On your mark, get set...GO!!!

Nicole likes to say "Go" everytime before she runs to do something. It's hysterical. If I ask her to go get a book. She"ll get down off the couch, crouch down in starting position and yell "Go" as she takes off to her room. I love it!

I smell like spit up...and other random things

I was sitting here checking my e-mail and wondering what smelled so bad..it's me. I smell like spit up. I have been covered in it today. Hannah has done of great job of hitting both my shoulders, so matter which way I turn, it's there. I just went in to check on her (both Hannah and Nicole are sleeping...YAY!!) She has been searching for her fingers to suck on and I think she's officially "found" them. She is currently sucking on her two middle fingers. Adorable.

I'm thankful I get to stay at home and raise these two sweet girls, but it's not an easy task. I feel like I am constantly battling to stay focused on the task at hand. It's easy to look at other "successful" women and wonder why I spend my days sitting on the floor, cleaning up half eaten food, reading the same book (for te 500th time!), wiping poopy butts, listening to crying and constantly saying No to the TV. I think the days I get antsy to do something else are the days I loose site of the goal. Our lives are so full of instant gratification that it's difficult to remember that I must wait a long time...many many years probably to see the fruit of my work today. I thank God that my husband sees the value in what I do everyday, even if on the outside it looks like I've done nothing, and he constantly encourages me to persevere.

I love my little girls. Nicole is ball of energy and laughs. She is one of the funniest people I know. She is independent, yet needy. She is smart, strong, and lives every moment as it is. She reminds me to enjoy life, not the whole of it...but every minute. I have a lot to learn from her.

Hannah is just a sweet, precious baby. She is quick to smile and communicate. I can be sad, mad, frustrated, annoyed, or any other emotion, and her smile will instantly make it go away. I have never known a baby to be so quick to communicate and grab attention. And now she's giggling...ahh....the prettiest sound in the world.

Thank you Lord that I am not missing a moment of their lives. I pray that I will be a good mother who will love her children always. I pray that He will draw them to Himself and that they will follow Him and love Him all the days of their lives.

The girls

My mom watched the girls today while I went to work out. They had fun taking pics. Here's my favorite.

Nicole is a little chef

Nicole loves to cook with me. Every morning she sits on the counter as I make oatmeal for breakfast and Jeremy's lunch. When I'm through using an item, she always says "All done" and then tells me to throw away the trash. She loves to eat cinnamon she sprinkles on the countertop every morning.

Most evenings, she also helps with dinner. Her favorite dishes to help with are enchiladas and lasagna because she gets to help sprinkle the cheese. Nicole hasn't quite grasped the concept of "emptying"a bag. If we're making choclate chip cookies and I tell her to empty the bag of chips in the bowl, she will take them out one by one...sometimes even by handfuls and place them in the bowl. Well...that's only half true. I think she likes to cook because she likes to eat. She usually has eaten more cheese or choc. chips than she's put in the dish:-) Here is a photo of my little cook in her apron.

The President!!!

President George W. Bush is in town today. I knew when His helicopter took off from the airport on it's way to his luncheon downtown. I kept going outside hoping to catch a glimpse in the horizon...little did I know that he was going to fly directly over top of our home! I dragged Nicole outside (in her underwear!) and we stood out in the yard like a couple of goofs waving at the two presidential helicpoters. It was really neat. I wish I had a picture (of both the copter and Nicole). I hope I can find out when he leaves town...maybe they'll make the same flight pattern and I can get a picture this time. He was right over the house...he could have landed in the backyard and had lunch with us. I also couldn't believe how low they were flying. It really was neat. Regardless of what you think about the President...it's pretty neat that he's in town...and that he could have seen me holding my little sleeping baby and my adorable 2 year old waving at him.

Oh...Jeremy is working downtown, just a block or so from where he landed...so he was in on the excitement as well. Very cool!

Sending a smile

For those of you who don't have picture text messages on your phone, here is a photo I took last night of Hannah. Isn't that a cute smile?

Hug a Friend's neck

I was sitting here typing something for Jeremy and Nicole came running over and asked me to turn on "This Little Light of Mine" (one of her favorite songs on her favorite music CD). One song on the CD says to "hug a friend's neck, hug a friend next to you, hug a friend's neck and sing La La". Almost without fail, she runs over to be and gives me a giant hug when this song comes on. She just did it again..and it warmed my heart. I wanted to share what a sweet loving little girl I have. I am thankful she considers me a friend!

Daddy's influence

Nicole took Jeremy swimming on Father's Day. They had a blast together, along with Grammy & Gramps (Jeremy's mom and dad). Nicole is a maniac in the water! She LOVES it and has No fear when jumping off the side. I love this picture because it reminds me how Jeremy treasures memories more than anything else. He didn't even see the sign. If I were there, they would have never gotten up in the fountain because I would be afraid of breaking the rules. Silly...I know. I love that he just goes for things that seem fun. Sometimes it's good for mommy not to be around:-)

Princess Nicole

Nicole turned 2 on June 5th. We had a fun birthday party...I'll post about that this afternoon hopefully. However, one gift she received was a Birthday Princess set. Nicole was very excited about the tiarra. The other day she was playing with it and came running to me screaming with excitment. She was able to get the tierra on all by herself. She was so proud!!!

Gum...mamma...Gum

Nicole is fascinated with gum. We won't let her chew it yet, and here is a good reason.

Friday night I was cooking dinner and Jeremy was holding Hannah on the phone. I saw Nicole run into our bedroom. A minute or two later, I notice that it was very quiet and I didn't see her come out. I went in our room and called out her name, no answer...so I peaked around the side of the bed and she looked up at me smiling, with empty gum wrappers surrounding her and a mouth full of gum. I had to turn around and walk out because I was laughing so hard, but didn't want her to see her. I tried telling Jeremy what was going on, but since he was on the phone, he only half understood. So...I realized I needed to go back in there and deal with the situation. When I returned, she jumped up and smiled and started saying gum....however, it wasn't in her mouth anymore. Yes...she swallowed approx. 5 pieces (small pieces) or gum!!!! She turned around before she walk out and said "trash" and went over to pick up the wrappers. In all honesty...it was hysterical! Just one of those moments where I couldn't "deal with the situation" because I was caught off guard and just trying to control my laughter. I wish I had a picture.