52:11 Discovering Your Hands

I Want to Remember

Discovering Your Hands

I want to remember you discovering your hands. You are such a happy baby and are easily soothed by being held, a song, a paci and now your hands. Your hands are your greatest toy and mommy's new life saver. Whenever you start to stir or seem restless, I simply touch your hands together and it's like you're discovering them again for the first time. You suck on them, try to find your thumb, and just rub them together. We are working on having you grab at toys. Anniston loves playing this game with you. But now, when you grab ahold of a toy to explore it, she doesn't understand why you won't share it back with her! So while you continue to discover your hands, Anniston is discovering that she needs to have some patience with you while you learn to share. 

Discovering Patience

To any two year old, patience is a foreign word. We have taught it to her and she even uses the phrase correctly. And she often tells Amelia to be patient. But a toddler actually practicing patience is a whole other expectation. Unfortunately for Anniston, I am expecting her to be patient a lot now. 

"Anniston I am feeding Amelia. Can you be patient."

"Anniston I am trying to get supper ready. Can you be patient?"

"Anniston I have to change Amelia's diaper. Can you be patient?"

"Anniston I have to get Amelia to sleep first. Can you be patient?" 

So it happened. The other day, while I was nursing Amelia, Anniston asked if she could go "play bubbles," I kept asking her to be patient while I finished. Then, she scowled at me, threw her entire body on the ground and yelled. 

"No! I don't wanna be patient!"

I wouldn't want to be patient anymore either. For the past two years, Anniston hasn't really had to practice being patient, because she was really our only focus. Don't get me wrong. She still gets lots of snuggles, lots of stories, lots of play time and lots of songs be sung. But now, she is expected to wait for things to be handed to her. She has to share our time. She has to wait for her food. She has to wait to go play outside. Practicing patience is a wonderful skill. I know that. But it just really isn't easy at all to practice patience. Especially when you just turned two. 

52:10 Matching Babies

I want to Remember

Matching Babies
I want to remember dressing you up together. There is something nostalgic about putting you in the same clothes that your big sister wore just a short time prior. As a little girl I remember dressing up with Auntie Angela in our matching Easter dresses and hats and proudly parading around because I looked like my big sister. I hope that you enjoy matching with your big sister as much as I do. I might enjoy it a bit too much! Anniston always giggles and comments when you're in the same clothes. When she saw you wearing your lil sis shirt she said "Mom Melia has ABCs and I have ABCs." She's so smart and it's scary how much she is taking in already! 
As for now, I will enjoy these simple little things. Because I know you won't be crazy about the idea of matching forever. But for now, it's absolutely adorable. And deep down, I think you both love it as much as I do! 

Living Life with Two Babes

Well...yes. Life is busy. It is beautiful, and tiresome and blessed. But also just busy. I am fortunate that my babies sleep when it's time to sleep at night. But during the day, it really is nonstop movement, energy and activities. 
I look back now, and I remember watching other people stroll around with their double strollers at the malls or parks and thought how overwhelming that seems. Well, now I am THAT mom. I am constantly trying to go to toddler activities during the day - park, library, pools, play dates, story time, gymnastics, etc. - to keep Anniston entertained. Yet at the same time I am always watching the clock to make sure that we don't cross over into Amelia's feeding time, Anniston's nap time, or lunch breaks. And also making sure the car is equipped with all the necessities - diapers, extra outfits, strollers, ergos carriers, my purse and snacks.  Seriously, mom's deserve A LOT of credit! We are constantly planning, organizing and on the go. Since when was I old enough to care for two babies!? Since when did I know how to take care of two babies at the same time? 

But...We are surviving. Thankfully. We are busy. But we are surviving. 

52:9 Amelia's Baptism

I Want to Remember 

Your Baptism 
You were baptized this weekend. It was a beautiful day and you were such an angel the entire weekend. We had a lot of family come up to show how much they love you. We felt so blessed because Father Tim was able to baptize you and he married your daddy and I almost 4 years ago today. I feel so comforted knowing that you are not only being loved by our hands, but by the hands of your loving family and God. 
God is Good. All the Time. 
All the Time. God is Good. 

Check Out Anniston's Project 52:9 by Clicking Here

Anniston's Birthday Party!

Oh TWO-dles!

Seriously, I had way too much fun getting ready for this party! I didn't do nearly as much decorating as I did for Anniston's 1st birthday, but it was still so adorable! Can I please just plan parties the rest of my life?!

We knew the weather was going to be hot, so we just set up a few water activites and let the kiddos slide and play all day! I even created a HUGE water blob that you see all over pinterest nowadays. I added red dye, so the water was pink, canisters of glitter, foam letters and balls and we filled it up with water for 27 minutes. And then...it started leaking. So we covered it up with duct tape. And then it started leaking from the other side. So we covered it again. All in all...we used an entire roll of duct tape, just to watch that poor blob slowly deflate. Epic Pinterest Fail.

But we still had the slip in slide, the water sprinkler ball and the kiddo pool and 2 trampolines!! So the kiddos were all exhausted by the end of the day and our bellies were full from the taco in a bag bar! Here's a few pictures...who am I kidding...here are A LOT of pictures from the Minnie Mouse Oh-2-dles party!!

52:8 Two Months Old

I Want to Remember

Check Out Anniston's Project 52:8 by Clicking Here
We had lots of fun video posts of Anniston that week!

52:7 Your First Fourth of July

I Want to Remember  

Your First 4th of July

I want to remember your first 4th of July. The 4th of July just happens to be one of my favorite holidays - beautiful weather, parades, road races, festive attire and fabulous fireworks. Your daddy even proposed to me with fireworks knowing I loved them so much! This week was extra special because your big sister turned 2! So we got to see a lot of friends and family and so many people met you for the first time at our many get togethers. You were such a great baby - so observant and calm. You spent a lot of this week outside and you loved it! You always smile when the breeze hits you, yet scowl at me when the bright sun hits your eyes. But as long as the sun is keeping you warm, you seem as cool as a cucumber. Love you little firecracker!

Check Out Anniston's Project 52:7 by Clicking Here

Anniston is 2 Today!!

You are 2 Years Old Today!

My baby girl is two years old today. That's hard to type, let alone comprehend. And I guess she really isn't a baby anymore. Part of me loves that and part of me is really sad. For now, we are enjoying two. It's sweet, sassy, dramatic, and yet, she just happens to be the most caring girl I've ever met. She sings in the sweetest voices, gives the best hugs, shows empathy toward anyone when they look sad, loves listening to stories and telling her own "once upon a time" stories and never falls asleep without good night songs and nuzzling our shoulder. We love you to the moon and back Anniston Jean. You'll always be my baby girl. 

Singing Anniston Happy Birthday! 

A Look at the Past Year

52:6 Your First Smiles

I Want to Remember 

Seeing Your First Smiles

There is nothing like seeing your little one smile for the first time. Really smile. You woke up in the morning and started stretching out on your changing pad. And then you smiled. But this time you really smiled. And you’ve been doing it more and more ever since. You like when we get close to your face and talk to you or sing you songs. You have such a sweet smile and you even coo along with it most times. I can’t wait to see that gummy smile fill up with little teeth, soft giggles and sweet words.

Nothing to Smile About

Amelia got her 6 week shots this week and they were nothing to smile about. My doctor told me that I didn’t give consent to Amelia’s shots at the hospital, so she didn’t receive any of her shots. This was very frustrating, since I would’ve MUCH rather her gotten her shots at the hospital where she is so unaware of what is going on! Therefore, poor little girl had to get 4 shots at her appointment. I hate shots. I’ve always hated shots. But I detest them much more when I know that they are being given to my children. She squawked for about 7 minutes before finally breathing. The whole thing was miserable and I know that in the long run, shots will pay off, but in the moment. They are really sucky.

On a better note, Miss Amelia is doing very well! 

6 Week Check-Up

Height: 22.25 inches (68%)

Weight: 11 lbs 3 oz (78%)

Head Circumference: 15.3 inches (75%)

Check out Anniston's 52:6 by Clicking Here
I blogged about Anniston's 1st Smiles this week too! 

52:5 Your First Family Reunion

I Want to Remember 

Your First Family Reunion

We love family get togethers. When our families get together we are loud, busy, crazy and it's never calm. And when we have family that lives all over the place, it makes them that much sweeter, yet chaotic, to see everyone. This year we went to Paullina, Iowa to celebrate your Great Grandpa and Grandma Rehder's 60th Wedding Anniversary! A lot of us got one giant cabin at a campground and stayed in that for the weekend! Unfortunately, we had a lot of rain and windy weather, but regardless, I think all the kiddos kept you alert for the majority of the vacation! You got lots of snuggles, cuddles and kisses this weekend! Here are a few pictures from the Rehder Family Reunion! 

It was also Father's Day on Sunday! Your Daddy is a Daddy to 2 sweet girls this year! He loves his girls to the moon and back!

Swimming at the Lake on Friday! It was our only sunny day! So we were outside a lot! 

Anniston & Quincy! This was adorable! I can still hear them giggling! 

Rainy Day Play in the Cabin!

Walking the Campground with Daddy, Quincy & Maxwell 

Check Out Anniston's Project 52:5 by Clicking Here

52:4 One Month Old

I want to Remember

Check Out Anniston's 52:4 by Clicking Here