Stop crying, please!

So Aspen absolutely HATES when Mia cries. If Mia is within Aspen's reach, she will go up to her and try to stick her fingers in Mia's mouth - I'm thinking her thought process is that her fingers sooth her when she's sad, so they must sooth her sister, too, right? :) And if that doesn't work, Aspen just screams louder than Mia cries, as if to block out the sound of her crying. Its not a sad scream, or even a mad scream, its just a LOUD noise! SO I caught a picture of it the other day and it cracks me up everytime I look at it. I think perhaps I am a bad mom because I laugh at a picture of Mia crying and Aspen screaming to drown out the crying...but its one of my favorite pictures ever! :)





















And here's a pic of Aspen trying to make Aspen feel better by putting her fingers in her mouth!

Long overdue thanks...

Mia will be 4 weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe it. I was so convinced I was going to be completely recovered and out of maternity clothes - back into my regular clothes by the time a month was up...HA HA HA! Little did I know! :)

Anyway, another thing that her being almost 1 month old means is that I haven't thanked my sister for all she did. She took an entire week off of work to take care of Aspen for us so Malo could be with me in the hospital. As many of you know, I had pre-eclampsia and was admitted to the hospital a couple days before Mia was born...they were going to induce my labor after I was there for a couple days because my vital stats weren't improving, but then I went into labor on my own about 4 hours before I was to be induced. Anyway, I needed Malo there with me and my wonderful sister, Carrie, took the time off work and came up here and took care of my Aspen. I can't even expain how grateful I am for her being so generous with her time and that I didn't have to worry about Aspen.

Also, my mom came out earlier than she was planning on coming to take care of us! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad that she did; I do not know how I would have managed to work on recovering and take care of my two baby girls without my mom here. So a big huge THANK YOU to mom and Carrie! And a big thank you to Alicia for watching Aspen for most of my doctor appointments. I am truly blessed with great friends and family! Thanks! :)

Walkin' and squawkin'!!

Well, Aspen is FINALLY taking some steps on her own!! She has been "able" to do it for awhile, but has been too much of a chicken...but now she's on the move! Last Friday she took 4 unassisted steps, then 5 on Saturday...now we're up to 12!! Wa-hoo! I suppose she likes the attention she gets from each step...its been a bit rough for her since Mia's been here; she is 100% used to being the center of our universe and has had a bit of a hard time adjusting to having to share some of that attention. So I am sure she "hoorays" and clapping and excitement with each step she conquers are a big part of why she's finally decided its cool to walk. :)

Baby Mia is a squawker! She will only sleep if swaddled tightly or snuggled up with someone. She is a pretty funny little one. She is still confusing night with day and thinks night is the time to be wide awake and alert. So needless to say, our little family is quite sleep deprived...Mia's shirt says it all...sleep is for the weak! Haha!

I am so incredibly grateful for our two amazing daughters. I can't believe how much our lives have changed in just over a year. I don't know why we've been so blessed, but I certainly won't complain!!! :) I couldn't be happier than I am right now, I have the best hubby ever and two wonderful girls. :)

Mia Grace

Mia is here! She was born on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 4:02pm. She weighed 6 lbs, 2 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She looks a lot like Malo, I think. She is a sweet little snuggle bug and we couldn't be happier to have her in our family. We'll post more detailed info later, after we've all had naps! :) But here are some pics:

Patient Yvonne - haha! :)

Okay, so its not even yet my due date, but I am SO impatient and ready for Miss Mia to be born. For most of my pregnancy, we've been trying to make sure I don't have this baby early and ever since I got the word that I'm far enough along that they won't stop labor if it starts, I've been ready. Patience has never been one of my virtues; I do try, really, but it doesn't come easy for me. Anyway, I decided today that instead of wondering when this baby is ever going to come and being frustrated, I am going to think about the things that I have really loved about being pregnant and what I will miss.

My absolute favorite thing about being pregnant has been when Aspen snuggles with me and lays on my belly and little Miss Mia starts moving and kicking. I've always wondered if Mia is happy to feel her sister or if she's already declaring her own space. :)

My next favorite thing is seeing Mia's little parts moving across my belly...a foot, her bum, whatever...I just have loved watching the way those parts distort my belly. Its great! And all around just feeling her move and how she reacts to music, touch, different things...has just been amazing. I love when she moves so much I can lay the remote or my cell on my belly and she moves it around, once she even kicked it off! I have enjoyed talking to my little one and connecting with her. Even the times that she has kicked me in the ribs or I swear sometimes her foot is STUCK in there...those have been so cool, too.

I've also enjoyed all of the ultrasounds and peeking in on her. Even though they're because of a complication, its nice to see her little heart beating and to see her stretching and moving and even yawning.

These are the things I have loved the most about being pregnant. And chatting with Malo about what characteristics we think or hope she will (or WON'T - haha!) inherit from us. So now I will just be patient and wait for her to come on her own time...and then we'll play with her and snuggle her and make sure she doesn't have Malo's feet. I can't wait....oh wait, I CAN. :)

Happy Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband, who also happens to be my very best friend, a Happy Father's Day! I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He works incredibly hard to provide for our family and has his priorities straight. He always makes me feel loved and supported and wants the best for his family. I fall more and more in love with him as I watch him with Aspen...he is such a good daddy to her and she absolutely adores him. So thanks, Malo, for being the greatest daddy and hubby out there! We love you!! :)

Aspen is helping her daddy work on his truck here. He is so patient with her and wants her to learn all sorts of things. Its really sweet.

This is Aspen telling her daddy something...maybe what to do?!?! :)

Aspen is ONE!!!!

I cannot believe that our baby girl is one year old today. A year ago, we were sitting in a hospital waiting for her to make her appearance into this world...and now tonight we celebrated her first year. She has made our family whole; she made us a family. :) I love her so much, she has brought so much joy, love and laughter into our home. Its amazing what a difference one little person can make to completely change your life. I thought I'd put a couple pictures up from June 12, 2007 and June 12, 2008! ;-)


This is Aspen when she was just a few minutes old with her mommy and daddy! :)

Aspen on her way "home" from the hospital. :)

Here is our sweet girl one year later...



Cake is YUMMY!

MMMMM.......