Sprinkler

Last week in the crazy hot weather Sammy finally convinced Daddy to set up her new sprinkler. She wouldn't go in at first but then she got pretty brave!

Ali and I just watched

July 4th--a little late

We had a fun July 4th at Ian and Sarah's. Thank you for the last minute decision to host!! I told Andy we could host but he didn't like the state of our house these days..

Alaina and Mommy went shopping in the morning!

I think she was happy to be shopping.

Our family of 4.
Sammy and Daddy made pretzel treats!
Mia and her cute curls and pretty smile!
Alaina in her patriotic outfit we found that morning at Old Navy!

She loves to stick out her tongue.
Fireworks!

Thank you to the Dasbachs for the great glow sticks!

Later that weekend at Nana and Papa's.

Dinner @ Michelle's 7/16

So my Mother has warped me and I have already started the girls with the matching outfits. I had bought Alaina this dress before she was born and then the other day at Carters on the clearance rack I saw it for Sam!! So we wore "coordinating outfits" as a family to a dinner gathering at my cousins house.

As you will see from the pictures Sammy and I got our hair cut off for the summer. This is the shortest Sammy's hair has been in over a year. And Alaina has already figured out how to pull my hair so I decided to go short again. Sammy played in their pool that was perfect "Sammy size" according to her. My cousin's daughter Stephanie is great with Sam and Blake even let her drive his remote control boat in the water! Andy held Alaina while just barely bouncing on the trampoline for about 30 mins and she loved it. She was quiet and was looking at the tree next to them so content.

Cousin Michelle and Alaina

Adventures with my girls.--UPDATED

So I haven't posted in a while but I found that I had started a post back on July 2...
"I ventured out with my 2 kids to the store..alone... and it went ok. I let Samantha walk next to the cart and the only item I couldn't negotiate out of her hands was a bag of mini marshmallows.. I figured I was doing good with only $1 in bribery. Alaina did well she slept most of the time. "
I find this funny cause last week I ventured out quite a bit --I even found the multiple children cart at Target so Sammy was strapped in and couldn't grab and ask for everything in her reach!
I feel like it gets better every day! Sammy and I have been finding new ways to keep her occupied and keep us from fighting so much. I am guilty of letting her watch Playhouse Disney or a while each morning while I feed Alaina and get showered.. But we also have painted our nails together, she actually helps me put laundry away in her and Alaina's room, and made some preschool crafts I found online. Today we made a jumping dolphin picture that the dolphins turn and jump. She loves it! We even had a play date with some of the kids down the street last week. I have come to the conclusion that if I plan the day before for our adventures and activities things go so much better. I also think it is harder for me to adjust to being home with 2 right now because I went back to work when Sam was 6 months old and haven't really had to deal with her for long weeks as a toddler let alone add an infant to the mix. Samantha doesn't ask if Grandma can come over as much anymore. : ) I do feel bad cause we haven't gotten to play outside much cause it was so hot and I didn't want Alaina outside in the 95 degrees.. We did get out a few times to blow bubbles on the patio while Alaina napped.

Sam did get to go to the pool 2 days the week of July 8th with her daycare and Andy took off last week one day to take Sam swimming at his Mom's. That was his excuse to take the day off to go fly in the morning too.

Samantha actually goes potty without a potty seat now! And I told her that on my birthday (today) she had to start pooping on the potty too--no more pull-ups and hiding in the corner to poop-- so we will see how that goes.... She woke up with a dry pull-up after nap today!!!That is 2 times in the last 3 days!
Sammy is just so me! I have seen it a few times this past weekend that cracked me up. She was eating her breakfast at the restaurant yesterday morning and my Dad tried to help her and took her fork to show her how to scoop her syrup without making a mess. She rolled her eyes and huffed...just like I do. She also had a few incidents at Daycare a few weeks ago--she told Cindy that she shouldn't be sassy or she will get in trouble.. I think we tell Sam that a lot. I felt so bad that she told her Daycare provider not to be sassy. 3 year olds... She is a 10 year old stuck in a 3 year old body. She has been a good helper--getting burp clothes and diapers when I need them. This morning she helped me bath Alaina and she tries to talk to her when she fusses..for about 2 seconds : ) Sammy also helps us make her food now (which can be interesting) and she can get in and out of her booster at the kitchen table by herself.

I braided Sam's hair the other night after bath because she gets so hot when she sleeps--she wanted braids for days after that. Any was calling her pippy long stocking...

Alaina is growing up. She is finally growing out of her newborn and preemie clothes. She is up to about 8 lbs 9 ozs. I guess most people have big babies these days cause the 0-3 clothes were/are so big. We finally switched to size 1 diapers last week--they are a little big. I heard someone say once that "you should only need 1 box o size newborn diapers". Hah--we used three cases (92 each case) and four 40 packs of newborn size diapers in 5 weeks. And we only have had one poop blowout. She did poop on me while I was changing her on Friday. Alaina is much more of a puker than Sam was. Andy calls her the fluid baby. She pees poops and pukes way more than we remember with Sam. But we know that means all is working well. She now stays awake for about an hour or 2 after she eats and looks around a ton. I am learning to nurse on the go literally. Sometimes I have to get things for Sam and Alaina just comes too--attached. : )
She coos and "talks" and smiles a little. She loves her swing and watching the fish swim over her. I think I am spoiling her already--she fights sleep and likes to be bounced. She knows when I am leaning down over her crib to put her down and can go from sleeping to instant screaming in a split second. Alaina has a little bit of colic the doctor says, which would explain the endless screaming at times. She is very gassy. I have been trying not to eat bad things??? She has actually slept from about 9:30 or 10 till 4 am the last 2 nights which is awesome! I need to learn to go to bed when she does though. I am still trying to get things done after they are both asleep. Now I understand how and why my sister would scrapbook in the middle of the night... We also had been fighting a bad bought of baby acne, but I think we have it pretty under control thank goodness. And we had her jaundice tested again and it is going down every week and is back in normal ranges!

Alaina's first ponytail! (7/8/08)

Alaina and her long arms! Pretty in blue.

I had my 6 week check up last Monday and my doctor said everything looks okay. I asked if I could start exercising and she said to ease into it. I have been having some pains in my side still but she actually thinks its more to do with my digestive tract?? I have to get motivated--I am starting Weight Watchers again this week.... I lost all the baby weight in less than 3 weeks but things are not in the right place still and I need to get rid of some of the weight I had gained while we were trying to get pregnant...I just haven't figured out how to fit in working out or watching what I am eating on the run...

Baby Knuckles has arrived!--UPDATED 7/22

Congratulations to Becky and Cort!
Baby Knuckles now has a name!
Cole Anthony was born this morning! 8 lbs. 10 oz. 20 in.

Becky went into labor on her own so there was no more waiting for blood to arrive from all over the country... Hopefully it won't be needed.
Becky we are still praying for you and hope you won't need a blood transfusion this time!
Everyone seems to be doing well.
Congrats again to Cort Becky and Big Sister Mia.

Here is a picture of Becky about a week before Cole came reading "A Special Something" to Mia and Sammy.

We met baby Cole today and he was absolutely adoreable and Cort can not deny him. He looks just like him.

Race weekend--UPDATED

I actually got to go to the first night race at Chicagoland Speedway!!!! I got my cousin Kelly and my parents to watch both girls on Saturday so I could go. It was an adventure but fun to get my Nascar fix for the year. The fly by was awesome and the sunset was beautiful!

Kelly said watching the girls went well. My parents had to come over for a while till Kelly could get there. Alaina was in one of her colicky modes for the early evening so she screamed a lot for my Mom but Kelly is the baby whisperer and got her to calm down no problem. Kelly used to run a home daycare when at times her and her assistant would have up to 12 kids.... Alaina actually took the pacifier for Kelly too. Taking a bottle was no problem either! Kelly brought 2 of her 4 kids with so Sammy had Charlotte (age 4) to play with and Kelly is still nursing her 5 month old so Garrett came too! It was fun to have a sleep over again with my cousin too. But strange when in the middle of the night we are both getting up to feed our babies.. How times have changed.

IDT BBQ

For those of you that are not Hawkeyes--IDT is the Iowa Dance Team.

We have an annual BBQ and this year Misty hosted and required hawkeye gear. I knew I had something for Sammy but the onesies and shirts I had were all too big for Alaina so of course Grandma came to the rescue and made Alaina a Hawkeye jumper! (in less than and hour on Saturday morning)

I do have to laugh that the only pictures that I have are of the kids not us dancers... It was great to see you Misty, Linds, and Nicole. I missed the rest of you that are usually there!!!

Nicole Misty and I all have girls.

Isabella, Samantha, Alaina, and Giada.

Tony is Nicole's husband and he was a Wisconsin Cheerleader. He and Andy were stunting with the girls.