Close your eyes......

and imagine. You just got home from getting the mail. You have a big pile of it in your hand. But there is this one large, square red envelope that grabs your attention. It is handwritten and addressed to you and your family. it has one of those personalized photo stamps in the top right hand corner with a picture of two of the cutest kids you have ever seen. you look to the top left the see who it's from and it says "The Coppola Family." You think to yourself, "How the heck did she find the time to mail out Christmas cards this year? She must be so busy with those two little ones. " (Ha, ha. Okay, that was a little much, I know) Anyways, you open your envelope, and this is what you find....




It's your Christmas card!!!!! From Tula Belle and Maverick John!!!! Of course they didn't forget about you. It was just a little late, that's all. You wonder if that was really the best picture thier parents could have gotten of the two of them. I assure you that this was by far the best of not one, or two, but THREE seperate photo shoots. You smile to yourself and think, "I don't know how she does it, but that Christa always seems to pull through in the end. I can't believe she really sent out cards this Christmas. Wasn't she just in Canada? And isn't she in New York now? Just how does the girl do it all?"

***BACK TO REALITY***

Well I wish that really was the case but unfortunately it's not. Sorry you all didn't get a card mailed to you this year. I really wanted to send them out but just did not find the time. We didn't even get this picture done until two days before we left for CT, and after two very miserably failed previous attempts. I hope the "e-card" finds you well.

From our family to yours, we are wishing you the Merriest Christmas of all! May it be filled with all the joy and wonder and excitement it can hold, and hoping you are surrounded by loving family, fabulous food and a peaceful and warm spirit. What a wonderful season and reason to celebrate!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The Latest and The Greatest

I love this!

A friend of mine emailed this to me and I had to share it with all of you. It is so true! If you have ever wondered why I haven't called you back as fast as you thought I should, here's why:

**click on the picture of the article and it will open a new window with a bigger version of it if you are having a hard time reading it.

17 months old!

Let the fun begin! This month we are learning all sorts of new things! Patience, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques. Temper tantrums have begun and it's a whole new phase for all of us. It's interesting watching it all unfold and seeing how we all react to eachother, its fun to sit back and laugh about it at the end of the day, but when you are smack dab in the middle of a stressful moment with Miss Belle it can be overwhelming. Nothing serious, just the usual year-and-a-half year old outbursts. the things is, they aren't so bad when we are at home, or I guess I just don't notice them as much because there isn't an audience. It's when it happens in public and you have the crowd. Some people look sympathetic, some look amused, others annoyed. And it just sucks that you have to even think about it when you and your toddler are just trying to make it through a "moment". Today is probably not a good day for me to be writing this. We attempted the kids' Christmas pictures this morning and it was a complete nightmare! Tula was totally uninterested in being in her dress. Then totally mad about being in the photo room. Even more furious when she had to be beside Maverick. And insisted on not cracking single smile for the photographer. Not one. It was nothing less than annoying. Mav wasn't that happy to be there either. So I accepted defeat and realized right then and there that our Christmas picture this year would and will be taken by yours truly. I did that thing that feels so good when I just accepted that this totally stressful situation didn't need to be happening, I thanked the photographers for their time as calmly as I could, we packed the kids up and went to lunch. My very thoughtful husband came home earlier this week with an early Christmas present for me and it was a portrait backdrop for photography so I could take these sorts of pictures myself, so that is exactly what I am going to do. What a thoughtful gift, what was I thinking not using it today? Anyways, lesson learned. No more going to studios for portraits for awhile. We will be doing them here and saving ourselves an outing. If it's not fun for the kids, it's not fun for us, that's the bottom line!

NInety five percent of the time with Tula at 17 months is still good though. She is busy and happy as ever. Loves playing outside now that we have the nice cool weather. We take walks to our neighborhod park on the days that we have no plans and have a little Mommy and Me time while Mav sleeps in the stroller. I love those afternoons together, bare feet in the grass and sand and hiding in the tunnel from the rest of the world. I also take that time to force and train myself to let Tula play on the equipment by herself. I get my mail and practically have to tie my butt to the picnic table for awhile so I am not hovering over her the entire time she plays. The idea of her falling off the equipment scares the pants off me, and I know its something I need to get over and have faith that she will be okay, so I am working on it the best way I know how. Practice. For her and I. I usually am able to just stand at the bottom, but I still like to be up there with her too. What can I say? I am a bit of a "helicopter Mom". I am working on it though. Regardless, Tula doesn't seem to mind and I know park afternoons are her favorite as well. We have such fun together.

Tula is really starting to like to copy me. She likes to try and say words I say, which is very new. She used to not respond when I would tell her to say this or that, but she is starting to try. A couple new words: dog, Papa, help. My mom would tell you there are a million more but I just don't hear them. Maybe I am too tough on her, but I feel like they have to be pretty clear before they "count". Mom thinks every little baby babble is a new word and it cracks me up. Tula, your Grandma thinks the world of you and has convinced herself you are the smartest thing ever! Not that I don't feel the same, but maybe not quite to the degree of Grandma. Lucky girl you are to be so, so adored!

Tula's favorite foods right now are cheese, cheese, and cheese. Hahaha. Seriously, food isn't super easy right now but I am not trying to stress to much till these back molars that she has been teething the last couple weeks are completly through. She still has no interest in any meat at all, except the ham in my scrambled eggs in the morning. She likes pasta with cheese, quesadillas, cucumber, apples, peas, and of course her three bowls of milk and Cheerios every morning, which she finishes by drinking the milk afterwards (by far the cutest part!) Muffins and baked goods also seem to be a hit with Tula. We are going to get along JUST fine.....

All in all, it's been a great month. Tula is a busy little girl and keeps me on my toes lots, but she fills up the days with smiles and giggles so I am trying to just focus on that when the stressy times hit. Tula, I enjoy you so, so much. Know that even when you drive me nuts, there isn't anyone else I would rather be spending all day every day with! Your resilient and perservering personality are just another one of the things I love about you. You turned into a little girl more and more each day and I love getting to know each and every side of you. Love you, Baby Girl!

Weight update

I took the kids to get them weighed yesterday. Here are the stats:

Tula: weighed 19 lbs and 7 oz, gained 15 oz from her last check two months ago. 30.5 inches tall.

Maverick: weighed 15 pounds and 12 oz, gained 1 lb 10 oz from his check a month ago.

Mav, at three months old, is the size of Tula when she was 7 months old.

Basically, Mav is a moose and Tula is teeny tiny. I figured he would catch up to her in size by a year, but at this rate I am thinking by the time his first birthday rolls around he will be looking like the big brother. I give him till spring, before her 2nd birthday I am betting they will be the same size.

I'm thankful...

* for family, first and foremost. For my husband and partner and best friend, who has helped me build a family and life and all that a girl hopes for since childhood. For choosing me to be the mother of his kids. For his patience and gentle spirit and kind soul. And of course for my kids, my two favorite people in the whole wide world who have shown me new depths and greater heights to every emotion under the sun.

* for our families. Mine and John's. And all the love and warmth and support that we still feel from them even those at times like this they feel a million miles away. We miss and love you all.

* for my heritage. For everyone who is before me that had a faith in Christ strong enough to pass it down to their children and teach them about Him, so that the Message would one day reach me, and my family, and theirs....

* for Jesus. For the peace and joy and salvation that I have experienced in having a personal relationship with Him. For a friendship that has been constant since day one, that remains just as strong no matter what else is happening in this world.

* for the priviledge to live in a country, and be from a country, where I am free to worship who and how and when I choose. I hear stories of people sneaking pages of a Bible into countries and delivering them to desperate hands who just want to read one page of what they already know is true. I am thankful that I do not have to hide in a attic to pray, or meet in underground places to have fellowship with people who believe like I do.

* for the wonderful friends I have made in this lifetime. For memories I have with so many of you reading this, and for all the fun and good times ahead. For the seasons and ups and downs in life that have revealed to me what true friendship really is, and who mine are.

* for fun things and all my favorites. That I am able to indulge every now and then in things I love. That I live an overflowing life, in so, so many ways. But more importantly that all the "things" I have or blessings in life, I am so thankful that I have been raised not to take anything for granted, that I recognize what to be thankful for, and I take the time to do that (or try to) every single day.

For me, Thanksgiving is a lot more about WHO I should be thanking than about WHAT I am thankful for. And because I know that "Every good and perfect gift is from above" I will remember today where and who it comes from. God, thank you for a life abundant. For my life and all the good in it. For all the gifts I have been given, those I know and see and those that have not yet been revealed to me. For the comfort in knowing that they are all from you. You truly are the reason for every, single season. Amen.

Baby Boy is Three Months Old!

Oh, Mav, time is flying with you! You are such a fun, easy baby! You rarely cry, you sleep great, nurse like a champ and smile for almost anyone. You are growing so big, you turned 3 months old yesterday, and although you are well into your 3-6 month clothes most of the time, I have already put some 6-12 month clothes on and they fit! Last week, you rolled over for the first time. You seem to love tummy time and holding your head up, such a big, strong boy you are. You DO NOT like sleeping on your stomach yet, which is different from your sister. At this age, I think she was already sleeping on her belly at bedtime. I have tried with you, and you protest. You do love to be swaddled, and I have actually been able to swaddle you a few times this month and set you in the crib awake, you will fall asleep on your own, most of the time without a peep. You adore your sister and everything she does, she makes you smile all day long.

Bedtime with you is fairly easy. You have a bath around 7:30 while your sister has her shower. You do love your one on one time with whoever is bathing you, and you let whoever know by goo-goo-ga-ga ing through it. You love to kick and splash in there now. After bath, you love a little footrub, we put you in your warm cozy pj's, have a big nurse, and got to bed. Right now, you sleep from about 8 pm till anywhere between 1 and 3 am. One night, you slept till 4 this month, Mommy wants more of that please! Anyways, when you wake you, Daddy usually goes and gets you and brings you to bed with us, you nurse again and sleep snuggled into my side. I love having you there, you snuggle right in and fuss when I roll away. You are all warm and cuddly and your smiling face is a treat to wake up to. I am am trying to enjoy this time of sleeping together because I know it won't last much longer. Once your rocking chair comes I will probably start doing what I did with Tula and just rock you back to sleep in your room when you wake at night. I guess we will burn that bridge when it gets here. You still love your swing, and would sleep forever in it. It use it as a cheat if I don't have time to snuggle you or need you to sleep longer. But time has flown so fast with you I also am forcing myself to use it less, I know that those special moments of snuggling with you before you drift off are so precious, I am trying to get in as many as I can. You do like to be home for sleeps though, in your room for naps, so we have had a couple outings that have had to been cut short to bring you home to sleep. Luckily, we bought an ergo this month. Thanks for the great idea Auntie Kaisha! I never thought we would use one, with Tula I loved my Moby. But Mav is a little heavier and this is so much easier to carry him. Way more comfortable for me, and he can nurse in there discreetly and sleeps wonderfully in it. It has been a lifesaver, and I wish I would have bought it sooner!

Maverick, you are so fun to be around. You light up a room with your ginormous smile. You are a happy little baby and I feel blessed to have such a wonderful little man in my life. I am sad that the whole "fourth trimester" part is done. You are for sure not a newborn and I will always miss and cherish those times with you. I know now, more so after my second, how fast they go. But I did feel like I was able to truly enjoy them. And now that you are doing all the fun, happy, giggley stuff, I look forward to a lifetime of sharing smiles with you. Love you baby boy!

Tula and the bottle

Since the beginning of time Tula has never liked the bottle. I have never tried giving her formula in there, it has always been just breastmilk, and for whatever reason, it makes her gag. Always has, and apparently always will. John was trying to give Mav a bottle today and Tula wanted to run around with it a bit. She tried it and gagged instantly, which is why in the video she is kind of trying to avoid the bottle like the plague. So weird that breastmilk is so gross to her in a bottle. I have no idea why. Makes for a cute video though...

Umm.....

So this was my day. It started with a nice relaxing morning. We hung out and took it slow, and met up with a few friends at a park for a little while. We stayed just long enough that Tula fell asleep on the car ride home, which is kind of a nightmare right now because she doesn't transfer to her crib well and so naptime gets all screwed up. I figured I would just get home and wake her up from her carseat, give her some lunch and let her play for while before putting her down again. She was playing in the pantry and I took Maverick upstairs to feed him and put him down. I was just finishing up with him and I heard her crying. This sort of whiny "help me" cry. I came running downstairs and this is what I found...



It was actually cute enough that I had to run upstairs and get my camera before rescuing her from the disaster she had created. There was balsamic vinegar EVERYWHERE! I should have known better, I left one full, unopened one on the bottom shelf. In my defence, I think I didn't think she could lift it. Well obviously it was too heavy, cause she dropped it, and not only was she standing in the middle of a huge puddle of black liquid, but there was shattered glass in there as well. Luckily, because it broke with the liquid inside, the glass all stayed in one little pile and I could see she wasn't standing in it at all. She wouldn't move the whole time, wouldn't even lift her feet off the ground. Tula does hate being dirty, and having her feet drenched with this funny smelling black stuff was no exception. I picked her up and took her to the sink and took off everything from the waist down, minus the diaper.



I started to clean up, which was a complete nightmare. The vinegar had leaked under everything that was on the floor, so I had to take that all out and wipe it down and then do the floors. When I first got down on my knees to start cleaning, Tula came up from behind me and started patting me on the back. As if to tell me it would all be okay or something. The whole cleanup took about 2 hours, though there were many pauses in there where I stopped to think of who I could call to rescue me. THESE are the times I wish my mom lived right down the street. Of course Tula wanted to help, I gave her a rag and after it was all cleaned up and I was just washing with soapy water I ever let her get her rag a little wet and help. After cleaning up the pantry floor, I was inspired to finally clean out the whole thing, which I have needed to do for awhile now, so that took even more time. I was at the whole thing from about 1 till 4:30. And Thank God, Mav slept the entire time for me. Tula, on the other hand, ended up not napping at all. Her first day ever! And we actually didn't have any meltdowns! Daddy got home around 5 and the house looked as though nothing had ever happened, I don't know if he would have believed me if it wasn't for the pictures. If only he would have seen it while I was cleaning!

One more cute thing. When Mav woke up and we went to get him, I put him in his bouncy chair upstairs and left them alone for a minute to go downstairs and finish. When I came upstairs, Tula had gotten into my file folders and found some pictures of herself. There were a few papers and other things on the floor, it was a mess. But look where she put this picture. This is exactly how she had it.



What a day. They can drive you crazy and melt your heart in one breath. And I wouldn't change it for the world.

What have I gotten myself into?

So today my super sweet husband came home from work with a "present" for me. He had went to home depot and bought all the fun stuff that I want to plant in my new garden that he is building me. Basil, tomatos, peppers, eggplant, and on and on. He has built me this awesome, huge garden that I begged and begged for under the condition that it would be MY garden and I had to take care of it. That was fine by me, I figured you plant the seeds, water them, and pick the food. Maybe pull a weed here or there. So we are trying to finish up the yard and deciding what trees to plant and I was on this Arizona Gardening website and chat forum looking for tree info when I came across a post titles "Pests and more pests". I clicked on it and I shouldn't have. This is what it said:

Hey all,
I'm from Seattle but I now I live here in Phoenix and container garden from a balcony. Anyway, I thought the number of garden pests in Phoenix would be few but they are much more of a problem here for me than they ever were pack home in the Pacific NW.
I have spider mites on my bananas, fungus gnats everywhere, aphids on my hibiscus and rose, and I'm sure they're aiming for the tomato!!!!
I have used insecticidal soap and have had good success and will use ladybugs soon but does anyone else have such a pest problem here?


I about crapped my self. I didn't think of this.

And here are a few of the responses:

Does anyone know how to get rid of the "green capitellars" on my basil? They are the ones that are on the underneath of the leaves and leave black droppings? They are moving to my tomatoe plants and doing the same thing! I have everything growing in pots on my patio. I go out everyday and pick them off by hand. But I am sick of them! Any help please!!!!

Pick them off BY HAND?!?!?! Good grief! Black droppings????? Kill me now......

my az. mesquite tree has long string like things coming down from the leaves and small branches. They also have small green things in the strings that look like bugs or leaves. Are they bugs and is this normal for an arizona mesquite tree to do this?

long string like things?

*shudder*

And basically no solutions just a bunch of other people chiming in about disgusting bugs, pests, etc that they have in their garden. I am in way over my head.

In the words of Miss Tula Belle "Uhhhhhh- Ohhhhh"

Anybody looking for a part time gardening gig? Can I call my exterminator when I see these pests? Is that allowed? What am I going to do? Crap....

Tula is SIXTEEN months old!

This month has been one of those months that I would have had to post multiple times a day to remember or journal all of the changes Tula has made. She is just a little sponge right now, soaking up everything that is going on around her and figuring out how to incorporate it into her own little world. She seems to really just "get" things now, more than ever. A few months ago, it was exciting watching her learn and do one step commands like "put this here" or "go get that" or whatever. But it's totally different now. She tries to tell me things, or she gets the humor in something, or she does things she knows will get a reaction. It seems sometimes like she is thinking steps ahead, and it is just so fun to watch. Seeing her little brain develop and grown, and her personality as well, has been so fun this month. Here are a few examples of how much she amazes me:

- Yesterday she got a ball that came in the mail. her first ball. She was so excited, we took it out of the box and I said "Let's go to the park and take your ball." So we walked across the street to the greenbelt and brought the ball and played. Today, I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk, she looked at me and nodded her head yes and said "Ball?" and then went to go find it. Finds it, picks it up and stands by the door waiting for me.

- When we walk across the street to the I make her hold my hand. It's always a fight. Today, I said, "Tula, you hold my hand or we are going home" and she DID IT! No porblem. She must have really wanted to go play, but I really didn't think she would understand that consequence and she totally did! I was shocked (and happy) that it actually worked.

- Tula has figured out ghat when packages come they are usually for her. If I know FedEx has come by and delivered a package, I will wait till she is around and ask her if there is a package to go look out the window. If she sees one, she gets so excited and I let her out, she runs out, grabs it, and immediately carries it back inside for John or I to open. She cannot wait till the tape is cut and she can dig in to the box or whatever it is.

- If we are downstairs and she poops and I ask her if she is poopy and wants a diaper change, she will go and lie in the spot where I normaly change her diaper (if she is in the right mood, this is) and wait for me to change it. It's hit or miss, but the fct that she has done it for me on more than one occasion tells me she is smart enough to know what she needs to do, and sometimes cranky enough that she just feels like giving me a hard time or something. There are also plenty of times she is poopy and literally makes me chase her around the first floor, running to catch her. That is apparently hilarious when you are one.

- The other day she fell under her red car and was stuck while playing in it downstairs by her self. I was upstairs and heard her yelling for help, when I came down I couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was all jammed up in there. I told her to hold on a second, Mommy needed to go get a camera and it was funny or something. Anyways she waited for me to come back and sort of posed for some pics before "asking" for me to take her out again. That same day, I took the camera back upstairs and she hopped on her zebra and was standing on top of it. I said "Don't move, stay up there' Mommy wants to take a picture" just as she was getting down, and she got back up and waited for me to come back with the camera and get a few pictures. She is a poser, which is great for her camera loving Mommy!

-She doesn't just sit in her car anymore. she likes to turn the steering wheel and say "vroom vroom" when she gets really excited. I love how dramatically she shuts the door behind her when she gets in there. as though she is off on some big adventure. Her imagination seems endless right now.

-Cooking. Tula and I started cooking a little bit together this month. The first thing we did was banana bread, and we mixed it all up and put it in the oven and she went for a nap. I explained to her that when she got up...blah blah blah...you kow. Anyways, when she woke up we went down and looked at it and ate it and she thought that was pretty cool. She loves "mixing", made pancakes with Auntie a couple times and help Grandma with baking while she was here. But in her own play, she has figured out that cooking has ingredients, so instead of just walking around with one of her little mini pots and pans with a mixing spoon (probably one of her fave toys right now) I will see her pouring different things from her cupboard into there and mixing it, then "tasting", pouring more, mixing, etc. She is a little chef, and loves for you to "taste" what she is cooking too. This month Tula's lifelong dream of getting to play with the mustard container and lemon juice container came true. They were both empty enough for me to wash out well and put them in her cupboard for her to play with. These were the two things that as soon as I opened the fridge she would go running for. I try and remember when something is empty to wash it for her and let her use it for play, she loves this idea and all her new cooking stuff has provided countless hours of entertainment for her already.

-Nodding head "yes". This one is cute. She figured out no right away but yes just started and I am in love with it. When she wants something and I ask her, she nods yes with the biggest, cheesiest smile ever.

- "Stinky" The garbage is stinky and we plug our noses when we take diapers out there and she gets to throw them in. She plugs her nose and tries to say "stinky" like Mommy and thinks the whole thing is rather hilarious. I especially love it when she makes me stand over the "stinky" garbage forever with the door open waiting for her to drop the diaper in just so she can keep repeating the whole thing.

-Tickling. Tula loves to tickle me right now and says "tickle tickle tickle" like I do when she does it. What she doesn't realize is that her tickling hurts sort of, its this poking, scratching thing. But she thinks she is doing it to me like I do it to her and finds it so funny. She likes to tickle Mav too.

- "Vagiba." This is her word for her "parts". She kept touching herself during diaper changes so I told her that it was called a "vagina" and she tries to tell me all the time during diaper changes. I think I am going to think of a cuter word to call it.
Vag-i-ba is kind cute though. She acts like she is telling me when she does, like she knows and I don't or something.

- Airplanes a big deal and points to the sky and says "oooohhh" every time she hears one, even sometimes from inside the house. It's so random, sometimes we can be outside and the loudest one will go by and it won't even phase her, other times we can be inside and she tells me and I wonder how in the heck she could even hear it.

- Itsy bisty spider is our favorite song and she knows some of the hand motions and tries to do them with me as I sing. She especially loves the end part where I clap and say "Yay" after the song is done. This is very, very exciting and she loves to clap for this.

- "Uh-oh" is constant. If something drops, a loud noise, she is looking for something, Mav cries, anything and EVERYTHING is "uh-ooooooohhhhh"

- Her fork. She has pretty much figured out the fork and bowl. The spoon is different. I still spoonfeed her her cheerios and milk in the mornings and yogurts at lunch, only because I don't want to have to clean up the mess. But she gets the fork and even seems to be starting to understand the bowl and that the food stays in there and is not to be dumped all over her tray. Yay! This is a big step and I am excited to being a little bit closer to cleaner, easier mealtimes!

- Tula got her first "big girl" brush this month, her hair is finally too thick to use a baby brush on anymore, and she loves to brush her hair after bathtime.

Okay, so that was more than a few but basically it's been a big month for Tula and she is just changing so much that it's hard to not want to write down every little thing she does.

A few other "firsts" for this month:

- Tula went to the nursery at church for the first time. She seemed to like it, I basically just took her in there and gave her to the girls and walked away, I couldn't even say goodbye because I wouldn't have been able to leave if she would have cried. I did peek in on her and she seemed okay playing, they told me she was perfectly fine the entire time, so I feel better having that done and over with and we can finally start going back to church a little more regularly knowing that we won't have to think of ways to entertain and keep quiet a one year old for an hour.

- Tula got to have her first "sleepover" at Grandpa and Grandma's house in Scottsdale. Mommy and Daddy and Maverick got to go out for a nice dinner just the three of us and sleep in a little while Tula had fun with Grandpa and Grandma. Apaarently, she slept well and never even seemed phased about being gone from us over night. Unfortunately, her first sleepover was also her first big "owie". Tula feel at Gma and Gpa's friends' pool when they took her swimming. She was getting out and slipped and hit her lip on the side of the pool and got a great big fat one. I guess there was lots of blood, so I am kind of glad I wasn't there for it because I probably would have freaked. I know they are bound to happen and my parents felt bad about it, but it really did lok awful. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I still trust you with my baby and know that it must have been just as awful or you to see it as it would have been for me. The wonderful thing about grandparents is knowing that they are the only other people, possibly in the world, that love your children as much as you do. It was a first, and I am glad it happened under the care of someone who loves her as much as you guys do.

-Oh, here's a big one. We tried chicken! And crabcakes! And turkey! And salmon! And porkchop! Yep, I finally decided it was time to let Tula try meat and guess what? She hated all of them! I have been giving it to her at mealtime if it works for her to eat what we are eating but not really pushing the subject. Frankly, I could care less if she wants it or not and don't realy see it as an important part of her diet so I am not worrying about it. I guess I will keep offering it and when/if she is interested she will start eating it. For now, I guess she is a self proclaimed vegetarian.

- We tried peanut butter. The first time she ate it, she liked it so much she was actually licking her fingers off. But the next couple times, it wasn't so much that she didn't like it, just that she like playing with it more. And when she started rubbing it into her hair, that was it for me. So we haven't tried it since. I bought her the peanut butter Ritz Bitz and figured those were less mess. She can try those a few times till she aquires enough of a taste for it to actually eat it instead if making it into a facial mask.

This months favorites (yours and mine, in no particular order):

Scrambled eggs with cheese. The beautiful weather and walking outside. The day we made a blanket fort together and hung out inside it with Darla. Puzzles. Doing flips with you up on my knees, you are going to be a little gymnast I am sure. Sadie. or should I say "Sayyyyy-deeeee" You love her and saying her name over and over and over. The way you like to sneak up on me from behind when I am on the floor and "get me". The fact that you are finally, officially down to one nap a day. It's making planning the days so much easier, and if you and Mav sleep and the same time Mommy gets one nice, long break. The pumpkin spice muffins at Costco samples and you signing "more" till I did the walk of shame and asked the guy for seconds. I swear he thought I was lying when I blamed it on you. Watching you reading to Maverick. Your kisses. This month you came started coming up to me for a kiss from time to time and it makes my day. Anthills. You are obsessed and I have finally resorted to just letting you sit on them and play with them thinking that one day you will get bit and figure it out. But you haven't, so love you straddle them or sit on them and run your fingers through the sad and watch all the ants go crazy. I have begged you not to but to no avail so I am sure this time next month I will be posting about your first bug bites.

What a month it has been! We had lots of family around, and lots of fun! Daddy has been hard at work building you and Mav a backyard to play in this winter. Grandpa and Grandma were here most of the month and we got to see them lots. Everything, everything we do we do for you guys and I never thought being so totally willing to do absolutely anything for another person could feel so good. We want the world for you and Mav, you have brought a world of joy to us that we never knew possible.

Some of my favorite pictures from this month:

Pre- Meltdown.....

These were the last photos taken of Tula before she freaked out in the Apple store at San Tan and reminded all the super cool, laid back young people in the store why NOT to have children. It was one of those things. We were in there with Tiffany, she needed to get something, and while she talked with a sales guy we went to the back to look around. They have a table set up for kids with Macs with kids games on them, and she pretty much thought this was the coolest thing ever. A computer that looked exactly like Mommy's, that she could reach and touch and click the mouse and everything. She went crazy pushing all the buttons on the keyboard. Tiff was done and about to leave, I tried to get Tula to leave and she wasn't having it so I told Tiff to take Mav and we would catch up. I figured I would be a cool mom and give her another 5 minutes before we were done because she was having so much fun. Besides, if I give a little, that means she will too, right? HA Well, finally, after asking her nicely more than once, I told her it was time to go. Still nothing. So I picked her up and started walking for the door. She did the whole "arch the back and scream" maneauver that would make people think I was abducting her. So embarassing. Anyways, it was the first of probably many more but I figured I would make a note of it because I happened to have a picture of the "before". The most annoying part is that as soon as we were out of the store (and away from the audience) she was totally fine. Like, what's up with that?

Tula, Mommy brags about you all the time and of course you are still my sweet angel but this time you really got me. I will confess, I was SLIGHTLY embarrassed. More than anything, I was upset that people in the store probably thought you were a little brat and I just wanted them all to know what a doll you are. Please don't be mad at me for sharing a few of your teeny tiny imperfections with the world wide web. You are my Lovie Dove, no matter what.

Happy Halloween!

This halloween was possibly one of the most fun nights we have had with the kids together since they were born. We dressed them up as a cowboy and a cowgirl and they looked adorable. Neither of them minded being in their costumes, probably because they were more like regular clothes than most, so that worked great. I learned my lesson from last year and trying to stuff baby Tula into that pea in the pod costume that they just don't "love" dressing up as much as we love doing it to them. So we did the cowboy/girl thing and it turned out perfectly. Tula had her little boots and buckle and of course her favorite cowboy hat, with a red western shirt and the tiniest Levi's jeans I have ever seen. Maverick wore a brown plaid western one piece with boots and a hat as well. He was sort of hunched over and sleeping in my arms (I just carried him around while we trick or treated) and everyone laughed that he looked like a drunken cowboy when they walked past us. Tula was too cute for words. No one walked by her without making some sort of a comment about her costume and of course how tiny she was. She marched out of the house on a mission and seemed to get the whole trick or treating thing right off the bat. I thought it was so strange how someone who had never tasted or even really seen candy before could be so excited to be getting so much of it. Her all-time favorite thing about the night was "knocking". She loved going up to people's doors and knocking and waiting for them to open it. In fact, there were few people who had lawnchairs in the front of their homes and just sat out front handing out candy, Tula still insisted that we walk up to their door and knock. She would point at the house and make that little fist with the knocking motion, how could we say no? She also loved handing out the candy when we got home. After she had knocked on a few doors, I guess she got it and knew why the kids were coming to ours so she would go with Grandma and help put the candies in the bags. It was funny, you could tell the kids were annoyed that this little baby was taking forever to give them one candy bar and there we were taking a million pictures and standing around watching her like it was the cutest thing ever. She was trying so hard though! Too cute!

Luckily, she had no idea what was in the bag or really any interest in what was in the wrappers. She liked taking all the candy from our bowl and filling her bag, and then going back and forth, putting them back in the bowl, but didn't try to eat anything so we left it at that! Tula celebrated her second Halloween and still no candy! Wonder if I will be able to get away with that one next year?

Grandpa and Grandma M came down from Scottsdale for the night, Auntie Jenelle, Tony and Auntie Tiff were all staying with us for the week from Calgary and joined in on the Halloween fun. Tula had an entourage. And between myself, Grandma, and her Aunties, it looked like she had the papparazzi following her too! Jen and Tony even dressed up as cows for Tula and Maverick....very cute, thanks guys! We had so much fun celebrating this holiday and sharing such a fun time with you all! Having you guys there was a treat!

A couple of pics from our fun night.

Puzzling....

Maverick John is two months old!

"It has been almost a week since Tula Belle was 2 months old, so it's really been weighing on me to do an update about what's new with her and all of us. Frankly, it is almost impossible to find the time right now. And when I do have the time to sit and do nothing, at this point the last thing I feel like doing is typing or even thinking about what to type. It is good for me though, to reflect a little and take the time to journal. This blog is the only journal I have and I am learning as every new mother does that the moments just fly by and sometimes the end of the day you can look back and it feels like a blur. There have been days that I feel like I got nothing accomplished, because I spent too much time just staring and cooing at Tula. And then there are days I realize I didn't spend enough quality time with her because I focused too much of my energy on finishing a project or task at hand. Everyday is a new attempt at trying to find the perfect balance."

Gosh, it is still the same. Maverick is two months old yesterday, and usually at some point before or after I write his monthly update, I will go back and reflect on Tula's and what she (or we) were doing at that stage of her life. And I read this tonight and thought that it perfectly describes how I am feeling with Mav right now too. This two month mark is kind of a big one, I guess looking back at Tula's post made me realize that as well. I think it's the transition that is taking place from the little ball of baby newborn-ness, to a smiling, alert, stretched out baby. And it's a reminder of how fast time flies, and that every single moment is fleeting. There have already been so many night that I have put Maverick to bed and thought to myself, "Tomorrow I will hold him more" or "Tomorrow I will spend more time doing this or that" with both kids I guess. But especially Mav right now. He is so babyish in comparison to Tula, and so she can just get my attention easier with all of the things she is doing right now. With Maverick, I really have to make a point or mental note to take time alone with him to snuggle, and get out all his smiles. I feel like every time I take a minute to do this, even if Tula is right there with me, he rewards me with the biggest smiles, to remind me to do it more often I guess. As busy as I feel I am during the day, sometimes I look back at the end of it and feel like I can't think of a thing I did. But lately, almost every day that I reflect on, at the end of the day I can think of one big smile that I got from Mav, and I guess it reminds me of the important things that happened. I truly, truly do not know where the time goes. It is so incredible how fast it flies. But I do know there there are seconds with you, Maverick, milliseconds maybe, that will last me a lifetime of memories already. So instead of worrying so much about how many moments passed that I don't know how I filled them, I am going to focus on the moments that I was able to completely fill up with my children and be grateful and proud of them. And know that the time will continue to tick, no matter how hard I wish it didn't. But every second wasted feeling bad about a wasted second is just another wasted second. Know what I mean? I am living in the moment, doing the best I can, still trying to find that "perfect balance" that I was looking for when Tula was two months old, and realizing that that may be a lifelong journey.

Oh, and Thank God for my camera, because some of the smiles and moments that I have been able to capture, thought they are right now so fresh in my memory, won't always be. And I love that I have some wonderful photographs to look back on for years to come. Seriously, the best money we have spent since having kids was on an SLR camera. It has allowed me to capture some of the most precious moments with my kids, and I will be forever grateful that I have them. I am still sometimes thanking John for my Christmas present from last year, which I am sure will go down as my greastest, most favoritist Christmas present of all time.

Not too much changed with Maverick this month. Well, he grew up and out, he is no longer in a ball like new babies are. His legs are all stretched out and he likes to kick them and flail his arms around. He definitely recognizes the sound of my voice, and smiles like crazy when I get my face close to his and talk to him. Around 6 weeks old, the smiles became a daily thing, and luckily I haven't had to go a day without them yet. Maverick is a really happy little guy, most of the time. He loves bathtime, I think he would stay forever in that tub with us pouring water over him if we let him. Maverick adores his sister. When I go get her in the morning after she wakes up and bring her into the bed with us, she always has to say "hi" to him and wave, and give him a kiss. Mav usually responds with a huge smile. It's a great way to start the day.

This month, I put most of his 0-3 months clothes away. He started wearing some 3-6 months stuff as early as 6 weeks. He is a very big boy, and seems to still be growing so quickly. He still doesn't really like any sort of tummy time, which is the norm, and sleeps lots for Mommy. He goes down at 8 and sleeps till about 3ish, wakes up to nurse and comes to bed with us where he sleeps till morning. He gets up for maybe an hour and then naps most of the morning away still, and a big part of the afternoon. At two months old, he is basically still waking to eat and maybe have an awake hour or two here and there. He is a really, really easy baby, and I know how blessed I am to be able to say that again the second time around.

Although having a new baby in the house was a huge adjustment, I really felt the last couple weeks like I was starting to settle into some sort of a routine, or just feel more comfortable with the two of them by myself. We have started going out more, the three of us. I can take the two of them to Target or a playdate or even the park! I have great friends who have helped out so much and made the transition easier on us. But I have also developed more confidence in doing it on my own as well and that has help a great deal. We are not quite a well oiled machine, but we are getting close. Home is definitely easiest for us right now, and we have started working on the backyard to accommodate or new need to "get out of the house" with out getting in the car. John has been working incredibly hard out there whenever he has the chance and I think it's going to look so good. I can't wait for it to be done!

Maverick, you have brought so much joy into our lives, and doing this the second time around is so much sweeter in many ways. I know the time passes fast. So I cherish every minute that I am truly wrapped up in you and hold those dear to me. You are a good baby, with an ear to ear smile that is infectious. Your big smiles this month have brought me more happiness than you could ever know. I love you so much!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Maverick from this month. He is really a gorgeous boy. But I am not biased, am I?

Author Unknown...

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him—as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you—only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

—Author Unknown

15 Months Old

Tula,

This month you have truly, truly, turned into a little girl. I find myself constantly saying to Daddy, "I cannot believe she....(is this big, can do this, just did that, knows how to, etc.)" You absolutely amaze us at this time in your life. You are so full of curiosity and excitement and joy. Your personality is becoming so much more apparent to me, and your reactions to anything so much more predictable because I feel like I actually know you. Of course, you are at an age where you are now capable of completely throwing me for a loop, but we are still luckily at that stage where it is more in a good way than a bad. You surprise us everyday with a new something. Whether is is a word or a love or a fear or activity. This month, you decided one day that you were afraid of dogs, then a few days later Grandma came to visit and brought Sadie, and though it took you a few hours to warm up to her, dogs were now cool with you and you wouldn't stop saying "Say-Deeeee" and laughing hysterically when she would run by you. When we couldn't find where, we would as you "Where's Sadie?" and you would do that cute arms in the air thing and try to repeat the question. I could play that game with you for hours and hear you repeat it back to me, and then watch you whole face light up when she comes running out from behind a chair. The smallest things bring you the biggest joy, and that transfers to me, and I cannot thank you enough for all the smiles you have brought into my life.

This month, you have really stepped up to the plate in the Big Sister department. You, my girl, are so good with your baby brother it is unreal. You love to kiss him, and will always tend to him when he is crying. And I can honestly say that you have even been able to soothe him a couple times. Don't ask me how, no offense sweetheart but your version of "gentle" isn't quite what one would hope it to be, but you are learning fast and I can't expect any more from you. You love to suck on his fingers and toes (this is adorable) but last week, while having a suck on his fingers, you decided twice that you needed a little nibble as well and bit him. Poor Maverick has never cried that hard in his life, but as soon as he started screaming, you truly did have the most concerned look on your face. You did it again the next day, maybe just to see if you would get the same reaction out of him, and you did, and it hasn't happened again since then. Thank Goodness. You know to give his his blankie whenever he is without one, and I catch you wiping his face with it like I do from time to time. You love to hand me wipes when I change his diaper and help pour water on him in the bathtub. You are like a little Mommy to him, and there is such a special bond between the two of you already that brings a joy to a Mother's heart that is overwhelming. Watching the two of you together is magical to me.

You are growing so fast though, and lots of big changes this month. Although you still haven't eaten meat, we are finally almost done with pureed foods. Before, it was you that always wanted them and I was trying to give you the finger foods. Now, I feel like it is more me trying to get you to eat the pureed stuff left in the freezer before we completely do the transition. You still love yogurt and your apple dessert I make you, I would say that is your favorite right now. Pureed apples and cereal and cinnamon, it kinda tastes like baby apple pie and that warmed up with a sippy cup of milk is almost always a hit with you. This month, you actually had one whole day that you went without breastfeeding, and although I was excited for you and your little independent self, I have to admit I felt sad that I wasn't as needed as I once was by you. I remember the times when I couldn't leave you for more than 3 hours because you would need to nurse, and maybe because I am not at that stage with Mav, you just seem so far past it and so much older and bigger.

Thank goodness that you make up with your rapid growth with affection. You are so lovey with us all right now, with everyone in fact. You will give anyone who asks the biggest open mouth kiss possible. You have started approaching Daddy and I with kisses too, not just when we ask for them. I love that sometimes you look at us and just open your mouth and want a smootch. I never thought a big wet slobbery kiss like that would feel so good. You love to kiss your friends, and even new kids you meet. Sometimes this freaks the other kids out and they will push you away and it breaks my heart. I love that you are so resilient you will usually just toddle over to someone else and kiss them. You will go sit in any Mommy's lap at playdates, which I find interesting, some of these Ladies you have only met once in your life and you will sit in their lap and actually approach them. I am often so proud of you and your confidence and trust in others. I love your calm personality that really is okay with anyone. Sunday afternoons we have a small group come to our home and this month you had your first babysitter. Grandma saw you with her today and said when she walked in the room you went to her and wanted up immediately and seemed to love her. My wish for you, Tula, is that you live your whole life loving as freely as you do now. I know that circumstance and hurts and life will get in the way of that a little, but if you could stay half as loving and accepting as you are today, your love would make this world a better place. Everyone should be so lucky to get a hug from you!

You are a girly girl. You love clothes. You like to brush your own hair after bath, and have decided you love to brush your teeth and if you remember, will go into our bathroom where you know your toothbrush and toothpaste are and point up there saying the usual "Dat, dat, dat." You love, love, love shoes, and often want to wear them in the house while playing, take them off, put them in your car. A few pairs of shoes would entertain you for a long time.

You have decided now that you are a big sister that you love to entertain yourself. And you have always been fairly independent, but this is different. You like to go into your room, climb up on your chair with a couple books and "read" away. You flip through the pages and babble away, but so expressive. It is one of my favorite things to watch you do right now. When you play downstairs, you are talking so much more to yourself. I don't have to check on you to see where you are cause I just follow the voice. Oh, and of course you can't tell us one of your big stories without your hands moving a mile a minute. You point and shake your finger and flail your arms, oh yes it gets pretty intense. You wouldn't, by chance, have some Italian in you?

Tula, Mommy has been so busy with Maverick the last couple weeks since we brought him home from the hospital and you have adapted so well to the whole thing it blows my mind. I make a point every day to find some time with just me and you, and I can tell you cherish it just as much as I do and love the one on one attention from Mommy. But you have also done so good at stepping back and letting me do what I have to do with Mav and your patience with him (and me!) I am so grateful for. You are such a big girl and good sister, Maverick is a lucky brother and Mommy and Daddy are blessed beyond measure to have you both in our lives.

Love you!

Mommy

Maverick's Smiles

You really only need to watch the first 10 sec or so of the video, the rest of it is me trying to make him smile again for the camera and him basically ignoring me. But the first few seconds are adorable!

Monthly weigh in....

So we finally took a trip down to the Ped's office to have the kids weighed. They have both gained lots which is great for them, but not for me who has to lug them both around. Tula is now 18 pounds 8 ounces, still very tiny for her age but gaining weight every month and that's what is important. Her brother, Maverick, will catch up to her in no time. At five weeks old, he weighed in at 12 pounds, 5 ounces and was 23.25 inches long. Tula was seriously 3 months old before she was that size, so this rapid weight gain with Mav is very new to me. He is definitely eating well and growing lots though. It was just a quick trip to be weighed by the nurse, no appt so nothing to update health wise. Everyone is well and healthy and growing like weeds. And for the first time, Tula didn't cry when she had to be weighed. We let Mav go first, and she watched intently. I guess when she saw that he didn't cry, she figured she didn't need to either so she put on her brave face. What a big girl!

These weigh ins remind me of how fast they grow...too fast!

Storytime With Tula

Tula spent almost an hour yesterday morning in her bedroom reading to herself.  She has learned how to get onto her chair by herself and loves to climb up there with a couple books and babble away.   I hid behind outside the hallway of her room and got a few video clips of her reading away.  sometimes she would take these long pauses and just stare at the page, other times she would baby talk away for what seemed like forever.  She was totally into it and very expressive, I couldn't help but just watch and listen and not interrupt.  I would give anything to know what she was saying.  It sounded very exciting at some parts!

Maverick's First Bottle!

Maverick had his first bottle on Tuesday morning with Daddy and he took it!  I was very excited!  It took him a little bit to get the hang of it but he soon figured it out and drank about an ounce before falling fast asleep in his Dad's arms.  I am glad to know that he will take one if necessary, and I guess this means I just have to keep practicing with him so that I can go to my NKOTB concert on the 13th and not be worried sick about him all night.  I know Tula took her first one and so we thought we were safe and didn't try again for a month or so and it was too late.  As much of a pain in the butt pumping is, I am really going to try and do it every few days just so I can get him comfortable enough with the bottle that he is fine to take one.  He was too cute trying to figure it out.  Here are a few pictures...

Baby Mav turns one month old today!

This month has been nothing less than hectic in the Coppola household.  Two babies is more than double the work.  It is chaotic and stressful at times, for sure.  But Maverick has brought so much love and joy into this home in the last month that every wink of missed sleep was worth it.  John and I knew having two this close in age would be crazy for awhile, and I feel like we prepared ourselves as best as we could for that, which was really just accepting it would be nuts and dealing with it.  But we didn't realize how much more of a family unit we would feel like, bringing another child into the mix.  Not that we didn't feel like a family with Tula, but sometimes it really just did feel like we were a couple with a baby, ya know?  We could still do couple things, and for the most part she was easy enough to bring along to most things.  We could go for sushi, eat in pretty much any restaurant we wanted, fun stuff like that.  We didn't have rearrange our lives near as much just for her as we do with two.  So it has forced us to spend more time at home, with each other and the kids.  And it has made going out different.  Not that we don't do it, we still do our breakfasts and trips shopping of whatever.  But we are very careful to pick the right times and locations, etc. to make is as easy on is as possible.  We have learned that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, that if you have an idea its not going to work well, it probably won't.  With Tula, we would chance it sometimes.  With Maverick, and having two little ones, we just don't.  Because we have played it safe, it has made our trips out with just the four of us really, really enjoyable, and I have said a few times this month that I really feel like Maverick has brought a new calmness into my life that I had never known before.   I have learned that I can be a little OCD about things, and he is teaching me to let some of that go.  And even when we are out strolling around San Tan, Tula playing and running with Daddy and him in his sling, I feel more relaxed knowing I am not there for anything else, just to spend time with them.  With Tula, I was still able to take off or do my own thing or whatever, and that isn't an option right now.  So when we are out, for the most part, it is to enjoy being out with each other, and to be really present in whatever activity we are doing.  For me and the kids, leaving the house is still such a treat right now, and something that I still haven't attempted without John.  So we just all love the change of scenery.  But I know for John and I both, Maverick has really redefined our roles as parents and we are enjoying and trying to embrace every moment of having two this small.  Gosh, it really can be so hard at times.  I would never even try and pretend it wasn't.  But they grow so fast, this month has flown, and I just remind myself of how fast that first year went with Tula, and it makes every moment with Mav a little bit sweeter.

Maverick is a fairly easy baby so far.  He is still sleeping so much, so that makes him seem so much easier.  When he is awake, I will say he cries much more than Tula did.  Usually nothing unbearable, throw him in a sling or in his swing and he is happy again.  I find I have to remind myself to play with him sometimes, with a toddler constantly tugging at you to do this or that, Tula often gets the most of the attention and Mav is just kind of there for the ride.  But Tula and I try to make a point of hanging out with him for awhile every time he wakes up.  She loves to go running with me when we hear him cry from the bedroom.  She loves to kiss him and has actually been able to soothe him a few times with her kisses.  I think it's her presence more than anything, Maverick definitely knows and totally adores his sister.  The first smile I ever saw from him, and that was at about 3 weeks old, was for his sister.  And she has had more than one since then.   They have such a bond already, and I cannot tell you what it does to my heart to watch them with each other.  It is truly, truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  I know how much my sisters mean to me, and I love that I have given then that gift of each other.  I know that there will be ups and downs, but they will always have each other, and that just makes me feel better about life.

Maverick is a big boy, that's for sure.  I think it is possible that he could catch up to his big sis in his first year.  He was 9, 2 at birth and was 10, 3 two weeks later.  I haven't taken him yet to be weighed for his one month, but I would guess he is close to 11 pounds by now.  Tula was 10 weeks old before she hit 11 pounds, so this is a big difference.  Already, I have packed up all the newborn sized clothes, and have even had to put away some 0-3 months outfits.  There are quite a few of his 3-6 month things that are fitting him already.  I will be lucky if I am able to finish this box of size 1 diapers before he grows out of them, he will be in size two by the next box.  He is breastfed exclusively and basically just nurses on demand, but I really don't feel like it's that often.  He probably has about 4-5 good feedings a day, and then a couple quick ones usually on the move while we are playing with Tula.  So he is eating normal, I guess he is just a big boy.  He is all Matson, so I guess he comes by it naturally.

And he is all Matson.  That is fun for me, because Tula is all her Dad and as much as I love looking into her face and seeing John, I missed not seeing me.  With Maverick, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that he looks just like me.  Some people like to say he looks like my Dad,  who I look exactly like, so same dif I guess.  He is definitely "my kid" and I am excited that John and I each have our own mini-me.  So special!  And adorable of course.  Maverick, you really are such a handsome boy too.  He has beautiful blue eyes and a dimple when he smiles that completely melts me.  

Maverick, thank you for a month of more love than I knew possible.  You are the sweetest, most patient little baby I have ever seen.  You are the nicest baby brother and thank you so much for being so patient with your sister while she adjusts to having you around.  We love you so much and are so thankful to have you in our home.  It's hard to believe after only a month, I really cannot imagine life without you.  My sweet baby boy, Happy One Month Birthday!

ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!!!!!!!!!!!!

She said it today!  She totally, clear as day say ma-ma to me.  I was upstairs with Mav and she was downstairs playing after breakfast.  Before Mav, this used to be one of my favorite times of day because I could come upstairs and do what I wanted after breakfast for a good 20 min or so and she was happy to play downstairs by herself.  Now, she usually whines after a few minutes because she knows I am up there with Mav and wants in on the action.  So I heard her down there this morning and she had went to the bottom of the stairs and stood at the gate and was kind of just yelling up to me, babbling and fussing.  I told her "just a minute" and then she started with the "ma ma ma" or "mum mum mum" was a little closer to how it sounded actually.  I went down the stairs so excited and said "Yes....that's me....Mum Mum."  And she totally got it.  She said it a few times throughout the day and tonight, but she will still, when I ask her to say it, look me in the eye and say "Dada" most of the time.  But she DID say it a few times, and she really does say it so sweetly it melts me.  I feel like I have waited forever for this day and I was so excited to finally hear that.  I know it would feel good to finally hear but I had no idea how good. Tula, I love you so much.  Thanks for making me feel like the most special mom in the whole wide world today.  I needed that!

I will post a video as soon as I have it.  I have a feeling that's going to take a while though!  I tried to record her saying it tonight and she wasn't havin it at all!

Check us out!

Aren't we fancy? There is a local photographer we have been really excited to meet with a have some newborn shots of Maverick taken. It took me a couple weeks to finally make the connection with her, but it was so worth the wait! She has beautiful work and does an amazing job of capturing not just the moment, but a feeling. I wanted some photos of us on a Saturday morning, all four of us in the bed, because that is one of our favorite places to be with our babies and some of John and my most treasured memories. She got some great shots, I haven't seen all of them but some are posted on her blog and I am in love with what I have seen so far.

Thank you so much, Jessamyn, for taking these beautiful photographs of my family. They are perfect!

Ch-ch-check us out at www.jst-photography.blogspot.com

Tula is 14 months!

What does Tula love right now?

- Dancing. Absolutely her favorite activity of all time. She snaps her fingers (she has her own version where she just pinches them together), spins around, claps, and shuffles her feet. It is adorable.
- Giving hugs and kisses to other kids her size, she will chase them around to give them.
- Playing with older kids. Anyone bigger than Tula but smaller than Mommy is very, very intriguing right now.
- Holding baby Mav for about one second and then shoving him off her lap, throwing her hands in the air, and saying "All Done!"
- She loves that she can use her only phrase, "All Done", to communicate whenever she wants whatever is happening to stop. This list includes, but is not limited to, finishing eating, anyone who is holding her brother, sitting in a highchair at the restaurant, the carseat or stroller, and diaper changes.
- Sweet potatoes. Pureed. I think she will love these forever and they will be the main course at her wedding. This kid would eat them for every meal, every day I think. I have been trying all sorts of finger foods and sometimes she takes stuff but never enough to fill herself up, I usually have to feed her after a meal.
- Showers. Another cool new thing we just tried, she likes to sit on the floor of the shower while I shower and play. I can put her down and not hear a peep from her till I am done, she loves it when I sit with her and splash in the water though. I started doing this a little at the end of my pregnancy cause it was an activity I could do with her that didn't require me to move a bunch.
- Waving hi and bye, usually bye is after the person she is waving to has looked or walked away, and unfortunately for them they have no idea what they just missed.
- Her new "cheesy grin" that started awhile ago to appear very sporatically but is now showing up a few times a day. She loves to do it to strangers while we are out, I think because of the reaction it gets. Basically, she just scruched up her face into the fakest smile ever. Oh yeah, she does it right before you are about to tell her "no", when you say her name and she knows what's coming next. Yep, she's a smart cookie. It still gets us every time and makes "no" a difficult word to say.
- Coloring. This month, she went into daddy's lunch box and grabbed his pen and a piece of paper and started to try and draw on the paper. When I saw her sitting in the pantry doig this, I was shocked. We had never even really tried coloring with her. I just don't know how she would have known that the pen and paper even go together? I was convinced at that point she was brilliant.
- Tula loves making me beg her to say Mama...lol. She still hasn't said it and it drives me crazy. I know it's worth the wait and I firmly believe at this point she just loves hearing me ask her to say it. She says "dada" or "daddy" and "all done" clearly, but thats about it for words right now. My Mom and Dad claim she said "turtle" at the zoo, I haven't heard it yet but she has a little turtle animal they got her and we are working on it. I will let you know if and when that happens.
- Mommy's milk! Brother is here and my milk is back in full swing, my supply was so low at the end of my pregnancy there was pretty much nothing left. She is still nursing, I think right now to have what her brother has, more than anything. But she loves the new milk and I am sure she is still wondering what the heck happened.
- Toots. Tula figured out her toots this month, that they come from her and from below, though she is unsure of where exactly. Whenever she lets a loud one rip, she looks up at you and then opens her mouth in this "I am shocked" face, lifts up her shirt, and looks down. Not sure what she's looking for, but she knows it comes from below.
- Helping Daddy. This is a huge one. She loves to do anything he is doing, and will just hang out and watch him do any task. Fixing stuff, building stuff (Mav's furniture was a fun job!), cleaning. Anything he is doing, she loves to be right there.
- Visitors. Tula LOVED having Grandpa, Grandma, and Auntie Jen here for their visit when Mav was born. She liked to go and knock (bang) on their door when they were in their rooms, she loved all the fun games Auntie would play with her, and going out for a ride in Gr and Gr's car, spending the afternoon with them. She misses everyone so much, and after a week of them all being gone, she still randomly will knock on the spare bedroom door in the mornings, I think hoping it will fling open and there will be a grandparent behind it!
- Waiting for Daddy at the door. Tula has figured out the sound of our garage door opening and knows it means daddy is home. She will run to the door and wait patiently for him to open it from the garage and greet him with a huge hug.

At 14 months old, Tula is now a big sister, and that is by far her biggest change this month. She has adjusted fairly well, there have definitely been a couple tantrums (these are new) and sad faces when she sees me nursing him. She likes to watch me change his diaper though, and yesterday noticed his penis for the first time. She was pointing at it, and last night when she went for her bath, she was bending down trying to look in between her own legs. I think she was just putting it all together, she definitely knew something was different. She likes to hold him briefly, kisses him lots, and loves to poke at his eyes or pinch his nose (we are working on these ones). I have never said the word "Gentle" more in my life than in the last two weeks. But all in all, she loves him and is a fabulous big sister. She loves to help me, pass me diapers of wipes and throw things in the garbage. She is a sweetheart and John and I are loving seeing her loving and tenderhearted personality shine through right now. She has big kisses for anyone, and we are amazed at how much love she has inside her for such a tiny thing. We are so, so blessed.

Tula, 14 months have flown by with you. And every month I love you more and more. Thank you for being such an angel, I know this month has been a big transition for you and although you will never remember it, watching you feel sad about it sometimes breaks my heart. I want you know know that I love you so, so much. Any, any, anything in this whole big world may change but my love for you never will. No matter what. Kisses! ~Mommy

Mav's First Bath!

Well, not his first bath ever, but his first "big boy" bath where we actually got to put him in the water. His umbilcal cord stump finally fell off yesterday, it has been hanging on by one tiny thread for a day or two, and was still bleeding a bit last night so we figured we would wait for today for his bath. I find it so strange that Mav's fell off over two weeks earlier than Tula's did, I remember feeling like we waited forever for hers to come off. And we did, she was almost a month old! With Tula, and in CT, they told us we HAD to use alcohol at every diaper change, bath, or any other time you remembered. I remember being so anal about it, if I had dressed her after a diaper change and forgot to do it, I would undress her again just to rub alcohol on it, I was convinced that it was an absolute neccessity. Well with Maverick, it was a little different. They actually told us in the hospital not to use anything on it and not to touch it or play with it. That studies have been done and there are no benefits to using the alcohol, and it doesn't speed up the process either. Well I guess they were right, a week and a half later it fell off, we didn't play with it once. Funny how it took us that many years to figure out that the alcohol wasn't helping, and to just let Mother nature run her course. Makes so much sense.

Anyways, he seemed to like the real bath a lot more than the sponge bath. He loved having the water poured on him and was very calm the whole time, didn't make a peep. We did it after Tula went to bed so she couldn't bother him at all while he was in there, I think it will be awhile till we do bathtime together with them. Here are some pics of Maverick's first real bath, I posted a few more tonight in the gallery if you are interested!