Tuesday, January 20, 2009

It's COLD!

That would be Chris, on his way to softball. (Not to play, mind you, unless he stands in to play catcher just so he can be sure he's played enough to be in the playoffs later.) The hat he is wearing, he had to go get it on his way home from work. I don't know how any of you north of me do it!

I am just hoping I can bundle the girls up enough in the morning so that they don't turn blue just walking to the car!!

Grace received a reversible hat a couple of Christmases ago. It really still fits me, but I think she might be wearing it tomorrow morning! Before Chris left, Rachael had to try on his hat. I know I'm biased, but I think these are just the cutest little freezing Florida girls ever! Check them out:



Hope you're staying as warm as you can!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Rachael Likes Up!

This may be one of those things that's only funny to me, but Rachael gets so excited watching a partiuclar movie preview. What you see here is MILD compared to how wound up she usually gets, but it makes me laugh every time! I really think the reason she keeps looking at me while I'm taping her is because I'm *not* laughing hysterically as I usually do! :-) Enjoy! (By the way, the word you hear most is "balloons" -- I know Toddler Speak isn't easy to translate all the time!)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Happy Days!

Rachael had family, pizza and cake at her birthday festivities -- what more can a 2-year-old ask for? We had one happy birthday girl! She scored some fun presents, and Papa even brought along a few for both girls, including one that I especially cannot wait to see them use! It'll have to be when they have a couple of friends over, though. They can use their new dress up clothes and either walk the runway or be rock stars -- and with how the girls have been dancing to the clock radio I put in their room, they might opt for that!

When I went in to get the girls ready on Rachael's birthday, I reminded Grace what day it was. She asked excitedly, "Can she say the ABCs now? Will we be able to understand her better?"

And actually, just today I realized how much clearer Rachael has become! She went in for her checkup today and when the nurse asked if she was saying at least 50 words, I was stumped -- am I really supposed to be counting?? Anyway, the nurse remarked that she knew what Rachael was saying when she talked. I have known what she is saying, but I figured it was because I'm around her the most! Good to know that it's clear enough for the general public (including our babysitter, who mentioned it when we got home)! She was especially coherent during her check up, even while she was screaming! And she didn't even get any shots!

Since she had such a rough time, I took her to a park before we had to go get Grace. I know all of you north of me are going to roll your eyes, but IT WAS COLD! I knew it was time to go when her nose was bright red! She had a blast though!

Now to get all philosophical (or something)... While we were at the playground, I was having so much fun with Rachael and for a moment I wished I'd brought my camera with me. Then I thought about a blog post I just read (click here). I relaxed and just watched her fearlessly tackle the slide on the bigger playground and thought about other times I was with the girls and I didn't have my camera -- and I didn't need a picture to remember. Like the time I took Grace shopping with me and we had so much fun together -- even in one store, when I was looking at purses, she would take the smaller ones and throw them over her shoulder. I'd hear, "Mommy, look!" and there she would be, strutting down the aisle with some crazy handbag at her side. I smile every time I think about that, even without photographic evidence! :-)

The post also talked about handing over the camera to actually be in the pictures. I hope that more moms (and shutterbug dads as well) will do that -- one day their kids are going to want pictures of their parents, they're going to want pictures of themselves with their parents. So thank you, Kim (and I guess John Mayer), for those thoughts!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Watch Her Grow!

TWO-morrow!

It was almost two years ago that I was curling up on the bed, on the couch, on the floor, telling myself that I was just overreacting and it was yet another false alarm. After about two hours of it not letting up, I figured we might want to just go ahead and get to the hospital. I also wondered how strong my resolve to not have any pain meds would be when I got there. It ended up that Rachael answered that question for me -- I was 8 cm when they checked me, and Rachael was well on her way out! After maybe 20 minutes of pushing, there she was!

God uses children in wonderful ways. Grace showed me many, many things I had to work on! God used Rachael to show me how to rely on Him through trials. As she seemed to have one something after another, I always felt a peace knowing that He was in control. Even as heartbreaking as watching her struggle with different things has been, there's been that peace that passes understanding, knowing that He has a reason for everything.

Rachael is our little comedienne. If she does something to entertain and gets a positive reaction, she will do it again and again, loving the spotlight! I think she's going to be my buddy when she's old enough to ride roller coasters -- she seems to have no fear! She is very particular about the things that she wants and doesn't want. She is independent in many ways, but still shows us that she needs us by giving the childcare workers grief when we leave her on Sunday mornings!

She has the best smile -- one friend said very early on that Rachael just looked mischievous, and that about sums her up! It's adorable when she walks out of a room and casts a glance over her shoulder back at us, giving us a sly smile and a look that says, "Don't you wish you knew what I was up to?"

Grace seemed to come out a toddler, walking and talking early, seeming like a miniature adult before we could blink our eyes! Rachael has been our baby girl, but even still, she's growing up so fast! But just like her sister, the older she gets, the more fun it is! Watching her little personality grow is exciting -- even when it just seems to be getting stronger as each day goes by!!

Right now my favorite thing has to be when she offers us 'mooches -- smooches! She picked up that word from Daddy and it is so precious when she offers them to us! Almost as good as her 'ugs!

So Happy Birthday to our Rachael tomorrow! There will be a slideshow up soon, a picture for each month -- it's amazing how she has changed!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Grace's First Babysitting Job!

Yesterday was Grace's last day off for her break, so since she didn't have school we were able to watch a friend's 10-week-old son. Grace very quickly decided that she was the babysitter for the day! Rachael was a little unsure at the beginning, but she warmed up to him very quickly -- the first thing she said when she woke up from her nap was, "Baby hug?"

Grace begged to hold our charge the whole morning, so after one of his naps I got out Rachael's Boppy and laid him on it. He started to squirm and Grace said, "I think he's hungry. Why don't you get me his bottle?" So...


When Rachael woke up, of course she wanted to help:


They were both so sweet with him! Definitely my little helpers!

Welcome to 2009, and...

Happy New Year from The Adorables!