Lily's first bike ride!

Lily diving for her rocket

Miss Lily graduated swimming lessons as a Level 1 Red Cross Swimmer. She learned how to blow bubbles, hold her breath underwater, glide underwater, swim with "big" arms underwater, jump off the step and swim to me underwater, and finally fetch a rocket at the bottom of the pool. I'm not talking 6ft or anything, but she can go down to about 3ft underwater to grab her rocket. She is totally a little fish. I have to be extra careful now, though, because she will jump off the step into the water no matter if anyone is there waiting for her. Scary, huh? Needless to say she loves swimming, I'm thrilled, but we keep a careful eye on her while near a pool.
The video is of Lily going underwater to grab her rocket.

WP, CO

Over July Fourth we've made a tradition to be in Winter Park, Colorado. This place is very special to our family....
The husband & I met there, he proposed to me there, and Morgan was conceived there!
While we were there the weather was perfect. No humidity, about 70ish during the day, and evenings 50ish, with a couple of nights dipping into the 40's. During the day we did some walking and Lily started riding her first bike! When we first arrived Lily saw all the bicylists in town and she just had to have one. We bought her a pink Huffy bike, with a Barbie helmet, knee & elbow pads. The evening times were filled with live music in the parks. Tons of families piled in the parks, kids running around, dancing, & playing, while their parents chatted, sipping on their favorite beverage. Just let me say, "I was not ready to come home. I have not had enough of Colorado this summer, and I want to go back!!!!!" But in the same breath, we missed our family and friends. If I could take my family & friends with me to Winter Park, I would be a happy camper!

Celebrating my Birthday

My mother and aunt came in town to sit for the sweet baby girls so the husband and I could have a whole 24 hours alone. Spending it however we wanted to. We were kid-free with no decisions to be made, like.... what's for lunch?, what's for snack?, what's for dinner, what time is nap?, when did I change her diaper last?, is it too hot to go outside?, should I try & teach Lily a color today?, someone is crying, what happened?, did Lily steal the toy away from Morgan or was it the other way around?, have I yelled too much today?, did I tell the girls I love them today?, did I hug & kiss them enough today?, did Morgan drink too much chocolate milk today?, is Morgan teething?
See... it's exhausting at times!!! Needless to say the 24 hr, kid-free, birthday celebration was much needed!!!
We left the house at noon on Saturday and returned the next day at noon. We went to the club, I layed by the pool and the husband played 18 holes of golf. The day was soooo hot. I stayed cool by taking a dip in the pool, but those poor golfers. I don't know how they do it. The husband said about every third hole was a huge cooler containing ice towels. He said this was the only thing that saved him from having heat stroke. He literally took the towel straight from the ice and placed it on his head and neck. Crazy what these golfers endure for the game!
After our day at the club, we went to downtown McKinney and stayed at The Grand Hotel. After a nice shower we had drinks in the bar at Rick's Chop House and stayed there for a fabulous dinner. The Grand Hotel is just next to Rick's so we didn't have far to go to get into bed. Thank goodness, we were exhausted.
The next morning we went to Starbuck's, sipped on coffee while reading the Dallas Morning News, and actually had an adult conversation. It's the small things we take for granted once babies are in the family.
But of course, while at Starbuck's, my mind kept thinking about our sweet baby girls. Wondering what they were doing, if they slept all night for Grandma Suzy, what they had for dinner, what they had for breakfast, and how Lily did with potty training. (That is a whole other blog post waiting to happen!)
The only pic I took of that weekend. A faaaaaabulous bottle of wine!

So much on my mind...

I don't know where to start!
I have so many thoughts cruising around in my head. I have so much to post. You should be prepared to sit and read for a bit.
Actually, I will have to break it down into a couple of days worth of blogging so keep in touch :)

Pease Daddy, Bubble baff?!?!

When Frank does "bath time" it is the best!
After the girls eat dinner and if Frank is not outside on the tractor he likes to do "bath time". He tries to get away with giving the girls a shower, but he quickly figures out Lily will not stand for it. She looooves her "bubble baff"
Frank will say, "Come on girls it's shower time."
Lily replies, "No daddy, bubble baff!" We are trying to teach her manners, so Frank says, "What's the magic word?" Lily will say, "Pease Daddy, bubble baff?!" And gives him a big hug!
Of course he can't say, "No" :)
Morgan knows exactly what's going on and she zooms into our bathroom, via crawling, with a smile on her face and squealing once she gets there.
While the girls are taking their "bubble baff" I get to do about 15 minutes of chores before helping Frank get the girls out of their bath and starting their bed time routine.
These last minute chores could be starting a load of laundry, putting away laundry, cleaning up from the girl's dinner, filling the girl's humidifiers with water and getting their bedrooms ready for bedtime, picking up toys, sweeping, making a phone call, getting our diaper bag ready for the next day, laying in the closet stretching my tired body (my favorite 15 minute alone time!), or just sitting, watching the girls smile, laugh, and enjoy their special "bubble baff" time with daddy.

"Good Luck"

In my husband's office stands a Buddha. Lily has not paid any attention to it until recently. She goes up to Buddha and names all of his body parts. I thought this would be a perfect time to add a little "good luck" to Miss Lily.
I tell her, "Lily, rub Buddha's belly for good luck!"
She now has some good luck coming her way!
(Maybe a shake or some chicky-frenchfries are in her near future!)

and one day it all changes

I feel it is very important to show affection. Hugs, kisses, a pat, or something as simple as swiping away a tendrel of hair from one of my girls' faces are all so critical. Everyday I make a special time to tickle, kiss, and hug every inch of their body. When the girls were tiny babies I massaged them with lavender baby lotion after every bath. The believe touch is vital for bonding, the massage is awesome for development, and the lavender smell is so relaxing for bedtime. Lily still loves for me to massage her feet and slowly tickle her back...it will stop her in her tracks and immediately relaxes her to an almost trance like state.
I am also the type of mom who notices small details. Especially when it pertains to my girls. I have memorized every part of their body, from their brown spots, stork bites, toes, fingers, belly buttons to their bottoms. I remember their chubby feet and grummy little fingers and palms. Then one day it all changes and their feet aren't as chubby as they used to be and the creases in their palms aren't filled with goo.
Then sweet baby Lily is putting on her own sandals with the strap in between the wrong toes!!! :)