Goodbye Old House!

Dear Pemberley and Waverley,
Oh little ones! Daddy and I are so excited to move you both into our new house in Kansas City, Kansas! I will post some more details about the move later (it went GREAT, thank the Lord), but I wanted to take a second and show you the house that you both started your lives in. You've seen bits and pieces of it in random pictures, but here are the professional photos from the listing agent so you can see all of the rooms.

Daddy and I bought this house waaaay back when we started dating in 2012 (after only three months of dating, believe it or not!). We've put a lot of time and love into it, and honestly never thought we would move so soon. But since Daddy's job at BPU has a residency requirement, we decided to make the move sooner rather than later. I can't wait to show you pictures of your new home! Three out of the four bedrooms upstairs need serious coats of paint (they are the worst shades of yellow, green, and orange), but our family will grow to love our new house as much as we loved the old one. 
All my love,

Mom Confessions

Dear Pemberley and Waverley,
This has been a day-drinking kind of week (and it's only Wednesday), so I feel like a shared post on "mom confessions" is in order.

1) I had grand plans for this summer with both of you. We were going to go to water parks, the zoo, and cute clothes shopping.  In reality, those plans have turned into playing in the bathtub or sink, petting the dogs and cats, and cleaning out the closets. It's too freaking hot to go anywhere.

2) I am so over breastfeeding. I will continue to do it until you self-ween, Wavie Bug, but I'd be lying if I said I enjoy it. I'm ready to have my body back to myself.

3) Mom guilt is real. Even though #2 is totally true, I still feel guilty about it. And I feel guilty because you, Waverley, are not getting the same newborn attention that Pemberley did when she was tiny. And I feel guilty because you, Pemberley, are not getting all of the toddler attention that I feel like you need, either. 

4) We've made coffee runs to Dunkin Donuts more times this summer than I'd like to admit. (And so what if we were all most likely barefoot for them?)

5) You two will be starting daycare in three weeks when I go back to work. Pemberley, you did awesome at your trial run last week, so I'm not too worried about you. I think you'll do better around more people anyway, because you're a little social butterfly. Waverley, though...I'm scared I'll be getting a "Please-come-get-your-daughter-she-won't-stop-crying" call a few hours after Daddy drops you off. You're a total mama's girl.

6) Bedtime stories have kind of gotten the shaft this summer, mostly because it's hard putting two kids to bed at the same time. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been read as follows: There once was a caterpillar. He was hungry. He ate a bunch of food. Then he ate a big leaf. He got very fat, and built a cocoon. Then he became a beautiful butterfly. The end. I will do better once things calm down, I promise!

7) Nothing says it's time for a jumbo margarita like walking in to get you after a nap, Pemberley, and finding out that you've smeared your poop all over yourself and your crib sheet.

8) Accidental Amazon purchases to date by you, Pemberley:  $5.66. I don't know why you thought we needed a subscription to Oprah's e-magazine, or a copy of The Nightmare on Elm Street, but okay.

9) I love you girls more than the world.

Lovelovelove,

Four Months of Sisters

Dear Pemberley and Waverley,
You have been sisters for four months now, and I can barely remember a time when you two weren't. Seeing the two of you together is the best feeling in the world, and it's only going to get better from here on out! (And Waverley, I promise you are not nearly as terrified of Pemberley as you look in these pictures!)

 

It took me awhile to get used to basically seeing double, because the two of you were practically identical newborns. I put together a few comparison pictures and had Daddy and your grandmas try to guess who is who in them. They're harder than you might think!

Left: Pemberley - Right: Waverley

Left: Waverley - Right: Pemberley

 

Over the past four months, there are some phrases I truly can't believe I have uttered, mostly directed at you, Pemberley. These include:

-Fingers do NOT go in your sister's eye/mouth/ear/other eye/nose/other ear.

-No, her paci does not belong in the dog fountain.

-No, Waverley does not want your Cheez-It.

-For fuck's sake, she doesn't want your boogers, either. 

Pemberley, you adore your little sis. You're always walking up to her and saying, "Baby! Baby!" about an inch from her face. You love looking at my phone to see her picture, and you have gotten super good at hauling ass around the corner to see what's going on when she cries out. Your gentle touches have also gotten A LOT better, which I really, really appreciate. You didn't even mind too much when she yanked some hair out after you practically body slammed on top of her.

Waverley, you LOVE looking at Pemberley to see what she's up to. You've gotten really good at turning your head to follow her around the living room, and you are constantly turning your head to follow her voice (like that one time when she went "HIIIII-YAAA!" and roundhouse kicked her sippy cup across the kitchen floor, or the other time when she was walking around singing Bieber at the top of her lungs with a snack cup on her hand in a very Captain Hook-esque manner).

Daddy and I can't wait for the day when you two walk to the park holding hands, or when you're both stealing each others sharing clothes and reading the same books. For now, though, we'll take all of the sister snuggles we can get!

I love you both so much,

Fourth of July + A Throwback!

Dear little Pemberley,
Another summer, another 4th of July! This year we didn't do much except hang out at home. It's been in the upper 90s lately, so staying indoors suited us all just fine! I did manage to find last year's outfit, though, and I was floored when I put it on you and it still fit :)

You seemed happy to hang out with Rusty for the better part of the day. You two are best buds and thick as thieves.

And I think it's safe to say we've gotten little glimpses of what it's going to be like when you're a teenager. This stare (complete with a long, slow "how dare you ask me to smile" eye roll) sums it up pretty well...all sass.

Last but not least, here's a throwback picture to last year. I still can't believe what a big girl you are now! I promise, next year we will do the 4th of July right:: fireworks, a barbeque, and fruit cake with whipped cream!

Love you so much sweet Pemberley,

Daddy's Weekend

Dear little Pemberley,
Daddy lives for the month of June...this year his birthday and Father's Day fell on back-to-back days! We had a ton of fun celebrating what an amazing Daddy he is.

For Father's Day, I made this neat little book of Daddy+Daughter Dates. The idea is that as you and Wavie grow up, you each get to go on different dates with Daddy and fill the book up with pictures and mementos of your time together. I can't wait to watch you three add to it as you get older!

To cap off Father's Day, we celebrated at Chapala Mexican Restaurant. I managed to snap this picture as we finished up dinner. It might just be my new favorite picture of you two. He loves you sooooo much Pemberley!

The next day, for Daddy's birthday, you and Waverley got Daddy this picture frame, with a special poem that I edited just a little. You're in the first picture...it's one of the first times that Daddy ever held you in his arms. Waverley is in the other picture, in the same hospital, and it's one of the first times Daddy ever held her, too. I'm so happy we have these framed to help us remember how small you both were and how special your daddy-daughter bond is.

 

Happy Father's Day AND 32nd birthday to the best Daddy in the world!
All of my love to you, Pemberley,

In Toddler News | Part Three

Dear Pemberley,
I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again: this is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite age! You are learning so much these days (and getting into so much trouble!), and it's so neat to watch you grow up. It's also very bittersweet, don't get me wrong, but it's just so damn cool, too.

Let's start with the best: watching you eat. You probably know this by now, but you love to eat. And lately, it's quite hilarious to watch you master the art of using a fork. I realize that giving a 20 month old spaghetti and a fork is kind of ridiculous (I mean, let's work on stabbing the food before we twirl it, right?). You apparently thought so, too, because you threw your fork to the ground and went at your spaghetti family style!!

Aside from eating, your next favorite thing to do is watch Justin Bieber music videos on YouTube. Allow me to explain how that came about, before you start judging me, okay? :)

I was trying to teach you how to say "baby" for the longest time before Wavie got here. You would make the "b" sound, but absolutely refused to say the entire word. One day I had on iHeart Radio, and "Baby" by Bieber came on as we were walking upstairs so I could put you down for your nap. I'll be damned if you didn't start saying, "Beebee, beebee!" when you heard it! After that, you were addicted. You've gotten really good at singing the chorus, and even add in the "Ohhh!" at the end, as well. It's quite possibly the cutest thing ever. You will take anyone's phone and unrelentlessly go, "beebee, beebee, beebee, ohhhh! Beebee, beebee!" over and over and over until we put the video on for you. Bieber has entertained you for many minutes throughout the day while I take care of your sister. Here's the look on your face when you see the video begin. Pure. Joy. (And don't get me started on how cute those pigtails are!!!)

Here's a quick video of your relentless request. Sooooo cuuuuteee!

You've spent a lot of time with your Daddy lately while I take care of little sister. I love watching the two of you bond! We went to the park near our house on Memorial Day, and I captured this picture of Daddy pushing you on the swing. You are definitely a 'play outside kind of girl', and you had a blast swinging and bossing the other kids around (you are NOT shy when it comes to talking to other kids). The look on your face when you see your Daddy just melts my heart :)

Another favorite thing you like to do, aside from spending time with Daddy, is cause as much trouble as you possibly can. You need to be watched like a hawk every waking moment, or I find you dancing with a roll of toilet paper...

...or standing on top of an unstable play kitchen...

...or sitting in an Amazon box with some snacks after trying to eat the dog food...

...or stepping on Meagram's tail because you have your sunglasses on...indoors...

...or putting yourself and Rusty in doggy jail after I chased you down for taking a bag of Cheez-Its out of the kitchen pantry and crunching them all over the floor...

...or taking out every single wet wipe as fast as you can before you get caught...

...or, lastly, forcing me to play peek-a-boo, even though right before I took this picture, you got caught splashing in the pet fountain yet again.

We seriously need to do a better job watching you.

I love you so much, sweet girl. Seeing you toddle around and get into stuff has been one of the biggest highlights of the summer so far. A close second is hearing you talk and learn new words. You've learned to say "Hep! Hep!" when you need something ("help"), and you love asking to go on a walk. Although it doesn't *quite* sound like "walk" just yet...

We'll keep working on your "w" sound this summer.

With so much love,

Auntie Caroline's Graduation

Dear Pemberley,
She did it!!! Auntie Caroline graduated college with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice!

Let me tell you a little bit about your aunt (although if you're reading this, these are probably things you already know). She is fearless. She will stand up for what's right. She works hard and plays harder. She has high standards not only for herself, but for everyone else too. She doesn't back down from a challenge. And last but not least, she DID IT!!!!

Last Saturday we loaded up the car and party-trained it down to Warrensburg, Missouri to see the graduation ceremony at UCM. Waverley only cried for 20 of the 40 minutes, so Daddy and I are counting that as a win. You managed to keep one pigtail/bow in, so we're counting that as a win also :)

The ceremony itself was only about an hour and a half, which, to be honest, I was dreading. You're quite the busy body these days and I was nervous as to how you'd do trapped in a row of seats in an open gym, but I came prepared with your sippy cup and some Cheez-Its. What I didn't prepare myself for was what a little show off you are with Auntie's girl friends!!! You were sitting with them and taking Snap Chat selfies in a matter of minutes. Daddy and I were smiling ear to ear, watching you make friends!

Here's the family after graduation. My favorites are the ones of you wearing the cap!!! You thought you were hot stuff.

We all went out to On the Border afterwards, and ate a ton of mediocre food. We also learned how much your Grandma Joanne "appreciates things." (An inside joke I will tell you about when you're older!) By that time, it was super late and you were super tired. Auntie C and her BFF Ashley carried you out to the car (but not before they took a super cute picture!). We had a long drive home, which you totally took advantage of...

Pemberley, even if you end up choosing a path that doesn't involve college, I'm sure you'll grow to appreciate how hard your Auntie worked to get to this day. If you have even half of her hard work and dedication to your chosen career field, I will be a happy mama.

Love,