I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'LL BE SNOW...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

LOVE, Brad, Bridget, Finley, & Reagan (& Santa)

Every time we ask Finley if she's been a good girl this year she tells us "no." Also, she calls Santa "Santahn" veeeeery close sounding to "Satan." Hmmmm. Between that and this photographic evidence it's easy to tell who's getting coal. I was a little nervous that Reagan would be upset but she was pretty much all smiles - she usually loves watching me make a fool of myself. Finley on the other hand had this exact look in every picture. She wasn't afraid of him she was just acting super grumpy. Oh well. I guess it makes for a funnier picture. Buck up kid! This guy brings you FREE candy and presents! He's kind of a big deal.

FINNERS AT TWO AND A HALF

Here is a little bit of what Finley has been up to. 

She still takes a bath every night. With lots of bubbles.

We cut out naps a few months ago, but she only recently got fully adjusted to a non-nap schedule. Occasionally she's just had too much fun and falls asleep in random places for a bit. The upside to no naps? She now goes to bed at 7:30 and wakes up at 8:00 or so the next morning. That makes me a happy mama! Now if only Reagan could follow suit.

Finley loves sitting in Reagan's things - which to be fair used to be her things so I can see how it's confusing. But a few weeks ago I found her sitting in Reagan's bouncer while Reagan was in it - Reagan was none too pleased. Plus she was forcing a binky in her mouth which is not how you go about making Reagan happy. (Notice Finley in a diaper. This was pre-potty training. As of two weeks ago there are no more diapers during the day! Hooray! Kinda of. It's still a work in progress.)

And this picture is to document her engineering mind. These are those bag clips from Ikea. I was cooking dinner and she was playing with them on the floor and all of sudden she says, "Mom, I'm making diamond shapes." And I looked down to this. Whaaaaaaat? I definitely did not teach her that - so thanks nursery, or Disney, or Sesame Street, or whatever/whoever taught her what diamonds are and how to make them. I'm clearly underestimating what she can learn. She must truly think my potty training dance is idiotic.

BIG PEOPLE FOOD

So Reagan started eating solids about a month ago. We started with the old stand by - rice cereal. She was NOT a fan.

Very skeptical.

Sure! The two-year-old can do the feeding! Now I can finally watch my stories and eat bon bons. Which is what Brad thinks I do anyway.

And here is what happened after the first few bites. You would think we were torturing her! And all cereals were a no go. We tried: rice, brown rice, and oatmeal. 

Finley's hotdog looked mighty appetizing!

Which gave me an idea! I'm a smart mamma. I figured out that this lady has a sophisticated palate. She just wanted the real stuff. So far she's eaten all sorts of veggies and fruits, but she's most partial to the bananas.

She's also figured out that bath time comes right after eating time. So now when I lift her out of the highchair after eating she starts shaking with excitement. I'm starting to smell a routine! Let's just hope this leads to her sleeping through the night again. I miss my 9 hour sleeper!

THIS IS WHAT I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW

*This Barr Brothers song. And here's a sweet live version, check out all their crazy instruments.
*And this song. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but Finley makes me play it over and over. I love watching her dance and sing the final note with her hands up in the air. Sometimes motherhood is so satisfying.
*This hanging map tutorial. I made one for my bedroom. It's so gratifying to make something quick, easy, and cheap that turns out awesome (if I do say so myself).
* This trailer. My life might actually be complete now. Please don't mess it up. I'm talking to YOU Anne Hathaway.
* This kale shake recipe. Although I usually just throw in whatever I happen to have on hand. Sadly this is the only way I consume green vegetables most days.
* This crock pot soup recipe. Brad even said, "Wow this is actually good". That says so much about my attempts at trying new recipes. You have no idea.
* This quote. I'm going through a phase where nothing seems to be finished. Ever. And it's driving my crazy. So I'm trying to relax and enjoy the present moments. Man I'm deep.
* This print. It's not a product you can order so my goal is recreate it for Finley. We sing that song every night at bedtime.
* This show. I've told Brad at least ten times that in another life this is my profession.

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

When Brad got an entire week off (!!!!) we decided to do the sensible relaxing thing... take two small children on a ten hour car ride. Actually it was a lot of fun, if you ignore the many hours of screaming from Reagan. We drove up to Naperville to see Brad's parents. When we lived in Alton it was a quick 5 hour drive so we went up pretty regularly. Now we are double the distance with an additional child so a quick trip to Naperville no longer exists. With a full week on our hands we decided to take advantage. Our first stop was to the Children's museum, which of course Finley found endlessly exciting. Although, isn't it the hallmark of kids to get really into the most obscure parts of a really cool experience? For instance, Finley didn't want anything to do with the cool water ways and bubble pools. She wanted  to play on the stairs. REALLY? STAIRS? We've got a set a home, they aren't that cool. Promise. Also she wanted to carry around a basket of tennis balls. Not put them in the sweet air machine and watch them go through the tunnels. Just carry them around in a basket. Kids are so weird.

Here she is shaving a wax block.

I thought she would love this wood shop. She loved all the dangerous things she couldn't touch. After the seventh "no" she was outta there.

Family picture... wait no... someone's missing.

MY favorite part was the wind tunnel. It's exactly what it sounds like. A tunnel with wind. I even channeled my inner Heidi Klum (I wish) and did some modeling poses (those pictures will never see the light of day. Ever.).

Brad told me that wind tunnel is his ideal sleeping condition. I'm an anti ceiling fan sleeper. And he would... sleep in a wind tunnel if given the option. Who wants to feel like they are sleeping on the wing of a 747? I will never understand.

Well apparently Reagan takes after Dad in this regard - she could not be more asleep.

Although that's pretty much how Reagan felt about the entire Children's Museum. This is my intense Instagraming face. It's serious business. I don't mess around. Plus only have access to Brad's iphone... never.

SISTERS

My new all time favorite picture. I love these girls so much!

REAGAN FIVE MONTHS

Hi. I'm five months old now (well technically nearly six months, but my mom's a slacker and I can't type yet, so I blame her).  I am starting to show a lot personality. Most often I have my eyes wide open learning more about my crazy surroundings. But I really love to smile and laugh.

Mom has a lot of funny nicknames for me (Gipper, Reagie, Monkey) but the current one is: Bunsy. This came from calling me Reagan Buns, then Buns, then Bunsy. Even Finley calls me Bunsy, which mom thinks is sort of adorable.

I don't have any teeth yet, but mom checks my gums everyday. I've been gnawing on mom's hand constantly and sleeping horribly so I'm thinking they should pop through any day now. But I've been thinking that for about two months now... so who knows.

I finally decided to start rolling over, the trick is to tilt my large head to one side and magically my body follows. I can turn both directions. But I've decided I like being on my back best of all. When I get too tired to roll over, I put my head down and pout until mom feels sorry for me. Sucker! 

I've started eating solids (post on that coming soon) and I'm actually beginning to swallow more than I spit out. My favorite part is chewing on the spoon. YUM.

I've started grabbing everything in my sight. Once I can get a hand on something I either attempt to lift it over my head or try to put it in my mouth. If I can't reach something I stare at it for a really long time willing it to come to me.

I don't think I'll ever learn to crawl (or walk for that matter) because mom holds me all day long. If I'm not strapped into the baby bjorn mom carries me all over the house. Which is a good thing, because Finley likes to give me full body hugs. She has also started trying to feed me things and "helps" me drink for her sippy cup. I find it all very helpful, mom doesn't really feel the same way. Something about germs and me not being ready to eat a hot dog yet. Whatever. 

Finley does not love that I'm now the one sitting in the high chair. She tells me "Reagan, get out!  That's my chair!" Sometimes she still thinks she's the baby of the family. Sorry kid!

Even though Finley doesn't always love that I'm taking over the house. I can't wait until I can play with her. She seems hilarious. I laugh at most everything she does especially when I see her first thing in the morning (must be the bedhead). She has also started helping mom with my baths at night which is my favorite part of the day. I get really excited and squeal and kick my legs in anticipation of getting in the water. I hear Finley likes baths, but I LOVE baths.

My parents got wise (aka - took my Aunt Brooke's advice) and finally bought me a convertible car seat. Now I'm more upright and can finally get comfortable enough to sleep. I still complain and cry a lot, but I'm a lot happier overall. Now if only I could turn my head around enough to watch Pocahontas with Finley.

I'm a great eater and constantly get comments on my "healthiness." Mom feeds me well and can't get enough of holding me and squishing my cheeks, so what do you expect?

Mom is also a greedy holder, and has only now started letting other people take turns holding me. And since I'm so adorable I get passed around the room wherever I go. I don't mind other people, but I still like mom best of all.

HALLOWEEN 2012

We had Halloween overload this year. We had four separate occasions to wear costumes which was actually a lot of fun. But the resulting amount of candy is not so friendly on the post baby diet. I'm pretty sure I've only had one vegetable in the last week. And you know you're a swell parent when you think "Oh, finally something healthy! A hot dog." After three days straight of nothing but refined sugar I was happy to see something with any kind of substance enter Finley's body. It's going to be a slow process in explaining to Finley that there really isn't any more candy hiding on top of the fridge (SHHHH. She doesn't have to know I put all the chocolate candy in the freezer.).

I had a good time making their costumes this year. As you can see Finley was our Roaring 20's flapper girl. Reagan was Minnie Mouse. I'm partial to the good old fashioned red Minnie... I don't really love the modern day pink version. For the Trunk Or Treat at our church I managed to dress up as June Cleaver. From the older crowd I got a "You look like my mom!" From my age group I got, "How did you do that with your hair?" or "Oh, I love Mad Men!" From the younger crowd I got a confused, "What are you supposed to be?" Oh generation gaps! LOVE IT.

This is Finley and her friend Eli. They are the two rascals of the nursery every Sunday. Definitely partners in crime with a love/hate relationship. What great historical duos aren't described that way? Well the infamous ones anyway.

One tired little Minnie Mouse at the library. Trick or Treating is exhausting!

This was a Halloween miracle that we got these three to sit still long enough for a picture. Never mind that they are totally unimpressed by the fact that I wanted to preserve this special childhood memory for them.

One of my favorite pictures ever! Not the best quality but the pose and facial expressions are awesome. Finley and James must get married when they grow up so they can recreate this pose for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Finley and James with their little sister and brother (respectively). This lasted all of three seconds before they both started pushing their siblings over. Eh. It'll happen.

 The dragon (Logan) and the Mouse (Reagan) got the best ride of the night.

Stroller brigade alert! We went to our friend's neighborhood dinner before we went trick or treating and this is the sight the neighborhood saw approaching! Ha!

It was dark by the time we started Trick or Treating - but my friend Joni was smart enough to have glow sticks for the kids. It also made for pretty awesome night pictures.

 

Aaaaaand this was Finley's response when I said "bathtime!" No she's not sleeping, she's pouting in her typical sprawled out fashion. I guess she was too tired to cry. Halloween was fun, but after a party and three separate trick or treatings I'm kinda worn out. Now excuse me while I go eat some Almond Joys like a good mom should.