The Cradle

Finally took those pictures of Bowynn in the cradle*. She's definitely too big and roly-poly for it. Now to locate the two play pens I know we have some where...  Also, I wish I had a better camera - I love my Nikon Coolpix because it fits in my purse super easily - but the it just doesn't do as much as my old camera and has a hard time focusing - which is important when you have small, fast moving, little ones.

*This cradle has been in our family since 1964 when the first baby slept in it. Since then there has been about 20 babies in it over the years - including yours truly! With all that history I was eager to use it for my newest edition. (Kaeda co-slept and got her first crib at 18months)

Baby laughs

Bowynn laughed for the first time today! Sooo adorable!

We were at the pool for Kaeda's swim lesson (which she swam like a fish for) and I had Bo on her back on my knees and was making popping noises at her and she just opened her mouth wide and laughed and laughed and laughed! I just wish the it had happened in a quieter place so I could have heard her sweet voice clearer! It's no wonder they say when a babe laughs for the first time a fairy is born. Happy infant noises are just that precious!

Anyway, I hope they both sleep well tonight - because I want to too! Bo was up every hour last night and today was hectic. We forgot Kaeda's swim suit at home and B had to run home to get it. He used his long board to get back faster - which Kaeda thought was absolutely AWESOME. She's been bugging me about getting daddy to teach her how to skateboard... because we walk by the skate park all the time. Problem is, skateboarding is actually kinda dangerous (broken arms, wrists, collarbones etc.) and isn't recommended until kids are at least seven. Oh, and daddy long boards which isn't the same as skate boarding... or something. Well whatever, hopefully her interests change, it still made me smile watching him zoom up to us on the long board.

Well once swimming was done we has sushi for dinner - Kaeda's favorite. It's not really that complicated to make... but it's time consuming and messy. And of course once we had eaten we were just... so.... full..... I suck at dieting. The best I've managed so far is to think about it, hahaha. I just love food too much (and sugar & cream in my coffee).

So I'm tired, but I'm happy so long as I've had a busy day with minimal tantrums :)

"You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies." J. M. Barrie, Peter & Wendy

My 4 month old can walk! (sort of)

Tuesday is always busy for us - preschool, sometimes library, then off to Grand-mere's for lunch and a visit and then off I go to earn some coffee money cleaning for my MIL's parents and sister. Today was no exception. The great thing about Tuesdays is that the kids are usually pretty wiped out by the end of it so it means an easier bedtime routine.

Tonight, I'm excited, we've actually planned some couple time! YAY! You'd think we'd have some time every evening after the kidlets go to bed - but with a roommate/tenant, bachelor buddies who regularly stay up to the wee hours of the morning and just our regular catching up - it's really not that common.

So tonight we're hopefully have a peaceful hot tub and then watching a movie in bed - sounds a little lame? Maybe, but when it's all planned out and we have our tea, snacks and movie on it will be great :)

Geeking out

If someone asked me what I did today the answer would probably be "not much". The real answer would be "play Civilizations 5 on the local network" translation: geek out. We had the guys over and of course our geeky grandpa Bob so it was a regular lan party. Civ 5 is great because it's turn based and you can pause at any time to deal with kiddos. 

PC gaming is one of those things I do a fair amount of... but never really bring up as an interest in mom-groups or.. well, adult groups... ha! Gaming is something geeky and associated more with adolescents I guess - even though that's not the case. We used to play World of Warcraft back when we had time, lots of time - uninterrupted time. Lately we've been playing Starcraft 2. I've always found it really enjoyable being able to play together as a couple. Working together towards the same goal just like real life except the rewards are faster to come and the consequences set you back some mere minutes or imaginary gold. 

Of course, gaming can be rather addictive, so we're careful to keep our priorities straight and set a good example. Which can be really hard in this modern, technological age. How much is too much? I didn't have a cell phone until I could pay for it - but now even toddlers have their own phones (or think they do when they take your iPhone and play games on it). What will my daughters have to deal with when they reach high school? 

Thats a loaded question and a lot to think about. But this much I do know: 

They won't have their own cell phones until they can pay for them. 

They won't have Facebook until they're the appropriate age.

They won't have their own computers in their rooms until they graduate.  

Now I just wonder if I really know all those things or if when the time comes things will be different.... 

Roly-Poly Baby!

 Bowynn has now rolled over a handful of times! Back to front. B has seen her roll twice before this - once very early on and once a week ago. One time I came back into the room and found her on her tummy when I'd left her on her back - but those all appeared to be flukes. She's got it down now!

 "Why are you sitting there mom?"

"Well don't just sit there! Pick me up!!"

My two sweet hearts! Kaeda is such a little mother at times. She loves feeding Bowynn when ever she can (which isn't very often as she pretty much exclusively breastfed). Kaeda has little moments from time to time when she doesn't yell "STOP CRYING!" at the baby and instead just wants to hold her sister or cuddle her, telling her "It's ok, it's ok Bowynn."

Book Reviews

I've really wanted to do some proper reviews of my latest reads. I'm usually the kind of person who reads her favorite books over and over. Since we got a library card however, I've been just taking out whatever caught my eye - mostly Young Adult Fantasy as it's always been my dream to write in that category. Anyway, here are my reviews, oldest to most recent:

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
*****
Latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series, these books haven't gotten annoying or predictable yet like some series I've read. They are easy to pick up, not too hard to put down and are just really enjoyable. They're not the deepest books or anything but they have romance, mystery, adventure and a good sense of humor. They are of course, the books True Blood is based on (OMG MY FAVORITE!!!).

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
*****
This was a quick grab because the kids were losing it in the library - and I LOVED it. It's based on an interesting idea that immortals are just regular people that live regular lives they just don't die (unless killed). Though, after 400 years of struggles and loss, what are you living for? With a funny, clever main character and the mystery of her past being revealed in little tidbits the only thing that annoyed me about this book was that it's book one in a series and still in hardcover!!! NOooOOOOoo! I will definitely be getting the rest of this series when it comes out.

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
***
Ages ago I read the first of this series. It takes place in at a finishing school for young ladies and involves magick and mystery. This one was slow to start but I couldn't put it down at the end. It was enjoyable and interesting most of the time. I'll be getting the last book in this trilogy when I can.

Planet Pregnancy by Linda Oatman High
*
I'm not sure if it was the format, the character or the fact that both annoyed me so much I only really skimmed the book. It's in a poem like form, told from first person in streaming consciousness. What else is there to say? The girl was annoying, I didn't feel a connection with her (despite being in the similar situation of telling my mom about an unexpected pregnancy) and I felt it left a lot unanswered.

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
****
This one I started out disliking, I hate it when authors use something other than quotations for regular conversation - it's just so unnecessary. But the more I read, the more I liked Lyn the protagonist. The book managed to be realistic and interesting while bringing up issues that parallel in reality. It made you think but didn't end on a horrible note or anything (that always makes me sad).

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury & Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith 

*

I read the first two in this series after watching the first season of the tv show adaption. It's not very often that a show or movie is that much better than the books. Wow, Elena the main character, is SOOOOO annoying. They changed a lot in the show that made it better. The writing is simple and often terrible, using the same words or just the bad arrangements of them. Interestedly? Really? I mean on a blog or casual way maybe I could ignore it... but a popular, edited book? 

Anyway, stick with the show, don't bother with these books. I doubt I'm even going to finish this one before I return it.

Bowynn's first cereal!

So today we started Bowynn on some rice cereal. I'm not sure when we started Kaeda on it... I just remember I couldn't wait to try it, then barely used any. I think it was probably around 5 1/2 months... as I was all first-time-mom-paranoid and following the guidelines super closely. Bowynn just seemed like she could do with a little extra. I don't plan on feeding her a lot of solids yet - breast feeding is still the easiest and best answer for her. 

And then Kaeda found the bowl and assumed it was something for her... she ate some then put it down and said "It's gross."

She also tried to feed Bowynn the leftovers.... while she was asleep in the swing.