Breastfeeding

While I was nursing Will today, I managed to get Kate in action nursing her elephant. Couldn't resist... It makes me smile every time! 

Story Time

Kate loves to play teacher and read books to Will. Her favorite of the Valentine's season is "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose." Her most frequently used line is, "Okay is everybody ready? Is everyone listening?" 

Sesame Street Live

Kate had her first playdate yesterday without Mommy and Daddy. Summer and Bryan took Kate and Ellie to Sesame Street Live at Target Center. Summer spent a lot of time in the concourse with Kate as she was scared of Cookie Monster's voice. When she got home she told us, "I was just a little scared of Cookie Monster but I had fun." 

Ellie sharing her Daddy with Kate

 Grilled Cheese and Chicken Nuggets

Valentine's Day Baking

Kate claims to love to bake..."It is so fun, Mommy!" I think she loves it because she gets to eat it as she goes... 

My Great Aunt Sarah made Kate and me matching aprons a few years back. We love to use them while we bake. 

We don't want to overdue the frosting and we are very particular about how we put the frosting on. 

Fort Wagner

We have a little girl who loves to build forts! We had a picnic inside the fort, sang songs, and played with a flashlight to learn how we can see in the dark. 

Tummy Time!

Will has really come to like Tummy Time! He is a strong little fella! 

My old man in a baby's body... Love my little peanut!

He also loves just laying on his back looking at his farm animals. Perhaps, Grandpa Bob should have kept the farm, and Will could have moved back to SD to be a Farmer?!?

Life with Two...

Daddy has settled right in with two little ones. He seems to know how to hold and carry both of them better than Mommy. He has been a tremendous help and is a GREAT father. He's a keeper!

Kate loves snuggling up by Will and laying by him when he is crying. She wants the crying to stop and tells me to feed him. 

We've kept Kate in her normal routine of going to pre-school. She loves it and continues to amaze us every day! On the way to school the other morning, she told me to "be patient and to keep my pants on" when I asked her to put her mittens on. I wonder were she got that from?!? Daddy?!? She has also picked upon saying "Jesus" when she drops something. Daddy?!? I've coached her that we only say Jesus when we are talking about church or Baby Jesus. Now, when she drops something, she says, "Baby Jesus." I guess my lesson planning needs to improve. I'll work with her on "darn it" or "shoot" to course correct. The little things that give us a chuckle! 

She always has a stuffed animal under her arm and loves to read!

 Practicing the letter "A." She already knows how to spell her name verbally and has to pick out her name on the board when she arrives at school to "check in" for the day. 

 "I'm going to Minnetonka." She knows the town she lives in...

 She is spoiled in the morning and gets to sit in Daddy's spot in bed to have breakfast and watch one Dora. It is a new ritual that started when Will was born. Lucky Kate!

 "Now, everybody sit down and listen to the story." She loves to play teacher and read us books. She often says she wants to be a teacher when she gets bigger. 

 March, March, March... they listen to a lot of music at school. She came home last week singing, "I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it." Something she learned during their dance party at school. 

Will's First Bath

Will was a trooper for his first bath! I am sure it felt great after two weeks of not being able to give him a full bath. It took a long time for the umbilical cord to fall off!

 Look who is finding his fingers just like "Sis" ... we are going to be in trouble with finger sucking with this one too!

 "I am #1!" 

Kate was singing songs to Will to distract him from being cold. He likes her singing and was watching her so intently. He calms down every time she starts singing to him. It makes her feel like a great Big Sister. 

She has been doing so well helping out up to and including trying to nurse her babies under her shirt like Mommy does with Will. She loves watching us change his diapers. The first time she watched she said, "Oh, look Mom. There is his tail." My Grandma always called it the "wickel" and the "sugar." I guess "tail" will do! It is a good thing Tony didn't get his way with naming Will, Felix! Kate now says her name is not Kate Wagner but it is Kate Felix. Later in life, she will be happy it is Kate Wagner.

Will's First Week/ Big Sister Transition

Kate has done an amazing job transitioning! She is so grown up in a matter of days and literally grew about an inch to boot! 

Hello, Little Man!

First outing was to the Doctor. Will weighed in at 6 pounds 3 ounces, down just a tad since birth. Everything else checked out great! We had a follow up visit today, and he is 6 pounds and 13 ounces. He is officially past birth weight and on the upside swing. 

Ready to play ball, Dad! 

Watching my Daddy while he watches the Rose Bowl. Go Big 10! 

Daddy made me do Tummy Time for a few minutes, and I wasn't too happy for awhile afterwards. 

Nana managed to keep Kate busy throughout the week when she wasn't at pre-school. Kate adores her Nana. When Nana would try to hold Will, Kate basically took Will out of Nana's arms and handed him to Mommy. She didn't care that Mommy was holding Will, but Nana was 'hers.' Nana had to leave today, so we will see how this changes things. We will miss Nana! 

Did you know that Playdoh can also be used to make mustaches on your face? 

Happy New Year!

We had a New Year's Countdown at 8pm for Miss Kate and rung in the New Year over hot chocolate and marshmallows. None of us made it up until Midnight to ring in the New Year, except for Daddy who was up with Will. Mommy was up throughout the night, so was getting her catnap in. 

Kate and Mommy making the hot chocolate (Note: the "matching" PJ's... one of my favorite things about Kate is her ability to wear anything and everything together. We have learned to pick our battles.)

One marshmallow for you, ten marshmallows for me

Cheers!

Our First Visitors

Brooke, Kelly, Dick, and Theanne just happened to be in the Twin Cities the weekend after Will was born. They were our first visitors, and we were so grateful they took time out of their weekend to come meet Will. It is hard to believe Brooke and I have known each other since we were in 6th grade. She continues to be one of my biggest supporters. So thankful for her!

Welcome Home, Will!

We were released from the hospital 28 hours after delivery and couldn't wait to bring Will home. It was 38 degrees and the sun was shining. The next day it turned to -5 degrees, so we were thankful to have such a beautiful day. 

 The Gophers played in the Texas Bowl game against Syracuse at 5pm. Will was home just in time for his first Gopher game!

 He took a quick nap before the game began. He needed his rest to root on the Gophers especially when they lost in the last minute for the game. Get used to it, Will! This is Gophers MO! 

Introducing William "Will" Thomas Wagner

On Thursday, December 26th, we welcomed William "Will" Thomas (after April's maiden name Thompson) Wagner into the world at 12:30pm. Will weighed in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and measured 21 inches, exactly the same as his sister. Baby #2 was such a different experience during delivery since Big Sister "paved" the way. At one point, the doctor said that April may laugh the baby out. Epidurals are a wonderful thing!!

Like Father, Like Son. Will looks so much like his handsome Daddy. I am so lucky to have another handsome, sweet man in my life. 

Nana arrived in the late afternoon to help us for a week. We were very thankful to have her here to help with the Big Sister Transition and to meet Baby Will!

This is one of my favorite pictures. Will looks like an old man in a baby's body. If you've seen the movie Benjamin Button, you know what I am talking about. LOVE it! 

He looked like he was praying or meditating once we got into the warm water. I am sure it felt like his Momma's womb. 

Big Sister Kate came to the hospital after a long day at pre-school to meet her Baby Brother Will. 

She was so proud to hold him and called him her "baby brother."

Baby Will brought Big Sister Kate a gift in the hospital, My Cuddles Monkey! Kate can change its diaper, feed it with it's banana bottle, and so much more.

 "Let me see my Baby Brother again."

Yum Yum... I bet Kate wishes she could become a Big Sister every day considering we had cupcakes in the hospital room and celebrated her. She even got a "Big Sister" pink hospital band from the nurses.