Irina is ForwardFacing!

Irina turned 2 last month and is finally forward facing!! We kept her rear facing for as long as we could, we wanted to make sure she was in the safest position for as long as possible. She did not like the change at first but got used to it after a few days, it was different being able to see her for me also. The pic is of her dancing to her new fave song, "I gotta feeling". If you think Craig and I are crazy and over-protective, you're right. Especially when it comes to a car crash. It is much safer for a child to ride in a car rear facing until they are atleast 2yrs old, most parents I know switch to forward facing before their child is even 1yr old. If you dont believe that its safer, do the research. It's not going to hurt to look into it, right?

Irina's first braids

"tiss herr" or "kiss here"

2 little braids

Last week I decided to my baby girl 2 little braids, I wanted to see if she had long enough hair. She LOVED her braids! She looked in the mirror and said "wow, kite (like) it".

"I gotta feeling"

irina dancing :)

Baby Odom Baby Bump #2

15wks preggers

As I write this I'm actually 16weeks pregnant but this pic was taken last week. I haven't blogged about the pregnancy but things are going well. In the first trimester I just felt super sleepy and had some food aversions, other than that I felt totally normal. Having Irina to take care of and chase has made me very thankful for not experiencing morning (all day really) sickness, I cant imagine going through that. I have been loving my appointments with my midwife! She is the best! When she uses the doppler to find the heartbeat she lets Irina turn it on and look for the baby, Irina smiles so big when she hears the baby. I am so glad she involves Irina with the appointments, each exam room has a toy basket in it; how great is that! I just wish I had her during my first pregnancy. I was on bed rest for a bit early on due to some bleeding but all things look great now, the baby has a nice strong heart beat. Baby is growing...he/she must be really big; because I'm HUGE this time around. I know you "show" sooner with your second but wow, I was this size at 20weeks with Irina. I also swear that I have felt this baby move already, it cant be gas! My midwife Donnellyn says that its very possible to feel the baby move at 15weeks, "your so tiny, it doesn't surprise me". You see why I love her :) I loved being pregnant with Irina and so far I'm loving this pregnancy as well.

Swim Classes!

swimming to mommy

smiling despite the super cold water

our class room

liam & irina

irina wanted to try the slide but was to scared

Irina has started her swimming classes again, we switched from the Aquatics Center in Southlake to a much warmer pool at the Keller Pointe Rec Center. Liam and Irina took classes together last year and were going to jump in the water together again this year. We were excited to be in 85degree water vs 70degrees (although it felt like 40degrees to us), we walked in for our first class only to see a sign that read "WATER HEATER IS NOT WORKING, WATER WILL BE COLDER THAT USUAL"..ugh! really!? Then, our class instructor wasn't properly advised of the type of students she would be teaching...you see, we signed up for a "Mommy & Me" swim session where a parent is required to be in the pool with their child. She was under the impression she taught toddlers alone, minus the parent. So after talking to this manager and then that class coordinator, we walked into chilly waters with our kids. Irina screamed last year for her first couple of sessions but this year she had been asking to go swimming (yeah, in FEB!) so I felt she might be ok. Liam was a bit nervous and I'm sure SHOCKED by the near freezing water! He did the best he could and I think he did better than Irina did last year. Irina was a great little kicker, she can blow bubbles in the water, "monkey" the wall or walk along the edge with her hands and she is comfortable with her ears in the water. We have taken 2 classes and the heater is working! Wahoo! The water was much, much warmer and the kids did weren't shivering at the end of class :)

Irina is not shy

Just yesterday Irina moved into a different classroom at church, Craig and I were worried she would cry since it was a new and big change. We have seen kids transition into new classrooms since we teach Sunday school and were expecting the worst. Irina surprised everyone and did AWESOME! Once kids are 2, they get to see a puppet show and sing songs with all the kids that are 2yrs thru 4yrs. Craig and I are in that group teaching and thought Irina would cry when she saw us, but she walked in, said hi and danced along to the praise and worship. She even got on stage and did all the hand motions to the songs! Craig and I were so proud of her! We have such a big girl!

Irina's Birthday Party & New Class @ Church

cindy & annabel

irina & her datty

friends!

make a wish!

the birthday girl

"cheese"

sneaking off to open a gift

holding baby Henry

"I twoo" is what she says

Mondays are our playgroup day and so we decided to schedule Irina's 2nd birthday party on a playdate. We had a great turn out and everyone had a blast! I can't believe my baby girl is 2! She is growing so fast! She has been putting sentences together and is doing a great job, she is trying to do the same in spanish but doesnt quite get it yet. I really need to talk to her more in spanish but it slips my mind, I have to pick a day and focus on just speaking spanish to her; it's difficult! So anyway, she has also learned to count to 6 and can count to 3 in spanish..slowly but surely we will get to 10! I'm so proud of her!