So deserving.

I read this today and thought of my girls and the struggles that we all go through every day. We all deserve the very best in life. We should never settle and we should always love and live to the fullest. Remember the words that follow, my girls, because one day you may doubt it, but you should always come back to remember that you DO deserve all wonderful things. From my healing heart to yours... You deserve better. You know you do, don’t you? You deserve better than you’re allowing yourself. You deserve clothes that don’t just “fit right” but hug every inch of your body with adoration and loves your shape and makes you feel confident and wonderful. You deserve to not just go after your dreams, but SPRINT after them with passion and inspiration. You deserve to soar. You deserve to feel great no matter what your circumstances are. You deserve to feel great all. the. damn. time. And you deserve to make the CHOICE to feel great. You deserve to pursue your passions and live a life doing what makes your heart dance. You deserve to dance however you want to, regardless of what anyone else thinks. You deserve to forget what anyone else thinks about you at any time and just DO IT. You deserve to wake up and feel gratitude and excitement for the new day you’ve been blessed with. You deserve to take at least FIVE minutes to yourself every day to just relax. Sit. Do nothing. Breathe. Live. Be. You deserve to realize your own unique perfection. You deserve to eat and savor food that makes your mouth and tastebuds and heart and stomach and body sing with pleasure and energy. You deserve a GREAT night’s sleep, EVERY night. You deserve the very best people in your life who love you for who you are and want you to be the very best YOU. You deserve to give yourself a break once in a while. Or all the time. You deserve to play, sing, laugh, run around and throw leaves at your friends, go down slides and sit on the swings without restraint or thought. You deserve to be honest about yourself. You deserve to express yourself exactly how you want to express yourself. You deserve to forgive yourself. You deserve to let it go. You deserve to love your body, celebrate the amazing wonder of every single cell and limb, revel in the fact that it works however it works. You deserve to embrace yourself and tell yourself how much you love YOU. You deserve to throw out your scale and start realizing your real beauty. You deserve to love what you have and have what you love. You deserve to realize that life doesn’t start tomorrow and it didn’t start yesterday but it is HERE and only HERE, NOW. You deserve to live in the moment and love THIS. VERY. PRESENT. You deserve to give yourself the most love, trust, respect, and honor… from yourself. You deserve to smile for no reason. You deserve to be good to yourself. No, you deserve better; You deserve to be WONDERFUL to yourself. You deserve to treat yourself with infinite, unconditional compassion and kindness. You deserve to take yourself out on a date. You deserve to live a bigger life. Even bigger than the one you’re dreaming of. You deserve the very best, in this moment, right now. So go get ‘em, tiger. And refuse to settle for anything less. Ever.

Natalie's First Time at the Dentist

Well....I'd like to report that it was a big success....which is what I THOUGHT was going to be the case originally, but it wasn't so great. :( She was all excited after reading a Dora dentist story, and cool when we got there, but as soon as she had to lay down under that big round light she FREAKED OUT! I shouldn't say it was terrible, because all she did was cry out of fear. The dental assistant was SO great with her. She got to sit up while I held her and get her teeth brushed and flossed. She whimpered the entire time, but did talk about her favorite toys and what she would pick out of the prize jar. He even brushed her Rudolph doll's teeth. The exam by the dentist was interesting considering I had to hold her bottom half on my lap while the doctor held her head in her lap...yea. So they took x-rays which Natalie was better out but didn't like holding the film in her mouth! man. So it turns out that the tooth she fell on a few weeks ago is receding. The root itself is letting go so she will most likely lose it early and be a jack-o-lantern for a while. :( I hope she doesn't lose it too soon. As a child who lost her permanent tooth at age 11, and had to have a big fat replacement...I know how awful it can be to be "different" for a while. :( Anyway...she's super young and I should be happy that it's only a baby tooth, right?

So anyway, we were all done and on our way out the door when Natalie yells....."I want to be a DENTIST!!" pfff....nice. After ALL that crying and sweating...she was loving it. Really? Kids are hilarious. I love you my sweet! I wish that it hadn't been so scary for you, but you made it through! NO CAVITIES!! :) XO Mom

Sing in the morning

Little Hayden woke up singing. Sang while I changed her diaper and got her dressed and proceeded to keep on singing all the way downstairs! "MA....ma..maaaaaaaaaaaaa....MA....ma..maaaaaaaaaaaaa" SO sweet. :) As soon as she sees any of us she points and says "Hiiiiiiiiiii" or "haaaaaaaaa" and waves. She saw Daddy in the kitchen as we came downstairs, pointed at him and was yelling HIIIIIIII and waved. SO cute. :) Hayden is starting to copy us as we eat and when she has something she thinks is yummy she tells us! "mmmmmm" and rubs her tummy! WHAT?? SO adorable. She's changed so much in the last few weeks. She's still a little wicked but also so incredibly sweet. Miss Natalie is going to the dentist on Monday and I'm a little nervous. It will be her first time. I decided to make the appointment because I want the dentist to look at that tooth that she fell on. It's still bruised and it worries me, but I am hoping that it's all apart of the healing process. I've been talking it up like it's no big deal, going to the dentist, so lets hope it isn't a big deal for Natalie! :| Yesterday we made hearts and Hayden was so proud to have her own! Natalie colored it for her and Hayden enjoyed every minute of her first project. :) I wish there were more crafty things they could do together but because of the age difference it's hard to come up with anything. We are working on it though! Thinking about Hayden's first birthday party theme. Party planning takes the sting out of the fact that this year has flown by so fast and my girl is that much closer to not being a baby anymore. :( Both of you are so independent but you both still need me. :) I love the hugs, even if they spill drinks, crush my lungs, or cause head collisions. They are all very special to me....so keep 'em coming! Love you girls...to Venus and back. ;) XO Mom

Four hours of thunderstorm activity=exhaustion

Not because of my daughters....they slept through every bit of the crazy line of thunderstorms that came roaring through our 'hood last night/this morning. MY DOGS!!! UUUUGH! Eric and I were contemplating on where we could put them so we could get some sleep! We cleaned up a few accidents and had to deal with the constant nervous panting. OMG....we are completely exhausted. What is just so shocking to me is that neither one of my girls cried out one time!

My little brave girls! Natalie, you said you covered your ears when you heard the thunder. Even though I've told you before that if you are scared, grab your buzz lightyear flash light and come to mommy and daddy's room....but you stuck it out...AGAIN! :) SO proud of you. And Miss Hayden, you woke up later than usual, but happy and never flinched at the thunder that continued to clap loudly. I was such a scaredy cat when I was little but somehow I produced two little brave soldiers. Awesome. :)

I love you both!!

XO,
Mom

Shoes

I went searching Hayden's closet for something and found a box of Natalie's shoes that I had set aside for lil sis. Leave it to me to forget about it! Anyway, there were several pairs of baby shoes in there, size 3 and under. I brought down 1s and 3s...neither fit. The 3s were HUGE on Hayden. So I went back up and searched for 2s and only found one pair. Some ballerina types with pink ribbon ties and little beaded sole bottoms for traction. I tried them on her and she said, "wooooooooooooow" in her language. :) Mouth open and long sigh. They fit her perfectly so she wore them while cruising in her walker. She was so happy, going fast, fast, fast. I tried to get a picture but she just kept zooming by. :) Hopefully will get some decent pics today.

Yay! Another daughter who loves shoes!! Wonder where they get that from?? :)

Hayden is standing...no support!

Yesterday Hayden got fancy with her standing! She stood with her chubby little legs straight and at attention. She was so proud of herself for not needing to hold onto anything. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if to say "awww shucks." :) LOVED IT. This girl was a wild child yesterday! Short nap and she was ready to play ALL DAY LONG. I really think she could've stayed up later than her bed time, at the rate she was going. But as soon as I gave her a bath, her body became "limp" with relaxation and she was sleepy. :) Today she's been trying her new standing skills any chance she gets. I just can't believe her new stage of independence.

Hayden learns so fast, just like her sister. She knows several animal sounds and some sign language. A few that she uses a lot are "hi" and "bye bye" and "all done." She uses the "all done" when she's finished eating....and doesn't want anymore. Mastering the sippy cup is a new one for her, but she's getting it down. Big sis and I played "roll the ball" with her and she absolutely loved it and was just so proud of herself for getting the ball to us. :)

I looked at my little Hayden, while she played with Natalie and it hit me that she looks like such a big girl all of a sudden. I canNOT believe she is going to be ONE soon! My little baby, it was just yesterday you were drop kicking me from the inside. ;) Now you are my wicked little monkey on the outside! :) LOVE YOU!!!

XO,
Mom

Moderation is Key.

The attack on sweet, Paula Dean is pretty ridiculous. I think people are just feeling guilty about their own hang-ups and bad choices. I've used several of her recipes and have taken out half the butter/fat to adjust to my lifestyle, so why can't other people get that??? It's pretty ridiculous. Being smart about food is being conscience of what is in the choice you are about to make and how it will make you feel after you eat it. I have had many dumb moments in my life, and not caring or trying not to think about it in the heat of the moment gets me in trouble. Coming to terms with that realization is a huge win for me. Of course people, including myself, are going to have cake, or ice cream, or some other indulgence during their lifetime, but moderation is the key. No one is perfect, least of all me! I don't feed my kids bean sprouts, or tofu, but I do make an effort to incorporate healthier ingredients into some of their favorites. Homemade pizza pockets made with whole wheat flour and low fat cheese....guess what? It's Natalie's favorite! If it tastes good, kids don't know it's low fat. SCORE! :) We make cookies and muffins together, but they are all better choices for my kiddos...and that makes me happy.

I figure learning moderation has to start at home. For me it's an ongoing struggle, but I know what I need to do and what I shouldn't do. I hope my girls learn that lesson as they grow.

My reasons for this blog entry is for my girls to know that I care SO much about their health and well being. As I've said before and will continue to say for the rest of my life, I am NOT perfect...but trying is perfection in my book. :)

I love you girls...I love cooking yummy and healthy foods to nourish your bodies and make you smile. :)

I do what I do for you.
XO,
Mom

wow...

Still thinking about last night's events. Natalie running around like crazy and Hayden's bizarre fit over not being able to figure out a toy. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Hayden got a hold of Natalie's toy video camera and she was trying to flip the screen all the way over and couldn't figure it out. She was banging it on the chair and crying...just having a fit cause she just couldn't do it! I was like, WTH is going on???? My sweet girl was having her first fit. :( yuck. She loves all things that belong to her sister and could care less about any of her toys. Sometimes there's a battle, but Natalie is getting better at playing with her little sis.

Yesterday was the first day I came in to get Hayden from her nap that she was actually standing up in her crib waiting for me. It would've been cute if we hadn't scared each other. I heard her whining so I opened the door and she turned and looked at me and screamed loudly! We both jumped! haha...it was funny. So now that's she figured it out, she was standing up this morning too. :)

I hope that we all have a better day today girls...Mommy was tired yesterday! I'm still full of love for you both, no matter what!!

XO,
Mom

"I got the moooooves in my jacket...got the moves in my jacket"

I love kids' take on music lyrics. :) Natalie likes the song "moves like jagger" but she dances around singing "moves in my jacket" ...hee hee. :) She also LOVES Adele's music. Constantly asking us to play it. VERY sophisticated. ;) Hayden loves all music, she will pop her knee to everything from the goofy music on Nick Jr. to heavy metal! She still loves to sing and I will catch her humming along to pretty much anything.

Listening is a challenge for Miss Natalie but she is working on it. I think she's just trying to find her voice. Hayden's got a voice and her own rules. Trying to get her to stop slam dunking her milk bottle, is proving to be challenging to say the least. :( I've found that she can't be around cardboard of any kind because she can tear a piece off in the blink of an eye and use it as chewing gum. WHAT?! I've fished it out of her mouth twice and that was enough to ban her from all things PAPER!

We sat at the table for breakfast this morning. It was kind of peaceful as I drank my coffee and they ate their banana muffins. I always feel so warm when I see them enjoying a healthy goody that I make for them. I pride myself on filling them with wholesome home made foods, and very little processed. Natalie is getting to the age where she can help me make some of them too so I'm excited to have her as my sous chef soon!

I love you, my girls...lets make today a good one!! :)
XO
Mom

Movie Morning!

Today is a special edition "Movie Morning!" Sounded like a good idea since I have 600 loads of laundry to do. :( sadness. Why is it that I can wash the contents of the girls' hamper and it's almost completely filled up again after 2 days???? Imagine when they really care about what they wear, what THAT'S going to look like. It will surely quadruple in size!

Anyway, the girls are enjoying Wall-E, well Natalie is...Hayden is using her time to explore and see if she can destroy her sister's toys. Luckily, her first attempt today to try to get me to do some "policing" for her has failed. I ignored her cries and she went on to do something else that didn't involve ticking off her sister. Aside from that, she's been a little bit nutty today. I made some "good for you" banana muffins this morning, and was picking off pieces for Hayden, and she just kept shooing my hand away so she could hold the whole muffin! Um...NO. That thing would've been crammed in her mouth in 5 seconds flat. So I took her to the high chair where she acts a lot more civilized. :)

Here are the girls on MOVIE MORNING!! :)

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaay-beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

I think we determined that "baby" is Hayden's first word, besides "mama" and "dada." She says "baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay-beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" It's SO cute...I can barely stand it. The cool thing is that we taught her that her dolls are "baby" and so every time she sees any baby doll or little girl doll she says, "baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay-beeeeee." Come ON! I love it. :)
She's also learned a little game called "get my sister in trouble." ALREADY!?? If Nat isn't giving her something she wants or is smothering her with hugs, she looks over at me and whines until I make it stop. WTH?!! I realized it after the third time, so she will likely not get too many more reactions from me. I don't like it when they start learning the art of "hustlin." Not cool.

Today Hayden tried boiled egg yolk and avocado, separately aaaaaaaand.....LOVED both! SO awesome for me to have an eater in the house who likes the same stuff that I do. The hubs LOATHES both of those "vile and furry" textures. haha...and Natalie is just like him. pfff...so I'm excited about Hayden's pure pallet! :)

You girlies are down for your naps so your mommy has to get her rear in gear before the time slips away from me!

Loves yous!

XO,
Mom

We did it!

We were able to turn the day around yesterday and have fun. Natalie "settled" for playing in the backyard. I brought Hayden out and put her in the high chair and gave her a snack while Natalie cruised the yard for "Rizards" :)She is my explorer. Loves just walking around and looking at everything around her. Hayden enjoyed watching her sister and the dogs play. I'm sure she can't wait to get out there with them!

Natalie is SO into drawing these days. She draws people (mostly our family). Everyone has large heads, happy faces, circle cheeks, arms, legs...but no bodies. There's some kind of deep meaning in that, but I will push that aside and chalk it up to a 3 year old learning how to draw. :) I'm so impressed by her skills so far. She can "draw" letters too. "Look Mommy, an H!" and then she wrote A and N...it's cool to watch her learning so many things. :) This morning when I went in to see if she was awake all I see is an opened book and two little hands grasping it...it was so cute. Again, what I wouldn't give for an eye camera.

I was thinking about how Natalie will take a favorite toy, or something that she just received, to her bed with her during nap time. Thinking, "wow, she must really like this stuff" and how funny it is. Then it hit me that when I was little I did the same thing! Even as I got a little older and got a new purse I would set it next to my bed so I could stare at it and dream of how lovely it was, not quite understanding that it was a budding obsession. haha...so funny how quirks are passed through blood. :)

Here's to all your cherished quirks, girls...they make you...YOU! :)

Love you!!
XO,
Mom

I hate disappointment.

I woke up this morning not feeling well, wishing I could "call in sick" and go back to sleep...but that's not an option in my line of work. :/ Natalie really wants to go to the swings and the park today and she's been so good and so helpful with her sister. UGH...I think that since moms have this super important job they should have a super human immunity. That way they would never get sick and have to disappoint their kids! If I feel even a little better, I'm going to force myself to go. OR, I will have to put my mind to work and think of a cool project to do so that she doesn't hate me too much.

Trying to figure out things to do is much harder with 2 kids....especially when they are close to 3 years difference in age. Oh well...it just forces me to be more creative than I already am...I'm up for the challenge!

Last night before bed, Natalie and I were "learning" ballet moves. She wants to learn a new one every day! Considering I only took ballet for 2 years, I am having to rack my brain! haha...I think she will like dance class and I can't wait to enroll her. She's a little worried about going to school saying she wants to "stay in my house." Yea, yea...point the finger all you want but my Natalie has no problems with being social. Every time we go anywhere there are kids, she is quick to go up to them and say her name and ask if they want to play. I think she will adjust perfectly. :)

Alrighty, girlie girls...let's think of something fun to do, to lift all of our spirits...

Daddy's Girls

The girls really wanted their daddy this morning. He had to go into work today so they were a little sad to see him go. It's not just my moments with the girls that I cherish, seeing his are just as special to me. My Eric...he's the patient one, the calm one, the teddy bear. I'm a little bit of those too, but I have to work at it...he's just naturally our "summer breeze." He's the greatest dad because he listens to the girls; interested in what they have been doing (he even talks to Hayden who only says three words right now.;) I hope that they always have this great relationship. It's an important foundation to be standing on as they get older.

Mommy is so proud of Daddy for the focus he gives to you and the heart in his chest that is so warm and beats only for his girls--including Mommy! ;)

We love you and work hard every day to strengthen and nurture your budding personalities.

XO,
Mom

Coffee...STAT

Mommy is tired! It rained last night with some pretty loud thunder so I stayed awake "waiting" for either one of your little crying voices to come through your monitors. I basically worried and stayed awake for nothing....my big girls weren't fazed in the slightest. Pffff....here I was scared and you weren't! I do like thunder storms, just not in the middle of the night because the dogs panic and I falsely worry about my girls. :) I asked Natalie if she woke up or heard anything last night, "No, mommy...why?" ha...wow. That thunder was loud....my case in point, Natalie has narcoleptic tendencies. ;) I had to beg myself to wake up this morning. Hayden woke up before Natalie as usual, so my day needed to begin whether I wanted it to or not.

This weekend exhausted me for some reason. I did some laundry and cleared out all of the clothes that Natalie has grown out of in the last year. I felt bad that they were all on the floor of her closet in a box. She needs a big girl closet and her own space to do with it what she wants. It's hard for me to see that she is growing up so fast. :(
I got Hayden a huge storage box and packed all the old clothes in there and put in her closet, which looks like a consignment store now! I NEED to have my girls' room cleaned, clutter free and organized. I can't seem to wrap my brain around doing that to my own room, but for them it's a must. Yea, it's a sickness, but I just feel like if they are all tidied up, they sleep better....although I know it probably doesn't make a difference. I guess doing all that makes ME sleep better. I told you, the sickness. :)

Anyway, it's raining and it's making tired....I gotta drink this jet fuel my hubby made me and hope I can find the energy to do my double workout today. Please oh please oh please....I need it.

Natalie and Hayden thank you for being so wonderfully you. It's the spoonful of sugar that I need every day. :)

I LOVE YOU!!
XO
Mom

Is clumsiness hereditary?

My pooooor Natalie!! She is always bumping into things or falling. I don't know how to prevent it...but I have a feeling it's hereditary. I'm good at finding a wall with my toe or my hip..yea..HIP. :( So she must get some of that from me. She fell on her knee while we were walking the cross walk, scraped her knee with a huge bruise. She was more worried about her doll, Rudolph than she was of herself! Then we get home and she is running around chasing Hayden in her walker...with her socks on. She slipped and fell hard on her face. I really thought she busted a tooth or her nose with all the blood. :( It was her gums that were bleeding and one particular tooth. We think it's all ok, but I was just panicked. Worried that her tooth would fall out, how that would be at the dentist....I just panicked so much that I almost passed out! But I kept it all inside while I calmly tried to get her to stop crying. Being a mom is SO hard. I wish that I didn't have to look into those big green eyes filled with so much pain...wanting her mommy to just take it all away. All I could do was look at her and hold her. I put on Toy Story 3vand made her mac-n-cheese and a side of applesauce...all her favorites. She said, after a while, "mom! I'm feeling better!" If I can't take it away, I sure as hell know how to side track the pain with some real love while it heals. :)

On a lighter note....the girls had so much fun at the swings today! It was Hayden's first time! At first she didn't want anything to do with it, but she saw her sister and I started pushing her and she was golden. :) She was kicking her legs and enjoying it so much.

UPDATE: Wrote this yesterday, so I'm happy to report that as of this morning, Natalie's gums are still black and blue but the swelling has gone down considerably and she says it feels a LOT better. And the tooth is just fine. THANK GOODNESS! :)

The Big Little Things

As I was cleaning the kitchen, washing bottles, giving the girls a bath and ready for bed I was thinking "I do a lot of stuff for people!" It's like mindless cause it becomes routine to care for the ones you love. I hardly even think about it anymore, it just happens....I land in bed and I have to collect my thoughts and try to remember what just happened! It all goes so fast every day. I think about how much time I wasted "relaxing" when I was a single. haha...well, "wasted" is harsh...maybe enjoyed is better. ;)

Since I was a child I had this unbelievable desire to take care of someone but being the youngest in my family, I never really had the opportunity to. As I got older, I seemed to always want to do that for the guys I dated, which they never really appreciated. When I met Eric I changed my thought process in order to not scare him away. But as soon as I fell in love with him, that desire came flooding back! Luckily for me, he didn't mind at all. :) I never thought that I would want to be a mom but being with someone who cared for me right back changed my mind. It's the best thing for someone like me. Through the crying and the whining....come the laughter and the love. Although mindless, it's never with less than all of my heart when I care for my beautiful family.

Girls, as you know, I'm not a perfect mother by any stretch....but I hope you know I've tried to be the best mommy to you that I could be. I hope that the little things that I do carry you through your lives with the knowing that they add up to one HUGE love for you both.

I LOVE YOU!!
XO
Mom

"This is how they do it in China"

Last night when I was helping Natalie brush her teeth, she said, "this is how they do it in China, mommy." She stepped off of her step and then stepped back on. Not sure what that meant...but ok. ;) Then she gave me a "jibberish" word and said that they say that in China. O...K. :) The quirkiness of a 3 year old is priceless.

I felt like yesterday was a "good mom" day. I haven't had too many of those lately, so I'm happy to have felt so great about the day I planned for my girls. First, we had a dance party but Natalie was a little jealous of her sister because I was dancing while holding Hayden and Natalie wanted me to be down on her level...so I tried to spread it out without getting attacked! After the party we painted, well Nat painted and Hayden had her snack and watched. Natalie is so great at painting! She's a budding artist.

After painting we went on a 30 minute walk through the neighborhood, and Natalie walked the whole way! I was so proud of her for keeping up. She had to have a "juice" break half way, but she did so great. I am making it my mission to give her a decent amount of exercise a few times every week and she really enjoys it! After our walk we went to the park and she ran around up and down the slide and even tried the monkey bars and pulled up on her own a couple of times! I was so proud cause she's not that adventurous of a child when it comes to that kind of play, which is perfectly fine...that's just not who she is. I think so much time outside yesterday might have been a bit much considering she woke up this morning with congestion and a sore throat. Boo. :( She is tucked in on the couch...my poor hunny bunny. Feel bad for Hayden cause she's like "ok, get down and play with me sister!"

Hayden had a bit of a grumpy day yesterday. I'm sure it's teething AGAIN cause she is so tired and not sure what she wants. Usually I can satisfy her with something, but she's just not having it. This morning she seems ok, we'll see how things go! I need to find a good moisturizer for her face....her nose seems to always have dry patches. :(

So Natalie, I hope that a mini dance party in a little while will cheer you up....oh and mommy's mini muffins might help too! :) I loves you and your lil sis too! :)

XO,
Mom

Hayden is 10 months old today!

I can't believe 10 months ago today Hayden came into this world. What a complete joy she is! So smart, so beautiful, so kind, so sweet, and yet soooo wicked. ;) What a boring world it would be without either one of my girls in it. Last night during their bath, Hayden was playing with a rubber ducky and leaned over to give it to me, and I said, "oh thank you for sharing with mama!" she did this little excited bow of the head and then reached up to get it back. We shared it a few more times and she squealed with joy, so happy to do so! :) Last night she shared her Mum-Mum cookie with me and this morning shared it with her sister, until her sister accidentally bit her finger. :( yikes...Hayden did NOT like that at all. Having been there before, I agree that having Natalie bite your finger is not cool.

Hayden responds so well to things we've taught her. She sings a little melody over and over while she's playing...it's so cute. She will copy a lot of our gestures. Hands on the head "OH NO" and clapping. This morning when she was sitting in her crib I turned on her mobile and said, "OH look!" with the "OH!" face. Hayden looked at the mobile then looked at me and did her best impression of the "OH!" face. SO cute. I wish that I had a camera implanted in my eye so I could take pics of every thing she and her sister do on a minute to minute basis. ;)

Trying to teach Natalie how to pick out her own clothes. Basically just going to get anything that is pants and anything that is a shirt...we'll work on matching later. She's having a hard time, so I think I need to move her clothes to a more accessible place. Her dresser is tall and kinda old (well it was her dad's when he was a little boy). SO, her bed has three large deep drawers that are filled with toys and blankets. I think I will purge some and move her play clothes to one of them. Aaaaaaaand this was a boring paragraph.

Natalie's daddy got her up today and I heard her say, "daddy, snuggle." SO cute! They are such pals and Hayden thinks her dad is pretty awesome too so that makes my heart soar!

The girls were a little bit crabby yesterday. Hoping that a dance party and some painting will bring them up out of there funk! Mommy took a hip hop class on the Boxee while they were sleeping yesterday and I could use a little more practice! But what a fun way to burn calories!

I love you little girlies soooo much and ready to have some fun today....hope you are too!
XO
Mom

I love making up songs!

So I got bored one night of the same ole same ole songs that Natalie and I would always sing. You know, the twinkle, the spider, the ABC's....so I came up with my own tune that is super musical and the talent just oozes from it. haha....YEA. :/ Can I just tell you that Natalie loves it SO much that she sings it on her own and still requests it nightly....yea...I'm AWESOME. ;)

It goes a little somethin' like this....

"Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood NIGHT, beautiful suuuuun
gooood NIGHT, beautiful suuuuun
gooood NIGHT, beautiful suuuuun....we'll see ya in the morning!"

"He-LLO mooooon, He-LLO mooon, He-LLO moooooooon...
it's GREAT to have you here!"

Catchy, clever and silly. :) haha....I know this will be a song my kids will sing to their kids so it's so special to my heart :)

A new year!!

A new year brings new things! I'm really excited for what this year will bring. Hayden is turning one in a couple months, and Natalie is going to turn 4 this summer! I still can't believe it. Natalie is helping with her sister so much more. It's a relief that she's giving in to sharing. I think she's realizing that all around good things come from her good behavior. Hayden is starting to sing more and more...she's almost got the melodies down. She loves all music and does her little dance and looks towards the music in amazement. TV, stereo, toys....anything makes her wiggle! :) Our friends recently had a baby and yesterday when we went to visit them, he was making his little cooing newborn noises and Hayden just looked at him with concerned eyebrows as if to say, "what in the heck is that??" haha...hilarious. She's so exploratory and crawling everywhere. Now she's into practicing and perfecting her pull ups....I swear she's gonna walk soon! She even climbs on top of and over the top of her pink boppy chair. It's crazytown.

Both of you are growing like crazy but both becoming more and more fun as the days progress. Bath time is so much fun even though Hayden didn't like sharing a tub at first. Now she sits super close to her big sister and tries to wash her hair. :) LOVES it.
Mommy took a break from the wild world of facebook to focus more on you two and on blogging your good and bad days. I want you both to be able to read these entries in a few years and laugh and smile as much as I do. Ok, so sometimes while writing these I cry...but that's just life as a mommy! I have my hang ups and insecurities, but I have to say no matter what you both always pull me out of my funk with a slobbery kiss or a look of pure joy. I love you both to the moon and back...thanks for making mommy's sun come out. :)
XO
Mom