Where do babies come from?

Ava: "This is my baby sister. I bought her online."

5.25.11 Update:

"I found her in the woods."

"I borrowed her from Kmart." (We don't even live near a Kmart, I don't know where she even heard the name).

My sweet girls

Sometimes I get frustrated when I feel like I'm always picking up after everyone else and the house is never clean. Or when I cook dinner then have to take care of everyone else's needs and by the time I get to sit down and eat it's already cold.

But I hope my girls know how much I love them. And even when I get frustrated and grumpy, they are my treasures.

Ava is very mature, well-spoken and easy-going. Sometimes I forget she has a very tender little heart. Like the time she used too much toilet paper and clogged the toilet. Later in the week I discovered she had started throwing toilet paper in the trash can instead of flushing it because she didn't want to clog the toilet again.

Being a mom is the most important thing I've ever done. I need to protect and nurture those tender hearts and remind myself that if my girls are safe and warm and know they are loved, then we are greatly blessed and I can deal with a messy house and a cold meal.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Now that I'm on maternity leave and my day job is not using up all my creativity, I've been wanting to make a project. Ava's preschool offered the perfect opportunity when the scheduled picture day on St. Patrick's Day. In order to add a little green to her outfit, but remove it for her photo, I decided to make a special St. Patrick's Day ribbon.

I basically just grabbed any craft supplies I had lying around that were green, pink or white and hot glued them together. Ava was pretty excited to wear it to school this morning (although you can't tell from this photo -- it was early).

I had to make that bow late last night after seeing the (much, much cuter) ones at Wendy and Peter.

Ava's preschool class is having green pancakes this morning and she was very curious yesterday about how you would catch a leprechaun. Holidays like St. Patrick's Day is so much more fun with kids.

Ellie: Month 1

Weight: 10.5 pounds
Length: 21 inches

About You: You first smiled the day after you were born and you haven't stopped. Your eyes are still blue, but Daddy is sure they'll be brown soon. You like to be held up so you can stand and your little legs are getting pretty strong. You've also started babbling in your sweet little baby voice and like to talk back to us when we talk to you. You don't like to sleep in your cradle or crib, but you're a pretty good sleeper when you're in my arms or your baby swing. Your big sister, Ava, loves to hug and kiss you.

About the World: It's been warm this week (it's supposed to be 60 degrees tomorrow!) and the birds have started to sing. It's finally beginng to feel like spring is coming. The news is filled with the ongoing tradgy in Japan. On Friday, March 11, a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, causing an enoromous tidal wave and damaging a nuclear power plant. We've been praying for those affected along with the rest of the world.

Baby Lashes

Both my babies have incredibly thick, dark lashes.

So many people have commented on them lately. I wish I could take credit, but this is one feature they definitely don't get from me.

P.S. Ava's lovely Aunt Jessica took her to see Disney Princesses on Ice Sunday afternoon and she loved it so much that she has refused to remove her princess dress since.

Baby Ellie

Our Valentine's Day was interrupted this year with something better than chocolate or flowers (although my awesome husband got me both of those things as well).

I went into labor with baby Elizabeth Lee on Valentine's Day evening and she made her debut on Tuesday, February 15, at 12:54 p.m. -- about one week overdue. We were so ready to meet her!

She's a chunky little sweetheart at 8 lbs., 10 oz. and 20.5 inches.

Ava has been talking about her little sister Ellie long before we were expecting, so we chose the name Elizabeth so we could call her Ellie. It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog and a lot has happened in the interim, including the sudden and tragic death of my husband's father, Lee, three days after Christmas. We gave her the middle name Lee in rememberance of him and his excitement for his littlest granddaughter that he never got the chance to meet in person.

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month wherein you're supposed to write 50,000 words in 30 days. And squeeze in Thanksgiving preperations and holiday shopping. I've never finished, but I keep trying. But I'm not sure about this year. With the speed in which October has flown by, I don't know where I'll find the time...

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this month? How do find time for it?