Updates

Life has been good. I have been busy with school, swimming and clinical rotations for one of my nursing classes. I have only done my long term care rotations but have so far been hit, escaped being bitten, and am a pro at moving, dressing and bathing the elderly. It doesn't sound so great, but I actually love it and can't wait to start my nursing program (I will be getting my BSN) in July or October (we haven't decided yet). The girls are fantastic and are continuing to crack us up daily!

Addi:
Addi started out the year with speech therapy through the county and private occupational therapy. She has since been released from speech and continues to improve steadily -- just the other day she made the correct "Sh" sound for the first time! She is only going to OT every other week, in hopes that she won't need it much longer. We brush her skin with a special brush, followed by some deep pressure exercises to help appropriately stimulate her touch receptors -- otherwise she attempts to fulfill her need for stimulation by crashing into things, or bouncing and hanging on thing inappropriately. We also have her listening to "Mozart for Modulation" CDs (as recommended by her OT) to help with her auditory stimulation and motor planning. All of the techniques are a great help and we really notice a difference in her behavior!
Addi is in preschool 3 days a week and loves it! She has some great friends and the structure helps her immensely. Her behavior on preschool days is incredible and she is an absolute angel. At night we work with her in some workbooks -- writing letters and numbers, tracing, reading clocks, and even a little math -- she loves that as well.
Here are some recent Addi quotes:
(Normally when we act excited b/c Addi has shown us something cool she has done we will say something like "Holy smokes Addi, that's cool!")
Addi commenting on a particularly yummy dinner: "Holy dope smokes you guys this dinner is so good!" (Apparently "dope smokes" are even better than "smokes")

Addi looking at monkeys at the zoo: "You guys, that monkey keeps looking at me -- I am really attracted to him."

Addi had just helped Maren with something and meant to tout her big-girlness, but instead said: "You guys, I just helped Maren! I...am...powerless!"

Addi has also been completely adamant about being a chicken for Halloween. Brian and I are currently doing our best to accomodate this wish by meticulously sewing feather boas to a sweatshirt hoodie, b/c we are so damn happy that she isn't old enough to want the costume at the store titled "slutty devil" -- that is not a battle she will win someday! Stay tuned for cute costume pics.

The girls continue to play well together. Occasionally they have their little fights and inevitably get mad at each other, but for the most part they are constantly playing and enjoying the companionship. Every day when we meet Addi outside preschool the girls hug and Addi insists on carrying Maren outside the building -- it is super cute and all the other parents comment on how sweet they are. They love reading together, using their flashlights to inspect all of the closets for wild animals, and blowing Daddy kisses as he leaves for work in the morning.
Maren:
Maren is a spit fire as always. She is also a total Daddy's girl -- only Daddy is allowed to brush her teeth, hold her hand in a parking lot, or put her to bed. It's cute and I'm only a little jealous :) Mae (her new self proclaimed nickname) is still an awesome eater -- to the point where it is almost alarming at times, like days where lunch consists of 1/2 an avocado, 1/2 entire package of Applegate Farms chicken, 1/2 an apple, some hummus and numerous bites of whatever it is I happen to be eating at the time. She also loves to feed herself like a big girl, unless she can't get the food in her mouth fast enough and then she wants us to shovel it in.
Maren is talking a ton, especially since bink has been relegated to her crib full time, an event that greatly displeases Miss Mae. She will attempt to repeat anything Addi says and has quite the vocabulary. Addi and Maren love coloring and drawing together -- something Addi didn't

even take interest in until she was 2. Addi has also taught Maren how to properly hold a pencil when they draw -- I love this older sibling thing!

Maren is also discovering the potty. She likes to sit on it and play with the toilet paper. She has yet to actually "go" on the potty, but we aren't really concerned with that, we just like that she is happy about the idea and it isn't a scary thing for her.
The many faces of Mae Mae:
Wicked cute
I'm not getting my way, so I might as well lay here.
Pretending to be scared.
You don't understand, I don't want bink in my crib, I want it in my mouth!
Get ready, I am going to give you one wet and sloppy mooch!