Deep End

This weekend Matt was thrown into the deep end...
head first...
with lead weights!
Saturday late morning we decided to go for a walk to the park with the wagon.
The five of us (Sierra came, too) hung out for an hour or so.
Kennedy rode over and back in the sling as usual.
When we got home Mommy's back was super sore.
We decided it was just from carrying our 18lb 3oz 6 month old (a post on that coming soon).
It was lunch then nap time so we ate and all laid down in different parts of the house.
Kennedy slept with Mommy on the couch (as she always does so she can nurse her way thru a nice, long 2 hour nap).
Throughout the nap time Mommy's back hurt more and more.
The little bit of a scratchy throat and cough got worse and worse.
When Daddy woke up he took Mommy's temperature and found it was 100.4 and climbing.
It rose just shy of 102 before we decided Mommy should take something.
Daddy researched what would be ok for a nursing Mommy.
We decided on ibuprofen and lots of juice.
By the evening Mommy was a disaster.
Daddy learned quickly how hard it is to take care of 2 little girls by himself.
When Kennedy was born Gramm was here (Mommy's Mommy) to help so Daddy didn't take extra time off.
Today he told Mommy he doesn't know how she does it everday.
If it wasn't for Kennedy's nursing nap with Mommy today, the house would still be a total wreck!
His deep end adventure will likely continue tomorrow, too as Mommy is still achy all over, coughing down into her chest, fever off and on, and now a runny nose.
Keep Daddy in your prayers so he doesn't go completely batty! and Mommy so she gets better.

Kids Club

Every Wednesday our mall has a free Kids Club sponsored by First 5.

Sometimes we do a craft. Sometimes we play.

This week was entertainment time.

I bundled up the girls (it was super windy and chilly) and went to see the marionette show.

They both sat intently watching the antique puppets and listening to the old vaudeville tunes.

It was great fun!

Valentine's Day

We don't really get excited about Valentine's Day in our house.

The girls aren't old enough to experience the excitement of commercialized paper valentine and candy exchange at school. Soon enough I will have the goal of hand making paper valentines for all the girls' friends and classmates...we will work for weeks deciding what to make and what candy sucker is best..then inevitably just before bedtime on the 13th of February I will realize I'll never get them done in time (as with seemingly EVERY project since our little #2 arrived) and we will venture to Target to pick out special princess or pooh (or whatever is popular then) paper valentines to quickly fold, stuff and lick (the yucky tasting little envelopes) in time for school the next day.

I digress...

This year Kennedy wore the special Valentine sleeper we had from Madison's first v-day.

She was slightly less thrilled about having her photo taken while Matt bathed Madison. Although she did enjoy pulling on the pink footie part of her sleeper.

(Recall Madison this time 2 yrs ago-she had just learned to sit up on her own)

By the end Kennedy was quite frustrated with me and I worked hard to get pics of her grumpy face. Which wasn't too tough as you can see.

The girls wore their cute, new $.99 hats from Old Navy all day, too.

Talk about fabulous clearance!

I love these hats- they each have them in a blue variety as well.

Kennedy's blue one is a little big so look forward to seeing these hats for a long time to come!

Madison and I did manage to make one Valentine before the day was over. She enjoyed putting together a flower face and lots of glitter.

Morning

Kennedy is awake and playing with a wiffle type ball next to me. She thinks it's great because she can put her fingers in it. Problem is, she keeps chucking it across the room and I have to retrieve it.
Kind of like a came of fetch....for Mommies.
She's also decided oatmeal is not a good breakfast this morning. Even with apple blueberry baby food in it.
****
Madison decided to sleep in this morning...sort of. She's sleeping in my bed right now because at some point in the middle of the night (as usual) she decided my bed was better than hers.
Now Matt and I understand why most married couples with kids have king sized beds.
We are forecast for MAJOR rain this weekend so Madison better hurry and wake up so we can get out of the house and back before the first storm hits.
My plan is to hit up Walmart for some rain boots for the Doodle. I think church will be a sloshy even on Sunday...

Let's go Camping!

Madison keeps telling me she wants to go camping. I'm not sure if she remembers going when she was younger, or if she just wants to go because the characters on Word World went camping last week.

Either way she keeps telling me, "Wet's go campin, Mommy".

So, I brought in her ladybug tent from the RV Monday after her nap (thank you Betty Fenner!).

She insisted Kennedy join her in the tent right away (who was fascinated by the big polka dots!).

Then they needed accessories.

Their backpacks (thank you, Aunt Kimberly!),

a flashlight,

then hats..because it's cold when you are camping

then animal toys because...

there are giraffes, lions, and gators where we camp? Um, no.

It was so nice to see them sharing!

Madison has napped in her tent the rest of the week!

It's bringing some excitement to our cold, and now rainy weather.

The girls even managed to get Mommy, Daddy, and Sierra in the tent to play.

Not at the same time though. How big do you think this tent is?!

Baby shower

Kennedy and I had a great time at Jen's baby shower last Saturday.
Kennedy made lots of new friends and played with some familiar faces too as she was passed around the room all day.

She practiced her Godfather face (Matt's favorite nickname for her!) with Denise...

helped Kelly play games with a broken pen...

and sat with Kamila watching Jen open presents!

Before we left she caught Jen for a quick squeeze,

then Jen took a pic of Kennedy with Mommy.

We ended the afternoon with Mommy tickling Kennedy to show everyone she DOES have a fabulous smile!

A Beautiful Friend

Friday after lunch (and no nap from Madison- arg!) the girls and I went to see a friend.

Daddy has known Jennifer Jacobs (formerly Jennifer Curtis) since he was a little boy. He met Jen's brother, Chris and her husband Billy Jacobs in sixth grade. Two summers ago we were fortunate to attend their amazing wedding and now they are expecting their first child, a little boy named William (aka Will). They live far away in Bakersfield now so we don't get to see them often. Jen was in town for a special baby shower scheduled for Saturday (more on that in the next post!)

We met up at Jen's mother-in-laws house for a maternity photo shoot and play time.

When Matt got home I told him how much fun the girls had playing with Denise and he was so confused. He said he's always known her as Mrs Jacbos! Isn't it funny how tough it is to get past our childhood memories? I digress....

Denise enjoyed her 'practice' time, carrying Kennedy around their two story house while Madison entertained the group- unraveling a ball of yarn Denise was in the middle of knitting and getting into her some of her sewing supplies.

I had the privilege of helping Jen capture this special time in her life with photos.

She's a gorgeous subject, so it wasn't too difficult to create works of art.

When Madison saw this one she said, 'Wuk Mommy- an ANGEL!'.

It was so great to get more portrait practice. It's been too long!

Tepan Lunch with Stacy

Do you remember Mommy's fabulous Fashionista friend, Stacy?

Mommy used to work with her in Valencia, then she moved to Bakersfield and now we never get to see her.

She was Madison's first friend when Mommy was pregnant. She talked to Mommy's tummy almost everyday at work to ensure Madison knew her Aunt Stacy.

Well Miss Stacy was in Valencia for work today so we got to meet her for lunch!

She treated us to the girls' first tepan grill experience.

Oh, Madison LOVED it.

Not sure if she like the smoke, fire, and crazy cooking or the rice with special chopsticks best.

It was all fabulous.

Kennedy was a little fussy so she spent half her lunch on Mommy's lap.

We had so much fun and can't wait to see Stacy again soon!

Boots

Last Sunday I decided to wear boots to church (thank you, Aunt Kimberly!)

We were almost out the door when Madison decided she needed to wear her boots, too.

After church we stomped around the front yard.

Officially Infected

After nearly a week of snotty noses, coughing, and fussing we went to see Dr Pattan today.
Kennedy hasn't been nursing well, and that was the final straw for me.
Turns out she has an ear infection in her right ear. It's just starting, but she recommended antibiotics to nip it in the bud.
Madison just has a cold, which I figured.
Three days of fast acting antibiotics and our little one should be back to her sweet self.

So sad, but so pretty

Our girls have colds. Yucky runny nose, coughing, congestion in the chest kind of colds.

No fun.

Madison's demeanor is up and down.

Kennedy is the same. Mostly she wants to be held...a lot. Which is unusual for our little observer. She spends most of her time sitting and watching what is going on around her. Content to just 'hang'.

Their naps are longer and nights are rougher.

Last night Madison needed a little pick me up, so I painted her toe and fingernails.

After one foot was done she cried and said she wanted pink.

It took me a minute, then I realized she wanted one foot painted a completely different color from the other. Of course, she needed her hands to match. SO...one hand and foot are darker pink (or purple if you ask the 2 and a half yr old) and the other are pink.

Too cute.

Super Bowl Weekend

This year at our house, Super bowl was a weekend affair.

Uncle Dan (Daddy's brother) and his youngest daughter Lisa, (who is 13 already, can you believe it?!) came down from Sacramento Thursday night in preparation for the game.

He brought with him a truck full of Rockband supplies.

Including what Madison called 'the hat'.

Everyone took turns wearing it...

except Mommy.

Madison had a great time playing with Uncle Dan.

He even taught her how to hide...

sort of.

We were all geared up for Sunday, including every one's terrible towels.

We caught Daddy mid-bite with his special homemade chicken wings!

Kennedy wore her pink Steelers onsie but her pants kept her little fanny covered most of the day.

Here's a flashback pic.

With a kitchen full of spicy snacks and sweet treats the game began.

Madison was quietly napping until some over zealous cheering woke her up early. Sick plus short nap equals unhappy Doodle!

When the crying stopped, the cheering continued (both from the crabby two year old and the crabby fans in the living room!) as the Steelers won the game!

As the guys watched game wrap up, the girls watched The Jungle Book aka 'Bear necessities' on Daddy's 'puter' in Mommy and Daddy's room.

Matt thought it was hilarious to see all the girls so mesmerized by the computers.

The room was dark before he came in with the camera flash.