papa. then, we spent that evening at Nan's with the whole Job crew. it was a busy day, but such fun to be with lots of family. Dylan had a great time all day long - penny was mostly out of it, but next year will be a different story. what a blessing it is to have such wonderful family all around us. we missed having our cousins sea and sky here for the holiday, but we are looking forward to seeing them sometime in the spring hopefully.

well, here are some recent pics of Dylan trying out some new christmas presents.

--sarah

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! We are staying busy here trying to keep up with an energetic toddler and a growing infant. Penny changes everyday (as does Dylan). I have been trying to journal as much as I can so that I can remember these precious days. Penny has been a little smiler from the beginning. She is pretty even-tempered for the most part until the evening. She gets a little fussy but eventually gives up and falls asleep some time between 9pm and 10pm. This gives Charlie and me about 30 minutes to hang out (depending on how sleepy I am).

Dylan had her birthday on Tuesday - can't believe she is two already. We actually had her party on Friday with the grandparents (and uncle Josh). We tried to keep it low key since she is still so young - but I think she, as most toddlers do, got a little tired and overstimulated by the end. We had a fun time though. On her actual birthday (Tuesday) she got a fever in the evening and had a pretty rough night and next day. She is feeling better today though. Hopefully Penny doesn't pick it up.

Here are some recent pics of the girls. Hope everyone has a great Christmas!

--Sarah