What a Circus!

Popcorn!
Yes, Katie made this cake!

Check out this spread

Dad and Lucy in the bounce house

Look at this cutie

The kids had a blast!

Lucy just finished checking out all the games

Katie and Ryan with the cake

Lola and Mr. Clown

I just loved this picture. I noted in a few posts ago that Lucy is enjoying taking off her diaper...this is what I found when I went to the kitchen a naked shopper.

Sweet Lola is getting more and more alert each day. I can't get over how much she has changed.

This past weekend Lucy and Lola were invited to a friends birthday - a darling circus theme. My friend Katie is so amazing and threw a party for her 3 year old Layne and her 1 year old Elliot - a duel celebration. The party was fantastic. Katie and Ryan know how to throw a party! I had to take pictures because I knew I would not be able to explain it in the detail I would want. There was a bounce house, carnival games - age appropriate so the younger kids could enjoy, circus food all homemade - candy apples, cotton candy, hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn - you name it. A cake that was unreal and YES homemade by Katie and her mom. There was even a clown - Katie's dad dressed up for all the kids to see! It was awesome! We had such a wonderful time. Happy Birthday to 2 of our sweetest little friends - Layne and Elliot

Thankful!

This post is long overdue but I have had a hard time writing it. There are no words to describe how thankful I am to our family that came to help with Lola and Lucy in the month of December. I get teary thinking Lola is already a month old. Honestly, I ask myself the questions, Where does time go? I still find it hard to believe that I am holding my second baby girl when I feel enough time hasn't passed to still be Lucy this size. Adam and I were beyond blessed with the help of every single person in our family. We are so lucky that everyone got to meet Lola and spend quality time with Lucy. When Lola was born Adam's parents, my dad and my sister - Fave were all at the hospital for her arrival. They took shifts on visiting Adam, Lola and I in the hospital while the others would spend time with Lucy at our house. Adam and I felt so comfortable while staying in the hospital knowing that Lucy remained in good hands. Lucy felt so spoiled with all the attention and we could not have been more thankful. As we came home from the hospital family continued to pour in my dad was able to be with us for a total of about 3 weeks, my sister Megan (Fave) stayed about 3 weeks, two of which her husband Uncle Hunky - Chris and her dog Diddy joined her, my mom was able to come for 2 weeks, Jennie and Gannon for 5 days, Matt for 3 days and Buzz and Daisy were here for Lola's arrival and we are lucky enough to get to spend more time with them this weekend. Thankful beyond words - here is a bit of what our family did to help. Most importantly loved on our two girls making each feel so special, also getting up with Lucy in the morning so Adam and I could try and catch a few more zzzz's, feeding Lucy breakfast, dishes were always clean, all our our laundry was always done...and put away, meals were cooked, Christmas decorations went up and also down with my families help, diaper changes, bed time stories, going to the grocery store, taking us to doctor appointments, walks in the neighborhood, bathing Wrigley and walking him, vacuuming and sweeping the floors every day. I not only had great love and entertainment here, we had an army of workers. It is unreal what family will do for one another. I hope I am able to do the same for my sisters and parents. It was a magical month for so many reasons and I can't imagine not sharing it with my favorite people in the world. Not really sure if my family keeps up with my blog - I am going to pretend they do...so if so - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you - Dad, Mom, Buzz, Daisy, Bird, Matt, Gannon, Megs, Chris and Diddy - our family loves you, thanks you and want you to come back soon! I love you all so much!

Lucy 16mths and Lola 3 weeks

I kept thinking the girls didn't look that much alike - I was totally wrong. Here is a picture of both of them at 3 weeks. Lucy 3 weeks
Lola 3 weeks

It is so fun being a mom to Lucy and Lola. The girls are 15 months apart and it is incredible how much I have forgotten since Lucy was a newborn. I remember how to feed, change diapers, snuggle and all that fun stuff but I forget things like when do they hold their head up, when do babies begin to track objects, when do you get your first smile?

Lola is an amazing baby, she is so mellow and relaxed. Very rarely does she get upset and if so it is a quick fix -diaper or feeding. She loves to snuggle and sleeps best in someones arms. She loves her pacifier which is new to us because Lucy started sucking her thumb in my womb and never took a paci. Another difference in the girls is Lola has enjoyed bath time so far. Lola is doing really great holding her head up although it isn't for long periods of time she is doing great. She tracks objects every now and then too, she does this best after she wakes up. We have been so lucky to have a few really good nights Lola going 4.5 and 5.5 hours between feedings in the night, we have also had the 2.5 hours. We will take whatever I am happy she is feeding well and growing bigger and stronger. I really don't mind waking up with her in the night once she eats she falls quickly back to sleep. There have been many nights I have woken up with her laying on me in bed and we have both fallen asleep - this never happened with Lucy. I was terrified to have Lucy in our bed thinking I would smush her. I don't sleep sound when she is one me however this time just goes by so quickly I don't mind at all.

Lucy is 16 months and cracks us up all the time. She has such a silly personality and a wonderful imagination and they are both in full force. She loves saying "hi" and "bye" to people and blowing kisses. She pretends by giving us pretend objects to do things with. When she sees me chewing gum, she begins to chew too. This now is something she will do even if I am not chewing. I have tried to fish things out of her mouth plenty of times only to find out it was something pretend in her mouth that she is enjoying. Lucy has taken on the big sister roll so well, she helps with diaper changes and makes sure she gives Lola kisses every time she walks past her. She has a new shopping cart with food, we set up a pretend store in our house and she loves shopping and then handing us things. Lucy has also found excitement in taking off her diaper all by herself - EEKKK! We have caught her in her bed with her diaper off and her laughing. However it is coupled with her telling us when she goes to the bathroom. She will say "i pee peed" then take off her diaper. Adam and weren't expecting to introduce the potty so soon but what the heck. We have a potty chair up and downstairs and she proudly sits on both! We will see everything we read says kids can be interested young but doesn't mean they will go for it. We shall see.

Adam and I are so blessed by our girls. They are such a blessing and I can't imagine life without them. Parenting is a fun adventure that I love getting to experience with my best friend in the world.

Merry Christmas!

Here is Lola's birth announcement and our Christmas card.
Lucy's chair filled with gifts from Santa

Lucy walking out to the living room with Daddy to see what Santa brought

She was in awe

Checking it all out

She loves her new tea set

A special outfit bought by Daddy

Lola loved her first Christmas!

Fave with the girls!

Working on putting together Gannon's new train set

Lucy loved her new American Girl Doll from Gramie and Grampie

Lucy and Gannon showing off their muscles

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Bed time stories!

Matt, Bird, Adam and Lola - getting ready for game night!

Hunky keeping us laughing!

Gannon will be a great big brother - he is in love with Lola. Jennie and Matt are expecting early April

Chef Lucy - playing with her Christmas gifts

Hummm where is that pot?

"Anything for the kids" - Fave

Hunky snuggling with Lucy and Lola

Lucy trying to play tennis - melt my heart

Uncle Matt and the kids dancing at the tennis courts

Playing in the dirt - so fun!

Lola in a new Christmas gift outfit

Grampie and Lola

Ginger Bread Competition - Adam and I were the winners!

Our girls!

We had a wonderful Christmas and are still waiting to celebrate one more time with Adam's parents! Santa came to our house and spoiled the girls with fun surprises! We have a tradition on only getting to ask Santa for 3 things, related it to the three gifts Jesus got from the 3 wise men. This year Lucy got a kitchen helper, baking tools and an etcha sketch. Lola got a taggie ball, a few new books, and Tigger. Santa was really nice and left some other small treats for the girls to play with too! Lucy's eyes lit up as she walked into the living room to see all of the gifts. She was in awe and really took her time with the gifts. We weren't too sure how she would react but she loved it. We have started some fun family traditions; waking up on Christmas morning at our house (this was a first for Adam and I since we have dated, we typically go to one of our parents homes), Adam reading Twas the Night Before Christmas before bed time, having a birthday cake and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and a gingerbread making contest (we have done this with Adam's parents for the past 3 years, I always look forward to doing this with them. We tried it with my family this year and had a blast we weren't as nice as Buzz and Daisy - we waited until the kids went to bed and made it just for adults). I am sure there are more however these were some that I just loved.

The week before Christmas

I gave Lucy a special treat, a cookie and chocolate pudding...but I was eating tomatoes she opted for some of my tomatoes in her pudding instead of the cookies...WOW!

We had 2 rounds of Christmas carolers come to our house, it was so much fun!!

Lucy loves showing her muscles

Icing the gingerbread man

Working on Lucy's gingerbread man

Lola chilling out with her big flower!

Lucy has had a blast with all the presents - she busted through 2 so far but has helped re wrap them too. She is too cute!

Lucy carried her baby doll in my baby carrier - she is such a great helper!

Gramie and Lola enjoying some snuggle time too!

Lucy and Grampies hangout spot

Me and my girls in their matching PJ's!

Lola and I snuggle bug

Boogie Nights!

Lucy is so in love with Hunky!!! I think he is pretty much in love with her too!

Adam was enjoying some Apple pie and Lucy decided she wanted a bit...this is what she did!

Family picture after church! Lola was ready to eat but we made her pose for a picture

The Reilly's fixed everyone Christmas eve dinner! Thank you!