Final post of the year.

I haven't been too busy, just not real motivated to post anything. Lots of fun stuff going on in our lives though.

Molly is turning into a "lap dog." That's how Brian describes her need to be held.

Gracen is sassier than ever. Exhibit A - today at Jason's Deli -

us: Gracen, why don't you eat your lunch. Its yummy.
G: Why don't YOU eat YOUR lunch.
us: sigh. groan.

I finished my pathophysiology class with an A. I think I might sit out the next semester. Going to school while mothering a 3 yr old and a baby is sooo tough.

I'm once again excited to organize and complete projects. I have a photo album project in my plans for the New Year. I also hope update the blog more than once a month.

This Christmas was spent cleaning up sick kids. Molly barfed (NOT spit-up) on me Christmas morning, and kept doing that most of the day. Gracen got sick the next day. We've infected numerous family members and houseguests, including my mom, my aunt, sister-in-law-to-be Becca, and probably more.

We still have two Christmas celebrations, but hopefully I'll get Christmas photos and other pics up on flickr soon. (Since we got a new computer, I'm still trying to figure out the programs and settings, etc.)

Here's a load of pictures for ya though!

(awww...sisters.)





Gracen's 3rd birthday...(yeah, Kate did get her hand in it!)





the BIRTHDAY kids:



Molly vs. Solids Round IV (Solids = IIII Molls = 0)



sidenote. Another flashback. Gracen at 5 months old! I love these comparisons!



having drinks with Daddy...that's more like it!



Gracen's first snowman. Little one.



She got a little help from Daddy.



hot chocolate by the fire after building the snowman:

Survival mode.

This semester, our lives are categorized in two week segments. These next two weeks are spent studying for my monthly exam in my pathophysiology class, working on the books for Hannah Banana, keeping up with my other job, and trying to maintain some sort of normal life as a family. Once the deadlines are over, we'll spend two weeks recovering, then do it all again. I can't wait for this class to be over! I'm almost 3/4 done with it. With the test less than a week away, I don't know what I'm doing spending time blogging. I guess I don't want to disappoint the faithful following. So here are some pictures for ya. Grandmother and Molly, and Brian and the kids. (note their cute dresses and new couch!)

Trick or Treat!

Despite how it looks, Halloween is pretty much no-fuss this year. Brian's mom made Gracen's princess outfit for her second birthday. My mom gave her the tiara and wand. The only thing I bought was the sparkly shoes. Molly's flower costume came from Hannah Banana for $6. And the bags were from Hobby Lobby $2.50 each, and Tara did the embroidery! Thanks everyone! Plenty more pictures will be taken today!

teething? already??

Finally...video.

Nothing exciting. Just some video of Molly noises for the out-of-town family. Don't get too dizzy watching it.

strike a pose!

3 months old, already!

Molly is doing just fine. Our little spider monkey loves tummy time, early morning cuddles with mommy, watching her mobile - for up to 45 minutes at a time! - & kicking her strong little legs.

She is smiling and cooing all the time, and when she's really mad, she does this high-pitched scream that sounds more like a 13-yr-old girl. I've never heard anything like it from a baby. But usually, Molls is pretty happy. She's so darn close to letting out huge giggles. I can't wait!

She continues to improve her thumb-sucking skills, and can now find her thumb easily, even when she's not on her tummy. This is soooo cute: when she's in the swing, Molly will put one thumb in her mouth, and rub the pillow behind her head with her other hand. Its just precious! She's getting better at using her hands, and grabbing/batting at objects. She'll hold a rattle or toy forever, as she's constantly clinched-fisted, and has been from day 1. VERY tense little gal.

And we've seen her rollover, both front to back, and back to front, but she'll usually stay in whichever position we lay her down.

write-up on Brian in today's Eagle business section:

Originally from Newton, Truskett graduated from Kansas State University...

Originally from Newton, Truskett graduated from Kansas State University in 2001 and immediately went to work for Martin K. Eby Construction.

His first job, which lasted nearly three years, was in Austin. But as he began to start a family, Truskett said he jumped at the opportunity to return to Kansas.

"We thought it would be nice to be closer to family," he said.

Truskett most recently worked as a superintendent for the company. He will now join the Special Projects Group, which has been part of Eby Construction for more than 25 years.

Truskett said his main clients will be Koch Industries and Via Christi. He said that the variety of potential projects and client interaction make his new position both challenging and rewarding.

"The most difficult thing is probably just the wide array of jobs," he said. "Mainly I'm just looking forward to meeting long-term clients and bringing in new business."

Daniel McCoy

Disney's desperate housewives.

I HEART these girls.

I think I'm going to wake them up just to snuggle and kiss them and tell them I love them. :O)

UPDATE: so I did wake them up. both of them. just because.

I love that Gracen has a queen size bed, so I can curl up next to her and tell her I'm so proud of her and that she makes me so happy, and that she's my best little buddy.

I love that Molly isn't quite ready to sleep through the night yet (even though she did three times last week) so I can hold her in silence, uninterrupted, and pray for her, and talk to her, and rub my lips on her fuzz head and smell how wonderful she smells, even 4 days without a bath.

Does it get any better?

Pictures of recent

Molly almost crawling (just kidding) but Brian now calls her Bam-Bam because she's freakishly strong:


Gracen playing with her doll (Kaylynn) and Kaylynn's new trike from the Britches and Lace sale. As you can see, Gracen was desperately in need of another toy:


Molly's new talent - pacifying herself all by herself:


Gracen's first day of "school" this year (Friday Friends):


WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING:
-trying to get to the Y 3-4 times a week. Thanks to Tara, its sortof happening.
-studying my fool head off trying to keep up with my class
-kicking my diet coke/diet pepsi habit. I'm proud of myself for sucking down much less of the nasty carbonated stuff in favor of water (pure, clean, and free! its amazing!)
-wishing we were watching KSU football in Manhattan, wishing our basement and attic were clean, wishing the lawn would mow itself, and longing for the new season of grey's anatomy and a full night of sleep.

2 months old!

Molly is doing great! We call her "Molls,""Sissy," and sometimes "Molly-Doll." She smiles A LOT. And coos/talks A LOT. She said boo after Brian said it to her the other night! Happy little girl. Molly loves being held & cuddled, clean diapers, and her pacifier. She is very, very strong, pretty tall, and I think she has Brian's dimples. Molly also sleeps A LOT.

Tonight we asked Gracen something about Sissy, and she said "she's not sissy, she's a little princess!" so true. I don't know how we made it without our little princess before!

Molly's dedication & more

We've been around family for 2 weeks straight now, and the girls have loved it! Molly got spoiled with cuddles and kisses, and Gracen got spoiled with tickles and games from grandparents, and aunts and uncles. They BOTH loaded up toys, clothes, books, etc!!! Everyone was so so generous!

We had a little baby dedication in our backyard over the weekend, with just close friends and family, and Joe did the "ceremony." (thanks Erika for letting me steal the picture since I didn't take any good ones!)

Had to show you all this photo, since its getting so much attention: Gracen's first go-karts! (oddly enough, they're actually stopped in this pictures. yeah, as in not moving.)



So it's back to normal life after a trip to Branson, Arkansas the next weekend, and Molly's dedication. More pictures to come. I'm going to study for a test.

Gracen has something to tell you.

I couldn't decide what to title this post. Star performer, loves an audience? or maybe - What did Nana and Papa feed her?

let me know if you can or can't watch it on your computer. It may be too big?

some stuff that made me laugh this week: (mommy humor)

1. This ebay listing - posted on a local moms message board. I guess people feel sorry for her, because the cards sold for $142.51!

2. Adrienne's latest blog post. Funny, yet beautiful and so so sweet. You'll love it.

3. This SNL video, emailed to me by my friend Zoe. Maybe its only funny if Dora is a part of your daily life.

First Smiles...1 month old!

Molly's First Month: I'm going to try to write a brief update each month, like I did for Gracen's first year. Yes, our little girl is smiling already. But usually just after she wakes up. Molly sleeps all the time, and we have great days when we stick to a good eat-play-sleep routine. She is easy to get to sleep, and doesn't mind being in her crib. She also LOVES to "pacify" (non-nutrititive sucking?), which is something Gracen never really cared for. So, sometimes its confusing when Molly acts hungry and she's really not, but its great that she takes a pacifier so easily because she's easy to soothe. Molly does get cranky when she's awake and no one is holding her, but that isn't very often! And she's getting better about hanging out on her own for a bit. Her favorite position is on her tummy, on your shoulder, snuggled under your neck, with her binky. (Gracen always liked to face out...) But when Molly is mad, she's reeeeeeally mad. And she gets that way anytime we put her in her carseat, so we usually listen to screaming if we go anywhere.

3 weeks old.

Molly's first swim.


First "real" bath.

Gracen and Sophie being silly.

We are doing really well. Still getting to know Molly and figure her out. She sleeps a lot during the day, so thats nice. She's usually up to party at 3am. If anyone wants to come over and hold her from 3am to 430 or 5am, just let me know! She's now in her crib upstairs, and her room is just almost done, so I'll post pictures of it soon.

Gracen is bored. Friday friends starts in a few weeks, and she'll be glad to get a break from the house. My wonderful mom miraculously potty-trained Gracen while she was here! so now I know I'm a lazy mommy. Gracen is doing well with it, no accidents! but she hasn't figured out how to poopy in the big toilet yet, so that's a daily mess to cleanup. BUT WE'RE NOT BUYING SO MANY DIAPERS! yay!

We're all three getting out of the house more this week, and its been so good, even if it is a lot more work!

Newborn portraits

We took Molly to a well-known studio here in town, and just had a bad experience. I think I'm the only person who doesn't love portrait innovations! It wasn't completely their fault, because Molly was hungry and just not posable. Desperate for some GOOD newborn pictures, we ended up at Sears, and Mom and I just loved these! Here are my favorites. The rest are on flickr.

new pictures for their fans:

JUST SO I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS THEY LOOK ALIKE, HERE'S A PICTURE OF GRACEN AT 6 DAYS OLD: (what do you think???)



MORE MOLLY:




GRACEN'S NEW POOL:


BOTH OF THEM:

little status update

Molly-if you're wondering, we don't know who she looks like. Herself, I guess. She doesn't have as much hair as Gracen, she's pretty much bald. Her eyebrows, and the hair she does have seem to be much lighter than Gracen's...maybe she'll be blonder. She has big huge eyes. She hasn't fussed much yet. Pretty much just sleeps and eats and poops. She isn't crying at all at night, but is definitely more active around 1am or 2am. Molly has "ruined" at least 3 outfits, a couple of blankets, and a burprag today. (its all coming back now.)

Gracen's new life-I was worried when Gracen came to the hospital to visit us. She was very emotional, and having a hard time at home without me. She held Molly, and just stared with no words or any reaction for the longest time. Eventually she teared up and wanted her off. At one point, she looked at Molly, then lifted my shirt and poked my middle, obviously realized she was "out." But since we've been home, Gracen has done so well. I've been so proud of her. She hasn't seemed jealous or anything, loves to hold Molly and help with all the "duties." We'll see how it goes in the next few weeks.

Short notes on me/labor-Molly must've got the memo. Contractions that ended up being early labor started right after I posted her eviction notice! I went my OB that day at 3pm, and was dilated to 3cm, having some more contractions. By 6pm, I knew I was in labor, and Brian finished laundry and packing. We checked into the hospital about 7 or 7:30pm, and I was at 6cm. The contractions were strong, but I held in there with my hypno-birthing stuff until about 8-9cm. I thought I was going to lose it, and started requesting epidural, etc. but Brian was a great coach though, and somehow I made it to complete and only had to give her about 2 pushes and she was out before 11pm...10:58pm to be exact. (I was watching the clock, and my goal was to have her out before 11pm!) The nurse we had was great, and very attentive to the short birth plan we had, and made sure everyone involved followed specifics I wanted about cord clamping, bathing the baby, Brian's involvement, etc. I was very impressed by that. The recovery from natural birth has been amazing, and that's the about the only reason I do it. I made it with no stitches, minimal bleeding and soreness, and no need for the 800mg ibuprofen or percocet.

7.17.07 Molly Rose Truskett