Month of Thankfulness - Days 6 & 7

6. Salt and Vinegar chips

7. I'm thankful that my kids are super ticklish and will lay flat on the floor waiting to be tickled.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 5

This one I'll be thankful for all month and more. Alice had her second swallow study today and it showed huge improvements. PRAISE HIM. Seriously, just typing this is putting tears back in my eyes. Alice can use a variety of sippy cups now. She is only aspirating using a straw and open cup. Her reflux is under control but she still has a tight esophagus. Next week we follow up with the ENT and her speech pathologist. We'll continue with another round of therapy and I assume another swallow study.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 4

I'm thankful that Uncle Andrew was at Moe's for Moe's Monday today. Otherwise, it would have been an even bigger disaster! While we're talking Moe's, I'm thankful for Moe's Mondays. It's one day every week were I don't even have to think about cooking dinner.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 3

I'm thankful that the roofing nail I stepped on did not go into my foot.

We recently had a new roof put on our house. I was walking up the sidewalk today and felt something poke the bottom of my foot. I stopped and walked on my heal until I got to the porch. When I pulled my tennis shoe off, I discovered an old rusty roofing nail had pushed all the way through the sole of my shoe. I truly believe it was by divine intervention that I didn't put my foot all the way down and puncture it with that roofing nail.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 2

Today I'm thankful for my in-laws. They are always willing to babysit and the kids love them. Tonight they volunteered to keep the kids. I had NO agenda because Steven was still at work. I drove to Concord Mills and swore myself away from kid stores. I bought a purse and a bag for myself....and I didn't need them. It was amazing. Then I met Steven after work for a much needed date night.

Seriously, I'm super thankful that I don't have crazy in-laws and we all get along beautifully.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 1

Tonight I am thankful that both of my children sat down to eat dinner. Heck, they even asked for more.

Tonight the kids dinned on chicken noodle soup with rice, hominy, cheese and pomegranate. 

22 Months and 9 Months

Connor

• Language explosion - this kid is a talking machine! I'm not sure anyone could understand him but Steven and I but he's talking all the same.
• Preschool - Connor attends preschool twice a week for two hours. His teachers adore him and we're hoping to work out a nanny share with his director for next year. 
• Interests - Connor loves ball, art, dogs, walking, balloons, trains and trucks.

Alice

• Great Strides - In the past week Alice has become a pro at sitting up on her own, crawling and pulling up. I was worried she was behind but if she was, you would never know it now! 
• Language  - She constantly mimics her brother, vowel sounds and screams MAMA at me from across the room!
• Eating - Alice is beginning to eat table food. We have to cut it into teeny tiny pieces because the girl still has NO TEETH! 
• Sleeping - Most nights, she sleeps through the night.
• Interests - Alice loves people and toys. She will sit with a basket of toys and play independently for up to 45 minutes! 

Spring Bucket List

1. Dye Easter Eggs
2. Visit the zoo
3. Clean out the garage
4. Peep S'mores
5. Plant flowers somewhere
6. Eat dinner on the patio
7. Decorate spring cupcakes
8. Tackle the linen closet
9. Visit Memorial Gardens
10. Spring pictures

I've Got to Write this Crap DOWN!

..because that makes it real, right?

I've been battling weight since Alice was born. It's much harder to find the time to exercise and prepare healthy food with two babies.

I need to make this a priority so I need to write it down. Maybe that's just the kind of accountability I need.

Health Goals

1. Exercise 3x a week. This doesn't have to be as hard as I think. It can be a walk around the neighborhood with the kids, a quick workout video, a jog once Steven gets home....anything. I just need to get my but moving for me. Picking up/lugging kids around does not count Elizabeth!!!

2. Count calories 5 days a week. I plan to stick to about 1720 calories a day. No counting on Fridays and Sundays but I still need to pay attention to what I'm putting in my mouth.

3. Eat breakfast. Seriously, this is becoming a HUGE problem for me. I get so caught up in the mornings with diapers and feeding babies that I forget about myself. At about 10:00 it hits me hard. I'm shaking and feeling bad and just so desperate to get something into my body, that I eat the first easy thing I can find in the house.

4. Limit fast food. When did fast food become a problem for me? It's just so stinkin' easy when you've got a screaming kid. It falls into the same category as number 3. I get in a rush and forget to eat before leaving the house. Cue McDonald's.

That's enough goal setting for now. I really need this to work. When did I become a fatty????

Alice's Baptism

Alice 7 Months

My sweet Ali, I can't believe you're seven months old already.

Eating Habits

I'm not sure that I've noted this anywhere but you hate to be held while you have your bottle. You prefer to lay on the boppy in front of the person feeding you and drink at a leisurely pace. You're taking about 24 ounces of formula a day. You do love some baby food though! You usually eat some at lunch and dinner.

Sleeping Habits

You have until you're eight months old to sleep through the night or else we're putting you up for adoption. Seriously. Your sleeping has improved. On most nights you wake 1-2 times but we have had a rough go lately.

Milestones

Your sitting confidently on your own now. You started sitting with support at 6 months. (I missed that post.)c You are unable to get yourself in the sitting position on your own but you did manage once with the support of your boppy.

You are itching to get moving. I'd say it won't be too much longer until you're crawling!

You love toys, us and especially Connor. When Connor has a tantrum you laugh and laugh. You also mock him constantly. If he coughs, you cough. If he laughs, you laugh. Last week you even said bye after he did!

Alice, you're such a sweet, happy baby!

It Must Be December

Seriously, I love this season and everything that comes with it.

BUT

Cue my holiday funk.

This year it started with a bad hair cut. I know, it makes no sense. I had to get my hair whacked off to correct the first hair cut.

Cue self loathing.

Suddenly I cared that I was still carrying around baby weight and that my old clothes still don't fit and probably never will. I decided I hate all my new clothes, my face, my personality and everything about the current me. Great.


Cue anxiety. 

Then we had a possible water leak, our brand new dryer broke (we thought) and now it turns out the entire fuse box needs to be replaced.

Now, I'm not good enough at anything. I've decided that since my house isn't pristine, my Christmas tree isn't beautiful and we eat take out occasionally that I suck at life.

The worst part is that my husband doesn't get it. And it infuriates me even though I know I'm being completely irrational and insane. I even thought I might be pregnant despite two forms of birth control. That's the kinda crazy I'm feeling.

Makes total sense, right?

Cue a therapist? 

Ah December, are you over yet?

Must Be Santa

I don't think Steven and I will push the Santa thing. I know the kids will eventually ask about Santa and I guess we need to figure out what to tell them. Growing up, our parents always told us that our stockings were from Santa but that was it. I'd really like to focus more on a Christian Christmas.

That being said

Today we visited Santa at Bass Pro Shops. They give you a free 4x6 photo. I couldn't miss out on this photo op!

I know it's a crap picture. I also know I'm a little old to be posing with Santa. Connor freaked (as expected) and the photographer suggested I stand with him next to Santa.  The look on his face those is priceless! And of course, let's not forget Miss Mellow! She's such an easy baby!!!

Alice - 5 Months

Where have the past 5 months gone?

It's hard to believe that at this time last year, I was gearing up to go back to work. I couldn't imagine what I would do if that were the case this year.

Okay. Back to Alice.

A good alternate title for this post would be "A Month of Sickness."

We have passed around 3 different colds this month. Because of the cold, Alice had no appetite. Some days she would eat less than 2 bottles. Thankfully, she's eating well again BUT I have no clue how much she is eating on an average day. Feedings are fluctuating from every hour to every 8 hours and anywhere from 1 oz to 6. 

Because of all the illnesses, there is no pattern to your sleeping habits either. You and Connor are both napping at almost the same times each day...I'll take it! 

Let's note some milestones! 

Alice has rolled over....once...from back to front. What's with my babies and NOT rolling over! We meet other milestones early!

Alice has good enough head control to go in the bouncer and she loves it. Her face is priceless when she's playing with the toys. You would think she's won the lottery every time she rediscovers a toy! 

She is super close to sitting up unsupported. What baby does that before they've mastered rolling over?!?!?!

Alice is still laid back and super easy. That being said, give that girl a cold and nobody is going to sleep!e

p.s. I really do try to post on here more than once a month. I just can't seem to make it happen. *sigh* 

Alice - 4 Months

Happy 4 Months Ali-Gator! 

We've had a rough go this past month. Out of nowhere Alice's personality changed. She screamed, cried, refused the bottle and had many sleepless nights. Two weeks later, she was diagnosed with silent re flux  My poor girl! I felt terrible. Alice was prescribed 1.5ml of Zantac, twice a day. We had to switch her to a formula with rice starch and elevate her crib. 10 LONG days later and our Alice was back!

Alice enjoys face time, her jumper and her bouncy seat. She has yet to roll over and shows no sign of doing so anytime soon. Sigh, my babies don't like to roll.

Connor has become more interested in playing with and taking care of Alice. Often times he makes a smacking noise with his lips and "kisses" her over and over. I die of sweetness every time I see it!

Vocabulary

I keep meaning to make a list of the works C is currently using.

Dada
Uh oh
No
Yuck
Here kitty kitty
woof (aka puppy)
Hello (Every time the phone rings)
Bye-bye
ball
One

3 Months

Oh sweet Alice, you fill my heart.
I can't get over the way you exude everything that is sweet, girly and adorable. You still prove to be an amazingly sweet and laid back baby.

Here are 10 things about you.

1. You sleep way better NOT swaddled. We lay you down awake, give you your blanket and you fall asleep on your own. I feel giddy just being able to say this!

2. You have just discovered your hands and feet. You could stare at those guys all day.

3. You are so happy when you wake up. When I come to get you up from your nap to smile and talk non-stop. It's hilarious!

4. You WILL NOT be force fed. Nothing makes you angrier than being offered a bottle when you are not ready. Sometimes it takes a good half hour to calm you back down.

5. You sleep. A lot. Still.

6. You're spitting up more often. *Sigh* Bring out the bibs and burp cloths.

7. You still sleep in our room. You're just so little and sweet...I can't bring myself to move you from my side at night. (And your nursery is so stinkin' cute!)

8. You have small nostrils - Okay, this has nothing to do with being 3 months old but it might be worth noting for any future kiddos!

9. I've finally embraced cloth diapering you full time. I'm not sure why I didn't jump right in with you!

10. When your Daddy gets home at night Connor bombards him.....but as soon as he gets his hands on you he stops, picks you up and stares at your face forever. I'm pretty certain you've got him in the palm of your hand. ; )

Alice - 2 Months

I just need to take a moment and swoon over this adorable baby girl. Seriously, I'm seeping that ooey gooey motherly love that would make any non-parent gag. .....it's disgusting! ; )

You are the sweetest baby I've ever met! At two months old you laugh, giggle and coo like a baby straight from T.V. When you wake up and see me you laugh and smile for as long as you can forget about your hunger/wet diaper. It's adorable!

You're still eating 4 oz at a time and averaging about 24 oz a day. You've slept through the night a handful of times but normally wake up at least once a night. We've been getting to bed late so I'm not counting your midnight feedings! You're still sleeping a large part of the day but you're very interested in your surroundings when you're awake. You hate your tummy but not as much as your brother did!

Connor has stopped beating you and loves to find you. If you're sleeping he runs to the pack n play to find you. He loves to give you kisses and tries to give you your paci. He normally just ends up smashing it into your face of poking you in they eye. He tries. Sometimes he bends over your head and makes real soft noises at your face....I'm pretty sure he's mocking me!

It's hard to imagine what our family was like without you!

My Babies Bulleted

Connor

• Officially off the bottle - except when he steals A's and sneaks to the corner to suck it down. 
• Loves dancing to "Call Me Maybe"
• Loves going outside to play but thinks the only way out is with Ivy's leash in hand. 
• Has cut 4 teeth in the past month. 
• Points to the crib when he is ready to nap and runs to the refrigerator when he's hungry. 
• Wants to read all the time. Mostly But Not The Hippopotamus. 
• Climbs on and off the furniture all day. 
• Loves remotes. 

Alice

• Loves her sleep...and she's good at it. I love that she doesn't have to be rocked to sleep.
• Smiles and laughs occasionally
• Incredibly ticklish but doesn't seem to enjoy it! ; )
• Still eating 4ish ounces every 2-3 hours
• Hates being on the floor
• Still sleeping in our room
• Sweet and laid back

Wednesday

It's happened too many times already....I've been in my "jamas" well past 4 o'clock. I quickly jump in the shower so that when Steven gets home I don't look like the lazy slob I've been all day.

But not today my friends. We were going to do something...anything.

I showered, dressed myself and my babies and we got the hell outta Dodge, or the house, whatever.

First stop, Walmart.

I've been waiting on Alice's newborn pictures so I can send out her birth announcment. Better late than never, right? Well, Walmart will be Walmart. I couldn't pick up the pictures because I need a copyright release form. My aunt took the pictures....not a professional photographer. So I hauled two babies into Walmart for NOTHING! I could have spit bullets.

Next, McDonald's

My addiction to a large diet coke is ridiculous. It has to be a fountain drink and it has to be in a Styrofoam cup. I love a good Styrofoam cup. I reuse the cups at home. It's that bad. The good news is I just got the drink but the fries were calling my name.

Finally, Village Park.

This was an adventure. I pushed Alice in the stroller and Connor walked....and ran....in every direction but the one I wanted. We were all nice and sweaty from the humidity when A decided to see just how much her diaper could hold. It holds a lot...but not enough.  So we stepped off the trail and changed a diaper. C tried to take off running. I grabbed A and ran after him leaving the stroller behind. C lost a shoe, tripped on the sidewalk, A screamed some more and I decided it was time to head home. 30 minutes later and I was loading up the car. Had I been alone, it would have taken less than 5 minutes to get to the car. We weren't nearly as far away as it sounds.

Getting out was worth it but it was hard. Tomorrow we tackle Connor's 12 month appointment....yes he's 14 months. We're behind because of insurance issues and you know, birthing A.