A Month Full of Fun and Hearts Full of Joy

December 5, 2014

I feel like I am getting so bad at keeping up with this blog, but I guess that’s the way it goes when you start adding to the family more and more.  I have less and less time for other things aside from playing with Maddie and her favorite toy/stuffed animal, minnie mouse, having tea parties (we actually pretend it’s coffee), reading books, and nursing little Sarah. Still, although I often feel like the pace is too much and I don’t know how I can keep up with it, I am loving every second of it.  

Maddie and Minnie.  They are inseparable

This past month, we decided that we should start teaching Maddie more about praying.  We always pray before dinner as a family and she started showing some interest in it by wanting to hold our hands and saying, “Amen.” So, we decided to show her how to pray at bedtime, too.  Every night, after putting on her jammies, we all bow down in front of her bed and Daddy prays to God, thanking him for the day and asking for protection while we sleep.  After a few nights of this, we peaked out of our closed eyes to see Maddie trying to pray along with Dad.  It was all nonsense words — toddler talk— but she was trying! 

Daddy turned 31 this year!!!

So, just to summarize the rest of the bedtime routine, since Maddie LOVES routine, we then say “night night, I love you”, Mommy gets a kiss and a hug and Maddie and Daddy turn off the light together, sit in the rocking chair, listen to music and drink milk.  When they are done with the one bedtime song, Maddie gets into bed, she gets two blankets (and she asks for this every night), Minnie Mouse goes in her bed with her and her extra pacifiers and then Daddy says “Night Night” and “Bye Bye,” while leaving the room.  If anything is askew, the whining shall commence! 

She is starting to do some role playing with this now. I love watching it.  She will, over and over, put her doll into her bed, put two blankets on her and then walk out of the room saying, “Night night. I love you” and closes the door.  So adorable.  

Thanksgiving with the Jones Family was fabulous!  

We were all impressed when Phil won the poker hand, but more impressed with Steve's amazing card trick skills!

Another thing I find adorable is how Maddie has found a way of tattling on herself.  When she is doing something wrong and I tell her to stop, if she actually stops and corrects her behavior, I tell her “thank you for listening and obeying.”  So, I now know when she has been doing something she’s not supposed to because she will turn to me with a guilty look in her eye and say, “Thank you.  Thank you.”  I “caught her” one time playing with the humidifier in her room, not by actually witnessing her playing with it, but because I came into her room after her nap one day and she immediately started walking towards me and saying, “Thank you.”  I then noticed the mist from the humidifier was on full blast.  Oh, Maddie.  Haha! This works to my advantage! 

Playing doctor and listening to little Sarah's heart...with a silly face, of course. 

Speaking of nap times, they have been working out pretty nicely with both girls overlapping their naps for at least an hour almost every day.  It’s been fantastic! Sarah is a wonderful sleeper and I really just hope she keeps it up.  Since the doctor gave me the go ahead at her 1 month check-up to let her sleep through the night, she has consistently slept for 5-8 hour stretches every.single.night.  It has been amazing.  She then will wake up to nurse and, for the most part, falls right back to sleep.  

This cutie took her first bottle from Daddy at about 1 month old, then another one a week later, but is boycotting the process now.  It's her way of making sure Mom never leaves the house. 

So, with her being such a calm, sweet, adorable (hey, she does kinda resemble me, so……) and sleepy little baby, I feel like we have adjusted to this two-kid thing pretty well.  I just love me girls so much! 

We took Mads and Sarah to their first movie this month: the Berenstein Bears.  It was so boring I thought I might die.  Sarah was less than amused. Maddie was enthralled, though. 

Sarah has started interacting more with us this past month, too! She gives us HUGE social smiles when we make eye contact and talk to her.  She also grabbed her first toy a couple of weeks ago and has continued to swat at things on her play mat.  She coos and has just the sweetest little voice.  I love watching her develop.  And she loves watching Maddie! Phil thinks that she’s scared of Maddie (who isn’t scared of a 2-year-old, right?), but I have caught those precious moments when I find Sarah just fascinated by Maddie’s movements.  Today, Sarah was crying while I was making lunch, and Maddie sat down in front of her to, again, play with Minnie Mouse, and Sarah calmed down and just observed her big sister.  

Grabbing a ring for the first time! 

Absolutely stunning

I just know that Sarah is going to learn so much from her! And Maddie is going to be such a good big sister, showing her the ropes.  She loves trying to take care of Sarah, wants to help when she is crying, pats her back and tells her, “I know. It’s ok,” imitating her Mama’s words.  

Maddie wanted to hold Sarah to comfort her when she was crying

So, onward to Christmas we go! I am so looking forward to seeing Santa tonight with Maddie and getting our hearts prepared for celebrating our Savior's birth! we taught Maddie the story of Jesus coming to earth and she kept requesting, "more Jesus. More Jesus." My heart is full of joy! 

Putting up the Christmas tree was insane this year! We finally did get it lit and decorated, but we were pulling our hair out in the process.  It turned out beautiful, though. 

Maddie learning from her Daddy about Jesus.

It might get a little crazy in our house (and noisy!), but we are filled with joy and blessed beyond measure!