Royal Wedding Morning

I love special occasions especially when they are historical & royal. Today Prince William & Catherine Middleton were married in London @ Westminster Abby. They are now the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. They are both addressed as His/Her Royal Highness. I did wake up at 1am to watch but fell asleep in a few parts & of course Hailey woke up at 3:03am so I missed seeing her dress & wedding vows. But thanks to YouTube, I'm all caught up. It was a beautiful occasion with just the right amount of pomp & circumstance for our times & economic conditions. I think the occasion helps to provide happiness & hope for our future. I also think that marriage is a beautiful commitment and it was fun to watch.

For the occasion on this side of the pond, I made chocolate chip scones & pulled out a tea set that Paige had received from a dear friend for her first Christmas. It was perfect because she could actually pour and have some green tea. Hailey liked it too, especially the scones. And yes, I pulled out my own tiara that I wore for our wedding. Paige had fun trying it on. Then we found their dress up tiaras and put them on. Paige decided to wear a butterfly headband for her tiara. Fun morning and I wish the Royal couple happiness & privacy for their life.







Here is a pic taken by Getty Images of Catherine and her sister Pippa entering the Abby.  I hope our girls stay close so they can be at each other's wedding (if they choose to marry one day).

Easter Morning

After I got Paige down on Saturday night, the Easter Bunny had duty.  Here's what he left for the girls.  New "animals" and a new Tinkerbell movie along with a TON of candy. 



Here they are on Easter morning going through their baskets, eating candy and playing with their new toys. 


This is Hailey tasting her first Peep.  She liked it!  (I personally find them disgusting, but I never let them know that about anything...they need to form their own opinions.)




They then had an Egg Hunt on the back patio.  For some reason I only video taped that, no pictures.  I wanted to make sure Brian was able to see it since he was in the hospital.  Paige did so well using her basket to gather the eggs and trying to find them in all the conspicuous spots the Easter Bunny "hid" them in. 

Dying Easter Eggs

I came home from the hospital around dinner time on Saturday to feed the girls dinner and do baths.  I also dyed Easter Eggs with Paige.  She's potty training so clothes are optional right now.  She did really well dying the eggs.  She used the spoon to put them in the dye and turned them with the spoon too.  She did pick up a few with her fingers and got dye all over, but that's the fun part! 

Ruptured Appendix

Yes, this week I get the Worst Wife in the World Award.  Brian had been complaining about abdominal pain, so I gave him Gas Ex one night and Magnesium Citrate the next.  He then said on Wednesday that he wanted to go to the doctor.  So I got him in and after a CT scan, he was admitted to the hospital with a .... RUPTURED APPENDIX!  Yes, I would say he had some abdominal pain.  I feel so bad.  He spent 5 days in the hospital having surgery and recovering.  He's home now and on the mend, but still surely not 100%.  I'm just thankful he's still alive and getting better.

We are so thankful to my mom and aunt who stepped in without question to take care of the girls while I was at the hospital with Brian.  The girls love them so much and we couldn't have had better care for them from two people who loved them more. 

Big bump in the road of life, but past it now and moving on. 

Walking

One of many reasons I choose to be a SAHM is so I don't miss a moment with our girls. We waited and planned so long to have them, why would I want to miss anything? Well, while Brian was in the hospital, Hailey started walking. She walked to my aunt about 5 steps. That's what she continues to do now. She also stands really well and races behind her lion. It makes me happy that my aunt got to have that moment, but sad for us that we missed it. However, I wouldn't trade being by Brian's side for anything...even Hailey's first steps. So happy he's on the mend.

City Egg Hunt

The City of Chandler had an Egg Hunt on Saturday at the local baseball fields.  They organized it so that certain age groups hunted for eggs on different field.  Both Paige and Hailey got to be in the 0-2 yr group this year.  (The next group was 3-4 yr. and since Paige is still only 2, I got to have both on the same field!)  Paige was adorable, she walked out and put the eggs in her basket.  She did a really great job.  She then brought extra eggs back for Hailey who played with them too.  They also got to visit with the Easter Bunny, which again, Paige went right up to and hugged.  I think that talking about and reading books about things like this help her to understand and be excited.  I'm really glad we went.  We will definitly go again next year.  My mom went with us since Brian was under the weather, which I'll talk about in another post.   

 

 

Hawaiian Summer School

I just checked the mail to find the information about Paige's preschool for summer session.  It's Hawaiian Luau themed!  It looks so fun.  Volcano learning, traditions of Hawaii, fruit tasting & counting, animal adventures, flags and weather.  Each week is a different theme with a Hawaiian book and movie.  It doesn't look like she'll see the movie because they are on Fridays and she will only go on Tuesday and Thursday for a half day.  But it looks so fun!  She is going to love it!  It starts June 6, so I really need to work on potty training.  She's just about fully trained, but now the pressure is on for mama to get her ready.  Lots of stay at home days in our near future.  I can hardly believe it's time for her to start school.  The time really does fly.  However, she is ready.  Exciting times.  Aloha! 

The Climber

Hailey climbs everything! The coffee table, the dress up bin, over the couch forts, the stairs. Yep, lots of climbing. But no walking yet. She is starting to stand more by herself and taking a one or two steps before tipping over though. Great progress.

Here she is on top if the dress up bin while I'm going through the hand me downs that are stored for her & Paige.

Swimming

The pool has warmed up enough to swim thanks to a pool cover we purchased this year. We actually got it to keep leaves out of the pool back in February. But another benefit of the cover is that it warms the pool sooner. We've been in it a good three weeks now. The temp of the water had been in the 80s.

Yesterday I learned that if Paige gets in it while Hailey is taking her morning nap, Paige will nap early! Yesterday she went down at 2pm and slept til 5pm. I know everyday is different, but if we can get on this schedule it could be really nice!

Yay for summer & yay for pools for kiddos!

Almost Finished!

I received my verification from school this week that as long as I pass the current class I'm taking I will GRADUATE!  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go back to school to complete my MS degree, but boy, has it been a haul.  I did it because I never want to be in a position where it's difficult for me to support myself or the girls if something ever happened to Brian and because I knew if I took a break from working to be a SAHM I would need something to boost my resume.  When I decided to enroll in the program, we also knew that we were planning to have another baby.  I got pregnant really easy and those first classes over the 2009 summer when I was first pregnant with Hailey were hard...I was so sleepy.  I do my homework at night after the girls, or at that time, just Paige, go to sleep, and I remember being sooo sleepy.  I then worked extra hard the first year to get my community intervention project completed early before Hailey was born in late March (school didn't end until the end of May).  But I'm so happy I got that done in the first year.  The second year added a new challenge having a newborn and a 2 year old.  But you just do what you need to do and it all gets done.  I did end up quiting my job in this last semester.  I just couldn't handle all four things (mother, wife, work and school).  But now it's going to be DONE!  I just have to write my paper for this class, which I will do this week because my aunt is visiting again and she can watch the girls for me.  I'm so excited to be done and have the degree.  The haul was well worth it and I'm so grateful to Brain for pushing me, helping me, talking to me and giving me reassurance through this whole endeavor.  Also to my mom and aunt who would watch the girls while I did projects, phone calls or homework..  Graduation is May 21 and the ceremony can viewed via live stream.  Can hardly wait to be a MS, RD!

Easter Bunny

I took the girls to see the Easter Bunny today. We have been reading a couple books about the Easter Bunny and Paige is starting to really get into it this year.  I think she really understands the concept that he will come and leave eggs and candy.  She asked to see him yesterday but we ran out of time, so I made sure that we went today.  She went right up to him and gave him a BIG hug and sat next to him.  She was thrilled to have Hailey come sit on his lap with her.  After the pictures were taken I went around with Hailey to choose a picture and Paige snuck back under the rope and sat next to him again.  (Luckily we were the only ones there.  Benefits of being able to do this stuff in the middle of the day on a week day.)  It was really sweet.  We plan to go to the City of Chandler's Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday and hide eggs at the house for Easter Sunday...and yes, have Easter baskets filled with eggs and candy.  I think the Easter Bunny even got a new Tinkerbell movie and some new "animals" too. 

Hailey's 1 year Well Check

Hailey had her 1 year well check today.  She did really well and was diagnosed as "well & thriving."  Our pediatrician said that the average age of most children to start walking is 14 months old and not to worry until 18 months old if she's not walking.  She's is cruising, but not walking by herself yet.  She can also now have cow's milk (18-24 oz in a day) and the ped said that breast milk has little nutritive value for her anymore and to let weaning happen naturally (this I knew, I'm just not ready to stop).  However, nursing is minimal now, only upon wakening in the morning (just to tied her over until I can get down to make breakfast), before naps and before bed and if she wakes up in the middle of the night, which is rare.  At most naps now she is not interested.  She can also use toothpaste with fluoride.  She got the normal 1 year old shots.  Paige watched those injections go in, no problem.  I have to turn my head.  Hailey did cry, but I try to minimize the pain by giving her acetaminophen a half hour before we go.  She had no signs of fever and had a ton of energy after our appointment.  The doctor also allowed Paige to use her stethoscope to listen to Hailey. 

Hailey's measurements were as follows:
Weight:  17 lbs 14 oz = 10%
Height:  29 inches = 50%
Head circumference:  17 1/4 cm = 15%

Our ped says Hailey is following her growth chart beautifully and she is healthy. 

Brain took this on Sunday, Hailey had found her Snugglie and was so happy.

Here Hailey is today after her appointment today, very happy and cruising all around the furniture. 

I pulled out Paige's 1 year well check data to compare:
Weight:  18 lbs 8 oz = 10%
Height:  28 3/4 inches = 34%
Head circumference:  17 1/2 cm = 25%

This is Paige at 1 year in the toy store picking out her pink bear. 

My mom also gave me my data from when I was a baby at 1 year:
Weight:  18 lbs 6 oz
Height:  28 1/2 inches

I'd say the three of us are pretty close in size.  Hailey appears to be longer, but weigh less than any of us.  Surprisingly, Paige weighed the most.  And I, of course, am the shortest. 

We are so fortunate to have such a happy, healthy and I will say, adorable little girl in Hailey.  She is such a joy. 

Breakthroughs?

Today was a busy day taking care of our Woolly Bugger.  I took him to the vet at 8am while Brian stayed home with the girls and had to take him back with both girls this afternoon.  He was diagnosed with an ear and eye infection and had an allergic reaction to the rabies vaccine.  Poor guy.  Hopefully he's on the mend tomorrow.

However, the girls both had what may be breakthroughs today.  Paige went POOP on the potty.  I did bribe her with Starbursts.  But she finally did it!  Two times! 

And...Hailey stood by herself in the tub tonight for quite a while and slowly sat herself back down in the water.  She is walking when holding hands, or pushing her lion toy, but not by herself yet.  So the standing by herself was a big thing! 

Yay My Girls! 

Snuggles

Paige loves snuggling under the blanket these days. She says, "I want to snuggle under the blanket Mama.". It's so sweet.

Tinkerbell and Paige

This weekend we had two kid birthday parties to attend.  I only took Paige and Hailey stayed home with Dada.  One of the parties was Tinkerbell themed.  (Paige is really into Tinkerbell right now since the leprechauns brought her the movie on DVD.)   That party had a favor box that included gold coins, which we quickly called "pixie dust", rings, a compass, stickers, etc.  I put the "pixie dust" in a special bag that she has for dress up and the rings and compass in her purse that has all of her other dress up jewelry.  This morning as I was folding laundry Paige proceeded to put on all her jewelry by herself.  Here she is in her Tinkerbell jammies (which were a hand-me-down) very proud of herself for looking so pretty. 




She then decided to decorate the dresser in our room.  Very pretty. 




For the "pixie dust" I showed Paige the scene from the Disney cartoon Peter Pan that includes the song "We Can Fly" with Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy, John and Micheal.  We now pretend to sprinkle "pixie dust" on The Animals and they can fly too.  And tonight, she was playing with the compass and correlated it with one that is in her Tinkerbell book.  That was super exciting to see.

Shopping Cart Milestones

This is Paige the first time she rode in a shopping cart sitting up instead of in her car seat.  Clearly a Costco trip. 

This is Hailey the first time she rode in a shopping cart sitting up instead of in her car seat. 

Obviously a Target trip, that I HAD to take right before nap time.  Very tired baby. 

And this is today...both riding in the shopping cart sitting up instead of in her car seat. 

Big milestones for my little girls.  This makes me realize how fast they are growing and that I'm out of the car seat in the store phase of babyhood.  A little sad about it.  Sorta brings on baby fever, but I know for sure that we are DONE having children.  My eggs are too old to risk having more kiddos.  Plus I would want another girl and that's only a 50% chance.  BIG risk.  And we can afford these two, adding another would make that one have to pay for college his/herself and that's just not fair.  So my fever will break soon.  Lots of new milestones ahead to look forward to.  This one surely makes shopping easier. 
PS...Hats are a must in the Valley of the Sun.