What Grace really does during nap time

After what seemed like a pretty good nap for Grace, maybe an hour, Erin and I heard her calling for us to come into the bedroom. It was cloudy outside so the room was unusually dark, but it didn't take long for me to notice that Grace's face was entirely black. After a closer look it was clear that Grace's "quiet time" during her nap, didn't involve her sleeping, but her applying an entire tube of Erin's mascara over the entire surface of her face.

Literally, nothing was left uncovered. From chin to cheek, lips, and nose, all were black. Since Grace isn't allowed out of her bed during nap time before the buzzer goes off (that's another story) I knew I shouldn't laugh at her. My only option was to leave the room and crack up outside. I sent Erin in and she managed to keep a strait face long enough to tell Grace to get in the shower. Knowing she was already in trouble, Grace wasted no time. Before we knew it the shower was on and Grace was inside soaking wet with all of her clothes still on.

At this point, Erin, being the loving wife she is, went to the mall, abandoning me to a soaking wet two year old, standing fully dressed in a shower, covered in mascara. Now it was just the two of us. I got in the shower with my best scrub cloth and prepared for war. Erin warned me it wouldn't be easy to get off, but I wasn't intimidated. When I stepped in the shower, however, Grace made it as clear as she possibly could that she couldn't deal with the issue at hand because she had to put on her swimming pool goggles.

As I looked down at the beaming smile of my two year old girl, swimming goggles on, covered and dripping in black mascara, fully dressed in wet red shirt, I could only smile back and think to myself, it doesn't get better than this.

This is a recent family picture. I have many things to write about but little time to write.. thought I could at least post the first family pic in a while.. see how great it turned out, ha ha!

Ella Wagner Turns Two

Ever wonder what happens when two football playing buddies from highschool each have two little girls and no boys? The video below will demonstrate the outcome. They have melted under the precious sunshine of baby girls... and they become toe nail painting doting daddies. It is pretty adorable to watch. This video is from our Goddaughter Ella's second birthday. Grace and Ella are great friends and love playing with their daddy's together. Dave I hope this doesn't ruin your reputation from being an All-American lacrosse player and record setting linebacker... well if it does it was well worth it!
You two are awesome dads!


Happy Birthday Ella!!!

It is hard for them to turn these little girls down... even when they want to paint their daddys' toenails'....

Sisters

Watching Grace fall in love with her baby sister and watching Karis begin to recognize her big sister is one of the sweetest aspects of my day as a mom. We are so busy but this only reminds us that it is because we have been so blessed.

When Grace was placed in my arms for the first time a shocking joy instantly overwhelmed me. There was nothing in my life that came close to this pressing feeling of responsiblity and hope for the future. Karis' arrival was different in so many ways and the emotions were same but the experience of them was less instantaneous. At first I was getting past the shocking pain of a natural and very rapid labor. The pain was quickly overtaken by shock because she was a girl and not a boy. I had prepared for months to have a baby boy. We absolutely love little girls so this was a very happy shock but a shock none the less.

I wanted to finally add some more pics.
This is when I was in labor just a little bit before my water broke. I felt pretty good until the water broke!

Karis Maria

We have had a busy but wonderful three weeks as a family of four! Karis is still a great sleeper and Grace is a very loving big sister. I feel extremely thankful for a easy recovery and smooth transition so far. We wanted to share this album from the delivery: