So Cute!

I love kissing and hugging and cuddling my two adorable babies. They are both the prettiest babies in the world! I know, I'm their Mama. I'm not very good about saying who looks like whom, but I am pretty sure you can tell that they are siblings. I like that. :) Either way, I'm absolutely smitten!

Really? You remember EVERYTHING, Claire!

Each night, as Matt and I put Claire to bed, we do the ritual 'Cover Her with a Million Blankets' routine. She has the "blanket from Jill, the blanket from Grandma's friend, the blanket that Omi made her, the blanket from Amber's Mami (Vicky), the blanket from Grandma Dodge, the other blanket from Jill, the blanket from Molly, and the warm red blanket" (yes that's eight blankets, every night...not quite sure how we let it get that out of hand) and we always tell her who they're from when we cover her up. This girl KNOWS if one is missing. Last week when she was sick with the flu, we had to wash one and she went down for her nap without it. Not that she didn't ask about it, but this time "it's in the wash because you puked on it" sufficed. When Matt was covering her later that night, she reminded him that she was missing a blanket and he came out into the kitchen to confirm with me that, as she explained, yes indeed, one was in the wash. At this point, you might say, "well yes, she remembers all those blankets because they're a part of her routine and she uses them each time she sleeps."

One step farther...she received a purple comforter from Grandma and Grandpa Dodge for Christmas for her "big girl bed" (She's in a toddler bed now, but she wants a twin bed like Sage.) We lay her down last night (and you can see where this is going) and she reminds us that we're missing "die lila Decke" (the purple blanket). I didn't catch on right away, so she told me it's the one from Grandma Dodge. As I was still confused, she was clearly questioning herself and said it's from Grandma Dodge or Grandma Rasmuson (both great grandmas). I go to find a purple blanket and come back with what I thought might be it, which she emphatically tells me is not, and insists that "ich zeig dir" (I'll show you.). She climbs out of bed and toddles her little bum straight to the kitchen, pointing "diese lila Decke" (this purple blanket) right at the purple comforter that hadn't been put away from the Christmas present pile yet. WOW! She remembers everything. Not only had we not talked about this blanket again since opening it, we also didn't have to remind her from whom it was. This, my friends, is just one example of the memory of a two year old! After proving to Mami and Daddy that she was right all along, the grin on her face is always just priceless - she's so proud of herself!

As I type this, Henry is fast asleep in his bouncer and Claire is suppose to be sleeping. Every few minutes though, I hear, "Mami, was heisst das?" (Mami, what's that called?) from her room. She's looking through books and this curious girl wants to know what something is! It's all I can do not to go in there and tell her - I love her curiosity! - but hopefully she remembers when she wakes up what she wanted to know before...I wouldn't be surprised if she does! :)

Disclaimer: If you gifted Claire a blanket and it has not made it into the "blanket ritual" routine, worry not! She'll probably sneak it in there one night and it will never be shunned to the drawer again.

We had ourselves a Merry Little Christmas...

What a busy and fun time of year! I've gotten some flack lately from several of you (the only several who read this blog) about not posting. Well, in my defense, we have been busy, but yes, I could have made time.

On November 12th, we welcomed Henry Matthew into our family! He has already brought so much joy into our lives and we are blessed to be his parents. Just this week he started smiling and cooing. It's so rewarding and adorable! Claire has been a great big sister. She plays independently so well when Mami is nursing Henry or changing his diaper, and likes to help when she wants to. She thinks it's funny when Daddy uses the phrase "Kinder umtauschen" - "trade kids."

Christmas has reminded us how much we have to be thankful for. On Christmas Eve day, we celebrated Jesus' birth at church. Claire thought it was pretty cool to light her own candle and hold it up while everyone sang Silent Night. Then we spent the rest of the day together as a little family of four, complete with a fire and gifts.

Christmas Day was spent at Grandma Dodge's, as tradition insists, with lots of delicious food. Grandma prepares this meal for a week and it is well received! I love going to dinner at Grandma Dodge's because she cooks like a grandma, just like I remember Grandma Diekema cooking. That means lots of butter and cream, but boy is it good! We also had lots to talk about this year because Tom and Amber (Matt's cousins) delivered healthy twin boys, Alexander and Owen, on the 24th! Next Christmas will be so fun with four little great-grandchildren running around and playing with each other!

The 26th was my family's gathering, with more delicious food. Claire, though no longer the only grandchild, loves being the center of attention. She's delightful and full of spunk! Opa did just tell me today that she "knows what she wants" and he couldn't be more spot on.

Well, there's your post (cough, cough...Mark)...I'll try to be better about posting more often and coming up with something good - there are plenty of happenings to make for great stories to record and remember! :)