Never a Dull Moment

Shae went down for a nap a few minutes ago. I sat down to take a breather and started laughing out-loud as I reviewed the morning. It went a little like this...

I wake up to Shae's "mom, come save me!" yell. I jump out of bed and run into her room. There, I find Shae AND Annie BOTH in the crib. I look to my left and see the "hand crafted" stairs that Annie has made which allowed her to climb into the crib. Shae is obviously feeling a bit too claustrophobic and it is time to get Annie out. I lift Annie and then pick up Shae. 

STINKY! Shae has a dirty diaper. As I'm changing her diaper, Annie is giving me a detailed description of what is taking place, including how stinky Shae is and how that is a "big no no!" In the mean time, I am trying to explain that it is ok for Shae to go to the bathroom in her diaper, because she is just a baby... blah, blah, blah. You know, the classic talk with a two-year-old, it only goes so far.

Time to take the dirty diaper to the outside garbage and it's snowing. As I am coming back inside Annie says, "Oh Mom! You have some nice white hair!" Thanks Ann... that's what this beloved snow will do to you. I am laughing at Annie's comment when I hear a crash and instant crying. Amazing how you can go from one extreme to another. Shae has pulled herself up to the bookshelf, then fell and hit her cheek on the corner of the entertainment center. Ouch.

I run over to her, pick her up, and hold her close. I will admit, I get a little teary eyed... It kills me when they are hurting. Annie comes over too and wants to give her a kiss better. We are all snuggling on my chair. Love these moments.

Shae has finally calmed down and it's time for breakfast. Annie climbs up into her booster chair and buckles herself up. Right as she is buckling the last buckle, I hear a nervous, "MOM! GET SHAE!!" I look up, only to find Shae gnawing away at Annie's barbie's hair. Side note - Annie is so good at keeping her things up higher so that Shae cannot reach them. Now that Shae is mobile and pulling herself up to EVERYTHING, Annie is having a harder time keeping things out of her reach. 

I rescue the Barbie, which is followed by Shae's yells. Annie then begins telling me the story about Baby Jesus (with the nativity sitting next to her) as I am finishing up her breakfast. Annie gobbles down her eggs and yogurt as I nurse Shae.

The next hour is spent playing with the kids, taking a few pictures, reading some books, and cleaning up the kitchen. Eventually, it is Shae's nap time. I put her in her crib and shut the door. About five minutes later I hear her yelling for me. Once I get in there, I find her standing up in her crib (typical) and waving at me as I enter. "Hi Shae, it's nap time". I lay her back down. This same process, including all of the waving, happens about four times until she finally falls asleep. Such a social baby.

So now, here I sit thinking about all that took place this morning. I really hope I don't take these moments for granted. I know, one day, I will be looking back at these days, wishing they were here again. So today, my goal is to embrace every cry, babble, tantrum, giggle, scream, and smile.

Here are a few pictures we took this morning...

 Notice the nice red mark on her cheek? Yep, that 's the kind of mark that the corner of the entertainment center will leave! Poor thing... it's all swollen and hot.

*RECENT ADDITION to our day - I have to add this...

Both of the girls take naps around 1:30 or 2:00 every afternoon. I put annie down around 1:45 and then I nursed Shae. After Shae was all fed, I brought her into her room to put her down for a nap as well, only to find Annie wrapped in all of Shae's blankets and in Shae's crib! Oh Annie, how do I deal with this without laughing... I put Annie back in her bed and Shae in the crib. Shae immediately stands up, bonks her head on her mobile and goes back down. 

The mobile is now off of the crib, Annie is in HER OWN bed, and Shae is still standing - attempting to get Annie's attention. Thank you Annie for pretending to be asleep.