Sleep

We borrowed a toddler bed from my sister weeks ago and finally got around to setting it up. Sophie couldn't wait to have a new bed and asked to have it every time she saw it in the garage. I didn't want to mess with a good thing, so I just contined to put it off. We finally gave in, and from the moment it was up, Sophie couldn't stop playing with it. Climbing in and out, putting her dollies to sleep, messing it up just so she could fix it, and on and on. It was cute, but I was skeptical of the night, especially since she was in a new room. To my amazement, this little girl sleeps as if she's always been in a bed. And my favorite part is watching her make it in the morning. She meticulously fixes the quilt so it hangs just right. (wonder where she gets that!) I'm still getting used to seeing her in her bed. Just another reminder that she's growing up.

Claire, on the other hand, prefers sleeping a bit more sporatically. She doesn't like the traditional 8 hour block of sleep, but rather 1-2 hour naps all through the night. I'm getting used to the dull, sleep-deprivation headaches in the morning. Still, I find myself wanting to eat her up in the daytime. She is obsessed with hands, not just her own anymore, and will play with and suck on my fingers while happily kicking her feet. Even now, I'm typing one-handed so she can do her thing. She's becoming a little person, and already seems a bit sassy, screaming sometimes just to hear her own voice. I'm discovering all the differences and similarities between her and Sophie already, and can't wait to see more.

This is how Claire can be found most of the day, not in the Bumbo so much, but eating her hands. I cannot get enough of it!

What's wrong with me?

My blog is dying. It's my fault. This is my attempt to resuscitate it. No apologies, I'm just going to pick up from here.

Claire is going to be 4 months old soon, and I honestly can't believe it. She's still a newborn, right? All I can say is we are completely enjoying her. She is smiling, even laughing at times, and is sweet as can be. Sophie has been incredibly adaptable to this new addition and tries to help. Sometimes she is legitimately helpful too. When Claire cries in the grocery store, Sophie rocks the carseat for me and tries to show her toys. Claire already loves her and I can see the seeds of sibling bonding being planted. They will be friends one day. I hope. Claire has discovered her hands and contentedly sucks on them all day long--even when they are covered in spit-up. Gross, I know, but I actually find it adorable. She still naps in her swing and I'm not about to change it because it works so well. We recently got Claire the Bumbo chair at Target and the jury is still out on whether she likes it or not. I hope she warms up to it, though, because I get a kick out of seeing her in it.

Sophie is definitely gaining her independence, but I feel I'm learning more about patience than she is about being independent. If I touch the door she is trying to open, she screams at me. If I try to help zip up her jammies, she screams at me. You get the idea. We just smile and take a couple deep breaths. She is quite adorable, though. Always the little mommy, she loves giving her "naked baby" (All her babies are identified by color) a bath, nursing her, or bouncing her on a ball to keep her quiet. I'm seeing her mimic my actions and totally loving it. Mothering two girls has me learning to multi-task and sometimes makes me a little crazy, but overall I honestly love it. I mean, just LOOK at them!

Okay, I LOVE this picture of Matt's mom. Doesn't she look like a celebrity incognito? She is fabulous. Also, I'm nursing Claire, which is a little strange for a picture and rather uncomfortable.