Merry 1st Christmas, L & D! (a tad bit delayed)

There are too many reasons to list why I have neglected blogging recently.  The best excuse?  I got a new MAC for Xmas and have NO idea how to work it!  I now have photos in Iphoto and Picasa and my mind is spinning just trying to figure out which is best!

I was going to bypass writing out the details of the past few weeks and tell the story by pictures, but I have come SO far in documenting every big occasion that I can't allow myself to stop now.  And considering there were quite a few big occasions recently, I am forced to give up laziness for perseverance.  Plus, it's my last post in 2010!

There is one thing that saved my sanity prior to the holiday season, and it came in the form of AUNT ROSE!  You can't see it in the pictures, but I swear the woman has angel wings attached to her back.  She stayed with Matt and I for over a week before Christmas and I didn't realize how desperate I was for someone to talk to, someone to lend me a hand, and someone to cook for me.  I haven't eaten that well since I was in high school!  From the moment the girls woke up to the moment they went to bed, Rose was running around like my little mad woman sidekick!  She helped me dress the girls, feed them, change diapers, take them to the pediatrician, run errands, wrap presents, sew missing buttons on my coats, and every spare second she had she would spend it loving on L & D.  At night, she became my therapist as her and I would reminisce about my parents and help each other gear up for what was going to be a tough holiday season.

Joyce and Bill stopped by for a visit on their way to Jasper.  They just adored the girls!  

A few members of the Burger clan!

The girls LOVE when Rose sings to them.  Their favorite song?  "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed..."  :)

Moving onto the holidays, Matt and I ventured down to Jasper to spend them at Phil and Krista's house with Addie, Courtney, Mark and Steph.  I was happy we were all under one roof as I think we all needed to be together...no matter how chaotic 3 girls under the age of 2 can be!  We were able to continue with some of our favorite traditions, but with deep sadness a few we were not.  My dad's infamous Christmas brunch was probably the biggest absence this year, although Phil and Krista tried their best to replicate; however, my dad didn't earn "Egg Man of the Year" for nothing!  His scrambled eggs could not be beat.

On Christmas Eve we went to church as usual and then to GG Lila's.  If I do say so myself, the girls looked ADORABLE in their dresses, patent shoes and hair bows!  Here is where tradition begins.  Everyone...as in ALL 60+ SEGERS...must stay upstairs upon arrival because all the presents that Santa brought are downstairs, eat dinner upstairs (nothing but the finest Papa John's pizza), and then when it is time, line up beginning with the youngest great grandchild (who was a whopping 2+ weeks old) up to the eldest grandchild (who is 40+ years old - I think.)  If everyone is present and I did my math right, that is a total of 38 people lining up single file to head downstairs.  All the aunts and uncles are at the bottom of the stairs to capture the moment on video.  Randy and Beth were so kind to capture Lil and Di's first trip down the stairs this year, but of course I can't figure out how to upload it yet on my MAC!

Once downstairs, the girls were greeted with lots of fun gifts, although they really could have cared less if there was a bag of coal awaiting them!  They were much more concerned with the overwhelming number of people around them and the volume at which 60+ talking people can make.  We scored a family picture with Santa and then we were quick to get back to Phil and Krista's house where the girls seemed much more at ease.  I guess being at home with mommy (all day / every day) has its repercussions!

The pineapple adds a fine touch to this picture of 3 Cindy Lou hairstyles!

Diana on Christmas Eve

Lil on Christmas Eve 

D & L looking awfully darn adorable if you do ask their mommy!

Diana was 2nd down the staircase this year - after Alyssa - followed by Lilly!

This pic cracks me up!  Uncle Randy took all these photos for us and did a GREAT job, perhaps with the exception of this one!

 A much better photo, Randy!

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM CHRISTMAS EVE, ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW:

On Christmas Day we all had a blast watching Addie open her gifts, while the girls were just as happy to watch her instead of opening their own!  Next year will be a completely different story!  We also had a few surprises up our sleeves for Courtney, who more than anyone deserved as good of a Christmas as we could provide.  I think we definitely exceeded her expectations!!  After brunch, a few naps and a visit from the girls' favorite UNCLE ANDY who delivered us twin American Girl dolls, we were headed back over to GG Lila's for ROUND TWO!!  Considering round one was dreadful for the girls, I really had to pump myself up with a few glasses of wine for round two.  Luckily, this night fared much better and we were able to somewhat enjoy the company around us!  Having kids REALLY DOES CHANGE EVERYTHING!  Oh, and I can't forget the traditional Christmas draw/roast by Uncle Ted this year.  It really came as no surprise that I was going to be the recipient of this roast as, lest we forget, I just so happened to have been handcuffed not too long ago.  I will definitely post Ted's poem when I have a chance, and will also add pictures from my sequined orange jumpsuit that said, "Jailbird" on the back, along with my handcuffs, sequined belt and purse!  At least I was a stylish jailbird!

Christmas morning 

Two of the many books the girls got this year!

Lilly waiting to tear into that sack (from Finishing Touches...you want one too, I know it!) of goodies!

Diana has her very own sack too!

Lil is ALWAYS making this cheesy face! 

Diana trying out her new riding toy!

Twin American Girl dolls from Uncle Andy!  Notice the wrapped up hand on one them - total coincidence!

Perhaps the girls' favorite gifts of all!  Chairs from Godfather Mark and Godmother Courtney!

Daddy got creative one evening and smashed both girls in their Cozy Coupe.  They LOVED it!

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM CHRISTMAS DAY, ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW:

One would think that when Christmas is over, one can breathe a sigh of relief.  However, December 26 for us marked the one year anniversary of my mom's death.  One thing I was happy for was that our family was all together on this day.  Everything becomes a bit more manageable.  It is mind-boggling to think that I have not seen or spoken to my mom for an entire year.  She missed so much this year.  If I had one wish it would be for my mom to meet her beautiful little granddaughters.  She would be so proud of them, and I would like to think she would be proud of me as a mother.  In 31 years I never needed my mom so much as I needed her this past year.  I wish I could tell her that I FINALLY understand the role of a mother and that I am grateful to her for all that she did for my brothers, sister and I.  She was one of a kind...giving up all her own needs for so many years to meet all of ours.  I miss her every single day, but am so thankful for the 31 years I was able to have with her.  If I can become half the mother to my girls that she was to us, my girls will be very lucky.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Rose and I took the girls to the Children's Museum today to meet Santa Claus!  I never would have DREAMED that both Lilly and Diana would have made it through this traumatic experience without a single tear!  I think I was more scared of Santa than they were!  Diana must have spied my last blog post and is certainly making me eat my words!  I should have had more faith in both my girls!

(D - left; L - right)

 

Lilly having fun in the Jolly Days exhibit!

 Diana obviously also having the time of her life!

 This is a portrayal of everyday life...one baby goes one way while the other goes in the opposite direction!

I could never EVER have done this without the help of Aunt Rose!

Seriously, if ever I feel overwhelmed, at LEAST there aren't 4!

Going down the Yuletide slide with Lilly!  (Perhaps my excitement was a little dramatic, although it WAS pretty fun!)

Now it's Diana's turn!

Me and my little gals

Little does Rose know we are going to kidnap her and never ever ever let her go!  (Gene, if you ever want to see her again, I suggest you sell that house, purchase that mobile home you've been eying and park it in the driveway!)

 

She Loves Us, She Loves Us Not

After yet another group photo taken on Friday night in which Diana was having a "Diana moment", I decided to look back on all the group photos I've captured to see if this was a recurring theme.  Why yes.  Yes, it is.  I know posting this will not do Diana harm later in life as I recall my twin cousin Jennifer telling me how she was the one who was always crying as a baby...and she didn't follow that statement by spitting on her mom who was obviously the one who labeled her 'the crying one.'  The title is not flattering, but that's what is so great about being a baby...she won't learn of this title until she has fully outgrown it!  So, Diana, when you read this later in life please know that the only reason I am not laughing while posting this is because your sister has already woken up from her morning nap and I put her down 25 minutes ago, yet you are sleeping like a perfect little angel!!

It goes without saying that Diana is the one crying in all the pics below!

1 month

2 months

2 months

3 months

 3 months

5 months

5 months 

 6 months

10 months

Moving on, this past weekend was DRAMA-FREE and was spent here in Indy!  We had a fun night at the Stephensons' on Friday night, Saturday night Matt and I trekked down to Greenwood for his company Xmas party (while we left the girls with a brand new babysitter, Fernanda, who we love as much as our favorite one Elaine), and on Sunday Mimi and Bapa (Cindy & Tom) surprised us with a visit and allowed Matt and I to get out of the house and do some Christmas shopping.  As you know the road conditions were less than ideal on Sunday but they braved them anyway just to stop by for a few hours!  THANK YOU!

The best part about this week ahead is that Aunt Rose is coming tomorrow and will be with us for a couple of days!!!!  The girls (AND I) are thrilled about this b/c we LOVE when Aunt Rose visits!!  She spoils us rotten... :)

Here are a few recent pics of my wild and crazy kiddos!!

I thought I was keeping a good eye on the girls but all of a sudden Diana went missing and I found her standing tall under the table!

 Nosy Lilly watching Matt and I put up the outside decorations while licking the condensation off the window

Lilly's favorite thing to do is play peek-a-boo with this container!  (I don't have the heart to tell her it's clear and we can still see her!)

I caught her playing peek-a-boo with Diana!  I was in awe watching these two interact!

If only they would always play so nicely! 

 Our house lit up for the holidays!

December 8, 2010: One Year

One year ago today my dad passed away.  Ten months ago today my girls were born.

I'm not sure I have the words in me to express the deep loss that I felt all day long.  It is evident every single day and therefore should be so clear to explain, yet it is not.  Instead, I will just reference the one thing that got me through this day.  My dad wrote me a letter over a year before he passed away.  In it he spoke mainly of two things:  my mom and little baby Bajoreks.  My mom had not yet been diagnosed with cancer when he wrote the letter, and I wouldn't become pregnant for another year after receiving it.  He had no clue the turn of events that were about to take place.  It doesn't take a daughter who wants so badly to think that everything happens for a reason to realize that my dad so obviously longed for two (of probably many more) things as he wrote this letter:  1) to not leave his wife behind after he passed away and 2) for me to be blessed with children.  Today, that is exactly how things turned out.  His "wife and best friend" as he referenced my mom, is with him.  And as painful as it is not to have either one of them here on Earth, that is just the way it should be.  And two months to the day after he passed away I was blessed with two beautiful daughters.   I know that he is looking down on each of us...me, Phil, Mark and Courtney...and is proud of us for having the strength to keep going when we all could have very easily given up.  Some days throwing in the towel seems a much easier path, but that deep unforgettable voice of Larry Seger is always close by and telling me to "Keep your head up, doll.  You can do it."  And he is right, we can do it.  But that doesn't mean it's easy and we don't miss the hell out of him every single day.

Matt and my dad surveying our 2008 Christmas tree.  We often went to Scherle tree farm to cut down the biggest/tallest tree you have ever seen.  Always had to be over 12' tall, anything shorter was just a weed.  This is a tradition I already miss, but I have so many fond memories.

 I also had to post this pic b/c this sums up my dad...ALWAYS doing something to cause trouble!

 Me and my dad dancing at Phil & Krista's wedding (I recall telling him to practice for our father/daughter dance at MY wedding, even though Matt and I weren't engaged yet!)


And onto those children that my dad referenced by saying, "...trust me, if I've got my way I'll see little Bajoreks playing baseball, softball, football, tennis or volleyball."  Lilly and Diana aren't quite doing THAT yet, but they are definitely active little girls at 10 months old!  They both are unstoppable...exploring every inch of the ground around them, and above them for that matter.  They crawl, climb, pull up, fall down.  They follow each other now.  One will take off from the family room to the kitchen, and the other watches her for a second, then follows right behind (although not always...that would be too easy!)  They are talking a lot...sometimes I think it sounds more like singing because they just go on and on and on without stopping.

Their personalities have not changed a whole lot but I definitely noticed a difference in both of them after Diana came home from the hospital.  She who was once my independent little darling became a bit more attached, and has stayed that way.  And Lilly who was more of the dependent one seems to have outgrown that (for the time being.)  Obviously this is not surprising considering Diana was held by Matt and I for 10 days straight while Lilly was held by someone new every couple of hours.  Lilly is still the boss...stealing toys and pacifiers and all around just picking on Diana.  Diana is still spunky and feisty.  When she wants something, she lets us know!  And when she doesn't want something, she lets us know!  And anytime that is left in between, she lets us know!

One thing we won't have to ask for Christmas are those two front teeth...all 4 of them have now come in!!  Thank heavens for THAT breakthrough!  Teething = no fun for anyone.

I wasn't able to get a 10 month picture of the girls today but hope to post one tomorrow.  Do you really think I can trust two girls who NEVER sit still to not fall off the chair we've used in every monthly picture??  Too bad I wasn't able to keep those handcuffs from Nordstrom as souvenirs to tie the girls down!!  (Sorry...had to throw in some BITTER humor to finish off this post and this day and prepare for bed.......)

1/1/11 - FINALLY posting the girls' 10 month photo!  (Taken at about 10 1/2 months.  Oops!)

St. Nicholas found the Bajorek house!

Happy Nordstrom sucks St. Nick's Day!!!

Lilly and Diana found some fun gifts in their stockings this morning!  Matt informed me that they were supposed to go in their shoes, so I officially broke tradition the 1st year that we observed it.  And seeing that their main gift "The Elf on the Shelf" was purchased at Nordstrom, I then had to take the gift out of their happy hands because just a few hours later I stormed back into that wretched hole in a wall of a store and returned it...money going back on a different credit card than the Nordstrom one that I purchased it on.  So not only did I suffer utter humiliation by being detained and handcuffed yesterday (have I mentioned that I was detained and handcuffed yesterday?), I also broke the hearts of my 10 month old girls as they were celebrating their very 1st gift giving holiday.  I am sure they will be scarred for life.

 Happy girls finding books in their stockings!

Diana unsure of what is going on.

Lilly however is very excited to see Elmo!!

I guess the girls can be as bad as they want this year because no Elf will be watching them!

As a follow-up to yesterday, I was a bit surprised today when a woman from the Nordstrom corporate office contacted me seeing that I was told someone from the regional office would be contacting me.  I was immediately informed that this incident will not be taken lightly which is why it is already being investigated at the corporate level.  I was apologized to frequently and was told that this is the one of the worst things that can happen to their store's reputation, therefore they are taking this incident 'very seriously.'  She also mentioned this has not happened in one of their stores before.  I will wait until the weekend to know what actions will be taken, and in the meantime I will be returning the boots that are being shipped to my house soon as a gift that was to come from grandma Lila.  BOOYA!  It's amazing how Nordstrom has now taken over the month of December's ranking of the #1 thing I despise the most.  December actually looks warm and inviting in comparison!