A Year Ago or so

A year ago or so, life was CRAZY!!!!!!!!! Scott had the Hunt's Show over Halloween weekend 2009, as he had the year before and suddenly, I was left a single parent with two VERY little girls. Jenna just over a year and a half and Maya nearly 1 month old.

We put all the right plans in place and had back up support from Emmy and Sabba arranged. It was going to be doable for sure. And then--SWINE FLU! Emmy got sick and we couldn't have them come here and help. The panic set in-I was going to be alone with the two of them for the weekend-that was going to be a first.

Now a year (and a week) later, here we are. The girls are needy, but in SUCH different ways. They are so much more independent, so much less demading--well demanding differently---and we are here again, hanging alone this weekend-except for a visit from Emmy and Sabba tomorrow afternoon, but that's more because they miss their ladies!

What a difference a year makes!

A few videos to enjoy!

Jenna's infamous dance class- She is far right in dark pink!

One of our first adventures to the pet store-sans stroller!

Jack Sprat and His Wife--well Jenna Sprat and her sister is more like it!

Oh, you have two girls-how great! That must be so easy-they can share everything! People say that ALL the time. Then they get to know our girls and comment at how vastly different they are. It's WONDERFUL!

Scott and I often chuckle at how incredibly different our two little ladies are. At just 18 short months difference in age, one would think that it's just a repeat of the last go round--oh contraire my good friends!

Take meal time for example, Jenna sits neatly at the table with her napkin on her lap, asks permission to get down from the table when finished eating and has NEVER once thrown or dropped a piece of food on the floor intentionally! She likes what she likes and doesn't appreciate us trying to introduce her to a different squeezable yogurt or macaroni and cheese-she revels in predictability and organziation. Maya, she's got quite an arm--she throws foods, drinks, plates, napkins, placemats. She has mastered getting into a one legged kneeling position while strapped into her chair and can sometimes even half stand up in her chair. Maya loves to try new foods-this morning she tried repeatedly to taste Mommy and Daddy's coffee. :) When sharing foods, it couldn't come easier-take a cup of fruit filled yogurt, Maya only want to the plain yogurt, while Jenna will happily request all of the fruit pieces.

Bathtime and Bedtime--Bathtime-Jenna screams throughout and insists on being all done the second she enters the tub. Maya repeatedly splashes, throws toys and sucks on shampoo bottles. Bedtime--Jenna takes a mere 30-45 minutes from bath completion to falling asleep. Maya, a short 20 minutes tops and she's out for the night. Jenna longs for opportunities to delay the inevitable, while Maya is known to be seen and heard walking around the house requesting "Night night!"

The car-Jenna, an easy going traveler, happy with her music, Mommy to listen to her stories about her babies and their imaginary lives. Maya on the otherhand, takes the time to practice her overhand throws of her lovie, yelling when she tosses it and no one can reach it and thoroughly enjoys emptying a snack cup or spitting out the water she drinks from her sippy cup.

Forget "baby proofiing." Ask Maya, what would you like to play with and there you have the danger zones... Climb up the stairs while no one is looking-check, throw non-bath toys into a full tub-yes please, dump out boxes of markers stomp on loaves of bread--done and done, dive into a freshly peed in potty-what fun what fun! Jenna, never once climbed a stair without permission until she was 2 years old! Enough said.

Our girls are SO different in so many ways, yet parts of them are the same--they are both filled with love, share wonderfully with each other and friends, shower us with hugs, kisses, smiles, laughter, are the happiest moments of our days and most of all bring Scott and I the most immesurable pride with ALL that they do. We are so lucky!

1 down, a lifetime to go! YAY!

So we survived the first year of having two daughters. Most say that is the hardest time-when they are the smallest and need the most support. We did it though!

We got past sleepless nights, feeding concerns, potty training, moving from Mommy and Daddy's room to a new room, moving from a crib to a bed, learning to sit up, learning to crawl, getting teeth, learning to our abc's, infant car seat to "big girl" car seat, learning to walk, eating solids, going to school, transitioning to a bottle, learning to run, learning to jump, spelling our name, brushing our teeth, dressing and undressing ourselves, doing a forward and backward roll, first words, signing, learning new words, tantrums, going to classes w/out Mommy or Daddy, how to kiss, first pairs of shoes, sitting in the shopping cart, walking the grocery store, watching as both girls walk ahead on their own... We've passed SO many HUGE milestones this year.

It's amazing to see how fast it just flies by. I always remember other parents saying that to me when I was a teacher, "It just goes by so fast!" I really never got it-until now. They are growing up so fast and so many times I just want to freeze life and savor those tender little moments. But again, in the blink of an eye, something new is upon us, something new to treasure, something new to revel in , something new. It's always something and it's FANTASTIC!

Visiting with Auntie Heidi, Uncle Dave and Cousin Lilah

Most people who know Jenna, even if they meet her in the grocery store for a quick minute, immediately know she LOVES babies. The real ones, the baby doll kind, the imaginary kind, you name it--she's a born care-giver. We joke that at the young age of 2 1/2 years old, she could likely babysit Maya or any other young child, if she just could lift the kid into the crib. :)

Needless to say, there is one real live baby that is her top favorite and NO ONE can compare! Cousin Baby Lilah. To Jenna, Baby Lilah is sort of like Oprah or Cher--she only requires one name to be known by--it just happens to be Baby Lilah. Just as Maya has "matured" into BIG MAYA from Baby Maya or Little Maya, Jenna is fully aware of the growth and maturation Lilah has undergone. She has watched with pride as Lilah has learned to nearly sit up independently, chiming in "Good work Lilah!" and gets such thrills out of Lilah sharing snacks with Jenna and Maya and eating at the dinner table with us when she, Auntie Heidi and Uncle Dave come over.

We feel so blessed to have our daughters grow up with a female cousin so close in age-and so incredibly sweet and precious. Our most recent visit to Barnes and Noble and to a sports bar for dinner-was a BLAST! Jenna couldn't wait to share all of the toys and books with Lilah she just knew were right for her-even "reading" to her! And as Maya raced around with various stuffed animals and books handing them to Uncle Dave over and over and over again, she shared a special uninterupted moment with Lilah as well. Maya kindly shared her Puffs with Lilah and a cuddle with Auntie Heidi.

They are such fun!

Halloween 2010

The festivities started nearly the Sunday before. The girls were asked to wear their costumes to dance class, music class, three or four different parties and also on Sunday 10/31 to go Trick or Treating.

One of the best parts about having two little kids is that neither of them had any real understanding-that we were aware of-as to what Halloween was all about. No awareness of ghosts, witches, goblins candy, or any of that.

We had lots of family here the afternoon of-we started out early, before dark and anyone else for that matter. We took the wagon and strolled up to a few neighbors houses, only actually ringing the bell of one friend's house. We also took part in some of the treats here at home. :)

After about 30 minutes of walking in the bitter bitter cold, Maya cried and asked to go eat and Jenna told us she was all done and ready to go home. What they did enjoy was dressing up and handing out candy to others who came to our house.

It wasn't a bad attempt--and they looked ADORABLE!!!!

One day when we weren't looking...

Maya started walking, well running actually!!!!!!!! She is a BUSY girl! Maya started taking steps around 10 months and just kept on going and going and going. My father, Maya's Sabba, volunteered to watch her one morning while I took Jenna to the dentist. As Jenna and I walked into the dentist's office, I heard my father yell, "WHOA, Maya, when did this happen?" He had seen her two weeks prior and was in awe of her mobility. She can take off!

Maya has shown her strengths to be with her motor skills. She can jump, she can palm a ball, she can run, kick a ball, frequently does forward rolls, and climb with the best of them. People who see her, often comment about how petite and sweet she is demeanor wise, but BOY can she hang with her sister and her buddies!

We are having a blast and getting quite the work out keeping up with Maya! :)