Two Peas In A Pod?

Not really.  

They're both 8 months old in these pictures and wearing the exact same hat.  Surely the hat must have shrunk by the time it got to Maddie, right? 

In all fairness, Ana was a fresh 8 months where Maddie is closer to 9 here.

She did it!

As promised, this post is to announce that my very first baby is officially potty trained!  Yahooooo!

 

I was left frustrated for a little while there knowing that she knew what to do and just wouldn't do it.  It's really hard for me to feel like I'm just not good at something and this whole potty-training thing challenged me.  And then, what seemed like suddenly, she got it.  She just got it.

So, in true "me" fashion, there was only one thing left to do - have a Potty Party!  Yep, my big girl hit a huge milestone so it was time for a huge celebration.  Ok, so maybe it wasn't so huge but it was a celebration nonetheless :).

Yep, she's this happy about the potty :).

Happy Birthday, my love

And to think at your last birthday you only had one little girl and she was barely talking.

We love you bigger than a breadbox!!!

Chit Chattin' with Ana

She put a bunch of coins into my pitcher and began to stir...

Daddy:  "Ana, what are you doing?"

Ana:  "I making you money, Daddy."

:)

Mensa? Perhaps...

Now I'm no expert on where a kid should be on the "puzzle putting together" progression timeline but this, to me, is AMAZING.  Our little 2 year, 4 month, and 2 week old is putting a 36 piece puzzle together 100%, completely by herself.  It blows me away every single time she does it.

  

I think I hear Mensa calling... :)

Chit Chattin' with Ana

On locations...

Me:  "Where does Uncle Yaros live?"

Ana:  "In Aurora."

Me:  "Where do we live?"

Ana:  "In Joliet."

Me:  "Where does Nana live?"

Ana:  "In Naperville."

Me:  "Where does Papa live?"

Ana:  "With Nana."

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

She's on the move!

My baby is crawling!  She's been getting around for a while now and has been so close to a full-out crawl for days.  Today she had had enough.  Enough with the drama.  Enough with the suspense.  So here she is in all her glory...

That's our girl =)!

Chit Chattin' with Ana, cont.

On the potty....

Me:  "Are you done?"

Ana:  "Nope.  I almost done."

Me:  "OK.  Let me know when you're done."

Ana:  "OK, Mommy.  Be patient.  I trying."

Okaaaayyyyy......

The Toughest Job

I have a confession.  

There are a lot of days that I feel like I'm ripping my husband off.  Days when I see him as the one that got the raw end of this deal - you know, the you-go-to-work-while-I-stay-home-to-raise-our-kids deal.  There are those days that, as the girls lie both asleep, I kick my feet up on the couch and catch up on some TV and emails or even (gasp!) nap.  On these very days I almost feel guilty that he's off workin' his little tail off driving around in a big ol' truck while I get to wake up as late as 8:30 sometimes, go to pajama breakfasts, and shop with my perfect little princesses.  I do.  I'll admit.  I feel like I definitely got the better end of this life.  And then there are all of those other days....

Days like yesterday.  Days that burst with seemingly endless toddler whines and too many poopy diapers to count.  I could write about my entire day but I'd really rather forget it.  In fact, I fully think I need to forget it to keep hope alive for tomorrow.  Instead though, I'll share the 2 tiny minutes that really summed it up.

7:05 pm - put Maddie to bed

7:05 and 2 seconds - Maddie SCREAMS like someone just told her there would be no more milk....EVER.

7:05 and 10 seconds - I rush t0 Ana who incidentally happens to be calling for me very LOUDLY.  

7:05 and 30 seconds - I try to quiet Ana all the while still listening to Maddie's cries.

7:06 - Maddie's still crying.  I manage to quickly put Ana's pajamas on and put her to bed so I can get back to Maddie.

7:06 and 30 seconds - Sigh.  Maddie's stopped crying.

7:07 - Walking toward her bed Ana trips, hits her head on the bed rail, lets out an enormous cry that seemed to last forever, and.....yep........Maddie begins to scream once again.  Two screaming babies.  At once.  On opposite sides of the house.

It's during these two very exciting minutes that I dreamt of sitting in an office working.  Heck, I could've dreamt of sitting behind the wheel of a truck for all I cared.  It's during days like this that I remember why they say that being a mom is the toughest job you will ever have.  So move over, my beloved truck driver, and save the complaints of your day for someone else because you've got nothing on me - at least not tonight you don't.

Chit Chattin' with Ana, part deux

On the potty...

Me: "Are you done?"

Ana: "Nope.  I almost done."

Me: "Ok.  Let me know when you're finished."

Ana: "Ok, Mommy.  Be patient.  I trying."

:)