Not a whole lot of anything

It has been awhile since I have posted and the reason is probably because we have not been doing a whole lot of anything since we've been back from our GA trip! Funny how it takes so long to truly unwind and get back settled in...or on the other hand, I may just be enjoying being lazy. Either excuse is fine with me.

We have been finding ways to stay cool in this unbelievable summer heat. We are making several trips to the library each week and have actually come home with BOOKS this time! I was laughing with Kristina as I was telling her we were headed into the library to check out some new DVD's and realized...hmmm...I bet Caroline would love new books, and I think she's past the stage of wanting to rip every page out of the books, so we tried it. It was a total HIT! She loves picking out books and actually finds certain ones more interesting than others. It's so fun to see what her little personality likes. So far, she loves non fiction. :) Yes, I bet your thinking, what?? But she likes to pick out books about baby animals, or babies in general. She is all about narrating the pictures to me, so they need to be real life stuff for her to do that I guess. Her language skills are blowing me away- she can name almost anything you point to and is saying it fairly clear. But I also "speak Caroline" since I'm her mommy at home with her everyday. She hasn't really made any sentences yet except for her favorite- "I did it!!" but she is starting to put her words together in true sequence that will eventually be a sentence. She will start saying words with small pauses between them that "go together" like- Mommy. Sissy. Milk. Bottle. Yum. or Mommy. Cook. Hot. Bowl. So I think it's amazing to watch and get to experience first hand how her little brain is growing at such a fast pace.

Caroline is also now labeling everything by what color it is. She knows red, blue, yellow, green, purple, pink, and black. She gets red and pink mixed up every now and then but I totally get that. :) Brad painted her toenails red and she thinks that is the neatest thing in the world.

She has really started mimicking her dvd's that have dances or movements to them. We got a "work out" dvd from the library for her about how animals move and it is probably one of my favorite things to sit and watch with her because she cracks me up with her moves. I love love love seeing all of her almost-2-year-old energy bursting out and going towards a good cause-dancing!

Along with that note- a lot of her energy has been refocused on what I think is the beginning of the terrible 2's. NO is a new favorite word and has a new, extremely defiant twist to it this go round. Sometimes her "no!" is just an attempt, and sometimes it is a full out scream, high pitch shriek accompanied by some flailing arms and legs. She will scream so loud at me, pause, look at me as if she is even appalled with herself for making that awful sound. So needless to say, a lot of disciplining, regrouping, and consistent behavior from me is making me a tired mommy! BUT, I have no doubt that she will learn quickly (she is usually a bright one!) that it is not ok or acceptable to tell mommy or daddy no. We talk about obeying and having self-control and making good choices already. I know our ride is probably only going to get more intense as the months go by, but with a lot of prayer and persistence...we hope to make it out alive.

Emily is sitting back and watching all of this so sweetly. She cracks me up. She will watch and giggle as Caroline goes about her daily routine and absolutely adores any attention that big sister will throw her way. She is enjoying her excersaucers, jumperoo, and even loves being outside even in this awful heat. She can ALMOST sit up for an extended period of time unsupported, but still wobbles back and forth. She can do it for a few seconds though. She is rolling like a tornado around her bed and on the floor. She has her two bottom teeth in completely and we think another one may be in the works. She has started sleeping a lot better (if you call only getting up 2x better:) We have been letting her cry it out some and it proved itself by about 4 days of good sleep (one night she slept for 11 hours straight...but that didn't last!), but then I think the teething came back into the picture and we're back to feedings at 11 and 4. I don't mind too much. Guess we'll just wait it out a bit longer to see if those will disappear on their own. LOL.

We are enjoying playgroup at our house each Tuesday and love having a social outlet as mommies as well as for the babies. It always leaves my girls so tired and wore out which hopefully makes for good long naps for everyone. I am amazed at how God is bringing such sweet friends and families into our lives and hopefully will continue to cherish these friendships for life.
This Thursday will be the kick-off for the new Side By Side bible study that Laura and I are starting in Little Rock. We are anxious and excited- it is a little scary to plan and prepare for something and not know if a single soul will show up. Either way, it may start out very small and grow steadily as it gets around word of mouth, etc. Small may be good so that we are not overwhelmed ourselves. Laura and I are meeting at Starbucks tonight after the kids are in bed to pray and plan for it. I think this will be an awesome ministry to other wives out there that are in the same "mold" of resident, physician wife. One major request...that Emily will relax and chill long enough with the childcare/nursery worker for me to be able to stay focused during our meetings. She had only let me get through ONE service at church without being paged out....I am not sure why this would be different, but I am praying that God will work it out.

And now the good stuff.

This is Caroline's "I'm about to pitch a fit" look....

I took these pics at playgroup today. This is the only one that actually caught all 3 looking at the camera. Good face Caroline. :)

Daddy and his girls before Emily's bedtime. Caroline was in the middle of saying "cheeeeese"