Evie is 4 years old and 23 days.
We brought in both Evie and Max for the check-ups today.
Evie had to get shots done for school (3 shots ... Rb held her down with one of the nurses... I couldn't do it. She cried, of course, but bounced back remarkably well... I was very proud of her).
Evie weighs 39.5lbs now (75% percentile).
Evie's blood pressure (really? blood pressure on a 4 year old?) is 82/50.
Evie's height is 3' 4.5" (50-75% percentile).
Monday, July 25, 2011
Max - 2 month old stats
Max is 10 weeks old and 5 days.
Dr. check-up today.
He got 4 shots (Rob held him, I left the room.... sadly, you can still hear the "joy" down the hallway).
He weighs 14lbs. & 6 oz. (75-90% percentile).
His head circumference is 42cm (75% percentile).
His height is 24" (75% percentile).
Dr. check-up today.
He got 4 shots (Rob held him, I left the room.... sadly, you can still hear the "joy" down the hallway).
He weighs 14lbs. & 6 oz. (75-90% percentile).
His head circumference is 42cm (75% percentile).
His height is 24" (75% percentile).
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
OBX Beach Trip 2011: Day Three
"Good morning, sunshine!"
Less photos today.
I had midnight feeding last night (I went to bed at 9:30PM... yes, you heard me, 9:30PM!) and Max awoke at 3:45AM for a bottle. That's 6 hrs and 15mins of sleep... which was awesome! Max sucked down a 5ouncer no problem and went back to sleep no problem. He did, however, wake up at 5:30AM. After Rob & I took turns co-sleeping with him in our bed... he did go back to sleep and stay asleep till 7:30AM.
I slept in until near 9AM.
Yes, that's nearly 12hrs of sleeping.
And, yes, I most certainly could have slept longer.
My mom, Rob and Evie went to the beach around 10:45AM.
Max and I stayed behind... I felt he had enough the day before so we'd hang-out indoors and maybe venture the pool later.
The next few hours were a bit fitfull and Max never truly napped.
Everyone was back by 1PM for lunch.
By 2:30PM I was back outdoors and off to the pool to join my dad, mom and Evie... Rob stayed behind to monitor Schwally while he napped.
My mom has managed to crack herself up in this photo after making a joke about my father using this as his latest FaceBook profile picture.
Evie, despite our attempts to get her to jump in all by herself yesterday, suddenly decided today was OK to take a leap on in! She requested that I come closer to catch her but my dad just told her, "Just do it. Jump in! You can do it." So, she did!
Too bad Rob was back at the house with Schwally and missed it (and, thank goodness for video features on digital cameras).
Shortly before leaving, a dad with his 3 kids showed up. Evie found the fellow 4 year old in the bunch. They immediately challenged each other on who was taller, who was older, and who could do more in the water. Ay-yi-ii.
Pop-pop tried to hang out on the balcony with Max while we prepared dinner indoors.
It didn't go so well.
...until Lala took over.
While daddy grilled shish-kabobs downstairs, we piled in for a short rock on the 3rd floor hammock.
This moment was perfect till Schwally fussed from the wind, Evie complained that the rope was hurting her and the sun was making me blind.
Again, this only lasted a moment.
Less photos today.
I had midnight feeding last night (I went to bed at 9:30PM... yes, you heard me, 9:30PM!) and Max awoke at 3:45AM for a bottle. That's 6 hrs and 15mins of sleep... which was awesome! Max sucked down a 5ouncer no problem and went back to sleep no problem. He did, however, wake up at 5:30AM. After Rob & I took turns co-sleeping with him in our bed... he did go back to sleep and stay asleep till 7:30AM.
I slept in until near 9AM.
Yes, that's nearly 12hrs of sleeping.
And, yes, I most certainly could have slept longer.
My mom, Rob and Evie went to the beach around 10:45AM.
Max and I stayed behind... I felt he had enough the day before so we'd hang-out indoors and maybe venture the pool later.
The next few hours were a bit fitfull and Max never truly napped.
Everyone was back by 1PM for lunch.
By 2:30PM I was back outdoors and off to the pool to join my dad, mom and Evie... Rob stayed behind to monitor Schwally while he napped.
My mom has managed to crack herself up in this photo after making a joke about my father using this as his latest FaceBook profile picture.
Evie, despite our attempts to get her to jump in all by herself yesterday, suddenly decided today was OK to take a leap on in! She requested that I come closer to catch her but my dad just told her, "Just do it. Jump in! You can do it." So, she did!
Too bad Rob was back at the house with Schwally and missed it (and, thank goodness for video features on digital cameras).
Shortly before leaving, a dad with his 3 kids showed up. Evie found the fellow 4 year old in the bunch. They immediately challenged each other on who was taller, who was older, and who could do more in the water. Ay-yi-ii.
Pop-pop tried to hang out on the balcony with Max while we prepared dinner indoors.
It didn't go so well.
...until Lala took over.
While daddy grilled shish-kabobs downstairs, we piled in for a short rock on the 3rd floor hammock.
This moment was perfect till Schwally fussed from the wind, Evie complained that the rope was hurting her and the sun was making me blind.
Again, this only lasted a moment.
Monday, July 18, 2011
OBX Beach Trip 2011: Day Two
First full day on vacation. Let's see how Schwally fares on this beach excursion!
Daddy, Pop-pop and Evie. To each their own idea of fun...
Evie makes "sand angels". Note to parents: I don't recommend encouraging your kids to do this. There's sand in places where pearls will be made one week from now...
Max "chills" in his pup tent... which is also under an umbrella. OK, let's be honest, there's not much chill about this set-up. I spent most of my time panicking that Max was pressure cooking in this thing... (and he never truly slept in here either).
My father proudly displays his found "teeth" while Rob, ... well..., while Rob questions whether or not procreating with my family was a bright idea.
Schwally has some fun time with me outside his tent. This was short-lived before giving him a bottle and later handing off to daddy for a mini break for me.
Max is at the beach!
Evie is either digging tide pools or trying to help the ocean reclaim some sand. In any case, big shovels + kids = fun.
After dropping off beach toys at the house (sand castles supplies) and grabbing pool toys (swimmies and floatation devices), we walk over to the rental facilities community pool for some afternoon fun. Evie likes jumping in for dad to catch her.
What a difference a year makes. Evie confidently swims alone with just swimmies on. This time last year we couldn't let go. I'm really enjoying this newfound independence... and lamenting that we will be starting all over again with Max, wink*!
Evie loving on Lala.
Jump! Jump! After this picture was taken I actually dropped me arms and didn't catch Evie. She wasn't too thrilled with me but she did jump in by herself. Baby steps, kid, baby steps....
Max enjoys the upper floor balcony with my dad. We have a great view of the surrounding area this high up but he doesn't seem to appreciate it on a level that we
(the adults) do.
And so closes the first full day at the beach. Evie watches a show and gives Schwally a hug. Shortly after I took this super cute photo I heard, "Mom. I don't want him on my arm anymore."
Daddy, Pop-pop and Evie. To each their own idea of fun...
Evie makes "sand angels". Note to parents: I don't recommend encouraging your kids to do this. There's sand in places where pearls will be made one week from now...
Max "chills" in his pup tent... which is also under an umbrella. OK, let's be honest, there's not much chill about this set-up. I spent most of my time panicking that Max was pressure cooking in this thing... (and he never truly slept in here either).
My father proudly displays his found "teeth" while Rob, ... well..., while Rob questions whether or not procreating with my family was a bright idea.
Schwally has some fun time with me outside his tent. This was short-lived before giving him a bottle and later handing off to daddy for a mini break for me.
Max is at the beach!
Evie is either digging tide pools or trying to help the ocean reclaim some sand. In any case, big shovels + kids = fun.
After dropping off beach toys at the house (sand castles supplies) and grabbing pool toys (swimmies and floatation devices), we walk over to the rental facilities community pool for some afternoon fun. Evie likes jumping in for dad to catch her.
What a difference a year makes. Evie confidently swims alone with just swimmies on. This time last year we couldn't let go. I'm really enjoying this newfound independence... and lamenting that we will be starting all over again with Max, wink*!
Evie loving on Lala.
Jump! Jump! After this picture was taken I actually dropped me arms and didn't catch Evie. She wasn't too thrilled with me but she did jump in by herself. Baby steps, kid, baby steps....
Max enjoys the upper floor balcony with my dad. We have a great view of the surrounding area this high up but he doesn't seem to appreciate it on a level that we
(the adults) do.
And so closes the first full day at the beach. Evie watches a show and gives Schwally a hug. Shortly after I took this super cute photo I heard, "Mom. I don't want him on my arm anymore."
Sunday, July 17, 2011
OBX Beach Trip 2011: Day One - Road Trip!
Max is 9.5 weeks - 10.5 weeks old on this trip.
"Yeah! Road trip! ... What's a road trip?"
"Are we there yet?"
I spent the last hour of this road trip (typically, its 4.5 hrs long. This time the trip was 5.5hrs with the latest addition requiring a bottle break) crammed into what remained of the back seat. I'm actually twisted and sitting on one butt cheek since those car seats are occupying so much space. After pouring a cup of water for Evie, I ended up (illegally!) feeding Max a second bottle. Shhh, tell no one...
"How about now? Are we there yet... now?!."
I can't take full credit for this idea. I read about it in some nerdy parenting magazine that I get for free and feel compelled to read before tossing. It suggested giving kiddos a simplified map to follow along with landmarks/points-of-interest highlighted along the way. I modified the idea... we marked each spot she asked, "Are we there yet?" with a star so she could see how much further we had to go. She ended up only asking 5x's... pretty good for 4 years old (I thought).
Evie and Lala race to the beach after arriving in town.
Rob and I (and Max!) join the group at the beach this first night. Evie, who last year feared the surf, eagerly jumped all over the waves. Boy, what a difference a year makes...
Max's first trip to the beach. This Baby Bjorn (baby carrier) is a life saver when walking over steep dunes.
Everybody enjoys a drink on the beach... Even Max hits the bottle.
"Yeah! Road trip! ... What's a road trip?"
"Are we there yet?"
I spent the last hour of this road trip (typically, its 4.5 hrs long. This time the trip was 5.5hrs with the latest addition requiring a bottle break) crammed into what remained of the back seat. I'm actually twisted and sitting on one butt cheek since those car seats are occupying so much space. After pouring a cup of water for Evie, I ended up (illegally!) feeding Max a second bottle. Shhh, tell no one...
"How about now? Are we there yet... now?!."
I can't take full credit for this idea. I read about it in some nerdy parenting magazine that I get for free and feel compelled to read before tossing. It suggested giving kiddos a simplified map to follow along with landmarks/points-of-interest highlighted along the way. I modified the idea... we marked each spot she asked, "Are we there yet?" with a star so she could see how much further we had to go. She ended up only asking 5x's... pretty good for 4 years old (I thought).
Evie and Lala race to the beach after arriving in town.
Rob and I (and Max!) join the group at the beach this first night. Evie, who last year feared the surf, eagerly jumped all over the waves. Boy, what a difference a year makes...
Max's first trip to the beach. This Baby Bjorn (baby carrier) is a life saver when walking over steep dunes.
Everybody enjoys a drink on the beach... Even Max hits the bottle.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Found: Feeding Schedule
Max is 9 weeks and 1 day old.
Rob and I often wonder how off Max is from when we had Evie.
Meaning, "Didn't Evie go to bed at 8PM, eat at 1AM and sleep till 7AM when she was 2 months old??"
Funny, we really DID have rose-colored glasses.
I found my record keeping from when Evie was 2 months old until she was 4.5 months old.
Max is, in fact, doing better than she did. For the last three nights (hear I go jinxing us), Max has taken a bottle around 8:30PM, gone to bed at 9:30PM, awoke for a bottle around 3:30AM.... and then slept till around 6AM.
Huzzah!
Also worth noting, I nursed Evie for the first 3 months and have weened Max at 2 months.
Formula does change things! (Well, if not sleeping then certainly my alcohol and caffeine intake).
Rob and I often wonder how off Max is from when we had Evie.
Meaning, "Didn't Evie go to bed at 8PM, eat at 1AM and sleep till 7AM when she was 2 months old??"
Funny, we really DID have rose-colored glasses.
I found my record keeping from when Evie was 2 months old until she was 4.5 months old.
Max is, in fact, doing better than she did. For the last three nights (hear I go jinxing us), Max has taken a bottle around 8:30PM, gone to bed at 9:30PM, awoke for a bottle around 3:30AM.... and then slept till around 6AM.
Huzzah!
Also worth noting, I nursed Evie for the first 3 months and have weened Max at 2 months.
Formula does change things! (Well, if not sleeping then certainly my alcohol and caffeine intake).
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Cartwheels and Coffee
Max is 2 months and 1 day old. He will be 9 weeks old tomorrow.
Every good town with caffeine loving moms should have one of these.
Cartwheels and Coffee.
Max and Evie (and I) hang-out on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoon with N & her 3 kiddos.
Today it was just us.
"Can I buy you a milk?"
Every good town with caffeine loving moms should have one of these.
Cartwheels and Coffee.
Max and Evie (and I) hang-out on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoon with N & her 3 kiddos.
Today it was just us.
"Can I buy you a milk?"
Monday, July 11, 2011
Max - 2 Months Old
I miss your small, velvety head. It used to fit so snugly in the palm of my hand. It felt like a baseball but much, much softer. I would hold you so gently and pet your soft hair. I could watch your heartbeat beating intensely through the top of your head... your hair pulsating up and down with the rhythm - oh, how I won't miss your soft spot. Your tiny head isn't quite twice its original size but it is certainly significantly larger and your soft spot is almost nearly gone (which makes me breathe a sigh of relief!).
Also on its way out is your hairline. Somewhere around 6.5weeks I noticed that the sides of your head were going bald. All babies do. Dad and I had been joking the week before that that all your hair was thinning out lately and that it was due to your head size increasing thus moving your hair follicles further apart. Perhaps this is partly true.
Baby acne hit full force at the top of this month. Thank goodness a friend handed me an organic moisturizer that cleared it right up! You really had it much worse than Evie ever did... you had little pimples on your chest, back and well into you hairline even! Poor baby! I'm happy to report that by 8 wks old - you were beautiful again.
You had your first "major trauma" this month. I never posted about it since it was seriously upsetting. On June 16th, you were 5 weeks old, we went out for a post-dinner walk (all 4 of us). We had been up early that morning... it was one of your infamous 4AM "I'm awake! Play with me!" mornings that left us weary by days end. Dad strapped you in the stroller out front on the cement landing outside our front porch. Evie was up on the porch waiting for us while I grabbed a water and dad grabbed his keys to lock the door. All of a sudden Evie yells through the front door, "Oh no! Oh no!" and we panic. Dad ran so fast I swear I never saw his feet touch the ground. You had rolled down our front walk, down the two steps that lead to the neighborhood sidewalk, and tumbled upside down. The stroller was laying on top of you with the back wheels just spinning. My stomach feel. Fortunately, you were strapped in so you didn't go flying. Instead, your wee head suffered some scraps and you were screaming mad. I grabbed my purse, we threw the stroller in the yard and all 4 of us raced to the ER. The entire escapade lasted only 2 hours (that's fast for an ER visit. They took one look at you, and your age, and saw you right away). The doctor waiting to see if there was a concussion and felt your forehead for breaks, fortunately, you were OK. We bought some medicine to put on your cuts and put you down that night more thankful than ever. Its moments like this that really and truly make you say cliche things like, "Nothing else matters. Hold on to precise moments, they go by quickly." etc etc...
You are drinking more bottles. Mom decided to start weening at 7 weeks when Papa and Grandma came to visit from Ohio. It was evident that you had a strong appetite and mom wasn't keeping up. That, and let's be honest, mom was nursing 8x's a day and feeling a little bogged down. Its hard when your active 4-yr-old goes a wee bit ignored during the evening hours because you have to cluster feed a chunk-a-chunk baby. No offense, Max, but mommy needed some slack.
I still nurse and make bottles but there's no real pattern for any of it. It's funny considering the strict schedule we made Evie adhere to as soon as possible after 6 weeks old. We would like a schedule for you but maybe its just harder given all the activities we have going on... or maybe we know it comes together no matter what. Ah, the wisdom that comes with being a parent once before.
Speaking of bottles, you have very recently begun to freak-out less when you get hungry. I am so relieved that you no longer go from content to STARVING(!) at the drop of a hat. We used to say that you went "from 0 to 100mph." This new 'calmness' is particularly true for midnight feedings. I was thinking we'd never move you to your bedroom since it took both of us to feed you in the middle of the night - one person to make the bottle and one to console you so you wouldn't wake-up Evie. Lately, starting just before 8 wks old, you have been verbally grumbling more before crying aloud. You still panic rather quickly but I think you are learning that we won't let you starve and that we are working on filling up your belly.
Overall, I can really see how the first 6 wks truly is "survival" mode and that everyday after that the clouds begin to lift and things gradually get better.
Poopies: Parents love the topic of poop, lemme tell ya. You used to poop in the middle of the night and with frequency! This made midnight (read: dimly lit room) a crapshoot (pun intended). I'd fumbly with multiple wipes hoping to not make a bigger mess in the process. Now, we can safely say we only experience this once a day or so... its a lot when it happens but at least it isn't at midnight when I am fumbling in the dark. I'm prepared for this to change soon, too, as we ween you off nursing and on to formula.
First road trip! When we realized Evie had no summer school or care (her preschool teacher has been watching her some weekday afternoons), we decided to head on down to Pop-pop and Lala's house in North Carolina. You did surprisingly well sleeping most of the way and needing nursing only once just shy of 30 minutes from our destination (the entire trip is 3.5 to 4hrs long). Getting out of the house was another matter entirely... it took us 5 hrs! Between breaking down your pack-n-play, to throwing out refrigerator food, and choosing just enough of the essentials to remembering to bring along toys to play with... it took forever! I don't know how we are going to manage this fiasco when we leave for the Outer Banks soon.
You turned 8 weeks old just 5 days before your 2nd month. I swear, that 8 week mark holds magic in it. At 8 weeks - laughing! Lala heard it one day and the next day - dad heard it! It has been decribed as a breathy little "chuckle", heh-heh! Mom has yet to hear it. Perhaps I am not as funny looking as dad or Lala.
Also VERY recently: coo'ing! You have always made this "berrrkkkk, bggggg," mumbling/grumbling sound like a frustated rhino. But, lately, we hear more playful squels and breathy "ahh!'s" or "woo!'s" when we make silly faces. The eye contact is something you now love. And your smiles! Oh, your smiles. Once they were gapping maws with a slightly upturned left side but, more recently, they are full-on cheesy grins with squinted eyes and deep dimples on both sides. You really light up a room when you grin. I have been waiting for this moment!
Your hands. A recent discovery. Around 8 weeks (closer to 9 weeks, really) you started shoving both fists excitedly into your mouth. I couldn't tell if this was a sign of hunger or stress at first. Now I think you just love it. When you get a hand in there I hear these loud sucking sounds as you feverishly lick the outside fleshy part on the side of your fist. I've tried substituting toys and pacifiers but have come to realize... nope, you prefer your fists. :-)
I still have yet to enter anything new in your baby album. I get it now. Two kids IS a handful.
I'm actually recently questioning how I'll manage the house, you, Evie and a job next month. I go back to work in just 1 short month. *sigh* I could NEVER be a stay-at-home-mom. I'm not at all cut out for it. I'm better at a demanding work environment. But, this past month does make me realize that stay-at-home-moms have the best world... its one they share with you everyday.
Also on its way out is your hairline. Somewhere around 6.5weeks I noticed that the sides of your head were going bald. All babies do. Dad and I had been joking the week before that that all your hair was thinning out lately and that it was due to your head size increasing thus moving your hair follicles further apart. Perhaps this is partly true.
Baby acne hit full force at the top of this month. Thank goodness a friend handed me an organic moisturizer that cleared it right up! You really had it much worse than Evie ever did... you had little pimples on your chest, back and well into you hairline even! Poor baby! I'm happy to report that by 8 wks old - you were beautiful again.
You had your first "major trauma" this month. I never posted about it since it was seriously upsetting. On June 16th, you were 5 weeks old, we went out for a post-dinner walk (all 4 of us). We had been up early that morning... it was one of your infamous 4AM "I'm awake! Play with me!" mornings that left us weary by days end. Dad strapped you in the stroller out front on the cement landing outside our front porch. Evie was up on the porch waiting for us while I grabbed a water and dad grabbed his keys to lock the door. All of a sudden Evie yells through the front door, "Oh no! Oh no!" and we panic. Dad ran so fast I swear I never saw his feet touch the ground. You had rolled down our front walk, down the two steps that lead to the neighborhood sidewalk, and tumbled upside down. The stroller was laying on top of you with the back wheels just spinning. My stomach feel. Fortunately, you were strapped in so you didn't go flying. Instead, your wee head suffered some scraps and you were screaming mad. I grabbed my purse, we threw the stroller in the yard and all 4 of us raced to the ER. The entire escapade lasted only 2 hours (that's fast for an ER visit. They took one look at you, and your age, and saw you right away). The doctor waiting to see if there was a concussion and felt your forehead for breaks, fortunately, you were OK. We bought some medicine to put on your cuts and put you down that night more thankful than ever. Its moments like this that really and truly make you say cliche things like, "Nothing else matters. Hold on to precise moments, they go by quickly." etc etc...
You are drinking more bottles. Mom decided to start weening at 7 weeks when Papa and Grandma came to visit from Ohio. It was evident that you had a strong appetite and mom wasn't keeping up. That, and let's be honest, mom was nursing 8x's a day and feeling a little bogged down. Its hard when your active 4-yr-old goes a wee bit ignored during the evening hours because you have to cluster feed a chunk-a-chunk baby. No offense, Max, but mommy needed some slack.
I still nurse and make bottles but there's no real pattern for any of it. It's funny considering the strict schedule we made Evie adhere to as soon as possible after 6 weeks old. We would like a schedule for you but maybe its just harder given all the activities we have going on... or maybe we know it comes together no matter what. Ah, the wisdom that comes with being a parent once before.
Speaking of bottles, you have very recently begun to freak-out less when you get hungry. I am so relieved that you no longer go from content to STARVING(!) at the drop of a hat. We used to say that you went "from 0 to 100mph." This new 'calmness' is particularly true for midnight feedings. I was thinking we'd never move you to your bedroom since it took both of us to feed you in the middle of the night - one person to make the bottle and one to console you so you wouldn't wake-up Evie. Lately, starting just before 8 wks old, you have been verbally grumbling more before crying aloud. You still panic rather quickly but I think you are learning that we won't let you starve and that we are working on filling up your belly.
Overall, I can really see how the first 6 wks truly is "survival" mode and that everyday after that the clouds begin to lift and things gradually get better.
Poopies: Parents love the topic of poop, lemme tell ya. You used to poop in the middle of the night and with frequency! This made midnight (read: dimly lit room) a crapshoot (pun intended). I'd fumbly with multiple wipes hoping to not make a bigger mess in the process. Now, we can safely say we only experience this once a day or so... its a lot when it happens but at least it isn't at midnight when I am fumbling in the dark. I'm prepared for this to change soon, too, as we ween you off nursing and on to formula.
First road trip! When we realized Evie had no summer school or care (her preschool teacher has been watching her some weekday afternoons), we decided to head on down to Pop-pop and Lala's house in North Carolina. You did surprisingly well sleeping most of the way and needing nursing only once just shy of 30 minutes from our destination (the entire trip is 3.5 to 4hrs long). Getting out of the house was another matter entirely... it took us 5 hrs! Between breaking down your pack-n-play, to throwing out refrigerator food, and choosing just enough of the essentials to remembering to bring along toys to play with... it took forever! I don't know how we are going to manage this fiasco when we leave for the Outer Banks soon.
You turned 8 weeks old just 5 days before your 2nd month. I swear, that 8 week mark holds magic in it. At 8 weeks - laughing! Lala heard it one day and the next day - dad heard it! It has been decribed as a breathy little "chuckle", heh-heh! Mom has yet to hear it. Perhaps I am not as funny looking as dad or Lala.
Also VERY recently: coo'ing! You have always made this "berrrkkkk, bggggg," mumbling/grumbling sound like a frustated rhino. But, lately, we hear more playful squels and breathy "ahh!'s" or "woo!'s" when we make silly faces. The eye contact is something you now love. And your smiles! Oh, your smiles. Once they were gapping maws with a slightly upturned left side but, more recently, they are full-on cheesy grins with squinted eyes and deep dimples on both sides. You really light up a room when you grin. I have been waiting for this moment!
Your hands. A recent discovery. Around 8 weeks (closer to 9 weeks, really) you started shoving both fists excitedly into your mouth. I couldn't tell if this was a sign of hunger or stress at first. Now I think you just love it. When you get a hand in there I hear these loud sucking sounds as you feverishly lick the outside fleshy part on the side of your fist. I've tried substituting toys and pacifiers but have come to realize... nope, you prefer your fists. :-)
I still have yet to enter anything new in your baby album. I get it now. Two kids IS a handful.
I'm actually recently questioning how I'll manage the house, you, Evie and a job next month. I go back to work in just 1 short month. *sigh* I could NEVER be a stay-at-home-mom. I'm not at all cut out for it. I'm better at a demanding work environment. But, this past month does make me realize that stay-at-home-moms have the best world... its one they share with you everyday.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Sleep Patterns: When can I sleep again?
Last night you turned 8 weeks. Dad and I discussed how we remembered Evie having at 2/3AM bottle and then getting up later in the morning than what you do (yes, most likely this is a "rose-colored glasses situation", we are aware).
You had a bottle at 8:00PM-ish (which was a little earlier than it has been lately... its been 8:30-9PM-ish) and you went to bed around 9:20PM. You didn't wake-up for a bottle until 2:30AM! (its been 1:30AM lately... generally 5hrs after your last bottle).
Your next feeding (nursing) was then at 6:15AM! (which is also later than its ever been - you typically get up like clock-work at 5AM...).
Could we finally be moving in the right direction to dropping 2 feedings and just having the one midnight feeding?
Dare I hold my breathe for the possibility?
*sucking in air and closing mouth tight*
**update**
So the night after posting this (basically, the next night) we went out and grandma had to "encourage" you to take a bottle. You didn't take much or ate earlier than normal or some such... end result: you were up by 1:30AM and again around 5AM.
BUT, the night after that we gave you at 4oz bottle at 7PM and a 5oz bottle at 8:30PM (which, we sort of kept you up for and gave to you w/o you really asking for it, wink!) and you slept till 2:45AM again!
Woo-hoo! I think we are on to something liveable soon!
You had a bottle at 8:00PM-ish (which was a little earlier than it has been lately... its been 8:30-9PM-ish) and you went to bed around 9:20PM. You didn't wake-up for a bottle until 2:30AM! (its been 1:30AM lately... generally 5hrs after your last bottle).
Your next feeding (nursing) was then at 6:15AM! (which is also later than its ever been - you typically get up like clock-work at 5AM...).
Could we finally be moving in the right direction to dropping 2 feedings and just having the one midnight feeding?
Dare I hold my breathe for the possibility?
*sucking in air and closing mouth tight*
**update**
So the night after posting this (basically, the next night) we went out and grandma had to "encourage" you to take a bottle. You didn't take much or ate earlier than normal or some such... end result: you were up by 1:30AM and again around 5AM.
BUT, the night after that we gave you at 4oz bottle at 7PM and a 5oz bottle at 8:30PM (which, we sort of kept you up for and gave to you w/o you really asking for it, wink!) and you slept till 2:45AM again!
Woo-hoo! I think we are on to something liveable soon!
Photos: Fourth of July Weekend
Evie and Max on the morning of her 4th birthday.
Max with Pop-pop in North Carolina.
Max with Pop-pop in North Carolina.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Evie turns FOUR!
Funny, I turned 34 this year... Rob will turn 40... and Evie turns 4.
I wonder if there's something to all these 4's in our lives this year.
Hey! We even became a family of 4...
OK, self, back away from this mindless philosophical thought vortex...
So, today was Evie's birthday AND her birthday party. So nice it worked out this way!
We celebrated at Kangaroo Jac's with 8 other pre-school aged friends (and a few new baby boys in the mix, too. Seems like there are many recent baby brother additions).
Evie had a morning of gift opening at home with mom and dad. gifts included: Vet Barbie with playful pups, Barbie "fashion" clothing to dress aforementioned Barbie, a play tent that goes on the twin-sized bed (I had one as a kid and loved it!), and a light blue princess dress-up dress.
I was actually shocked that the princess dress didn't get the rave reviews I thought it would. I was both disappointed and elated (could this phase finally be on the decline? Dare I hope???).
Dad and Evie spent some time at the neighborhood coffee shop while I prepared to escape the house. We had to leave at 10:30AM! Can you believe we got there not only on time but EARLY? Evie got 30 minutes extra playtime before guests arrived.
We played, ate pizza, munched rainbow cake and opened tons of presents all in a 2-hr timeframe. Phew!
Best part: Evie crashed hard and took a nice 1.5hr nap afterward. Yippee!
Happy birthday, baby. I love you!
Everybody line-up!
This terrifies me for when Josephine and Evie become 16-year-olds... and Tyler is a driver.
I love thinking how this picture will be reviewed years and years from now with the same nostalgia as when I look at my kiddie birthday parties from the early 80's.
Girlie gifts! Girlie gifts!
The Rainbow Cake Incident
I have been planning this cake for months. What a perfectly delicious way (pun intended) to trick my pre-schooler into thinking her boring cake (boring on the outside) into thinking its boring on the inside, too... but wait! Once it is cute... a rainbow is reveled! Tah-dah!
I followed this blogger's recipe only to have it spill all over the side of the pan and all over the bottom of my oven. I threw aluminum foil in the oven to catch the rest and it looked like, as Rob said, "a clown threw-up." Thankfully, it tasted better.
The cake actually took far longer then expected to cook all the way through. In my haste to get it out of pan, on a plate, iced and hidden before Evie would see it (she was out for the day with a sitter until 5PM)... I flipped the pans only to have it half stick to the bottom. I then attempted to scoop out the bottom and "glue" it back together with frosting. When the mudslide occurred and pieces began hitting the floor... I knew it was over this cake officially sucked.
I screamed out "FUCK!" It made me feel slightly better.
The beer helped more.
Evie came home. She looked at the cake threw the plastic carry-case lid and said matter-of-factly, "what's THAT?"
What is that, indeed.
I decided to send Rob out again for 2 more boxes of cake mix. I started over.
This time I tried cupcakes. Would you believe they all burnt and stuck to the paper? What the hell.
Miraculously, the leftover batter I tried to "use up" by throwing in an 8" pan and into 9 muffin cups (yes, can you believe I happen to have just enough batter to match the number of guests? Its like fate finally cut me some slack)... all turned out FINE. So, that is what I used to make the "masterpiece" shown at the bottom of this post.
I am happy to report it was beautiful on the inside, the moms were impressed, the kiddos ate it all up (they all seemed to like having both cake and a cupcake each)... and everyone was happy.
Phew.
Evie wants to play with the batter. I threaten her life at this point.
The cupcakes looked promising till I burnt them trying to get them to cook through.
It made me happy when the kids all wanted to eat the sun (which, looks like a spider doesn't it?). Birthday girl won. :-)
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