Growing too fast

Today, the girls and I just hung around the house and had fun together. We didn’t do anything really special except to show off how fast we are growing. Kinsley, even though she can’t really even sit up yet, decided that she was tired of kicking on her mat and pulled the little arch down with her feet. So, I put her in the activity center/bouncer we have and she loved it. She couldn’t spin the seat, but she had her feet on the floor and her hands up playing with the frog. Every once in a while she would hit the keys that make it play a song and watch the flashing lights out of the corner of her eye. I can’t believe how big she is – four months on Wednesday! Check in with the doctor coming – he’s going to be amazed I think.

Myla keeps throwing out these sentences that amaze me. She’s always telling me stories in the most age 6 type of way. But she also says things that make me giggle – like, “when I was a mommy, I used to sleep in a big bed too.” Or, my favorite, “when I was a deer, I would kick letters too.” (A deer is kicking a word in one of her books.) She’s been busy doing a couple of gymnastics classes and today we went swimming at A2’s pool. But most of all, she loves to imaginate, and today we took “bunnies” to the “farm” to see the giraffe. You should come sometime.

Day at the Fountain

Summer made a house call this week – as we heard happened with most of the nation. Not one to sit home or still for that matter, Myla has very much wanted to be out doing something. Johnny decided to pack a picnic dinner and we headed out to a fountain after work. It was busy with kids having fun in the water and after a while, Myla got into it too, running around under the arches laughing. She did her best to splash Johnny too but ended up just getting lots of water in the face. Kinsley enjoyed it too - Too hot for a baby? Just enough white noise from the fountain? Who knows. She did wake up for a little bit and kick on the blanket until Myla got too cold from the water and it was time to go home. On the way home (with Kinsley screaming because “hey-wait a minute, I’m hungry!”) Myla asked to go to another fountain, one that was more “kid sized.” Guess I’ll have to be on the lookout for that!

Memorial Day

We were very busy this weekend celebrating Memorial Day.  On Saturday, Myla, Kinsley and I joined A2 and my parents for the parade downtown.  Myla had a great time waving to all the cars that went by, but she kind of lost interest when she got a sucker.  On Sunday we had a BBQ with the family over at our house to celebrate Memorial Day and to spend time together.  Myla had the best time playing hide and go seek with Mam-mam and taking “walks” around the back yard.

Today we took advantage of the warm weather and the day off together and headed out to do some hiking.  We’ve talked about taking Myla out for a while and when I found this hike/trail that was deemed easy, we decided that we could totally do that.  It was an easy drive and once we loaded up, we were off to explore Castlewood Canyon.  Myla did awesome and picked up rocks the whole time we were on the trail for her pockets, only to drop them back on the path when we were going back for lunch.  I think her favorite part was the “rock steps” but she will tell you it was the puppies that we saw on the trail.

Kinsley did pretty well too, once we figured out that she did not want to face me in the backpack, but forwards so she could see.  She chatted a lot and sucked on her fingers but did not like the wind that blew in her face.  (But really, do any of us?)  I was pleasantly surprised that she was so easy about it, makes me easier about doing another one.

Three months old!

I just can’t believe how fast time flies as a parent. I’m sure my mom thought the same thing. Kinsley is now three months old (and a few days) and is so much fun. She loves to talk and coo and kick any time she can. I took her in the backpack/snuggli to walk the dog the other day and she was good right up until the end and then she wanted to be put down to kick. She’s been sleeping really well and is eating and eating. She lights up when I’m talking to her too, which makes me feel all sorts of special.

Myla has become very passionate about what we HAVE to do. If you say that you’re thinking about, oh, washing the dog, she says, “we HAVE to wash Haley-dog now.” And if you try to convince her otherwise, she will just keep saying it over and over. It can be frustrating but sometimes it’s a good exercise for us to come up with a way to do it anyway. (A baby wipe bath for the dog in this case.) She’s been a sweetheart too, hardly leaving our sides sometimes or snuggling with our hands at bedtime.

My best friend from North Carolina breezed through Denver last week and we got to spend some time together. It was so much fun to see her and it was like she was across the street again. Myla loved having her here too and had her reading books in no time. She was sad when she woke up in the morning and found “my friend” had left. So, it looks like you’ll just have to come back soon Kathleen!

Its getting warmer…

As the days get warmer, we find ourselves with the constant begging “can we go outside?” So on Saturday, when it was so warm outside, we stopped after some errands and ventured out to the closest fountain. Myla was soaked. We didn’t have a towel or a change of clothes, but that’s okay. She had no problems walking around to dry off, or with leaving little Myla footprints showing where she’d been. But I think I will be stashing a towel in my car for the summer, just in case.

Our little ham is growing and changing every day. She’s really discovered her smile and sometimes I swear she is on the verge of giggling. She loves to lay on her mat and kick and talk, especially when Myla comes to talk. Today, when I got home, I asked Myla how her day was and she said, “mommy, did you say hello to my baby yet?” “Yes I did. How was your day?” “What are you doing little one? Mommy, I’m talking to Kinsley right now.” I never did find out what she did today…

Johnny has worked every day straight for over two weeks. He’s finally home tonight which means that Myla is back to fighting going to bed and Kinsley will probably wake up in the middle of the night. These girls sure love their daddy!

March for Babies

Saturday, my sister, mom, Myla and I participated in our fourth March for Babies. It was a cold start with all of us bundled up, but by the end, the sun was out in full force and our coats were off. Last year it was a little rainy so the sun was a nice change for us. On the way to the walk, Myla wondered if Kinsley was going to walk with us and I said that it was a little cold for little babies. And she said "Kinsley is going to stay with Pop-pop because its too cold for little babies, ESPECIALLY my baby." Looking out for her little sister already.

Again this year, Myla walked across the finish line and got a sticker to replace her's from last year. (She wouldn't take the old one off - that was her baby walk sticker!) I think this year, she loved the cheerleaders and the yelling for her. She even gave some high-fives. And then we bounced in the bouncy castle. It was the perfect end for her. I was loving her smile and how much fun she was having. And then when we got home, I loved on Kinsley and again felt so thankful that we have two healthy girls that have heart-warming smiles and happy faces. On some of the shirts people had put pictures of their babies or had that they were walking for an angel and I was reminded of all we have and are thankful for. (We posted this in the thick of hospital things, but I think its still true, with, oh, about a million additions!)

Doctors and Dentists

Kinsley had her two month check up on Friday and passed with flying colors. The doctor got to see her when she was really active and thought she looked really great. He was impressed with how strong she was and told us she was ready to flip over at any time! She weighed in at a whopping 9 1/2 pounds and 22 inches long! (I couldn’t help but check, and Myla was those measurements at her six month – three months adjusted - check-up. Which means Kinsley has a month lead, but they are pretty close!)

Myla had her first check in with the dentist today and got rave reviews. Johnny said she sat really still for the x-rays but once they went to put the chair down, she was having nothing of it. (She does that in the bath with us too, hates to lay down for some reason.) He said that with premature babies, the teeth get soft spots where the enamel didn’t harden and she has a few, but not too many. All in all, he thought her smile looked fantastic.

We are gearing up for our fourth March for Babies this weekend. Myla loves to “walk for babies” and she has been asking me, “but where ARE the babies mommy-zebra?” Last year, I was all emotional when we were there because it touches me so deeply. In fact, tonight I’m debating whether I want to watch Grey’s Anatomy or not (a guilty pleasure) because the previews are almost too much for me. Who knew after all this time and all that we have that it would still be so raw? I look at the Easter picture of these girls, my girls and am touched by the light in their eyes and their sweet faces. Amazing thing, this motherhood stuff. Crazy, amazing, overwhelming love.