9 months and 2 years 2 months years

Life with our two babies is amazing. So wonderful that I don't have much desire ( or time) to blog. Well, I should say that I prefer sleep or relaxing to blogging.

Let's get to it.

Noah is now 7 months adjusted age and 9 months "real" age. He is such a predictable, mellow, happy, dare I say, easy, baby. But give that boy his milk on time! He loves his bottles, holding them by himself often, and is also eating pureed fruits and veggies and some treats from his food net like banana and watermelon. The boy and his sister do have that in common. They LOVE to eat. He rolls over both ways now, very well, and wiggles, turns 360 degrees and rolls all over the floor. He is on the move and crawling will be in his near future. He laughs, plays peek-a-boo, smiles, is ticklish, blows bubbles, razzes, squeals, and looks when his name is called. He also is now sitting up on his own well. Yay NOAH! He now says Dada (alot) and is making more word like sounds. It is amazing to think he is already starting to "talk"! He is so smiley, happy and now very verbal. He cracks up at Olivia often. It is so adorable to see them interacting and her entertaining him already. He is a quick learner as we guide him to good sleep habits. He naps easy and is now on a schedule with 3 daily naps and he sleeps an 12 hr stretch at night. We just dropped the dream feed a few weeks ago. Yes, he is my super baby. We are so amazed at his development and how "caught up" he is for his small start.

Olivia is constant amusement and joy. She is so animated, enthusiastic, passionate and affectionate (when she wants to be). She is becoming so independent, wanting to do everything by herself. She has puts together real 9 piece puzzles all by herself, buttons buttons like a pro, tries to tie her shoes, is counting past 10 now, sings entire songs, knows the alphabet in English and sign language, reads her books from memory, ( I have a whole new
appreciation for how much kids can learn so fast. Unbelievable!) comments at meetings, swimming (with floaties), including jumping off of the diving board and going down the slide into the pool and jumping off the side of the pool into the water. She is definitely a hands on, jump right in kind of girl combined with a side that is cautious, deliberate and attentive to detail. She amazes us every day. We just "day" potty trained Olivia about 2 months ago, which she caught on to immediately and hasn't looked back. Olivia and I are also enjoying teaching Noah baby sign language.

Olivia adores her little brother. She now
will run in to where ever he is, saying " Noah, Noah!! Look, look. I have to show you!!" She loves to be around him, even plays tea party with him, asks about him every time she wakes up and runs to "get him" when she hears he is up from his naps. She also acts like a "mommy" to him, making sure to keep him in line when he is "kicking" her with his wiggly feet or has his hands on a toy she suddenly must play with. It's out of this world heart melting.

This summer we have enjoyed the pool party each Monday, a trip to the board walk, a train ride at Roaring Camp in Felton, park visits and play dates with friends, walks and play time at the beach and service. We had a family get together in Oakdale, went to a farm in Half Moon Bay where she rode her first pony and fed goats, strawberry picking in Watsonville, and have had lots of family visit us. We look ahead to a visit from Grandma Gini and Craig and Uncle Alan and Auntie Sandy, the Circuit Assembly, a congregation party and whatever else we can fit in.

Mom and dad are holding up well. Home life is in a groove and we are quite a systematic team and work hard to be organized to keep things maintained as much as possible. Matt is my "daddy day care" on the day's he is home from work so I can get errands and bible studies and exercise in. Truely a blessing.
I feel quite mentally recovered after the pregnancy and birth and the months of new preemie life with Noah. It really took it's toll in me and had me slip into a few intense months of PPD and PTS. Fortunately with Dr's help and lots of family and friends support and many prayers, I made it to the other side. I am still trying to be reasonable with myself, however, and continue to attempt to physically and emotionally balance my energy. A lifelong goal indeed..

Here are some pics from the past few months. My how they grow. I see why some people have lots of babies. I can't get enough of mine.