Tis the Season...

This past week has been a little rough to say the least.

Last weekend Jared got sick with the flu. And mid-week when he thought he was over the worst of it, it got even worse. And then I got it, too. Awesome. 2 sick parents + 2 healthy active kids = Not cool. Both of us were cuddled up in blankets on the couch in the fetal position while Bailey and Avery stared at us in confusion. Eventually we did have to drag our aching bodies off the couch and go feed them.

When the mere thought of food makes you want to vomit, it takes real dedication to suck it up and prepare food for someone else. {Bailey and Avery: Don't ever say we didn't do anything for you.}  Jared was feeding Avery pureed peas and sweet potatoes when the smell finally got to him. He went to the bathroom and threw up for 10 minutes... then returned to the table to continue feeding her.  [Dedication, like I said.]

While it took Jared about 6 days to feel back to normal, I felt better within 24 hours. (Thank God. Someone had to feed, bathe, and supervise the children!)  We are keeping our fingers crossed the girls have superhuman immune systems and won't get it. {Believe me, Bailey is whiny enough lately.}

In between whining sessions, Bailey has been mildly entertaining today. During breakfast she purposely threw her spoon on the floor and just stared at me. I gave her my best disapproving-Mommy look.
She met my gaze and said, "Funny!" and laughed.
I told her, "No, it's not funny. You can't throw your spoon."
She replied, "Yes funny."
I said back, "No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."

.....  Wait? Am I really arguing with a child that isn't even 2 yet?

Apparently.

Okay Bailey, you win this round.

We did paint her toenails today though. She was excited to do it. Now that they're done, she keeps saying "pretty" over and over. 

You have such weird little toes, Bailey Boo.  :) 

And why do little kids' toes overlap all funky like that sometimes?

Oh well, toes always look cuter with some bright pink polish.

So thankful to have girls.
{Feel free to check back in about 10 years and remind me that I said that.}

Adventures of the Solko sisters

Lately we haven't bothered putting up a baby gate outside of Bailey's room because she knows how to take it down.

"Take it down" can happen one of two ways:

1)  Pull up as hard as you can on the latch and move the gate aside.             

                 OR

2) Get a running head start and throw all your body weight into the gate.

{Both are highly effective, but she finally figured out Option #1 after a few too many bruises from using Option #2.}

So it's girl scout cookie season... Jared brought home a few boxes that he bought from a coworker. We cracked into the Lemonade cookies for a little after-dinner dessert. The next morning I opened up the package and packed two cookies to take to work. I must not have made sure I put the cookie box in the center of the kitchen counter...

Around 8 AM Bailey awakens Jared. She has been waking up at 7:15, so he wonders why she let him sleep in so late. Then he sees it... the empty box of cookies and Bailey finishing off the last one as she smiles up at him. Almost a whole box of cookies. Gone. She isn't even two yet and this girl is polishing off a box of cookies like a seasoned pro!

And later that same day, Bailey only took a half hour nap about 4 hours later than usual. What a coincidence...

Avery's adventures are much more tame by comparison. {They about have to be when you can't yet walk and can only crawl in reverse - the opposite of the direction you are intending to go.}

Today we were at Fe's house for the day to hang out and get some auntie-time in. I was sitting with Avery on my lap. Fe was getting her to laugh. We could tell she had just pooped, but we could see she was still working on adding more to that amount (lots of cute little baby grunts). So we were waiting. Then she gives one big squeeze... and liquid poop squirts straight up out of the back of her diaper. 

Now I have been pooped on before by both my children, but never have I seen one do a realistic impression of Old Faithful. {Girl has some power back there!}

Some clean-up was done over the bathtub (insurance policy!) and we were as good as new. Okay, not really - I still had pooped on pants, but Avery was happy, so I went with it.

And apparently the best time to have a little milk snack is after a big ol' poo. Who knew?

Before the blog

Blogging has come naturally because I have always liked to write. Before I started blogging, I kept journals. Each has its own advantages. I like blogging because it allows some of our family and close friends to stay up-to-date on our daily happenings - things that they might miss out on otherwise. It's nice to post photos and share hobbies. And, to be honest, I like getting feedback from people telling me how they like to read it or that they get a laugh now and again.

I have always kept a journal, starting at the tender age of 11. All the way back in 1995 I received my first one as a birthday present. I was hooked. I would write about all things, good and bad. I would write about friends that were "mean" to me that week and my constant, unwavering elementary school crush on Nick Nehman. {There were all of 4 boys in my elementary school class, so I didn't have much of a chance to switch it up.} I detailed sleep-overs with friends and kept a nice - ahem, very mature - list of "people's hearts I wanted to rip out." Geesh... Lots of pent-up grade school hostility! My 11 year-old self also wrote poems such as this one:

A friend is nice,

A friend is neat.

Like sugar and spice,

Without a friend, you aren't complete.

Not only does that "poem" make ZERO sense, it's also just so so SO horrible. Please have a laugh at my expense.

In middle school it helped me get out all of those horrible, typical middle school-ish feelings. {You remember middle school, right? Or are you successful in keeping it blocked from your memory?} High school writings were full of stories of who was dating who and first kisses, and my constant judgement on all those things of course.

My college writings are far less embarrassing. I wrote about classes and the changes that happened to high school friendships. I talked about the process of making all new friends and becoming more independent. I also describe the first weeks after meeting Jared back in 2005 (I was so very smitten to say the least):

"His laugh is contagious and I can't help but laugh, too. He knows me on a level that just can't be explained. I've never been this happy before. He's everything I was looking for and had never really realized."

Awww.... aren't I sweet? ;)

I realized looking at my last journal that I hadn't written since early 2009. That's a long time ago. That was TWO KIDS ago. I realized I need to get back to journaling. Blogging is wonderful, but there are some things you might feel like writing that don't need to be out for everyone to read (ie: previously mentioned hit list). So I picked up my journal, picked up my pen, and I got to work.

Hopefully ten years from now I won't be quite as embarrassed  by the things I wrote as I was today when I looked back. But that is some of the beauty in keeping a journal. You see growth. You can see the changes. You can relive the emotions you felt as you were writing. So ten years from now when my girls are that age and are behaving ridiculously, I can pull out my old journal and remember just how big of an idiot I was, too. If it weren't for the laughs I get from reading it, trust me, I would have burned it a long, long time ago.

Cathy (Jared's mom) bought us a professional quality camera for our combined birthday/Christmas present this past year. So Jared has been slowly learning how to use all the features. {I, meanwhile, take a mean picture using my old friend: "auto" mode.} The girls and I have attempted to be models for his practice photo shoots. Now that we have kids, I have tremendous respect for people who photograph children professionally. Sheesh! They are so uncooperative! However, Avery is a lazy little baby slug in no hurry to be on the move, so she is now our captive audience.

So here is a sample...

Hello 2012!

The Solkos had a less-than thrilling New Year's Eve. I was on call for work and at Beaner's apartment in Omaha, where I drove some (already tipsy) girls to a bar to celebrate. I arrived home at 11 to find everyone asleep. I rang in the new year alone while pumping on the couch. Ho-hum... And come to think of it, the last fun (ie: involving alcoholic beverages) new year's celebration that I celebrated was waaaaaay back in 2005. Wow. Lame-o. But I suppose things are a bit different now... {like I have a job and kids}. Oh well. One of these years we will party it up in style - assuming the world doesn't end this year of course.

2011 was good to us.

We got to take a trip to Denver and visit Jared's mom's family. 

And Jared's Grandpa Norm got to meet Bailey for the first time.

We celebrated Bailey's first birthday in February...

and then welcomed another little handful in May.

Avery Josephine Solko

                                

Summer brought a lot of fun and parties to celebrate great moments in the lives of some of our favorite people.

Justy, my youngest little sis, turned 21 in July! And it's a good thing that it only happens once, too.

Say whatever you like about us, but we know how to have fun!

             

My cousin Alan married Tierney in August.

I feel lucky to have two cousins that are more like brothers to us.
{And I know the picture is horrible and blurry, but I love it anyway.}

Our friend Shelby married JD in September. And as every bride fears, it rained on her wedding day.

Despite the rain monsoon, the ceremony and reception were beautiful and the night was epic.

[and here is my official apology for kinda sorta knocking over the bar... Sorry Stoolmans!]

Not everything was rosy and wonderful (ie: most of the month of May), but we got through it together. And the hard times make you appreciate the wonderfulness of ordinary, run-of-the-mill days along with the days of joy and celebration. 

I hope for happiness for you all in 2012!

Christmas 2011

There isn't much to say other than that Christmas was a success. We all ate entirely too much food (sugar cookies and prime rib to be exact) and had a good time with family.

Have I mentioned how much I love these three people?

Bailey was really into the gifts ... for all of about two minutes. Both Bailey and Avery's piles of gifts were huge. Much more than any child - under 2 especially - needs. But aunts and grandmas don't necessarily care much about needs. We are lucky to have family members that buy them both needed clothing and fun things [sidenote to Aunt Fe: the baby Jordans are in this category!]

I noticed two different styles for opening presents:

Slow and neat:

OR...

Rip it open with your two teeth!:

The entire family was able to get together at my Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Ronnie's house for dinner on Christmas afternoon. There are only 17 of us total, but seeing as we are all so quiet and polite... well, most people would probably need earplugs. We do a grab bag exchange/game every year and it gets a little competitive. Unfortunately, I ended up getting robbed of my 4-packs of mini wine bottles, but at least I didn't get the peanut multi-pack that ends up in the mix every year!

The annual Weiss grandkids photo

There was so much extra stuff in the car on the way home, I am surprised the hatch door even closed! We are truly blessed and definitely not just in the material way. We are blessed to be able to spend time with our families all year round - not just at Christmas. Thank you Jesus for your blessings. And happy birthday, too.

When did I become such a softie?

It's totally okay and basically expected that you become a hormonal, crying mess when you are pregnant - at least on ocassion.  No one thinks you're crazy when you tear up over the littlest of things. So why am I still tearing up like that when I have a 7 month old?!  Did becoming a mom make change me into that person who cries at Hallmark commercials?

Like today for example... I am sitting on the floor with the girls, playing with toys and watching The Young and The Restless. {Don't judge me - it's good. And if you don't watch, I understand your skepticism, but I've followed along since I was probably in middle school and I am not about to stop now}. It was one of those so-not-a-new-idea Christmas episodes when someone in trouble [Nikki] gets visited by her guardian angel and they see what her loved ones are doing, she is inspired to change, blah blah blah. And I started tearing up! What is wrong with me?! It wasn't even sad! Ever since Bailey was born, I have cried at the most ridiculous stuff: a Maxwell House commercial, daytime tv, ASPCA informercials (but truthfully, those ones are trying to make you cry), and I am sure my family could think of even more.

Thinking about our girls and how quickly they are growing up can really get me teary eyed. The other night during their bath, Bailey sat down gently beside Avery in the tub and held her hand. They just sat there, not making a sound, holding hands. It choked me up. I just love how much they love each other. Quiet little moments like that are so precious amidst the whining and Sesame Street watching and snacks and diaper changes that seem to eat up our days.

But....Christmas is only 2 days away now! And I am excited to watch the girls open presents this year - wait, make that:  I am excited to watch Bailey open presents and Avery try to eat all the paper this year. We are headed to my parent's house to spend Christmas with them and my sisters. Bailey and Avery will soon find out that Santa Claus has nothing on the Ellis aunts!

It's just another day here at our house. Nothing exciting to speak of, but boring is good in my book. Excitement can mean drama. And drama is usually something like rocky relationships, crazy family members, money problems, or unruly children and we don't have much of that. (At least usually... But everyone could use some extra padding in the bank account, right?)

Speaking of money, I really had to work for it this weekend. It was my weekend on call. We worked until 12:30 AM both Friday and Saturday nights, with a few hours sleep in between. That added up to 20+ hours of call-in pay. {That more than paid for our Christmas, so thanks Med Center!} They were very long days though. An extra-busy 12 hour shift on the floor doesn't even compare to my day Saturday. Thank God I gave away my Sunday call... But I do find that nothing gives you that second burst of energy like (paid-for) pepperoni pizza and Jimmy John's delivery. Oh, and a nice DMD. Gotta have my Diet Mt. Dew. 

On a sad note, I was speeding just a wee bit on the way home from work at 1 AM on Sunday morning and got pulled over. [Side note: It is extremely easy to speed on a empty, dark road when you are half asleep, zoning out, and just ready to go to bed.] So apparently I was going 74 in a 55. Oops... In all honestly, I had no idea I was going so fast. I told the officer as much and casually mentioned how I was coming home from a long call weekend. {And then I prayed he took note of my tired demeanor and the horrible bags under my eyes and would take pity on me.} And he sortof did. I didn't get a speeding ticket much to my surprise, but a ticket for not putting my new registration sticker - which I got like 4 days ago- on my license plate . The current one wasn't even outdated yet! [It's really hard to put a sticker on when your car is covered in dirty gravel dust and I was going to wait until I washed it, but he apparently didn't understand that logic.] So while that stupid ticket is $80, at least I didn't get the $190 one for speeding. And I guess now with two warnings, I will have to slow my ass down...

Bailey is learning some new phrases. Early Access of Iowa comes to visit Bailey once a month to evaluate her development and speech since she was technically premature (my 7+ pounder preemie, yeah right) and because of her cleft. Our real concern is her speech. She know a lot of words, and she will repeat new ones back to us when we ask her to, but right now she very rarely just says them without prompting. They were asking me if she put words together to make two word phrases or if she walked up to things and named them out loud. I said "Nope, she hasn't been doing that." And like every other time they ask about something and I say no, she started doing it the very next day. She picked up a book, pointed to a ball and said "ball" out loud. I gave her her breakfast and she looked right at me and said "Thank you." {And before you think my child is just so wonderful and well-behaved, she says it so often now, she would probably thank me if I spanked her or something.} She is also on a  kick of saying "toot-toot" every time she farts.  Wouldn't it be nice if us adults could do that and people would just laugh and think it was cute?

Avery is our lazy little lump of cuteness. She is perfectly content to just sit in one spot and not move. And if she were to need something out of reach, she makes no effort to get it herself by moving her body. She just cries until Bailey brings it to her or one of us picks her up. At this age, Bailey was already crawling around the entire house and pulling up on furniture. This one is perfectly content to snuggle up on you and let you serve her every want and need. Why go get it yourself if you can get other people to do it for you? Crawling seems to be a ways off, which I suppose is fine. We're probably not ready for an extra child to help destroy the house just yet.

Jared is working today.  And after two long days alone with the girls and no breaks, I am sure he is fine with that. Since I am still catching up from the weekend, I really should be taking a nap while both girls are napping. But I just like the quiet time in the house so much, I can't bring myself to do it. Maybe it's time to go catch up on my Y&R. Sweet Jesus, please let them find a way to get rid of Patty and create a new storyline. Oh, and some scenes of Cane half-naked would be fine by me, too.

R.A.K.

I like the Christmas season. I like the festive decorations around the house and the laugh-filled get-togethers with family. I like the food {big surprise there!} and special Christmas goodies we make only during this time of the year. But I really like that boost in friendliness there seems to be. People take the time to think of other people besides themselves. People just seem to be a little bit more cheery in general. There seems to be more kindness.

In 4th grade we had this weekly project called Random Acts of Kindness. {I believe we called it R.A.K. because you know that abbreviated things are way cooler.} Each week we would have to do something nice for someone else out of the kindness of our hearts and write about what we did, how it made us feel, and if the person noticed or not. So being 4th graders we would do things like "I put my dirty clothes in the hamper without being asked" or "I let my sister use my favorite (insert toy/video game/sweater here)."  I know some of mine involved loading the dishwasher after supper or picking up the mess us kids made in the living room [You're welcome, Mom]. You could say hi and smile at the "weird kid" on the school bus or let your little brother play with you and your friends after school. Little things. The project helped us see that when you do good things for other people, you feel good in return.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people lived this philosophy year round; if everyone did tiny little things that didn't cost a cent, just to make someone else's day a little better?  Because it really is true: when you do something nice for someone else, you feel a little bit better about this world we live in. And I personally like knowing that there are lots of good people out there doing little things to make this world a better place.

~ Winter is officially here  ~