getting our groove on

Two is way different than one....but it sure does make each day go by so fast! In fact, it's hard to differentiate the the end of one day and the beginning of another! Emma's really blossoming as a big sister and has taken to treating Bela like a family pet I guess. She pets her hair, gives her kisses, and even rubs her belly to say goodnight before heading off to her own crib (these are some of the same things she does with our cat). Sometimes frustration sets in when Bela spends too many hours crying and being fed and she'll ask me to put "Bela night night". But for the most part, Emma's patience seems infinite. We're so blessed.
Emma now spends her days dancing to "Wheels on the Bus" (3000 times), coloring with "cwans", giving her dolls and monkey baths and dressing them, and snuggling up with us and a Bob the Builder book. This, by the way, has beat out "Night Night Moon" for a nighttime story. In addition, the "Bob the Builder theme song" has also taken the place of "Baby Mine". I was a little sad to let that one go.....but this little girl is growing up and getting an opinion of her own.
Isabel is starting to get days and nights straight, though she still prefers snuggling on one of us to sleep rather than any of the other 10 contraptions that are cluttering our bedroom. She's also back to being a good sleeper, staying awake for a few hours and sleeping for a few after that. Our girls are angels.....for the most part :)
GG and Papi (Grandma and Grandpa Grupp) came out for a visit- first time since Bela's birth. They stayed about 24 hours and hopefully had as much fun as we all did. Emma warmed up quickly and kept bringing Papi her favorite books to be read. It was very cute! And we also got a little spoiled on some yummy homemade cookies:)

The poncho was made by Grandma Peace (isn't it adorable?!!!)- check out Emma's lipstick (mom didn't know the chapstick had a tint!)

Babies and Big Girls

One of our friends once asked "When are they just little girls? How come they always go from babies to big girls?" I'd like to know too....
After a much harder delivery, Isabel joined us at 2:27 on January 8th (Monday). The whole experience was pretty neat since we decided to have her at an alternative birthing center. No monitors, no IV's, got to order lunch (which when you're in labor, forget about!), no hospital gowns, a jacuzzi suite, and a queen size bed to share with the hubby......not to mention the amazing nurses who were more like doulas and coaches than medical staff.
Anyways, this little peanut sleeps a lot more than Emma ever did. She also cries less and feeds just as much! What a beautiful and perfect addition to our family!
For months Emma has been able to point out the nesting spot of little Bela, so it was interesting to see her first reactions to the baby outside of mommy's tummy. At first, Emma was very nervous, not even looking at me while I held the baby. That first visit to the birthing center was more of playtime with the fun toys (like the giant birth ball and jacuzzi tub) than a bonding session with Bela. And when we got the girls home on Tuesday, Emma was downright terrified that mommy was nursing the baby. Braden and I just looked at each other like "WHAT HAVE WE DONE?!" But Emma surprised us both with how quickly she has adjusted. We catch her peeking in the bassinet constantly and she even helps burp the baby and enjoys rubbing her back and head. Funny thing, she always asks "What dis?" about Bela's hair. Kinda funny that Bela almost has more hair than her sister!
Although exhausted, we are all doing so well over here. Just adjusting to our newfound chaos. Two kids are WAAAAAYYYYY harder than one! Hahaha! But we know just how blessed we are!
By the way Nikki, that down throw you got me one year for my birthday has become a little pouch that contains a warm, happy Bela when she snuggles with us. She's a cold one like me, not a hot box like Emma, so she NEEDS it to sleep, so THANK YOU!!!

Christmas and other things.....

Christmas was a BLAST this year, with Emma just old enough to understand the idea of presents (well, sort of). She knew that every time someone handed her a wrapped thing, it probably had a "Dorge" (Curious George) inside.
Not only that, Christmas meant spending three whole days with "Papa", "Gamma", and "Namie". She couldn't get enough and even cried hysterically when we had to say "Night Night" to them. She has never had so much fun in her little life!
Still no baby sister though, much to our anticipation....but we've been practicing. Emma has a little sling to carry around her own baby doll (it matches mama's), and she has even taken to changing her doll's diapers, putting powder on her bottom and soap in her hair....but the pretend bottle and sippee cup are hers alone (baby doesn't get any!) She'll be a good big sister, that's for sure.
On Saturday, we took a field trip to the Detroit Science Center with the Tabins and had a little kiddy fun. Emma even pushed Caitlin around in a stroller (before getting distracted by some fish in an aquarium).
The three of us rang in the New Year with tissues and coughing. Looks like we all caught a doozy of a cold. Hopefully we'll kick it before the baby comes!
The pictures are of Emma eating the pear that came in her Christmas stocking and Emma and Caitlin at the Detroit Science Center (Clara was busy making crafts!)