Sun Bun Saturdays

Fresh baked pastries. A morning with daddy. Vada's cheeks in her winter hat. Our little Lucy turning into a lady right before our eyes. Pretty swirls on a latte. Old people telling us to enjoy this time with our girls. Tapestry tablecloths. Downtown Chestertown. Perfect Saturday mornings that pulled us through the crappiest of winter months... Evergrain Bread Company and Sun Buns

Life Lately

Well, it has been quiet on here for quite a while. Between four consecutive weeks of sickness with the girls, one blah mama during the month of February, lots of overtime for Daddy, a new computer that I want to throw across the room every time i use it am learning to adjust to and planning Vada's baptism, I haven't been very blog vocal. I am so happy to say, though, that the girls are now well, February will be over in 4 days, and I was able to get our good ol' laptop up and running to be able to get back on here. Next up is March with the promise of Spring, Lucy's 2nd birthday and an unexpected vacation planned to Amelia Island in April... things are certainly looking up!
A photo highlight of the past few weeks...

 The saving grace of a day remotely close to being warm enough for reading outside

 

Just another day

 

The very rare occurrence to hold Vada for a nap

 

Swinging sisters

 

Valentine's Day was somewhere in the mix too...

 

I plan on devoting another post to what pulled us all through the trenches of February... until then :)

Vada Belle's Baptism

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has given me what I asked of Him. So now I give her to the LORD. For her whole life, she will belong to the LORD."

1 Samuel 1: 27-28

 

 

 

CENTREVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Sunday, February 24, 2012
Pastor Mark Farnell

It is OK

Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do to get through the day. I used to be harder on myself about it, thinking that any wrong thing I did was going to have lasting consequences on the little souls I am shaping. Welp, not anymore. I have decided it is OK to do some things for your self, your sanity, and the wellbeing of your children.

• to hide in the bathroom to eat the last cupcake
• to let Lucy have a donut for breakfast instead of the green smoothie I made her
• to make a trip to the library for only movies
• to take both kids into the liquor store at 10:30 in the morning
• to leave the baby vomit on the floor for the dog to get
• to get dressed for the day when i see Jameson's car pulling up in the evening
• to not totally hate pumping only when i have a beer in my hand
• to not do what the doctor/ other parents recommend when it comes to taking care of my children
• to adapt the "dangerous or just disgusting" rule one of my friends taught me
• to remind myself that at the end of the day, even when i feel like i failed at everything i attempted, there is still nothing i would rather be doing

Vada at 6 Months

Little miss is now 6 months old! I can not believe how quickly the past six months have passed and that in another six we will be celebrating a first birthday... oh how the time flies.

Vada is more and more herself everyday and seems to have found her voice again, usually squealing or saying "da da." We are still waiting on the belly laughs even though she smiles 90% of her waking time. The exception seems to be men without beards... strange but true. She plays shy when people talk to her, turning into my shoulder with a smile. She will happily play by herself on the floor for long periods of time, as long as she is sitting up. She doesn't roll around much when she is on her back, choosing instead to play with her toes.

She still wakes up every two and a half hours all night to eat but occasionally will do a four hour stretch for me. I am hoping as we start introducing foods her sleep habits will improve but I am in no rush to push food. So far we have tried avocados and bananas which she seemed to like. We also started giving her a sippy cup which she seems to be happier chewing on than drinking. She has yet to pop a tooth but has been putting anything in her mouth she can get her hands on and drooling like crazy. The doctor mentioned at her four month appointment that her teeth were close so I guess they are hiding where ever that belly laugh is too.

She loves to watch her sister and Otis and I can tell she is eager to get in the middle of it all herself. Nursing has become more like a wrestling match with her constantly being distracted by any noise or voice.  I am hoping to start easing her out of sleeping in the swing so she gets used to being in her crib or in bed with us, plus it gives us an excuse to rock more together. At this point, the most memorable thing about this little lady is her smile. She has a huge smile that totally takes up all of her giant cheeks and makes those little eyes nothing more than slits. I love seeing that smile, even in the middle of the night when I go to pick her up for yet another feeding. This month we are looking forward to her baptism and first valentines day, as well as introducing more foods. As much as I love seeing Vada and Lucy interact more, if we could just slow down time a little please, I am so not ready to let go of my baby yet. I love you Vada Belle.

To my daughters...

 

 

Lucille and Vada,
         You have been given the most wonderful gift in each other. When we found out that Lucy was going to be a big sister and that you were only going to be 16 months apart, I so wanted a baby girl so that you two would always have each other. Vada, you were born into your role and already show us how much you love your sister. Your eyes are always following her in whatever she is doing and how they light up every time she talks or plays with you. I always tell Daddy how loud you get when Lucy is sleeping because I can just imagine you want her to wake up and play with you. Lucille, you have grown into your role as a big sister beautifully. I was worried at first, with you and I having only had each other for your first 16 months. From the day we brought Vada home you have become a little mother and never tire of taking care of her and telling me what she needs. Please, my sweet girls, never forget what you have already learned.
       Too soon you won't want to tell me everything. This is when I need both of you to listen and trust me that if not me, your sister. You will be the others' best friend and worst enemy. I know there will be times when you don't want to talk to each other but never say something in anger that you wouldn't say on the good days. The words you two say to each other will help or hurt the most since you know each other better than anyone else.
     You will share the same childhood. The memories we make will be in both of you. You will never remember a time without the other. You will also both learn from two parents who are learning as we all grow. We will make mistakes and you two will know them better than anyone. Talk to each other about how to do it better. Take what Mama and Daddy did and decide together how to do it better. Your sister will always have the best perspective on our family. You can try explaining us to other people but no one else will know the ins and outs. Go to her first.
      I so wish I could bottle up these days when you are both so little to show you when you are older. To show you the innocent, transparent way you love each other. Maybe one day when you are fighting I will make you look at the pictures of Lucy blowing on Vada's round baby belly to cheer you up. Or I will tell you how Lucy made everyone kiss Vada too if they gave her a kiss. Or I will fail miserably in trying to explain how intently Vada would watch Lucy play before she was able to join in. How when Vada and Mama went somewhere just the two of us, Vada would sit up in her car seat and look across the truck for Lucy.
       No matter how many more babies we add to the family, you will have learned how to be sisters from each other; to take care of and watch out for someone other than yourself  and to have someone who loves you as much as Mama and Daddy do. Love each other my little ladies.

Monday Ramblings

Oh, Mondays. Mondays are basically the equivalent of a hangover these days. We pack so much fun and visiting and playing and eating into every weekend that come Monday, everyone around here feels a little bit like they have been hit by a truck. And that same truck also drove straight through our house leaving LOADS of laundry and dishes and towels in its wake. The girls have a hard time adjusting back to normal nap time and not having daddy around and as for me, I just can't seem to keep both feet pointed in the same direction. Add on that the need to feel like you are going to accomplish so much this week and could it just be Tuesday already?!?! So, please excuse the random thoughts but sometimes I feel like I need to spew to justify this awful post-weekend nausea...

• Not eating one meal at home all day yesterday is no longer an option for the women in this house
• All I can think about is having dinner parties in the backyard under a string of lights with big comfy cushions all around... thanks pinterest
• I must make myself do at least one load of laundry every day
• Finding a non-family member house that you totally feel at home at is magical
• Yay Ravens going to the superbowl! After one of their touchdowns yesterday, Lucy actually said, "They did it!"
• Evidently bananas are an excellent source of electrolytes so one banana smoothie coming right up for poor ms. lu
• Deep tissue massages hurt so good but why am i still sore three days later?
• My goal of not going more than two days without exercising has already been shot
• Totally goes against my no bikinis for babies rule but good heavens.... (Janie and Jack Blossom bikini)

• I actually wore leggings as pants this weekend... deal with it. i covered my tush, mom
• My high school best friends love my babies as much as they love me. i knew they were keepers