Airport Fun

Dan and I have been very lucky. We have done so much traveling in the last year and we have a full flight routine of loading and unloading the car (including rental cars), luggage check-in, security, getting on the plane and the arrival. It's quite impressive, if I do say so myself. Going through security can be a very interesting experience with 2 children under the age of 2, but Dan knows what he's to do and I know what I need to do and it works great! The funny thing is is that we never discussed or planned what we'd each do when it comes to going through security. I guess our minds are just forming into one..Yikes, that's a scary thought. Dan and I thinking alike!?! I hate the idea of paying full price for an airline ticket for Mckenzie. Until they're 2, they can sit on your lap. So, that's what we've done. Fortunantly, each time we've flown there has always been an extra seat on the plane and airlines are actually quite accomadating to moving things around so we can have that seat. Jet Blue, THANK YOU! So, we've flown who knows how many times now and Mckenzie has been able to have her own seat for free! There was even a time when the plane was packed full except 2 seats and one of them happened to be right next to Dan! We've been blessed. I don't want to know what a cross-country plane ride would be like with Mckenzie is she were to have to sit on laps. They'd probably find the nearest landing spot and kick us off the flight. Anyway, here's a cute little video of Mckenzie and Abby while waiting at the airport. Mckenzie is going through a "cleaning" phase. I really hope it's not a phase, but something she just likes to do.

Random pictures

Here are some random pictures we took Mother's Day afternoon at the park.

6 Months Old!

Our sweet-pea Abby is 6 months old today! Here's some fun facts and tidbits about her.
1. Abby was for sure the biggest baby in the NICU weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 oz.
2. Abby had the cutest and chubbiest face when she was born (she still has her chub and we LOVE it). You can't help but kiss those little cheeks!
3. Abby has quite the dimple on her left cheek and with them being so chubby, you can't help but laugh along with her.
4. Abby is calm and content. I know I'm always saying this, but after having Mckenzie the "off the wall go getting" kind of baby, it's a little exciting for us. The only time she fusses is when she's hungry or tired. Though, I think she's starting to recognize Mckenzie taking toys away from her and she doesn't like it one bit!
5. Abby is a CUDDLER! She still likes to be swaddled and she won't stay asleep while you cuddle her unless she can hold on or at least touch your shirt with her hands. Does that make sense?
6. Abby is a reacher. She has an amazing arm reach and although she can and will roll around to get where she wants, she'll first try to get it by reaching.
7. Besides reaching, Abby has a way of rolling into things and getting stuck. I'm always finding her in the oddest of places that a 6 month old could get into. In fact, the other day I found her almost completely under the bed!
8. Abby is patient...most of the time. She has to be with Mckenzie as her big sister.
9. Abby will start laughing for no apparent reason. Yesterday while we were in the car, minding our own business, she busts out giggling (she doesn't have a laugh. it's a giggle). Mckenzie turns to her and has a look on her face like "Abby, what's up with you???"
10. Abby has the bluest of blue eyes. I can't ever get her to smile when I'm taking pictures of her, but I love to take them just the same just to capture the blue in her eyes.
11. Abby has lot's of hair! Can't figure out if it has more brown or red in it.
12. Abby has decided to go back to waking up at random times at night. NOT fun!
13. Abby has lived in 2 different states and has traveled in 14 states! To think that if she had traveled with Dan out to MA when we moved there, the number of states would have increased drastically!
14. Abby has many nick-names. The main ones are "Happy Abby", "Crabby Abby" and "Gabby Abby", "my little tin-tern Abby", and "sweet pea" and "missy-moo".
15. Abby already loves to be pampered. She even prefers to play with her toys on mom and dad's nice soft bed instead on the floor.

We love our sweet Abby. She's such a blessing to our lives and our family. She brings so much joy and happiness. These last 6 months have been quite the adventure and we look forward to many many more adventures with our precious Abby.

Here's a couple of pictures I took at the park a couple of days ago.

Things that are on my mind

Ok so, I'm sitting here on this lovely California afternoon, bored. Though I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not. Mckenzie and Abby are napping and what mother in their right mind doesn't enjoy nap time? I keep thinking of all these things that I want to bring up/share on my blog, but I seem to always forget them when it comes to the actual task of blogging. So, while I have a few minutes (you never know when those cute little rug-rats will wake up) I thought I'd list some.

1. I'm really excited! Gap (my dear sweet store) has now started up a "Baby Home" collection. I saw it in the mall yesterday and the stuff is adorable! You have to
check it out.

2. Garage-guru.com. I went to an enrichment meeting a few weeks ago (I think it was the first one I've been to in 2 years) and this lady came and spoke on decluttering your life. Massachusetts is pushing the whole being "green" thing A LOT, so she taught us about different ways to reuse, recycle, sell, etc. Go on her website. She has great self-help tips and places (if you're in MA) to donate. I've always just given stuff to DI, but there's other places that are designed for more specific things. For example: If you have business suits, there are actual donation shops to give those to. Anyway, it was really interesting. I'm always amazed at how much junk we collect.

3. Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton. Now, before my sweet republican family gets all worried that Massachusetts has "brainwashed" me, read on. Dan and I find this whole race to Washington both intriguing and funny. I can't believe how glued we are to it. Maybe because adrenaline and fear go together. I'm a bit scared at what would happen with one of them in the White House. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the biggest fan of John McCain either. It just scares me to think of the possibility of having someone to represent our country that I don't have any similar beliefs with. Ok. I'm done with that. Note to all my democratic friends and family: I still love you.

4. I'm so excited for my brother-in-law to come visit us. Dan's brother Jonathan, graduates high school this month and will be working from the end of May till November in Nantucket on a fishing tour boat. Cool job, huh? Anyway, he gets to spend some time with us before he starts and hopefully during the next several months as well. He's a lot of fun to hang out with and is such a great uncle!

5. I wonder if our medical bills will ever end. I'm SO close to paying off Mckenzie's bills from when she was in the NICU. Yes, you read correctly, Mckenzie's bills. Abby's are a whole other story.

6. I love my stroller. I know this is really wierd to have on my mind, but I love my stroller. It took me forever to decide what double stroller to get, and I wouldn't change it for anything. I love using it. I don't mind hauling it everywhere, getting it in and out of the trunk or anything. It's light-weight, folds up well and I can even set it up while holding Abby in one arm.

7. When will my mom come out to see us? ?

8. When will anyone for that matter (except Jonathan who's coming out) come to see us? I know it's across the country for most of you, but remember, you miss us very much!

9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE coming back to the hotel after a day of playing and having the "dumavoi" clean the hotel room spotless. What a great concept. You leave for a little while and come back and everything is done for you. Now, I wonder how I can get that to happen at home. (Dumavoi: It's these little fairytale/elf like creatures that Russians believe/say are in homes and they do little things to bug or help out. I had a russian mission companion that would always say after she'd do something nice for me "oh sister, the Dumavoi must have been here". Thanks Sister Golavakhina!)

10. I LOVE NAP time, but I can't figure out why I don't join Mckenzie and Abby during their naps. Instead, I spend "my nap time" creating blog posts. Oh well. I figure my blog is like our family journal. Speaking of, have you heard about blurb.com. It takes your blog and puts it into book form. Kind of cool huh? Thanks Torrey for the idea. She's always giving me good tips.

11. Last, but not least, my two little girls. Life can get pretty hectic and crazy with them so close in age, but oh how sweet they are. The little things they do make it all worth it. For those of you that know Mckenzie, you know that she's 100% on the go. Has been since she was in the womb. Maybe that's why she was so early. She just wanted to get her life outside started! My favorite thing lately is when she's going bananas and off the walls, she'll just stop, run up to me and give me a HUGE hug for no apparent reason. Maybe this is her way of telling me not to worry and to calm down. Abby on the other hand, with her calm and gentle self, makes me feel special when out of the blue, she giggles. Random times, random places we'll hear Abby giggling. She also has a way of snuggling up to you that brings calmness and comfort. She's got a gift!

So, that's what's on my mind. How about yours?

California again!

For those of you that don't know, we're back in California for three weeks. Unfortunantely, the first week we were here Mckenzie, Abby and I were sick. So, we stayed in the hotel room for 5 days. Talk about a fun and exciting vacation. Anyway, we have been able to do a little and I thought I would brag and show some cute pictures from the beach. Mckenzie loves to play in the sand and Abby is happy so long as she's not touching the sand. I even tried putting a towel down for Abby and she was mad. Oh well. Last weekend we went to San Fransisco. San Fran always makes for interesting experiences and memories. I'll post those pictures later, but I thought I'd share some from the beach that I took and have available to me now.