Any advice?

So Aspen has decided over the last couple of days that she does not want to stay in her bed. She climbs out of her crib all the time now and we really need to get her a toddler bed (or figure out how this stupid crib is supposed to convert into one)before she hurts herself. But anyway, the last couple nights she has been climbing out of her crib and into Mia's. Mia doesn't seem to like Aspen disturbing her slumber by sitting on her or whatever it is she is doing. So I hear the screams from Mia and go take Aspen out of Mia's crib and put her back into her own (i really miss my house and them not having to share a room - luckily only 4 more months left of this place - but that's another story for another day)...and then ten seconds later (12 if I'm lucky) she comes out to the living room with a different stuffed animal every time to tell me that they (whatever random toy she is brought out) is "sweeping" (sleeping.). So I tell her to go back to bed and she climbs back in her crib. Or I just put her back in bed. And so the pattern repeats. Again and again and again. And again. With ever so slight variations. But tonight it was 3 1/2 hours (yes THREE AND A HALF hours)of putting her back to bed and her getting back up again. I don't know what to do? anyone have any advice on how I can get her to stay in bed?

This is the look I get from her when I tell her to go back to bed during a nap or at night. "Yeah right, mommy."

I thought this day was NEVER going to come!

Yes, its true - I thought Mia was never going to have teeth! But tonight when I was nursing her before bed....yep, there it was - the sharpest little tooth you ever did feel! I am very excited about this - now she can start eating the GOOD food...steak, ribs, chicken....you know, the stuff that makes life so grand! Ok...so I know that's still a little way off....but I really am excited for her little tooth. For months everytime she'd spike a little fever and get super fussy, I was SURE she was teething...but that elusive first tooth was nowhere to be seen. But its here! YAY! :) Good job, Mia! Just one week shy of 11 months!

And this is the closest I could get to a picture of it (not that you can SEE it, anyway...but still...for posterity's sake. ;) )

What more can a mommy ask for?

I couldn't ask for a better life than the one I have raising these two girls. They are the joys of my life and I couldn't be happier or more satisfied with my life as a mommy. :) (well....unless maybe Mia would sleep through the night!!) :) I'm not at all saying that its always easy or just always fun....but the smiles and the laughter and the hugs and kisses that come from my Aspen and Mia more than make up for any and all of the challenges.

Time for bed!

I will be in bed, asleep by 7:30 tonight. Mia has been really sick and I've been awake since 5:00 yesterday morning. I ended up taking her to the hospital in the middle of the night last night because she was so dehydrated from all the puking. Poor girl. For four hours they pumped iv fluids in her little veins. But she's feeling better now. And now her and Aspen are both in bed - almost asleep. I'm ready for healthy kid time instead of one thing after another. My poor babies. :( And for my own whining - I am SO tired! We're talking almost 39 hours I've been awake...I'm getting too old for that. So off I go to bed at the time of an old grandma. Good night! :)

For Jessica and Baby Nicholas

A friend from high school and now a blogging friend, Jessica, has an adorable 11 month old son named Nicholas. He was very recently diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. All of you who read my blog, would you please follow the link below to sign the petition to help find a cure for this disease. And please keep baby Nicholas and his family in your prayers. Jessica is a really wonderful person and I know she would appreciate your signatures and prayers. Thanks! :)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/182/petition-to-cure-SMA

This picture doesn't have anything to do with this; its just a branch off the tree right outside my door and I thought it was pretty this morning. :)

Carrie took off with my photos!!! ;)

Isn't she funny? In the last week she has starting giving 5 and even does high 5s now. :) And she waves hi like a pro - its adorable. And she's also started emphatically shaking her head no. Too cute! :)

My sister left on Tuesday - and left with ALL my pictures from my camera since I got it in January! Oh well, I'll get them back soon and can post pictures from her trip here and our crazy trip to Washougal and of course the beach! :) Aspen started saying lots of new words while Aunt Carrie was here. She says new words every day, but man she had an explosion of language over the weekend and her constant adorable chattering now is truly forming sentences. Oh I love it! We had such a fun time with Carrie, but more on that later. :)

Rib Heaven

We picked my sister up from the airport last night and right away went to Longhorn barbecue for some YUMMY ribs....Aspen loves ribs. :)


Even Mia was enjoying the awesome ribs. I've got some good meat-eaters on my hands here. :)

Aunt Carrie and the girls