Santa and the Girls

So no tears this year from Zoe this year, but she definitely was very shy with Santa. She didn't cry, though, but she didn't smile either... Fiona woke up just enough for the picture and then went right back to sleep. I LOVE that Zoe is staring to be into Santa and all that goes along with Christmas, and I know Fiona won't be far behind her! Everything from decorating the tree to noticing Christmas lights outside has become fun again through Zoe. She even has a Santa and Snowman salt and pepper shaker set that she likes to talk to and share her food with at meal time - so cute! I'm SO happy to have the Christmas spirit back in my life!!!!!

Cookie Time!

Zoe helped Papa and Gramma make Christmas cookies today while Mommy and Daddy went shopping with Fiona. By all accounts she had a blast! She helped add the ingredients and even used the mixer and the food processor. And of course got to lick the cookie dough! Gramma said her favorite part, though, was eating the sprinkles one by one:). Here's to more holiday traditions for my sweet girl!

Who says infants don't smile?!

Fiona is the happiest baby! She smiles SO big SO often! You can't tell me it's not real! Sometimes she'll look right into my eyes and her whole face lights up, it melts my heart. She coos too!

Take Your Baby To Work Day

I have two great bosses that allow me to bring my baby to work. We used to have an office in the house, so it was easy enough just to turn on the baby monitor and go downstairs...but now we have another external office and no monitor will cover that distance:)! Fiona comes with me to Office #2 when I am needed there. It will work while she is immobile and sleeps alot, but not forever (unless Mom and John plan on opening a daycare in the future!). So for now, I "commute" to work a little farther some days, and work from home on others. I am so lucky and thankful to have such a great working situation - no other job would EVER be as flexible! Thanks again Mom and John! (And I know that Gramma and Papa LOVE having the grandbabies stop by here and there to brighten their day!)

I did it!

Today was Keith's first day back to work since Fiona was born. I was extrememly nervous for this day even BEFORE she was born, and as time went on I had relaxed a bit about it but still was anxious. In the end, I'm pretty happy how it all went today. The girls napped very well, I was able to make dinner and apple pie, gave both girls a bath, and I cleaned some on top of it all! Granted Mom and John were downstairs today if I really needed help, but I tried not to depend on them to prove to myself I could do it. I KNOW every day won't go so well, but it is always good to start out on a high note:)!

Cloth Diapers

We never were able to get into cloth diapering with Zoe because she started out so small, and then by the time she was big enough, we were too used to disposables (I know, exuses, exuses...). So this time we decided to use them with Fiona. One plus was that there now is a diaper service in town that will pick up the dirty diapers and drop off clean ones so that makes it a lot easier! Best of all, we will be keeping a ton of diapers out of the landill with this choice. It's definitely something to get used to, but they are a lot easier than they used to be (velcro instead of pins, better covers, etc). Hopefully it will work out for the long run this time!

Zoe's Personal Entertainer

Daddy has been on main Zoe duty since the baby came and she is thrilled! She gets full on, 100% attention for most of her waking hours because of this. They visit the neighbors, go on bike rides, make breakfast, watch movies, and just play constantly. I'm afraid Zoe will be very dissapointed when Daddy goes back to work and she just has me and Fiona, but I will try to be as fun as I can (while still cleaning, doing laundry, taking care of the baby, and preparing meals). I know Moms around the world have done all of this for centuries with more than just two kids, but I am learning here! At least Zoe has as a great Dad who is completely in love with her and her sister and has no problem playing, changing diapers, and doing whatever Daddy duty comes his way:)

The Brodogg Girls

As often as I can I tell the girls, "I love you SOOOOO much!". I hope they always know that....

Ian was here:)

Zoe's favorite boy in the whole world came over yesterday. She was thrilled! He is the only person who can get her to giggle as hard as her Daddy can without even trying! Yay Ian!

Mama's Big Baby

Just after her two week check up, Fiona weighed three whole pounds more than Zoe did at birth! She looks so tiny to me now, but compared to Baby Zoe she is a monster!

Baby in the mirror

One thing that almost gurantees a happy Fiona (besides holding her 24 hours a day!) is putting her on the changing table and letting her look at herself (and you) in the mirror. It's instantaneous happy baby!

Baby Fia's first Bath

And she loved it! Though it's amazing the things you forget so quickly as a parent. I forgot how to give a bath to a newborn and it hasn't even been that long! Luckily it's pretty much like riding a bike...once you jump on, it all comes back to you!

Our Family Christmas Ornament for 2009

Every years since Keth and I have been married, we have gotten a personalized ornament for the tree. The first year it was just the two of us, the next year I was pregnant, the next year we had Zoe and this year we have Fiona! It seems to get bigger every year...I'm assuming it will stop growing eventually!:)