Mommy Journal

My "new" journal. My wonderful husband gave this to me when we checked into the hospital in April. He knew that I have wanted a journal to document "mommy life" and wanted me to begin this with our sweet new addition.

Although he gave this to me in April, I just began using it this past month (you know time is scarce). I write in it almost every morning and absolutely love it! I'm not writing things that I post on the blogs, actually just the opposite. There are things that only I know about my girls and little things that I ALWAYS want to remember about these days. So, instead of daily happenings (like our blog) I write 3 blessings in my life, the Highs and Lows of each day, and "Mommy Notes" on my girls.

I hope one day I can look back at this and know how truly blessed I am to have my girls, my family and the life I have. And, hopefully I'll remember EACH "Mommy Note" as only I will remember them.

Friends

Thank you Elizabeth and Lorelei for having us all over this morning to play and escape the heat.

The kids haven't seen each other for a few weeks due to summer schedules and visitors so they really enjoyed being back together again.

Our Pretty Girls

Sorry Lorelei for Lily trying to get you closer by a choke hold!

Emma and Leah hanging out together

L

A bother and sisters picture

and like Melissa said **Heart Melting**

A Surprise

This morning Mike and Lily had their morning out to Sam's and the grocery store. As Lily was walking up the driveway I saw the most beautiful bouquet of flowers in her hand. She came through the door yelling, Mommy! Mommy! As she gave me the flowers, hugged my legs she looked up and said, Thank You. Needless to say a tear came to my eye pretty quickly.

After they unloaded the car and got inside I got the full story from Mike. They were in the grocery store and walked past the flowers. Mike said that Lily pointed to the flowers and said Mommy and that the majority of the time they get me flowers it's because of Lily. They set out to find yellow flowers (Lily's choice) but got these gorgeous pink roses instead.

They are GORGEOUS and smell divine! Every time I get the chance I walk by them in the playroom just so I can get a whiff.

Lily, I know you told me thank you, but Thank You for being the sweetest daughter I could even wish and hope for! Love You Pumpalump!

Bathtime

Emma enjoys the bath more and more each time. Pretty soon we'll be able to sit her up instead of using the sling and she'll really be able to enjoy herself.

Pool

It has been sooo HOT here lately that we decided to get out the big pool today. And, since it's been so hot (like above 100 for days upon days) we need to take turns keeping Emma inside.

Mike took Lily out around 930 this morning and played while he did things around the yard. She played with all of her usual toys including cooling Maci off with water from her water table. Then, we decided to fill up the big pool we got a few years ago.

Much to my surprise, I was requested by Miss Lily to join her in the pool. It was so nice to be able to relax and get some sun. It was also nice to see that Lily is getting more relaxed about being in the water and may even make us get a bigger pool for next summer when both girls can enjoy it.

Playful Morning

So nice that this morning they both kept themselves entertained.

Lily with her Little People bin and Emma with her dangly friends.

I had to document since it rarely happens and can't wait for it happen more often.

I even got to enjoy my cup of coffee, didn't have to heat it up once!!

Also, notice Emma's change in position. She is movin' and groovin'!

Emma Schedule

So I haven't even attempted to get Miss Emma on a schedule nor do I want to at this point. We feel as though our life happens in the 2 1/2-3 hour increments between feedings and that's fine with us. But if I were to jot down her very flexible schedule it would look something like this.

**6-745am: wake up, 4 oz bottle

**4oz bottles every 2.5-3 hours after her first bottle. Every day is different and is determined by the time she gets up in the morning.

**After every bottle she is usually very interactive, wants to be walked around to look at things, will want to play and be entertained. This usually lasts for a good 45 minutes to an hour after every bottle and sometimes longer especially if Lily is around and doing something cool.

**After she tires of being overloaded by things to do she takes a little catnap that can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour hour. Her longest naps are for at least two hours and come an hour after she gets up in the morning and late afternoon after a feeding.

**She gets to take a bath every Wed and Sat nights.

**Her last bottle is now given to her in her room, light on and can be as early as 8 and as late as 1030. When she's done, lights go out and music goes on. We rock and cuddle for an entire music round in which she usually passes out and gets put down after music shuts off.

**Majority of our nights end there with an occasional awakening (if she eats too early at night) otherwise she sleeps until morning.

Late evening catnap

**So E, does sleep for at least 8-10 hour stretches at night without a single peep.

All the meanwhile Lily remains on her schedule and this makes for a long day and a very tired mommy.

Legs

Our girls have some legs on them!

Hate to compare, but just can't help it.

Super Baby Girls!

Gotta Love Summer

and corn on the cob!

Park with Friends

We went for a walk at Trashmore and stopped to play on the playground with Elizabeth and Lorelei. Little did we know it was going to be so HOT!

The calm before the storm we call "Sweet Emma".

Emma did not want to stay in her seat for the entire walk and I had to put her in the sling.

Note: Sling in 90 degrees=sweaty mess

We were all ready for some a/c, a shower and lunch by the time we returned.

Always an Adventure!

Long Sunday

Today began with Mike cutting the grass and a quick trip to Target to help out our playroom once again. Mike had a very good helper while he tried to get the cubes put together. Lily is very much a Daddy Helper.

Then, on our second trip of the day at 2 to babies r us the lights flickered and finally went out. Thinking it was just a simple thing due to all of the a/c running it would probably be back on by the time we got back so out we went. Then, we saw it. A down power line in our yard! We called the power company and headed off to the a/c at bru.

We got home and no one was there yet to fix the line. Lily took a nap, we did quiet things around the house and by 6 still no one had showed up. While we were leaving to an unplanned dinner out to Red Robin, the crews finally showed up...

Daddy and Lily.

Miss Emma in the car being changed before the ride home.

Funny Story: We sat a booth for the first time. We ordered her a kids meal which comes with a drink and we chose lemonade. She loved it. She sucked it down and wanted more so Mike told her when the lady comes back she'll go get you some lemonade and bring it back to you.

After the waitress brought her drink back and left, Lily began chanting...Lady...Lady...Lady.

Guess we're really going to have to watch what we say now in front of our little parrot.

Looking out at the water, so sweet!

We returned home to still NO POWER but at least three trucks were there and ready to get up on the poles to replace the falling wire.

We finally got power back at 945!

Thank goodness we celebrated Daddy Day a day early!

A little glimpse of our evening without power.

And, today Emma laughed for the first time! and we tried to get her to do it over and over again with little success!

Mike's Father's Day

So, Mike decided he wanted to celebrate Father's Day today.

And, we decided to take our first trip to the beach as a family of four.

It took two hours to get ready to go, half an hour to set up camp on the beach with all of our gear and we were able to stay for two hours before we had to do it all over again. Half an hour to pack up, 15 minutes to get everyone in the car, the drive home and another half hour to unpack.

Totally worth it!

Emma in her baby beach cabana!

She was asleep and then woke up to the ocean waves.

In the second picture she's staring at her ladybug hanging from the ceiling and you can see the white clip on fan we purchased also (awesome!).

Emma is definitely going to be a beach girl too!!

Lily actually stayed at our "camp" and played in the sand today.

Her usual beach routine was to run to the water and scare us to death and then run up to everyone on the beach to say hello. Today she didn't want to go to the water and was content playing in the sand the entire time. The big thing today was covering up Daddy's feet in the sand.

Poor Mike had to fill up the mold and watering can with water since we forgot our huge bucket in the sandbox at home. He spent most of the morning walking back and forth with water for Little Miss Sand Princess. What a Wonderful Daddy!

Emma did like the beach but it was just really bright for her :).

Our car on the way home and the BEST craigslist purchase EVER!

A Weeleez Beach Cart!

On our way home with smiles on our faces and a sleeping baby!

Miss Emma stayed asleep for an hour after we got home.

She looks so big in the car seat :(

Daddy was able to take a nice nap, had ice cream for dessert and opened his gifts with his girls.

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

And, Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers we know!

Friends

We had a wonderful morning today. We went over to visit with Elizabeth and Lorelei. And, like always L and L loved playing together and E and I were able to chat and catch up.

We can't wait for September when Baby Boy Stahl joins our friend clan.

Emma and BBS will love being friends too!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 38th Anniversary Nana and Pa!

If we all could only have such a long, happy marriage.

Thank you for being such wonderful role models and show what a great marriage is.

Guilt

While I was pregnant, mothers of 2 would sometimes give me words of wisdom and advice. There are some comments that I took with a grain of salt and others I could truly see happening. One, would be mommy guilt. Everyone would say, "You're going to feel guilty, and don't worry everyone feels this way after they have their second." You know, everyone is different but this I knew was coming for me. I spent every waking minute with Lily and we would play uninterrupted and she didn't have to share me, until now. Until now, I haven't wanted to be apart from her but until now I haven't had my sweet baby girl Emma.

I am feeling guilt BIG TIME. I feel guilty that I can't play like I used to with Lily. I feel guilty that I am not giving Emma the attention I gave Lily when she was born. I feel guilty that sometimes they have to wait a little longer and sometimes cry because I'm busy changing a diaper, making a bottle or getting breakfast ready. I feel guilty that they can't have me all to themselves. But, when they can't have me, they have each other. My friend Melissa told me what someone told her, "You've given the best gift of all, the gift of a sibling."

So, I am doing the best that I can, everyday. I love the time the three of us have together and I cherish the moments I have with them alone. There is no doubt that being a mom to two is the hardest job I've ever had and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am in Love with my life and my family.

Some Firsts

On a trip to the park this week Emma sat in the stroller for the first time. I didn't really expect to do this so I wasn't equipped with any toys for her to stare at. But she was kept occupied by the sling design until she got so crabby that she had to be put in it :). Works like a charm.

Emma also discovered a very beautiful baby girl this week too! Oh wait, it's her in the mirror! She smiled and cooed for such a long time that Mike had to put an end to it just to give his arms a break.

Oh, Miss Emma slow down. You're growing up too fast already!