Lets Go!...to the hospital

Dear Diary,

We got an American Girl magazine in the mail. There was no keeping Addy away from it - not because she loves dolls, but because she loves magazines. Seriously, she even looks at Garrett's ESPN. Not to mention Addy has never been a stuffed animal or doll person (she takes books to bed with her) so I wasn't too worried she would fall in love and want an American Girl doll of her own.

So she is flipping through the magazine and asking me to "read" it so I do and I am surprised at what I find. These dolls don't go without ANYTHING! They have clothes and beds and highchairs and car seats and changing tables and HEAD GEAR! You can even buy pets for your doll and if you want to get super fancy you can buy clothes for yourself that match your doll's clothes!

Then we get to page 16. Here we have the "sporty" American Girl section which has a cheerleader on display. In fact it is called the "Campus Cheer Gear" set which includes a cheer dress, matching briefs, socks, athletic shoes, hairband and pom poms. Pretty standard wouldn't you say? EXCEPT, Little Miss Cheer is ready for the big game with a cast on her arm, a boot on her leg and resting on crutches! What the hell happened that landed this girl with multiple broken bones? No explanation needed - just a wounded cheerleader hanging out with a ballerina who appears to be completely healthy and happy.

Why would anyone buy that? "Here you go Susie! Lets get the super expensive "Feel Better Kit" to go along with the super expensive "Campus Cheer Gear" to put on our super expensive American Girl Doll so that way she can't really be played with because she is injured!" Who could pass up a kit filled with crutches, an arm and leg cast, bandages, a finger splint and a faux ice pack? You know, just in case there is a basket toss gone wrong and she breaks her arm and her leg, gets a giant gash across her face, jams a finger and hits her head. What's the Cheerleader Motto? Always be prepared? Okay maybe that's the boy scouts. I wouldn't know, I was only a girl scout for a short period of time and a cheerleader for even shorter.

Anyway, we won't be buying an American Girl doll for Addy anytime soon. Well probably never because she just doesn't play with dolls. But I shouldn't speak too soon because someone else I know snuggles awfully close to her dolls at night. Maybe by the time Olivia is old enough for an American Girl they will have the "Save Her Life Kit" - ambulance, defibrillator and stretcher included.

Sincerely Yours,

We'll Take 2 Lollipops Please!

Dear Diary,

Well it was an exciting trip to the pediatrician yesterday where both girls had checkups which included a variety of shots, fingers pricks, and nasal sprays. I got to take them both by myself, which is another reason I should be nominated for Mother of the Year =) ...Okay who am I kidding. When I had one child, going anywhere was "the hardest thing I had to do," and now with two I laugh at what I used to say about one. I am sure each time you add on to the family you remember the days of fewer children and laugh at how "hard" you thought you had it. Kind of similar to my trip to the store today when I had nowhere to put my grocery's so I piled them on top of Olivia's car seat and when I got to checkout I had to threaten Addy with her life to stay by my side and move Olivia's car seat to Addy's seat so the sacker had somewhere to put my groceries. All you Mom's with 3 or more kiddos at tiny ages who can successfully take them all to the store deserve a pat on the back and a parade in your honor!

Okay what was I talking about? Oh yeah,

They both received a good checkup. My favorite question of the day, "Is Olivia beginning to roll over on her own and if you put her in a sitting position is she able to hold herself there for a few seconds?" My answer, "No she's not able to hold herself there for a few seconds because she has already crawled clear across the room and has pulled herself up to the coffee table." Needless to say, Olivia is developing just fine =) The Doctor actually told me she was sorry because she can see how I have my hands full with two mobile kids already and she hated to say it but she thinks Olivia will be an early walker too. Awesome....

It was hard to take in everything the doctor was telling me during each exam. While Olivia was getting checked, I was trying to clean up the 47 books Addy got out and spread across the floor and while Addy was being checked I was keeping Olivia occupied and bribing Addy with snacks if she sat still. So when I got home, I read through their papers and I even got out Addy's old exam sheets to compare the two.

At 6 Months Addy was in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. Olivia is running on the petite side, only 25th percentile in weight and a low 10th percentile in height. Don't let those chubby cheeks fool you, she is a small little booger but small and mighty might describe her better. Annnnd don't let me forget the head. Addy's head was an issue from the beginning. She was constantly at or above the top of the charts and we were even sent to a specialist just to make sure it was nothing more than hereditary. At 6 Months old Addalyn was in the 97th percentile on head growth. Olivia is in the 10th percentile. Garrett has a HUGE head, while I have a incredibly SMALL head. You're welcome girls!

Obviously they are our children so it goes without saying that they will take certain traits and characteristics from Garrett and I, but it still amazes me.

Addy is her Father's daughter, through and through. She has the darker skin, the darker hair, the gigantic head, the wide feet and she appears to be a lefty. She can memorize a movie or tv show after watching it just once and she is crazy good at remembering the details that shouldn't have made an impact on her little mind in the first place. But, like her Momma, she has a love for reading, she is obsessed with Halloween with the monsters and "get you's" that go along with it, and she loves her coloring books which leads me to believe she could be a bit artsy fartsy.

Olivia hasn't shown her full colors yet at only 6 months but I can already tell she's more like me. She has lighter skin and lighter hair, which I had when I was her age. She has short little legs and tiny hands and feet. She is the most layed back, quiet, and happy little baby who just spends her day following that older sister around - similar to the quiet little shadow my brother had following him around when we were little. And she is a Mommy's girl, 100%. Unlike Addy who would go off with a stranger if he had a package of fruit snacks and a book in hand.

And lucky for them, they have gained something from both Garrett and I. They are extremely active and strong, which I assume means they will both be athletes of some kind. Hopefully at least one will pick up a softball glove but if not, I have no doubt they will be good at whatever they decide to do!

Besides the obvious, I think my favorite part of parenting is that there is always something to look forward to. We have so many years of fun ahead of us. I don't want time to go too fast but at the same time I can't wait for it all either!

Sincerely Yours,

In My Dreams

Dear Diary,

Olivia and I were up before everyone else as usual. She began her daily exploring while I snuggled on the couch with my laptop, coffee and Pinterest. I wouldn't say I am addicted just yet, because I honestly only jump on the website every now and again, but boy when I get started it's hard to stop! I am not sure if I should thank Megan Simmons for the suggestion or to blame her for the distraction away from doing things I should really be doing. =)

This morning, during my Pinterest roaming, I have come up with several conclusions:

I Need A White Kitchen: When we moved into our house we were moving into a "Red Hat Lady" filled space with lovely potential and a great "first home" set up. In the 3 years we have lived here we have done SO much. More than I imagined we would in 3 years. There is no trace of Red Hat Lady left and I am sure if Sandra (the previous owner) strolled on back to the ol' neighborhood she wouldn't recognize the place. That being said - Sandra's kitchen has remained the same. It's the only room that hasn't been touched besides adding a pantry and installing a microwave above the stove. While I feel like I have adequate space and it tends to "do the trick," I hate my kitchen. I dream of white cabinets, beautiful counter tops, freshly painted walls, a new sink, a lovely tiled back splash and a new island.

I Love Nooks: I think most people do. I mean who doesn't want to curl up into a small little space full of pillows and blankets whose only purpose is to be lounged and read on? I love every kind of nook - window seats, hallway nooks, small loft spaces, hidden nooks, and bunk nooks. They just give me the feeling of being little and having my own special little space to do whatever I want to do. Would I really use a nook if I had one? I don't know. I mean, let's be honest, I hardly have the time to sit on the couch or lay in bed and flip through the pages of a good book as it is. But for now, I'd like to think that if I had a nook in my home, I'd be sitting in it right now, typing away, buried in pillows, blankets and happiness!

I Should Shop At Flea Markets: I am attracted to everything vintage. This really isn't a surprise, but I do find it odd that while I love all the distressed wood, vintage color palette, and light wall colors, my house does not reflect this in the slightest. I think most people dream of what their home would look like and once the time comes you find yourself doing things differently than you thought. I think the reason, well at least in my case, is that I don't have a million dollars to buy the perfect home interior. Of course if I spent my free time shopping around flea markets and waiting for special deals to present themselves I may be able to afford the "dream" home I want, but until that "free" time gets extended, I'll stick with what I got and be happy that my kids have furniture they can beat up, curtains they can tear down, and decorations they can break. Cheap = easy to replace!

Sooooooooo I have decided that once my kids are a little bigger, once I have more money, and once time isn't an issue, I will be cooking in an outstanding white kitchen in a house full of nooks that my friends and family will only describe as a "Vintage Beauty."

Sincerely Yours,

My Girl

Dear Diary,

I remember finding this picture when Addy was this age and thinking she looked like me. I ran across it again and I think someone else I know looks A LOT like me... lucky girl =)

Me Around Olivia's Age

Olivia

Lucky

Dear Diary,

This weekend is blog worthy. Not because we had big plans or accomplished anything great, but because we had no plans and we accomplished nothing great. It was the kind of weekend where I only got out of sweat pants once, and the only time I spent away from my family was to run to the grocery store. The playroom was our room of choice for most of the weekend and the Phillies occupied our television.

Garrett got to enjoy a few drinks with coworkers on Friday night - a rare occasion - and I debated on a movie to rent - an even rarer occasion. It was between Something Borrowed, what I have been wanting to see since I heard they were making the book a movie, and Bridesmaids. It was tough to pass up but I had to go for Bridesmaids - partially because I was afraid I wouldn’t like Something Borrowed as well as the book and partially because I was in the mood for a laugh.

Bridesmaids delivered. I laughed out loud several times and I was watching it alone. And, as if they knew Lindsey Forsythe would be watching, they saved the best for last - Wilson Phillips, “Hold On” took us to the credits. Good choice.

It was also Garrett’s Birthday Weekend so we spent Saturday night doing the Three C’s: Church, Chipolte and Cold Stone. We decided it was like a date, minus the nice restaurant and plus a couple of kids. Every one of us enjoyed ourselves and with full bellies and happy memories we headed home for the Three B’s: Baths, Bottles and Bedtime.

Sunday was the icing on the cake. Birthday Boy was fixed a lovely breakfast, spend the entire day in his Matrix Tshirt and Xbox pajama pants, got a Phillies win, a few video games in, AND got to spend PLENTY of time in the playroom. He swears he turned 27 today, but I could argue it 7 instead.

My house didn’t get cleaned, I didn’t get a jump start on the orders for the week and my pantry is still waiting to be filled, but it is okay because my husband spent his weekend relaxing, my girls spent their weekend playing, and I spent my weekend smiling.

Love. My. Life.

Sincerely Yours,

2 Incredible Years

Dear Diary,

I am spending my evening relaxing, which could come back to bite me considering everything I have to get done in the next few days. Which is why I am taking this time to post my special "Birthday Edition" blog post now before it's too late.

Addalyn Paige is turning 2 on Saturday, and I will say what every parent says, "Those 2 years went by so fast." Everyone tells you to cherish each moment, cuddle as long as you can, and soak in all those baby firsts because the time goes so quickly... and everyone could not be more right. I will quote myself: "I can't believe I already have a two year old. If I didn't have another little baby around I would probably be more upset about this."

I swear to you that it honestly feels like yesterday that Garrett and I were driving to the hospital. Okay, maybe not yesterday, but it definitely feels like it was merely last month. I remember everything in such detail and I am thankful for that. It was a roller coaster of emotions and Garrett and I still talk about how "fun" that time was, even though parts were not "fun" at all.

It's the thrill of going through everything for the first time. She had us worried even when she was a little peanut in my belly. And she continued her worrisome behavior at the hospital. But in the end we got a precious little girl that would change our life forever. And she gave me the best gift I have ever been given - Motherhood.

I cannot believe how much she has grown and learned in these past 2 years. There is not a day that goes by that I am not amazed by how much she knows, laughing hysterically at something she says, or am touched by how much she truly loves her little sister.

I cannot imagine my life without her and it excites me to think about the many years of firsts that are ahead of us.

My baby isn't a baby anymore. I swear it was just yesterday that I was snuggled on the couch with her asleep on my chest and then I blinked and I was planning her 2 year old birthday party.

From melting our hearts on September 10th, 2009, to laughing on the couch with Mommy for the first time, to crawling well before she needed to, to climbing on everything possible, to pestering Philly on a daily basis, to taking her first steps, to telling herself "Happy Bird-day" on her first birthday, to giving away a million hugs and kisses, to becoming a dancing fool, to saying full sentences, to falling in love with her younger sister, to learning something new every day, to turning 2 years old on September 10th, 2011.

Here's to the coolest 2 year old I know! Mommy and Daddy love you more than life itself. Thank you for giving us more happiness than we knew possible and for being the greatest first born daughter and big sister in the entire world.

We Love You Addalyn Paige Forsythe!

Newborn

3 Months

6 Months

9 Months

1 Year

18 Months

2 Years

Sincerely Yours,

90 Minutes of Awesome

Dear Diary,

Well, it's official... I no longer have time to keep up with this blog. Don't panic - As I am sure all you readers who LIVE for these posts (ya right) are thinking I am closing up shop by what I just said, however that is not the case. I am just going to post when and if I can, which may become more often if my life EVER slows down!

So why the blog post tonight? Well I have requested for an hour and a half of ME time tonight. Just me, in my bedroom, with no kids, the laptop and Project Runway on TV. Olivia is snug as a bug in her crib and as far as I know Addy is playing video games with Dad. She could be shooting fireworks off in the living room for all I care, as long as everyone leaves me alone for the next 90 minutes.

Don't get me wrong. I love my girls and I cherish every second I have with them, BUT this Stay-At-Home Mommy needs some "Me Time" every now and then.

I discovered something about myself today that really surprised me. I was watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians - and no that isn't the surprise. As much as I hate to admit it, I tend to watch that damn show. Not religiously, just when nothing else is on. And while I am setting the record straight - I wasn't ignoring the children so I could catch the Kardashian marathon today. Addy and Brooklyn were asleep so Liva and I got to spend some rare alone time playing and catching up with our Kardashian sistas!

ANYWAY, this show is completely scripted and I can imagine they go through hair and make-up before the camera ever starts rolling, BUT I can't help but wish that I looked that good at all times. Those girls are dressed up any and everywhere they go. I consider myself lucky if I have even put pants on by noon every day.

In the winter I spend my days in sweats and t-shirts. In the summer I spend my days in capri yoga pants and t-shirts. I run all my errands in these clothes. I go to appointments in these clothes. Hell, I have even gone out to dinner in these clothes.

I get it's kind of the "Mom" thing to do. And being that I don't leave my house 75% of the time, it's really not a big deal. But still, a part of me wishes that I spent more time getting dressed and looking nice for the day. And even more than that, I wish someone would teach me how in the hell to put on make-up. It can't possibly be as hard as I make it. You would laugh if you saw my "make-up bag." It probably measures 4 inches by 4 inches tops. Just big enough to hold my plain black eyeliner, mascara, foundation, ONE shade of eye shadow and lip gloss. If it's not one of those few items, then I don't have it and I sure as hell don't know how to put it on. I. Need. Help.

So I guess you could say I am a closet Fashionista Wannabe. Not so much in the closet now that I admitted it. Maybe some day I will be that Mom that gets up at 5:00am to pick out my fashion forward outfit and "put my face on," as they say, all before I run the girls off to school. But for now, I will continue on with my "roll out of bed, no pants, messy hair, t-shirt" kind of days.

Sincerely Yours,