I know... I know...

Yeah... I know, I know... I haven't been around much.
Life is really really crazy.
Chris had last week off which was awesome, but today I had a really hard time finding my groove once again.
Lauren is going through a slightly difficult phase...
That's putting it lightly.
She absolutely won't let me put her down and even when I'm holding her she's not always happy.
She's pretty much unable to pacify herself AND she's much like her sister was at this age and thinks naps are (not) for babies.
Luckily once she goes down, she's a good girl at night and only wakes 1 or 2 times between say 8 pm and 6 am.
It's just hard because Chloe also needs attention.
I'm sure it'll work itself out but for now I'm just trying to survive.
Forget about having the house clean, laundry done, dinner cooked or me getting a shower.
Not gonna happen.
It's one of those rare peaceful moments in our household so I'm going to take advantage of it and go.to.sleep.

Pictures and teeth.

And yes... I am aware that Chloe has crumbs on her face...

Goes with the territory of having a toddler.

Do you see all the teeth in this next picture?!

There is a big one on the right in the back that broke through yesterday!

Despite all these painful teeth, she still manages to crack up…

This is what Lauren thinks of these photo shoots.

Talk to the hand/flower/hat.

She’s so over it all.

4 weeks..

Yesterday was Lauren's 4 week birthday.
It's amazing how time is flying by.
I feel like it was just yesterday that we were in the car on the way to the hospital when I told Chris I wasn't ready to go through the pain of childbirth. Again.
But here we are.
Our beautiful family is together...
Lauren is such a great baby.
She's really patient and has been a peach with the exception of some gas and constipation issues... which *knock on wood* appear to have been resolved by putting her on formula that is gentler on her stomach.
I was reading through blog entries from when Chloe was around this age and it makes me laugh to see how sleep deprived I was.
This time around isn't too much better but (knock on wood. again.) I feel like I'm handling it better maybe.

Hopefully I'm teaching her to be an independent sleeper like Chloe is now. Until a couple days ago, Lauren was sleeping unswaddled. She hated the swaddle. But it turns out she actually likes it now and I'm hoping it keeps her asleep for longer periods of time at night. After her feedings at night, I just swaddle her and lay her in the pack and play.

Last night I think she actually only woke up to eat at 10:30 and 4:00. Although when I woke up at 4:00 to her lip smacking I wasn't sure if I had actually fed her again between then or not. I'm still not sure but I don't think I could actually sleep through an entire feeding. Then again, maybe I'm just that good!

Lauren is still in newborn clothes, wears a size 1 diaper and is awake a lot more during the day now. I'm still waiting for that elusive first smile!

Little Victories...

These days I'm celebrating the little victories.
Such as... Leaving the house....
...Without forgetting one of the girls.

I have learned it takes me at LEAST an hour to get out the door.
That doesn't include a shower... then again... most days there is no shower to speak of.
This morning Lauren was basically up from 3:30 - 6:30.
Guess who woke up at 6:00 to join her little sister?

No big deal.
I've honestly got to say...
That (so far)... (knock on wood!)...
Going from 0-1 child is a HUGE adjustment. HUGE.
But...
Going from 1-2 really isn't that much more work.
You just have to be a couple steps ahead all the time and plan, plan, plan.
And have 5 arms.

Anyway, we met Chris for lunch today.
After lunch, I managed to get the girls to the park for a little play date with one of Chloe's little buddies. My friend kept telling me that I was making it look easy and she couldn't believe I could have Lauren in the Bjorn and still lift Chloe and do everything for her as if Lauren weren't there at all...
It's just so nice to hear that people think I'm doing a good job.
Because, honestly, I feel like there have been a lot of days where it's actually more work than it's worth to get out of the house.
Because literally by the time we get in the car, it's time for Lauren to eat again!
In time, that will get easier when we're not on such a tight every 3 hour schedule.
It's just so fun to spend my days with these girls. I am so lucky.
There isn't a job in the world that I'd trade this for.
Not once have I wished I was somewhere else.

Anyway, not only did we put in some quality time at the park, but I needed potatoes for dinner so you can guess what was next on the agenda.
The dreaded grocery store.
With both girls.
Our store doesn't have the shopping carts that have the little car in front for the bigger kid to sit in if they want.
Lauren hates getting put into her car seat so I prefer to leave her in there once she's in and content.
Which means that Chloe needs to sit in the seat of the shopping cart and Lauren needs to be carried in her car seat (which is too big for the basket part of the shopping cart).
Now can you see why I have dreaded tackling the store??
Anyway... We did great! I carried Lauren in her car seat on my arm and put Chloe in the cart.
No big deal.
But I did get a few head turns.

Honestly, if you ever want to feel like you've climbed a mountain and tackled the impossible...
try having kids 13 months apart.

Best times. Ever.

Sister Love

Yes. I’m aware there are a bajillion pictures.

However, I’m short on time and deciding on favorites is no longer an option.

You visit the blog, you deal with my obsession with my babies.

:)       

This girl seriously loves her new baby sister. 

It makes my heart melt.

No… She isn’t really biting her… don’t call CPS on me.

It just looks like she is!

Chloe finally figured out how to push her rocket ship.

She adores it…

What follows is … as always… the many faces of Fudge :)  

Chloe is 14 months old now… didja know that?

AND she’s got like 6 teeth coming in on the top…

But for now, she still only has 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom!

Her new favorite word is “uh-oh”

She loves giving Lauren her pacifier when she is crying.

If only we can get her to put it in the right way now.

All Alone…

My mother-in-law left today.

Which means the girls and I were truly on our own for the first time.

This is no trial run…

Chris is really back at work…

…I really am on my own

It’s pretty much as scary as it sounds.

Although I know I can totally handle it.

It was nice having someone get up with Chloe in the morning, however.

That’s going to be the toughest part I think.

I’ll let you know in a couple weeks.

We took the girls to the Santa Barbara Zoo Wednesday.

It is definitely an adventure with two tiny ones.

I spent all morning packing and getting ready…

We put the girls in the car after Chloe’s morning nap…

Drove the 1+ hour to get there…

 

And by the time you get some lunch in your belly

… and see the zoo for a while, it’s already time for another nap!

Chloe had a meltdown when we tried to put her in one of those rides that you see outside of the grocery store where you put in a quarter and it moves back and forth.

(Know what I’m talking about?!)

After that incident she just wasn’t the same.

She even cried at the penguins.

I have to say, however, the only thing that perked her up at all after that was when I brought Lauren to her and asked Chloe if she’d like to give Lauren a ‘love’. She happily obliged, kissed her head, started happily talking and kicking her feet again.

It was SO cute.

Lauren makes her happy. She is so sweet with her.

Yes. I’m aware it can all change in the blink of an eye but for now, so far so good!

I had a good time and it was so fun to get out with the girls.

People are so inquisitive about how old they are and how far apart they are…

I get lots of “good luck” and have actually gotten a “was it planned”…

I love that I get to say yes.

Both girls are so loved and so wanted… and so… planned :)

The oddest comment so far came from an old lady in the Macy’s elevator who was talking to Chloe and attempting to pinch her cheeks…

“You just be careful who you makes love to you”

Yes. She really said that.

Maybe 80 years ago that didn’t have the same connotation.

I felt the need to plug my daughters ears.

She doesn’t need to hear that kind of dirty talk, lady.

She’s only 13 months old!!

Let’s see… Chris and I went on a date last night. It was SO much fun.

I have to say it was nice to get out with Chris and just have some adult time.  I felt like we were on our first date! 

 

Lauren had her 2 week checkup today.

She is happy and healthy…

8 lbs 4 oz already!

I can’t believe it.

Now.. it’s 7:30 and time for mama to go to bed!
I’ve got a late night, early morning and a long day ahead of me.

I absolutely can not wait.

Honestly!