The Big Apple

So I didn't get to post while I was in NYC...mainly because our hotel's internet service was down the majority of the time I was there. It was a pretty quiet 3 days. Other than missing my family tons, I spent most of the time just wandering around. I decided to take the train to check out the Museum of Natural History but I managed to take the subway the wrong way and ended up in the Bronx...that was fun. And by the time I figured out how to get back to where I started, the day was pretty much over so I never did make it to the museum. The highlight of the trip was most definitely taking the train out to CT to have dinner with my Uncle and cousins. We hadn't seen them in 6 years so it was fun to catch up. We got back late Friday and I spent the weekend with Brian and the girls and now that it's Tuesday, I'm trying to get back in the work groove. I need to get some more wine tastings booked for September. I need to pay bills. I need to return some phone calls. I can think of a million things I need to be doing...and sadly blogging isn't on the need to do list.

Ugh.

Under Construction

So as you can see, I am making some changes to my blog. It's been a long time coming, and sadly, it'll probably take a while before I have it the way I want it. You see, I have a very specific idea for my blog, and after searching high and low for the design I want, it became way too overwhelming. Seriously...when you have someone design your blog...I just don't know how the heck you pick what you want! There are so many 'kits' and whatnot out there, I could spend days just looking at them all. And even with all of them to choose from, nothing looks remotely like what I have in my head. So I may just have to figure out how to create a template myself, which could of course...take years. So in the meantime, I have settled on this premade design to satisfy my "need to change my blog right this very second" moment that I was/am having.

Anyhow...we had a busy weekend. Brian has been at work since Friday morning. Ugh. I had a wine tasting Friday night, which went really well. Yesterday the girls and I met my Dad and Barbara at Huntington Gardens, and sadly, this is the only picture I was able to get of both girls.



Lilly has decided today that her new favorite sound to make is "da da da". She has been having so much fun with it. And she also decided today that it was time to start trying to pull herself up to a standing position and hang out. She can't really pull herself up yet (as hard as she tries), but if you prop her hands up on a chair or something, she will totally support herself. Seriously...this girl is growing up WAY too fast.

Anyhow, back to the Gardens yesterday, Lilly had fun with her Grandpa



While Abby and Barbara enjoyed the Chinese Garden



It was a really nice day but we are looking forward to Daddy being home tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow...I will be spending the day cleaning and packing because Tuesday morning I am off to NYC with my sister for a little R&R. And while I am there, I will continue to pray for this family. They have weighed so heavily on my mind, having been through something so similar with my family. I hope you will keep them in your thoughts as well.

More Bits and Pieces

So you're up to speed (sort of) on Abby, so how about a little bit of Lilly now? Well, she just turned 8 months (6 months adjusted), which is almost impossible for me to believe. It really seems like just yesterday that she made her dramatic entrance into this world. And she's doing pretty darn good...considering where she started. She's tipping the scale at 20 pounds. She's quite the chunk! She is super tall too and is in the 90th percentile for both height and weight... unadjusted, thankyouverymuch. Her hair is getting thick and is really starting to look as red as Abbys. She has completely mastered sitting on her own and she's up on all fours and rocking, so I'd bet she'll be crawling in a matter of days. She makes her way around the room though usually on her knees and belly, and usually backwards, but whatever, she gets where she wants to go. Her eyes have turned to a light brownish-greenish color. I am not really sure exactly what to call it. She's wearing mostly 12 month size clothes. I still put her in some 9 month stuff, but honestly, it's getting pretty snug. She's eating stage 2 foods, but we haven't started meat yet...still just veggies and fruits. She's recovering from a nasty cough and spent the last 10 days taking an antibiotic so it didn't turn into something worse. She hasn't slept through the night in a couple of months now, and I am looking forward to when we get back on track with that. But she's cute as a button...loves her big sis...loves being outside and could spend all day in the Bjorn if Mommy's back could hold up that long. I haven't been very good at taking pictures this summer...but here's one from Abby's birthday...

Bits and Pieces

Wow, it's been a long time, huh? It makes me sad that I have taken such a long break from blogging...both reading others' blogs, and writing my own, and I've thought long and hard about what my first post would be about once I committed to getting back into it. And the fact is...there is so much to talk about that I don't even know where to start! Hence...the bits and pieces title.

I think I'll start with yesterday, and work backwards from there. Yesterday was a big day. It was August 24th. It was Abby's 2nd birthday. I can't believe how much has happened in the last 2 years, and it is overwhelming, emotionally, to think about all of it. But here was my girl 2 years ago...



...tiny, tiny, tiny. Weighing only 2 pounds 4 ounces...sick as could be...and who would have ever thought that in these 2 years, she has gone from that to this...

A big girls who loves her baby,



and her Mommy,



and her Daddy too...



Abby is doing so well! She was discharged from developmental clinic last month and now that she's 2, we won't adjust her age anymore. She loves the beach and really, anything that has water in it, on it, near it, whatever. The girl just loves water. She's in size 4 diapers and is just about ready for potty training. Ok, well...she is ready for potty training, I'm just not sure that I am yet. She's wearing mostly 3T now and is still giving us a hard time about brushing her teeth. I mean, the way she throws such a fit, you would think we were actually pulling those teeth out! Her hair is still red, although being out in the sun this summer has given her some pretty blonde highlights. She is an awesome big sister and loves Lilly. She has been known on occasion to be found sitting on her baby sister. And I mean on her, as in trying to ride her like a horse. This behavior, along with a handful of other bad habits, has caused her to spend some time in time out. Every once in a while, she'll even put herself in time out. That always cracks me up.

I suppose I could go on and on about how amazing she is...our first born daughter. But I suppose I probably shouldn't...I mean...it's 10:30pm for goodness sake. All I know is that after 2 years, our Abigail never ceases to amaze us. And I have a feeling that is never going to change.

Father's Day Surprise

I had professional pictures of the girls done for the first time ever, as a little Father's Day surprise for Daddy. It was late in the day, so to say it wasn't easy may be a little of an understatement. Nonetheless, I think we got a few keepers. You can view a slideshow by clicking on the button below.

New Blog Design

Who's your favorite blog designer? I'm looking to finally update It's A Corny Life, plus I've got a new one in the works. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Hello? Are you there?

I can't believe how long it has been since I have updated my blog. Seriously. I don't know where the time has gone. So if anyone is even bothering to stop by, well, here's an update.

I guess it's obvious I've been pretty busy. The kids keep me going non-stop, and of course I am trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to maintain some order around the house. For example, I try to mop the floors regularly. And I try to put reasonably healthy meals on the table regularly. As for the laundry? Well, it's a long shot. If I am lucky enough to get the dirty clothes in the washer AND the dryer, well it's a good day. And even then they just end up in a laundry basket unfolded. That is until I need them again. I kid you not...the baskets, sadly, have become our dressers. Ugh. Today I spent almost 3 hours sorting just the clean clothes, and everything in Lilly's room. Yep...3 hours...and I haven't even gotten to Abby's room yet. I can say for sure though that she has grown out of everything that is currently in her dresser drawers. It seems nowadays to be nothing but a rotation of get-it-dirty-wash-it-dry-it-get-it-in-a-basket-and-get-it-dirty-again. Case and point...



That's right...my big girl L-O-V-E-S dirt. But in my defense, when this picture was taken, we were at one of her Daddy's softball tourney's...had been out of the house since 7am...hadn't napped...it was about 5:30 in the evening. Daddy's team was still winning...(out of 52 teams, his team won it all...thankyouverymuch) and if covering herself in dirt would keep her from a meltdown...well, I was all for it. Sadly now, the minute we get outside, she heads right for any dirt she can find. Which could bring me back to the laundry issues...

But I digress.

Speaking of Miss Abby, she turned 21 months on Monday. She's 30 pounds wearing a 2T and talking up a storm. I'm talking sentences people. Things like "I want milk". "I go poopie". "I'm stuck". I could go on and on. But lucky for you, I won't. She just amazes us every day. She is so stinkin' smart. She'll repeat e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g you say. She eats anything you put in front of her. And she has the most gorgeous red, curly hair and puffy little lips I have ever seen. If I do say so myself.
Case and point...



No, I have never cut her hair nor will I let anyone else do it either. As for being a big sister, well, she is great. Although I will say, sometimes she gets herself into trouble. Like the other day, when I left my poor defenseless Lilly on the floor for about 2.2 seconds only to find that in those 2.2 seconds, Abby managed to stuff 3 goldfish crackers in little Lilly's mouth (and no, we haven't started solids yet). Oops. But she really is a great big sister, and being a 31 weeker, I think Lilly is way ahead of the game, thanks to Abby.

And speaking of my little 31 weeker...holy cow you would never know it looking at her. She's a big 'ole bundle of baby fat and at 5 months old (3 months adjusted), she's almost 16 pounds and wearing size 6 (and even some 6-9 month) clothes. Her eyes are definitely not blue anymore...but don't ask me what color they are. They seem to go from green to light brown and back to green again. She wears size 3 diapers, drools as much as an English Bulldog, and loves to engage in "conversation" with anyone who is willing to talk to her. She babbles all the time and is the happiest, smiliest little baby. Oh, and get this...she sleeps through the night now. I'm talkin' like 10 hours or so. Makes for a much happier Mama, I tell you. I will say she is tough to get a good picture of though, with all that drool. And for some reason, as soon as she sees that camera, her smile turns to a look of confusion (think "Mommy...where did you go? What's that big black thing in front of your eye?")...so I don't really even bother to take too many pictures. Ok...so it's more because I am too tired and lazy to get the camera out. But whatever. Here's the best I can do...






It's hard too, to tell if her hair is red or brown. That too seems to depend on the day...and the lighting. I'd love for it to be red, but as long as my little miracle is happy and healthy, I could care less what color her hair ends up.

Sidenote: If you'd like too humor me, you'll leave a comment telling how beautiful and red it is. :-)

Ehem.

So I am looking at the clock and it's almost 11pm. I really better get to bed. Lilly has her 5 month check-up tomorrow morning, so we have to be up-and-out-early. And if you know me at all...you know that up-and-out-early really isn't my style.

A quick note on me and Brian? Well, we are good. He's busy saving lives and I am busy still coping with the fact that I turned 37 on Mother's Day. Ugh. It's still a little hard for me to talk about. I've also been super busy with this. But I will post more on that later. For now, I definitely think I've said enough.