wordy updates

I had some videos to share, but it seems that blogger won't accept them because they are from my phone. So we'll just do an update.

I feel like I've been working a lot lately. It's been really hard to be away from my babies. But, we do what we have to, right? At least I enjoy what I do. The Powers That Be decided to cut my pay and my guaranteed hours as a staff interpreter, so Brett and I have been trying to decide what to do now. The other staff interpreter and I wrote a memo back to negotiate a reasonable compromise. If they accept our proposal, it will actually be better for me. But we'll see what happens. We have a meeting on Wednesday, hopefully they will have decided what to do by then.

Brett has been doing a lot of music lately. He's joined a couple more bands and is out a lot jamming and bringing the awesome to everything he touches. Now, if only we could figure out how he can earn money doing that. -sigh- He's still mostly staying home with the babes, being the Best Dad Ever. But, because of my tenuous job situation, he's looking for work also.

Ethan is talking talking talking! He's starting to use "I" and "me" about half the time now, instead of only talking in the 3rd person. He's always telling stories about the things he's done or would like to do. He's sweet to Ellie and is learning how to gently put her binkie in her mouth and hand her toys when she drops them. He's running and jumping and swimming and getting so dirty every day!

Rayen is a mover! She's rolled over once, but mostly she scoots around kicking and rolling. She's using her hands a lot now, trying to shove everything she can reach into her giant mouth. She laughs and smiles all the time.

I love my sweet little family.

working on the bike

Brett asked Ethan what he was doing and he responded, "Makin' it faster." Ha. Just like Daddy.

(He's got a screwdriver in his hand, if you didn't notice.)

sibs

ethan loves trucks!

And he calls his Gatorade alligator..."Where's my Alligator, Mommy?" Ha.

ready for a walk!

rayen has lots to say

growing up

We set up a "big boy" bed for Ethan today--a twin we're borrowing from Brett's mom. He's experimenting with his new getting-out-of-bed freedom. Tonight after I left the room, he was quiet for about 5 min, then I heard his door open. He came over to me and said, "Ethan had a good nap!" Ha. I'm a little worried about how early he's going to get up tomorrow. We may be setting the crib back up and leaving him in that until he's 8 or so.

rayen!

I decided Saturday night that I was going to stop jumping up at every peep Rayen made to feed her during the night. She went from eating at 9pm, 3am, 6am, and 9am to eating at 9pm and then 6am on Saturday night and then 9pm and 7:30am this morning! Whew! It's funny how Mama always causes the problems. She's been ready to sleep through the night for a while, I think.
She loves to be bundled, swaddled, hugged, slung, and held. Ethan hated to be swaddled after about one week--it seems that Brett finally has someone who wants to cuddle as much as he does!
She loves watching Ethan. If I have her sitting on my lap, she'll turn her head to follow him as he moves all around the room. She smiles at him and keeps her eyes on him all the time. (Although I think part of the keeping her eyes on him is for defensive reasons. He can be pretty rough with his hugs and pats and when he helps put her pacifier into her mouth.)

Ethan loves her too. He tells her stories and sings songs and helps hand me things I need while I'm nursing. Such a sweetie.
We're not quite to any kind of real routine with her, but we are getting to have a good family rhythm with our new addition. Everyone is settling down and most importantly, I am much less hysterical and hormonal! I think that's the biggest reason why everyone is settling down.
PS. Ellie is now wearing 3-month-old clothes. What a fatty!

a few pictures

We were eating donuts for breakfast one morning and Ethan says, "Take a picture!" So I did. We have donuts a lot. So much that he calls Smiths "the donut store". Yum.
He loves to ride the train at the zoo.
Here's one of the sweet baby. She's getting so big!
I love the weird things they do before they can control their arms and hands.

back to work?

I did an hour and a half sub job at SLCC today. It was really nice. I enjoy working. However, I also enjoy staying home with my babies. I wish I could stay home AND work. And then as I was driving home after only 25 min because the job got done early to take a nap because both babies were asleep, I realized once more that I do have both. I have the perfect job that enables me to be an involved mom and a satisfied professional. I love it!

the farm

I've been feeling a little more like a human being (except just before mealtimes), so we've been doing fun outings. And look at me, already blogging about it.

We went down to visit my grandparents on The Farm yesterday. Mom and Amy came too. Ethan loved to see the cows and horses! He's been talking about the "giant bull, looking and turning" ever since.

Grandpa Esplin picked him up and Ethan got to pet Blaze. Very exciting!


And Ellie got to meet Grandma and Grandpa while we were there, too. Hopefully we'll get to go down again soon!

two too many children (and cats)

Rayen won't stop screaming unless she's latched onto me, Cordelia barfs up the 2 biggest hairballs I've ever seen, Ethan steps in the hairball barf in his last pair of clean socks. And all right at dinnertime when I am so hungry I can't cope with anything. It is so small and so big and all I can do is laugh because I'm too exhausted to cry.

-sigh- Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it yet.

ethan's birthday

Today is Ethan's second birthday! We asked him how old he was today and he said "Two! Almost three!"

one month old already!

I've wanted to blog and show off my beautiful baby, but it seems that 2 kids are twice as much as I can handle! It feels like I can barely take a breath. But actually now things are settling down. I'm getting used to it. It helps that Rayen has been sleeping 7 or 8 hours straight at night lately.

I was at my mom's house looking at old photos of me, since everyone says Ellie looks a lot like I did. And I agree, now that I've seen some pictures. She's more fair than I was; I had darker hair and skin.





Ethan has been really good with his new sister. He helps me throw diapers away and clean up toys. When she cries, he finds her pacifier and sticks it in her mouth. He cried for her to stay in his room and sleep last night when Rayen and I left for bed. When we go on family drives he tells her about everything he sees, "Look, Baby Ellie! There's a tunnel!" He's a good big brother.



Eeesh. This blog has taken much longer than it should have. I need to decrease my posting times. It's so easy to get distracted and look at photos for too long.

Rayen is here!

Check out my mom's blog for pictures.