I love my Princesses

So after my crazy week with my girls I was ready to pull my hair out. And then moments like this happen. Alaina is still a little jaundice so she is naked a lot so we can put her in the window to get sun.. So Sunday morning I was ready to kill Andy cause he scheduled a flight lesson and I was home alone again.. Sammy decided she wanted to be in just her shorts too.. And then asked to hold her sister... so I let her. And they looked so cute and Sammy leaned over and said I love you sister.
Then Samantha said look at how little her foot is compared to mine..take a picture.




And yes Samantha got eaten by mosquitoes during the day helping daddy trim trees Saturday morning. She is like me and gets so swollen from bites...

These are the moments that make being a Mom worth it!

Another Crazy weekend...Lisa and Emily's Graduation

Andy's Cousins Graduated from 8th grade and we had yet another party in the north suburbs.

Sammy loves the girls and they had a great time playing with Sammy. And Andy's Aunts took Alaina the whole time. Nana didn't even get a chance to hold her...

Another week--6.23...complete.

I decided that this week I could handle the 2 kids with no help. I was a little sore from my c-section still but I figured I can do this!


Monday--the morning was good--I printed worksheets and things that Sammy and I can do together and we had fun cutting and pasting...the afternoon not good--fits and bad behavior...probably from all of us. : )

I did get a few cute pics of my girls in the morning--

Tuesday--the morning--Sammy decided while I was trying to get Alaina down for a nap she would use the yogurt I gave her with her breakfast as paint on herself and the kitchen table....She has lost lots of toys for days at a time and we are trying to get through this tough transition for both of us. Alaina decided to sleep for 5 hours in the middle of the day and I thought there was something wrong with her... We then ventured to the grocery store and fits were had there too. At least Andy was with me this time to help referee Sammy....

I honestly don't remember much about Wed... I think we had an ok morning.... but fits were had and pee hit the floor in the bathroom when Sammy didn't want to go on the potty.... the days blend together...I physically had to put Sam in her room a few times this week for her time outs and that didn't help the healing process....

Alaina has started trying to smile and it is so hard to catch it with the camera. I still call her my monkey princess which usually is how I get her to smile.
She has started really studying--not just looking at the contrasting color toys and looking at us while we talk to her!

Thursday and Friday Sammy went to daycare... I woke up missing her and then when I realized as Alaina slept I could get my maternity clothes packed up and laundry done it was great! I know I should be resting but I hate things not getting done.

Sammy and I had much better nights after I picked her up from daycare. On Thursday we got a donut and Friday we watched dress rehearsal for my Studio's recital and she was very excited to see the dancers and even danced in the aisles. I saw a fellow BHS Raiderette with her kids. It is funny to see us all with our kids now dancing and we probably wouldn't have recognized each other if it wasn't for the brook networking site... what craziness.

Alaina slept in her crib already for nap on Friday and the first part of the night!

Curly Hair...

I just love the curls after Alaina gets a bath...

Jessica's Graduation

My cousin Jesse graduated from Nequa and is now going to Loyola for pre-med--We are so proud of her! I used to babysit her and now she babysits Samantha. Samantha loves Jesse and was so excited to be going to Jesse's for her party. Again lots of passing around of Alaina to my family this time. And Samantha started the day in a really cute outfit that matched her sister with strawberries but Daddy wasn't watching her REAL close while she played on the stairs of the pool I guess cause she ended up soaked up to her belly button.... so she ended up in our back up outfit before I could get a pic of her and Alaina....

My Cousin Nancy with me and my girls...

(she teaches Kindergarten in Korea!)

My Nana holding Alaina--her 25th great grandchild!

Nancy and a sort of smiling Alaina

My Grandparents

Samantha being cute...

Andy got recruited to make cotton candy

--hard job serving cotton candy to high school girls in bikinis....

Samantha coloring with cousin Timmer..I am sure he is sick of us calling him that now that he is an adult... He was great with Sam!

Heart for Life

For the past few years we have participated in a free charity run for Becky Graske's heart doctor's organization. Last year and this year we all wore our T-shirts in honor of Becky's Dad who passed away from a heart condition. I didn't make it for the run or walk part this year but Andy took Sammy and I wanted to see our friends and see Sammy run in the kids run so Alaina and I made it! Sammy talks about it all year and wears her medal often!

Cort Congratulating Mia after her run!

Alaina enjoying the breeze.

The kids with their medals.

Becky shooting pictures.. for more pics see the Graske Family blog

The link is on the side-->

Ian Miller's 1st Birthday

We ventured out to Carrie (Chernich) Miller's house on June 21 for her 2nd son's 1st birthday. It was good to finally meet him and see Erin (Wesley) Olson and one of her girls. It was fun to get out and enjoy some of the wonderful weather and I barely had to hold Alaina at all...she got passed around. Carrie and her sister miss the baby stage and Carrie really wants a girl. Her 3 year old son Nolan was so funny. Carrie asked him if he wanted another baby and he said--I want that baby--the pink one.

The birthday boy Ian

Erin and Alaina--not the best shot of Alaina

Samantha and Emma--Erin's 3 year old

Some of Grandma's pictures

I got my Mom's pictures finally...

Auntie Laurie and Alaina--thanks for driving in Sis!

Auntie Laurie, Trey, and Alaina
Sammy swinging with Grandma June 12
Alaina looking at me finally! 6.12.08
Sisters..wow I have 2 girls...

WOW 2 Kids...

So the last time I blogged I was in heaven.. both girls napped for almost 2 hours at the same time an I was able to blog and watch a little TV and relax... I sent my Mom home cause I had it under control--Until Sammy woke up....
I went upstairs to check on the girls and Sammy was sitting at the top of the stairs. So I gave her a hug and went to check on Alaina--who was starting to wiggle and squawk a little in the bassinet but I left her there to see if she was going to wake or not. I then turned around to Samantha sitting in the hallway with her cheeks puffed and her hand over her mouth.. yes here is came. I grabbed the closest thing I could--a hand towel--and she started puking like no other....and wouldn't go into the bathroom of course and it scared her to death and was making me nauseous in the process. Of course in the midst of this Alaina woke up screaming. So being baby #2 I thought she will be fine in the bassinet so I left her there until I got Sammy cleaned up and changed. So then I got Alaina changed and ready to nurse. I sat on the couch and latched her on as Samantha looked at me with that look..I jumped up with baby in hand & nursing to grab a bowl..Samantha puked again.. so Alaina then got cut short and put in the swing. Andy then finally got home to rescue me from the chaos...( I had called him in a panic when Sam puked the first time). So that started the weekend off with a bang.

We then had a pretty good weekend...

Adventures of Parenthood cont'd....

I want to start by saying CONGRATS to Dave and Liz who got married on Saturday. I hope things went well and again we are sad we missed it! I hope to see pictures soon!

Happy Birthday to Lindey! We are not getting older we are just getting better... right.

I also hope that all of you affected by the floods are safe and we will keep you in our prayers. I can not believe the pictures of Iowa City. I saw a slide show last night and almost cried.

Things are definitely an adventure around the Anderson house lately. I have had my hormonal ups and downs and trying to learn the game of having 2 kids that need your attention.... and now I know how parents call kids the wrong name. I already have caught myself starting to call Alaina Samantha. At least I haven't called her Slater yet.

Last weekend we (Alaina and I) finally ventured out of the house with Daddy and Sammy. Saturday we had our annual block party and Alaina slept almost the whole time but Sammy was a maniac with all the other kids in the neighborhood. I don't think I saw her for more than 5 mins when she needed a snack and some lemonade. Then she was off again with "the girls". She even got scrapped up knees and didn't come to tell us.... My big girl. I have no good pictures from the party cause with trying to remember to bring the baby and everything we need I have been forgetting the camera... Samantha got a much needed bath at 10 pm when we finally got her to go home. Sunday we had a pajama day for Fathers Day. Then Monday was our 7th wedding anniversary so we did our annual trip to downtown Naperville for Quigleys lunch and Cold Stone. Sammy had a blast even when I had to sit and nurse Alaina. She got to run around with Daddy. Before we left Samantha asked if Alaina was coming with us and I said of course she has to..and Sammy looked at me and said but she doesn't eat so why would she go to the restaurant.

Samantha is very excited to have a baby sister still.. for the most part. Sometimes she gets a little too excited and smothers her a little. And likes to PET her--sometimes a little more like she is petting her dog not a baby. We are definitely getting through the tantrums too. She has spent a few mornings in her room while she tries to calm down. It is tough and I keep convincing myself this too shall pass. My Mom has come over the days that Sammy has not gone to daycare but we still have some hard times when Sammy doesn't get what she wants--"NOW". : )

The Miss Lady name for Alaina has disappeared but now Sammy calls her sweetie in the funniest voice. I am sure she is imitating us but it is funny.

Alania had her 2 week checkup on Tuesday and she still is a little jaundice so we had to go get a blood test at the new Bolingbrook hospital. Everyone there was very nice. The results are just a little high but we should be able to control it with--in the words of my doctor--"roasting" her a little in the window each day... Her weight was 7 lbs. 2 oz. so she is right on track! She has really started to be more alert and follows our voices and likes to look at the newborn toys now. Alaina has cracked a few little "gas" smiles and imitates me stick my tongue out.. She is still very much my Monkey Baby. Her arms are so long and she still "hangs" from you when you pick her up, has the little hairy back, and now makes the cutest round pout face like a monkey! I haven't gotten a good picture of it yet. Here is her serious face.

Alaina found her thumb!

I tried to take a few pictures yesterday of my two princesses but that is tough!

Last night we finally got the nursery put together. And I am thinking about putting Alaina in her crib sooner than we did with Sam. She is so the 2nd child. You don't think you will be that way and then it happens. We had a few tough days the last 3 days of a little colic I think. Last night Alaina just wouldn't stop screaming. Up to this point she hadn't taken a pacifier if I tried it and so I tried one more time last night about 11:15 pm. She took it.. then I felt so guilty I couldn't give it back to her once she spit it out...

This morning my Mom hadn't gotten here yet and we had the first incident of my mommy isn't watching me cause she is nursing my baby sister and Samantha wrote all over herself-a napkin-the kitchen table-and the dry erase board she was supposed to be drawing on... I told Sammy I had to take a picture so Daddy could see what she did... I just realy thought it was hilarious but I had to be serious...

Even More Pics

First Bath at home on Saturday

--her hair gets so curly--

I have gotten some great gifts, dinners, and flowers from our wonderful family and friends.

THANK YOU!

Auntie Laurie even drove up on Saturday just for a few hours to meet Alaina!

(Andy had our camera with him and Sammy a the Airport Show on Saturday so I will post pictures when I get my Mom's pictures of all our visitors)

I wanted to take Alaina's picture with the beautiful star gazer Lily in one of my arrangements...

More Baby Pics

We have been home since Thursday and it has been a little crazy but we are getting through it! Being a complete control freak--I am having a hard time being completely out of control of my life again right now : )

I got my stitches out yesterday and I am not real happy with part of my scar this time but hopefully it will be OK once it heals. I am still a little sore and of course trying to do too much. I don't sit still well.

Alaina is doing well. We are still trying to flush a little jaundice and I don't think she appreciated the Caribbean chicken I ate last night for dinner... she had a bit of a sleepless gassy night. OOPS. So obviously I had a sleepless night too! She won't take a pacifier yet and has found her thumb a few times. Today she has been much more alert and looking around a ton. It is so funny how you can spend hours just staring at them.

I have to say technology can be a wonderful thing. There is no such thing as a standard cheesy hospital photo anymore. They now have a professional photographer come into the room and shoot adorable pictures. Even though I know we have a good camera and friends that are incredible at pictures I fell for the purchase of the entire disc of pictures going across the screen set to the music of "Somewhere over the Rainbow."

Samantha loves to "hold" her and likes to say Hi Sweetie still. She has been having a little trouble with the fact that I am stuck a lot nursing Alaina and she has thrown a few extra special tantrums. Andy has been going to work most days and Sammy has gone to daycare 2 days each week so far so life seems a little normal to her??? Last night Sammy and I finally got a chance to snuggle on the couch and watch some princess songs and dance a little together. Samantha is having fun playing with her old toys again....

Once you have #2 you can not believe how "big" #1 is. I thought Sammy was such a peanut kid until I put her bedtime pull-up on her the other night and compared it to the newborn diapers I have been going through so quickly. WOW!