My Last Week Home...

I have no idea where 12 weeks has gone!! It really can't be time for me to go back to work - can it? I have had so much fun on my maternity leave. 12 weeks really doesn't seem like enough time, but I know I was very fortunate because some people hardly get 4 weeks! As I look back, I can't believe how much I have grown over 12 weeks. Having a second child was definitely easier than the first, but the difficult part has been balancing both of them. At first, while Gary was at work, the days seemed very long and I couldn't wait for him to get home to help out. By the end, I had no problems watching both of them and when Gary got home I'd think - are you off already? Now don't get me wrong - I still enjoy my breaks away and his help :) I guess what I'm trying to say is I LOVE having 2 daughters!

The week didn't start off as planned. Miranda and I came down with colds over the weekend so we weren't feeling the greatest. We headed to the chiropractor on Monday and I even decided to get adjusted. Dr. Lisa says an adjustment boosts your immune system, and I decided to give it a try. I was feeling much better by Tuesday. On Tuesday I was supposed to leave both girls all day at Michele's for another trial run and have the day all to myself. Well, since Miranda was still sick I decided to keep them both home. I called Michele to tell her and she told me she had bad news. She said that she was closing her daycare and her last day would be July 10th. We really liked Michele and Malaya loved going to her house. Needless to say when I got off the phone, I cried and cried. I couldn't believe this was happening - 2 days before I go back to work.

I started on the phone and was calling daycare after daycare. I had emailed everyone I knew with small children to see if their daycare had openings. Everyone seemed to have an opening for Malaya, but I was not willing to separate the girls. No luck on Tueday....On Wednesday I found a place with an opening for both. All of us went and interviewed her that night. She has been doing daycare for 30 years, plus she has 7 children, so she obviously loves children and what she does. Malaya started talking to her right away and warmed up well and she answered all my questions with answers I liked. However, she can't start the girls until July 13th. We decided in the transition to not take the girls back to Michele's. Since I will now be working full time, we decided it'd be easier on the girls to stay with my parents and my sister instead of back to Michele's for 2 weeks and then a new daycare. The timing wasn't good by the way of me going back to work, but good in the fact that my sister had just finished summer school and my parents retired. Plus, the new place I found is a lot closer than where Michele lived. But, we will still go visit Michele - she will always be special to us!

On Wednesday morning, I took the girls to Storybook Island. Malaya had so much fun. She is usually scared of everything, but not today. She wanted to do everything - there were a lot of kids around so I think that helped too. We even went to the theater production that day 2 times. I also spoiled her by us having ice cream for lunch. Then she wanted to ride the train. It is supposed to be nice this weekend so I am hoping we can go back there.

I have now made it through 2 days of work. It is definitely going to be hard to get back in the swing of things and used to leaving the girls. I really miss them while I'm at work, but I know they're well taken care of.

Well, it's been a very emotional week and I am hoping next week is better. We are headed out to Hart Ranch for the 4th of July weekend! Have a great week!

In our camper - 11 Weeks

12 Weeks

Working on Tummy Time

Miranda learned to roll over

Father's Day Weekend

Gary, Mike & Sheila took Malaya to Bear Country last Saturday. It sounded like they had a lot of fun and Malaya liked the bears. Miranda and I did not go so we headed into town to run some errands.

That night was dad's retirement party at Hart Ranch. It just poured about 2 hours before the party, but the weather was beautiful during the party. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone and visiting. I think all the kids had a great time too playing on the playground set and running around.

Then Sunday was Father's Day. I love watching Gary as a father, especially for 2 girls now. It is such a special moment the first time you see your husband holding your daughter. Both girls have him wrapped around his finger. He has always had a special bond with Malaya and I hope it continues with her, as well as Miranda. We love you daddy!

Here are a bunch of pictures

Retired - Under New Management - Ask Spouse For Details

The Cooks

Malaya having lots of fun

Miranda just loved Great-Grandpa Paul

Elaine Simons (Miranda's Godmother)

Pam Johnson (Malaya's Godmother)

We had Cheryl Lester make this mat for dad for everyone to sign. (This picture was taken before everyone had signed). Then we're going to take it back to Cheryl and she'll frame it.

Happily Retired Couple!

We love you daddy!

My Dad & Me

Father's Day

Busy, Busy, Busy...

My days have all begun to run together that I can't even remember what I did yesterday. Guess that's a mommy thing - too busy trying to keep everyone's schedules.

I had an eye apt last week and one of the lady's who works there and her husband are friend of ours. We were talking about Miranda and how she is pretty fussy, especially at night and won't go to anybody but me (not even Gary). She was asking me if I had ever taken her to a chiropractor. I gave her a strange look and said no. She gave me the name of the lady she goes to and said to give her a call. I had started to get very nervous because the number of days before I have to go back to work were getting smaller and smaller, so I figured - what do I have to lose. I went in that afternoon (Thursday) for a consultation and the Dr. explained why all babies should see a chiropractor. What she said made sense so she was touching Miranda and told me that her neck, spine, and butt were out of alignment. She adjusted her that day and wanted to see her the next. Went back in the next day (Friday) and her neck and butt were out again. After that day, Miranda has been so much better. She has started sleeping through the night and is in such better humor. She will lay on the floor and play and let other people hold her. We went back on Tuesday and all 3 were out again. I questioned when will she stay "in". The Dr. said she'll never stay "in" forever - no one does - because we live life. It just depends on how you want to use chiropractic care. So, I guess for now, it's working great and Miranda has been such a different baby - much happier. We go in again on Monday (22nd). I'm not sure I understand how or why it's working, but it is. Maybe someday Malaya and I will get adjusted too - just have to take it day by day for now.

Since Miranda was doing so well and Mom and Dad had taken Malaya for the weekend camping at Hart Ranch, Gary and I decided to try a motorcycle ride since it was so nice out. I called one of my co-workers who has offered before to watch Miranda for us and she was available. We rode for 1.5 hours and went up through Keystone and Mt. Rushmore. Then on Sunday we came out to Hart Ranch and Mom and Dad kept both girls and we got to go on another 2 hour ride through the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. It was just beautiful and so nice for Gary & I to get away - even if just for a couple hours.

Grandma Twila came up on Monday (15th) to spend the day with us. We took the girls to Old McDonald's Farm. Malaya had lots of fun, although she's at that stage where she's scared of everything. We did get her to finally ride the train and then she wanted to ride it again. I don't have any pictures to share from the day because they're all on Twila's camera.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were trial daycare runs at Michele's. Tuesday and Thursday I tried to have the girls there by 7am and needless to say it was a good thing I didn't really have to be at work because I would have been so late.... The good thing is that both girls did really well. Miranda took the bottle, took naps, and let the other kids play with her. Michele said she would just sit and the other kids would make her laugh. I feel so much better knowing it went well and will make going back to work easier. On this coming Tuesday, both girls will go for a whole day and then on Thursday I go back to work full time :(

We are up at Hart Ranch for the weekend. We came up last night. Dad's retirement party is on Saturday so I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures to post for next week. As for this week, the only pictures I have are some of the girls.

Malaya let me put her hair in pigtails for the first time. I think she looks adorable and a lot like mommy :)

She is waiting for Grandma and Papa to come get her to take her camping

The girls playing on the floor

Miranda loves her big sister!!!

Rain, Rain Go Away...

I know we need the rain, but some sunshine would be great too! With 12 weeks of maternity leave this time of year, I would have thought I'd have a few nice days to take the girls to the park, for walks, etc. The last time I was able to take them to the park was when Miranda was 3 weeks old.

Miranda had her 2 month checkup on the 3rd and she weighed 10lb 14oz and was 22 inches, so she gained 4 pounds and has grown 3 inches. Time is just going too fast....I am going to take both girls to daycare starting this coming week, so I hope it goes well. I'm going to start with just 4 hours and see how it goes from there.

On the 5th the girls and I went to dinosaur park with my parents and sister. It was a little chilly to be outside, but Malaya seemd to enjoy it, except she's at the stage where she is afraid of everything, so I'm hoping that doesn't last all summer.

Then on the 6th, we went to Gillette to meet Alyssa June, Brandy and Nick's daughter. She was born May 21. We had so much fun and Logan and Malaya (who were born 1 day apart) had so much fun together. They play so well and always have - we just wish we were able to see each other more. The kids have grown up so fast - seems like just yesterday Logan & Malaya were in the hospital together and now they are a big brother and big sister :)

That's about all the news for this week hopefully next week is warmer!!!

Papa and Malaya at Dinousar Park

Aunt Sheila and Malaya

Papa and Grandma with Malaya

Mommy, Miranda and Malaya

Logan and Malaya

All the Kids

Alyssa and Miranda

They Could Be Twins!!!

Malaya loves her sister

Logan and Malaya kissing their sisters

Our Family

Where did May go??

I can't believe it is already June - Miranda was 2 months old yesterday. I took some really cute pictures of her and some with Malaya too. I'm disappointed because I had them sitting on the couch and the couch didn't turn out the greatest in the pictures...but they're still cute.

My planting managed to get completed this week - it was very challenging. Twila and I went shopping for all of the flowers on Wednesday and then started planting on Thursday. We have been looking for a new couch and recliner for awhile now and I have been checking the classifieds every day. Well, of course on this day, there was one in the paper. I called on it and it was a microfiber lazy boy couch that reclined on both ends and a lazy boy rocker recliner. So, off I went to look at it and came home with it loaded in the pickup. Twila and Malaya kept up the planting while I was gone. Friday's planting went a little better. We also decided to mulch everything and by Friday evening we were almost done. Saturday morning we finished up and then Malaya went home with Grandma Twila.

We have been talking about getting a new vehicle for over a year now and since Gary got his job in Spearfish we decided to start looking. We found one last weekend on the internet in Huron, SD and decided to call on it Thursday. Well, by the end of the day on Friday we had bought a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71. It has 57,000 miles on it and has leather seats. It even has a DVD player in it so the girls will love that. Of course Gary likes the custom wheels and tires :) We weren't thrilled about driving to Huron, and thankfully we didn't have to - the salesmen was coming to Chamberlain to go fishing on Sunday so we met him there at 8am.

Gary started his new job yesterday and it seemed to go well. I'm down to only 3 weeks left of maternity leave so I'm going to start taking Miranda to Michele's to make the transition easier. I'm also going to post some pictures from a few weeks ago when we were at Gary's parents house.

Have a great week!

2 Months Old

Big Sister, Little Sister

Our New Couch

Our New Recliner

I think Malaya looks just like me in this picture

Malaya & Butch (Chris' Girlfriend, Lucy's Puppy)

Great-Great Aunt Alice

4 Generations

Grandma Twila & Malaya planting

Notice the upside down sunglasses

My Garden

More planting

Mommy & Malaya planting

Malaya watering & Shylow drinking

Malaya planting