Melanie got a top tooth!

I am a little bit behind in my blogging. Sunday we had a small dinner at Yaya's for Uncle Andy's 30th!! birthday. It was a good time. Uncle Andy is so crazy about Madison. I really enjoy watching him watching her. It's almost as if everything she does is the smartest, cutest thing he's ever seen. Now don't think that he doesn't love Melanie...he does but it's different. He's not as comfortable around the wee ones and she can't play the way that Maddy does. Maddy was equally as excited to see Uncle Andy and play with him, and see T-tee but most of all, to eat ice cream! Wouldn't touch the cake but wanted seconds of the ice cream. So cute. Mellie was not quite a fan of ice cream but did like icing from the cake. In fact, she was sitting in Uncle Andy's lap when Yaya brought out the cake so when he went to blow out the candles she reached out and grabbed a big handful of icing. I wish I had my camera out for that moment. I do hope that one day my brother decides to have a family of his own....he has no idea how much more in awe of your own children you can be. I truly had no idea until I had a few of my own.
Monday was a rough day for Daddy. He had the girls all to himself and Maddy was in a mood. Melanie was her usual happy self so that was fun for Daddy. When I got home, we decided to go out to eat...even with two grumpy kids. It actually went really well. Cute story...Maddy had two chicken fingers and maybe 10 fries left on her plate and a small cup of ranch dressing. I asked her if she was done and she shook her head no. So Daddy asked her if she wanted to take it home and she picked up the ranch dressing and started putting all of the fries in it like she was going to carry the cup of dressing and fries home. It was adorable. So sweet and innocent.
Today was a special day. Melanie cut another tooth...right top front. She had been drooling a lot and chewing on her fingers and anything else she could get in her mouth so I'm not surprised. She is doing surprisingly well with teething. Not much fussing and no waking up at night. We've had a few crying outs around 11pm or so but with a little rearrangement and re-pacifying she went back to sleep. She is such a trooper!

Maddy swatting at mosquitoes

Last Saturday in August

We had a great day today! Both girls woke up in really good moods and continued that way until our usual breakdowns at night. Funny story from today: Maddy and I were outside digging in the dirt and I saw a mosquito around her. So I kept trying to squish it between my hands with a clap. I guess to Maddy it looked like I was just clapping at nothing. So after I did this a few times and I told her I was trying to get the mosquito, she gets a very serious face, puts the shovel down and starts clapping in the air at nothing, just like mommy. It was hilarious. She did it numerous times...always with a serious face. So cute! We all got to take a nap this afternoon--yeah!--but we had trauma at bath time. I've been using dove sensitive skin body wash on the girls b/c the pediatrician recommended it. Well Maddy has become obsessed with soap at bath time and has to carry the "soap and poo" bottles around. I had Melanie in the bath and I looked over and Maddy is covered in body wash...it was even smeared in her hair. So I had to get her into the bath too. Well she rubbed her eyes with the Dove soap on them, started crying, rubbed them with the wash cloth that she has covered in Dove soap, more crying. It was awful b/c I was trying to flush her eyes with unsoapy water and use the towel but she was hysterical. Eventually Daddy came and got Mellie and I flushed Maddy's eyes with saline and they seem fine. I think I am going to switch back to the no tears formula baby wash for awhile. Tomorrow we are going to Yaya's to celebrate Uncle Andy turning 30!! Should be a good time. Until then...

Thursday

Look out Mellie...Maddy is trying to rub your head. 

Trying to wake daddy up

Seriously? No more pics ma!

Today we are trying something new. I have been having the toughest time with Melanie at night. She starts fussing almost as soon as she walks in the door in the evening. She fusses through dinner and then basically cries at me, unless we go outside for a walk, until bath and then nap time. Tonight after dinner, we went outside to check on the plant and give it some water (more on that later). Melanie was not very happy outside and the mosquitoes were pretty bad so we came inside. She was fussy and crying almost immediately. So I went ahead and gave her her bottle. Then it was upstairs for bath and then right to sleep. She was probably in bed by 7:45 which is early for her...by about 45 minutes. So I am hoping that she doesn't get up early and this may become our nightly routine. Her going to bed early allowed Maddy and I some time together which was nice.
So our plant...it is a tomato plant that my co worker's parents started and then he brought some to work so I took one. I have never, EVER been able to keep any sort of plant alive. I thought it would be fun for Maddy and I to do this project together and take care of our plant. So we put it in a pot and she has been feeding it miracle grow pellets and watering it and amazingly we have had two tomatoes!! Oh, did I mention that I don't like tomatoes so honestly, why am I growing a tomato plant? I don't know. But it has been fun and I am now fantasizing about my lush and gorgeous garden full of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, potatoes, cucumbers, herbs and all sorts of things for next year. I should also mention that while I have managed to keep my tomato plant alive, I killed a hanging plant and the planter of plants out front of my house. So maybe I am bad a flowers but good at produce????

Bay continued

Now I actually have some time to write about our trip to the bay. YaYa took the girls down Friday during lunch so Maddy ate her sandwich in the car (I think). I met them after I got off of work. Both were happy to see me...Maddy especially. Apparently the poor thing thought I would be there when she got there. Anway, after dinner we went down to the bay to walk. Madison was very excited to see the bay and run in the sand. Unfortunately Melanie was not very happy so we didn't stay long which caused an almost temper tantrum from Maddy. Saturday just Maddy and I went down to the bay. I got her to pretend to swim and we threw shells into the water. She only lasted about 40 minutes, said "bye bay" and was heading up the stairs back to the house. I had to laugh at how quickly she was ready to go and was going. Katy and family came to visit after nap time and it was the first time in a long time that I was able to visit and hold a conversation with someone. Melanie and Maddy were both so mesmerized by the boys that I didn't need to give them much attention at all. We went for another walk that evening. Sunday all of the G girls were tired. I heard Mellie a few times in the night and Maddy cried several times (slept with the door open to hear Mellie and monitor for Maddy) so I was up often also. We stayed and ate lunch and then were home by nap time. It was a whirlwind trip but one I need to do more often.
My grandmother, Maw-as we affectionately call her, has always been there for all of us grandkids over the years. We lost my grandfather before either of my girls were born so they will never know him but I really want them to know Maw. This trip was the first time either of them went willingly to sit in her lap, played with her and smiled at her. It is very hard to travel with my girls and to tend to them on a less than full nights sleep but these connections I want them to make aren't going to do it themselves so I've got to suck it up and make it happen. I'm thinking we may be heading back in October ;)

Weekend at the bay

More pics and writing to come tomorrow. Had a wonderful time but exhausting!

Almost the weekend!

This has been a very long week for me. Work has been crazy busy so unfortunately the girls have not had their usual mommy...and I am mommy as of today...no more momma...it makes me sort of sad. I will be meeting the girls down at my grandmother's house tomorrow evening. YaYa is taking them tomorrow morning. It will be just us girls all weekend. I will do my best to take lots of pictures. Until then (and for Daddy who will be missing his ladies) here are a few from tonight:

Happy Melanie

If you look closely you can see the mosquito biting Madison's cheek...ewww!

I am really looking forward to a weekend away. I hope both girls enjoy the bay and the sand as much as I do!