Allie

Allie is getting bigger and stronger everyday. She's up to 13 lbs 14 oz via the doctor's scale. Yes, we were there again! I think that's 3 weeks in a row. This time it was more for me than her, I think. On Tuesday, when I was changing her diaper she headed head first off the couch onto her head. I'm not even sure if she hit her head, I grabbed her leg so fast I scratched it. I watched her for 5 hours and then decided I'd have Dr. Emm look at her just in case. Yep, she was fine. And he assured me I wasn't a bad mother, too.

Allie is laughing now! Last night she laughed for the first time while I was giving her a bath. I tired to get it on video, but she was past the moment when I started taping.

She pulled herself up to a sitting position with the help of my shirt, yesterday too. She has a strong core.

I think she's finally catching up to the milk I'm producing. She wouldn't have if I hadn't been weaning. I'm now purposely stopping at 6-7 oz a feeding, instead of the 12-13 I was getting with no problem. At one time I was getting 18-20 oz her pump. That's a lot of milk! So, I'm projecting she'll have formula by the end of the weekend, if not today. :( It's a little sad for me--but that's another blog, one that I'm sure no one would want to read.

Sarah

Audrey's new words

It seems Audrey is picking up half a dozen or more new words a day. Yesterdays words:

Woo hoo!

Jewel (as in Jewel Osco)

Hey!

Jeremy went to pick up our new dishwasher (yeah) and took Audrey. They needed to stop at either Sam's or Jewel on the way home for Diet Pepsi. When he asked Audrey if they should go to Sam's or Jewel, she replied, "Jewel" just as plain as day.

Sarah

Audrey finds middle c

Sarah

Playing Around with the girls

When both girls refused to sleep today at the same time or for longer than 10 minutes I put them to work modeling for me. Now, if I could only get a good background I'd be set. Well, and some lighting.....and a new lens....I need some better equipment! click on the picture to see more.

Sarah

Audrey's Vocabulary

The other day I wrote down everything Audrey said in a half hour or so. I just wanted to write it down before she progressed on or I forgot it.

Words that she says really clear as of Feb 2010:

Daddy

Mommy

Me

Juice

Shoes

Puppy

Duck

Book

Hi

baby

no

up

pop

cheese

home

drew

high

too/two/to

jump

beep and bee beep

me see!

Words/phrases that need a little translation:

Baby I-ee = Baby Allie

Baby i-ee hot = baby Allie is sick, or needs attention

i doh = i don't know

i do = yes

me i-ee= her baby doll

Paw Paw = Grandpa

Maw Maw- Grandma

wahsuck=?

Die Dight = Nigh Night

Die Die = Bye Bye

me seep = me sleep/ I'm tired

baa = ball

hewooh = hello

dwaah = draw

blk = milk

tay = okay

me hot = i'm cold

whatchuk= i have no idea, but usually she uses this for something she doesn't know the name of

jupkeeps = no idea on this one either

jakalk=???

wuh woah= uh oh

boop = poop

baby i-ee up!

baby i-ee wah wah wah! = baby allie is crying

bye bye cheese = grilled cheese from dairy queen

giddy-up = horse

tow = cow

ouw-ooo= Caillou

meum me ummmy= i think it's yummy

ummm= yum

doh= go

pup or bup = cup

werk= work

daak= dark

boo baw= blue ball

booo= moo, as in cow

a boo= peek a boo

emmom= elmo

Sarah

Audrey being Mommy

Audrey LOVES her baby-doll. She has had a baby in hand for close to 2 years now. I believe she has a total of 8 dolls. She's branched out and become attached to various stuffed animals--my old Care Bear, a stuffed puppy that Daddy got her, a Pink dog I got from Victoria Secret and the occasional teddy bear. The point is, she's very motherly. I'm sure it's a security thing and I'm not sure how I really feel about that, but if nothing else, she's learning how to be nurturing. This past semester in Kindermusik as I became more and more pregnant I couldn't hold her on my lap or swing her around so she would swing dolly instead. Even in quiet time she'd rather rock her dolly than be rocked by me. It was ok when I was pregnant but I didn't realize that after I had the baby she'd still rather sit beside me than on my lap, because dolly, of course, is on her lap and she must bounce her. We've tried to leave dolly/baby home before or in the van and that proved to be a mistake. Dolly started Sign and Sing with Audrey at 6 months and is now in her 4th semester of Kindermusik. Audrey got her first Middleton-Lee doll from Grandmother and Grandpa for Christmas in 2007 and has gotten one every year since. She loved the first one so much I had to buy a body double a few months later. I don't have very many pictures without dolly in them. Here are a few I captured the other day.

Audrey and bitty baby (note the diaper--it's a Pampers newborn diaper)

burping baby

feeding baby

Sarah

Bits and Pieces

Before Drew's birthday celebration, we went out to Autumn and Drew's for a family photo shoot. Aunt Autumn took a few of just the girls. I was able to snap just a few, here and there in between trying to get Audrey to sit, readjusting Allie and trying to get them to smile. I'll post the rest later.

Sarah

Uncle Drew's Birthday

On Saturday the family got together to celebrate Uncle Drew's birthday (which is actually February 11). Audrey was infatuated with Doug the dog and would climb up on a chair to see him out the window. Aunt Autumn made awesome homemade pizza and ice cream sundaes for dessert. Allie did alright until she got over stimulated by all the attention and completely melted down. Happy 23rd Birthday Uncle Drew!

Allie laughing at Uncle Drew's technology talk.

Allie with Uncle Drew and Grandpa

Audrey doing push-ups with Uncle Ben

Sarah

Allie's 2 month check-up

Allison Jean--2 months

At 2 months Allie smiles and coos, tracks objects in front of her,

holds her head steady by herself, grasps and holds onto things within

her reach (often my shirt, or hair), she straightens her legs and stands with

support on my lap, and she can lift her head off the floor on her forearms like a

turtle. She eats a lot! 4-5 oz at each feeding, sometimes more. Her spit up is minimal.

She still eats every 2-3 hours during the day but sleeps 7-8 hours overnight, most nights.

She sleeps on her back in the pack n play in our room or the bassinet downstairs during the day. With her recent cold, she's been sleeping more upright in her car seat.

Her baby acne is fading away now and she has quite chubby cheeks. Her favorite activity? She loves it when people talk to her! She also loves bath time.

Height: 22 3/4 75th %

Weight: 13 lbs 10 oz 95th %

Head: 15 1/2 in 50th %

Here is how Allie's 2 month check-up played out:

• The doctor was really impressed with her head control
• Her hemangioma appears to be slowing down and will more than likely decrease or disappear by age 5. At that point we can do plastic surgery if we so desire.
• Audrey was very interested in what was going on with her baby sister that day (all the while taking care of her "baby i-ee", of course). During Allie's immunization shots Audrey climbed up on a stool. "Me see, me see!" She shouted! When Allie began to cry Audrey began singing to her the Puppy Book song, (a song her and Grandmother made up one day at the piano) and continued until the shots were done--so sweet!
• Earlier in the visit when the nurse called us back Audrey told her, "Baby I-ee hot". Which translates, to "my baby Allie is sick." Most people don't understand that though and think she really means she's hot, not that she has a fever.
• Then, while I was undressing Allie for her weigh in, I look over and on the table lay Audrey's baby-doll completely undressed and diaper off, also, ready to be weighed. Audrey then took her baby over to the big girl scale and had her step on it.
• It was pretty crazy with two girls in the room for awhile. In the midst of all the undressing, weighing, crying and cramped quarters, Allie proceeded to pee all over the scale and the nurse holding her. Meanwhile, I'm trying to calm Audrey down enough to get her on the scale, as she was there to see the doctor as well. She's getting to the age where she remembers the doctor and isn't always so excited to do anything besides observe. So, weighing her this day was quite the process. An interesting tid-bit: When the nurse put her on the scale she shook her head and stepped off saying, "no shoes, no shoes." She still had her shoes on, and knew she should take them off before being weighed. Very smart, I thought! I later got her to stand there if I stood right next to her. She weighed 34 lbs. She's 27 months.
• When the doctor found out she was still on breast milk and I was only pumping 3 times and able to keep up with her demand, he encouraged me to continue as long as I could--even though I was/am in the process of weaning. His advice and encouragement came 2 days before I found myself battling my 3rd case of mastitis. (heavy sigh).

Regardless of the state of my breasts, I'm so thankful and thrilled that Allie is a healthy, thriving baby. I'll often record shows I don't get to watch at night anymore and watch them during the day. (often while multitasking). Not long ago, while rocking Allie to sleep, I watched the Dugger's (19 kids and counting) in the hospital with their newest and very premie daughter Josie. Michelle, the mom was still unable to even hold her newborn As a mother, my heart broke for her, having felt the nagging urge to hold your baby, comfort and feed them, it had to have been horrible to stand outside her little incubator for weeks watching her struggle for life. As I gently swayed my 13 lb baby to sleep that afternoon I held her a little tighter, thankful for her health, thankful she was full term and thankful she was able to come home 48 hours after she was born. Happy 2 month birthday Allie! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!!!

Another Potty Training Debacle

When I have more energy, I will write deeper, meaningful blog entries, like what I love about being a mother or what I hope my girls learn from me. For now, my sleep deprived self will write down the little moments that made me laugh, cry, or that I want to remember, like this one:

Today, while trying on new clothes to see if they fit, Audrey's overly full diaper needed changed BEFORE we could try on any new pants. I asked her to go get one (I was feeding Allie). She comes back with her Elmo panties on and no diaper. I remind her that she'll need to go to the bathroom to pee. She agrees. I urge her to try on one more pair of pants and then she can be done. She does and is now dressed, head to toe in new clothes, some we've decided to keep and others we're debating. She decides she likes the pants. It's a good thing, because at that moment she looks at me and says, "mommy, pee!" And that she did, all down her leg, into a puddle on the carpet in Allie's bedroom. Sopping up most of the pee were those new pants. Guess we're keeping those! I just don't think Baby Gap would hand them back to me if I tried to return them now. They are for sure, damaged merchandise. So glad I got them on sale.

Sure, I knew better as a mom who's potty trained this same child before that you don't take risks like that, but it was literally 2 minutes, and her diaper she'd had on weighed 10 lbs. I was taking the chance she wouldn't have to go again for awhile.

So, I run her to the bathroom (Allie in my arms, still trying to take her bottle) and then realize I need to put Allie down. I have decided there are never enough bouncy seats in the house when you have a baby and a toddler. All of ours were downstairs. The empty infant tub would have to work. I put Audrey on the toilet just in case there was a drop or two left and proceed to clean her up while Allie screamed bloody murder. Audrey then helped me scrub the carpet, again, while Allie screamed for someone to pick her up. I decide right then and there that we, (I), are not ready to potty train again, yet. Perhaps this spring or summer when she can fertilize the yard, instead of my carpet.

Allie cried this time and I thought about it. There was no laughing.

Sarah

A few short stories

When I have more energy, I will write deeper, meaningful blog entries, like what I love about being a mother or what I hope my girls learn from me. For now, my sleep deprived self will write down the little moments that made me laugh, cry, or that I want to remember, like this one:

Audrey has become very independent when it comes to doing things herself. The other day I was warming milk for Allie when I hear "Mommy!" It was the fear in her voice that had me running towards the bathroom. I didn't even know she was in need of the the bathroom. She had gotten up on her stool, taken off her diaper, put her Sesame Street seat on the toilet and started to sit, like she'd done several dozen times. The problem was, this time she put her seat on the wrong toilet seat--the bottom one! There she was, panicking because she had fallen in the toilet. Poor girl. She was just trying to pee or poop--that I never figured out-- and she didn't hang out in the bathroom long enough for me to find out. She no longer had to go. She was quite shaken up and left the bathroom as soon as she could. Guess we'll try potty training again next year!

For the record, this moment made me laugh, and Audrey cry.

Sarah

Grandmother and Grandpa

Taken Valentine's Day 2010:

Grandmother & Allie, Grandpa and Audrey

Sarah

Valentine's Day 2010

It was a Valentine's Weekend at our house this year. It started on Friday

when we went out to Grandpa and Grandma's for a Valentine/Thank-you for helping farm party. Funny story. Linda made sugar cookies for each family for Valentine's Day. After dinner I was craving something sweet. I wasn't able to have the cookies since they weren't gluten free, so I stole Audrey's m&m's out of her Valentine bucket she'd gotten. I thought she hadn't noticed until she came over to me and picked up the empty wrapper and said, "no mommy, me!" oops. I was busted.

On Saturday morning, Audrey and I made pink heart shaped pancakes

for breakfast. Yum! Audrey loves to help by pouring the ingredients

into the bowl and then stirring. She often helps me cook in the kitchen.

I hear her say "me help, mommy, me help!" as she scoots her chair

up to the counter.

Saturday night we made GF chocolate cupcakes and then

decorated them.

Audrey decorated them all by herself.

Sunday morning (Valentine's Day) the girls opened their

Valentine packages first thing. Books, flash cards, stickers and

coloring books are what they found in their bags.

My tiniest Valentine--not so tiny anymore. Allie caught Audrey's cold

this past week and had to go to the doctor. She weighed in at

13 lbs 8 oz at 8 weeks.

Most of Allie's outfit was Audrey's. I didn't get to use these

red skirts at Christmas like I intended so I used them today.

Allie's was a little small, though as it's 0-3 months and she's wearing

3-6 and some 6-9 month clothes right now.

Grandmother and Grandpa came up after church for cupcakes

and coffee. Audrey got a special songbook from Grandmother

with the lyrics to the song she wrote one day while her and

Audrey were at the piano.

Grandpa and Allie

Sarah

Giddy-up Paw Paw!

Giddy-up Paw Paw! Audrey and Grandpa Lee, February 11, 2010

Sarah

Valentine's Day Cards

Audrey made a few Valentine's Day cards today. Every time I asked her who her card was for she'd answer "Paw Paw". She made sure her baby doll got to help as well. At one point, and I didn't get a picture of this because I was feeding Allie, she took her dolls hand, picked up a sticker and helped her baby place the sticker on the card. So cute!

Sarah

Monday February 8

Sarah

The Mess

Lately, I feel like one of those frazzled moms on the cover of a book on motherhood. The picture often shows a woman who is exhausted, in her bathrobe, hair a mess, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a baby in another, surrounded by dirty dishes, piles of laundry and toys. That is my life the last few weeks and that's been my house the last few days. (ok, weeks). As a type A, I like things orderly and neat. I would like my house to look like the ones in my Pottery Barn catalog (that I no longer have time to read) and I'd like to look as put together and attractive as my favorite characters on Desperate Housewives. I try and remember everyday that kids make messes and often make it impossible to clean up one mess before another one explodes. Instead of trying to describe the state of my house I thought I'd just take pictures. The fact that it's absolutely frightening makes me laugh. My husband described it best when he said "it looks like a tornado hit a toy store and then carried all those toys to our playroom and dropped them."

a heaping pile of dirty towels put there by my husband on Saturday.

Today is Tuesday. I think he thought he was going to wash them?

I love how they greet me as I walk up the stairs.

these are clean diapers--but none the less

Our living room, where most of the damage is done.

The playroom--well, what's left of it.

Sarah