Play Date Anyone??

Hey guys! I'm trying to get several play dates scheduled (especially with you out of town people who I don't get to see often enough :). I've decided rather than go to the effort to call each of you (although you're totally worth it :), I'm making you do the work and asking you to contact me!! The week after Christmas is particularly good for us! Hope to get some dates on the calendar soon!

It's Turkey Week!

Hello all! I fear I've lost readers from my lack of posting. Maybe if I can get into a routine again, I can win them back! I've noticed a lot of blogs aren't being updated very often anymore - it seems like everyone is on Facebook now. I, for one, like Facebook, but also like the blog, so I'm going to do my best to continue mine and update more regularly.

Things around here have been just how I like them lately - exciting enough to keep me from being bored, but average and mundane enough for me not to have much to worry about. We're busy getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I am soooo excited about them both this year. For the first time ever, I was not offended when I saw the first Christmas decorations pop up before Halloween. In fact, I'm feeling a little behind that we are not decorated yet, even though I have never made an effort before Thanksgiving.

The girls are keeping me busy, but are sooooo much fun. The 2 year age difference is really great. Christa loves to "play" with Abby Kate by squeezing her cheeks and patting her back. Christa "pounds" her little fists and loves to hug and kiss her. Abby Kate just smiles back - I hope they always like each other this much!

I've also been keeping busy with MOPS, which stands for Mothers of Pre-Schoolers. It's a ministry where moms gather to meet other moms with young kids. I'm on the "steering team" this year. We organize the meetings and activities, and take care of the behind-the-scenes duties. I'm really enjoying it - I've been looking for ways to "volunteer" for a while now, and have had a hard time connecting with anything. This gives me a way to serve and has allowed me to get to know some other moms even better!

We are spending Thanksgiving this year with Cline's family. For the first time in a long time, the whole family will be together for the day, and I can't wait. Christa has caught a bug and is currently in bed with a fever, so I'm hoping everyone is well by then. On Friday, my mother-in-law and I (and possibly my mother) will brave the early morning crowds in search of amazing deals. I love Black Friday, even though I rarely save any money. I guess I just like the excitement, running into people I know, and feeling like I'm getting a bargain.

Abby Kate seems to be hungry, so I'd better run. Here's to more regular posts once our new computer gets here (hopefully tomorrow)!!

Pictures, Pictures, Lots and Lots of Pictures

Hello all! Here I am, delivering on the long-awaited, promised pictures. Go me! Get ready - I have lots for you. But first, I'll tell you a funny Christa story.

I can't remember if I've mentioned it or not yet, but Christa transitioned herself over to her big girl bed in her big girl room about a month ago. About a week or two ago, we were over at Mimi's house for the afternoon. When naptime rolled around, I debated on whether to go back to our house for her nap or attempt a nap in Mimi's guest room. Mimi stepped in and told Christa that if she took a nap in "mimi's big girl bed" then she could have some cookies as soon as she woke up.

I carried her upstairs, and found some stuffed animals to keep her company. I reminded her of the promise of cookies and kissed her goodnight. After a few hours passed, I decided that it was time for Christa to wake up. I tiptoed into the room and sat down beside my sleeping daughter. As I rubbed her back and whispered, "Christa, it's time to get up," she groggily rolled over. Her eyes squinted open, and my little junk food junkie whispered back, "I want cookies."

In less funny but equally exciting news, I am feeling like my "old self" again. I remember feeling this way when Christa was born - it took a good 2 months for me to feel like me again after the pregnancy and delivery. This time, I physically felt like my old self very quickly after Abby Kate was born, but I was very nervous about being alone with both girls for some reason. At first, I thought it was the feeding issues, and not being sure how to entertain Christa while spending so much time nursing Abby Kate. After those resolved, I still wanted help around the clock - not because I needed it necessarily, but because I just didn't want to be alone with the kids. I'm not sure why I felt this way - I didn't think that they were unsafe with me in any way or that anything bad would happen. I just really wanted company all the time, and I hated the thought of letting Abby Kate cry if I couldn't hold her while I cared for Christa.

Sometime over the last couple of weeks, I seem to have developed some new confidence, because the thought of caring for the girls by myself for a few days does not "scare" me in the least now. It helps that Abby Kate is on a more predictable feeding routine and is willing to go a few minutes without being held these days. But in retrospect, I'm thinking that hormones had a lot to do with my wanting constant company. Have any of you other mothers had a similar experience? I'm just wondering - I haven't heard any of my friends talk about anything like this, so maybe it's just me. At any rate, I'm having a blast with my 2 girls. Christa loves her sister, and Abby Kate gives Christa the biggest smiles. Here's a picture of one from Tuesday!

Abby Kate's first "real" bath - November 2, 2009. She loved it.

Enjoy the next several posts of pictures!

Abby Kate's Baptism Pictures

Here are some of the pictures taken at Abby Kate's baptism on November 7. In a following post, you will notice pictures taken on the day of the girls' baby dedication. The reason for this is that Cline comes from a Baptist background, and I from a Lutheran background. After much prayer and consideration, we decided to uphold both traditions. (No theological debates on this in the comment section, please :)

This is the dress that I wore for my Baptism. My sister and Christa also wore it for theirs.

It was an extra special day because it was also the first service in my parents' new church! My parents stood in as sponsors for Alicia, who couldn't make it due to work conflicts. We missed you, sister!

Our family!

Our family with Mimi and Pa!

Our family with La La and Poppy!

More Pictures

Abby Kate sure is a smiley baby! I love it!

Halloween night. Christa was an adorable Georgia cheerleader. I hate that she didn't have fun Trick-or-Treating. We had a little cheer worked out and everything! Maybe she'll have more fun with it next year.

Abby Kate won "funniest costume" at the Fall Festival at my parent's church. Christa tied for "cutest costume."

Abby Kate is 2 months!! The hands at the top of the picture are Christa's - wildly bouncing the seat up and down. Abby Kate loved it, apparently.

And a Few More Pictures

Fall Bazaar - Christa asked to ride the horse, and loved it! She's quite the daredevil.

Baby dedication - we had both of the girls dedicated at our church's baby dedication on October 18th. We did not have a "home church" when Christa was a baby, and Cline's schedule at the time made it quite difficult to schedule one. It was sweet to dedicate them together.

Sweet smiles from Miss Abby Kate. She started "awake smiling" around 5 weeks, and "on cue" around 7 weeks.

Like Arnie Said Back in the Day...

..."I'll be back..." very soon, I promise! Maybe tomorrow, even. We're still working on getting a new computer - the delay is that we want a Mac, and can't decide on an iMac or Macbook. Any thoughts on that guys??

At any rate, Cline's figured out a few tricks for our old computer, so I think I'm going to try and post some pictures tomorrow. We're doing really well. I'm feeling pretty comfortable taking care of both kids now, and having a blast with both of my girls.

Gotta run for now, though. I'm typing with one hand and holding a sleeping Abby Kate in the other.