Today's Focus

Hattie has found her voice. It is so fun to listen to her little squeals and baby talk. If you coo back to her you can even have a little conversation. It is amazing watching her develop. I feel that with Morgan I was so excited to see what her next milestone was, that I didn’t focus on the moment and stage she was currently in. I even found myself thinking today, I can’t wait until Hattie can sit up. She is close and we were working on it today…but why I am so anxious for that milestone? I guess part of it is you want to see your child develop and grow in a “normal” timeframe and not fall behind the curve. What parent doesn’t wan that for their child? But, I am working on living in the current moment. I want to savor the moments I have right now in this current “stage” of her life watching her reach and grab for things, and discovering different textures and colors. She is always scratching her hand on things…experiencing the different patterns and senses.

I have also started to notice her recognizing our family. When Chad get’s home from work you can see her face light up. When Boomer walks by she can’t keep her eyes off of him…I am not sure she knows what to make of him. When I look at her she smiles and wiggles her body (kicking her leg is her way of saying “that makes me happy”…she is always watching and taking everything in. But, I think the person she likes to watch the most is her sister. Whatever Morgan is doing…Hattie is watching. When I am trying to feed her and Morgan is sitting right next to her, Hattie is so distracted. She would rather focus on Morgan that eat.

Morgan on the other hand has really started to develop her independence. Just the other day we were all at the park playing. Usually Morgan wants Chad or I to go up on the playgroup with her. Chad started to follow her up and she turned to him and said “No Daddy, you stay down there.” It was so cute. I had a little flash of what is to come and it did scare me a little. She is all about “I can do it myself…look what I can do.” It is fun to see her develop and discover who she is. She is also getting a little mischievous. I was getting ready this morning and she was playing with her toothbrush and toothpaste. She thinks the toothpaste is candy I think, she just likes to put more and more on. I told her she needed to stop playing with the toothpaste, and that is wasn’t a toy. She said ok and then proceeded to go into Daddy’s closet (with the toothpaste and toothbrush), and said she was going to “play” in there for a while. I thought it was so funny that she really thought I would be fine with that. I know her little brain is working overtime these days. She is a sponge and picks up everything. In fact today she asked me “Why” for the first time. I don’t think she really understands what she is asking….but, I think that stage is right around the corner. “Mommy why is the sky blue…Mommy why is it time for bed….Mommy why can’t I go outside when it is freezing out?”

As I watch my girls grow and develop I am happy to say that I am doing my best to savor the moment and focus on today. I know every day will bring exciting first, new experiences, and many lessons to learn. I don’t want to miss a moment thinking about what is coming next.

Sisters

Oh how I hope that Morgan and Hattie will be best of friends throughout their lives. I realize that is an optimistic wish...but a mother can only hope. My sister and I are best friends now and we always loved each other, but that's not to say that we didn't have our moments where we didn't get along. A few instances come to mind with flying remote controls, broken fingers, hair pulling, name calling and all the other good stuff that comes with sisterly arguments. When Meredith was studying her junior year of college in France my parents were nice enough to send me over to Europe for my spring break. The two of us met in London and had the time of our lives spending our parents money. There was one day when we took a day sight seeing trip to the city of Bath and I can remember the two of us fighting about who knows what. There we were on an amazing adventure in a foreign city, not a care in the world, and the two of us couldn't stand each other. I think there was a long period of silence between the two of us as we walked the town sight-seeing. I cannot recall what resolved our little spat but before we knew it things were back to normal.

I am not sure why that fight stands out in my mind, God knows there are many to choose from. But what I also remember from that trip was how much fun we had sight seeing, going to Broadway shows, having tea at the Ritz, and may other experiences I am happy I was able to share with my sister. To top of the trip Meredith helped me make a huge decision I was battling with...whether or not to leave TCU and transfer to OU. After breakfast at McDonald's and some wonderful insight from my sister I made the decision to go to OU. If I hadn't had that McMuffin with her and that "talk" who knows if I would have met and fallen in love with Chad, had two wonderful girls and be living this amazing life. I guess what I am saying is thank you Meredith for being such an amazing sister to me. You still help me make important decisions whether it be what preschool do I send Morgan to or as simple as what kind of background I should use on this blog. I admire you for many things and most importantly I am inspired by what an amazing mother you are. I will always value your opinion and enjoy sharing my life as your little sister. I love you.

Sorry for the emotional anecdote. The acutal reason I started writing is because of a moment I experienced between Hattie and Morgan this morning. Hattie was lying on the bed and Morgan was playing with her. The two of them had huge smiles on their faces and were laughing out loud. Morgan was so gentle with Hattie, and Hattie just couldn't keep her eyes off Morgan. Hattie was pulling Morgan's hair and poking her in the eye and all Morgan could do was laugh and giggle. I loved watching that moment. Another one of my favorite things to see from this new sister relationship is how Morgan sings to Hattie when she is upset. And sure enough as I sit here writing this the two of them are laying down on the floor together holding hands and playing with each other. Morgan is singing "Twinkle Twinkle" to her and there are smiles all around.

I look forward to the day when the two of them are chasing each other, playing games, sharing secrets and giving one another advice. I know there will be many tears and arguments along the way, and they will inevitably drive each other crazy at times. But, I am so happy they have each other and will get to share a friendship only sisters are lucky enough to have. I know I am lucky to have such a wonderful friendship with my sister.

On Cloud Nine

I have been waiting for this morning for so long. Hattie slept through the night! I am so happy! I really didn't think this day would ever come. We put her down at 6:45 and she got up at 7:30. I think we have turned the corner. Of course, I woke up at 3:30 and was waiting to hear her cries telling me she was hungry. But, they never came. Now we just have to hope the trend continues. As for now, we are on cloud nine.

Overflowing

Oh my little Hattie. What joy my little Hattie brings me. I remember when I was pregnant with Hattie I was worried that there wouldn't be enough love or time for her. I love Morgan so much, and I just couldn't imagine loving anything else with such intensity. How wrong was I. Hattie is such a wonderful happy baby. I heard about babies that are happy but I didn't know they really existed. As we all know Morgan was a baby that I liked to call "Spirited." With colic and acid reflux we heard a lot crying and saw a lot of tears. It was all worth it in the end of course and now she is such a joy...it is hard to imagine her as unhappy. We were nervous that Hattie was going to have a hard time like Morgan but we have been pleasantly surprised at how much happier she seems to be. She is laid back and will sit and watch what is going on around her with awe and excitement. Of course she cries and unhappy when she is hungry and tired, but what baby doesn't. Her smiles and coo's warm my heart every day.

I have made it a goal of mine to really focus on these days with Hattie as a baby. I know how quickly they go and I want to do my best to take it all in. We have started rice cereal and baby food. She is close to sitting up on her own. She is laughing, smiling, and cooing all the time. Before I know it she will be running after Morgan trying to keep up.

With that being said I am currently at a loss of what to do about her feeding. She refuses to take a bottle which ties me to her without any breaks. I love breastfeeding her and love the bonding that comes with it. But, I am ready to have a little more of a break and I know that Chad would enjoy the time with Hattie during bottle feedings. It frustrates me that I am stressed about getting her to take a bottle instead of just enjoying my baby. I know that in the months to come all of this bottle stress will be gone and her feeding will be all figured out. I just wish I could make the right decision about what to do. I hate that it might have to be all or nothing with the breastfeeding.

Regardless of the bottle I am just so blessed and happy that Hattie is a part of our lives. She brings so much to our world I can't imagine my life without her. I am so lucky to say that not only is our cup full of happiness...it is overflowing.

Morganism

It is so hard to believe that my baby girl is already two and half. It seems as only yesterday Chad and I were spreading the news that we were pregnant with her. And here we are years later and what an amazing little lady she is becoming. Every day something comes out of her mouth and we ask ourselves..."Where did she learn that?" Just yesterday I had my annual OBGYN visit and obviously when I was pregnant with Hattie, Morgan came with me to the doctor all the time. When we got out of the car she said "Are we getting a baby sister?" I couldn't believe it. Not only did she remember that we were at my doctor's office...she remembered that is where we go to see her baby sister. She started patting her belly and asking for a baby. I quickly responded by telling her she was so smart for remembering where we were but corrected her by telling her that there would be no more little sisters or brothers for that matter coming.

Over the past year Morgan's words and sentences have really developed. She speaks in full sentences and you can almost always understand what she is saying (at least mom and dad can.) There are several phrases and "Morganisms" as we call them that Chad and I just love. Here are a few of the things Morgan says all the time that we don't ever want to forget.

Forna orna - we still don't know where this phrase comes from...but it means to go under and crawl under things

puppit right here - put it right here

I'm ok are you ok

Alligators Giraffes and Bears - her answer when you ask her what she dreamed about or what she did at school

Tropicitical Bird - love the extra syllables she adds to tropical bird

Color Purkle - the color Purple

Hold you - Pick me up...hold me

Goodlishish - Delicious and good combined

Whass your name....I Miss Morgan...Nice to meet you

That's much better

I miss you too - I "love" you too

Anyways, I just wanted to document these wonderful Morganisms that we love to hear so much. I am hopeful that as more words and phrases develop there will be more to add to our list. It is just so much fun watching our little baby Morgan develop into an amazing little lady.

Me and my girls

One of my favorite pictures of me with my girls. I am sure there will be many more to come.

A new day..."Time for Change"

As I sit here waiting for the girls to wake up I am watching the recap of yesterday's events. President Barack Obama was sworn in yesterday and what an amazing day it was. I am so optimistic about our Country today. I believe the future for the United States for the first time in a long time has hope. I feel much better as a mother for my children and what the future will hold for them. History was made yesterday with the inauguration of our first African-American President and I feel so lucky to have witnessed it in my lifetime. What a different world it will be for my girls as they grow up. There is a new conformation of the saying "You can do and be anything you want to!" I know the girls are too young to remember this time but at least they will be able to benefit from the hopeful "Change" coming to the United States in their lives.