Some of the outdoor toys include these buckets that for some reason make really wonderful hats!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Bucket Hat
With the time change we've been able to enjoy outdoors longer in the evening. Last night the kids played outside after dinner until it was bath time.
Some of the outdoor toys include these buckets that for some reason make really wonderful hats!
Some of the outdoor toys include these buckets that for some reason make really wonderful hats!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Strawberry Hat Dance
Just in case you can't get enough of Chloe's dance skills, here is another episode in the series. Disney's Tangled is playing in the background and they're sining a song called, "I have a dream."
Carl has the reverse camera on her, so she can see herself, but she has to look back at the TV to get her song cues.
Carl has the reverse camera on her, so she can see herself, but she has to look back at the TV to get her song cues.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Twins Have A New Cousin
On Monday my brother and sister-in-law welcomed baby girl Lola Kerris Gutzler to the world.
I had a chance to visit with baby Lola yesterday and she is beautiful.
Now let me provide some perspective. When my babies were born, they were cute to me and Carl, but seriously they looked a little like wrinkled old men, especially Connor. Cute wrinkled old men, but still. Just so you don't think I'm being too critical the twins are totally adorable now, but it's hard for all babies to be cute. Except it comes easily to baby Lola. She has a wonderful Mommy/Daddy combo chin, slightly turning up with a little cleft. She has an adorable button nose, and best of all a head of strawberry blonde hair in tiny baby curls.
When I had the twins it was really fast. 12:45am cramping, left for the hospital at 2:30am, twins were born via c-section by 4:30am. Jamie had to work a bit harder. Her water broke at 5:30am and Lola didn't make her appearance until nearly 5pm. Almost 12 hours of labor. Being a mom his hard.
Being an aunt rocks! Yeah Lola!
Brian & Jamie,
You know all those noisy toys you got the twins, specifically the puppy guitar and the kitty piano with a microphone. Right after this picture was taken Lola whispered to me that she wanted to join the band too, but wanted her own instrument. The drum set will be delivered on Tuesday!
I had a chance to visit with baby Lola yesterday and she is beautiful.
Now let me provide some perspective. When my babies were born, they were cute to me and Carl, but seriously they looked a little like wrinkled old men, especially Connor. Cute wrinkled old men, but still. Just so you don't think I'm being too critical the twins are totally adorable now, but it's hard for all babies to be cute. Except it comes easily to baby Lola. She has a wonderful Mommy/Daddy combo chin, slightly turning up with a little cleft. She has an adorable button nose, and best of all a head of strawberry blonde hair in tiny baby curls.
When I had the twins it was really fast. 12:45am cramping, left for the hospital at 2:30am, twins were born via c-section by 4:30am. Jamie had to work a bit harder. Her water broke at 5:30am and Lola didn't make her appearance until nearly 5pm. Almost 12 hours of labor. Being a mom his hard.
Being an aunt rocks! Yeah Lola!
Brian & Jamie,
You know all those noisy toys you got the twins, specifically the puppy guitar and the kitty piano with a microphone. Right after this picture was taken Lola whispered to me that she wanted to join the band too, but wanted her own instrument. The drum set will be delivered on Tuesday!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Things They Say
One of my relatives mentioned keeping a list of all the cute things her son said and then shared a list with him on his 30th birthday. I loved this and that's sort of the purpose of the blog, so I thought I'd share some of the things the twins are saying right now since I know I won't be able to remember a couple of months from now.
Connor
If he's playing with a ball and it gets away from him, he'll chase it around and when he gets it he exclaims, "I got you!"
We've been reading Curious George and in one story George goes to a Halloween costume party. The host greets George at the door dressed a like a witch and at one point in the story George slides down the stair banister with a ghost sheet on his head. Connor likes the story but at random points in the day, in a monotone voice he'll say, "The witch open the door." and "The ghost is coming."This really freaks Carl out.
Chloe
Chloe likes to be really efficient with words, so sometimes she'll skip a few in a phrase. For example, if we're saying, "Goodbye, see you soon." Chloe will say, "Bye. Soon."
As with most toddlers, when she's angry or frustrated she'll use "no" a lot. There have been times when I've told her she's not being very nice. She replies to that with a growl of, "No nice."
Most of the time Connor wakes up before Chloe. She sleeps longer and then I'll hear a sweet, sing song voice say, "Mommy, where are you?" I love hearing that!
Connor
If he's playing with a ball and it gets away from him, he'll chase it around and when he gets it he exclaims, "I got you!"
We've been reading Curious George and in one story George goes to a Halloween costume party. The host greets George at the door dressed a like a witch and at one point in the story George slides down the stair banister with a ghost sheet on his head. Connor likes the story but at random points in the day, in a monotone voice he'll say, "The witch open the door." and "The ghost is coming."This really freaks Carl out.
Chloe
Chloe likes to be really efficient with words, so sometimes she'll skip a few in a phrase. For example, if we're saying, "Goodbye, see you soon." Chloe will say, "Bye. Soon."
As with most toddlers, when she's angry or frustrated she'll use "no" a lot. There have been times when I've told her she's not being very nice. She replies to that with a growl of, "No nice."
Most of the time Connor wakes up before Chloe. She sleeps longer and then I'll hear a sweet, sing song voice say, "Mommy, where are you?" I love hearing that!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
That Emotionally Overwhelmed Feeling
As I've been trying to help Maria find a new family I've ended up putting more work into it than I expected and I've gotten a little emotional.
There has been a lot of interest from Moms in Maria but we ended up focusing on three families that live close to her that she's interviewed with. Each Mom has called to ask me some questions and get general references on Maria. This is the part that has unexpectedly made me emotional.
All three Moms have twins. When I've chatted with each one of them about their needs and what they're looking for in a nanny, I can hear the stress and nervousness in their voice. Answering their questions and trying to reassure them brought it all flooding back to me, caring for newborns is exhausting. Even if you have family nearby to help and your husband is super engaged, you can still feel isolated and overwhelmed. Sleep deprivation just compounds the stress and although there's lots of advice to be had, often there is no one to actually give you a break. All of this can be why a nanny is incredibly helpful, but even that decision and search can daunting.
I feel for each of these Moms and want to help support them in anyway I can. So now since Maria won't end up working for two of them I want to provide other nanny options. I've asked my Mom network for contact information on other available nannies so I can share it with these new Moms.
I hope we can get them the help they need.
There has been a lot of interest from Moms in Maria but we ended up focusing on three families that live close to her that she's interviewed with. Each Mom has called to ask me some questions and get general references on Maria. This is the part that has unexpectedly made me emotional.
All three Moms have twins. When I've chatted with each one of them about their needs and what they're looking for in a nanny, I can hear the stress and nervousness in their voice. Answering their questions and trying to reassure them brought it all flooding back to me, caring for newborns is exhausting. Even if you have family nearby to help and your husband is super engaged, you can still feel isolated and overwhelmed. Sleep deprivation just compounds the stress and although there's lots of advice to be had, often there is no one to actually give you a break. All of this can be why a nanny is incredibly helpful, but even that decision and search can daunting.
I feel for each of these Moms and want to help support them in anyway I can. So now since Maria won't end up working for two of them I want to provide other nanny options. I've asked my Mom network for contact information on other available nannies so I can share it with these new Moms.
I hope we can get them the help they need.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Stuff for School
We've decided on a school called Baby Steps located near our house. I'm a little uneasy about sending the twins to school, but I think it's just normal Mommy nerves. One thing that is making me feel better is buying them cute supplies for school.
I know we'll need to label jackets and clothes and stuff so I've ordered labels from Oliver's Labels. I picked a dinosaur design and just put "Swan" on the labels so we can use the same ones for both Connor and Chloe. I think they'll be pretty cute.
They'll also need to take their own lunch when they head off to school so I couldn't resist getting them personalized lunch boxes from Pottery Barn Kids. Connor picked the shark to be on his.
Hopefully this will help me ease into it. I know there will be tears on the first day, both theirs and mine, but in my heart I feel like they will really enjoy making new friends and learning new things. It's time.
I know we'll need to label jackets and clothes and stuff so I've ordered labels from Oliver's Labels. I picked a dinosaur design and just put "Swan" on the labels so we can use the same ones for both Connor and Chloe. I think they'll be pretty cute.
They'll also need to take their own lunch when they head off to school so I couldn't resist getting them personalized lunch boxes from Pottery Barn Kids. Connor picked the shark to be on his.
Hopefully this will help me ease into it. I know there will be tears on the first day, both theirs and mine, but in my heart I feel like they will really enjoy making new friends and learning new things. It's time.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Super Cute!
OK time to indulge the proud Mom and basically the whole purpose of this blog. I've got a couple of super cute kids.
Traveling in style at the zoo. Got snacks and a map, ready to roll!
At first he was smiling and then I got this face. He just wants his PIZZA!
Cool enough to wear sunglasses upside-down
Sitting on the back of the comfy chair, sunning himself. Leo knows how to live the good life.
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