some tidbits

So basically there's been a lot of pictures on my blog and not so much actually blogging. It's hard when you have eight trillion pictures of your adventures two super cute babies. Words are less effective.

Anyway.

I can't believe tomorrow is September. Let's begin there. Summer has gone by, we haven't even been outside much because of all of the fires. Fire = smoke. Iz always asks, "Mom where is the sun?" Ummm its hiding, sort of. Sorry, baby.

I would say most of my mental free time right now is spent daydreaming about our family vacation next month to southern California and by that I mean Disneyland. Me and Izzie have been watching videos of parades and rides and we talk about it all day long. It is seriously taking all of my will power to not pack all of their little outfits into ziploc bags because I am READY. Doing the pre-trip prep work has been surprisingly a lot (upgrade Linc's car seat, make sure we have weather appropriate clothes, find creative things for car travel, basically make a lot of lists) but SO FUN. I love organizing. And I love family vacations. And we all know how much I love the magic of Disneyland. (Case in point, I showed Isabelle a preview of the firework show and I seriously got teary when Tink flew to the Castle. So dumb.) We are spending a few days at the Magic Kingdom, then hopping down to San Diego to do Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Throw in some beach time, a trip to the temple, and a day with our Sumsions and we have a vacation! I can't wait.

In other news. I'm not eating carbs again. It is the one thing that really works for me and it feels really good to be taking control of my own body again. Linc is still nursing (see next paragraph) but he no longer relies on me for all of his meals and it is sort of a relief. Fitting into clothes I didn't fit into a few weeks ago is worth eating eggs every. single. day.

So the nursing. A little while ago Linc started really slowing down, just not acting interested at all. I didn't worry very much because he was eating three solid meals a day. But of course, my supply started dropping because he wasn't breastfeeding as frequently. I know it's normal but it was sooner than I expected. He is still nursing every morning but I end up pumping in the evening because he seriously does not care to sit and latch. He is too distracted/excited to get down and roll around, I can't keep his attention. And forget it if we aren't at home! Nursing has always been a really, really wonderful experience and I will continue doing what we are doing because it's working for us. Not sure why we sometimes have mom-guilt over these things. Lincoln is so fat and happy and I can only be proud of all the time and effort we spent together. Also, he has seven teeth. Real big, sharp, man-teeth. Seven.

So anyway...Linc got a new car seat because he is huge. He is eating baby puffs! He is mostly sleeping through the night- needs his paci a few times. I got new ugly orthopedic shoes for the trip and they are amazing. Dayna by Alegria? Anyone else have those? One of the nurses was wearing them when I delivered Linc and she gave me the inside scoop. I'll let you know if they meet my 12,000 steps a day Disneyland standards, but so far they are awesome, with just a touch of hideous. (Gabe, if you are reading this please don't google them, you will die, they are worse than crocs.)

Also, I bought orange jeans. Like, escaped from prison orange. Excited about those.

Disneyland Trip, Isabelle's Third Birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas! Yessssssss.

PS below is a post with pictures. I couldn't resist.

insta-update vol 7

been awhile. oh man I love instagram.


 

swim time snack break / day of 4 vs 1

 

shark teeth/ new mall toys

 

filing Linc's nails/ not thrilled I'm documenting pretend makeup

 

baby zip line, can you see iz? / happy boy

 

day of ballet/ choco cone

 

nothing better than a tent and a flashlight/ go baby go!

 

his cheeks!! / Olivia the original vs Olivia the backup

best cousin friends. Oh, they love each other.

first position

Pink tights. Pink Leo. Pink shoes.

Isabelle's first day of ballet.

Post nap, not thrilled.

I got her all ready in her new outfit and just about burst into tears. My baby isn't a baby. She is a little girl. In a tiny ballet class. She is already so independent it just about kills me. I'm just so proud to be her mother.

Ballet has always been special to our family. My mother was a dancer, for years and years and years. We all took dance as children. I remember how it felt to put on a leo and shimmy into those tights, I remember how the rosin smelled on the older girls pointe shoes, I remember wanting so badly to be tall enough for the big barre. Feels like a perfect place for her to be. Every girls' dream.

 And she loved it.

My mother is teaching the pre-ballet classes for the little girls and I hate to brag but she is good. Really good. She knows how to be creative and use her imagination and get small in a way that other adults can't. She has always had a special way with children but its just so fun to watch her with MY children.

(Madilyn's bun was so, so awesome.)

I could not stop taking pictures. And I think I said "this is so cute" about a thousand times. We watched for 45 minutes as the girls paraded around the floor, learning basic positions and pretending to be flowers.

Can't wait for next week. (and the next!)

the faces of iz

Isabelle is quite the little character. She is very opinionated and bossy and just today told me, "No, mom- I'M in charge." Here is a bunch of pictures that show her sassy personality.

Sheep jams and my heels. Love her smirk.

Wearing Lincoln's next season overalls.

yep she's totally naked.

Can opener bag lady.

winter dress/ too small boots.

And here is a series I like to call "While she was sleeping," a collection of bedtime photos.

Found an umbrella. Hiding under it.

This might be my fav. I put her down to nap in her t-shirt, checked on her a few minutes later to find her in Lincoln's 12- month romper.

Invited all her babies/pillows/blankies into bed.

Not sure where she even found snow hat/mittens?

Sometimes I go to check on her and just LAUGH because of what she has found in her closet or in her drawers, she loves to find socks and shoes and wear them to bed. She loves to pick out random things and wear them the rest of the day. 

We have to be careful- she definitely listens to what we say. Today she said, "Mom that's not even funny." SHE'S TWO! Also- "My body is saying feed me feed me feed me!" Oh man we love this little girl.

baby portraits

Last month we had some pictures taken of our babies to document Linc at 6 months and Izzie at 2 3/4 years. Lincoln had just barely learned to sit up, and his vampire teeth were fast descending so we said QUICK take some pictures.

In case the 400 I take a month aren't enough.

I love how they turned out! You know getting ready for pictures can be stressful (or is this just me) coordinating outfits and making sure the babies have been fed and napped, that it doesn't rain, etc. We had gorgeous weather although pretty hot, and the kids cooperated pretty well.  Iz needed some jelly bean encouragement, and of course having Grandma there made everything better. Katie was so patient and spent so much time with us making sure we had all the shots we wanted. And she didn't make fun of us as we were acting ridiculous behind the camera to get the babes to smile. These are a few of my favorites- it was seriously hard to narrow it down there are SO many good ones!

All images by Katie Luther Photography.

could you die.

this one makes me want to bite his face

oh he's so handsome!

I really love this one because of his fluff hair!

of course I love this one

SUCH an Isabelle face.