A New Year brings MOM-ME!!!

Carl and I have eagerly welcomed in the New Year.  The 2012 year was a roller coaster, with Sophia's birth being our high point.  We had some low points as well but we got through it with a stronger relationship and two healthy happy kids.  

Carl and I spent New Years at the Amelia Island Ritz with my law school roommate, her husband and some new close friends from JAX.  It was our first night away from Jack and Sophia ever. Both kids did great, and we had a lot of fun ringing in the new year.

We spent New Years Day with Jack and Sophie.  Nothing is better than celebrating the first day of the New Year when it is 80 degrees and you are eating kumquats off your own trees on your own dock with your kids!

Sophie and Jack loved the Christmas tree.  They did not want us to take it down.

Sophia at 9 months! Sophia has her two bottom teeth. She  also learned how to crawl and pull herself up on all the furniture.  She is trying so hard to keep up with her brother.

Jack with one of his favorite friends, Ella.  They are so cute together.  

Jack is officially two and a half, which he says proudly.  Jack is such a sweet little guy. His vocabulary grows everyday.  He can count to ten.  He knows about 1/2 of his alphabet.  He was very shy at school for a while but is beginning to come out of his shell.  He loves all kinds of music and enjoys playing his guitar and piano.

Sophia is our little happy girl.  She always has a smile on her face unless she is in need of more food or  if someone takes her away from her Momma.

Sophia is so active.  She loves to be the middle of everything, and has quickly found ways to  play  right next to her brother.  If Jack is doing it, she wants to do it as well. 

We treasure our weekends with Carl.  I don't think a weekend goes by without the boys fixing something around the house.   Jack has his own tool set, and Jack helps his Dad fix everything.  There are many days when Daddy is at work that I have Jack take out his tool kit and belt, and fix the doors and cabinets.  Jack loves his tool time with Dad!  

Jack is such a sweet boy.  He is growing so fast.  Over the past two and a half years, he has always called me  Momma.  In the past few weeks, he has started to call me "Mommy".  I didn't ask him to do it but I feel like this is one more sign that he is growing up.

If you look past these two cute guys in the picture, you can see our little lady  overseeing their activities from behind.

We have a pretty regimented schedule.  When Daddy gets home, we get ready for dinner, eat,  the kids take a bubble bath together, they put on pjs, I nurse Sophia, and Carl reads the kids three books.  They love the routine, and so does Herme!

Jack and Sophia love to play with their toys together.  When Sophia began to crawl, it really changed the dynamic in the house.  She no longer wanted me to entertain her.  She wanted to be on the floor playing with Jack.

Jack showing Sophie how the piano works.  He is still her DJ.

Jack is growing up so fast.  He no longer looks or acts like a baby.  When Carl asked him if he was a baby, he responded with "No Daddy, I am a little boy."  He asks about everything... "What's Momma doing?"  "What's that for?" and "I do it" are all some common phrases around the house.

For Valentines day, Jack had a class party.  As one of the class moms, Sophia and I got to go too.  It was super cute watching them eat their snack and give out valentines.  

Sophia loves going to Jack's school.  She gets to play with all of the toys too.

Sophia deep in thought!

Jack has become a pickier eater.  He still loves fruits and veggies but it is tough getting him to eat full portions of  lunch and dinner. His favorite foods are coconut yogurt, pineapple, OJ, pizza, popsicles and cake.

On the other side of the spectrum is Sophia.  She LOVES to eat. I haven't found a food that she won't eat.  Her absolute favorite food is blueberries.  If she even hears the word, she stops and stares.  Sophia also really likes rice pudding.  

One of the kids favorite things to do is to play kitchen.  We have a big kitchen for them in the playroom but they love the little kitchen that sits in our living room. It allows them to make food in their kitchen while I cook our food.  Our neighbor gave us all of her children's old food sets. The kids make everything from birthday cakes to cookies to eggs and bacon with toast. We all have a lot of fun!

Sophia showing off her new creation!

Dinner time is messy time at our house. especially when it comes to Sophia's hair.  She gets EVERYTHING in her hair.  She thinks it is so funny.

Jack and Sophia preparing for our MOPS meeting. There had been a lot of rain and they  had just put on their rain coats. Once we got outside, Jack decided that the best use of his time was to puddle jump. He splashed in about 10 puddles which resulted in a wardrobe change before the meeting. He had a blast though, and the rubber boots came in handy.

We have been using our easel to work on letters and numbers.  It was funny that I took this picture and  while checking them realized that my darling daughter had a big piece of orange chalk in her mouth,  Needless to say, we have moved the chalk.

Best friends!

Sophia at 10 months!

Both kids love to stare out the windows.  They especially like to watch Herme and George.  Sophia's favorite spot is to stare out the front door or the window by the lanai.  Jack was never interested in this until Sophia began crawling.  We now have four hand prints on the windows and doors every morning:)

Bath time is always fun. Jack now asks for his bath at night.  Jack still calls his sister De-dah for Sophia. He still has problems pronouncing the "s" and oddly enough we find ourselves calling her D-dah as well

The best Valentine's Day gift ever

Dancing on valentine's day!

Making momma cookies

This is one of my favorite Jack faces.  He loves to give me his devilish look. I give it right back to him, and then we both giggle.

One of my favorites!

This year has been full of party-planning.  One of closest friends (and neighbor), Lucy, just gave birth to her beautiful baby girl, Abigail!  We had a sip and see at the house to celebrate the newest addition to the Farms, and Sophia's soon to be best friend!

Both kids love to tickle.  Jack likes to tickle his sister, and she loves to giggle when he gets ready to tickle her.  Sophia is super ticklish, especially under her neck.

All clean from bath time!