surprise

makena, it's so cute, whenever we see you, you coming running with your hands in the air and say surprise!! as you are our gift and we've been spending the whole time we are away from you looking for you..and it's so true...at least I have spent the whole time thinking about you. I love you and I love my surprise!

Makena's two!

Happy Birthday baby girl. You are growing up so fast! I just took you to school with Giselle for the first time all day, and you said "I'm excited mama!" I am so happy you are happy to go. It's nice you have Giselle and Hunter there to help you. I don't know how I feel about you leaving mama for four hours, but you have been crying when you have to leave with me, so we're going to see how this goes. So on your birthday you said I'm two, and Giselle said "now that your two you can stop drinking mama's milk (because she stopped at a year and a half), and you said, I'm not two. You love your milkie. I love having you lay with me and I get to hold you and put my hands through your hair and kiss your head. I cherish it. We had a breakfast celebration at the bowling alley and planned to bowl but it was league..so we came home and watched the seahawks win to go to the super bowl, and then we had pizza and cupcakes..we sang to you and you loved it...you get pretty shy about it though. And then omi and papa came up yesterday and we celebrated again :). You are so sweet..you try to keep up with the big kids. Giselle had her Christmas concert and they were singing, and you stood up there too, and swayed a little and just watched them, but you wanted to stand up there. You love frosty the snowman, and we went to a disney show and one of the characters reminded you of frosty, so you kept pointing him out. you tell me you love me a lot and give me kisses. you get upset if things don't go your way, but are easily calmed down, and you listen really well. you are talking all the time, but it's so funny that you are understanding and you like to repeat exactly what we say and say it back..then you smile and laugh, like you said it for the first time and it worked, and you understand it. you say you funny mamma, and you like to say daddy said "yes" or whatever he just said, and zell hit me mamma, or my belly hurt me, or my sun at me mamma, and you like to run around without clothes on..you don't like covers at night, you run pretty warm. I wanna sleep w/you mamma. I just can't get enough of your little sweetness. you are just a love bug. you love your papa so much and omi. giselle you got a new big girl bed with a slide and a fort, and you love sleeping in it, and making your own bed. you get upset if the kids go on the slide and mess up your bed. we are so happy you are independent, but already miss sleeping with you. we keep saying we are going to grab you and have you sleep with us, but we know you would be mad if you woke up in our bed. you say you want to live in your own house ,and I say don't you want to live w/me forever, then you say ok I will..if you live with your parents. you have it all figured out. you always ask really good questions, about why kids in cartoons don't have their parents w/them outside and why can't you go outside by yourself. you love having hunter stay over, and you spend time w/neigbor genevieve who you also do ballet with. you two play really well together but last time you both played the I don't want to play with her card...I think because you are both cancers born a day a part. and trying to figure out how to be friends. I can't squeeze and hold you enough. you are growing up way to fast for me, and I love you so much. I love you! '

almost christmas

well, this week, we pretty much stayed in, and it was really nice. parker and gg came to play, and we got the christmas tree up, and relaxed...you went to school one day, but you didn't feel up for it the next day. this last weekend grammy and grumpy came up and we went to warm beach together, and it was 17 degrees outside, but we still did it! we had thanksgiving at our place this year, and enjoyed having everyone over. but I got a cold right after, and feel still blah. but, I am getting excited for christmas with you both. we are going to celebrate here the weekend before and then go visit all omi and papa and all your cousins. giselle, you wrote a letter and mailed it in our mailbox to santa and you wrote very clearly that you want a barbie house.. so fun shopping for you this year, I know you will love all the fun puzzles, and books, and the doll house we got you! we have been searching for a school for you, and trying to find where you would love the most and blossom. you fell on your cousins trampoline and hurt your knee..we took you to the dr, and it wasn't broken thankfully, but you were hurt pretty bad and limped for almost a week. but, all is better now, and you are ready to trampoline again...although we don't think so. you ask about god a lot and we started going to all souls church here and you like the preschool. you always ask what god eats, and how old he is, and if he is awake all the time, and if he can hear you..I try to answer but I don't even know. but, I am glad you are interested. you are very ambitious and smart, and you are trying to read words, and you remember a lot. you have been going to a dance class, and you love it so much, I tell you the teacher says you need to take a nap, so you do...which is usually impossible. you and makena love playing together and mostly get along, but both of you like to hit each other..but I make you hug and makeup. giselle, when you are tired you get very lippy, I am just trying to make sure you get enough sleep since then you are as sweet as can be. makena, you crack me up...if giselle gets lippy to me, you try to protect me, you hug me and tell giselle no. and if you think I am sad, you give me a kiss. today the crackers spilled and you ran and grabbed the big broom and tried cleaning it up, then you rode it like a horsey horsey. you love the idea of santa, but you get close and then start crying..we got one picture of it. you like to run in the room and yell "wake up mommy wake up!" and you also ask to hold me mama in the morning. you helped decorate the tree and even knew how to put the ornaments on. some of your sayings..if we ask if you went potty... "me no poopoo mommy" or "the sun at me mamma!" meaning the suns in your eyes. or "I did it!" and right now you are saying ho ho ho merry christmas. you try to sign twinkle twinkle little star, it's very cute, every time I ask you a color you say green, and your age you have said 2 forever and recently 3 and a half...( I am sure you heard hunter say it), and you say " hey!" when something goes wrong and "ohhhh" if you are sad..and I love you mamma...I just love this talking stage. and zelle hit me. Im happy mamma! or I sad. you eat so well, and out eat giselle many times..you try everything and like most. giselle, you are really picky with food, but you did eat pizza, but without the olives, and dad gave you a slice and you said no, you want to get your own.so independent. makena, I am still feeding you, and I love how close we are, I hold you and put my head on yours and it's just a special time for you to settle down and let me cuddle you. giselle, you still love having your back scratched and rubbed, and you have been sleeping with me, but you don't like when I am too close or you can't breeve. love you both so much.. I am so grateful to share everyday with you.

Talking

Makena- you are adorable talking now- this morning we were making pancakes and Lucy wanted outside and I told her to wait and you said patience Lucy. Just a minute ok? It was cute- It's usually what you here what we say to Giselle. The other day I thought you were asking where's kitty go and you were trying to get cookie dough- for breakfast too. You can count a little and you always say green when I ask you a color. You are so easy going- you whine a little about something and I say well yes Or no and why and you say otay in the cutest little voice , you love talk on the phone hello daddy. Hello daddy. And you get sassy right after Giselle repeating what se says or saying ya momma! Hand in hip and pout. Sassy pants , then you laugh and today you put her face on your shoulder and smile and said in Excited or when we come home you say I crying mama. And you both fight over your daddy or mamma. Giselle you are in the when you grow up can I be a bakery or mailman or I wish I could do that- when can I fly a rocket? And you still ask a lot about god and you remnered the story you learned in church. You like to play house but everything is your way or you get frustrated. Trying to teach you to share and be nice to sissy. But you are starting to compete a lot w her and don't understand. But other times you love and hug her And pick her up and tell her how much you love her. It's the sweetest thing to see.

fall already

well, time is flying here.and you girls are growing so fast it's hard to believe! Giselle, you are in school right now and makena, you are holding a baby and trying to put her in a little shoot car and yo are mad she won't fit. life has been crazy, as we had mac, kristi and parker move out (you guys miss parker, especially makena), we went to europe, and now we've all been a little bit sick and snotty seems like ever since we got back... miki is still living with us til she leaves for school next month. you guys love playing with her, she really likes to tickle you, and really plays hard, and you guys love it. since you won't remember europe, I will tell you now how cool it was. hopefully you'll get a glimpse from the photos..we spent so much time together and so much time at the beaches, you guys loved it! we only spent like 3 days in each spot though, so it was kind of like backpacking w/you guys, and that was a big adventure! miki was with us too, and it was pretty smooth except of the train. we thought we went straight from one destination to the next, but had 3 stops and get on other trains in between.. and w/all our luggage, and you kids, and not speaking the language or knowing where to get off or on quickly, it was an exhausting zoo...at one stop daddy was off w/giselle and we got trapped on, and the door wouldn't open, and we didn't have a phone, someone had to pull the emergency release for us to get off..we were exhausted, but the train slowed at one point and we watched a black head/fluffy white body lamb give birth..we happened to be sitting in the right spot at the right time..it happened right out our window. giselle, you also found the most beautiful shell. we were walking back from dinner on the beach in pitch black about 3 miles and you picked up a shell, and held it till you got to the hotel, and in the light, we saw it had a beautiful heart in it! it was so unbelievable..you could have dropped it anywhere on the walk, and the fact that you picked that shell in the night, was amazing. the whole trip was awesome..we went to sitges, barcelone, quarantine france, the french riviera, the italian riviera, switzerland and germany. makena, you got sick in the middle of the night we had to fly home...you started throwing up all over ilona's house, and she doesn't have a dryer and we didn't even have time if she did to wash all the sheets! and we were worried about getting on the plane because you were throwing up all the time...so we made it, and you actually slept a lot, so it was ok, but I was worried. makena, you love your hunter...when we go to preschool to drop giselle, you cry when we leave for "my hunter". giselle, you two are still best friends, and you love baby ali and always want to hold her. makena, you have still been feeding through the night and using me as a pacifier, but these last two days I have been sick so daddy took you downstairs, and he said you woke up twice the first night and cried for me and the second night you said hi daddy and went back to sleep. for me... you literally are using me as a paci from 5 am on..and so restless, so I think this is a good move, since every day I am exhausted. but of course I want to baby you as long as I can, and I still do :) it's almost halloween, and this year you are peacock, and giselle you are a fairy..so cute you two are:). makena, you talk all the time now, and when you get frustrated at me you say "hey..mama" just a little off on timing, and its cute. you copy everything your sister says, I think you two are like max and ruby now, ruby talks and then max repeats, and you do the same, and makena. if I tell giselle she needs to come inside, she will say we want to stay outside..and makena you will throw in a "outside mama" you always say milk pls mama, you love to dance with your arms in the air, and you love to eat..you love avocados, and eggs..you out ate giselle the other morning. giselle, you are our emotional little girl..so happy, so sad, and so much drama..I am wondering if its just girls, or what? you had another night terror the other night where you just scream, and we can't do anything to console you...you push us away..I think it was the sugar from the west seattle trick or treating. you are so smart, and ask so many questions, and then repeat what you learn. you are very interested in jesus and we went to church and you loved preschool there too. you ask so many questions that I don't have the answers too. does jesus eat? sleep? on and on and on you both love to laugh and play and it melts my heart all the time. giselle you told makena you love her this morning and she said you too. it's precious. love you

oh makena

and when your breastfeeding, I ask you questions and you shake your head yes or no..do you love dada up and down, do you want to do whatever..you shake no no. and you are pretty shy except for your family, you love mama holding you. you can sit pretty good for periods of time..you watched part of despicable me, and you don't sit in a highchair but I can keep you contained in the booth at restaurants for longer than giselle. and you don't like the stroller much either, you'd rather I carry you. you love your mama!

Makena 19 Mos Giselle 4

Hi girls, you have been my sunshine! I just want time to freeze as this is going by so quickly! Makena, you change so much every day! You are so smart and sweet and funny. You will say dad in the car and he turns around and you do a funny face..and then you laugh. and I presented that baby allessandra was my baby and you said no no..and wanted me to hold you and you said mama..and pointed to andrea and tried to hand her allesandra. you understand everything I say and you will do it, and you are talking so much now..you say otay which I think is so cute. I will say something for you to stop doing and instead of fighting me on it, you say otay. and smile. it's precious. you know everyones names and you love your hunter so much and parker. you really like to play with them. running around and yelling with them. you really want to go to giselles school. when we go in you go and sit on the chair too and you color or whatever they are doing. then when we leave you cry and say hunter! and you say hi and bye and good morning to everyone. and alright. and today you said awesome! pretty much anything giselle says you try to repeat. you can count a few numbers after I say one. and when I ask how old are you, you say two. (auntie taught you that for coming up use). you like buckles and you love shoes..trying on everyones..and you love that silly car at the park that you get in and out of and shut the door. you and giselle fight over a few things but you are also very loving to each other. you love to give hugs and kisses. you like to eat berries, and you pretty much try anything avocado, beans, but you like to take your own bites..you like the whole thing, which freaks me out since you and giselle like to choke..and you cry and cry if I don't give you the whole hot dog. and today you insisted I give you the stick in the cheese and crackers..which is a choking hazard. giselle, you just told me you like my face. that was sweet. you are pretty funny and cute. you have a sweet side, today at the gym the teacher said you went right over to makena when she woke up and consoled her. so loving.but you also like to tease her, and think it's funny sometimes when she cries. and you don't like to share very much with her, so she doesn't share back. you are very smart and ask so many big questions already. and you are really particular on things..wanting certain clothes or certain things on or off, and you only eat certain foods unless I tell you that you need to eat healthy to grow big. then you say alright alright..and then you fight on how many bites. you love to play with hunter and your cousins. you are quite the leader and they let you lead. your big in to how old people are right now.. you told auntie andrea you think she's 70 and I am 75. but you want to be older.., and you love princesses and super why and agent oso. we went to a princess party and you met snow white. and you wore your princess outfit out the other day all day, with clothes under it because it's too scratchy. you love going to omi and papas house. you really get excited and you pack your own bag and you also get dressed and shoes on by yourself and brush your teeth. you really want to learn to tie shoes, and you are really interested in your little work books to draw letters. you like to swim, and you can doggie paddle across the pool, but god forbid water get in your eyes. maybe later. this summer has been busy and fun! we went to lake entiat w/grammy and all the cousins, and we did a trip w/hunter and the friends there too, did a family reunion where you played and sang happy97th birthday to uncle nick, grammy and piper stayed with us for a week, and lucy and jeffrey came up too, we did a lot of the pool, and the boat, and the fox hollow farm, and rem linger farm, you both love all the animals. you have an amazing memory. you remember from last year and a half ago random things and weird details of where we've been and what you did. you remember lucy and jeffs visit last year and them sleeping with you in our bed. and you also had your first seleepover w/out us! over at hunters house..you had a campout on the roof deck, and watched movies on the tv and ate popcorn. we were sure you would cry for us in the middle of the night, but you loved it, and told me you wanted to stay for fifteen days. but sometimes you are so bashful its cute. you will open your mouth and hide behind my leg, and other times you go right up to people and start asking questions. you are usually really cranky in the morning and it takes you awhile to be happy, unless you are well rested. you want treats right when you wake up, and we have the same conversation every time that you need to eat healthy first and you usually start crying, and then you have oatmeal. you want to go camping still this summer and we haven't scheduled anything yet, but we want to take you..you are so much fun! you enjoy a lot of things and have a good time doing them..you always want to know why you can't do certain things yet..like riding a horse, or diving off the diving board, or wake boarding. so you are really interested in trying things. you liked to go on the tube at the lake with daddy. I love you so much, and am sad you are just getting so big! we took you to despicable me last week and you enjoyed it! makena came too, but kept saying hi to the people sitting in front of us, and she liked it and would clap and say yeah but at the quiet moments, so we had to leave. you eat healthy too, you like apples and carrots and tonight ate green beens, you just don't like a lot of variety. I love you guys! hugs my girls! tomorrow you both go to the dr, and I am worried it's shot time!