Maggie is Growing Up

I know I haven't posted anything new in months. I've been working like crazy to repair, paint, and fix up our house for selling. Since Matt is in school and working and averages about 3 hours of sleep at night due to homework, he doesn't really have time to help. Thus it has fallen on me. So I apologize. I have a lot of catching up to do! But I will go back and fill in as I can. Today's post, however, is about today.

Magdalyn just turned 18 months! She started nursery on Sunday, and it couldn't have gone better! She has been dying to go for months now. She would run in whenever we dropped off Kalianna and started playing with toys. Then cried and cried when I made her leave. But on Sunday she was finally "legal", and boy was she excited! Kalianna took her hand and they walked in together and never looked back. I didn't even say good-bye to either of them. They just started playing. Every time I peeked in the window, she was happy as could be. No tears. No messy diapers. The leaders never had to get me. Let's hope this trend continues!

Today was Magdalyn's 18 month checkup at the doctor and everything looks great! She did not, however, gain a single pound since her 15 month checkup. Not even an extra ounce! She did gain another inch though, she's now 32", making her seem even skinnier. The doctor isn't too concerned, looking at her genetics, but she does recommend we start calorie-packing Magdalyn's meals. At least for the next few weeks. Then I get to bring her back to have her weighed and make sure she's gaining weight. Reading over the packet of suggestions seriously made me laugh. It seems funny how they tell you to feed your children healthy, then your child stops gaining weight and suddenly you have to start unhealthy habits. Like making sure I put extra butter on all her veggies and breads. Giving snacks of cookies and cake instead of fruits and veggies. Putting cheese on her food whenever I can. Having her drink milk and juices instead of water. The biggest thing is Magdalyn loves fruits and veggies! They are always the first thing gone from her plate. I think she'd be vegetarian if she were old enough to make the choice. So I'm not concerned about her health. I just now have to supplement where she isn't getting enough calories. There will be lots of carnation instant breakfast being drunken at our house these next few weeks.

For the last several weeks, every night and sometimes during the day, Magdalyn will climb onto Kalianna's bed, lay down, and say "I sleep". Then when we remove her from big sister's bed and put her in her crib, she cries. Matt has been asking about taking the side off her crib and converting it to a toddler bed. I've been a little more resistant since she's only 18 months old. At the same time, she is wanting to be more and more like her big sister. That girl wants to grow up and who am I to stop her? So tonight we finally did it. We took the side off her crib, while she was snuggling with Kalianna's pillow. When Matt said, "Maggie, look!" she turned around and literally squealed. She continued to scream and make little squeaking happy noises as she scrambled off Kalianna's bed and climbed up onto her own. She was ecstatic! All smiles! She started jumping up and down and then laid down on her pillow. Then she got some books and read for awhile, then she laid down again. Absolute pure joy on her face.

I don't know if it will last. Seeing as we put her down about an hour ago and she's been at the door calling for me about a dozen times already. But I know it was an adjustment with Kalianna at first too. So we'll see what the next few days bring. For now, I just want these images to remain in my mind for as long as possible.  

Magdalyn 15 months

Magdalyn has grown up so much these past couple months! It's like she just decided one day she was ready to stop being a baby. Bring on the big girl stuff! She walks like a pro now. It took her awhile to gain confidence, but right around 14 months, she just decided to go for it, and has been cruising ever since. She has got so many teeth now, even a couple molars, she can eat just about anything. And does! If someone is eating something, she wants to try it! She will try anything and everything we put in front of her. But her favorite food is still fruit. I have yet to find a fruit she doesn't like.

Magdalyn is talking a bunch now too. She loves to repeat words and try new ones out. When she is learning a new word, she tends to whisper, like she wants to make sure she's saying it right before speaking out loud. Some of her favorite activities are playing in the water (bath or pool, doesn't matter), riding her big sister's bike, playing outside, swinging, going on slides, climbing, pushing things around (cars, chairs, strollers, etc.), and her favorite toys are balls and cars. She also loves stuffed animals. She will hug and hug them. It's so cute! She also loves to read lately. She will bring me a book and climb up on my lap. She can do this forever! Just one book after another. She loves it, just like her sister. We do a lot of reading at our house!

Magdalyn does not like being left out of things! She wants to be doing everything her big sister is doing all the time. If she is too small, she gets really frustrated and throws herself on the ground. She gets very upset each week when she can't participate in Kalianna's tumbling class. But she does get to play in the gym every week when we go to free play and she LOVES it! She gets so excited every time we arrive and she has gotten really good at climbing and doing things on her own. She is more brave than many of the 2 & 3 year olds we see at the gym.

Magdalyn is a little more shy and timid than Kalianna is. She can be very reserved. A lot of people comment all the time on how chill she is. Especially when we're around a lot of other people, she is a very quiet observer. She is perfectly content to just sit back and hang out. But when we're at home, she's always on the go! She also remains my happy-go-lucky little girl. She can be quite dramatic at times, but most of the time she is all smiles.

Magdalyn is so smart! She picks up on things and learns new words and skills very quickly! She is so fun, I just love watching the little girl she is becoming!

At her 15 month appointment, she weighed 22 pounds (36%) and she was 31 inches tall (71%). Both my girls remain long and lean!  

Coming Soon!

I wanted to write a few things about this new little bean before I forget them. =)
We thought before we had our third kid, Matt would be done with school. We also thought, since he'd be done with school, by the time number three came along, we'd be ready to buy a new house. Well, neither of these are true. Matt still has about two years of school and with the housing market, we are putting our house up for sale, but there's a good chance we'll still be here for the rest of those two years. But, Matt and I really like having our kids about 2 years apart. It's been perfect with Kalianna and Magdalyn! So we found ourselves stuck. Do we continue with our family plan and have another one, or do we put it off another year and be in a better position with school and housing?

It was a rough couple of months, lots of prayers and going back and forth, trying to decide what to do. Then one day a realization hit me. Ten years from now, it's not going to matter if Daddy was still in school for the first year of their life. The kids aren't going to care, or probably even remember that there were three of them sharing a room.  But ten years from now, I might regret putting that extra year between Maggie and her little brother or sister. So in March, I fasted and prayed that our decision to start trying again in April was the right one. I have never received a stronger YES in my entire life! I was completely overpowered by the spirit. Yes, April was the time to start trying.

With Kalianna, it took us about two years to get pregnant. Then it took us about six months with Magdalyn. Keeping in mind it usually takes a little time to get pregnant, and wanting the results to be two years, we decided to start trying when Magdalyn was one. Well, we got pregnant in April. I'm glad I listened to the spirit! This little peanut will be a little closer to Magdalyn in age than we were anticipating, but we are super excited! And Matt realized with his schooling, January is a good time to have a new baby as opposed to the last two being born really close to finals. I'm officially due January 22nd. But since we know it will be a C-section this time, their birthday will more likely be around the 15th.

So far, this pregnancy has given us a few scares. I didn't get sick as early as I did with the girls, so I was afraid something might be wrong. Then about a month ago, I started having really bad stomach pains for 48 hours. I kept waiting for them to either go away or result in a miscarriage. When neither occurred, I went to see my doctor. They checked my blood for normal hormone levels and when those came back fine, they did an ultrasound. We were afraid the pregnancy might be ectopic. But the ultrasound looked fine too. Shortly after that, the pains went away and I felt fine. The nausea did finally catch up to me. Even though I have thrown up a lot less, I'm still very nauseous most mornings.

As for the girls, we waited to tell them until I had my first "real" appointment. Kalianna keeps trying to look down my shirt to see the baby, and she keeps asking if it's going to come out yet. It's going to be a long six months for her! Magdalyn obviously doesn't understand anything that's going on yet. I think the funniest thing is Kalianna is convinced I'm having a boy AND a girl. That's what she tells people. "My mommy  has two babies in her tummy". I don't. We checked. I think she just can't decide which one she wants more, a brother or another sister. So, being the brilliant child she is, she chose another option. Why not have both? Then she doesn't have to choose! As for Matt and I, I honestly will be completely happy either way. We love our two girls and have had a ball with them. We'd love to add another to the crew! At the same time, a boy would be fun too. So we will just have to wait and see in about 9 more weeks!

Photo Shoot 2012

We just had Kalianna's 3-year pictures and Magdalyn's 1-year pictures done a couple weeks ago. Mindy always does an awesome job! Maggie was being a little stinker, and wouldn't even crack a grin, but I think she got some cute ones anyway.

Mothers Day

Last Sunday was the best Mothers Day ever! Matt sent me on Saturday to get a pedicure with my sister, so he and the girls could work on my present. It has been far too long since I've had one! It was so nice and relaxing! Then Julie and I picked up the girls and ran a few errands, including a trip to the mall. And a trip to Southtowne mall means:

Kalianna loves, loves carousels!

Magdalyn's first time!

Sunday morning Matt made us a yummy breakfast of sticky buns, then the girls gave me the present they had made.

Isn't this the cutest bag ever! I almost cried

I was very proud to pack my new bag for church, no more diaper bag on Sundays! Church was nice, all the women got cookies and a plant this year. Matt even took Magdalyn during Relief Society so I could hear the meeting. Then after church, Matt took care of the girls and let me write. I told him that was what I wanted more than anything, since I rarely get a chance anymore. I got to work on my book for 3 whole hours! Kalianna helped Daddy make a delicious dinner of steak, mashed potatoes, salad, and shrimp. All my favorite things! While they finished up, Magdalyn and I played downstairs.

She just loves being big enough for the trampoline now!

 They even made a yummy chocolate cream pie for dessert.

I think she likes it!

Kalianna ate her pie quickly, and then took off to play. So sadly, I didn't get any pictures of her.  After dinner, the girls (Maggie) were in desperate need of a bath! So we went upstairs and played in the water for a little while. Then Kalianna and Magdalyn watched a movie while Matt cleaned up the kitchen, allowing me to write a little more. My girls were so sweet, the food was amazing, and Matt completely spoiled me! It was such a fun day!

Tulip Festival

Wow! I feel like the world's biggest slacker! My family passed the flu around for the last few weeks, which is why I've been MIA. But everyone is now healthy again. Hurray! So this post is a bit late, please forgive me.

A couple weeks ago, I took the girls to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. We met up with Bryan and Ricci, and we all had a wonderful time! Kalianna was attached to her uncle's hip most of the day. It was so cute! They loved looking at all the flowers, feeding the fish, and splashing in the fountains.

She just wanted to feed the fish all day long!

Magdalyn had to get in on the fun too

Her hair is soaked from the fountains

Kalianna at the festival 3 years ago

3 years later, taken in the same spot