Holidays

I love holidays. Daddy gets to stay home from work with us and we usually see some of our favorite people. Yesterday was Labor Day - a holiday - AND my Grampa's birthday. He's 56 years old now. That seems like a big number, but I can count to it without any problems, so it must not be THAT old. :) I just can't count that high in Spanish yet (only to 29). Since it was Grampa's birthday, we had a cookout and the family came over. It was great! My best friend Cole even came. I just love him. He is older than me and a boy, but we have a great time together. We played tag, soccer, frisbee and even Princess (ok, he was a Prince, not a Princess). He said there were dragons and that he needed to save me. :)

I am so excited for this week! I had story time at the library today. The librarian read "Silly Farm" (and I love anything silly) and she blew bubbles. One even popped on my cheek. Tomorrow is the first day of Wednesday Warriors. That is our kids program at church and I LOVE it!! My friend, Eli, is going to be there - he likes to play princess with me too. :)

Friday is going to be our trip to the zoo where, if I can eat the last 3 new foods on my "new food chart", I get to ride a ROLLER COASTER!!! I hope it is a super fast one. Mom says those kind make her dizzy and sick, but I know I'll love it. I hope it even goes upside down! Mom said it doesn't, but maybe she's wrong this time. :)

Love to all,
E1

Another test

Icky! I had to endure another one of those tests yesterday. Mom starved me (although not for as long this time) and then took me to see a new doctor. He said we were going to become great friends over the next hour (so I threw him one of my fabulous smiles). He looked in my mouth and teased me with my pacifier for a while.... then we went down the hall for the test. They keep teasing me with a bottle over and over. Sometimes it is hard to drink and other times it is too fast. There was some nasty tasting stuff in my bottle too - but I didn't mind. I was so hungry. Mommy and the nice doctor were talking and saying something about aspirating into my lungs (whatever those are). Not sure what was going on, but now my milk is SUPER thick. It sure takes a long time to drink it too. But, I don't always have the problems swallowing it (coughing, gagging) like I used to.

Have I told you how much I love my sister? One of her favorite things to do is to play music and dance around the living room. She is so graceful. I love it when she spins past me and does one of her high kicks. She leaps and twirls just like a ballerina, at least that is what my sister tells me. I haven't seen a ballerina yet, but I am sure she looks just like one! She also sings songs to me when I am upset. Great ones like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Barbara Ann. I love it when she sings to me!

I don't know what my Mommy is doing now. She keeps going into the kitchen and looking into the stove. Whatever is in there smells WONDERFUL! She said it is an experiment. She let my sister help, too. She said something about a dump cake. E1 asked if it is dairy free and Mommy said of course! I think that is the experimental part.

I learned how to make a new face this week. This one is a doozy. Whenever I make it at Mommy or Daddy - they always go "awww baby, what's wrong?" So it must be a good one. I put out my bottom lip and turn my smile upside down. I also wrinkle my forehead just a little. It really gets their attention. I'm gonna keep using that one! I bet I can get anything I want with that face. This morning I used it to get some new batteries in my swing. :)

Love to all!
E2

Wow!

You'll never believe what I did today. I was just sitting in my swing, taking a lil nappy, and I started to miss my Mama and big Sis, so I let them them know it. Next thing ya know, I am swooped out of my swing and put on a pillow on my big sister's bed - which she tells me is now a rocket ship. She tickles my belly and tells me I'm all strapped in and here we go.

She starts looking out the window....I think I even felt it take off! Wow - there we went....um, wherever rocket ships go. Look at her....taking time to pose for the camera - we've no time to waste, this thing is taking flight... I can see the canopy blowing in the breeze!

It was SO fun! She was squealing with glee and I just kept watching her with delight - throwing one of those "smiles" her way now and again. What a great time! I sure love my big sister. She kissed me this morning and said "I wanna be just like you when I get bigger" (as if she were talking for me to her)..... she doesn't know how right she is. I do want to be like her. She's awesome!

Oh, and I think this is a big decision (according to Mom it is anyway), but I think I like using my left hand the most. I only know it is my left because Mommy and Daddy say that it is. They said Grama would sure be proud to have another south paw in the family. :) I am also starting to love my chair that sings to me. I hit these things that hang down and then it sings and flashes lights at me. Kind of cool. I feel like I can actually DO something now. :) Makes me wanna run across the room with leaps and sing for joy - but for now, all I can do is coo and kick my feet real fast. :) It'll do.

Love to all!
E2

It feels good!

I'm starting to realize something. When you take the corners of your mouth and push them up towards your eyes, it feels good! I think it is called a smile because I hear my Mom call out to my sister and say "look, she's smiling" when I do this. And the more I do it, the more people like, which makes my smile get even BIGGER! I think there must be something a little off about it though because Mom says my smile is different than E1 because I have 2 dimples in my cheeks. Not sure what that's all about. Guess next time she gives me a mirror, I'll have to smile and check it out. :-D

It turns out that after about 5 hours of sleeping, I just miss my Mommy and Daddy too much to be apart, so I have to wake them up to say hello. I have found that there is an added bonus to this and that they must miss me too because they reward me with food! :) Woohoo! Now that's what I call service!

Mom left me with some friends the other day for a couple hours. She always says that kids have germs so I just pretended to be asleep so they wouldn't touch me and get ME germy. If "germs" are the reason that I had that mean old cold last week, I know I don't want any on ME again! So I'd lay there and peek out every once in a while to try to spot Mommy. If I couldn't see her right off, I'd quickly pretend to sleep some more. That sure was hard with that little blonde boy running around. He kept trying to hug me and get me to play catch. I guess cuz he closes his eyes to catch the ball, he didn't realize that I wasn't ready to catch. Silly boy!

Last night, I got to be in E1's room while Mommy read her the Bible story and Daddy sang songs. Her room is beautiful! I can't wait to be in there with her. That pink thing hanging from the ceiling and big colorful circles on the wall - she's like a princess! I think I might sleep all night long too if I had a pretty room like that (hint hint, Mom). :)

Love to all!

Picture Update

Mommy said you'd enjoy some updated pictures because I'm growing like a weed. Does that sound like a compliment to you? I thought weeds were bad things? Mom always makes a yucky face when she sees em in her flower beds... I imagine I'm more like a beautiful sunflower - starting out as a itty bitty seed - and in a few months, towering over everything else in the garden. Love to all - E2

Resignation Celebration

Oh, it is such great news. Mom said at dinner that we were celebrating Resignation Day. I couldn't figure out what that big word meant, so Mom explained that it meant that she told Sallie Mae that she was not coming back to work. She's gonna be with me and Evelyn every day now! I told Mom that is great and gave her a high five! :) Then, we went to the mall to celebrate (ok, actually to exchange a pair of shoes but it was just Mom & me). Then, the good day kind of had a bad turn.....

I love people. I love to talk to them and say hi - especially kids! But, the kids at the mall weren't so friendly. I kept saying hi and waving and smiling my prettiest smile - but nothing. They didn't even say hi back. I don't get it. Mom says that people are too busy to pay attention and they miss out on great things like meeting new friends. It still kind of hurts my feelings. People should be nicer and say hi back. I know I would.

Then, when we got home, I was in a hurry and jumped out of my seat, opened the door and then slammed it shut -- right on poor Blacky's tail. She was crying a terrible cry and Mom jumped out and freed her. I felt terrible. I went to her, pet her head and told her how sorry I was. I just couldn't even bear to tell Daddy what horrible thing I did. I just feel awful. I sure hope she is OK and forgives me. I know God will heal her tail - and I'll be sure to ask that he takes any pain away. Maybe Mom'll put a Diego band-aid on it and some of that special pain reliever gel she has. That's sure to work!

Anyway, I did notice that E2 was in a good mood today. She slept the entire time we had a play date at our friends - and then didn't cry as much. Mom also seemed to be pretty happy. She said that is because she got a full night's sleep and E2 only woke up once early this morning, but went right back to sleep. E2 also smiled a lot today. She sure is cute when she smiles. Probably looks almost as cute as I did when I was a baby.

I hope you have a great night and remember, if a cute lil girl (or even a boy) says hi to you, be nice and say hi back. Jesus would.

E1

Our Little Secret

I have a little secret that I'd like to share. It's a great trick I am pulling on my dear Mommy (not to be confused with Mommy Dearest). Whenever people come over to visit or we go out, I am on my BESTEST behavior. I don't whine, cry, fuss - I just sit and look pretty. Sometimes I even throw in a smile and a coo. That way, everyone around thinks I am super duper adorable and my Mom is completely exaggerating how rotten I am. Ha ha! It sure is hard to hold all that in, especially during a long church service. That voice from the light (or at least I think that's where it comes from - I keep trying to look for it) goes on and on an awfully long time. Mom and Dad say he is a great Preacher, but I'm not so sure yet. But, as soon as she gets me home, I remind her how bad my tummy hurts and how terrible this cold is - loudly.

But SSHHHH, don't tell. It's our little secret.

She's been here 9 weeks....

Ok, so my baby sister has been here 9 weeks so far and, I have to say that she sure cries a lot. Not only does she cry a lot at home, but Mom insists on bringing her with us when we go places (usually the doctor's office). I thought she'd be more fun, but right now, I just really try to stay at the other end of the house, or even out on the deck. Mom keeps telling me to come over and see her smiling, but I haven't seen anything that looks like a smile. I think Mom's stretching the truth a little. It sure is hard trying to get Mom and Dad to play Uno with me while they are feeding the baby. If I blink my baby blues at Daddy, he'll give in and play....but that Mom is one tough cookie. She tells me to wait my turn -- patience is a hard thing to learn, that's for sure. But, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit, so I guess I need to practice.

Even though she does cry a lot (and I mean a lot), I do think she is cute and I do love her. I love to tell everyone we meet (at the store, in the parking lot, while we are walking, pretty much anyone with ears) that I have a new baby sister.

First Post

Well, this is going to be a blogspot dedicated to the loving Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins of our Siefker Girls. This will be udpates (in the first person of either E1 or E2 - you know they're real names) from the perspective of our girls.

Letter #2 Saturday

Well, Beloved, it turns out that the stabs that the nurse gave me caused a fever. I'm not sure what a fever really is, but my Mom is always putting this thing under my arm and usually has a big sigh of relief that the numbers aren't very big. Last night, her eyes got bigger as the numbers got bigger. Finally, when the lil stick under my arm beeped, Mom said it wasn't anything to be worried about and that the numbers could actually get bigger. I tried to take some consolation in that, but I was feeling pretty rotten (and I let her know about it). She comforted me and then put me to bed - by myself. What was SHE thinking....?? About 3am, I started fussing and coughing so that I could get in bed with her. She looked so lonely without Daddy there. I needed to keep her warm with my fever. :)

It is gone this morning, but I'm still letting her know that Friday wasn't any fun for me. I think I had straighten out soon though or I might be endangering my trip to Grama and Grampas. Mom said she is pretty tired and sore and if I continue being cranky, that we'll just stay home. Think I'll settle in for a morning nappy in the swing and let her rest (for now).

Love to all,

E2

Letter #1 Friday

Dear Beloved -

You won't believe where Mom and Dad took us today. The Doctor. I feel like I have spent a lot of time there and, until today, really enjoyed the visits. She always has great advice, altho the free samples she sent home with Mom last time was not exactly something I have enjoyed (it sounded today like they might try something different again, so hopefully it tastes and smells better). Today - I had to endure not one, not two, but three shots!!! I watched my big sister get on the table first and heard Mom chant "who's brave, who's brave? you're so brave! you're so brave!" And then my sister let out a horrible scream and started crying. And then, after a brief comfort from Mom - they put ME on the table. Mom started singing that same chant - and BAM, POW, STICK - they got me too! I was screaming and crying and screaming some more -- but not too hard to notice the small tear in my Daddy's eye. I think it hurt him worse than me.

Well, that was a fine way to end the week of heartburn, a cold that makes my nose feel like it is going to itch off, a bothersome cough - oh yeah, and throwing up everything I ate yesterday (3 times for that one too). The bad stuff comes in threes this week, I guess.

Well, I guess I scared Dad off. He said something about camping and has been gone a few hours. I know I'm young and all but it has been pouring rain here for hours. I think Mom ought to wonder if he is camping or not in this rain. I'll be she looks for wet/muddy gear when he returns (wink wink).

Well, right now Mom's waiting for me to work up this dirty diaper I keep threatening her with and I hear my big sister in the bathtub. She LOVES to play pretend in the tub. I can't wait until I'm big enough to play with her. She has so much fun! I love her so much already and she doesn't even know. :)

Love to all,

E2