Halloween 2013

What a fun day. I'll write about Sydney's stuff later but needless to say it was a fun birthday and Halloween. We kept it super relaxed which was so fun. All day Sydney and I kept our capes on. We hit Safeway after London's morning nap to pick up some stuff for dinner. Everyone thought we were so cute. Sydney did amazing on this shopping trip. She listened and was so well mannered. I was so proud. My little girl. 

The Ostergaard family join us for trick or treating across the road and then we had taco soup, rolls, cider and homemade shakes for dinner. We used the chocolate candy the girls got as part of our shakes. 

By 815 everyone went home, girls were in bed and Tyson and I cleaned up. I can't believe the holidays are here. 

Real life

Tyson left for work. We waved goodbye and I took a look around me. Wow. It was a very normal morning and I started thinking how much I wanted to remember these days. I mean LOOK at  the mess. However, I was happy that Sydney was playing. London was happy attempting to self feed - which meant lots of Cheerios on the floor. My attempts of bread making are seen in the back.

Sydney's new thing is making a complete mess of our junk drawer. Usually it's nicely divided and semi organized but today it looks like the above. Rather than getting super stressed or frustrated I put both girls to play in the crib and then set a timer. I was able to clean things picked up in  6 minutes and 8 seconds. 

Yes the dishes are still soaking and the bread making continued but I think it looks

way better. I like the way I try to simplify my life to be able to clean up in less than 10 minutes. I've been a full time mom for almost 9 months. It's been such a transition. Most days I love it and I think most of it has to do because I have turned all my energies to be a professional home manager. I remember loving working because I was challenged to do things better, faster and in turn have less stress. After 3 months of feeling sad that I could not return to work I used all that energy to create the same at home. From freezer cooking to simplifying my home, to selling stuff on craigslist. It's taken me years to change my attitude and mindset about what I want in my home and why. 

Someday My girls will have babies of their own and will ask me how I lived  my days. I'll tell them of all the prep I did before hand to achieve a simpler life and how days were filled with library times, walking outside, naps, making bread and lots of reading.

How I love my babies and I'm grateful for the chance to learn new skills for home. There are so many smart, amazing women who run their homes with love and daily intentional decisions. I learn so much from them.

Anyway both girls are down for napa, my bread is rising  and I need to another Gerber 

Pick up since my clean house last about 10 minutes before it's dirty again lol

Recent happenings

Multiple play dates

We crashed the scottorns trunk or treat 

We watched conference

We are making a bench with brother bob reeder. Hopefully it will be done in a couple of weeks

I am making santa sacks with Kayla Thompson 

Today is jaels birthday!!

Tyson turns 30 tomorrow!!

Sydney turns 2 in Thursday. 

The weather yesterday was amazing! 70's. Today only 40's. Boo!

Boulders

So Sydney and I love to walk. Every day while London takes her morning nap we walk. Walk in the front of the house, the back, top of property, then bottom and if it's great fall weather we even go to the very edge of the property where there are boulders. Sydney loves them. She climbs and jumps and explores. It's really really awesome. Most days I'm done after 40 minutes but it takes a lot of work to get her going back up the hill and into the house. Tonight we head to our first trunk or treat. Were excited!

London

London loves to "kiss" the couch. She has also been loving eating for herself. She has loved peaches, apples and bread. 

Not happy

Today London was super cute. I decided to finally cut her super super long front strands. It was a little sad but it was the right thing. After church we played and it was super fun. 

Right at 630 things took a turn for the worse. During the middle of her dinner she got mad and boy did we hear about it. She arched her back and kicked her legs hard. I took her out of the high chair but she was still not happy. 

Bottle. Nope.

Binkie. Nice try. 

Teething pills. Not even close. 

A frozen cheese stick. Lasted 2 minutes. 

Finally I took her upstairs and she was full blown freaking out. I checked to see if anything could be bothering or hurting her.  Finally I put on her pjs, turned off the lights, put on her white machine and she calmed down enough to drink her bottle. She was sleep within 4 minutes. Poor thing. 

London is usually so easy going it breaks my heart when she freaks out. I also need to remember that she has every right to freak out when she needs too. I hope she sleeps well tonight. We might go bowling tomorrow. 

Favorite month

I love fall and specially October. It's such a fun month and usually not too cold. It snowed last night but it was super warm this morning. Sydney and I spent half an hour outside just playing in the snow and in the car. Sydney made snowballs and watched them dissolve in the water dripping from the drain. London has been eating lots. She's loving broccoli, fruit, bread -usually anything. Sydney on the other hand has decided to become picky with her once favorite foods -pasta, eggs, and rice. She's also started not eating the crust on anything. Not sure where she learned that from but we are learning to cope.

This year Sydney is being a fairy with the wings we borrowed and London is reusing last years costume of bumble bee. It will be a fun time

Playing together

The girls are getting really good at playing together. London is hypnotized by Sydney and loves it when Sydney is doing anything. Even when she eats she had an eye on Sydney. My mom gave them this house a year ago. They love it!

everyday the girls spend at least 10 minutes together in Sydneys crib. They play, they even "talk" to each other. Just today I was sitting in the rocking chair outside their room. Sydney must have been jumping and london was giggling so loud. It brings so much happiness to my heart. Sisters have such a special bond. Sisters are the best.

Eight months

Weight: 17 lbs 12 oz

You are finally finally sleeping through the night.. 7-7 with no feeding - just kidding that lasted three days. Now we are back on  dream feed. You have seemed to stopped liking formula. Only real food. It's been frustrating to say the least. Still you seem to be a pretty happy person most of the time.
(update - we kept at it and our latest strategy is to feed you 4 solid foods per day. you have slept through the night for three nights in a row. Last  night you woke up but we let you cry it out and you went back to sleep)

You now eat solids three times a day.. You are big on on fruit but not veggies. 

You are talking and you sound so stinking cute. You babble and coo and caaa

You are slowly showing signs of possible crawling.. You love to push against my arms but you can't do anything on your own yet

You take two naps and are mostly happy in the evening

You love daddy. You two are really tarting to form a cute bond

You reach out to things and you can turn 180 degrees to get stuff

You are quite the mommas girl. You still prefer to have me hold you at all times. You  have always been good to have others hold you, but after 30 minutes you start fussing for me

You have the these big eyes and cheeks that everyone talks about. Your cheeks just seem to hang off your little face. I find myself being unable to stop kissing you. I just kiss you and want to hold you forever. 

You still move and wiggle like never before. You hate being fed in your car seat and you arch your back in protest.

We got you a big care seat. Still rear facing, but its longer and much looser which you seem to like

Sydney Pictures