More kids stuff in my living room..

Miss Lilah is the proud owner of her own Barbie: The Diamond Castle Sleep Couch. She looks so funny in it because she's still so small. Originally Grandma Jan & Grandpa Kingsley got them one to share, but Lilah never really used it so when she started getting interested in using it Emmy really thought it was all hers. Most of the time all I had to do was remind Emmy and Lilah to share, but if one of them was sleepy then they really didn't care about being nice or sharing and some nasty fights could break out. Since they don't have cribs or toddler beds these really double as that and they take their day time naps on them. So it's important to them to have their own. Regularly they are $139.99 and I found this bad boy marked down to $64!! For that price there was no way I could turn it down and it was perfect luck that it was the same one as we had at home! I was a bit worried about buying one that was different and them fighting over who gets what, ya know what I mean?

Lilah was so happy, excited, and proud! You can tell the difference very easily between them because Emmy's has had a lot of wear and tear already so Lilah's always sure that she's laying or sitting in hers. Sometimes Emmy tries to pull a fast one on Lilah but she usually doesn't get away with it for long haha.



Here's the first time she's laying down in her OWN Barbie couch enjoying some milk milk.

My little cutie pie!

How cute are they :)

This was the first time she's wore her hair like this. It's very Ashley & Abby 1994! lol

Look at what I painted in my spare time *wink* j/k

Our Weaning Weekend

Lilah had her last breastfeed on Friday, October 15th at 11:30 am.

She and I were laying down in bed and I was explaining to her that this would be the last time that she will have "mommy's milk" and that she needs to tell it bye bye. She was smiling and being silly, and she kissed it on the side like she normally does when you ask her if she loves her "milk milk". I felt so sad and didn't really want to wean her, but this has been my deadline date for several reasons. First I wanted the transition to be successful on the first try and I knew she would put up one heck of a fight. With Kim and I going away for a mini vacation it presented the perfect opportunity to do that. Secondly, she had some really bad habits that I could not break and she would constantly pinch and scratch me while feeding and would "tweak" my other nipple and I really really didn't like it. Ouch!!! And last, we are planning our third pregnancy for later next year and it would be nice to give my body a rest from being pregnant or feeding before I jump head first into it all again.


In preparation for this weaning weekend I bought the Mimijumi "Very Hungry Baby Bottle" in the "Keep Going Package" that contained all the nipples. Slow, Medium, and Fast. I read lost of reviews online about it and was convinced that if she would except a bottle then this was the one! I had to order it in the States and then have my mom send it out and it was worth all the hassle! The packaging was super cute and Lilah loved it immediately. She likes that it looks and feels like a booby and if she's happy then I'm happy!

Here she is letting her dad give her a bottle for the first time EVER out of her 19 months on earth with us! That's really hard to believe, but it's all true!
I told you it looked like a booby!

The weekend away was not an easy one for anyone involved. My wonderful mother in law had to deal with the screaming during the first two nights. During the day she was very happy to drink from her Mimijumi, but at night she wanted her human binkie! As for me, I was trying to "dry up" as fast as possible because I knew that I'd be coming home to kicks, smacks, clawing, and tantrums when I refused to lift my top. I've suffered massive painful giant porn star boobies. I recommend to any weaning mother to pump and take the process slow for your body's sake. I felt like I didn't have this option because if I were sitting down trying to pump then she would see me with my top off and she'd try to help herself to some and then be hurt by the rejection. So I didn't allow the situation to be created, but because of that it's been sssoooo painful!

Yep, that's a picture of me! Can you believe it?!? lol

When we got back on Sunday she tried to lift my shirt with in the first 10 minutes and did a little cry when I told her "No, Mommy's milk went bye bye, remember?" Later on in the afternoon we went through a 55 minute screaming session with full on body kicking on the floor and again at bed time. I was very worried about the night and figured there wouldn't be much sleeping, but I was rather surprised by morning. I think it went much better than I expected! She had three sessions of 15-20 of crying. I didn't want to replace one habit with another one so I didn't get out of bed with her. I offered her a bottle which she threw at me. Then I offered her cuddles and that made her even more mad, then I laid back down and let her cry but stayed with her letting her know that I was right there and I was feeling for her. Every 4-5 minutes I'd ask her if she was ready to cuddle with mommy and eventually she would and fall to sleep quickly. In the morning she was very happy to drink down her bottle and had a smile on her face. Since that first night we've had little crying sessions during the night here and there and it's usual closer to morning when she's still very sleepy but also hungry and I might get a few scratches or smacks, but it's only been a week and I think it won't be long and she'll stop beating me up haha.

I hope she will have memories of our special bond and appreciate all the hard work 19 1/2 months of breastfeeding on demand 24 hours a day can be! I wish we could have made it to 24 months but it just wasn't meant to be for us. I am at peace with the decision and I think Lilah is too for the most part.

BBQ with Baby Finn

Here's the rest of the cutie pie pictures I took yesterday while enjoying our BBQ! Thanks for having us over Mr. & Mrs. Morris! Great time :)

Emmy posing for me while eating her Jello!

UUmmm Yummy! Thanks Auntie Carolyn!

I was saying "Lilah smile for mommy!" But no way Jose!

Isn't this little outfit just he cutest!! It was a hand me down from Amy & Wayne and I have been waiting for warm weather to put it on her! Way too cute! Yes, that's a butterfly fake tattoo. The girls are addicted to them and I think they are cute too!


A rare picture of my hubbie smiling for the camera. When I told him to smile he wouldn't so I told him to pretend that this was his barbecue and then he smiled. I guess I have a great Christmas present idea :) ......................when I win the lottery!

This is ridiculously cute!!!!!! I love this little guy tons and tons but he's not so much in love with me right now. *tears* I made him cry several times. I'm a bit sad as I've never had a baby not like me, but hopefully it won't last for long!

Mum popped up his shades for some milk time. Again, HOW CUTE!!!

Happy Birthday Jade!

Jade is 2 years old today! All of our little girls are growing up! (wow...that means in only 5 months Lilah will be 2... where has the time gone!?) The kids had a great time eating tons of candy and drinking coke. Emmy won the big prize at the end of "pass the parcel" and got to take a few swings at the fairy pinata. It was a bit sadistic telling the kids to beat the fairy!! lol Both of the girls did a great job at gathering up candy at the end. They had a jumping castle, trampoline and swing set to play on so they were completely wore out and fell asleep in the car the minute we left the drive way. Besides a few tears from Emmy getting two skinned knees and Lilah thinking I had left her when she couldn't find me they did really good. No whining, crying or temper tantrum throwing. Why can't they be that perfect always?!?!? lol I made Jade a pretty Name Applique Pillow and a Barbie DVD with 6 Barbie Movies & a Barbie coloring pack. Happy Birthday cutie pie!

This picture is so funny. Notice how all the guys have lined up their chairs as far away from the women as they could get + the dog!!!!

Rain Rain Go Away... So Glad You Listened!

Despite being ill we have been outside in the backyard trying to enjoy some of the sunny weather. It's so nice to finally be getting a little bit of a summer glow. I also managed to plant 4 parlor palms and 3 clematis type vining plants outside the girls bedroom window. I hope they'll survive the summer heat and grow quickly. It'll be so nice to look out their window and see beautiful greenery and flowers rather than a nasty metal fence and bare lattice!uumm eating a homemade fruit pop

a lazy day

making some shade

St. Hallet With Grandma

We took Grandma Betsy to St. Hallet Wines nearly 2 weeks ago. We had planned on taking her to winery's every Wednesday, but so far it's not worked out that well with mom first being sick and then me and the kids. Hopefully next week (mom's last week here) we'll have beautiful weather and all feel better! Here's some fun photo's from our first winery visit! Click on the photo's to see them bigger. I'm not sure if this will work in the email forward, so you may have to go to the real blog post to click on them to see the detail. http://sariasenith.blogspot.com/

This one you have to see big... the detail is so beautiful with the vineyards in the back!

oOOoo look at the wines.... uumm!

Grandma and Emmy talking to Stevie the Parrot

Will The Colds Ever End!?

The girls and I are sick again. I'm ssoooo tired of this and can't wait for it to end. Terrible sore throats, bad runny noses, and ear infections. After a week of symptom treating we were just as sick as ever so we went to the doctor yesterday. Now I have the joy of poking 3 doses per day per child of antibiotic for 10 days. YUCK! It's a good thing they don't mind it too much.

I thought I'd share some sicky photo's with you all. My poor babies!

Proud To Be Americans

Playing Doctor...

Wobbie not Grandma haha

Emmy lovingly looking at the Buzz Light Year Grandma got her.

It is unbelievable how attached Emmy has already become to my mom. Every morning she goes running down the hall to her with arms up when she hears mom come out of her room. She will call out to her by saying "wobbie" which we totally don't know why. We have both heard her say "grandma" clear as day and she says "mommy" very clear.... so why she calls my mom wobbie is strange although now that I'm thinking about it she does hear me call her mom so maybe that has confused her a bit... but I of course I always call her "grandma" when talking to Emmy. We've offered her other names to use.... "nanna, mam maw, me maw" haha but she won't say them, but she will sign "grandma" lots. Who knows!

Going for a walk. This is around the corner from our house. You can click on it to make it bigger to see the detail. It's mom with Emmy.

Almost every day mom rocks her to sleep for her nap and then again at night. Emmy absolutely loves it and grabs her blanket and climbs up on her lap and snuggles in. They play games and one of Emmy's favorites is to play doctor with mom. Mom has her stethoscope and Emmy has a toy one and they listen to each others heart. It's cute because Emmy knows that hers is a toy and she gives it to mom so she can have the one that works, lol!!

I'm already dreading having to go to the airport and say goodbye. It's going to be so hard on everyone but extra hard for Emmy because she doesn't understand the distance. Ugh, it just makes me sick to think about it.

Finger Painting


Finger Painting Wobbie