Summer, School, and a First Birthday

Michael turned one and it was a blast.  We had a few neighborhood friends over to help us celebrate and eat cake.  I did a monster theme of sorts and made the cutest chocolate/zucchini cake and cupcakes.  I tried to use all natural ways to dye the frosting and 2 batches of frosting later I caved and used regular food dye.  Strangely we didn't grow horns or 3rd eyes and they were super cute.  Michael just loved the frosting but didn't even touch the cake.  Figures.  I can't believe a year has gone by since this little man entered my world.  He was worth the wait and every single tear that I cried.  I wouldn't change a thing about how my life has gone.  It has lead me to this amazing place with 2 amazing kids and a wonderfully giving husband.

Lor needed a family picture to share at school so we actually had our good friend and photographer take an inpromptu one behind our house.  Sadly, other than one Christmas picture, it is the only one we have.  Luckily it's a pretty good one.  I think we will go to Sara Combs photography's family photo day at the end of the month and try to get a better one where I may even (gasp) do my hair and wear makeup.  :)

Loralei started school in September.  She is doing so well and learning so much.  I am very happy with our decision to send her to a small Catholic preschool.  She is learning so much about God and prayer and scripture on top of counting, writing, spelling.  We are very proud of her.  She is a sassy little thing (my kid for sure) and I have a feeling she will do wonderful things acadmically but may spend her fair share of time in the principle's office.  Ahhh, does that sound familiar.

Michael is growing leaps and bounds.  He turned one last week and has been walking for a couple months.  He says woof, mommy, ball, and finally dada.  He is a big boy with an even bigger personality.  He has quite a temper and can be pretty angry for a one year old.  He is still nursing (of course) and still not sleeping through the night (banghead)...but I know this too shall pass.

Mike and I are enjoying our crazy family and looking foreward to watching our kids grow and learn.  Hopefully God will bless us with another child one day but we are trying to stay focused on what we have because it's so much.  Swiffer continues to be annoyed by our growing brood.  Poor dog.  :)  She is finally calming down a bit and is as cute as ever.  She steals the kids fleece blankets so I think Santa may have to bring her one!

Early Summer

First, Michael moved into a big boy convertable carseat (Complete Air 65) and Lor moved into a big girl booster seat (Brittax Frontier).  Her seat actually goes to 5'4" and 120 lbs.  :)

 The whole family went to a La Leche League conference in Grand Rapids and had a blast and learned a ton!  Breastfeeding is so amazing...and so are breastfed babies! :)

Michael loves being naked...but pees...every freaking time.

We planted a garden out back with tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, green peppers, jalapenos, zucchini, squash, basil, oregano, thyme, sage, cillantro, and parsley.  Yumo!

7 months flew by...

Ahhh, naked time outside, a lot less messy and more vitamin d.

Michael was bit by a neighborhood dog, went to the ER, got his first freaking vaccine, and healed just fine!

Another month closer to 1 and further from being my tiny squishy newborn.

Almost crawling...took a few little crawls and then seemed to lose interest.

Enjoying the cool 60 degree june day with my kids outside.

2 bottom teeth...FINALLY...

Baby shower for Beth and Mikaela!!  :)  The trio of friends who really need to not all live in different states.  It was great seeing Megan, baby Bella, and Beth, but I wish it was more often.

Michael was a little over 20 lbs in the ER after the dog bite and has his 9 month on July 5th.  He is so much smaller than Lor was and so much more rotten.  :)  He is into EVERYTHING...and just making me nuts.  I could not love him any more than I do.  Sure enjoying everything boy right now.

Lor is doing great.  Quickly getting smarter than me and excited to start school in the fall.  She is so amazingly big and I don't get the snuggles and kisses nearly as often as I did this time last year and it breaks my heart.  I sure miss my baby girl but I can see the fun young lady she is becoming starting to emerge.

Spring Has Sprung...Sort Of

We took the kids (with Mi Mi and Popa) to Shedd Aquarium and to have some Chicago Pizza.  Lor also finally got her train ride (metro but shhhhhhhh...she doesn't seem to know).

The Aquarium was super expensive but the penguins were so cute it made it all worth while.

Somehow, I thought I had escaped Dora and Diego for the day, but instead, got to see them in 3D.

Michael's belly buddy Kanna!!  :)  Look how big they both are getting!  This reminds me of Look Whose Talking.

Michael's blocks that Mimi and I made for his room!

Happy half-birthday little man!!

Ahh the joys of having a big sister.  He looks like he's enjoying his new title though.  :)

Daddy and Lor trying to fly a kite on the only non-windy day of the year.

And this is how Loralei insists on leaving the house most days.

And April 18th...good morning tulips...and snow...sigh.

We are very excited about the warm weather that is supposedly on the way and can't wait for fruit picking and garden planting.  Michael is at such a great age and we are enjoying watching him learn new things every day.  He was 18lb14oz at his 6 month and 27.5 inches tall.  A tiny little peanut compared to what Loralei was.  Seriously only like 78-80%.  So crazy.  He is eating a bit of solids but does not do rice cereal.  He did enjoy my asian turkey meatballs the other night and loves yogurt, sweet potatoes with cinnamon and nutmeg, apple sauce, banana, blueberry, mango, peas, and corn.  :)

Time is Flying

So my little Michael is 5 months old on Friday and I just can't wrap my brain around how quickly it has gone.  Every day he is learning more and more and becoming more and more mobile.  We started playing white noise at night and he is now only waking 2-3 times a night...which I will take. 

Here is is rocking his Pipers Closet diaper that I am obsessed with.

Here are his pictures in his 4 month sticky bellies.  Too cute for words!

He also loves his jumparoo and exersaucer...

Almost as much as he loves sucking face with Sophie...

We are unsure of how we are going to introduce solids and when.  I have been doing a lot of reading about baby led weaning and we may give it a go...but on the other hand, I love making purees and watching the face as they react to the new taste.

He was about 17.5 lbs at his 4 month which is just a bit bigger than Lor was at that age.  I think he is going to be anoother off the charts kid. 

Lor is getting more and more independent and learning tons every day.  She has mastered puzzles up to 48 pieces, learned her letters, and sometimes recalls things in such detail that I am baffled. 

Here is her snowman she made with daddy...

Also her playing a hillarious valentines game at our MOMS club party...

And her in her beautiful tutu that mommy made her for pictures...

We have decided (99% sure) we want another kid down the road.  We figure the timing is ultimately up to God, as we learned trying to bring Michael into the world.  I do hope I get another year or so to just enjoy the 2 great kids I have now.  Mike swears he is running to the vasectomy office after number 3, but we will see.  Something about that makes me very nervous.

We also got our birth painting done...and hopefully will get it delivered soon.  It captures that moment so beautifully and I am glad beyond words that we had it done.

Here is Michael in my seven sling (free by the way) and in his mommy made hippie outfit!  :)  Love it!!