Temper tantrums galore

This is where we were a year ago. So sweet and kind...

And now... Oh my! We have had quite a week here. I can't tell you how exhausting it is. My 2 year old is being just that, a 2 year old. My dad said Anabelle will probably stay sweet and not put me through the wringer like Emmie. I told him I deserve it. I mean she is only 2 and almost 3 months. I have 9 more months to go?! I am not sure I will make it.

She can be so sweet and fun and then it can all change in a moment. This week has been a true challenge. 2 massive tantrums yesterday, enough to make her have a hoarse voice today. She woke up sweet this morning with a nice "Good morning mommy". And within 2 minutes she was having a tantrum and had her first time out of the morning. I wish I could write about what we are dealing with, but it will take forever. In a nutshell, she is just not getting what she wants or doesn't want to do something I want her to, ie. go potty!, get dressed, brush hair, etc.

So after doing some reading I have decided to cool my jets and stop getting my panties in a wad ever time we have a situation. I have kept my cool ( for the past 2 days atleast). I stay calm and let her know if she continues then I will walk away. Seemed to work but we will see. Sometimes I get so dang frustrated I need to walk away and vent.

Temper tantrums are awful, but they wont last forever. I hope... Lets just pray that they get better and not worse.

8 months old and Sister is growing up

Here we are. 8 months ago our life changed with the addition of little Miss A-belle. She has been a pure joy thus far. She is a super sweet baby. She loves to snuggle, give kisses and hug. She puts up with her big sister and is still going strong. The first 6 months were pretty tough, I can't lie. But I think we are finally getting the hang of having 2. It is definitely man-on-man coverage. And you rarely get a break. One of my favorite stories... One day Brent was lying on the couch trying to "rest his eyes and take a nap". Ha! I just laughed. He quickly realized that naps are a thing of the past.

We have our hands full, but couldn't be happier. A-belle and Emmie are starting to play together. It is super cute. Emmie will play peek-a-boo with Belle and she goes wild. I have also had to put an end to many wrestling matches with Anabelle. Emmie just can't quite understand that she can't tackle, lay on top, or pick Anabelle up by her neck. It is interesting for sure. But Belle hasn't sustained too many bumps or bruises from sissy. Atleast, not like she did in the beginning.

Anabelle has dominated the army crawl and is now up on all 4s. She is everywhere! Being on the move wasn't enough for her. Now she is trying to pull up on everything. I think she really wants to walk more than crawl. Oh Dear!

She has learned to wave. She says Dada all the time and a bunch of other nonsense. She still only has 2 teeth but I have a feeling some more will be popping through any day. She started to eat some "fist foods". Cut up banana, cooked corn, stars. She loves it.

She is making new friends with Champy

All smiles and wearing new shoes. They were Emmie's shoes but by the time Emmie could wear them she was walking, so they didn't get much wear. So, just like new!

She loves her walker

. Emmie is talking like a magpie. She has developed a bit of a southern twang. Not from the Yankee Kirleys. I am sure it came from Commerce :) Still potty training... I feel like it will never end. But my mom has reassured me that she won't be doing this forever. Ha! Well, it is getting better, but we still have a ways to go. I have tried pretty much everything. Being naked seems to work the best. M&Ms worked for awhile, stickers were a short lived reward. Now I have reverted to a Potty training App. She likes to push the buttons and listen to the music. We got rid of the little potty pretty quick. It was good for her to get used to the idea, but Mommy doesn't like having to empty it. We use a potty seat on the real potty instead.

All this potty talk probably has you bored and I apologize. But I write this all so I can remember what it was like when I start training Anabelle. :)

Here is cutie patootie in her Daddy's work boots

Working on their computers. I came into the living room and this is what I found. Hysterical!

Thank goodness for better weather. We were having some super cabin fever around here. Its nice to feel the sun again and play outside! She really doesn't wear this shirt all the time, but we went through a bit of a phase and we had to.

Bath time is one of their favorite times together. They love to play in the water together. And killing two birds with one stone works for mom too!

Update

Don't forget about this guy. He is the best!

Things are starting to look up around here. We have had major cabin fever this winter. Too cold to play outside and beginning to get at each others throats. Well, we have been blessed with temps in the 60s to 70s this week and are taking full advantage. Picnics outside, playing at the park... Loving it. It is amazing what some fresh air can do for children. Makes them happier and sleep better at the end of the day.

We are still working on potty training with Emmie. Ugh! Some days she wakes up and wants to please us. She will be the perfect potty trainer. THEN, there are the other days (most of them) that she protests. Doesn't want to participate. Has multiple accidents. It is tiring. She simply wants to have her own independence and simply won't even try to sit. So on non-school days we go bottomless. Don't come to our house unannounced. You might get a shot of a small tushie. If we are good and sit, we get to wear big girl panties. Pull ups at nap time, bedtime and if we go out anywhere. It is hard. Especially because she sees Anabelle getting her diaper changed. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Her teacher told me on Thursday that she is "a fiesty one". Apparently she had a boy by his shirt. I guess he was all up in her space and she didn't like it and was going to let him know. Her teacher said she had to go "break it up". Ha! Maybe that would make her father happy :)

Emmie talks like crazy. She loves watching tv. I don't let her watch it all day long, but it sure buys me some time when I need it. She has been much sweeter to Anabelle. I love when I walk away for a second only to look back in the room and find them playing with each other. Soooooo cute! It's only a matter of time before they are running around here together. Emmie will tell you she and Anabelle are "beeeeeessst friends". Awesome.

Anabelle is starting to wave. I have been really trying to get her to clap but she chose waving first. She says dadadadadadadadadada all the time. She is starting to say baba. Who knows. But it is starting. She can't get the crawling thing down yet. I am still okay with that. You can tell she gets frustrated though. She wants to get going, but can't quite get going. She looooooves to stand up. Maybe she will walk before she crawls, ha! Let's hope that isn't the case or I am in for it.

What a difference it makes when they can hold their own bottle. Mommy has free hands!

She laughs all the time. Best laugh ever. She sleeps like a log. usually goes down between 630 and 7p. SO early, I know. But she sleeps til about 6-7am. I can't complain. Especially because if she does wake up early or in the middle of the night it is usually to play for a bit in her crib.

This is what I find when I go in to get her!

She has made it to the swing at the park and loves swinging next to sissy. I need to take a picture of it next time we go.

This is an example of Emmie not sharing with her little sister.

Instead she would rather be silly with her.

Emmie better watch out. Anabelle won't be little forever!

Cheese!

Anabelle has become so much more interested in Champ. He couldn't be sweeter with these two.

My little princess

Do you love this as much as I do? This is my little princess. I am taking another photography class and trying to learn about photoshop. This is one of my new products... It is easy when you have a beautiful subject :)

Check up!

Oh me oh my! This was a good. one. Man, thankfully after this one, Emmie has to go only once a year. Anabelle will still be a frequent flyer for awhile. Well, we took them both on the same day. I just didn't want to have to keep going back and forth. Thankfully, the office was closed due to the snow (Brent was out of town and the thought of doing this on my own...) and we rescheduled for Saturday at noon. Brent was back in town and we both toted the girls to the pediatrician. Emmie went first. She was pretty good until it was Anabelle's turn. She wanted to watch A-belle, but was rambunctious and wouldn't sit still. Brent took her to the waiting room- thankfully no one else was there- where she proceeded to throw a tantrum. Doctor Vic heard the whole thing. This just after I got done telling how good she is, most of the time... Ha!

They both had to get shots. Anabelle is really pitiful when she gets hers. Most kids will calm down when they get the liquid one, but she is so upset the doctor gets nervous giving her the rest because she is choking on it.

Here are their check up stats

Emmie 24.14 pounds and 33.75 inches

Anabelle 18 pounds and 26 inches

OMG! How can they be so different? I am sure most parents can say- do not compare. They will be so different and just go with it!

What's in store for us next? Potty training for Emmie. Crawling for Anabelle. Ugh!!!!!!

6 months!

Hey there! I am six months old. Yikes! Where has the time gone.

Cute butt

Lounging

Straight from the bath tub

I love my new head band

Being sweet while mommy cooks dinner

Rockin'

Me and Sissy

Emmie throwing Anabelle a tea party

Hanging out in Emmie's big girl bed

What is she up to...
Sitting up unsupported! She loves it and what a difference it makes when they do not have to lay down all the time. It's like a new world.

She has been trying to say dada. Although, I am trying to teach her mama instead. Go figure. You spend all day every day with them and they choose dada first.

She has one tooth and one one the way.

So ticklish under her chin and her belly. She has a great laugh.

Anabelle has truely experienced her first snow. She pretty much slept through the white Christmas.

She goes to music class with Emmie and is starting to participate. She loves it and better yet Emmie loves when Anabelle plays. (Emmie chased down another kid the other day who took a toy from Anabelle. She yelled at him "No, that is A-belle's!". Already sticking up for her little sis. Love it.)

Not that interested in trying to crawl yet. She would rather sit up or stand on her tree trunks! We are working on getting her to get on her knees. Honestly I am ok if she doesn't want to crawl for awhile! My life will really be on the go then.

Anabelle is obsessed with Mommy. So was Emmie at 6 months. That sure does change...

Some of her favorite eats... squash, apples, bananas, pears, carrots, peas, sweet potato, avocado

Let it snow 2011

Oh the excitement to wake up the day after your second birthday to find a winter wonderland. It is hard to believe that just one year ago- the day before her birthday- we had a similar snow fall. And we are in Georgia. Go figure. I guess it is not a bad birthday present from Mother Nature. It sure makes for fun outside, cold noses and good naps!

loving it!

Daddy and Emmie geared up. I guess after two years in a row I should pony up and get her some sort of snow gear. Although, once I do I am sure it won't snow again for years!

Look at this bundle. I got her out long enough to capture her first snow

Bright eyes

Here is Anabelle and her friend Mary Julia. I love that they will look at this in years and say they experienced their first snow together

Here is my sweet Birthday Snow Princess

Daddy trying to keep the girls warm and occupied while Mommy attempts to sled down some ice/snow. Good thing I came back in one piece. Not sure what they would do without me! Ha!

Here is Daddy in action

Wwe had a blast. It sure was pretty and fun! I am glad we were able to squeeze the birthday party in just a few hours earlier :)