Fun with the Cousins!

We made a very quick trip back to my Mom's this last weekend.  On Saturday late afternoon, we packed up and headed down to Sioux Falls.  We stopped at the mall, had supper and then went to a Tennis meet.  Then we headed to Mom's.  We got there around 8:15 pm...in time to get unpacked and put an already sleeping Cailin in her PJ's and in her Pack N Play.  It took a bit to get her to sleep -- I think she is so over the Pack N Play!

Saturday at 11:30 am we headed to my Grandma's, where my cousin Brad, from Colorado was visiting.  We only got to see him for about an hour before he was headed to the airport.  We had a good lunch with Grandma - then we went to Mom's and waited for my brother and his family to so up!  They are on Spring Break right now, so they are visiting for a week.  Because I don't have any vacation yet at work (I will March 26, but I'm not counting, hee he!) We only had Sunday to see them.  I probably should also mention that my Mom is out of town visiting my sister in Arkansas....so we had the run of her house! She got to see Arkansas Men's Track and Field get 2nd in the SEC Conference Meet!!! YAY Hogs!



Here Cailin's cousins are teacher her how to operate an iPhone!

Josie, Grace and Cailin

Aww....I love these girls!!

The girls needed a 'sippy cup' break!

Cailin with Great-Grandma Johnson, just didn't want to be held!

My bro- Phil and Gracie

We found these hats in the house!!  Figured the girls (Me, Cailin, Josie, Meghan and Grace) should get a picture for Grandma Barb! ;)



A very tired Cailin on the way home!!

We ended up heading home around 4 pm, because Cailin was dangerously tired!  I wish we could have spent more time with Phil and his girls, but it was great to have the almost 3 hours we did!

It was again tough getting to work today....I really dislike Mondays!  And I am READY for some warmer temperatures!!    

100% GIRL

Cailin's personality peeks through all little more each day.
In the mornings she finds her favorite products: mascara and lotion.

 She can accessorize, while on the run...

 And like any girl, at the end of her day, she loves to be pampered and to be in her comfy clothes!

Two kids.....for the night!!!

Friday, February 25
I woke up today, with the nagging feeling of just purely NOT wanting to go to work!  I spent more time this morning trying not to wear dress clothes to work... ugh.
I was actually most excited about going to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and watching my neighbor's boy after work.  I finally made it through the day...trust me it was tough!!
Enter: Cailin (15 month old girl) and Henry (17 month old boy).  Note: Leon (husband) is gone for the evening.  Add:  Murphy (a Shih Tzu dog).

What a FUN night!  It was so worth a having a slow day!  I hadn't spent much time with Henry until tonight, he is such a sweetie!!  Cailin and Henry spent most of the night just looking at each other.  :)  I tried to get a picture of the two of them, but we all know how helpful Cailin is at staying for a picture!

Henry had a small adjustment, as we don't have many 'boy' toys!  He seemed to make due, and above he found a phone, probably to call his parents!  ;)

We had so much fun playing, but then it was time for bed.  Cailin was the first to go down.  We did our normal routine, well, as normal as we could with a 17 month old running after a dog.  I really thought she wouldn't have a problem.  We read the book and she laughed at Henry, then I laid her in her crib.....and she was like, "oh no, I don't think so.  I know Henry is still out there!".  Then the tears and crying came.  I did what any good parent/babysitter would do.  Got her out of her crib and sat the three of us in front of the TV to watch Baby Einstein.  Not sure if Henry watches much TV, I know Cailin doesn't, but it worked.  Both of them sat still for about 10 minutes, I put Henry in his PJ's, read him a 'tractor' book and put him in the pack and play.  Oh wait, that didn't work either.  CRYING!! :(  At this point I was certain I was in over my head.  How to get them both to sleep.?...then I thought, my mom (mother of twins) did this every night!  Meanwhile Cailin walks in the room saying 'baby' and hands me Henry's sippy cup.  Then leaves to come back with his snack container.  I was rocking him on the floor (until my arm was about ready to fall off), so now he is up and I decide to put Cailin down.  God willing, she actually fell asleep!  Henry and I are now laying on the floor staring up at the nightlight on the ceiling and listening to soothing music.  After about 15 minutes he is asleep!  YAY!!  I did it!  Well, kinda, he is still sleeping on the floor - I didn't want to risk waking him up! :) Have to admit, it was a pretty fun Friday night for this 32 year old!  :)

Getting caught up...

Again, I have neglected the blog.  I really don't know where to start!!  We have been doing lots of working and playing with Cailin, eat, sleep and repeat.  It has been kind of nice to get into a pretty good routine after the holidays.  Of course, it has been TOO cold to do much else!

At the end of January Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us.  We made a trip to a Jackrabbit basketball game.  We weren't sure what Cailin would do when she saw Jack up close, turns out she just smiled!  :)

Cailin was pretty determined to go home with Grandma and Grandpa!!

We keep telling her how important it is to save $$!  Her she is putting some change in her 'egg' bank! :)

Momma got some new shoes....Cailin got a new toy!  Don't know how she managed to squeeze in there!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Sleepy!!  She loves her blankies!

It was pink for Cancer night at the Jackrabbit basketball game...what a better reason do we need to wear the tutu!?

A tired Cailin at about 9:30 pm!!

Cailin has dropped her 2nd nap, so we are down to one nap a day!!  She has adjusted well.  She is a little more vocal every day.  She now likes to say "ya, ba, dabba, dabba, dab".   Pretty sure that means "I love you very much Mom"!!  ;)  She's also working pretty hard on 'outside', 'pretty', 'Grandpa', 'Abbie' (her sitter), 'puppy'.  She can do the sign language for 'more'.  We usually say 'more please' together so she also thinks the more sign can be used as please!  
Well, you can tell I'm tired...I am just really rambling!!.  Oh, it was close to 40 degrees today...Leon even got a chance to take down our Christmas lights!

Okay......Hope all is well with everyone.....NIGHT!