August 2011

I went back to work on August 1.  I cried the entire week leading up to it.  Up until that point in time I had spent almost all of my time with you.  I was able to provide everything you needed, and I was there for every first.  I was torn because I knew that it was time to go back, but I wasn't at all happy about missing out on time with the two of you.  During one of my many phone calls with Grandma she reminded me that me going back to work would not only be good for me, but it would also be teaching you that a woman can have a career and still be an amazing mom.  I held on to that when I walked out the door with tears streaming down my cheeks that first morning.

Daddy sent me pictures at work every day for the first few days that I was back.  Seeing your cute little smiling faces made me miss you, but also let me know that Daddy had things under control at home, and that you were enjoying your time with him.

As you can see, Daddy's idea of getting you dressed was not exactly the same as when I was home putting you in cute outfits every day:)  You hung out in onesies for most of the month of August.



I quickly learned that Daddy was better at getting pictures of both of you smiling and looking at the camera than I was.  He got some of the best pictures of the two of you!

I, on the other hand, was still struggling to get both of you to look at the camera.

The two of you started to become much more active this month.  Every once in a while Tannah would roll from her belly to her back without realizing what was happening.  You were both working so hard on rolling from your back to your bellies.  You would make it to your side, but your arms would get in the way.  You both discovered your feet, and you thought they were more fun than any of your many toys.

You were really into your exersaucer and jumparoo.  We still had to prop you up with blankets, but you were getting much more stable.

You also both started "talking" to us this month.  Tannah, you also did a fair amount of shrieking.  You would talk to us and smile when we talked back to you.  You also started to notice each other, which completely melted my heart.

You still weren't ready for solid food, but since you were starting to become much more attentive to your surroundings, we decided that you should sit at the dinner table with us while we ate (rather than Daddy and I trying to scarf down some food while you were sleeping).  You were good little dinner-partners.

You were getting so big so quickly.  You were already looking like little girls rather than my tiny babies.

We started going for walks in our side-by-side stroller.  You obviously thought it was very comfortable.

Aunt Brynne and Uncle Joe came to visit us, so we took them to the zoo.  They loved holding you and trying to make you laugh.  Tannah, you loved it when Uncle Joe did push-ups for you.  You sat in your Bumbo, and when he would raise himself up, you would imitate him by trying to straighten your body like you were going to stand up.  You giggled like crazy the whole time.

Speaking of your laughter.  I have never in my life heard anything that made (and still makes) me as happy as your little giggles.  Daddy would sometimes get frustrated with me because I would say that I was going to do something (like the laundry or dishes), and all of the sudden you would laugh.  It was like every thought went straight out of my head, and my sole mission was to continue making you laugh.  I still can't get enough of your laughter.

July 2011

You were such big girls by July, and you started to develop your little personalities.  You were strong enough that we could put you in your Bumbos, exersaucer and jumparoos.  You were still a little short for the exersaucer and jumparoo, but we put a blanket under your feet, and you loved staring at all of the toys.  By the end of the month you were starting to reach for them as well.

Your Aunt Hui-Pin and cousins Matthew, Joshua, and Ashley came to visit you for the 4th of July.  They loved you, and everytime one of you would smile, Ashley would say, "she likes me!".

We took them to Summerfest, which is a big music festival that takes place every summer.

We took you to the playground at the park for the first time, but you were still too small to play on any of the equipment.  I'm really looking forward to taking you there next summer.



We spent the 4th of July enjying time as a family.  We didn't let you watch t.v. yet, but Daddy turned the fireworks on the t.v. so you could enjoy them together.  We were afraid that bringing you to see them would scare you, so we'll leave that one until you're a little older.  You were my little firecrackers this year, and that was enough for me.



Daddy started his leave in July, so we got to spend three weeks together.  Snuggling with the two of you was one of our favorite pass times.  You seemed to like it too!

We were still taking lots of pictures.  It didn't seem possible, but you just kept getting cuter and cuter.

You got even stronger and better at tummy time.

We started trying to wean you off of your swaddles.  Tannah, you didn't have a problem with it, but Harper, you still needed to be swaddled.  At night I would nurse you both and Daddy and I would rock you to sleep.  Tannah, we could put you in your crib and you would sleep for a few hours at a time.  Harper, we spent hours trying to get you to go to sleep.  We would rock you until we were sure you were completly out, but within ten minutes of putting you down you would be awake.  This would go on for 2-3 hours until we finally got you to sleep for a few hours.  You were a baby that liked her nighttime snuggles.

We took a family trip to Michigan, and you both got to help Grandma cook.

We also took you to the beach for the first time.  We dipped your little toes in Lake Michigan, and you did not like it at all!  The water was pretty warm as far as Lake Michigan goes, but it was still too cold for the two of you.   We also tried a lake with warmer water, and Harper enjoyed sitting in the water watching all of the kids playing.  Tannah, you wanted nothing to do with being wet.  You both enjoyed laying on the beach under an umbrella once we got you dried off.

July marked the end of my maternity leave, and I was so sad that I wasn't going to get to spend my days with you anymore.  I loved that time we spent together so much.  It was hard work, but getting to spend those first few months home, taking care of you, was so amazing.  I'm lucky I have a job that allowed me to do that.

June 2011

By June your little personalities were starting to come out.  You would give us lots of smiles, and we just ate it right up.  We went to Chicago to visit Aunt Brynne and to meet Uncle Joe's family.

You got to wear your pretty princess dresses from Aunt Brynne for the first time.  It was really warm that day, so Harper didn't last in hers for very long, but Tannah's dress was a hit!



We were still having lots of photo shoots, so I dressed you up in your princess dresses when we were at home one day.



The weather was warming up, so we took you for your first walk by the lake.  I told you all about how I would swim in Lake Michigan when I was a little girl and how I was so excited to take you to the beach when we visited Grandma and Grandpa in Michigan.

You went to the zoo for the first time this month.  It was pretty much just a walk for you, but it was nice to be outside enjoying time as a family.

Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye and your cousins Annie and Patrick came to meet you.

We went to Chinatown in Chicago with them, and, while you didn't get to eat any, you got to experience your first dim sum.

When you turned two months old, you had to get your first round of shots.  I think it was more traumatic for me than for you, and there were definitely three of us who cried that day.  Luckily, all you needed were a few snuggles from me and Daddy, and you cheered right up.

Two days later, the three of us took the ferry to Michigan.  I was a little nervous about taking you both by myself in case you were fussy on the boat, but as usual you were about as perfect as could be.  You slept for about the first hour, and after you woke up I put you both in the Moby and we explored the boat a little.


While we were in Michigan, Grandma and I took you up north to meet your great-grandparents and some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Everyone was so excited to meet you, and you were such good little travellers!  You slept for almost the entire 5 hour care ride!

We spent a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's house, then we went back home to see Daddy for his first Father's Day.

You might not be able to tell from this picture, but you girls love your Daddy so much.  You would give him such big smiles when he got home from work, and he was so patient if you were having a particularly fussy day.  You're very lucky to have him as your Daddy.

Grandma was on summer vacation, so came with us so she could spend more time with you.

By June we pretty much had the hang of nursing down, and I loved having that quiet time with each of you.  I was really worried that nursing wouldn't work out, so when it did, I was so happy.  The fact that I was able to provide everything you needed was pretty powerful for me.

You continued to grow and thrive.  You were changing so much every day that it was hard to believe.