Grocery shopping

I don't feel like I have wrote anything about grocery shopping. It is miserable. I actually like to meal plan, make a list, and actually get the food in the store, but my circumstances make it something to dread. Anything with babies is 5 times harder. Making sure their hair looks somewhat presentable after nap time takes extra time and fighting since we don't want to look like your stereotypical Walmart people. (which we do a lot usually anyway)  However, you add winter, and I am taking on and off coats as I buckle both in car seats. The car is freezing and doesn't warm up by the time we get to our two stores: usually Walmart and Aldi.

BEFORE

AFTER

 Getting to the car is an adventure on it's own. It is a little bit of a walk down the stairs, down the sidewalk and then down another flight of stairs. I usually just carry Jordyn, but I thought I would be kind and let her have a little freedom even if it did take longer. Madison all of sudden burst out giggling and couldn't stop because she said that Jordyn "walked goofy".

Coats on..ready to go!

I open the door for Madison before loading Jordyn in because she insists on climbing in herself. She also locks and shut the door as well. I just have to unlock her door and re-open it to buckle her in. We have a system and I just let her do her thing.

Aldi is actually usually a fairly good experience. The carts have two seats in the front, plus I am pleasantly surprised how much food I get for the price. However, after I pack my kids back in the car seats, and the groceries, we head next door to Walmart.

Walmart NEVER has working buckles on their one baby seat, they are either nonexistent or too bent to click. So while I am training Madison to stay close to the cart and stay out of people's way (she is doing fairly well), I am fighting with Jordyn to not do dangerous things in the cart, (since I cannot buckle her down). I even had a Walmart employee tell me to use the buckle once. She got an earful. I kinda felt bad, but not really.

After we get our food, which is fairly quickly. I can work through those aisles very fast. I have a  system. We wait in line for longer then we shop. Oh well...... such is life.

Madison is usually dancing throughout the store

Jordyn doing dangerous things

 I load the groceries then take coats off my kids to load them in car seats. We get home and I put their coats back on and get them out of the car. We live a bit of a walk from where we park our car so I take multiple trips taking in groceries to the house after I have put my kids in their room to play or even turn on a movie so they wills stay put while I run up and down stairs and sidewalks from my apartment to my car. In the cold this is especially miserable. However, I have to add; a year ago when it was super hot and I was super pregnant, I literally bawled the whole time I was carrying these groceries in. The weather adds, but it is miserable either way.

Saying "cold" in sign language

Anyways, sorry for the long description. I feel like I just may want to remember this crazy escapade someday. Writing about it actually helps me see the ridiculous humor in the situation instead of miserable and angry.  

One year old Jordyn!!!!

Oh my goodness!!! My baby is one! It's crazy, and kinda sad. I love love love this baby. She is so cute. She has the perfect amount of ornery'ness' and sass, but she also turns around and gives hugs and tons of smiles. She has the best baby body with all the chub in the right places.

She has been an easy baby in my opinion. She is easy going, and tough. She doesn't get frustrated easily and works hard to figure things out. Especially when it has to do with climbing.  This girl has no fears. I thought Madi was a brave baby.... she wasn't. Jordyn is a champion mover and climber, absolutely nothing stops her!

She is also very observant! She claps when we sing about clapping, participates in our family cheer, wiggles her fingers, rolls her arms, and even folds her arms for prayer. She dances to any and all songs!

Love love my little Jordyn!

Happy Mother's Day to me

I asked Jordan to take some pictures of me and my babies this Mother's Day. Madison had a really hard whiny day, most of the angles do not capture my best side, (if I have one anymore :) ), and the lighting was never perfect, however, these pictures really capture the essence of what my day to day life is. ( A scattered house and all) Having a demanding toddler and baby isn't easy, but I really love what I do. While the normal pictures that I usually post are actually accurate and we really do have fun adventures and cute outfits a lot of times, a lot of days are spent doing chores, reading books, lounging outside, holding whining kids, and eagerly waiting for our Dad to get home.

These two babies, along with their Daddy are my life at the moment. I am completely invested in their happiness and confidence. While I am kind of a "no-nonsense, list making " type of mom, I am learning to slow down and enjoy the little moments.

Even though at times I struggle a little with being completely confident and proud of the choice that I stay home with my girls, I wouldn't change it in any way. Most days are long, but I love these babies and love to see them progress. I love my sweet Jordyn who is crawling and seems to be a curious little monster who I now have to always have my eye on. She loves being held by her mom and literally her eyes light up when I hold my arms out to pick her up. I love my opinionated little Madison. While her list of demands is unending I am so happy that she is learning to communicate and finds joy in learning. These girls crave my attention and comfort and I am the best person to provide that. I am their MOM! Happy Mother's Day to me!

The girls

Basically I am living my dream. I love being a mom to two girls. Like I really LOVE it! I hope I am a good mom to boys when they come along, but for now I am enjoying my little girl party.

This post is just going to be full of pictures and updates of my two little crazies. All of sudden I feel they are growing up way too fast and do too many cute things that I just want to remember and post.

Yes, I am that mom that dresses her children to match whenever possible..... yes, I match too. This is a lot of pink, even for me, but it was Valentine's day.

I am not sure where both my girls got their beautiful eyes.

MADISON ELIZABETH -

*She still talks and talks and talks. "Watch this!" to me and to complete strangers, ALL day long. She doesn't even really do tricks, just wants us to watch her doing who knows what.

*She is scared of a lot of things, and I have to remind her to be brave. One day she will think an airplane is the coolest thing she has ever seen and then the next she will be in hysterics as one is flying through the air. She just barely surprised us all and went down the slides by herself. It was a long time coming.

* She loves to sing and dance. Every song is her favorite. It is amazing to me how fast she picks up on songs.

*She is potty trained. I didn't really want to do it in case it was too early. I did not want it to be too complicated for too long. I don't really like making my life harder. However, she was ready and going through way too many diapers and clothes due to her drinking water quirk. She caught on in the three days that I worked with her and it really has been a very mild complication with almost no setbacks.

*She is getting good at counting. She loves her puzzles that have numbers and runs up to me telling me all the numbers she knows. Sometimes she still gets confused on the order. I found a song that will hopefully help with that.

*She loves her shape ball and loves knowing the shapes. She knows circle, triangle, oval, trapezoid, hexagon, star, cross, square, and pentagon.

* She is getting a bit ornerier and is having to be constantly reminded to choose the right. Usually she does okay. She just thrives on being independent and doing things her way and in her time table. Sadly, that is not how life works usually. Fostering confidence, but taking away independence every once in a while is a hard balance sometimes. Keep working with me Madison.

*She still takes a good 3 hour nap daily. I keep my fingers crossed that this lasts. It really is amazing.

*She loves baby Jordyn! She is always excited when Jordyn wakes up from naps and runs to go greet her. She is usually very nice and soft and will run around, twirls and play peek a boo to get Jordyn to laugh. Luckily, Jordyn laughs easily, which keeps Madi entertained.

Look at those eyes!

Every morning we have 25 minutes of independent playtime where she plays in her room. She has done so awesome at this and it gives me a chance to take a shower or read my scriptures.

Having a little chat with dad about choosing the right

We were making a return to Old Navy and found her like this. See video below too!

JORDYN LESLIE -

*This girl is the sweetest little baby ever. Sometimes I remind her to be a little more of a complainer so she isn't overlooked. She happily watches the world around her with her big eyes, big forehead, big cheeks, and just overall big baby body.

*Speaking of baby bodies. She wins for the best one. She has rolls in all the right places. I have a hard time putting her to bed after bath because she is so cute to watch roll around. I love squeezing her thighs.

*She can roll over both ways, but consistently rolls over from her back to her tummy. I could watch her do this all day. She leads with her legs, and it takes so much work for her to get her little booty over.

*She has the cutest little laugh. Anything makes her laugh. She is not hard to entertain.

* She takes two good naps. One long/short one in the morning, depending on if we have an outing, and one long one in the afternoon. She loves her dad's soft Sponge Bob blanket and sleeps for hours. She also shares a room with Madi and almost always sleeps through the night from 8 to 7ish. REALLY, she is amazing. Being a mom to her is the best.

*She adores Madi. Baby siblings take a lot from their older siblings. They seems to always have toddlers touching them, hugging them, poking them, kissing them, or talking right in their face. SHE LOVES IT, especially when Madi is on the other side.

*She just tried her first little bit of oatmeal cereal. She seemed to enjoy it and loved being with us at the dinner table. She makes the cutest little face when she sucks her top lip under her bottom. With her cheeks and wide eyes, it is unbeatable in cuteness.

Those cheeks!

All dressed and ready for a walk around the block

We visit an Old Folk's home every other week with some friends. Jordyn is one of the main attractions.

First time trying Oatmeal Cereal

She has her own set of eyes!

My hope is that these two girls will be the best of friends. They will probably share a room for the rest of their childhood, play with the same toys, wear similar clothes, and experience most of the same parenting. (the good and the mistakes) Even though I want them to have their own individual goals and personalities. I hope they will support each other, cheer for each other, and be each other's best competitor as well. They will probably be known as "the girls" to us, future siblings, and extended family. Very likely, they will be grouped together more often than not, and I want them to be grateful for that companionship and confident in the fact that we love them individually, no matter how often we refer to them as a pair. As my sister, Leslee, and I got older, I realize no matter how different we thought we were growing up, or even now, there really isn't someone that has as much in common with me as her. She knows the 'whole story' of me. I don't have to explain to her who I am and why. I hope my girls can be that for each other.

I love you Jordyn and Madison!