Life with two

BIG SIGH... Life with two has been a roller-coaster. We have had good times and bad. Life with with two is a challenge but when the oldest is the definition of terrible twos it is even harder. I have often called my mom just to tell her how crazy my day has been. Take for instance...
It was a rough day, I was working on a project and Ariah was demanding attention with whining, crying, screaming. Finally I had had enough and put her in her room for a nap. I knew it was a little early for a nap but I just needed some time alone. I could hear her playing so I went to work on my project hoping she would just lay down when she was done playing.
20 minutes later.. I smell something... Her room is directly above where I am working so if I can smell it on a whole other floor you know things are bad. I climb the stairs and the smell gets stonger, my eyes start to water and my air passages start to open... menthol! I open her door to find her in her bed covered in Vicks vapor rub. Pajamas, sheets, wall, bedframe... even more in her hair and on her face. "Are you kidding me?!" "mom I washing with my bubbles!" (insert laugh/crying attack(which was ever so clear thanks to the scent in the room)) I strip off her pajamas and send her to the bathroom. Before I can get there she has wiped her slimy little hands all over the toilet seat and the tub. Groan.... SO I get her settled in the tub, call mom for some moral support (mom: "did you take any pictures?" thanks for the moral support) and start to clean up the mess. Luckily this whole time Farrah was asleep and probably breathing more clear than she ever has in her life...

Landon comes home I and ditch him with the kids for a much needed shower. Before I undress I start up the water so it will be nice and warm when I get in. I hear the water flowing up to the shower head and am startled when it starts to spray me in the face, outside the tub! Somehow that dang nozzle was turned to the bathroom after I get over my shock I turn off the water to survey the damage. The bathroom is soaked along with my fully clothed self....

After my shower I gather up enough courage to make it through the day and trudge down the stairs. Landon thankfully has made dinner and all seems to go well when... Whats that juicy squirty noise? Thats right, baby made a large order of poop soup which miraculusly hardly landed in her diaper, instead it strategically jumped around her diaper and settled on her white pajamas... Landon knew better than to ask, he took her straight up to the bathroom and took care of the mess (never mind that I still had to scrub out the poop)
All and all life with two is very entertaining. It keeps me busy. There is never a boring day, although some times I just wish there would be.

Ariahism

From a child who has a very limited knowledge of shots...

Holding a medicine dropper she says "I'm going to give you a shot!" puts it up to my arm "BANG! BANG!"

Farrah Olivia

Fast birth story--
I had been dilating 1 cm every week for the last month. Finally when my mom came I was at a four and ready to go. We had two whole days of play then I started having contractions 8:00pm Thursday. We left for the hospital at about 9:00 pm. Finally had my epidural by 11:00, started pushing at about 1:30 one contraction later she was here by 1:45.

5 weeks
She has been smiling since 3 weeks but I haven't caught it on camera yet. She sleeps well at night although she still wants to eat every three hours, she will fall right back to sleep after feedings. She is such a joy. We all love to hold her and look at her.

She wanted to pack around a baby too

Ariah has been MORE than helpful.
She tires to pick her up all the time with one successful drop.
Due to some unnecessary roughness she helped pull off her umbilical cord. I panicked at first, it was a little traumatizing for all of us but I ended up wanting to thank her for getting rid of that nasty thing.

Ariahisms!!!
# 11 She tells me "I want Farrah to eat my boob mom!!" I let her try it out once, she has never asked again.
# 12 I was changing a diaper on my lap and was SPRAYED with poop. I even had spatters on my face. We were all laughing and taking pictures when Ariah comes over. Oblivious to what that stuff was that was all over me she sticks out her finger and takes a swipe. I was sure to warn her that it was poop before it landed anywhere she would regret it... she took one look at her finger and was in hysterics!
#13 Our lawn was just aerated and Ariah happily ran out to play. Then she pauses and looks at all the little dirt pieces on the ground... then SCREAMS! "Its POOP mom!!" She refused to move an inch to until someone would bring her her shoes.
#14 I have taught her the song 'Rain rain go away and 'Shew fly don't bother me' but when we have flies swarming around the house she sings 'shew fly, come again another day!'

A hint of a smile here

Big sister so proud to bring her little sister home

We have been doing well thanks to all our helpers. Mom was here the first week and took Ariah to the park every morning so I could rest. She loved it! Then Landon had two weeks off and after that Wendi came over. We were so happy to have so much help and I was so happy to have some company to help keep my sanity.

She's here!

6lbs 12oz 20.5inches

Little water baby

Sometimes I look at my daughter and can't believe that she is mine. She is so fun to be around and so cute. Minus the two year old tantrums.

We started to read to her each night and before each nap. She loves LOVES books. When I come back in to check on her she is often snuggled up to her favorite book rather than something soft and cuddly. She must get that from me.

Her first Oreo's. I always thought it was a learned gesture to lick the frosting out from the middle first. Either she has seen some commercials or it is just born into you because that is the only way in her book to eat an Oreo.

In an effort to cool off this summer I set up her water toys. She kept saying "I want to swim mom" Well we don't have a pool... so I made her one out of an infant bath tub. She would dip her feet in but that was not enough to soothe the swimming cravings. So she put her little belly in the tub and proudly announces "I SWIMMING" Sure babe, you sure are swimming.

Ariah's special place

... Is right here nestled up with this guy. She loves her grandpa. These two are peas in a pod when they are around each other.

It also may have something to do with the fact that they have the same sized sweet tooth.

She's how old?!

If you ask her how old she is she will tell you "I two" sometimes though she will let you know that "I good" Silly mix ups.
I cannot believe that my little baby turned two! Where did the time go?! She has grown into one of the most beautiful people I know. I am so proud of her. She is always looking out for others and is very sensitive to feelings. If she is suspicious something is wrong she will pat you on the back and tell you its okay. This has especially been a blessing to me when I have been hormonal and missing home and friends and family she will wipe away my tears and tell me its okay mama. What a sweet girl.
She is also still very social. She CRAVES to be around other kids no matter how old or young they are. She will just march right up to kids at the park and join into whatever they are playing. Most often we end at the parks when there is no one else around and it just brakes my heart to see her yearning to play with some friends. So at this point we are each others best friends which is great most of the time. We have a couple of friends here and she begs every day to get to go play will Chell and Ammon. They are one and three years older than her but she does not mind she will tail them around even when her presence is not appreciated.
She has also entered the repetitive stage. The same things are repeated over and over and over. Landon and I are still learning how to deal with this.... I think it will be a constant learning effort on our part.
She loves babies and dogs. She even just started getting out Landon's belts and will crawl around and play puppy.
She will tell me that I look cute its the best!

Helping mix her cake

See the teeth marks? Little stinker could not contain her excitement just for the 3 min drive to the Laytons.

Licking those lips!

The cut off point was not that pleasant. I think she could have eaten the whole thing. And I think she eventually did. Grandpa Ricks help her out with a couple pieces a day after this. Oh how she loves her Grandpa!!

Showing Grandpa Layton her Mrs. Potato head. She loves to make sure he is involved with everything. She likes to get his special attention. Like at church this week she would only share toys and books with Grandpa L. If anyone else touched them she would let them know that they were only meant to be between her and Grandpa L.

She loved her birthday and her company and we sure all love her.