All you need is friends, even if they are of the furrier variety!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Time out Tuesday
Taking a time out today to show you Lyssi Lu's first barette...we love this girl soooo much!
Monday, September 26, 2011
In sickness and health...
When I took my wedding vows 5.5 years ago to take D in marriage through sickness and in health I did not realize that we would not always be the ones getting sick and instead we would be holding each other up through our little one's illnesses. I didn't realize that by promising him my support and love through sickness that I was also promising our future children that by loving their Daddy I was diving headfirst into a future of colds/fevers/late nights and runny noses.
School has started hasnt' it!? Derrick called it and has reminded me of his 'call' a few times already. The start of a new school year almost undoubtedly means colds. I always smile while I roll my eyes reminding him that our kids aren't really in school and that they don't go to daycare but without fail they have proved him correct and once more, Daddy was right yet again.
Monday started a long week with Riley waking up sweaty, congested and crying with frustration over his inability to fall asleep due to fevers. Daddy took to the couch with him and I listened to his whimpers from our bedroom. I couldn't do it. I had to be near my sick boy. I traded spots with Daddy and listened to every moan and cough that came from our little guy. At one point he was so tired and delirious he asked to watch a special movie and eat ice cream, it was 3:20 in the a.m. and he quickly (thankfully) fell back asleep within minutes breathing deeply with crackles in his chest.
It was a long night but I awoke just under an hour later ready for work and regretting leaving my boy behind. He continued with his nightly routine of needing to sleep on the couch after a few hours of bed sleeping due to coughs and fevers and we switched on and off of who got up with him. There was no anger, no regret, only love and support. By Thursday he was starting to kick it and wouldn't you know that after an hour of sleeping for Lyssi Lu she woke up horribly congested, red-faced and hot like an iron. I cradled her in my arms and we finished up Grey's together. I put her back in her crib, mattress raised by a towel and prayed she would stay sleeping. 5.5 hours later she was still in my arms, Riley was on the couch with the last of a very loud cough and I had to call it quits and take a sick day. It was a miserable night. I hadn't done the all-nighter with my baby girl for months and this 28 hour stretch of awake took it's toll on me. After a few hours of rest I woke up miserably sick with a horrible sore throat, body aches and a fever. I was downright pissed. Seriously, it is not bad enough that I have to listen to my sons throaty coughs all night, my daughters cries because she can't understand why she can't breathe while drinking a bottle or trying to put herself to sleep with a nuk that someone thought I should be put in their tiny shoes? I drugged myself up, we picked each other up and we carried on.
I carried on with a wedding shoot on Saturday. 12 hours of on my feet, sweaty, hard work. Missing my babies, their Daddy and my bed dearly. Daddy carried on with 12 hours of sweaty, hard work caring for 2 sick babes.
I came home to a very tired Lyssi who just couldn't go to sleep. D told me she was waiting for me and indeed she was. I held her after being away all day and she melted in my arms and fell asleep instantly not waking until the next morn.
We looked at each other Sunday morning after a solid week of the serious sickies and we were thankful. Thankful that we had one another for support and help. Thankful that we had another set of arms to pick up and carry the poor baby girl who in her sickness didn't want to be put down. Thankful that we had each other. Thankful that we had made it the whole week, intact, fighting our way out of the illness and looking forward to what would hopefully be a healthier week.
Indeed it has been better already. Riley still has a few remnants from his sickness and Lyssi is still hanging onto a runny nose but she can breathe again without struggle and to just hold her, to just feed her without her having to pause every 2 seconds to breathe is heaven. Baby girl is back to sleeping all night and the towel has been removed from beneath her crib mattress.
A few weeks ago Lyssa was up for no reason wide awake at 9:00. We struggled with what was going on and prayed fervently that this was a fluke. The next night when the clock struck 9:00 baby girl was up and wide awake. We were frustrated. We had tried a bottle the night before with no sleep to follow so when D suggested a bottle again I snapped at him and said something to the effect like "yes, because that worked wonders last night." He sighed and I seethed and it got us nowhere. Somewhere between that first night and second we found ourselves again and carried on as a team. Around midnight I tried throwing her blankets in the dryer and finally the warmness carried her to peaceful dreams and she never awoke like that again. We finally fell into bed exhausted, said our "sorry's" and fell asleep.
It is in moments like this that I think of those vows we took, especially the ones about "in sickness and in health". Nothing tests your patience and resolve like sick kids. Granted our kids only had colds but it is not easy times 2. It is during these small, miniscule, problematic long nights and longer days that I am proud to look over at my husband only to realize that we are living out our vows, hand in hand, heart in heart. It gets me to thinking that we are so very fortunate to not be watching our children sleep in a hospital bed with a terminal illness, fighting for every tomorrow. In my tiredness I pray for those families and hold my kids just a bit tighter.
There is no one with whom I would rather live out this life with, colds, flu's and all-more than my husband, our rock, my soul and the Daddy of my two most precious gifts in life.
In sickness and in health takes on whole new meaning when you are talking about your little hearts being ill.
School has started hasnt' it!? Derrick called it and has reminded me of his 'call' a few times already. The start of a new school year almost undoubtedly means colds. I always smile while I roll my eyes reminding him that our kids aren't really in school and that they don't go to daycare but without fail they have proved him correct and once more, Daddy was right yet again.
Monday started a long week with Riley waking up sweaty, congested and crying with frustration over his inability to fall asleep due to fevers. Daddy took to the couch with him and I listened to his whimpers from our bedroom. I couldn't do it. I had to be near my sick boy. I traded spots with Daddy and listened to every moan and cough that came from our little guy. At one point he was so tired and delirious he asked to watch a special movie and eat ice cream, it was 3:20 in the a.m. and he quickly (thankfully) fell back asleep within minutes breathing deeply with crackles in his chest.
It was a long night but I awoke just under an hour later ready for work and regretting leaving my boy behind. He continued with his nightly routine of needing to sleep on the couch after a few hours of bed sleeping due to coughs and fevers and we switched on and off of who got up with him. There was no anger, no regret, only love and support. By Thursday he was starting to kick it and wouldn't you know that after an hour of sleeping for Lyssi Lu she woke up horribly congested, red-faced and hot like an iron. I cradled her in my arms and we finished up Grey's together. I put her back in her crib, mattress raised by a towel and prayed she would stay sleeping. 5.5 hours later she was still in my arms, Riley was on the couch with the last of a very loud cough and I had to call it quits and take a sick day. It was a miserable night. I hadn't done the all-nighter with my baby girl for months and this 28 hour stretch of awake took it's toll on me. After a few hours of rest I woke up miserably sick with a horrible sore throat, body aches and a fever. I was downright pissed. Seriously, it is not bad enough that I have to listen to my sons throaty coughs all night, my daughters cries because she can't understand why she can't breathe while drinking a bottle or trying to put herself to sleep with a nuk that someone thought I should be put in their tiny shoes? I drugged myself up, we picked each other up and we carried on.
I carried on with a wedding shoot on Saturday. 12 hours of on my feet, sweaty, hard work. Missing my babies, their Daddy and my bed dearly. Daddy carried on with 12 hours of sweaty, hard work caring for 2 sick babes.
I came home to a very tired Lyssi who just couldn't go to sleep. D told me she was waiting for me and indeed she was. I held her after being away all day and she melted in my arms and fell asleep instantly not waking until the next morn.
We looked at each other Sunday morning after a solid week of the serious sickies and we were thankful. Thankful that we had one another for support and help. Thankful that we had another set of arms to pick up and carry the poor baby girl who in her sickness didn't want to be put down. Thankful that we had each other. Thankful that we had made it the whole week, intact, fighting our way out of the illness and looking forward to what would hopefully be a healthier week.
Indeed it has been better already. Riley still has a few remnants from his sickness and Lyssi is still hanging onto a runny nose but she can breathe again without struggle and to just hold her, to just feed her without her having to pause every 2 seconds to breathe is heaven. Baby girl is back to sleeping all night and the towel has been removed from beneath her crib mattress.
A few weeks ago Lyssa was up for no reason wide awake at 9:00. We struggled with what was going on and prayed fervently that this was a fluke. The next night when the clock struck 9:00 baby girl was up and wide awake. We were frustrated. We had tried a bottle the night before with no sleep to follow so when D suggested a bottle again I snapped at him and said something to the effect like "yes, because that worked wonders last night." He sighed and I seethed and it got us nowhere. Somewhere between that first night and second we found ourselves again and carried on as a team. Around midnight I tried throwing her blankets in the dryer and finally the warmness carried her to peaceful dreams and she never awoke like that again. We finally fell into bed exhausted, said our "sorry's" and fell asleep.
It is in moments like this that I think of those vows we took, especially the ones about "in sickness and in health". Nothing tests your patience and resolve like sick kids. Granted our kids only had colds but it is not easy times 2. It is during these small, miniscule, problematic long nights and longer days that I am proud to look over at my husband only to realize that we are living out our vows, hand in hand, heart in heart. It gets me to thinking that we are so very fortunate to not be watching our children sleep in a hospital bed with a terminal illness, fighting for every tomorrow. In my tiredness I pray for those families and hold my kids just a bit tighter.
There is no one with whom I would rather live out this life with, colds, flu's and all-more than my husband, our rock, my soul and the Daddy of my two most precious gifts in life.
In sickness and in health takes on whole new meaning when you are talking about your little hearts being ill.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Picture this!
Let's start out by asking "What's wrong with this picture?" D and I are on the couch Sunday morning at 7:15 watching Dinosaur Train...the children are still sleeping.
One more.
I am super prepared for my first adventure as the 3 year old Sunday School teacher with bags packed full of snacks, supplies and props Saturday night. I alone get both kids out to the door fully clothed after a bath for both feeling extra proud and even more prepared. (D had a 9 a.m. appt.) I get to Sunday school, unpack and can't find my lesson binder or my notes anywhere...oops, last minute preparing led to me taking them out of the bag and never replacing them. Oh well, we got the gist of the lesson and when I asked Riley later what he learned he replied "When I am a bad boy, God still loves me." Epic success if I do say so myself : )! I am still singing "Jump forward, step back, wave your hands in the air and clap," over and over to myself though!
Picture this: To celebrate 1 whole year of a potty trained Riley we defy the weather and head to Como Town on Saturday with Riley's favorite person Owen! They have a blast together riding the rails, cars and chowing down. It was a special morning with just my little man and on the way home we had to make an emergency stop because the boy had to pee so we pulled over, pulled it out and peed. Boys are so easy like that : ) We also came home with a sucker and a 5 foot stuffed snake. He loves that thing. Walks around with it everywhere and keeps telling me "hank you mommy for mine nake, I just wove him so much." He also looked at D and said "Daddy me just so happy!" Doesn't take much to please this boy!
Picture this: My cute children, one blue-eyed, blonde beauty and my brown-eyed, brown haired handsome man. Swoon!
Picture this: D and I in Vegas in December alone for the first time in 3.5 years for more than a day. Eating without interruptions and sleeping like teenagers. Yay! We booked our Vegas trip and head out Dec 15th! Now do we sleep the whole 3 days away or will we get out and have us some fun!?
Picture this: Lyssa Lu loving on Deuce. She watches him like a hawk and just loves to touch him and get herself all full of his hair. It's sweet and weird to think back to not long ago when Riley was the same age with the same obsession!
Picture this: A Friday night out to dinner with margaritas for all, 'cept the littles. I was possibly, just a bit pleasantly buzzed up after so we had a dance party as desert and Lyssa Lu loves her some Fitty Cent circa 2001. (the edited version people!) I can see how with kids and work people like a glass of wine with dinner. I giggled and laughed the whole night off of one very yummy marg!
Picture this: After church Sunday both kids were exhausted. Riley napped for 2 hours and Lyssa Lu for 3.5. This means we watched/napped alone in the LR with the game on just like we used to when Riley was a newbie. Ahh, I love me some Sunday football!
Picture this: The horrible and ever spreading rash all over my hands and now my arms-diagnosed by D. He casually mentioned that maybe it was due to the Aveda (art and science of pure flower and plant extracts) that I use in my hair and low and behold a light bulb went off in my head. I am ALLERGIC to plants and flowers, stopped usage and the rash is slowly but surely disappearing.
Picture this: I finish one of the best books I have ever read in Goodyear while getting my oil changed. I look around to make sure I am alone as I hug my book at the end and smile at just how wonderful it was! I then stop by the library to get the 6th Harry Potter book cause Mama's got to have a book to read!
Picture this: Annie and me shooting our first wedding together this Saturday! EEK! What seemed so far off is now upon us and I am nervous and pumped up hoping to make all proud, plus I am really, really looking forward to Hotel Minneapolis and the sit down dinner we are going to be served. The extra 5 hundy makes it all worth it too! : )
Picture this: I spike Alyssa's hair out of habit from when she was an infant and I tried to make up for her little hair by mohawking it. Now at church everyone knows her by her signature mohawk. A friend/fellow preschooler Mom brought her to the nursery for me and just from seeing the back of her head my Mom knew it was her walking by from that blonde spike.
Picture this: Lyssi Lu just wore her first pair of skinny jeans...My gosh I love dressing this little love up. I have never cared what I look like but with her I just love the shoes, the skinny jeans, the cardi's and dresses! This could be dangerous people!
Picture this: Goodness, I am going to be 29 this year! I have big plans of living life to the max my last year in the 20's!
Picture this: My parents are cruising this February which gives me the perfect excuse to take that whole week of my little Lyssa's birthday week off! : )
Picture this: Riley had a blast at his second day of preschool and made us all hungry talking about the "cacker faces" they made for snacks. Ritz cracker, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and licorice. Yes, PLEASE!
Picture this: I am a hyper organized person and with my life planner it is all the more fun...notes, day to day calendars, fun quotes and pretty colors make this lady happy!
Picture this: Another week is upon us anew and I am keeping my fingers crossed for freezing temps...excuse me but my allergies are so bad the inside of me mouth itches something fierce. I might have had to use a fork to itch, that is bad! So spare the mellow drama about the frost. I need it and then the temps can go back up to the 60's maybe even the 70's but the frost is a necessary evil in my world!
Happy new week! Make it a good one!
and I don't know if this will work but see if you can watch this video...this boy of mine...sigh...is getting so big!
">
One more.
I am super prepared for my first adventure as the 3 year old Sunday School teacher with bags packed full of snacks, supplies and props Saturday night. I alone get both kids out to the door fully clothed after a bath for both feeling extra proud and even more prepared. (D had a 9 a.m. appt.) I get to Sunday school, unpack and can't find my lesson binder or my notes anywhere...oops, last minute preparing led to me taking them out of the bag and never replacing them. Oh well, we got the gist of the lesson and when I asked Riley later what he learned he replied "When I am a bad boy, God still loves me." Epic success if I do say so myself : )! I am still singing "Jump forward, step back, wave your hands in the air and clap," over and over to myself though!
Picture this: To celebrate 1 whole year of a potty trained Riley we defy the weather and head to Como Town on Saturday with Riley's favorite person Owen! They have a blast together riding the rails, cars and chowing down. It was a special morning with just my little man and on the way home we had to make an emergency stop because the boy had to pee so we pulled over, pulled it out and peed. Boys are so easy like that : ) We also came home with a sucker and a 5 foot stuffed snake. He loves that thing. Walks around with it everywhere and keeps telling me "hank you mommy for mine nake, I just wove him so much." He also looked at D and said "Daddy me just so happy!" Doesn't take much to please this boy!
Picture this: My cute children, one blue-eyed, blonde beauty and my brown-eyed, brown haired handsome man. Swoon!
Picture this: D and I in Vegas in December alone for the first time in 3.5 years for more than a day. Eating without interruptions and sleeping like teenagers. Yay! We booked our Vegas trip and head out Dec 15th! Now do we sleep the whole 3 days away or will we get out and have us some fun!?
Picture this: Lyssa Lu loving on Deuce. She watches him like a hawk and just loves to touch him and get herself all full of his hair. It's sweet and weird to think back to not long ago when Riley was the same age with the same obsession!
Picture this: A Friday night out to dinner with margaritas for all, 'cept the littles. I was possibly, just a bit pleasantly buzzed up after so we had a dance party as desert and Lyssa Lu loves her some Fitty Cent circa 2001. (the edited version people!) I can see how with kids and work people like a glass of wine with dinner. I giggled and laughed the whole night off of one very yummy marg!
Picture this: After church Sunday both kids were exhausted. Riley napped for 2 hours and Lyssa Lu for 3.5. This means we watched/napped alone in the LR with the game on just like we used to when Riley was a newbie. Ahh, I love me some Sunday football!
Picture this: The horrible and ever spreading rash all over my hands and now my arms-diagnosed by D. He casually mentioned that maybe it was due to the Aveda (art and science of pure flower and plant extracts) that I use in my hair and low and behold a light bulb went off in my head. I am ALLERGIC to plants and flowers, stopped usage and the rash is slowly but surely disappearing.
Picture this: I finish one of the best books I have ever read in Goodyear while getting my oil changed. I look around to make sure I am alone as I hug my book at the end and smile at just how wonderful it was! I then stop by the library to get the 6th Harry Potter book cause Mama's got to have a book to read!
Picture this: Annie and me shooting our first wedding together this Saturday! EEK! What seemed so far off is now upon us and I am nervous and pumped up hoping to make all proud, plus I am really, really looking forward to Hotel Minneapolis and the sit down dinner we are going to be served. The extra 5 hundy makes it all worth it too! : )
Picture this: I spike Alyssa's hair out of habit from when she was an infant and I tried to make up for her little hair by mohawking it. Now at church everyone knows her by her signature mohawk. A friend/fellow preschooler Mom brought her to the nursery for me and just from seeing the back of her head my Mom knew it was her walking by from that blonde spike.
 |
| The Lyssi Lu signature "spike" |
Picture this: Lyssi Lu just wore her first pair of skinny jeans...My gosh I love dressing this little love up. I have never cared what I look like but with her I just love the shoes, the skinny jeans, the cardi's and dresses! This could be dangerous people!
Picture this: Goodness, I am going to be 29 this year! I have big plans of living life to the max my last year in the 20's!
Picture this: My parents are cruising this February which gives me the perfect excuse to take that whole week of my little Lyssa's birthday week off! : )
Picture this: Riley had a blast at his second day of preschool and made us all hungry talking about the "cacker faces" they made for snacks. Ritz cracker, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and licorice. Yes, PLEASE!
Picture this: I am a hyper organized person and with my life planner it is all the more fun...notes, day to day calendars, fun quotes and pretty colors make this lady happy!
Picture this: Another week is upon us anew and I am keeping my fingers crossed for freezing temps...excuse me but my allergies are so bad the inside of me mouth itches something fierce. I might have had to use a fork to itch, that is bad! So spare the mellow drama about the frost. I need it and then the temps can go back up to the 60's maybe even the 70's but the frost is a necessary evil in my world!
Happy new week! Make it a good one!
and I don't know if this will work but see if you can watch this video...this boy of mine...sigh...is getting so big!
">
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Preschool Daze
First day of preschool down, only like 14 more years to mourn the first day of school come and gone for my Riley man. I had a nervous feeling Tuesday night. Possibly it was due to the fact that I never saw Derrick all of Tuesday thanks to work, a park playdate with just the kids and I and then softball games at 8 and 10...seriously 10 o'clock? But honestly it was probably just feeling the growing pains of my baby boy.
We did all we could to excite him for his first day and he always came back with "but I will just miss you Mommy," or a "you just stay in school with me Mommy." He went to bed a little somberly Tuesday eve and I could tell he had alot on his mind. We said prayers and read special books about going to preschool. Thankfully he woke up excited Wednesday morning and I was barely able to get both kids dressed and out the door since they woke up late (just when you expect an early alarm clock they sleep in until 7:15!). We made it to school early for the obligatory first day pictures beneath the sign, next to the pine tree (excuse my 'high as a kite' look) and then a few quick backpack shots. He was having fun finding his hook for his 'zebra', seeing his friends and hugging his teacher. I went to say goodbye and his little fist grabbed my jeans like a vice grip. He kept asking for one more hug and he kept repeating that he "not want to stay here, me miss you too much ready (already) Mommy." It broke my heart. I was able to make it out of the class and Mrs Penny his 2 yr old teacher poked her head into his classroom and said that he was doing fine so I left. I made it to the truck and I started crying. Derrick called to see how it went and when I told him what Riley kept repeating I almost thought he was going to cry too! I snuck home to cry it out before meeting the mommies for Caribou while we waited to pick up our big kids. The time went by fast and when I finally saw that it was 11:30 I couldn't get back to church fast enough. One by one kids were walking out with smiles on their faces and my Riley was sitting at the table waiting to catch a glimpse of me so he too could leave. Seeing his smiling face gave me such relief. He showed me the painting he had done and asked me to pick him up so we could go home. He didn't really want to talk about school except to say that "it not fun and me not go back again peese Mommy." He looked really tired so I figured the interrogation could wait. While we napped his teacher Mrs Jane called and made me the proudest mama. She wanted to let me know that Riley didn't stop smiling once, that he was a JOY to be around and that he was so sweet to all the kids especially when he decided to give up his swing and push the others instead. As soon as I told him she called he lit up with pride and asked ever so sweetly, "that was nice of me Mommy, that make you happy?" We spent the evening celebrating his first day with an expensive dinner at Culver's and a super fun park date feeding the ducks. He kept saying over and over again "Mommy, I just love you so much, this so much fun." He was literally squealing with excitement and I knew then everything was going to be just fine. I will never stop being sad at how fast he is growing up but my tears are always bittersweet. Bitter over letting go and leaving behind but sweet with happiness that he is surrounded by love and learning.
I will think of him every Wednesday at 9:00 as he walks into school with his sister and Nana saying goodbye's and going potty before entering his classroom to learn. I am so thankful for Mt Olive Preschool education and knowing that he is sitting in the same chairs and classrooms that I did 25 years ago.
We did all we could to excite him for his first day and he always came back with "but I will just miss you Mommy," or a "you just stay in school with me Mommy." He went to bed a little somberly Tuesday eve and I could tell he had alot on his mind. We said prayers and read special books about going to preschool. Thankfully he woke up excited Wednesday morning and I was barely able to get both kids dressed and out the door since they woke up late (just when you expect an early alarm clock they sleep in until 7:15!). We made it to school early for the obligatory first day pictures beneath the sign, next to the pine tree (excuse my 'high as a kite' look) and then a few quick backpack shots. He was having fun finding his hook for his 'zebra', seeing his friends and hugging his teacher. I went to say goodbye and his little fist grabbed my jeans like a vice grip. He kept asking for one more hug and he kept repeating that he "not want to stay here, me miss you too much ready (already) Mommy." It broke my heart. I was able to make it out of the class and Mrs Penny his 2 yr old teacher poked her head into his classroom and said that he was doing fine so I left. I made it to the truck and I started crying. Derrick called to see how it went and when I told him what Riley kept repeating I almost thought he was going to cry too! I snuck home to cry it out before meeting the mommies for Caribou while we waited to pick up our big kids. The time went by fast and when I finally saw that it was 11:30 I couldn't get back to church fast enough. One by one kids were walking out with smiles on their faces and my Riley was sitting at the table waiting to catch a glimpse of me so he too could leave. Seeing his smiling face gave me such relief. He showed me the painting he had done and asked me to pick him up so we could go home. He didn't really want to talk about school except to say that "it not fun and me not go back again peese Mommy." He looked really tired so I figured the interrogation could wait. While we napped his teacher Mrs Jane called and made me the proudest mama. She wanted to let me know that Riley didn't stop smiling once, that he was a JOY to be around and that he was so sweet to all the kids especially when he decided to give up his swing and push the others instead. As soon as I told him she called he lit up with pride and asked ever so sweetly, "that was nice of me Mommy, that make you happy?" We spent the evening celebrating his first day with an expensive dinner at Culver's and a super fun park date feeding the ducks. He kept saying over and over again "Mommy, I just love you so much, this so much fun." He was literally squealing with excitement and I knew then everything was going to be just fine. I will never stop being sad at how fast he is growing up but my tears are always bittersweet. Bitter over letting go and leaving behind but sweet with happiness that he is surrounded by love and learning.
 |
| so tired after a long day |
Friday, September 9, 2011
7 months of baby girl
I always have a handle on when the 9th is coming up. I sort of plan what I want to write about our girl and usually I have it waiting to publish a few days beforehand. That being said, this month I was shocked when I clocked in today and saw 9-9-11. Seven months. Honestly this month feels like she has been 7 months forever. Not because she has been a handful or difficult but because she is still just sitting around smiling and babbling just like last month. Not much has changed...which is nice. No new mobility milestones, no new schedule throwers, no new Dr appt stats, regardless she is 7 months old and this is what she looks like this month.
*Yes, that's her first 'toofer' you see and just this last week one more pushed it's way up right next to it.
*She is sleeping like an old pro again (ha!) going to bed by 7:30 and waking around 7:00.
*Most nights she is quiet all night, but she might be to be plugged with her Nuk a few times here and there.
*She is eating at 7:30, 12:30 with solids, 4:00 with solids and then 7:15. Six ozs except for the solid feedings then it's 4 ozs and practically a whole container of apples, peaches, carrots, squash, anything but peas!
*She will hold her own bottle.
*She is on her way to being a great napper within the last few weeks sleeping anywhere from 2-3 solid hours midday and then another hour in the evening. Everyone took naps this last weekend and I expected to be awoken by one of the children when we went down at 11:30 but was shocked when Lyssa started talking just after 2:00! I was supposed to get laundry done but whatever!
*She is wearing 6 month clothes and I went out to by the 9-12 month sized clothes and just wasn't ready. They looked so big next to the NB size and I am also in denial about the cooler weather so we are going to wait until she actually needs the bigger size.
*She loves to give hugs.
*She loves her some Deuce. She just stares at him watching his every move. It's hairy, wet (slobbery kisses from both) and weird to think that this was Riley not that long ago!
*She is saying "dada" and now "mama" which is so exciting! Mama only seems to come out when she is super frustrated but I will take it!
We all love having her around. She completes us in a way I didn't see coming. Happy 7 months baby girl!
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| Loving the dainty way she has her hands folded! |
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| What is up with our kids and having their tongues out!? |
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| Why do you always have that camera in front of your face 'mama'? |
She is giving Riley all of her smiles : ) She looks so grown up!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Bite the bullet Friday
Possibly better explained as bullet point Friday or brain dump Friday but either way here is my end of the week brain spilling all over the place stream of consciousness style.
- I can't stop thinking about birthing Alyssa. Possibly it's because sweet Layla was just born or because my dear friend Becks just announced her second pregnancy but either way I daydream about that fabulous day all the time.
- I just watched the video with Riley right after Lyssa came out and Daddy talks to her telling her how much he loves her and how pretty she is. Makes me fall in love with him all over again. He says over and over again that he wished he knew what to call her...we didn't name her for a few hours as I had to make sure that my name was out the window. She just looked like Alyssa Marie though so there you have it.
- Since I am 'dumping' all things baby I will just throw this out there-I LOVE being pregnant. I miss it right now. Not saying I want to be pregnant but I miss Lyssa Lu swimming around in there, kicking me and getting hiccups. I miss reading the weekly updates and seeing my midwife every month. She became a friend and I just saw her in the hallways this week at work and we hugged and I realized how much I miss it all. Yes, I read every weekly update with Alyssa.
- Chasing Cars came on the radio today and I don't think I have heard that song since Feb 9th when on the way to the hospital we heard it 3 times. Twas baby girls theme song. Have you ever really listened to the lyrics. Perfect baby-having song.
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel.
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see.
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
- Speaking of music did you know that you can make your own Playlist? Just scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click on "make your own Playlist" or "pop-out playlist" and then you can listen to my music or make your own. Is it obvious that I am obsessed currently with John Mayer?
- I worked from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. I feel oddly young again like before I had kids and had just started at Pathway. I was working crazy mad overtime hours back then and just an extra 1.5 hours oddly made me feel young again.
- I just finished a book in 5 days. It was one of the best books I have ever read. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Same author as my other favorite Firefly Lane. It was a story of great loss, survival and love. The story in the story was utterly heartbreaking and I could not put this one down. It was a total feel good story that left me in tears on my lunch break. No surprise with the tears.
- I am looking forward to church on Sunday and hearing our new Pastor preach.
- I am going to spend all weekend soaking in my kids.
- School starts for Riley on Wednesday and I am eagerly anticipating waking up to my kids midweek and caring for them in the morning before dropping him off at church and then going out to coffee with Tammy a fellow preschool mommy.
- Although I do not want to be pregnant anytime soon I cannot stop thinking about our baby making dilemma/disagreement. I want 2 more kids, D wants 1. I have a really hard time imagining that the next time will be the last time.
- We had family pictures taken last Sunday and I can only see the bags under my eyes, the chub around my middle section and the drab hair on my head. Also Lyssa's ear folded is driving me nuts so I am going to have to replace her head with a better ear shot!
- We ate at Perkins last night with my family. My Uncle works there and gets a free meal every month for up to 6 people. We had malts, apps, dinners and muffins for free. Our tab was $130 and we only had to cover the tip. Who'd have thunk you could spend $130 at Perkins!?
- Can you believe 9-11-11 is coming up. 10 years. I will never forget waking up in the dorm to my roommate screaming and crying while I tried to comprehend what was going on. Getting home to my family and Derrick was the most important thing and a huge part of my not wanting to be away at college anymore.
- I miss my sister. I want to see her more and more often these days.
- I am buying new Jillian Michaels DVD's this weekend in hopes that these last 10 lbs finally fall off of me.
- I finally got through the renewal ceremony pictures and I am not overly happy with the results. My brain was 'loose' that day and I was ill-prepared. Hopefully come September 24th I will feel more confident or at least act more confident so Anne and me rock it.
- I am crazy content right now with life. It is good.
I feel better now that my brain has been emptied. Cheers to Friday!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
For the love of my Riley
I have just been sitting back and watching my Riley lately and the pride that starts swelling up within me all the way from my toes to my heart is just about to explode. We were all "strap in for 3" and really, he couldn't be any sweeter. He obviously has his moments where the whining starts and where the not listening gets the better of him but overall we have one very well behaved, content, happy, well-adjusted 3-year-old. He is so much fun to be around and just a little smile or hug from him keeps me going long after my exhaustion level has bottomed out.
At the end of the day after Lyssa Lu is in bed we all trek back to Riley's room and he lays sandwiched between Daddy and me while we whisper goodnights and love you's back and forth. Every night he recites "me check yours feets and make sure they are up on mine bed." Without a doubt he gets up and has to check our feet. I think this means that if our feet are up on the bed he feels secure that we aren't going to make a break for it. He has also started asking for "one more hug pees." This has replaced his need to grip our shirts tightly so that we can't go anywhere. When Daddy picked him up for that one more hug last week he said "this is my favvvvorrrrite part Daddy," and as soon as Daddy laid him back down he said "but this is not my favorite part." Haha...you almost got to sleep with Mommy and Daddy!
I was lying with him this weekend while Daddy was getting Lyssa down when he asked me "seep in mine bed forever Mommy, you not need to seep with Daddy." I said forever!? What do we do when the sun comes up tomorrow morning? to which he replied "go fishing of course Mommy!"
Have you seen the recent video of the fallen Navy SEAL and his dog who laid in front of his casket during the whole funeral service? We watched it recently and didn't even realize Riley was paying any attention and apparently he was because he started asking questions about why he had to die and if he was in heaven. He told us that it made him so sad and that he wants to lay with hig doggy like that. Broke my heart that something we watched unintentionally caused his little heart to hurt. He is young enough though that he was able to forget that SEAL after hugs and reassurance from us, I unfortunately was not able to and thought of him with tears long after Riley's bedtime. So thankful that my boy has a soft heart that is full of compassion and love for others.
We visited a new church this weekend for a baptism and a young group rapped and danced to 3 or so songs (somewhat awkwardly) but also somewhat entertaining especially if you were Riley. He nodded his head front to back with the beat and when one of the guys started breakdancing he tugged on my skirt and begged me "I want to do that Mommy, I want to be up there and do that with them Mommy, come with me peese?" Haha, no thanks little man. I was able to talk him out of it and instead he sat in his seat and started doing the actions along with the rest of us. So yesterday at Nana's house he apparently started breakdancing to the Go Diego Go theme song and my Mom couldn't figure out what he was doing and where he learned it from. Even after he told her church (turch) she still didn't get it until she talked to me and I almost peed my pants laughing. He's got rhythmn, yes he does!
After his last dentist appt we were told he was able and ready to move up to big boy toothpaste so he chose some SpongeBob stuff (I strongly dislike SpongeBob.) in fruit flavor or something. Without a doubt he tells me everynight "this toothpaste is picey (spicey) Mommy." It smells like candy and is neon blue in color so spicy isn't exactly the descriptive word I expected to hear from him!
We attended pre-school orientation on Tuesday and there was a TON of families there. He immediately said "I miss my Lyssa and Daddy." We met his teacher whom I have already known for many, many years and filled out some forms. While all the other kids were playing he sat in my lap and just took it all in. He asked questions about whether or not I would be going to school with him...break my heart...and he was a bit nervous about there being that many people in his class. I tried my best to explain to him how much fun he will have and that these kids were here with their whole families (seriously...you just had to bring all 4 of your kids, the grandparents and the dog with you!?-just kidding about the dog) and when he goes to school it will only be the little kids and his teachers. Try explaining this all the while staring at his cute, concerned face when I felt like crying too! I am just not ready for a pre-schooler and stop it with the "what's the big deal?" The big deal is that he has never been without his immediate family, the people who love him dearly and unconditionally. He has never had his feelings hurt without one of us near enough to help break down the situation and make everything better. Yes, I know he needs to learn that sooner or later but this is my baby boy and I am just not ready. He is so kind and sensitive which worries me that he will get shy and intimidated and end up being a wallflower. Thankfully this is a Christian school, the same one that started my education all those years ago and I know that the teachers will love him similiar to us. I know that he will be fine. I know that he will LOVE it. I know that all and still it will break my heart to drop him off Wednesday morning and kiss my big boy goodbye.
How fast you have grown my sweet boy. Mama loves you this much!...and will be there to pick you up Wednesday for a special lunch and nap just the 2 of us.
At the end of the day after Lyssa Lu is in bed we all trek back to Riley's room and he lays sandwiched between Daddy and me while we whisper goodnights and love you's back and forth. Every night he recites "me check yours feets and make sure they are up on mine bed." Without a doubt he gets up and has to check our feet. I think this means that if our feet are up on the bed he feels secure that we aren't going to make a break for it. He has also started asking for "one more hug pees." This has replaced his need to grip our shirts tightly so that we can't go anywhere. When Daddy picked him up for that one more hug last week he said "this is my favvvvorrrrite part Daddy," and as soon as Daddy laid him back down he said "but this is not my favorite part." Haha...you almost got to sleep with Mommy and Daddy!
I was lying with him this weekend while Daddy was getting Lyssa down when he asked me "seep in mine bed forever Mommy, you not need to seep with Daddy." I said forever!? What do we do when the sun comes up tomorrow morning? to which he replied "go fishing of course Mommy!"
Have you seen the recent video of the fallen Navy SEAL and his dog who laid in front of his casket during the whole funeral service? We watched it recently and didn't even realize Riley was paying any attention and apparently he was because he started asking questions about why he had to die and if he was in heaven. He told us that it made him so sad and that he wants to lay with hig doggy like that. Broke my heart that something we watched unintentionally caused his little heart to hurt. He is young enough though that he was able to forget that SEAL after hugs and reassurance from us, I unfortunately was not able to and thought of him with tears long after Riley's bedtime. So thankful that my boy has a soft heart that is full of compassion and love for others.
We visited a new church this weekend for a baptism and a young group rapped and danced to 3 or so songs (somewhat awkwardly) but also somewhat entertaining especially if you were Riley. He nodded his head front to back with the beat and when one of the guys started breakdancing he tugged on my skirt and begged me "I want to do that Mommy, I want to be up there and do that with them Mommy, come with me peese?" Haha, no thanks little man. I was able to talk him out of it and instead he sat in his seat and started doing the actions along with the rest of us. So yesterday at Nana's house he apparently started breakdancing to the Go Diego Go theme song and my Mom couldn't figure out what he was doing and where he learned it from. Even after he told her church (turch) she still didn't get it until she talked to me and I almost peed my pants laughing. He's got rhythmn, yes he does!
After his last dentist appt we were told he was able and ready to move up to big boy toothpaste so he chose some SpongeBob stuff (I strongly dislike SpongeBob.) in fruit flavor or something. Without a doubt he tells me everynight "this toothpaste is picey (spicey) Mommy." It smells like candy and is neon blue in color so spicy isn't exactly the descriptive word I expected to hear from him!
We attended pre-school orientation on Tuesday and there was a TON of families there. He immediately said "I miss my Lyssa and Daddy." We met his teacher whom I have already known for many, many years and filled out some forms. While all the other kids were playing he sat in my lap and just took it all in. He asked questions about whether or not I would be going to school with him...break my heart...and he was a bit nervous about there being that many people in his class. I tried my best to explain to him how much fun he will have and that these kids were here with their whole families (seriously...you just had to bring all 4 of your kids, the grandparents and the dog with you!?-just kidding about the dog) and when he goes to school it will only be the little kids and his teachers. Try explaining this all the while staring at his cute, concerned face when I felt like crying too! I am just not ready for a pre-schooler and stop it with the "what's the big deal?" The big deal is that he has never been without his immediate family, the people who love him dearly and unconditionally. He has never had his feelings hurt without one of us near enough to help break down the situation and make everything better. Yes, I know he needs to learn that sooner or later but this is my baby boy and I am just not ready. He is so kind and sensitive which worries me that he will get shy and intimidated and end up being a wallflower. Thankfully this is a Christian school, the same one that started my education all those years ago and I know that the teachers will love him similiar to us. I know that he will be fine. I know that he will LOVE it. I know that all and still it will break my heart to drop him off Wednesday morning and kiss my big boy goodbye.
How fast you have grown my sweet boy. Mama loves you this much!...and will be there to pick you up Wednesday for a special lunch and nap just the 2 of us.
Get cuter, why don't ya!?
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