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Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays from the Posts

Parenthood is an exciting and challenging occupation to be sure, especially with our two little drama queens that we love so much. I still sometimes hear the old “the second one is easier” or “its easier with two” sayings from people on the outside looking in, and usually I just sigh and shrug because I am tired and its easier than explaining how many times the girls were up last night. Sleep has become a priceless luxury for Kat and I recently, but no matter what comes along we love our girls and enjoy every moment with them (during the daytime).
Isabella Johanna Post joined our family on May 8th this year after another healthy and natural birth that Kat choreographed like a seasoned veteran. I think I actually saw Kat updating her Facebook status in between contractions just to let everyone know Izzy was on her way into the world. No actually that didn’t happen, I am over exaggerating the joy of meeting our second daughter on that memorable afternoon. Any way I tell the story the event was nearly all positive and satisfying, save for the few hours Izzy spent in the NICU with a great staff of very cautious doctors and nurses who were worried about her elevated breathing rate shortly after birth. All was well after some helpful monitoring and guidance getting Izzy her first few meals, and we were thrilled to bring home our 9 pound 13 ounce baby girl to meet and immediately spit up on her big sister.
Jessica loves being a big sister, a big girl, and a big turkey every chance she gets. Jessica loves to sit, hug, pull, and squeeze Izzy whenever she gets a free moment, and is even teaching her how to tackle and do booty bumps. Actually Jessica gets to practice tackling me a lot more often, and her latest technique is a screaming giggle combined with the running head-butt to the chest. But she is not just a one dimensional trouble maker, Jessica has grown to really love books and stories, she has great conversations and explanations, she swims, she dances, she does it all. We love our big girl and are sad to see her grow up so fast, but every day is new and exciting with Jessica and she is a sweetheart who always makes the headaches worthwhile.
The Shuckleberries kids call her Ms. Kat, Jessica calls her Moms, I call her Super-Mom, no matter how you say it the job she does is amazing. Kat has continued to make Shuckleberries Preschool a thrilling high-flying childcare circus, even if she has far too many little clowns trying to open the lion’s cage. She has hired a good staff of assistant teachers, which helps her focus on quality curriculum and make sure she maintains a life of her own. Kat has started running regularly in addition to her normal fitness routine, and even ran in her first 5K Turkey Trot in Oceanside on Thanksgiving this year. She is lined up to run in a 10K early next year and continues to wake up earlier than me just to go run, and if you know how much Kat values her sleep, that’s pretty much nuts.
If Kat is out running, that probably means I am home with the girls keeping the peace and making sure they are well fed. Kat will come in the door, we hand off the parent baton, and I run out the door for my personal sanity time. When I get my moments of freedom I make sure to get to the beach and surf whenever possible, get on a boat and leave the sight of land to go fishing for a weekend, or just get my ass kicked in my martial arts class. I need a good stress relief from the daily routine, but I am happy to say I am really enjoying teaching at brand new Mission Vista High School now that all our planning and preparation have become a dynamic new school. Being a part of the founding faculty of a high school has been a unique and challenging opportunity, but the students are great and teaching biology is very satisfying for me. I am happy to go to work each day, but I am much more happy to come home to a great family, and Kat and I are thrilled thinking of all the fun things we have to look forward to with our girls, and enjoy every moment we have together…no matter what time day or night.

Peace, joy, and a happy new year,
Steve, Kat, Jessica, and Isabella

Classic

We took Jessica and Izzy to see Santa today

Jessica's third time meeting the jolly man

Isabella's first time

Yeah, Izzy was NOT impressed

She BURST into tears the second Steve put her in Santa's lap

Jessica was a little apprehensive as well, but agreed to sit in his lap for the picture the second Santa pulled out a candy cane.

At least we didn't have to wait in a long line!

Merry Christmas!

Jessica is more stylish than me- skinny jeans and a big cozy stylish sweater. slide on her boots and shes good to do!

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7 months

I cannot believe Izzy is 7 months old now!

(pictures will be posted one day. stupid computer problems)

Isabella Johanna, at 7 months is:

mobile! she is scooting, and she thinks she can crawl.

She's trying to pull herself up on everything

FINALLY getting some hair. Looks brown, and strait

I can see 2 teeth sooooooooooo close to breaking through!

Her naps are finally stretching out- at least an hour, usually two.

2 or 3 naps a day

Has been eating solids for over a month- and she loves them all!

Loves fruit- apples, pears, bananas

Loves veggies- carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, butternutsquash, pumpkin, avacado

Loves protein- tofu, chicken, turkey

Girlfriend loves to eat :)

Looks like she's chunking up again

Wearing 12 month clothing

Her face lights up when she sees her big sister

Is already a total Daddy's girl

And is almost always attached to mommy

Still gets up at least twice a night. Mommy is slowly going insane due to no sleep.......

She loves to practice yelling, and will scream at mommy when she puts her down

She's such a joy and is growing up too fast. Mommy, Daddy, big sister Jessica love her so much!

Turkey Dinner

A video for my bro, Chris

Jessica singing "Turkey Dinner" (you may need to turn up the volume, but watch out for me cheering at the end! its loud!)

Turkey Dinner

Turkey Dinner

Gather 'round

Gather 'round

Who will get the drumstick

Yummy yummy drumstick

All sit down

All sit down

Turkey dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

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Thankful

For my family

My amazing, sexy, patient, wonderful wonderful husband

My two beautiful, silly, inspiring, giggly daughters

My parents and my brothers, and soon to be sister in law :)

My in-laws

My amazing job

My fabulous friends

My strong, healthy body that will run its first 5K today!

My house and home

Yep, a lot to be thankful for today

Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo

What Jessica Says

Fun little questionaire I did on Facebook

I asked Jessica a bunch of random questions. I wasn't sure she was even old enough to do it, but I bribed her with some candy and she did pretty well :) Though I had to keep reminding her to not say "I don't know" if she wanted the candy......

1. What is something mom always says to you?
good night

2. What makes mom happy?
sleep

3. What makes mom sad?
i don't know

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
I don’t know

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
go to sleep

6. How old is your mom?
Holds up 4 fingers and says 2

7. How tall is your mom?
big

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
dora

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
to yoga

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
I don't know

11. What is your mom really good at?
looking at pictures

12. What is your mom not very good at?
um, I don’t know

13. What does your mom do for her job?
you don’t go to work! (she found this very humorous)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
yogurt

15. What makes you proud of your mom?


16. What do you and your mom do together?
we read books at mommy jessica time

17. How are you and your mom the same?
we have pink hair

18. How are you and your mom different?
I don’t know

19. How do you know your mom loves you?
I love you too


20. What does your mom like most about your dad?
you play with me.

At 6 months....

It was quite the photoshoot. That was probably the best one I got of Izzy sitting still with her puppy!

Picture will be put up soon, as well as her weight & height, soon after her doctor visit

Miss Isabella Post is

Sitting on her own, and starting to crawl her arms forward (am I ready for a crawler???)

She's even reaching for chairs, tables, etc, around her. Wanting to pull up already?? What??

Eating solid foods! So far she's had carrots from Daddy's garden, peas, pumpkin (on Halloween!) pears, bananas, and chicken- all pureed with love by mommy. Yeah, I'm not as paranoid as I was with Jessica and not quite as good at waiting the 3 days before introducing new foods. She's only had solids for about two weeks!

And she is the MESSIEST EATER EVER.

Starting to finally take slightly longer naps. I hope. And hope even more I didn't just jinx that.......

But usually at least an hour, 2 - 3 times a day

Goes to bed at 5

Who knows when she'll get up.

The longest she has slept with out a peep was 14 1/2 hours. Since then she's usually up between 11 & 2, and again around 5am. Some nights its more, some nights less. It needs to be less VERY SOON

Still rocking the cloth dipes, and the solid poops are actually pretty easy to take care of

MUST be teething- she is starting to really REALLY bite hard!

Finally starting to giggle, and its so funny!

Went on her first airplane ride, on her actually 6 month birthday! We flew to Arizona, just Izzy & me, to visit my friend Jackie

Weighs: 18lbs 7 ounces (only gained 4 ounces in 2 months)

Is 26 inches tall (grew one inch)

Loves loves loves her Daddy- always reaches for him

She doesn't reach for anyone besides mommy and daddy (Jessica never reached to Daddy, so he's enjoying this with Izzy!)

Already starting to play games (making mommy & daddy pass her back and forth is a favorite)

Wants to be big like her sister

She likes to make the silliest squeaky noises

loves to observe all those around her

Not sure about her hair. She's pretty freakin bald

Loves when we sing her song

Nurses ALL THE TIME

Actually takes a bottle- its amazing! A whole new world

Still in the same size clothes, 9 - 12 month

The most beautiful baby girl, and is loved by her sister, mommy & daddy so much!

The things we do as mom's.....

So, all mothers have those days where they feel like super woman.

I had one of those days yesterday.

On top of working my 10 hour day (for those who don't know, I have an inhome childcare/preschool- with about 12 kids a day, and I have at least 1 helper a day), and waking up about 4 times with Izzy (2 times when she wakes up to eat, then 2 times when I wake up after nursing her and put her back in her crib)

Up at 6:20

Showered, got ready for the day

did my morning routine of putting away dishes, and in between squeezing in push ups on the counter

juggling my 2 1/2 year old and her tantrums until her buddy Blake arrived to save the day and distract her

All my normal preschool day stuff, and then we made ice cream for the first time. Bit chaotic.

On top of all that work stuff I also:

pureed some pears for Izzy's next food to try (her first fruits!)

folded cloth diapers

did 30 minutes of cardio on my elliptical when everyone was napping

washed & folded a load of our laundry

put away the girls laundry

tried a new baked chicken recipie (and undestimated the time, so we had to wait longer for dinner :( )

some school work while catching up on tv (the benifits, or downfalls, of online classes)

organized my NEW scrapbook space a little bit (post on that soon!)

AND got into bed by a decent hour, after reading 3 chapters in my book.

Just a normal day in my life right now

I don't even know how I do it all

Had to have this list, so one day my girls can see all that I do.

I wish my mom had written a list like this when I was young

Come on moms, I know I'm not the only super one out there.

Write a list of everything you do- and one day you'll look back and get exhausted just reading it ;)

Happy Halloween!!!!!

So, first off, I have to mention that I realize that my blog header still says September 2009. I would change it, but I can no longer do collages in Picasa. Ever since I upgraded to 3.5, my collage thing doesnt' work :( Now I REALLY need to teach myself photoshop! )

We had a really fun Halloween this year!

Here are some highlights- in crazy out of orderness

(thats how I roll these days)

Jessica the witch!

During the parade. Jessica LOVES her stroller

Izzy and one of her BFF's. Yes, she does like chewing on her friends

Who doesnt' find a chicky sucking their thumb adorable?

Izzy and her posse

This picture makes me laugh!

One of the two cutest chicky's EVER. Other one can be found here

Me & my girls!

Awesome shades

pumpkin patch fieldtrip!

so much fun on the swing!

BIG slide. Jessica got stuck going up. So I went up there to help

Dude, it was kinda scary!

love her expression, and the hand in the pocket!

she was a little nervous in the petting zoo

...prefered to be on the outside of the fence

need to figure something to do about the nail biting habit

this was actually taken after trick or treating

checking out our jack o latern

first candy!

she has the bestest friends :)

could they get cuter?

Not Halloween related, except for the fact that they were taken on Halloween day.

Izzy is eating food now! And she wants to feed herself.......

Izzy & I went to meet my friend Jessica's new baby boy

Kyle

so serious

and such a little peanut!

So sweet- Congratulations Jessica! He's beautiful

Anyway, Happy Halloween everyone!