Girl Scouts, Thirty-One and BoxTops! Oh My!

I think that this has been the longest stretch of time that I have not posted!

The last couple of months have been pretty busy, but mostly I just haven't had much to say...

Not too exciting of an excuse, huh? Well sometimes honesty is boring!

So what have I been up to? Well mostly, Girl Scouts and Thirty-One. I have been working my business a lot more lately, and from doing so I was able to treat myself to a brand new iPhone 6! 

I didn't realize that by volunteering to become a Girl Scout Troop Leader, that I would be devoting so much time, energy and brain power! But it's fun, and more fulfilling than I thought it would be. 

We have taken the girls out on two day-trip outings, tried new snacks, planned our Taking Action Project, and have signed up for our communities Fire Engine Food Drive next month! We will also be  putting together a Food Drive ourselves sometime in the Spring, after cookie season. Which is coming upon us quickly! In fact, official 'Cookie Training' begins in early December. I can say this much about volunteering: it has been keeping me busy, and thinking outside of the box. 

And for that, I am Thankful!

Girl Scouts Mission

I have also been helping out Em's school with their BoxTops program. I volunteered to help sort and count the entire 4th grade! It has honestly been a lot easier than I expected, which is a bonus! The hardest part for me is figuring out the logistics of taking Haylee to the school to collect them...not the easiest task with her in tow!

Emma has started second grade and gymnastics! Which she is in love with! She takes to it so naturally, that I really do think she has found what she loves to do! I would like to see her climb the perverbial ladder to maybe someday compete. She has mentioned it in passing, but I don't think she quit understands the demands of that yet. Any why should she? She is only seven years old, after all!

Haylee turned TWO in September! Two years old! Where did that time go?! She is no longer  our baby, but now a toddler! And boy oh boy, does she do her job well! She keeps us on our toes, and keeps me busy all. day. long! But damn, is she cute!

On another note, I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is this week! Where did the Fall go?! But then again, bring on the Christmas tunes and the bright shinny lights! It just goes by so dang fast, I don't feel like I can catch up! 

I guess I didn't realize that trying to summarize the past four months would be so difficult! I suppose that just means that I need to step up and start writing more often!

I truly hope that you and yours have a very Blessed and Plentiful Thanksgiving! 

Em 7.0

Seven years ago today, our lives changed forever. 

In the best {and hardest} way possible: we became Parents.

Our biggest little, Emma turned seven years old at 12:08am this morning!

I cannot believe how incredibly FAST the years have flown by!

Before she was born, people would tell me that time would go by fast, and to cherish every moment because they are so fleeting. And oh yes, how they have been!

 

Just born

 

Sitting here thinking, I can remember every moment:

When I found out I was pregnant, the first time we saw her on an ultrasound, when we found out she was a girl, the moment she was born. 

I remember rocking her to sleep, singing her lullabies, and those first late nights that we never thought we would make it through. But we did! 

I remember how hard it was to go back to work and leave her behind, and I remember my first Mother's Day and how precious it was to me. 

I remember her first steps and her first words.

I remember her first birthday, and every birthday since. 

I remember when she started preschool.

I remember when she graduated Pre-K, and started Kindergarten. 

I remember the magic in her eyes when we took her to Disneyland.

And I remember when she became a Big Sister. 

One month old

First birthday

2 years old

First day of preschool - 3 years old

Pre-K - 4 years old

Kindergarten - 5 years

1st grade - 6 years

I remember every. single. moment. 

The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful!

And let me tell you, she really is Beautiful. Inside and out. 

I know that I am biased, but it is undeniable. 

While she may have her moments, as does every child, the good far outweighs the bad.

 

I can only imagine how much of a mess I will be when she reaches all her older milestones, if I am this gushy about her turning seven!

 

 

This is my HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my forever-baby girl! 

Mommy & Daddy love you to the Moon and Back, Forever & Ever!

XoXo

 

 

Six Months Already?

Where did it go? A whole half of a year gone already {if time decided to slow down a little bit, I would not be upset at all}!

I am still in disbelief that our littlest Haylee Bug turned 6 months old yesterday! She has been having a rough week or two. Fighting off a cold, so her poor pretty eyes have been gooped up in the mornings. She has been a little more cranky than usual, not napping as well as she usually does and waking up once or twice at night. However, for the past two days she is starting to get into the swing of things ago! PHEW!

Our little Doll Baby!

 So yesterday she had her 6 month check-up. Here are her stats:
- 27 inches long, 90% for height!
- 17.04 pounds, 75% for weight!
Needless to say, the doc said that she is a pretty good size for her age! 

She is already so much bigger and taller than Emma ever was! We cannot believe that she is in the 90% for height! Crazy girl! And of course she had some vaccinations. Thank goodness Howard was able to go with to this appointment, because the shots are harder on me than the kiddos...So I make him take over for that part!

While little miss H is not rolling over from back to belly yet, the doc said that he is not concerned. After all, she tries like heck to sit up, and can roll to her sides, and from her belly to her back. We have been working with her for months now, on how to roll over and do exercises with her. And of course, the time she really wants to try is when she's getting her diaper changed! Stinker! We are truly convinced that since she hates her tummy time so much, that she just doesn't want to be on her tummy. EVER. I guess the girl already knows what she likes, and doesn't like!

She is loving her solids, especially her oatmeal cereal and fruits! But she does take after me in the veggie department: not so into the peas!

Recently we were visiting a friend who had their daughter's old Glow worm for Haylee to play with. She loved that thing! So much so, that I just had to get one for her! Granted, the new versions of the Glow worm's are not as cute as the old one...slightly creepy in fact. But she doesn't know the difference! But I must say, she really does love that little glowing face!

Lullabies and Snuggles

One of the things that Haylee loves more than anything, is when her big sissy Emma reads to her: it is possibly the cutest thing I have ever witnessed! It doesn't matter if she is upset, cranky or restless. The minute Emma opens up a book and starts telling the story, Haylee will calm down and just gaze at Em with her big blue eyes {which are starting to get a little more grey these days...} and start smiling!

Sisters that read together, stay together

Lately Haylee has found her feet, and is obsessed with those tootsies! She loves to play with them, and she tries like heck to get them in her mouth: not so successful with this task yet...but still adorable non-the-less!

Overall, we just cannot believe how fast time is going, and how big she is getting! Considering how small she started off as, at a mere 6lbs 9oz. Now she is a whopping 17lbs, 4oz! She is honestly one of the happiest, smiley-est babies I have ever seen! Now I know that I am biased, but it is so true! We love our little Bug more than words can describe! And before you know it, we will be celebrating her first birthday!

My two favorite Loves!!!

Life Lately!

As you can imagine, I have been pretty preoccupied lately.

What with the newest addition to our family, Haylee Elizabeth! 

After a successful induction, and two epidurals later, she has finally arrived!

Born on September 25th, at 2:20am. Weighing in at 6lbs, 9 oz, 19 inches long.

Just Born!

This whole Newborn thing has thrown me for a loop! I am embarrassed to say that I forgot more about it than I care to admit! Who would have thought that 5.5 years later, I would be trying to figure it out all over again?! Well, me, I guess!

The sleepless nights, the feedings, the struggles with breastfeeding/pumping, the fact that she is just so teeny-tiny {she technically should not be arriving for another 6-7 days!}, plus Emma's schedule, and the diaper-to-poo ratio, all makes for completely exhausted Parents.  

On the way home from the hospital...

But other than all that, I do have to say that we would not trade it for anything! Cliche, yes, I know, but so true! Little Miss will sleep through ANYTHING! Which is a blessing! I guess she's already used to all our noise! Ha, ha! 

Speaking of noise, she is quite possible the noisiest infant EVER! It's pretty funny, actually...all her grunts, groans and squeaks! You can definitely tell when she's starting to wake up. I am planning on whipping out my camera here soon, and take some good quality photos of little Haylee, and her Sis-Sis Emma. So keep an eye out for those...

At one week old

Also, do I even need to mention how much Emma LOVES her little sister?! 

She is completely enamored with her! She has labeled herself the "Diaper Helper", and she is honestly the best helper I could ask for! She will get stuff for me, help me out while I'm pumping, check on sister before and after school, and is super concerned about her while in the car. It's pretty cute, really! :)

My Fave: My Loves!

 I cannot believe how FAST these past two weeks have flown by! The previous 37 weeks went by so SLOOOOW. So of course this time has to fly by - Murphy's Law. 

Damn that Murphy and all his Laws!

She is already two weeks old - TODAY!!

Two weeks old -TODAY!

 Needless to say, all these sleepless nights and busy days, equals CAFFEINE for this Mama! You got it right, I am officially back on my bad habit. I'll admit it! 

Pumpkin Spice Latte, in a festive Halloween mug! :)

And might I add: Thank You so much to my Mom who watched Em and made sure she got to and from school safely while we were in the hospital, cleaned our whole house, purchased groceries, and has since helped us on her days off!! 

What a God Send she has been! XoXo

 

Catching Up

And again, it's been awhile...my apologizes!

 

There has been a lot going on around here lately. I had my Baby Shower, which my lovely mother hosted, and it turned out pretty freakin' Awesome {if I do say so myself}! 

It was a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme, and it took a lot to set it up...trust me, I helped and it was fun! The only unfortunate part, is that I was unable to take any photos. :( I have a phone pic of some treats, but it does not do them justice!

These were HANDMADE by my Godmother, Kathy, and her daughter Katie!

 I got some pretty amazing gifts, and can seriously not wait to put them ALL to good use!

Also, we have finally finished Haylee's room, and it's pretty cute! Just like Emma's baby room, it is in no way "Girly", just the way I like it! 

And while her room is by far the smallest in the house, I figure that by the time she's a teenager she will probably not be home enough to even notice! Ha! 

Then last weekend, my Sister-In-Law got married at my In-laws' house! 

It turned out really nice, and was a super-intimate, family-only type of thing. Emma was her Flower Girl, of course! And she looked ADORABLE in her fancy dress!

Throwing her Lavender in the air!

 

And in the biggest news of all:: Emma is now officially a Kindergartener!!!

I cannot believe this! When I start to think about it, I cannot imagine how the time {and years} flew by so fast...

After these next two weeks are over, time can SERIOUSLY slow down! 

This little lady really lucked out with her teacher and class room! Her teacher's name is Mrs. Riggs, and she calls her classroom "The Happiest Kindergarten on Earth"! Meaning, she is obsessed with all things Disney, and Disneyland: Perfect, because so is Em! 

Her first day was last Friday, the 7th. She goes back tomorrow, Mon-Thurs 9:10-11:55. And every other Friday from 9:10-2:10. On Friday, Howard took the day off from work and we dropped her off, and picked her up together. But starting tomorrow, I am going to cut my stings loose, and let her take the bus!!

I have had some serious reservations on this topic, but after speaking to various staff at the school, and seeing first-hand how they handle the whole bus/transportation system, it seems like a good choice for her. That is, if she likes it as much as she thinks she will after tomorrow! Especially since her bus stop is just at the end of our street! 

And last but not least, I only have TWO WEEKS left until we get to meet little Haylee! I cannot wait, for so many different reasons! And while I am sure two weeks will end up flying by, for me I am sure they will not fly by soon enough!