Happy 2011!

So the holiday dust has finally settled and we hope that everyone is enjoying 2011 as much as we are so far! The girls are amazing. Life is amazing.

We've made some pretty big changes this year and I think we're all happier people for it. First off, I left my job at the University. It was a hard decision to make, but we decided that even though I was part-time, I truly needed a more flexible schedule and a better life/work balance. So now I am happily doing freelance work when I can (or want) to keep the "adult" side of my brain working, and spending better time with my girls and enjoying them even more. I've picked up one project already which is going really well. Iris has reaped some huge benefits from going to "school" part-time, so we have continued with that and Eve joined her there last week. I was a little worried about it (and of course, nervous about leaving the baby) but so far their teacher has said that the two of then have been "as good as gold". :) It's helping to build some more structure into Eve's life as well as keep Iris's routine stable, and it also give me some time to work and do some things by myself!

Another big change is in Eve. As some of you know, in addition to the GERD issues we face, Eve has what we now believe is a milk protein intolerance. Her tummy has a difficult time digesting the proteins at all, and it has caused her some painful and miserable side effects. BUT, we switched her to a partially hydrolyzed formula (where the proteins are already broken down for her) and within a DAY, we could see big changes. Now, she has made a complete 180. No more belly pain, no more poop issues, no more 15 minute maximum naps, not nearly as much vomiting, and her eczema is barely there anymore. It's amazing. She is SUCH a happy, cooing, smiling baby, and every day we are more and more enchanted by her. I've struggled with the change personally, but when I see how much sweet Eve is thriving, well, I just couldn't be happier. And just yesterday I donated 240+ ounces of breastmilk from my freezer to a couple who really needed it for their baby...so yeah...life is good.

Iris is once again constantly kissing on the baby constantly and wanting to hold her, and Eve is so happy to let it happen. She's getting stronger and more aware of life by the day, and is even sleeping longer at night! (our max stretch at this point is 9 hours - GO BABY GO!) I took a pic of Sprout's hair so that everyone can see the tangles we face in the morning. So strange that moving to a toddler bed has done this to her head! I guess it's just because she tends to stay on her back more now. Sprout's favorite game currently is playing "Where's Iris?", and we'll be in the middle of almost anything when the hands fly to her face and she says "Where did Ice (Iris) go?" She's also made some big strides in the potty department, and actually told me in the tub last night that she needed to get out to go pee pee. That girl scored 2 m&m's for her success. :)

Oh. And we got a minivan. :) The "VanderVan" has been rocking my world lately.

So here are some pictures from the past week or so of my happy, HAPPY, family. As Iris likes to say, "Mommy happy. Daddy happy. Baby happy. Ice happy."