Christmas Tree

Ken had Monday off of work and it was sunny outside, so we went to get our Christmas tree.  After much searching, we finally found a tree we all agreed on.  Sophia nodded her approval.

 After Ken cut down the tree,  Amelia helped push the cart . . .

 . . . until she found it was easier to pull.

 Amelia's favorite part was sitting on the tractor at the farm.

My favorite part was watching Ken put the lights on it (which means I didn't  have to do it).  The ornaments aren't on at this point, but I had momentum to take the picture, and besides, I think it looks pretty with just the white lights on it.

Randomness

*I have decided  that Autumn is a bad time of year to have a baby.  The weather is cold and rainy, so I have no motivation to exercise outside.  And 'tis the season for fattening food.  So much for losing baby fat anytime soon.

*We went to the Festival of Trees in Olympia.  Amelia wasn't that interested in the trees, but she loved the large stuffed animals that were around the trees.

This is how Sophia experienced the trees.

*Good sales or not, I've done most of our Christmas shopping online and I'm almost done.  Sure beats taking 2 kids with me out in the rain and through crowded stores/ parking lots.
*We spent a quiet Thanksgiving at home; just the 4 of us.  It was wonderful, but it didn't seem like a holiday.  As a result, I completely forgot about doing my tradition of putting Christmas decorations up on the day after.  Hopefully I'll get up some decorations before Christmas.
*We're trying to transition Amelia to a toddler bed, but it's not going so good.  Any suggestions?
*I have decided that Sophia's dirty diapers look and smell like the butter in microwave popcorn bags - weird, huh?

On a positive note

I just realized that the last time I posted was when there were a lot of tears in our house.  Things have gotten better - a little bit - and I've been noticing more of the good things lately.

• Amelia has started putting diapers on her bears.  She doesn't have the motor skills yet to really put on the diaper, but it occupies her for 15 min. or so while she plays with it.
• Sophia is sort of on a schedule.  Not completely, but enough so that I feel like I can go places and not be thrown off completely by her needs.
• Out of necessity, Amelia has become more independent in her playing.  I still try to play with her when I can, but I love watching her pretend and play on her own.
• I still can't get believe Sophia's hair is red . . . but I love it.
• Amelia loves to play with my hair.  I've never liked people playing with my hair, but God must be granting me patience, because I let her play with it until it's all in knot.

And a few random pictures, just for fun.  It snowed here on Saturday, and Amelia had fun playing in it, before it melted.

 Sophia - 24 days old - just hanging out.

Tantrums

Remember how I said Amelia was handling the new baby better than I thought?  Well, in the last 48 hours, it's all gone down hill.  The tantrums come fast and furious and for no apparent reasons.  I'm hoping that the tantrums don't last for too long.  I'm not sure how long I can handle it.  Today Sophia started crying because Amelia shoved her while Amelia was crying and then I started crying.  I thought it was ironic that while we were all crying, the words to the song that were playing on the cd were "in this very room, there's quite enough love for all of us". It sure didn't feel like "love" at the moment.  Ken assured me that "the family that cries together, stays together".  I hope I can keep it together.

Helping?

Mom, can I give Sophie her binkie?

 I'm doing it real slow and careful, just like you said.

 . . . and a little tap to make sure it's really in there.

 Helping with the binkie was fun, but what I really want to do is play with Sophie's zipper.  I LOVE zippers.

Observations

• I've become spoiled over the last 2 weeks with Ken cooking and people bringing in meals.  I actually have to cook dinner tomorrow, on my own - wish me luck!
• Amelia has "binkie envy".  She wants Sophia's binkie, even if she currently has her own in her mouth.
• I am convinced that I produce skim milk.  Sophia isn't back to her birth weight yet despite eating every 2 hours, but Amelia was slow at gaining weight too.
• Regardless of what the experts say, breast feeding does hurt . . . why else would there be so many products on the market to relieve soreness?  (Things are going much better with Sophia than they did with Amelia, so soreness is at a minimum . . . I'm just sayin')
• Amelia loves looking at and "talking" to Sophia when Sophia is awake . . . and the other day, she gave Sophia an "eskimo kiss" - too cute!
• I have decided that if I didn't have to be pregnant for 9 months, I would have a 3rd baby - delivery is the easiest part.  As it is, however, we're done having babies.
• Amelia is handling the new baby better than I thought she would - yeah!
• Regardless of how much or how little sleep I've had, I am easily irritated by evening.  I'm sure Amelia is grateful to see her Daddy by the time he comes home ;)

Sisters

Both of my girls know how to strike a pose:

Amelia

Sophia

Halloween & Baby Pictures

This is a random picture, but this is how Amelia typically watches TV - arms crossed resting on the TV stand, and leg crossed.

Random Sophie pictures

So much for a child looking like me:  Sophia looks like Amelia, only with red hair.  But we love her anyway :)

  Sophie is happiest when swaddled and/or held tight.

 Amelia isn't completely sold on her little sister, but she's at least interested in her.

Amelia helped Ken carve pumpkins - I missed out on taking pictures, so I'm not sure how much Amelia "helped".

 Amelia in her fairy costume.  We were going to take her trunk-or-treating, but that just didn't happen.  At her age, she was just as happy to put on her costume and run around.  Thanks to Amber for letting us borrow the costume - Amelia loved putting it on - no bribery needed :)

 We didn't have a costume for Sophia, except for the "candy corn" hat, which was almost too small.  Must be those chubby cheeks.