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!!

I prayed for these sleepless nights, right?

Things have been crazy.  Michael has rarely been sleeping longer than one hour at a time and I am exhausted.  He is growing like crazy and probably somewhere between 17-18lbs.  What a big little man!  I am trying to focus on how fleeting this time is and just enjoy it all but at 2am I must confess I lose my sense of humor.  Here is him in early January rocking his 12 month outfit.  Yes 12 month clothes at 3 months!!!  Crazy.

Pretty much the only time we have used the bumbo seat...he hates it and so did Lor...not sure what all the hype is?

His 3 month picture for his first year frame!!!

Lor's first year frame i FINALLY got around to completing!  :)  How I love seeing her sweet face as a baby.  I wouldn't want to go back though.  I sure love the amazing girl she has become.

Here are some FABULOUS pictures of Michael that my good friend Sara took for me.  3 months is such a tough time so we just did Lor at JCPennys and were going to skip him.  I can't believe how amazing they turned out.

I have been feeling so much better and getting involved with LLL (La Leche League) and FOMM (friends of Michigan Midwives).  I think it's so important that I am taking time to do things that I am passionate about.  Me and a few friends started a local/organic/whole foods potluck and had the first one tonight.  The food was amazing and the company even better.  I think it will be an amazing thing for us to continue to do as the spring produce starts to show up.  For the first time I am truly happy with where I am.  Not planning for the future, but just enjoying the now.  I do hope to have one more blessing one day (God willing) but for now I am enjoying my skinny jeans and time with my 2 precious gifts.  I can't believe my little man is almost 4 months old and my baby girl is 3.  She is so bright and spunky I know God has a sense of humor.  We went and toured the preschool Lor will be going to next year and instead of being sad I am mostly excited for her to go grow into the amazing girl I know she will be!

Christmas 2010

We all had a great Christmas.  Lor was super excited to come down and see what Santa had left for her.  It is such a joy to watch your childs face light up over presents.  We spent the whole day cooking, watching Christmas movies and parades, playing board games (hi ho cherio and candy land), and of course playing with new presents.  We went to mass on Christmas Eve and had our traditional chinese food dinner.  I cooked so much it's actually embarassing what we have leftover, but I know it won't go to waste!

Poor dog was tormented with new playsilks all day, but she got a new fox and some snausages too!

kiddos all dressed up after mass

Lor opening up her stocking Christmas morning

baby Michael looking how we felt after the huge meal

Baby Michael playing wiht his new taggie toy mommy scored for .25 at a garage sale in May...go mom!

His favorite toy is the glow seahorse...he is obsessed with it!

So, does my boob look like the seahorse's belly or the other way around?

Lor's favorite toy...the "sick animals" toy she kept asking for and Santa caved on...even if it is cheap plastic junk...she sure LOVES making that puppy feel better!

At least someone got some use out of the blanket I made for baby Michael. 

Diner, before we ate (corn casserole, turkey, rolls, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffin' muffins, green bean casserole, gravy, and cranberry).  Yes, canned cranberry.  We homemade everything but Mike insists on the cranberry in a can.

Dinner after we ate.  Yes, it looks the same...that's how much freaking food we made.  LOL

2 happy kids!

Tutus and Christmas Parties

So I finally made Lor a Tutu and it turned out super cute.  I still need a shirt to pair with it for pictures...so any ideas would be appreciated.

Also, Lor and Michael went to 2 Christmas parties on Wednesday and looked super cute!  The first one was with my Bible study ladies and the other was with MOMS club.  They were both great and I feel blessed to have such great friends.

We also baked our traditional butter cookies and decorated them.  It was so much fun.  Lor was much more involved than last year and they taste super great!