Daddy's big truck

Matt was working in town last Friday & was able to take his lunch at home with us...I was downstairs with the girls so we didn't hear the semi pull up but when the girls got upstairs & saw the big truck...they were SOOO excited. Morgen kept running to the window and pointing outside & saying "wooooww" ...she didn't know what to think.

We were able to get a picture before dad headed back to work!

Race for the cure!

It was that time of year again...

We have a fun tradition with some of our good friends to do Race for the cure every year & then have lunch at Tomato Street. Since we moved away from that restaurant I think I secretly look forward to eating there every April!

This was JaCee's 3rd year doing the race & Morgen's 1st. The weather was great...cold but really, we have yet to get any rain in 3 years. Which is un.heard of in the PNW! So we count ourselves lucky. The day was long...we were coming off a weekend of NO Sleep due to Morgen's little teeth bugging her. And I quite running on the treadmill last Sept. when I hit my pre-Morgen weight. (I did start trying to get back on the treadmill a few times a week here this month, but I was in no shape ready to push a stroller for 3.5 miles. ) We still had a great time & of course it was great to be with our friends.

Here's a few pictures taken:

Our friends have 2 little girls who adore our little one's. Here is JaCee "walking" with them...

April so far...

I can't believe April is 1/2 over already! I am ready for this month to be over because it means  maybe we'll get some sunshine in the near future. Our day's have been filled with soggy/gloomy day's. So bad that JaCee hears the news & says mom she said RAIN! This time of year in the PNW is hard for everyone...we all complain about the rain. I am able to send the girls outside for an hour or so every day, but we're still in winter coats & stocking hats! Ughh!

So other than the rain...we painted our living room last week/end. I say that because I painted a wall a day & then Saturday Matt & I tackled our largest wall. It went better than I though...as Matt left for work one day he said ---- I give you credit ---- for even attempting to do a little painting with the girls. I will say I had to throw one of Morgen's outfits away, there was so much paint on it...and JaCee was running around with wipes trying to clean Morgen off. Good Memories for me!

We have done a little yard/garden work. As in work I mean we bought the seeds for the garden. Ha. Again, if the weather wood cooperate I could get out & do a little more work.

Oh...ya, I found one of Morgen's 1 year molars this week. I knew she has been a sad camper & probably had some teeth she was working on but she will NOT let you put fingers in her mouth to check. I feel like a spectator at the zoo with a sign that says "enter at your own risk"...I know my hand will leave with a bit mark, but I was able to get in & out fast and felt the molar. I think she's working on the other one now. She's actually been so upset today....she got a rash all over her tummy/back/diaper area yesterday & it's still there today. Benadryl isn't doing much for it. I would say it's heat rash, but we also ate something a little different I'm wondering if that upset her. We'll see. So...no fever, but clingy & tired & fussy & just generally mad at the world today. I caved in at 10 am & put her down for a nap. She tends to want to nap at 10am every day & I hold her off until noon to nap with JaCee. But today...I put her down at 10 and she woke up at 11:30 and she went back down at 1pm.

JaCee ~~~ My sweet baby...oh boy. We started a chore chart with her a couple of weeks ago. I put things on there that she is expected to do every day & struggles with every day. *Make bed, brush teeth (am/pm), pick up toys (before nap time & bedtime), put away silverware in dishwasher* Simple things & she loves loves her chores. She has only missed one sticker for not picking up her toys before bed time & she was devastated. Cried & cried. She did tell me that the best part of chores is that she gets to sit on my lap & pick a sticker to put on her chart. It's pretty cute. I took her on Saturday to pick out a toy...just her & I --- we made it really special & made sure she understood it was for doing her chores soo good. I think this week, we'll just start giving her a nickle for every chore she did to put in her piggy bank. It's a work in progress but it's I'm proud of how it's going so far.

Oh ya, we bought JaCee her own little 4.wheeler. She'll outgrow it in no time & then it will be Morgen's, but right now Morgen doesn't want anything to do with it since it makes noise & moves!

My sweet cheeks!

What is wrong with this picture?

Rides at the mall...I think I have a thousand of these pictures from this winter.

Morgen loves CHEESE now. If she sees me get the camera out she stands in front of me & smiles the biggest smile....and says eeeeeee.....

Happy 3rd Birthday JaCee bug

The theme was Lady Bug. I am into this red & white polk.a.dot thing right now...AND...we call JaCee "JaCee bug" --- since she was little. Matt kind of started that ... his little bug he says. So I thought it would be cute. The invitations said, Oh how can it be...my JaCee bug is turning 3! We just did a few snacks, cup.cakes and punch. Short & Sweet. We like to go out to dinner with the grandparents after birthday parties...so we keep the party to a few hours of "kid-crazy.ness."

Here are a few pictures from the fun....

Morgen's 1st trip to the ER

Friday night as I was waiting for my parents to arrive from Montana...I opened the door that leads from the house to the garage ....pushed the button that opens the big rolling garage door & closed the small door as I walked away...problem.... the door did not close...instead it bounced back open. I turned around to see my little Morgen had slipped in behind me & her fingers were in the door jam. PANIC. As I look down I see a big white thing on her finger...my 1st thought is ---- her finger tip is hanging by the skin...Oh my! I picked her up & ran to the kitchen sink, didn't even look at it, just put pressure on the end of the finger & ran it under cold water for a few minutes. I glance up & my precious JaCee has gotten a chair - climbed up & is trying to get the ice pack from the freezer. Bless her heart...then she says Mommy --- whey are you crying??? Oh because I just hurt your sister really really bad! =(

My parents arrived a few minutes later. After further evaluation --- her finger is attached - fully. But the nail does not look good. The nail has come out from under the cuticle in the back by her joint. We decide to take her too the ER just to make sure it's not broken or anything. They took X-Ray's & her finger is not broken. But the part that is sticking out from the back of her nail bed is her growth plate part of the finger nail. They cleaned it up & put anti-biotic ointment on it ---we are on more antibiotics for risk of infection and we have an appointment with the hand specialist on Wednesday.

Here is the little one's finger all wrapped up.

My Poor baby girl. My only hope is she is TOO little to remember that MOM was the one that shut the door & caused this pain.

14 Months

How is this happening? Another month just FLEW by. I can't believe it! You are 14 months old today. To celebrate...we painted your toenails for the 1st time...and we put in new sparkly ear-rings. Silly I know. I don't know why but it sounded fun this morning. Here are your CUTE little toes. You picked out the polish & when we were done you carried the polish with you for a while....bending down occasionally and trying to put the polish on your own toes. I love your feet!! They remind me of how small you still are! And your feet are SO ticklish, every morning when we get dressed, I tickle your feet & kiss & nibble them & you laugh & laugh & try to get them away from me....I love it.

 Your sinus infection is getting better. We are about 1/2 way through medication & you are tolerating it well. Amoxicillian doesn't help your sister's infections at all...so I was wondering if you would have the same resistance, but you don't.

You are learning new things all the time. Your newest thing you figured out how to do is carry around your sister's little stool & put it against things so you can get closer/higher/on top of things. This week I found you placing it next to the toilet so you can reach the water...and then putting it against your dresser so you can climb up & pull all your clothes out of a drawer....but the best thing is you can now get on the couch all by yourself -- well with the help of the stool. It's amazing to think a year ago, you were 2 months old...so fresh & new to this world.

And here you are today! Your hair is getting longer every day...and is SUPER curly. Only in the back though...the top is straight - enough - to - make -a -sweet-comb-over. :)

And here you are on your rocking horse. You are just getting comfortable enough with this thing to not cry when your sitting on it.

Sisters.

 I love that. I LOVE that I have two girls. More than I thought I would.

"Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer." ~Louise Glück


If I had to answer this today....JaCee will be the watcher & you little miss Morgen --- will be my dancer!

And here is my watcher...sweet as can be.

1st anti-biotic for Morgen

My sweet little Morgen has a sinus infection. Two nights ago I was up a few times for a few hours each...finally bringing her to bed with me so I could rest. While she was sleeping on my chest, I came to the conclusion that her tummy was upset. Next night of sleep --- great. Yesterday she was cranky-cranky, pulling on her ear. Last night - up again - a lot! I brought her to bed with me again...and called her pediatrician 1st thing morning. The good news is she doesn't have an ear infection, but she does have a sinus infection. It's so hard with little one's that can't tell you what's going on, but I didn't want to "wonder what's wrong" anymore. I'm glad I did. We'll be on the mend soon.

In other happenings...my brother got engaged a couple of weeks ago. The wedding is set for this summer. The girls are going to be flower girls...how adorable. I can NOT wait!

We've had some sad news this weekend to deal with...my parent's 12 year old Golden retriever had to be put to sleep. My mom & dad are devastated...as any dog owners are that have to put their babies to sleep. The summer's are not going to be the same at the river without Dixon. He was the sweetest thing, loved the water & loved everyone! JaCee is trying to figure out what it means that Dixon died.

That's about all from here. We are looking forward to Spring --- in a MAJOR way here. JaCee turns 3 weekend after next ---- unbelievable, really....this weekend we have company in town -

Here are a few pictures of the girls. Clearly I've been slacking taking pictures of them as I had to search for these...Yikes.