Beautiful Girls!

They are both fast movers, so it is hard to get pictures, but here they are!  They LOVE being together and are lots of fun and full of energy!

Random June 2012

I know it has been a while since we posted, but between one thing and another, life got a bit busy.  So, I am going to try to get caught up with things pretty quickly, which should be interesting with a 6 month old on my lap doing her best impersonation of an octopus......So, here goes: 

Here are some other random things from June 2012, just so I can remember some of our random fun:

My big girl with her tree building toy from Grandma Sue and Papa. 

Trying her first hamburger from McD's (I know, not a great milestone, but something to remember nonetheless).

Sidewalk Chalk Fun.....outside....something that is rare these days!

A quilt I am working on.  I am finally using my favorite flannels from my stash, to make a blanket for new friend and me to snuggle with while waiting for big sister to get out of school when fall arrives.....Sometimes it helps to have something to look forward to, and I have loved these flannels for YEARS and have been saving them.....and have finally decided they need to be used, so I can love them more, and not just store them and wonder when they'll be useful.  This feels good (even if it is taking me a long time to finish a small project at this point), because this project is about hope!

This is the dinosaur egg from Aunt Tifiny and Uncle Adam, which hatched in the water.  She LOVES dinosaurs!

Painted Fingers and toes...always an adventure!

Story time and resting time with Daddy!

And some of her recent masterpieces:

The Silent E from the Leapfrog movies - notice the x over the mouth, so it is silent...

a tomato plant

and a Zigongosaurus, which likes to come play at our house.

 Fun times this month!

Working in the Yard with Daddy June 2012

My girl loves to help her Daddy.  They decided to plant some potatoes in some tires for the summer.  So, Logan and our girl went out with their wheel barrows and some dirt and got to work....while I got to sit on the porch swing for a few minutes in the rare sunshine.  

What a helper! And at the end, she brought me a flower!  Oh how sweet!

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery June 2012

My girl is a source of joy and happiness everyday.  As I struggle with the challenges that seem to have arisen with this special new adventure in our lives, my big girl is a wonderful cheerleader.  She LOVES the idea of a sister.  She wants to help get everything ready, and to pick the toys and clothes to share with her sister.  She finds it a bit tricky to be patient, and prays to give thanks for our baby who is coming "soon" every chance she gets.  It has been a challenge to be so limited physically, since we are both used to doing lots of fun activities together.  As we've been experiencing so much nausea and other physically limiting symptoms, my girl has been understanding, and willing to play games or read stories as I lay down on the couch.  She loves to help me move my pieces, or draw my card, or spin the spinner.  We have learned that some games like Candy Land can be played while Mama is laying down on the couch, and that Clifford Uno and Elmo Phase 10 are great card games while Mama can sit up or lay down.  She has also taken to wearing a ball under her shirt, and telling me all about her baby and how she is going to take care of her.  

What a doll!  She helps me move past the guilt of not being so active or taking her outside for adventures very much.  It makes me feel good having such a great girl as my helper everyday! She sings to sister, reads to her, and is so excited to meet her! I felt the baby move a couple weeks before the ultrasound where when found out her gender, and Logan felt her move right around the time of that appointment.  Our big girl has been excited to feel the baby kick, and never gets tired of feeling her wiggling around.  She wants to know if it is a hand or foot or head, and she loves to talk to sister and sing to her, and then to feel if she is moving.  When she moves as Elise talks with her, Elise gets very excited and proclaims that, "the baby loves me, and is happy to hear me!"  She knows her sister loves her and is already practicing being a great sister.  I love having a big girl to share this with, (and with Logan as well).  There is just something magical about seeing this adventure through the eyes of my grown up girl, as each new development happens, and we get to talk about the miracle that a human body is, and how the baby is growing, and how it was when she was inside my tummy, and how we got ready for her to join our family.  It is really special and such a blessing to be sharing this all together as our little family!  Logan and Elise have agreed on a name, and I want to try out some other options, just to make sure we picked the right one for our girl...but as I try different ones out, Logan gives me his gut reaction to them, and some are hilarious!  And we come to realize, we have got the right name for this new one when she gets here!  I am working hard on enjoying this experience.  I feel this may be my last chance to have this kind of experience, and I want to savor each moment, and remember what a miracle it really is.  I find each day is easier as I try to be grateful for the challenges, since it means things are progressing and little one is healthy......but it is a challenge and I am grateful for my cheerleaders, including Logan, my big girl, and my mom and other family from a distance!

Another Car June 2012

With all the new things that will be happening this fall, including a new friend, and our big girl starting school (which means we will have to be driving outside everyday, rather than hibernating all winter), our special thoughtful man decided we needed a vehicle with a bit more space in the back seat, and with four wheel drive.  He found this little buddy to go on this new adventure with our family: 

I am so grateful for a wonderful husband who makes sure I am taken care of so we can take care of our girls and be safe doing what needs to be done - and he only laughed a small bit when I expressed the concern of being camouflaged in the snow.  I love this car!  It is a Vibe, and is a wonderful car!

Logan Birthday June 2012

Logan's Birthday last June was so fun.  My big girl wanted to surprise Daddy with some special things including: streamers, balloons and flowers, and a special new friend.  She also helped me make a measuring tape that said, "You rock Daddy!" which she did all the writing for herself (with a bit of help).  We made him a hug poster, just like we do every year.  It is fun to see how much she has grown, and I love to see her best guess spelling and practice writing things, and trying to interpret them afterwards!  We sure love our favorite boy!

 

And the Results....

My girl has been practicing a new version of one of our favorite songs, to sing for our new friend:

 

(the volume is a bit low, and the pictures I'm holding may be hard to see.  One is Logan, me, and our girl, and the top one is our ultrasound picture.  And at the end of the video, my girl says, "toot," because some of her favorite dinosaurs make music by hooting and tooting with their crests...so she is adding to the music!)