And Baby Makes Five!

I am 3 months pregnant with our third baby.  It is amazing how your heart's ability to love just multiplies and how much all four of us already LOVE this little one.  Elle and Gwen are continually kissing my belly.  It really is quite adorable.  I had a dr.'s appointment today and I must say, there is no sweeter sound than hearing that little heartbeat for the first time.  Our hearts are wide open and we can not wait to meet this new addition to our family.

Nakers

The house was quiet, too quiet so I went on the hunt for Miss Gwenners.  This is just exactly how I found her.  Naked as a jay bird (or nakers as we refer to this state of undress), covered in baby powder on top of her dresser.  She used her rocking lamb and opened a drawer to climb on up.  Caught red handed or more appropriately, white handed.  Now how can I get upset at this adorable little girl?  I can't.

Baby

I was rushing to get my little Gwendolyn home for her nap today.  I hurried upstairs, laid her in her crib and closed the door.  This nap time of hers is also precious time for me to get things done around the house.  I got downstairs and heard Gwen crying.  She was crying out saying, "baby, baby,".  When I rock Gwen I hold her in a baby position and sing, "hush little baby".  She loves it.  When she is sad, she says "baby, baby" which means, "mama, hold me like a baby and sing to me". These little ones really make you get your priorities straight.  The laundry can pile up, the dishes can wait, the house can fall apart but what is most important, (which Gwen reminded me of today) is this blink of time that I have with my little girls.  I went back into her room and she had a puffy face wet with tears and was standing in her crib waiting for me.  I held her in my arms and rocked her like a baby and sang to her our little song.  I know someday I am going to really miss this time.  I feel like it is falling through my fingers each day and I wish I could just slow down the clock.   I love motherhood and Gwendolyn reminded me today just what a blessing it is to be a mom...her mom.  

My Little Super Heroes

The Beach

With no preschool on Fridays, I have both girls all to myself.  We went to the bagel shack this morning and then headed to the beach with towels, a chair and sand toys.  Just the three of us.  The girls were in heaven and I must say I was too.  A perfect Friday for sure.  

The Pier

We ended our fun morning/afternoon with a walk down the pier.  The girls loved watching the water through the slats of the side rails.  There was a snack shack at the end of the pier and all 3 of us could not resist sharing a plate of french fries.  Gwen was in charge of our ketchup (wow, that was a mess) and Elle danced on the table to the music coming from the radio of one of the fishermen.  I love these little girls.

Make-believe

Both of our girls love to dress-up.  This leopard number is the current costume of choice.  I crack-up everytime I see Elle in it.  Gwen was wearing a Tigger costume at the time but wouldn't slow down enough for me to take her picture.  They were both prring like cats and crawling around the kitchen.  I love how imaginative they are and I love that they can entertain themselves and me in the process.  

Our Time

Saturday afternoons are special.  While Jon stays home with napping Gwen, Elle and I head out.  It is our time...just the two of us.  I had some Christmas returns to make at the mall and Elle came with me.  She got herself dressed all in pink.  She was loving her purse and as we were strolling through the mall she pulled me down to her level and said, "mama, I think everyone thinks I am a mommy".  In other words, she felt really grown-up.  While I was sitting and waiting for the salesman to bring me my shoes, I looked and Elle had taken her boots off and was prancing around with the display shoes.  She looked so cute and oh so grown-up.  

Happy New Year!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Day was super relaxed and fun.  We had dinner here at our home.  Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Grampie Dune and cousin Brittni were here to celebrate with us.  So nice to be together.  

Christmas Morning

As much fun as Christmas Morning is as a kid, I would have to say without a doubt, Christmas morning is much more fun as a parent.  It was SO much fun watching how excited the girls were as they came down the stairs to see what Santa had brought for them.  Elle wrote her letter to Santa a few weeks back and asked for a baby doll and Hannah Montana make-up and clothes. Gwen loves anything to do with babies and dress-up clothes.  Santa definitely got it right this year.  They each got their own baby dolls complete with bathtubs and diaper bags.  Elle got a highchair for her dolly and Gwen got a stroller. Elle did get Hannah Montana make-up and dress-up clothes.  She put on a concert for us complete with tickets.  She sang and danced to the song, "The Best of Both Worlds".  She is 100% serious and it is 100% HILARIOUS!  The ride-on toys were also a hit. We pulled the rug up in the kitchen so that they could make a complete circle around the kitchen island.  I can't tell you how many loops they have made in the last 24 hours.  So fun!  This morning when Elle woke up she asked me how many "more sleeps" until the next Christmas.  Lucky for Santa (he is TIRED) we have 364 more sleeps until we can do it all again.  

Christmas House

Sharing Christmas with children makes for quite a magical season.  Our little girls are just in complete awe of anything and everything to do with Christmas.  Elle was snuggled up to me on the couch the other night and said, "mama, thanks for making our house a Christmas house".  As the mom in this house, I do feel a responsibility to create the magic of Christmas for Elle and Gwen.  We have the tree up and decorated, stockings are hanging over our fireplace.  The wreaths are hung...we even have reindeer pillows on our couch, for heavens sake.  Elle calls her room the Christmas room and sleeps with Christmas lights on and has her own little tree and snowglobe lamp on her nightstand.  It is pretty magical for sure.  They each have their own advent calendars that they eat chocolate from first thing in the morning and everynight we watch a different Christmas movie curled up on the couch.  All of that is amazing and great but I am also trying to teach these little girls the real reason we are doing all of this.  I want them to know that having this "Christmas house" is my attempt at showing them the importance of this season.  Jon and I had a family night with the girls where we got out our Nativity set.  I told them the story of Jesus' birth and all about the wise men following the star.  As we talked about the story, the girls placed the pieces of the Nativity set into place.  I really want them to know why this season is so magical and so special.  And Jon's and my hope is that the McGee home will be a Christmas house all year long.