Oh the things she says.

Teagan is becoming so animated and coming into her own these days.  It is so hard not to giggle at her. Especially when she is serious. 
For example this morning...

Daddy- Can you go get the wipes out of Kyra's room? We left yours downstairs.
T-Otay Daddy.
T-I borrow Kyra's wipes Mommy.
Mommy- Okay sweet girl.
*Teagan toddles off*
Mommy-Bye Bye love you!
T- (turning around and giving me a sassy look) I not go bye bye love you mommy, I just gettin' dressed (drey-uhsed).


It took everything I had not to giggle at her because she was so serious.  Oh have we got our hands full...

Dearest Teagan

Dearest Teagan,

Sweet girl. Little Bear. Mommy's helper. Daddy's shadow. Big sister.  Every day with you is something new. Like brand spakin' fresh outta the box new.
Your latest thing is playing with my shoes.  Little lady, you can wear my heels better than I can!
The imagination you are developing is unlike anything we could have wished for.  From mothering your babies to fixing lots and LOTS of noodle soup in your kitchen.  From "doing it like Daddy do" to "feeding Baby Sally like Mommy".  I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you. 
We will continue to let you explore your world with boundaries and freedom all at the same time.  We will let you make mistakes but I promise we will catch you when you fall.  If we happen to miss I promise we will pick you up, hold you and find a bigger mit to catch you with the next time.

Forever and Always,

Mommy

Dearest Kyra Mae.

Dearest Kyra Mae,

Oh my baby bear, how fast you are growing. You are no longer an infant but a full blown baby.  You are developing a personality all your own.  You have the sweet nature of your sister but you are showing us just how different you are. 
You have been laughing a lot lately and the sound is infectious.  The light in your eyes is the same light I catch in your Daddy's eyes.  You match his glimmer of determination, with his look of determination comes an old soul full of protection and wisdom.  I can't wait to see what accompanies yours.  I know you are going to do amazing things and I can't wait to see where that look of determination takes you.  What adventures you will lead us into.  We can't wait to see how you will continue to add to our lives.  We love you so much it feels like our hearts might burst sometimes.

Forever and Always,

Mommy

Mom of girls.

You know you're a mom of girls when....

You walk around your neighborhood pushing a stroller full of toddler and her baby Sally, carrying a carrier full of baby and paci.  While you wear a bright. orange. tutu.

Dearest sweet girls.

My sweet girls,

I just sat back and watched you together this morning.  I was overcome with so many emotions at once that I could barely stand it.  I had to turn my head so you, Teagan, wouldn't see the tears flooding up in my eyes and think something was wrong.  When in fact, it was quite the opposite. 
For a brief moment I saw flashes of you, this summer and the summers to come.  I envisioned you running around with each other strolling your babies, with you, Teagan, holding Kyra Mae's hand leading her around the yard telling her to be careful with the care of the little mommy you've become. 
I can see the two of you splashing in Grandpa and Grandma's pool, squealing as daddy throws you in the air and you plead for one more time (Kyra) or no daddy no (Teagan)!  I see you feeding the birds at Papaw & Mamaw's, arguing who is going to pull who in the wagon, and laughing when Papaw ends up pulling you both.  

I imagine walking in to check on you when you when you get a little older, in the room you will eventually share, only to find the two of you curled up in one bed.  Kyra's arm over Teagan's face and Teagan's leg hanging completely over the bed.
I know it would be presumptuous to think things are always going to be that sweet.  I know there will be moments full of tears and heartache but I know with certainty there will be sweet moments of reconciliation, hugs and kisses that will soon follow.
I envy the bond I pray the two of you will have. I envy that if you chose, you will have a best friend for life.  I imagine the love of a sister is not too far from the love of a mother.  Just as sweet, just as nuturing, just as fierce. 
This next year is going to be different and strange and kind of difficult.  Even as young as the both of you are I know you will be able to tell something is out of the ordinary.  Just know things will go back to normal quickly.  Just know we are taking this adventure on together. As a family of four.  We are taking this thing the Lord has given us and running with it, faith leading the way.  And boy, when we get to the top of this mountain what a sight it will be. 

Forever and Always,

Mommy

Update.

I'm doing a Sunday night brain dump. 

These last few weeks have been full of nothing but sickness in our house.  Josh was sick, Kyra had a cough and then Teagan ran a fever of 105 and we found out she had the flu.  None of that was fun. 

I found out that I can function on 6 hours of sleep over a span of 3 days with little caffeine.

The Lord wrapped me in a "Super Mom" cape over the last few weeks and he truly was my strength through the exhaustion and frustration.

Kyra is officially her Daddy made over.  She is in the 75th percentile height wise and 25th height wise.  We've decided we each have a child.

Teagan is saying 7-8 word sentences and we are continuing to try and challenge her daily.  It is a blessing and sometimes a frustration all at once because sometimes we forget that she is still just 2.  

Kyra is officially a bottle fed-formula fed baby.  I am trying to adjust to this the best I can.  More on that later.

I sold my pump, not the parts because I know you're not supposed to do that.  It was  pretty emotional and I cried about it.  It made it all so final.

Some big and kinda scary things are happening for our family of four right now but we are trusting in the Lord's provision and we're all kind of excited to see where this road leads us. 

Hopefully there will be a real blog post soon. You know, the kind where I tell you stuff and show you pictures? 

In the mean time there is still a giveaway going on.  The Woodcarver movie. 

It literally fell from a tree.

I've talked about this craft project before but I thought it deserved it's own blog post.  I didn't do a step by step tutorial because it's pretty self-explanitory. 

The perfect tree limb/branch fell into our yard off our birch tree and I knew I HAD to do something with it in the house.  I was originally going to spray paint it white but I'm glad I didn't now. 

I let the tree branch dry out in the garage for a day or two and made sure I didn't bring in any critters with it.  I trimmed it up with a hand saw and then went to work.  I'm still a novice with the sewing machine (basically I can barely sew in a straight line or at a steady speed) so I used my handy-dandy hot glue gun. 
I picked up some pretty fabric at the local fabric store and got a yard of each.  That was beyond plenty.  You can make the pennants as wide or as narrow as you like.  Mine are about 10-11inches across.  I hot glued two sides together to make them a little sturdier and then hot glued them onto the branch.  Wah-La! Instant craft project.  I figured out just where I wanted it while it was drying in the garage and Josh hung it up for me.  Right above our laundry "room".  It looks super cute!