Grown-Up

I am now officially, a bona fide grown up. As of May 27th, I am a 30-year-old.

Turning 30 doesn't make me sad, and it doesn't really make me feel old. It makes me feel like a legitimate ADULT. Like I am really a grown-up now. You would have thought being married with 2 kids would have done the trick, but something about saying "I am 30," makes me feel official. I have to say I like it.

While my 20's were SO much fun (And I mean FUUUUN), I think my 30's will be even better. I met and married Jon and had both Caroline and Miles in my 20's, so that will be hard to top, but I am so looking forward to this next decade (and beyond).

Here's how we celebrated to event...

Jon took me out to a lovely dinner to celebrate the night before. It was SO nice to get out and have some one on one time!!!!
The, the day of, I got banana pancakes for breakfast. Then, we got all dolled up and visited Daddy at work. We were anxious to introduce everyone to Miles :) but sadly, I have no pics :( Daddy treated us to lunch, and we had a low key afternoon and evening.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate!

The bigl celebration is coming soon...80's-themed Roller Skating Party...stay tuned :)

Memorial Day 2010

Our annual Memorial Day Lake weekend was a little different this year. We usually have the whole gang together and have our family triathlon and a family pic. BUT, with all of the Erickson babies that are about to arrive, not everyone was able to make it.

But, never fear, Caroline had enough fun for the entire family :) Grandpa hooked us up with a few new toys...a SWEET jet ski, a really cool tube for the kids, and lots of fresh sand delivered for our beach! We couldn't wait to check it all out.

The car ride was made nice and quiet with the DVD player...complete with headphones. This way, we don't have to listen to Dora...aaaahhhhh!

Caroline was eager to check out the scene. So eager, that Daddy let her take a "dip" in her clothes ;)

Enjoying the beach

My mom drove down for the day and brought my grandparents to meet their first great-grandson! GGpa with Miles...

And GGma...

Then our moms decided to take the jet ski for a spin. What a sight to see!!! These 2 ladies are so funny together. The grandmas going for a cruise...

Caroline waiting patiently on the dock for Grammy and Mimi to return.

She looks so big and grown up to me!

This child would not stay out of the water. To say she loved it was an understatement. She was floating, kicking, putting her face under, and always wanting more.

Checking out the jet ski. She was ready to rock and roll.

Going for a spin with Daddy. Miss C couldn't get enough!

Riding in the tube with Mommy. This tube is great. I was fully clothed, and didn't get wet at all. Caroline didn't want to get out, she just wanted to ride it over and and over.

Mommy and Daddy in a rare kid-free moment.

Miles spent most (actually ALL) of his time indoors, but he still had a big weekend! He met his great-grandparents for the first time. AND he had his very first bottle (of breast milk)!!!

The cousins relaxing after a hard day of playing. It was fun to see Carolien playing with her "big girl" cousin Emma :)

It wasn't the same without the WHOLE family there, but we certainly did have fun!

U.S.S. Erickson

We took our new double stroller out for it's maiden voyage! At times, it felt like navigating a small ship, but I think that's pretty much a given in the world of double strollers :)

Actually, its really pretty light and manageable (for a double) and it was fun to push both babies together!!!

Caroline loves her new "big stroller" and thoroughly enjoyed being able to keep an eye on Baby Miles. She keeps asking for "more big stroller", so I guess that is a good thing...

Showing off our new wheels in the mall parking lot.

It was quite a a group effort to get this stroller...First, several months ago, my mom did some stroller research for me. She went to several baby stores and tested out strollers, determining that this was the one to get. I tried it out and decided she was right. Before ordering it new, I opted to troll Craigslist (Austin and Dallas) to see if I could find it. I finally saw this one, listed on Dallas Craigslist, so Jon's mom met the seller, gave it a test drive, and negotiated a sweet deal for us. Then she took it to my step mom, who so kindly hauled it down here and delivered it to us. SO, with the help of all 3 grandmas, we are the proud owners of a gently used Peg Perego Aria Twin, and we LOVE it :) Thanks Team Grandma!!!!

Friends :)

We have had so much fun introducing Baby Miles to all of our friends and family. And Of course Caroline has enjoyed having lots of attention and play dates as a result!

I haven't been good about taking pics of everyone, but we have been so blessed by our friends bringing food, gifts, and just coming to spend time with us!

Sweet Taylor and Kendall did such a good job holding him!

Our dear friends, Matt, Ginny, and of course, Caroline's BFF, Matelyn, came to visit last weekend! Sadly, I didn't get any pics other than this one. The girls were chowing down on their snacks...this was in between squabbling over toys. Caroline even managed to yank Mattie's bow out a couple of times. Sigh. They had fun anyway, and I had fun visiting with Ginny :)

Connor brought his baby brother over to play this week. Connor is just a couple of months older than Caroline and Baby Reid is just a couple of months older than Baby Miles. We figure that Caroline and Connor will be boyfriend/girlfriend and Baylor, and Reid and Miles can be roommates ;)

They are definitely a cute couple.

Stealing a kiss...

Going in for the hug...

Eventually, it was more like a tackle ;) They were both laughing so hard, and Caroline kept squealing for "more" Uh oh...looks like we are in trouble already!

Random Thoughts...

So here are a few of my random thoughts about Motherhood Round 2...

*It's amazing how you forget everything about taking care of a newborn, but then it somehow magically all comes back to you. Little by little I find myself saying, "Oh yeah, I remember this."

*Newborns are delicious. The way they smell, the little noises they make, their soft skin, tiny features. Everything. So sweet and cuddly, and I can't get enough! I am definitely enjoying the newborn phase a lot more this time around. Which leads me to my next thought...

*Newborns are so EASY! With your first, you don't appreciate this fact at all. You are adjusting to the utter shock and stress of having a little person depend on you for everything. Suddenly, your life is not your own anymore, which is overwhelming. I remember thinking it was SO HARD to get anything done with a newborn...ha ha ha! Try getting something done with a toddler!?!? With the second, you are used to your life revolving around them. My life hasn't been my own in 2 years! So it feels so easy...All he does is eat and sleep! I can take him anywhere right now, run errands with him all day long, and actually enjoy a meal out. As long as I nurse him, we are money. No sippy cups or snacks or or whining or toys or bribery or threats of time out. Just nice relaxing outings with a sleeping baby...ahhhhh!

*I find myself being WAY more relaxed this time. But I still check on him often...just to make sure he is still breathing ;)

*Caroline seems like a GIANT. She is suddenly so heavy when I pick her up, her diapers are HUGE (and really disgusting in comparison to his), and she seems so tall! A little over 2 weeks ago, she was my baby, and now she is practically ready for college.

*I love them both SO much. I didn't really worry or doubt that I would love him as much as Caroline, because everyone always says that you will. I just didn't know what that would feel like. To love both of them so unbelievably much and so instantly. It's awesome. I feel so blessed!

Big Sister

Caroline is adjusting really well to her new role as Big Sister. She is very sweet and gentle (most of the time) and we have only had a few displays of "violence" or jealousy so far ;)

She loves to help me burp him, and then loves it if I "burp" her. Her burping sound effect is actually pretty good. She also likes to lay across the Boppy pillow in my lap. I need to get a pic of that, because its hilarious.



She LOVES to hold him all by herself.


Hug him.

Kiss him.

Hold his hands.

And "Pap" him on the head.We are working on "papping" nice and soft ;)

(For the record, no babies were harmed during this photo shoot...Mommy and Mimi were on hand to run interference)

It's really fun to see them together. I seriously can't believe we have 2 kids!

Here they are with Mimi...We were soooo glad to have her here this week!

Our little guy is 2 weeks old, and had another great check up today. He is 8 lbs. 8 oz., so he is obviously getting PLENTY to eat and growing like a weed!!

A few more firsts...

Miles napped in his crib for the first time (instead of the pack n play). He obviously found it quite cozy :) since this is how I found him...

And we gave him his first "bath" Not a real bath, since he still has umbilical cord, but a wipe down at least ;) He wasn't really a fan.Sister was on hand to give us some much needed assistance.

He was glad when all that nonsense was over.

We have had a great week despite our continued sickness! Caroline is still coughing up a storm, and now Miles has an eye infection in BOTH eyes, but surprisingly enough we are still happy and having fun :)

One Week Old!

Hard to believe that today is my original due date and Miles is already a week old :)

Of course, everyone says this...but REALLY its going by so fast already!!!

Jon went back to work today, so I was on my own with both kiddos for the very first time.

Caroline had MDO this morning, so we all got loaded up and headed out for our first outing! It was much easier than i thought. I just clipped his car seat in the snap n go, and Caroline "helped" me push the stroller into school. She was really proud to show off her baby bro :) When went to pick her up, she was more excited to see him than she was to see me!

At the ripe old age of 1 week old, Miles is eating about every 3 hours during the day and every 4 at night. Last night he made it for a 5 hour stretch which was amazing (for me)! I am thankful that he gained so much weight so fast so that we can let him sleep for longer periods. It is SO nice.

He is sleeping in his pack n play, which we have set up in the "man room" downstairs. That way I don't have to trudge up and down the stairs all night. But if he keeps sleeping the way he did last night, he may graduate to his crib very soon!

Caroline loves to peek in on him often.

So far he has enjoyed his bouncer quite a bit

Always under the watchful eye of big sis

He typically sleeps through our tummy time efforts.

And he has even tried out his swing...Again with lots of "help" from C ;)

We love him more and more every second and are trying to enjoy all these little newborn moments. I forgot how sweet and sleepy and cuddly newborns are :) I LOVE it!!!

Let the games begin...

Miles was scheduled for his first check up with Dr. G on Monday. Well, not to be outdone by her little bro, Caroline came down with a fever and a cough on Sunday. I called the doc, and we decided to make our first family outing to the pediatrician's office.

Luckily, Dr. G didn't feel like we needed to worry about C being contagious...whew! She still seems to be feeling a bit under the weather, but hopefully she will feel better soon.

Mr. Miles had a fabulous check up! He was 7 lbs. 9 oz. at birth, and dropped to 7 lbs. 2 oz. by the time we left the hospital. The goal would be to make it back to his birth weight by his 2 week appt. BUT, Miles has already surpassed it in just 5 days!! What a super-eating stud :) He weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz., and Dr. G was quite impressed. He also noted that Miles is already really strong and has good head control for such a little guy.

Rocking some killer socks for his first outing to the doctor
Another pic, just because he's so cute ;)

All in all, it was a great appt. We are thankful that Caroline isn't REALLY sick, and thankful that Miles is growing strong!

Happy Mommy!

Of course, I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year because I had BOTH my babies to celebrate with.

Daddy and Caroline made me strawberry pancakes for breakfast, which were delicious. Caroline helped Daddy bring them to me, and proclaimed "Happy Mommy!" So Funny. Jon said he practiced with her, but she just couldn't quite get all the words together in one sentence. I'll take her sweet little voice saying "Happy Mommy" any day!

Daddy took Caroline to church, leaving me and my little baby for some quality snuggle time together. I just can't get enough of him :)


Caroline brought home a flower from church, but it didn't quite make it one piece. It's the thought that counts ;)


After naps, I got to have some special time with my big baby. We wanted to go to the park, but it was sprinkling, so we opted for ICE CREAM!!

I have no idea what is going on here, she looks like she is going to attack the ice cream...must be an Erickson thing ;)
So happy
and so messy!

A special thanks to my biggest baby (ha!) for making this day special. I am so lucky to have him as my partner in parenting and in life!