For Babcia Ania

These two are the sweetest, snuggliest little creatures.

Snuggle/ snuggly:

verb

(usually intr; usually foll by down, up, or together) to nestle into or draw close to (somebody or something) for warmth or from affection

noun

the act of snuggling

snuggle

vi to snuggle up to sb przytulać się (przytulić się perf ) do kogoś to snuggle down (in bed) opatulać się (opatulić się perf ) kołdrą

Don't you just want to snuggle them!

Again!

Thank you Smooch for my beautiful tulips. I love them! I must admit that when I'm covered in throw up and snot and feel just absolutely gross.. these catch my eye and brighten my day.

So we were healthy for about 3 days and then we were hit again! I swear we can not win around here. It's been a very rough season for colds, stomach flu, and just plain yuckiness. You name it, we've had it. I'm constantly picking up tissues and reminding Mikey to cover his mouth when he sneezes and coughs. Mikey has been home from school all week and I have no intention of sending him back until next week. Mikey has it BAD. On Tuesday his fever reached a record high of 105.5! That was freakin' scary. Lucky for Daddy he got home just in time to help me clean up the mess from Mikey throwing up due to his HIGH temp. Daddy has a knack for showing up just when I need him the most. I don't know what I'd do without him. Mikey appears to be on the mend now. We are mostly wiping runny noses with a lingering cough.

No matter how many times I pick up tissues... they magically pile up again.

Poor Naomi has become a casualty of Mikey's sickness. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried to shield her from his germs it seems the germs got their way. I'm praying that she will not get it as bad as her brother. I'll freak out. I'm watching her like a hawk and giving her lots of love. It's the worst when your sweet little baby gets sick. It's bad when the older child gets it but you can talk to him and he can express how he feels. The baby isn't able to communicate how she feels so it's so difficult.... and heart breaking.

Mikey would not let me take his picture. This is the best we're gonna get.

On another note: Naomi started eating cereal last week. I wasn't going to start her on solids yet but she started nursing every 2 hours. I couldn't tell if she was doing so because I had the stomach flu and my milk took a hit or if she was just still hungry. Either way... she was still hungry so we started cereal. At first she didn't seem to like it too much but now she seems to really like it. I've introduced apples and sweet potatoes as well. Her favorite is still just plain rice cereal and breast milk.

sweet potatoes...

My fingers are definitely the best!

Last weekend (before sickness erupted) we spent time with our good friends.

Mikey's all time best bud, Joe-Joe.

Fun!

Sick = fun?

So, my poor children have had the stomach bug for what seems like again and again. Well this means that we spend a lot of time indoors finding ways to pass time until we have the energy to conquer the outside World again. There has been a lot of play time which is fun even when you are sick.

There is a ferocious black beast that has come to take over... with an even more ferocious appetite.

Never fear, the green dragon will save the day. All the animals jump on the dragons back for a lifesaving flight just in time from the black beast!

Come on mouse, jump on, QUICK!

It's the mighty mouse and toothless up against once good, now turned evil green dragon ...

who will win?

Endless hours of fun, just what the doctor ordered when your tummy is in knots.

Most of you (actually probably anyone who checks my blog regularly) knows what I went through to have this beautiful baby. I had surgery Dec 2009 at the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, which is the reason we are blessed with this sweet baby. Anyhow, I sent the doctors that performed the surgery a birth announcement and a heartfelt thank you note. Yet a thank you note just doesn't seem to do it for the gift of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy, happy baby. Does it? They responded with this onesie that Naomi is wearing and asked if they could put her on their website. Of course, we didn't have to think twice about that. So I put her in it with a cute little skirt and we took some pictures for them. What fun! These are just a few of the images and I thought it would be fun to share. I will put the link to the website up once Naomi is on it. In the meantime, I have to mail the release form before they can do anything.

She's so much fun!

I could NOT have asked for a happier, sweeter baby than her.

Thank you Dr. Pritts and Dr. Olive.

The two of you will forever have a place in my heart.

What's different?

Naomi got her ears pierced. I thought about this for a long time. I mean a long time, way before I ever knew I was going to have a little girl. I read all sorts of forums and asked the opinions of other Moms out there. I had my mind made up that she was going to get her ears pierced... and then I held her in my arms for the first time. This really screwed things up. The idea of piercing this beautiful little babies ears all of the sudden seemed like something I could NOT do. How could I hurt my little baby?

So, pretty much since her birth I had changed my mind. There was no way I could do it. Yet, there was one slight problem. Every single time I saw a little baby with her ears pierced I just loved it! So I would ask the Mom how it went and would she do it again. Do you know what? I got the same answer from all of them. A resounding, yes! Yes, they would do it again and they are really happy with it. When I asked Moms who waited until their daughters were older (almost all) said they wished they had done it when their daughter was smaller. The problem is when you wait until the child is older the child will mess with it and it inevitably gets infected. I'm not saying that this will happen all the time, it's just what I have personally been told by friends (other Moms who I trust and I know love their children as much as I love mine). So I made the choice for my daughter and I hope she will thank me when she gets older. Who knows... she could decide she hates them and decide not to wear earrings. If she does, it won't hurt her one bit to take them out and simply not wear them. If she does like them, well she can give me a big kiss and say, thanks Mom... that didn't hurt a bit (at least not that I can remember).

Did she cry? Yes she did, for a minute.

Did her brother cry (when he saw his sister cry)? Yes he did, for a minute.

Did I cry? Yes I did, for a minute.

Then I gave both my kids a big hug and an even bigger kiss.

Would I do it again? Yes.

Brrrr...

The weather has been downright cold here this winter. This fall I was out shopping and ran into a local farmer who told me that we were going to have a very cold, very long winter. I thought, ok we'll see. Well, he was right. This is my 4th winter in Wisconsin and it has been by far the coldest and snowiest. When it's -20 out with a windchill of 36 below you just have to find ways to pass time indoors. That is exactly what my kids have been doing. Mikey loves his leapfrog game and I love it because he is actually learning things, like his letters and numbers. Which is fantastic. Naomi is working on mastering how to work those beautiful little hands of hers. She is always reaching and trying to grab at everything lately. It's just fun to watch her.

Thank you for this soft and beautiful jumper Babcia.

Naomi not only looks great in it, it's super comfy soft cotton.

On the thank you list is a big thank you to my dear friend Becca. Last weekend we received a package in the mail from Omaha. It was filled with some super cute clothes for Naomi and some art supplies for Mikey, which is also helpful when you are spending as much time indoors as we are. I realized that if I didn't get Naomi in this adorable little number than she would never have the chance to wear it as it's going to be too small very soon. In an effort to get some cute pictures I thought this outfit was perfect. It's so, so cute! So I turned the heat up, put out a soft blanket and turned the camera on.

Playing with big brother.

Cheese!

Looking at big brother, which is her favorite thing to do. Naomi tracks Mikey all around the room. She loves to watch him... who can blame her, he's very entertaining.

Daddy love.

Mama love.

When life gives you snow,

make snow ice cream!

It's been snowing like crazy here, so what better way to make use of ALL this snow. It was my first time making this and it sure is yummy! I think it will be a new tradition. Just a little milk, vanilla, sugar and of course snow and you're set. Delicious!

Can I have some now Mom?

Dig in!!!

We took a family trip to Minneapolis this weekend. It was a great trip. The kids were very good for the 3 hours each way. We had some wonderful food (man I miss restaurants... Marshfield lacks in that area). We stayed at a nice hotel and got some good old family snuggling in.

The Mall of America!

Naomi had a great time watching everyone and everything at the Mall of America.

I can already tell we're gonna be great shopping buddies.

Mikey rode every single ride... and did he ever have fun.

He slept in his room all night that night for the first time in a VERY LONG TIME.

The fly boat!

I thought for sure some of these rides would scare him (like they used to).

I guess he 's growing up because nothing scared him this time.

Bumper cars with Daddy...

Good times.

Happy 3 months!

Naomi and her giraffe Sophie... she's been consumed with trying to hold onto Sophie and chew on her. I do believe her first tooth is in the near future. Crazy, I can't believe that 3 months ago today she came into our lives. She is really and truly as sweet as they come.