1 Month & 21 Months

This has been by far the fastest month we have ever experienced. Days go by SO fast. Not much down time...I'm guessing that is why! If it is not one, it is the other. For example, when one goes to sleep, one wakes up. When one gets done eating, the other one needs fed. When one poops, the other one poops. You get the picture. It's like they have a secret code:) If you can imagine, Ben and I have no trouble sleeping when we finally get to our bed, which is often in shifts:)

We love our girls. They are growing up too fast. This past month has been a major growing up experience for Clara. Her language and comprehension are stellar. She NEVER EVER stops talking and wants you to make sure you know everything she knows. She is getting imagination and wanting to do things like dress herself and be independent. If I don't tell her during the day, her daddy will tell her that she is growing up too fast for us!

Clara at 21 months, is very much a Daddy's girl. She wants to do EVERYTHING with Daddy. They mow the lawn together, feed Buddy, and she loves to watch the "game" a.k.a. Wheel of Fortune with Daddy. She gets really into it with clapping and repeating the letters. Clara likes to ride Daddy's "wheeler" or four-wheeler (she comes by that naturally).  She knows her colors, most of her shapes, can count to ten, is pretty accurate in choosing whether someone is a boy or a girl, and has started using sentences. She is starting to sing songs, though sometimes they are hard to understand. She likes to "go fast" and "gump" (jump), stand on one leg, skip, and do somersaults. She has recently started using the phrase "oh gee." She is obsessed with animals (loves to draw them) and would live outside if we let her. She is nervous about thunder, but will remind you it's just a noise:) She also will tell you to "hold her" or in other words "hold me." Her tantrums have been on the decline and we are working on "obeying." She LOVES her sister and shows her love by "rough cuddles." She has no concept yet of soft touches or soft voices. She has become more of a cuddler, will give random hugs and kisses and will say "love you" when prompted (makes your heart melt). Cucumbers and olives are her favorite. New people and new places make her nervous and will often result in her stalling. She won't move and will throw a fit. I'm not sure if its because we have a baby and she just seems bigger or what, but she seems to be going through a growth spurt. She is ready to be potty trained, but Mommy is not ready! She hides to go poop. Paci and blankie are still a must for sleep times. She likes to steal sucks from Ellsy's paci when she can.

Ellsy quickly went from "sleepy all the time" to "will make you work hard to get her to sleep." My go-to trick for getting her to sleep lately has been to take her outside. It's brighter so she has to close her eyes and she seems to like the breeze. Plus, I get some fresh air too! She has fussy times, really loves to be swaddled, and has to be kept in a safe place away from her sister who loves Ellsy very much. I think Clara is going to make Ellsy one tough cookie.

So at one month old, Ellsy is a good eater, a decent night sleeper (will go 5 hours between feedings the first stretch), is getting through her infant acne stage, and would love to be held 24/7. She likes her paci when she is really tired. Most people say she looks like her mama. I personally think she has a strong resemblance to Clara, just a bigger version. She wore newborn diapers for about three days and is almost ready to graduate out of size 1's. Yikes. She is wearing 3 months and 3-6 months clothes, but those are starting to get snug. Her complexion thus far is darker than Clara's, but I think her eyes are going to be blue, just like her big sister's.

In the craziness that is life right now, I have to remind myself that the lack of sleep, lack of me time, and lack of us time is just a season. I shouldn't measure my productivity by what I get crossed off my list or how organized I am, but by the things that are immeasurable.

How blessed we are to have two growing girls who can eat, cry, and poop!!!

(I apologize for the length of this, but this is what I write in their baby books (when I get an opportunity) so this helps me remember :)

This is as good a picture as we were going to get:)

Clara has started working on her shooting range. 

It was 90 degrees out and she wanted to wear this outfit and go outside.

Living the life... Outside, soaking her feet in her turtle with her favorite canine Buddy.