And you now have my first picture!! The best part is, I figured it out all on my own!

Max is 2!!

Well, Max turned two today and I can't hardly believe it. Where do the days go? I know it is cliche to say, but time really flies. Throughout the day I was remembering the day he was born and everything that happened in the days that followed. The sleepless nights, the nursing struggles, the recuperating. And now two years later he is still ruling my world, although now he has a pint-sized accomplice.

We had a small get-together yesterday with my family and a few friends. He received many new toys, even though he didn't need them. I now have a train and a basketball hoop in my very small living room. I guess it is time for me to declutter his room so these things can go in there. Right now I have a craft desk in there for my sewing and scrapbooking but I suppose it will have to go. He has this really cool race-car bed we were given but it is still in my parents basement because I have been holding out on my craft table. I also am terrified to put him in a bed without bars because I am afraid he will get in to trouble in the morning before I wake up. How do you restrain a 2 year old at 7:30 in the morning without bars on the bed!! That is a bridge I am not ready to cross, even though it seems to be creeping up on me quickly. Max hasn't tried to escape the crib yet but Isabella is quickly outgrowing her bed and therefore needs to be in the crib.

I still haven't figured out why this think won't let me post pictures so maybe it is time to bribe Matt to help me. ;)

Bicentenial Fun

Well, the conference at the Father's of Mercy was wonderful. I don't know about everyone else, but we are still recuperating. It was a long weekend with two small children. They did very well, despite the occasional "I 'm so tired I might die" meltdown. The second night we stayed rather late to watch Tatiana give a concert which Max actually enjoyed. I am anxious for my dad to get to work on the DVDs so I can sit down (after the kids are in bed) and watch what I missed while I was caring for children. It was so nice to spend the weekend with friends and family while we shared our faith with all the wonderful talks and spiritual events.

On a different note. I ordered Max's birthday present last night and I am so excited. He doesn't even know that his birthday is in 3 weeks but I can't wait!! If there is one thing I have learned about having a toddler, it's to not tell them something exciting is GOING to happen until it is actually happening because they have no concept of waiting. So a word of advice, if your child has yet to learned his own birth-date, don't tell him until it is actually that day!! It will save you days or even weeks of hearing "is it my birthday yet?"

Baby girls are so much fun!!

Well, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my son, but Isabella is sooo much more fun to dress. I got my fabric out today and made a trip to the store for a pattern sale and now I am going crazy with ribbons and lace. We have a big event coming up at our Church this weekend and I just thought she should have something new to wear. The Fathers of Mercy are celebrating their bicentenial with a conference and picnic. I think that is the perfect reason for a little girl to have new dress. This will be the first thing I have sewn for her. I would like to make Max a little vest to match but we will have to see if I have enough time. He would probably rather not have to wear it anyway. The last time I tried to put a tie on him it was off in about 15 minutes. I will have to post a picture when I get her little outfit done.

So this week starts the Farm theme at the Library story hour I take Max to. I think he will finally really get interested. He always likes going to story time but he usually enjoys the walk there and the train set once we get there more than the actual story. One thing he does love is animals so the farm theme should be great! The majority of his vocabulary is made up of animals sounds. If you ask him to identify a dog he barks. If you ask him to say frog he simply says, "REE!!" and gives a little hop. I figure his brain is working so he'll get his words in time. He does have about 25 actual words in his vocabulary and about 20 signs, so we communicate very well most of the time. I still haven't figured out the pictures yet so those will be coming soon, I hope!!

Well after days of anticipation I am very excited to hear about McCain's pick for V.P. Four days of listening to the pro-choice hypocrites at the DNC just about put me over the edge. Gov. Sarah Palin is a woman who TRULY cares about women and who will stand up for what is ethically right. I just have to say that I am very excited!!

The nap see-saw

So my day went something like this:

• 6 a.m. Isabella wakes up demanding to eat. I feed her and sort-of half fall asleep while she finishes and then proceeds to kick me until about 8:30 when she dozes off.
• 8:40 Max wakes up and I hear "MOMMA" over the moniter. I drag myself out of bed and down the stairs to get him up. I get his breakfast and I hear that Isabella is awake again.
• 9 we play, watch a movie, feed Bella yogurt, which she loves, and generally have a good time.
• 11 Isabella has has enough so I put her down for her nap. Then I feed Max lunch.
• 12 Max goes down for his nap.
• I go lay down because I have a cold and 10 minutes later Bella is up.
• She nurses but will not fall back asleep.
• 1:30 FINALLY she goes back to sleep but I hear Max. I have to add that Max is a very easy-going sleeper. He goes down easily and usually sleeps for about 3 hrs. So I was completely confused to discover that he has been laying in bed awake for 1.5 hours. I go down to his room and give him back his blankie and stuffed animals. He finally goes to sleep at 2 and yes, you guessed it...Isabella wakes up.
• So this is where I am. It is 3:30, Max is asleep, Isabella is in bed but not asleep yet, I still haven't gotten to lay down, and Matt will be home within the half hour. I am sure that by the time he gets home to help, we will all be sleeping peacefully and he will have nothing to do.

I like to call it the nap see-saw. One baby goes down and the other gets up. Then that baby goes down and the other gets up. You get the picture. But for now, Isabella is calling!!

Welcome

In an effort to try and stay in touch I have decided to try my hand at blogging. I will try to write often and post pictures to let you all know what is going on in the Doucette household. I don't promise anything thrilling or super exciting but I hope you enjoy my blog!!