Milestones

Sophia turned 2 months the day after Christmas.  Yesterday at her Dr. appt she weighed in at a hefty 10 lbs 4 oz.  Way to go Sophie!

Today Amelia told me she wanted to hold Sophia . . . so I took advantage of the moment and tried to take pictures.

Amelia, look at the camera. . . but don't push Sophia over.

This time, try smiling . . . but don't let go of Sophia.

Okay, I guess that's as good as it's going to get.

Christmas - In Review

We spent Christmas weekend at Ken's dad's house.  Ken's dad doesn't have a lot of room in his living room for a Christmas tree, so he hung it from the ceiling.  Isn't it cool?  Both Amelia and Sophia loved looking at it.

 Unfortunately for us, Amelia, Sophia, and I felt miserable all weekend with icky colds.  But despite feeling icky, Sophia kept on smiling.  She loved meeting her Grandma Diane . . .

 and her Grandpa Ernie.  And loved being held by anyone and everyone while she slept away the weekend.

Amelia's cold only seemed to affect her at night, which unfortunately kept us all up.  But during the day she loved playing with Grandpa and her California cousins . . . seen here with Landon. 

It was great to spend time with family, even if we all felt icky.

It Happened

I've been wondering when this day would come . . . and today, it happened.

But before I tell you about today, I must give you a little background info.  Amelia is in that stage where she likes to do everything I do and/or do it to her bears.  She likes to change their diapers and put on lotion.  She likes to sweep, pretend to go potty (complete with getting toilet paper to wipe herself), and do her hair.

Today I was feeding Sophia and Amelia was quietly playing in her room.  I heard a rustling noise and assumed she was playing with the diapers and her bears.  And then I heard her say "ah- oh".  When I went to investigate, I found Amelia in the bathroom with the whole roll of toilet paper unrolled on the floor and her bear on the potty.   My guess - she was trying to get toilet paper to wipe her bear after he went potty, and got just a bit more toilet paper than she needed.

By the time I returned with the camera, I found Amelia picking up all the toilet paper.  When I asked her if she wanted to throw it away, she said yes and carried it all to the garbage can . . . and even went back to pick up the pieces she had dropped.

She may not be feeling great, but at least she's feeling helpful ;)

'Tis the Season for . . .

Colds - Poor Amelia.  She has a cold and is still teething a molar.  She is one unhappy camper. I'm just hoping that neither Sophia nor I get the cold, but I don't think we'll be that lucky.
Crazy Parking lots - I can handle the chaos inside of stores, but parking lots can drive me crazy.  My pet peeve: when drivers hover for a parking spot.  This is especially annoying when the car hovering is directly behind my car so that I can't get out of my spot.  Today I actually got out of my car and told the lady hovering behind me that she could have my spot if she would back up.  Due to the cars behind her, she couldn't back up, so she pulled forward and missed out on my spot AND the spot she was waiting for.
Clutter - Okay, so it's not necessarily the season for clutter, but I can't seem to get rid of the piles on my counter.  I clear up one and two more appear.  Sigh.  Maybe after the holidays?

Pictures

We attempted to take a family picture yesterday.  It didn't go so well.  You can laugh - we did.

On a happier note, Amelia didn't cry sitting on Santa's lap at our church party . . . but I'm sure she doesn't know why she's there.  She was more interested in the dessert table.

Addicted

I am addicted.

Ya know how when your skin is peeling after a sunburn and ya just have to peel it?  No?  Am I the only one?

Well, I don't have a sunburn, and neither do my girls, but Sophia's head is crusty and peeling from cradle cap.  It will go away on it's own without assistance from me . . . but I am addicted to peeling it off. 

I'm very gentle and don't do it all the time, but I can't seem to get myself to stop doing it.

And on a different hygiene note:  I don't bathe Sophia everyday, and I forget to clean her sweaty hands until they start smelling like stinky feet.  You would think I could remember to do something so simple as cleaning her hands.

Broken Records

We have a lot of broken records at our house.  The most common one sounds like this:

Amelia: Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, etc.

This is said in multiple pitches and most of the time it does not mean she wants her mommy.

The 2nd most common broken record sounds like this:

Me: Amelia, please sit down.

This is said repeatedly and in many different tones to Amelia anytime she is in her chair at the table.  And no, it doesn't prevent her from falling out of her chair (which she has done), but it makes me feel like more of a responsible parent.

And on a completely non-related note, we took Amelia to get a bang trim at a salon, rather than to the "Schnell's Crooked Haircuts".  I was worried how Amelia would be, so I made Ken come with me, but Amelia was great.  She loved the airplane chair and thought the cape was neat.  She didn't want to leave after her bangs were trimmed.  I even learned a new way to do Amelia's hair - bonus!

6 Weeks and Randomness

I can't believe Sophia is 6 weeks old already . . . and yet it seems like she's always been a part of our family.

* Sophia's hair is so long in back that it gets into dread locks when she rubs her head back and forth on her bed.
* I have become less concerned about the cleanliness of the house.  If things get cleaned, that's great, but if not, life goes on.
* Amelia's temper tantrums are decreasing and she is so fun to watch as she rubs Sophia's head when she's crying or helps me burp Sophia.
* Thanks to Ken, our Christmas decorations are up . . . at least the non-breakable ones.  Amelia has left the ornaments alone, but she's very curious about everything lately and I didn't want to lose the Christmas spirit if something got broken.
* My clothes closet needs a major overhaul - my clothes are either business attire, 15 years old, or maternity clothes.  I have Ken's encouragement to go shopping for new clothes, but now I somehow need to find time to go clothes shopping without an almost 2 year old and a 2 month old.
* I am no good at spontaneous random conversations with people; ie. when you run into someone you know in the store and stop to chat . . . my chatting sounds forced and stupid, even though I may be sincerely interested in talking to that person.  My apologies to people I've tried to talk to lately.

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.

She's Here . . . and Right on Time

Sophia Diane Schnell joined our family this afternoon at 1:10pm . . . but ya'll have to wait for pictures (we forgot the cable to hook the camera to the computer).
Today is Sophia's due date, and just like her mother, she was right on time.    
The Birth story:  This morning I woke up around 5am with contractions, but they weren't regular or really that painful.  I had my 40-wk baby appt, so I waited until then to bother the midwives.  By my 11am appt, my contractions were about 10-15 apart and I was dilated to a 6.  The midwife suggested I either head over to the hospital and have my water broke or head home and wait until my contractions got closer together.  Knowing that Amelia was with the pre-arranged babysitter, Ken was already at the hospital, and remembering how quickly I had Amelia, I voted to head over to the hospital.  I met Ken at work, we walked over to the birth center, and I got checked in by 12 noon.  At 1pm my water broke and at 1:10pm Sophia was out.  I am SO glad I didn't head back home to wait.  The delivery was easy and there were no complications like last time - thank goodness.
Sophia weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long.  I'm not sure where she was hiding, since everyone kept telling me how small I looked, but now I know why I felt so miserable for the last few weeks.  Does this little girl look more like me than Amelia?  Nope, she has red hair and looks just like Amelia.

I just remembered that I had my cell phone camera, which isn't great, and I can't rotate the picture, but it's better than nothing, right?  And I promise to upload more and better pictures as soon as we can. 

Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to a pumpkin patch . . . Amelia's first.  And despite the light rain, we all had a good time.  First, we had to find just the right pumpkin.

This one looks just right, but I'm not sure I can lift it.

I think I can lift this one, but it seems to be the wrong color. 

Amelia, is this the one you want?

No, I think I want these two . . . plus the little one in my hand.

Next up, pony rides - but $6 to ride around in a circle?  I think we'll just pat this one and call it good.

Then we find the free "pony" rides . . . and it was worth every penny :)

 Okay Amelia, look through the hole and smile.

 That was good, but this time, look up at Daddy. 

After choosing the perfect pumpkins, riding the "pony", eating fresh apple fritters, taste testing apple cider, looking at chickens, goats, and pigs, and photo ops behind apples, we headed home, happy and tired.

Amelia's Antics

• Ever since we watched General Conference, Amelia has started "leading" the music whenever she sees a choir sing or a chorister lead music.
• Amelia won't sit in a highchair anymore and will only sit in a "big" chair.  The problem - she also doesn't like to sit.  She stands repeatedly, despite me telling her to sit down, and despite the fact that she has fallen off said chair multiple times.  I'm hoping she'll eventually sit down while eating.
• And speaking of standing, Amelia has this odd fascination with standing on her toys, regardless of the size and shape.  Unlike her mother, she doesn't seem concerned about breaking the toys, and she continues to stand on them even if they make her fall.
• Amelia loves to brush her teeth, and has started "spitting" while brushing.  The problem - she's usually no where near a sink when she spits.
• Amelia is definitely her parent's child - she loves ice cream just like they do.  In my search for the elusive Blue Bunny Fudge Bars (still no luck after 4 stores), I ended up with Fred Meyer's Private Selection.  Instead of 100 calories per serving, Amelia and I are enjoying 240 calories per serving.  It's one of those ice creams that is hard to stop eating, and even Amelia puts up a fuss when we stop.  It's a good thing she's active enough to burn off all those calories . . . the same can not be said of her mother.

Disappointed . . .

 . . . that the Utah State Aggies lost yet another game in the 4th quarter.
. . .  that I haven't gone into labor prior to my due date (and yes, I realize I still have 1 1/2 weeks to go).
. . .  that I finally got around to buying ribbon for Amelia's Christmas stocking and then lost the ribbon in the store before I paid for it . . . and not realize I didn't have it until after I had left the store.
. . . that it took me 3 stores to find the Blue Bunny brand ice cream (recommended by Brenda) and then find that they don't have the recommended Big Fudge Bar :(
. . . that I don't have any energy/ momentum to work on the baby's quilt.  Maybe I'll get it done in time for Christmas.

Randomness

• I have been craving junk food so bad the last week or so, but when I'm in a store I can't make up my mind what I'm in the mood for, so I don't buy anything.  And then when I get home, I think of half a dozen things I would gladly eat.  Ken is grateful I haven't made him go out in the evening to get me a snack.
• Ken's co-workers threw me a baby shower, which I thought was so nice since I've only met  a few of them once or twice.  I decided it was really more a tribute to Ken, but it was more fun to have the pregnant lady at the shower rather than just her husband.
• Amelia usually just likes to play with her crayons (taking them in/out of the box) but lately she has gotten "creative" and started coloring things besides her coloring book - the stove front, the table top, the refrigerator.
• Today I got an e-mail from Parents.com titled "the right way to argue in front of baby".  Really?  I deleted it without reading it.
• I think women are trying to compliment me, but I'm really beginning to hate it when they say "you're so small, I can't believe you're due in just a few weeks."  It makes me feel like I can't complain about being so uncomfortable . . . and I love complaining about how uncomfortable I am :)
• The only exercise I can handle lately is walking around stores pushing a cart and chasing Amelia in the store (since she doesn't like to sit in it lately).  I wish I could do more, but walking around the blocks is totally uncomfortable.  Not that I used it much, but I miss the heated pool at our condo.
• Ken thinks I am OCD because I put the alphabet letters in order on our refrigerator.  In my defense, it's so that I can figure out which letters Amelia has lost under the refrigerator.
• I have no motivation to do anything and would order take-out every day if we could afford it.
• Our tomatoes are finally turning red . . . all at once.  Ken asked what I was going to do with all of them.  My verbal response "eat them and give them away".  In my mind "you should have thought about that before you planted 6 plants".  (If anyone reads this that lives close to me, you are more than welcome to come get all the tomatoes you want.)
• Amelia has started pretending to do things.  Her favorite pretend (that I can figure out) - washing her hands, and my hands - complete with putting on pretend soap.  Do you think she's OCD about cleanliness?
• Boy, I have a lot of randomness in my head today - thanks for reading.

Soup, Soup, Soup - Beef & Spinach Soup

I just realized I still hadn't gotten around to posting my 3rd favorite soup recipe.  Not that anyone else probably even noticed, but I try to do what I say I'm going to do.  This is a fairly new recipe that I've found, but we all love it at my house, so we make it quite often - but not too often to get sick of it ;)  So, without further rambling, here's my 3rd favorite soup . . . oh yeah, and another reason I love it, is because it is so easy AND it's a crock pot soup.  Enjoy!
Beef & Spinach Soup w/ Rice
Ingredients:
2 lb beef stew meat (or lamb), cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 C. carrots, cut into 1/2-inch slices
3 C. yellow squash, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/2-in slices
1 onion, chopped
2 Clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
9 C. beef broth
3 C. chopped fresh spinach
3/4 C. Rice
Instructions: In a large skillet, brown meat, half at a time, in hot oil. Drain off the fat.  In a large crock-pot, place carrots, squash, onion, garlic, thyme, and basil.  Add meat when browned.  Pour broth over all and mix.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours.
Stir in spinach and rice.  Cook for an additional 30 minutes or until rice is tender.

Ready, Set, Splash

Hey Amelia, are you ready to try out your new boots?

I'm ready Mom, let's go!

Here I come!

Look at this big puddle.  It's just waiting for me!

Insert cute video here of Amelia playing in the puddles . . . . you'll just have to use your imagination - I can't get it to work :(