Enjoy these new videos of Aidenne and her friend Oasis (are you HAPPY NOW, ma??):

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=24439489

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=24440308

Also, new pics are now posted:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cvajdespres/sets/72157602143712479/

No time to blog, we need our laptop to be working again.

The next 5 years

So, I went to my doctor on Friday to get the Mirena IUD so I will not be pregnant ever again (at least for the 5 years it is supposed to last). Before the procedure, the nurse told me that I may feel cramping for several months until my body gets used to this foreign object. I thought nothing of it, especially since she mentioned it so nonchallantly (if that is a word). But as soon as it was inserted, I felt like I was in LABOR. I thought it would pass after a few minutes so I got dressed and left the office. I made it to the bathrooms outside the office and just kinda hung out in there since I couldn't really stand up straight and I was so nauseated I thought I was going to throw up. This whole time I am thinking, is this what it will feel like for SEVERAL months?? Then I thought it was getting better and decided to go home. Halfway home I called the doctor's office since it really wasn't getting any better and asked to speak to the nurse to see if this was normal. Of course she could not be reached right away, so I had to wait for a call back. TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER she calls to let me know that it is pretty normal and to just take something for it. Ugh. By that time I had already felt MUCH better, thanks to Andrea...she watched my girls while I went to the doctor and then she watched them so I could lie down for a while and rest. I can't thank her enough!

So if you are thinking you want to get this IUD, I am all about it...just make sure you have planned at least half a day to rest afterward!

Who needs sleep?

So, Joscelyn has semi-slept through the night the past 2 nights. The first night she woke up at 2, but got herself back to sleep within minutes and then I woke her up to feed her on schedule. Last night she slept through, not waking up at all, and guess who gets up at freaking 4:45? AIDENNE. She was wide awake wanting to play. So I did what all awesome mothers would do...I turned on the TV and went back to sleep on the couch, only waking up when each show was over and I had to find another on the DVR. She fell asleep with me on the couch after about the 3rd show and we slept until 9:30. So I have had 2 nights of sleeping way more than I normally do, but I am all exhausted and headache-y. I just want to sleep until I WAKE UP, not when Joss wakes me up with her high-pitched pig squeal, or when Aidenne does the creepy kid stare in the middle of the night. You know what I mean, right??

Standing and peeing.

OK, so Joss pulled herself up on the Little Tykes table we have upstairs, trying to get to Aidenne's juice box. When I lifted it up and out of her reach, she took her hands off the table and reached for the juice. So she was STANDING on her own for at least 4 seconds!! And she didn't fall, she just put her hands back on the table. She is so strong. Aidenne is a great big sister, motivating Joss to get up and around just like her! Aidenne doesn't really like the fact that Joss is so mobile now. She usually picks up her toys and moves to another part of the room so Joss can't play. I am not looking forward to the fights I will have to break up in the very near future.

Speaking of Aidenne, I have made it a routine to try to go potty every night before her bath (yes, this is the only time we try all day because I am extremely lazy when it comes to this potty training stuff). But last night, I told her to go potty instead of asking her if she needed to, and she did! It was just a little bit, but she was so proud of herself! If anyone has any potty training tips, please GIVE THEM TO ME because I am just clueless on how to start...I tried the "leave them naked all day" technique, but that only lasted about an hour and a half--I cannot have her peeing on the carpet! I don't have time to clean it up every 2 seconds, and I cannot have Joss crawling over carpet cleaner/pee all day. (Those are my two reasons, Ma!)

I wanna MOVE!!

I just want our own space! That is all I will say on the subject.

The girls are awesome as usual. Don't have time to write, but I posted more pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/sets/72157602143712479/

and a new video:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=22137375 .

Kids say the darndest things.

Today Aidenne, Joss and I went to a playnastics class. Aidenne had so much fun going down the slide into the big foam pit. She also loved jumping up and grabbing the bars--she can hang and swing for a loooooong time. She is really coordinated, I think we will enroll her in the classes they have there, so that she will keep up with it!

I have been trying to teach Aidenne her full name...when I say her middle name, Camille, she thinks I am saying "come here", so she says her name as "Aidenne Come-here Away." If that isn't the funniest thing ever, I don't know what is!

I took a video the other day when it was cold outside. Joss kept shivering and her tiny lips kept quivering, so I tried to get it on camera, but it didn't work out too well! She of course wouldn't do it anymore. But the video is really cute anyway, Joss is concentrating on the wonder that is Zoey and Aidenne is being a ham as usual!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21927842

We are starting a strict routine with the girls so that they will go to bed at the same time every night and Cliff and I can actually hang out for a little while before passing out for the night. So wish us luck, this week will be the hardest!

Another video

Aidenne taught herself how to do somersaults. All of a sudden the other night, she said "Watch me!" and did about 25 in a row. Luckily I got 3 good ones on camera!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21665308

Videos

I have been trying to post videos, but I am unsure how to do it here. The best I can do is give you the links.

Aidenne singing:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21605520

Joss eating peas:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21605907

Aidenne's 2nd birthday:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21607403

Aidenne playing peekaboo with Joss:

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21614188

Long time no blog!

The girls just had their well-baby check-ups at their new doctor this morning, and they are both healthy and growing! Aidenne is as usual huge and in the 90th percentile for everything and Joss is average in the 50th percentile. I need to make friends here, possibly one with no kids who would like to accompany me on their doctor appointments. How can I hold both kids after they have been given shots?? Poor things were at the doctor's office for 2 hours being pushed and poked and shot, and told to sit quiet in one room the whole time. Not fun at all and all girls (including myself) were in tears by the end! No matter how many times you do it, you just can't watch your little ones get shots, especially if you have to hold them down for the nurse and they are looking at you with their wet, red faces as if to say, "why are you doing this to me?"

We haven't been doing much lately, just trying to go to some of the MOMS club outings. The Children's Museum was the latest outing, and it was really cool--the kids can see and play with all the exhibits. There is a dinosaur exhibit, and Aidenne liked digging for fossils. There was also a play hospital where you can turn on the lights in the ambulance, weigh the babies on a real scale, and listen to heartbeats with stethoscopes. There was also a spaceship exhibit where you could push a lot of buttons, a big outdoor water exhibit and a climbing wall. Aidenne tried everything at least once. And during the fall/winter it is only $5 to get in, so I think we will be going there often!

Aidenne has also made a new friend in the neighborhood. Her name is Oasis and the way Aidenne says it sounds soooo cute! And I LOVE getting to have an adult conversation with her awesome mom while the kids play.

Joscelyn is crawling and pulling herself up like crazy, I swear she will be walking any day...I don't think she likes being a baby. She sees what Aidenne can do and eat, and she wants it all! Aidenne was trying to feed her the carrots from her lunch today, and Joss loved it until I pulled it out of her mouth! She usually pulls herself up on the back of Aidenne's chair (the little toddler chair) while she eats lunch, and tries to figure out how she can get the food.

I can't wait until next weekend when Chris and Michaela will be here. We miss them so much! Michaela is going to take our family pics at a nearby park, and hopefully we will get at least one good one for the Christmas card.

Then the next weekend is Thanksgiving and my sister will be in town on her way to Colorado, so I am REALLY excited about that. Aidenne loves her Auntie Fristin. And congrats to Auntie Fristin on her NEW job in Colorado! It's frickin cold there, and she is moving right in the middle of winter. It's ok because she has the perfect ET outfit to keep her warm! WOOP!!

Lots of new pics to see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/sets/72157602143712479/

Leave comments on the pics, people. I love it when people tell me how cute my kids are.

The Wedding

Last weekend was my sister's wedding. It was so much fun. Aidenne and I got to go for the whole week before, so I got to help out a bit with some errand-running and preparing! The drive over with her lasted 11 hours, but she was amazingly good! Cliff and Joss flew in the day before the wedding, and we had the rehearsal dinner that night. Aidenne didn't have a nap all day, and was of course TOTALLY OUT for the entire rehearsal, so she didn't get to practice. She was probably the only one that needed it, too! Then we went to the dinner, which was fun after Cliff took the kids home! I don't like bringing my kids in public, haha.

The wedding actually went better than I thought it would (Aidenne-wise). She had to be carried down the aisle, but once we were there, she was very well-behaved. She mainly hung out behind the officiant in the hockey goal (yes, I said hockey goal!) so I am proud of her. She didn't scatter the flower petals, but she did dump them in a big pile at the end of the aisle, so at least they ended up in sort of the right spot!

The ceremony was awesome--it was short, to the point, and very funny and meaningful! You could tell Andy was a little nervous which was sweet. The reception was really awesome, the DJ was hilarious and was in his own world most of the night. Aidenne loved to dance with the other kids (especially Matthew, the ring bearer, and his little brother Michael...they are both handsome little dolls!) She also loved that she could reach all the food at the buffet table and proceeded to eat every tomato in sight! Her dress shows it, too. My sister said the night went just the way she wanted, which is awesome, I am so glad she had fun, too! My maid-of-honor speech rocked, that's all I'll say about that.

The next day Cliff, Aidenne, Joss and I drove ALL the way back to Texas. We had to miss the opening presents brunch that morning, I wish we had stayed longer. We made it back home in 10 hours, 45 minutes and were completely exhausted.

So now we are settled back at home, and Joss is crawling around like an old pro. She has started pulling herself up on things, and can sit unsupported now. Today she pulled herself up on the couch and stood up for a long time! I wanted to take a picture, but I was downloading all the pictures from the camera onto the computer, so I couldn't. If you want to see the wedding pics, go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/sets/72157602499784866/

These are just a few that I took and have collected from other people, but there will be more...I know there was more taken of Aidenne and Matthew, so check again soon!

I have also added a few more pictures to our family album:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/sets/72157602143712479/

Enjoy!!

Jossie is getting so big!

Yesterday Joscelyn turned 6 months old and she started crawling! She looks so cute, she takes one hand and s-l-o-w-l-y reaches it up then puts it s-l-o-w-l-y down in front of her, then moves her legs, then does the same with the other arm. It is hilarious!

Aidenne and I are leaving for Mobile early tomorrow morning for my sister's wedding...I can't wait to be there, obviously to see my sister whom we haven't seen since early this summer, but also so I will have the car ride over with. Aidenne is known for her hatred of riding in vehicles. I am not looking forward to the 10 hours of screaming! I am leaving very early so hopefully she will be really tired and sleep for the first couple hours.

I will miss Jossie while we are gone though, she will probably get so much faster at the crawling thing by the time she and Cliff get to Mobile the next weekend!

I am Kristin's MATRON of honor (that makes it sound like I am extremely old), but I am so excited. She picked out the best bridesmaid dresses for us, so I am really excited about that. Her wedding is going to be an awesome Celine Dion-less party! I hope I can make my matron of honor speech as awesome as Kristin made hers for my wedding. GO ED MANAGBANAG, WOOP!!

I will be packing for the rest of the day, but I have uploaded more photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/sets/72157602143712479/

Check back soon for video of Jossie crawling!

I feel a rant coming on...

Cliff and I got to go to dinner last night while his dad watched the girls for us. It is always nice to do that! So first we stopped at Game Stop so Cliff could trade in some PS2 games for one PS3 game (and we still had to pay about 50% of the price!) Then we headed to TGIFriday's to eat. I ordered all the food that I had seen advertised on TV and have wanted to try forever since there was no TGIF's in Denton. We are in the middle of eating our fried green bean appetizer when the whole staff starts clapping and singing Happy Birthday to someone. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE---if you are going to celebrate your birthday in public, DON'T TELL THE WAITSTAFF! I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant and they weren't calling the attention of all the customers to sing Happy Birthday to a total stranger. Last time we went out it happened TWICE before we left. Anyway, maybe I should be angry at the restaurant managers. Isn't giving the birthday person a free dessert enough? Why do you have to disrupt everyone else's dinner? Some of us just want to go eat where it will be semi-quiet, away from children, etc. UUUUUGGHHHHHHH!!!!

Birthday Weekend

This weekend was soooo busy! Cliff and his dad's side of the family all went to the UT football game on Saturday while I took the girls to hang out with his mom's side of the family. (PS - UT won the football game THANKFULLY - it is always a rough couple of days when they lose.)

Sunday was Aidenne's 2nd birthday party, which went really well (see the slideshow on this page and go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/14141553@N08/ to see bigger images and other pics). We started with the cake (yes, I made it and yes, I again amazed myself with my cake decorating abilities!) and then Aidenne (slowly) opened her presents. She received TONS of toys and clothes, including TWO keyboards. Then we all went outside to swim/talk/swing.

Once everyone left, I cleaned up and went to Best Buy to see about getting a DVD player installed in the car (we are taking an 11-hour car trip in two weeks, so we need it BAD). But they proceeded to tell me they wouldn't be able to install it in my car since newer cars are made so cheaply that there is no support in the ceiling for the player. So what did I do? I would like to say that I saved the money we had to buy it, but I didn't. I bought a really cheap portable DVD player and then I bought Cliff a Playstation 3. A PLAYSTATION 3!! Why?!?!? Football season just started, I don't think he needs another distraction! Oh well, I had a momentary lapse of judgment, but Cliff is an awesome husband so he stinkin' deserves it. I guess.

Annie

Aidenne has apparently renamed herself. She calls herself Annie, and when we try to get her to say "Aidenne", she adamantly says "No, ANNIE!" Maybe she is already mad at the strange way we spelled her name...

Joscelyn is still quite a handful, but she is so sweet! She smiles at everyone who smiles at her, and she is getting very good at sitting up on her own. She even looks like she will be crawling soon, she gets up on her hands and knees and rocks.

Since we have moved closer to family members, Cliff and I have gotten to go out on a couple dates. It is so nice to get away from the children, especially when Grandpa always has them in bed by the time we get home!

I am new to this blog site, but check back soon for more pictures and updates on our amazing, genius girls!