Brigitta December POTD

Admittedly I've been slacking on this but here are a few I managed this month:

Dec 2: Cheeky

Dec 20: A couple of sickies

Dec 21: Starting solids

Dec 23: Sleep, sleep, sleep

Dec 28: Pretty as a rose, fresh as a daisy

Dec 30: Holding her own

Dec 30 (again): Flying raspberries

Brigitta's become adept at swinging her tiny feet up, grabbing her toes and then using the weight to roll on her side. Once there she would twist her legs and face down but that darn arm would always keep her from fully rolling over. Saturday she was on the hardwood floor which I think was just slick enough for her to slip that arm under her chest and voila! She was on her tummy. We put her back on her back to see if she would do it again and lickety split she rolled over again. As soon as she was there, she got a look on her face that seemed to say, "This isn't quite what I was hoping for." Brigitta still hates tummy time and wails after about 7 minutes. Finding herself in that position didn't seem to be all that fantastic. She also loves to suck on her fingers and fist... to the point she will choke on them and then start over. 

Breakfast

I woke up this morning craving a hearty breakfast. Brent and Brigitta had been in the trenches with each other all night and they were still snoozing so I took Liesel and Ireland to the local HyVee grocery store. Their hot breakfasts are yummy and the best deal around. After ordering, we sat down and Liesel immediately started complaining that she wanted to sit next to me. Since Ireland isn't too concerned with making a mess while she eats, I really need to be close enough to wipe her down now and again. I told Liesel I wanted her to sit across from me so we could play a game. Then I asked her to guess how many fingers I was holding up under the table. When she guessed I'd bring them above the table to see if she was right. After about 10 wrong guesses, she surreptitiously glanced under the table while she "sneezed." She then confidently told me, "1 or maybe 54". Do I have to tell you I just happened to be holding up 1 finger?

What'dya do? What'dya do? You're in jail!!!

Uh oh! Now I'M in jail! What'd I do? What'd I do?

I ordered a #7 which is 3 eggs, 3 sausage links, hash browns and toast, a side of 1 pancake, and requested an extra plate to divvy up all the food. When it came, I immediately began cutting up the pancake because I figured that's what the girls would want to eat first. To my surprise, Ireland slid that HUGE order of food right in front of her thinking it was all hers while Liesel and I would share the 1 pancake. The woman who brought out our food laughed all the way back to the kitchen.

There are a group of elderly but spry men who often have breakfast together at HyVee. Many of them wear feed grain caps and they clearly enjoy each other. We beat them there but a couple of them arrived and started pulling tables together for when the rest joined them. One of them noticed Liesel and said, "hi" when he was unexpectedly pulled into a rather long conversation about her pancakes. He was so sweet to patiently listen to her tell him all about how good they were and how she really liked pancakes. Oh how I love Iowans! Some of the nicest people around.

The Perks of Being a Mom

Somewhere between sleep and awake, between dark and dawn, my Ireland girl came to my bedside and whispered, "I love you Mama."

A moment I wish I could hold onto forever.

Merry Christmas!

This was our very first Christmas completely on our own, no extended family whatsoever and I have to say I'm so happy with how it all came together! It felt festive without being overly materialistic which is a nearly impossible balance to strike.

We had our fancy dinner on Christmas Eve. For the first time we dimmed the lights and used candles and oh my, Ireland could not stop talking about the "fire". That one is definitely becoming a tradition! They opened their gift of new, matching pjs and I was a little sad that Liesel seemed to know that's what she was getting.

Liesel was the first one up... she woke us at 2:30AM asking if we could start Christmas. I can't even remember what I told her but she must have gone back to bed because I descended from the fog of sleep many hours later to find both girls up and eager to get things started.

This is Christmas! A can of Pringles to fill up the stocking is a must where I come from. We laughed when Brigitta instinctively hugged her can (which Brent got in a flavor he wanted to try since she wouldn't be eating them). Ireland spent the morning with a yellow mouth and chin as she ate her cheddar cheese flavored Pringles three and four at a time.

Make sure you get to the bottom of that stocking!

Photo by the Christmas tree in new pjs. Props to Brent for being best supporting extra so I could get all the girls looking (somewhat) at me. My heart melted when I saw both Liesel and Ireland run to get their presents for Brent. It's better to give than receive but really the best when your kids grasp that principle. 

This wreath was my splurge this year. I spotted it last year at Williams Sonoma and fell in love. The song "Silver Bells" is one of my favorites and as Christmas wreaths go, I've never seen anything like it. I decided to wait until after Christmas when it would surely go on sale but was chagrined to find it was sold out... everywhere. Online AND in the 3 stores within reasonable driving distance. When I saw they had it again this year I used some of my birthday money to ensure this would adorn our front door. Oh how I love the sound it made as we came and went... like Santa's sleigh was right on our heels. It looked particularly cheery on the green front door.

The best gift I received was hands down an advanced copy of Downton Abbey's Season 3 from my sister Katrina. I don't know how she got it since it doesn't even air in the US until January. Frankly, I didn't bother to stop and ask because I absolutely HAD to find out if they had freed Mr. Bates. I have a message for Julian Fellowes-- STOP killing off all my favorite people! And the scene where Carson takes the crying baby in his arms and says, "There, there, let's have a chat about it." was hand down the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Now I want a butler who will pick up my baby when she's crying and soothe her with his British accent while showing her all the grand rooms of the estate until she's calm. My very own Carson is going on next year's wish list.

Perhaps the best part of Christmas were the video chats with family which stretched from Alaska to South Africa. It was truly a wonderful day!

The Nativity

I think this is the most adorable version of the Nativity I've ever seen. Admittedly I get suckered in by the New Zealand accents but I also love how the shepherds are told to "follow" the star. Joseph's reaction to Mary's pregnancy was the same as mine. That's got to be the lumpiest pregnancy pillow I've ever seen! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Seeing Santa

Am I a horrible mom if I really love this first photo? Liesel has clearly mastered ignoring the photographer while Ireland frantically cries for Daddy and Brigitta slowly slips out of everyone's grasp. I could tell the photographer was going to wait until Ireland calmed down until I ordered her to hurry and take it before she did. I'd much rather have this moment recorded for posterity than a more "perfect" one. Even Santa seems amused by the toddler's hysterics. And whatever happened to Brigitta's shoes? I'll never know I'm sure.

This second one was more for the photographer than for us. Brigitta was safely in Brent's arms and Ireland just found out there was a bowl of candy she was on the verge of getting her hands on. She excitedly kicked up her feet and Liesel finally, finally glanced at the photographer. It's nice and all, but it doesn't have as much personality as the first one.

Happy Feet

A few days shut up in the house was enough to drive us all a little stir crazy. I decided to take the two older girls for pedicures while Brent got some one-on-one time with Brigitta. The place we went to has little pink chairs just for girls and a dvd player to distract them. The woman who worked on them was so sweet! She immediately ushered me to my own chair on the other side of the salon and told me not to worry, she would take care of them.

Oh did she take care of them! I have to admit I cringed at the colors the girls chose (especially Liesel's lime green polish) but the designs made up for them. She had a thick accent which Ireland had a hard time understanding. The lady repeatedly asked if she wanted a snowman and Ireland just kept responding, "What?!?" louder and louder. Finally she yelled loud enough for everyone in the nail salon (and some strangers walking by in the mall), "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!!!" Thankfully Liesel piped up and as you can see, Ireland did get the snowman.

In the interest of teaching the girls it is much better to give than to receive, we went to the dollar store and I let the girls pick out gifts for Brent. Ireland knew what to get him right away while Liesel carefully perused her options. I handed them each two dollars and let them pay the clerk on their own. I think my plan failed because both of them were more excited about the change they received than any gift giving they were doing. However, once we got home they scurried downstairs to wrap their gifts. While I cut out wrapping paper and tied bows, they did the rest themselves. I'm excited to see how it goes on Christmas morning when they give those little gifts to their daddy!

My picture isn't the best, but Liesel got tiny branches with little pink flowers.

Teacher Treats

After Friday's tragedy I just wanted to hug the principal at Liesel's school and kiss her teachers' feet. Not only do they work so hard for little compensation, but they were so calm on Monday. I'm sure it was to help reassure the students, but man alive it did me some good too. Today we put together holiday gifts for them.

Liesel was so excited with the results she wanted to go straight back to school to deliver them. I guess as a kid I thought my teachers lived at school too!

I really liked this idea (which I swiped from a BYU roommate) because Liesel did almost everything on her own. She picked out some whisks, bags of Hershey's kisses, combined one with the other and voila!

Sadly I think Liesel's handwriting is better than mine.

For now these little beauties will live in Liesel's backpack. She'll give them out tomorrow which is also Pajama Day to celebrate the beginning of Winter Break.

Today was the holiday program and while we waited I sat in that tiny gym and contemplated how my own elementary school gym once seemed massive. The musical numbers were entertaining to say the least. I particularly enjoyed the 12 Days of Winter Break done by all the teachers:

I'm excited to have Liesel home with me for the next little while. We have big plans to roast marshmallows and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Lately I just can't stop cuddling all my little girls. I'm so grateful for them!

Pick Up

LOL

Brent warned the girls they had to eat their dinner "all gone" if they wanted to have family movie night with popcorn and root beer floats. Without missing a beat, Ireland slid her plate of half-eaten food to Liesel and commanded, "Here, eat this all gone!"

Me mata!

Sunday Best

I love it when my girls are dressed to the nines in coordinating outfits for church. A few years ago a woman noted, "Danika, you're girls always look like they're going to a wedding." I can't help it, I know I have a very limited amount of time when I can thrust my choice of fashion on them... Liesel's already starting to balk!

Even though it was a long Sunday at church and everyone was tired and hungry, I forced the girls onto the couch to catch this photo before time slipped through my fingers yet again. Technically the girls shouldn't be wearing sleeveless dresses in the middle of winter and the bodice on Ireland's dress was almost painfully tight. Brent wanted to eat and I was dying to get out of my heels. Still, it had to be done so like a martinet I marched everyone to the couch and demanded they smile, kiss and look happy.

Even Brigitta was not amused.

Once the girls were freed from the bondage of their fluffy dresses and they could smell a yummy dinner on it's way, they danced like a dervish (I can't get enough of Ireland's Elvis moves!). I left an exasperated Brent at the stove so I could catch just a few more shots. Turns out I like these images of them in their slips even better. I'm willing to bet they do too.

Oh how those pigtails fly when she's excited!

I think this is the most beautiful portrait shot ever. So glad I caught it.

Well, you can't blame a mom for trying!

School of Love

Liesel is attending the same school my sister Reagan did when she was a youngin'. Once upon a time, Reagan broke her nose while playing on the playground. Nothing bleeds quite like a head injury and so it was rather dramatic. Mom tells me as Reagan was taken away to the hospital with her face all bloodied, a little boy sorrowfully proclaimed, "But I was going to marry her!" She survived the incident and while they never did marry, Reagan is still friends with the boy via Facebook. I remember Reagan getting a HUGE pack of frozen popsicles that no one else was allowed to eat. And a lot of attention. But I digress.

This morning as I dropped Liesel off at preschool, a little boy in a Batman t-shirt ran up to me and gave me this envelope:

His sidekick told me I needed to open it up at home and give it to Liesel. Inside, I found this drawing of a purple heart.

Ahhhh the romance continues! Another one I'm hanging onto for Liesel's permanent file. After all, they may be Facebook buddies someday!

Fail

I've seen Reagan do this numerous times with her girls (resulting in gales of laughter) and decided to try it:

I guess I don't have the magic touch! Poor Ireland...

My Heart Broke Along With Hers

Tonight we said our goodbyes to Brent at the bus depot. Ireland was already asleep and Brigitta was working her way there with a few tired wails now and again. As I pulled out of my parking spot Liesel spoke up from the backseat.

"Mom? I'm really sad because I miss Daddy." And she burst into tears. She cried like I have never heard her cry before. 

And I sobbed too.

Happy Thanksgiving...

...from the Wuehler girls (cousin Elizabeth included!). Vanessa had the idea to make hats shaped like turkeys, color them and then glue on feathers.

Surprisingly Ireland seemed to enjoy it the most. Every time she glued on a feather she'd smile and shake her shoulders. She's still carrying that hat around.

Liesel also brought these beauties home from Preschool:

I will never get tired of turkey hands! I'm saving this one.

This turkey mask just makes me (and Liesel) smile. I'd like to meet  whoever came up with this!

Bring Your Kids to Work Day

While the girls had these masterpieces painted on their faces:

I contemplated these masterpieces at Chicago's Art Institute:

They should really rename Bring Your Kids To Work Day something a tad more apropos like Give Your Stay-at-Home Spouse a Break Day. I think the day flew by a tad too quickly for everyone. It's been years since I've been to an art museum and making it back was a breath of fresh air.

Brigitta and I were second in line and once we got in I made a beeline for the Seurat. Being able to stand at that huge, huge, HUGE painting and just take it in was heaven. I always notice something different and this time (thanks to the audio tour I flipped for) I noticed the soldiers near the upper left. Chagall's America Windows was stunning. I always forget how much I love stained glass (I took a class myself in high school) until I see something this impressive. I find it funny the figures in American Gothic were Wood's sister and dentist. Sometimes I feel like my dentist is using a pitchfork on me too... I've decided I will make it to Monet's gardens in France someday. I absolutely will! My heart skipped a beat when I saw the Pollock. For someone who is as fastidious as I am, I'm not quite sure why I like his frenetic work, but I do. I could stare at it for hours. The passion just seems to radiate out of the canvass.

I'm already looking forward to the next Bring Your Kids to Work Day! Between the face painting, magician, pizza and donuts I think the girls are as well.

Right Brent?

Brigitta's 3 Month Photos

Per tradition, we had photos taken of Brigitta in her blessing dress. I also brought along her baby quilt which my sister Katrina worked on (she's done a beautiful heirloom quilt for each of the girls). There was a huge family doing a Christmas photo just ahead of us and we ended up waiting over an hour to get in. The poor baby was exhausted by the end of the shoot! Nonetheless, Brigitta looked absolutely angelic in the yards of silk, lace and ribbons. Just looking back at the photos makes me want to squeeze and cuddle her SO tight!

Brigitta October POTD

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'till tomorrow,
For babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Brigitta and Rockwell are growing up so quickly, Reagan came up with the brilliant idea to send each other a Picture of the Day of our babies. I don't typically have time to pull out my Nikon to catch the latest, but I almost always have my iPhone handy. Now I wake up excited to see the latest of Rockwell. As I'm closing out October, I thought I'd post some of Brigitta's most brilliant moments. Bear with me while I learn the ins and outs of Instagram!

14 Oct 2012: First Sunday at church. 

15 Oct 2012: At the park. Lovely eyelashes growing in!

16 Oct 2012: Immunizations.

17 Oct 2012: Blessing dress finally arrived in the mail!

18 Oct 2012: Shopping at Gymboree.

19 Oct 2012: Long nap after a blow out diaper

21 Oct 2012: Telling Dad about her day

22 Oct 2012: Tummy time!

23 Oct 2012: Sleepy, squishy face

24 Oct 2012: Being a baby isn't always easy

31 Oct 2012: Swaddled