Miss Mia...

Oh dear, sweet, little Miss Mia...don't worry, we certainly haven't forgotten about you.  My mom reminded me a while back not to forget to document all of the changes, milestones, etc that Mia is going through in the midst of doing my monthly posts regarding Jack.  So I figured I had better shape up and spend some time bragging, complaining and blogging about the spunky spitfire that is Mia...

How old is Mia?...just ask her :)  She will quickly let everyone know that she is two and a half, that she is a "big girl" and that she wears undies...she will then likely ask you about your undies too.  The other day, she asked if my undies were her undies and if daddy wore undies too.  Potty and underwear talk is a fairly common topic of conversation lately.  I am proud to say that Mia has been potty trained for over a month including overnight. She HAS had accidents sprinkled through the past month and a half but she has done really really well in my opinion.  We don't put her in pull ups at all anymore, we limit her liquid intake at night and make it a point to encourage her to use the bathroom as much as she can.  I have noticed that she is getting better and better with telling us ahead of time that she has to go poop or pee, rather than us always being the initiators of a bathroom break.  Yay Mia!!!!  We are proud, she is proud and now we just hope we can maintain the success and have as few accidents as possible.

Mia's first time eating Bugles chips...she enjoy making her "claws"

Mia getting her second "real" hair cut, she LOVED the blue lolly pop

Mia has really been thinking out loud for a while now and as cute as I thought it would be...it really is exhausting.  She asks about everything, which I don't really mind...it's HOW she asks it.  She will always ask where something goes, where so-and-so's house is, if she can go there or if she can see it and she is SUPER in to knowing everyone's name and who their daddy is, who their mommy is and naming every freaking member of their family.  So needless to say, her questions don't stop with the simple "what is that?"  She's not super in to the "why" of everything but does tend to want clarification of many things.  She in to counting a lot, ABC's, names, opposites, using adjectives, and pointing out when things match (two big ones, two little ones, we both are wearing polka dots, this and that are both yellow, etc.).  I wish I had all of her little ideas and questions on tape...some day.

Smelling the tulips at Minnehaha Falls

Although Mia makes me laugh on a daily basis, she also makes me count down the seconds to when I can put her down for bed and get a break from her.  She is typical toddler naughty and attitude, but people have been telling me "it's a stage" and "it won't last long" for a few months now.  Maybe 3 is the magic number and maybe I'm just extra annoyed since she was such a good baby.  I think my annoyance and frustration with Mia is more about me not wanting to believe MY daughter would not want to share, be nice or eat all of the food I worked so hard to prepare...and MY daughter would never hit, kick, take from or push any of her friends.  But, they do...no matter who your mom or dad is.   I think it is sometimes difficult for Mia because we tend to host a lot of the gatherings for our groups of friends and so therefore, she is usually the one expected to share all of her stuff, her space, etc. She obviously has to get over that and learn to deal but I think I may do more prep discussions with her and maybe talk more about it with her ahead of time. I may actually have her choose a few coveted toys that she can hide or keep in a "special spot" for the day that no one will play with (including her) so she knows they are safe...with the expectation that everything is fair game and she must share....any other ideas? I just noticed the difference the other day how patient and polite she was to ask for the toys of other kids and taking turns when it isnt her house and aren't her things.  Eh, whatever...they can duke it out as long as no one gets hurt I guess.

Busted out the pool last week...we have had a wonderful start to spring with unseasonably warm weather...March in particular :)

Mia is super in to being a "big kid" lately and acting like an adult...a mommy to be exact.  I have caught her "nursing" her babies, changing their diapers, pumping, wiping the floor, cleaning up, requesting lipstick and nail polish, etc.  She keeps telling me things about her babies and apparently she now has a granddaughter too (an Elmo doll at a friend's house).  Here are a few Mother's Day dinner pics in her "pretty girl" dress, red nail polish, hair clip and fancy necklace...she loved every second. :)

Helping G with dinner by buttering the bread

Sitting with the adults waiting for her wine

twirling in her dress on a gorgeous day

taking a Sunday drive with uncle Erik

Mia also is starting to sing more and more. She knows so many songs that I had no idea she knew.  She picks a lot up at day care and from her various grandmas too (and Im sure some from Dora).  She requests songs at bedtime and will correct me if I mess up the words; however, she also likes in invent her own words or phrases in songs.  For example, she thought it was the funniest thing to change the words to Old McDonald and she said "and on his farm he had some pants/undies/socks/shoes"...but then she got stuck when it came to the sounds those items would make :)  Since I had Jack, it was important for me to have "Mia time" as well.  So I decided to sign us up for our third session of Music Together classes.  We are just wrapping up week 8 out of 10 and we have had a blast.  She loves music class, loves the teacher and loves dancing around.  I love seeing her in a social setting apart from her friends she sees all the time or has known for so long.  In those settings, she of course can be naughty, bossy, possessive of her things, etc (typical toddler girl sass); however, in music class, she is so polite, shares, and picks up SOOOO well....she even sometimes snuggles in my lap during the lullaby song.  It's been nice having that hour a week just the two of us...two more weeks left and then I'll have to find something else...maybe dance class or swimming or even grabbing a coffee and smoothie at Caribou on the weekends.

playing at Snail Lake and park on a recent warm weather day

MJ playing Mommy, Mia playing Baby

Oh baby Mia...you aren't my little baby anymore. I never thought you'd grow up, walk, talk or butter your own bread and now that you have done all of these things I can't wait to see what is next.  I know I've had a successful day when I have gotten my hugs, kisses and I love yous and when I've had a good laugh from something you just did or told me...thank you for those moments each day.

Jack: 3 Months

Month of Milestones 

Jigga what?  Is it May already!?  This past month went by WAYYYYY too fast..I almost forgot to get a post prepared.  There have been so many changes this week with Jack and within our family that I feel it most appropriate to discuss them in terms of what I am going to call "milestones".

Milestone #1 and #2=Jack's first Easter and first overnight outside of our home.  

Rockin the new shades and bunny bib Jack got from my aunt

We had a very nice Easter weekend that started with a somewhat impromptu trip to Nate's cabin in Osceola to be with some of his family.  The ONLY way I even considered staying over night was because I knew it would be a very small crowd and I knew our family of four would have a place to sleep.  I wanted to be sure to have a spot for Jack to sleep as well as for Mia so we would not wake up everyone else with out night time feedings and early risings of a toddler.  We ended up staying two nights and just relaxed, chilled, watched tv, cooked amazing food and visited...but I was pooped by the end because we didnt really get any good sleep :(

Jack's first campfire in Osceola, all snuggled up with grandma G

For "actual" Easter, we headed to my parent's house for apps, dinner, an egg hunt and dessert with our close family friends.  It was super fun, the kids loved it and we FINALLY got some pictures of our family of four.  The pics kind of suck and Nate chose not to take any time to make them look much better...but at least we have SOMETHING :)

Jack with Nana Kathy at Easter

family of four pics...it's the best we can do right now 

so you'll have to deal with the shadows and bright lights :)

Milestone #3=Jack's first bloodshed.  Oh my poor little peanut.  I stand by my statement that Mia truly does love her baby brother and wants to be around him a lot; however, come bedtime...she can turn in to another creature and become careless.  Mia was very excited about a kids magazine she got in the mail and was waving it around Jack before bed.  She tested her boundaries a bit too close and whacked him on the face with her magazine...right below his right eye.  I was shocked to find that a few second later, he was bleeding!  She had given him a big paper cut kind of thing and he was NOT happy about...neither were we.  He was all smiles and just fine soon after, but we really tried to get it in to Mia's head that she must be gentle around babies...or anyone for that matter.  You can slightly see his ouchie in the below pic.  Mia kept asking if he was all better and if he had blood still. :)

LOVE this bear outfit for outside strolls!

Here is a pic to "prove" Mia just loves her bro...she calls him "Jack-a-butt"

and insists that he snuggles with her in bed some days

Milestone #4=Jack's first solid night of sleep without waking up.  Jack has improved DRAMATICALLY in the overnight sleep department this past month.  The majority of nights, Jack only wakes up one time...and if he doesn't wake up one time...wait for it....he sleeps the whole night!  His first REAL long stretch was at the cabin in Osceola and I was starting to freak out since he wasn't waking up.  Since then (around Easter), he has pretty much slept one nice long stretch at night, wakes up once to nurse and then back to bed until usually 7am...which is the earliest acceptable time for him to wake up for the day...otherwise, back to bed for him :)  I believe the first night he slept 9pm-7am non-stop and the second time was 8:00pm-7:30am...I just about died.  Both of those nights I did wake up to pump once, but I was so pleased that he slept straight through that it didn't matter.  I really can not recall the last time he has woken up more than once to eat in the middle of the night. He does sometimes require a few minor adjustment like putting his Nuk back in or being moved to his bouncy seat for the vibration; but those only take about 20 seconds to do and are more annoying than time consuming.  His naps are getting better too, especially his afternoon one.  It is my mission on the weekends to get a nap for myself so I make sure I do whatever I can to sync the naps of my kids...so far, it has worked amazingly well and they have been pretty cooperative.

winking at me as he flirts :)

bundled up for a mid-day stroll...the weather has been very unpredictable this month

Milestone #5=My first day back at work after a 12 week maternity leave.  I was NOT expecting to be sad at all going back to work and I had actually been looking forward to it for a few weeks.  I felt ready to go back, ready to get back to my career and ready for adult conversations every day.  I was not ready to feel the push and pull of "leaving Jack" with others to be cared for, while also wanting to snuggle his face all day long.  Thankfully, our family has a very nice set up until early June which includes Jack being home with me one day, home with my parents 2 days and at an in home day care the last two days of the work week.  This is a nice way to ease everyone through the transition and allow me to adjust to a normal life again...whatever that means :)  I enjoy being back at work, but it was a lot harder to leave him than I thought it was.  I kind of hit the ground running with going back to work...I have been pretty busy and have LOTS of paperwork piling up.  I like being busy, but I dont like feeling overwhelmed so I am hoping that the initial stress of being back will subside soon and I will get back on my game.  This section is particularly short because I didn't have time to blog at work and I have to be back at work tomorrow morning at 7:45am and it is after 9pm right now...gotta get this done quick!

Could this little boy BE any cuter!?

Typical activity after work, Mia "getting home from work"
where she says she makes apple sauce and orange juice

Jack working on his neck :)

Mia taking her role as big sister VERY seriously

Milestone #6=Jack's first days of "real" day care (away from family).  Holy hell were those emotional days!  My friend said it best when she told me that I had forgotten that I was basically a "new" daycare mom...she was right.  For the first year, Mia was exclusively watched by me or her grandparents.  Even between one and two years old, she only went to traditional day care 2 days a week; so I am pretty much a new day care mom and that hit me hard last week.  Bottom line is that they LOVE Jack at day care and think he was a wonderful baby (they have only had him two days so far) and wondered if "he was always this perfect?"  That made me feel glorious and proud; but early on in the first day, I was an wreck and got very upset about my first "check in" phone call to the provider.  Long story short is that I am very sensitive about my milk supply and I want to do my best (within reason) to make enough milk for Jack on my own.  I felt that the provider was way too quick to feed him too much of my milk and didn't seem to think it was a big deal at all to feed a barely 3 month old 6oz in one sitting when I ABSOLUTELY was not making that much at all in one pump or nursing session.  But what bothered me most was how she told me about his morning and how she communicated her perceptions and observations as if she had known him for years.  I felt like a horrible mom who didn't know her son; I know that was all my fault and not her intention at all.  I've done this before, Im no parent rookie and I also have bene managing very well nursing and pumping for 3 months...dont tell ME what my kids needs and wants :)...let me figure it out on my own and then you can sit back and give yourself props for knowing all along...silently :)  I had some venting time with friends and felt WAY better after just getting a bunch of stuff off my chest.  I have some friends who do a great job of being on "my side" and validating me, and I have other friends who put me in check and call me out on my shit...it was nice to get both.  All in all, the first two days at day care were great for Jack, I am SO happy they like him and will keep him and are already teaching him...it's just hard to share him and watch someone else raise your kids sometimes....sniff sniff.

Aren't these pics to die for?  I could look at these pictures over and over and over again...and probably will :)  He is just the cutest, happiest, most lovable baby (at least that is how I feel at this moment, hehe).  Jack has had a lot of activity, outings, visits and milestone events this month, I can't wait to see what the next few months have in store for us.  Up next: May....my birthday, mothers day and our first overnight away from Jack for a friend's wedding, yikes!