12/15/2008
How does a three year old eat a bagel with cream cheese?
Licks off all of the cream cheese....and leaves the bagel with no bite marks to be seen.
2008 xmas.
Although one year we will do the ginger bread house effect (like Gpop used to), this we we decided to be minimalists with our outdoor decor (just the window wreaths, big wreath, sled, big bells on door, and spotlight). Last year we did the same except had window candles. We decided against that this year because Liv's bed is near the window and we know she would play with it.
My little teacher.
Taking after her mom.....being a teacher. Liv was the cutest. Ry and I eavesdropped on Liv and Lo playing. Liv did a tutorial on the excersaucer. Notice how she spins Charlotte around to each new toy. She was so sweet and had such enthusiasm.
Ry and I couldn't help but smile. So sweet...
Lucy's Birthday Playgroup.
Three three year olds and three 5 month olds are sure to keep us busy, but our monday playgroup had a blast anyway at Lucy's third birthday celebration.
12/14/2008
Dec 14th.
Three years ago today one of my mom's best friends lost her battle with cancer. Sheila and my mom were extremely close and would do just about anything for one another. Sheila used to always tell me that my mom is such an angel and was sent to her. She was always so appreciative of my mom. My mom would always laugh it off and think she was over reacting. My mom was just being herself. She is the most loving, caring, positive, selfless person I know. Sheila just agreed.
On the other hand, what Sheila didn't realize is that SHE was an amazing person. She had to be one of the most energetic, positive, loving women I have ever met. That is why my mom and her were a perfect match. They had an amazing friendship. She often told my mom she was her sister. Although Sheila has left us, she is and always will be in our hearts. I feel her presents in so many ways. She has touched my life forever.
I will never forget when Sheila went to mexico for an alternative treatment in hopes to buy a few more years with her twins who were 3 at the time. When I look into my girls eyes, livi being 3, I now know why she fought so hard.
My mom went out there to stay with her and help her for a week. She had a few really rough days from the treatment and my mom said to me, "I hope you NEVER have to watch a best friend or someone that close to you fight that hard for their life." My mom was there for her and did everything for her. I hope and pray I don't , but if do I only hope I have the strength of my mom's.
Even though Sheila lost the battle, it was a long and hard battle, but I still consider her a survivor. She never let the agonizing fears and pains of cancer change her attitude. Love you, girl. Your beautiful Light still shines on us.
Side note:
After a long hard week of not so good napping and sleeping.....It is 3 o'clock on Sunday and Charlotte has been asleep since 11:30 (except for a 1 o'clock dreamfeed). I know Sheila had something to do with this......
On the other hand, what Sheila didn't realize is that SHE was an amazing person. She had to be one of the most energetic, positive, loving women I have ever met. That is why my mom and her were a perfect match. They had an amazing friendship. She often told my mom she was her sister. Although Sheila has left us, she is and always will be in our hearts. I feel her presents in so many ways. She has touched my life forever.
I will never forget when Sheila went to mexico for an alternative treatment in hopes to buy a few more years with her twins who were 3 at the time. When I look into my girls eyes, livi being 3, I now know why she fought so hard.
My mom went out there to stay with her and help her for a week. She had a few really rough days from the treatment and my mom said to me, "I hope you NEVER have to watch a best friend or someone that close to you fight that hard for their life." My mom was there for her and did everything for her. I hope and pray I don't , but if do I only hope I have the strength of my mom's.
Even though Sheila lost the battle, it was a long and hard battle, but I still consider her a survivor. She never let the agonizing fears and pains of cancer change her attitude. Love you, girl. Your beautiful Light still shines on us.
Side note:
After a long hard week of not so good napping and sleeping.....It is 3 o'clock on Sunday and Charlotte has been asleep since 11:30 (except for a 1 o'clock dreamfeed). I know Sheila had something to do with this......
12/13/2008
12/11/2008
Liv's trash is Lo's treasure.
Took a trip up to the attic and dusted off Liv's favorites....... She may have been speechless now at 4 months but I know she will get months worth of good times. ( I even used it for Liv when she was over it but mobile and I needed her to be stationary for a moment to do chores- hence trap her)
12/10/2008
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my girls.
Charlotte had her 4 month appointment today. She weighed in at 12 pounds 5 ounces (the previous weigh in was a diff doc, diff scale). She had a pretty clean bill of health......However, the topic of the entire appointment was her skin. Her eczema, or dry skin..... Apparently it is in the gene pool. the doctor wasn't as much concerned as I am. She agreed it is an issue but that she has seen worse. There isn't an easy solution, that is for sure. It is all trial and error. Every kid has different sensitivities and my Charlie-bean is a sensitive little girl.
I am trying everything I can. Changing all of her toys and clothing to cotton (preferably organic), rarely bathing, using tea tree soap, taking 9 fish oil pills a day, probiotics, a potent liquid prenatal liquid vitamin, and algae; using aquaphor, borage oil, olive oil, baby oil, aloe vera, vitamin e capsules, etc.
There have been improvements but it is so day to day or minute to minute. One minute I think she looks good, I turn and her face is flared up. I think we have it narrowed down to moisture and polyester as triggers to flare ups. The next step is to change my diet. If she were formula fed it would be as simple as changing from a milk based formula to a soy one. Since she is exclusively breastfed, I have to change what I eat to make my diet dairy free. The most common allergens are dairy, eggs, nuts, and wheat. I am starting with eliminating nuts and dairy. It takes 2 weeks to be completely out of my system and 2 more weeks to be out of hers..... To stop nursing is just not an option to me. I nursed liv for over 2 years and I refuse to stop before Charlotte is a year. I think formula is great and there are many wonderful ones out there..... I am just being selfish. That is our little special time together. Having to share her attention with an older sister is a given, but she still gets that special time with me like liv did when she was little.
There isn't anything in the world I wouldn't give my girls. Changing my diet will be a challenge. Mainly because these days I eat based on convenience. What can I grab without thinking.?.... Now I have to think about everything before I put it in my mouth. But to see my little angels skin clear up and be smooth, silky, and soft like a baby's skin should be would make it ALL worth it. She has the most beautiful porcelain skin. With her piercing blue eyes and dark hair... I just only get to enjoy it every once in awhile.... And on those rare occasions, I definitely can't resist giving her a million kisses. (I still kiss her a million times a day but I have to worry if I am hurting her).
I can't wait until she grows out of this or all of our exhausting attempts at getting rid of this, WORKS....
I am trying everything I can. Changing all of her toys and clothing to cotton (preferably organic), rarely bathing, using tea tree soap, taking 9 fish oil pills a day, probiotics, a potent liquid prenatal liquid vitamin, and algae; using aquaphor, borage oil, olive oil, baby oil, aloe vera, vitamin e capsules, etc.
There have been improvements but it is so day to day or minute to minute. One minute I think she looks good, I turn and her face is flared up. I think we have it narrowed down to moisture and polyester as triggers to flare ups. The next step is to change my diet. If she were formula fed it would be as simple as changing from a milk based formula to a soy one. Since she is exclusively breastfed, I have to change what I eat to make my diet dairy free. The most common allergens are dairy, eggs, nuts, and wheat. I am starting with eliminating nuts and dairy. It takes 2 weeks to be completely out of my system and 2 more weeks to be out of hers..... To stop nursing is just not an option to me. I nursed liv for over 2 years and I refuse to stop before Charlotte is a year. I think formula is great and there are many wonderful ones out there..... I am just being selfish. That is our little special time together. Having to share her attention with an older sister is a given, but she still gets that special time with me like liv did when she was little.
There isn't anything in the world I wouldn't give my girls. Changing my diet will be a challenge. Mainly because these days I eat based on convenience. What can I grab without thinking.?.... Now I have to think about everything before I put it in my mouth. But to see my little angels skin clear up and be smooth, silky, and soft like a baby's skin should be would make it ALL worth it. She has the most beautiful porcelain skin. With her piercing blue eyes and dark hair... I just only get to enjoy it every once in awhile.... And on those rare occasions, I definitely can't resist giving her a million kisses. (I still kiss her a million times a day but I have to worry if I am hurting her).
I can't wait until she grows out of this or all of our exhausting attempts at getting rid of this, WORKS....
12/09/2008
The magic of christmas.....
Today my mom and I went to the mall. Liv insisted for over an hour that she wanted to see Santa. This shocked us because she has always wanted to stay as far away as possible from santa. I guess all of the santa talk and xmas movies have really gotten her excited. After lunch we went down to see santa. She started to back out and say she just wanted to see him but not talk to him. We approached the carousel and Liv enjoyed petting the ponies and all of the magical decorations. She reminded us time and time again, "I don't want to talk to santa. I don't want to sit on santa's lap...." We kept saying okay but just hoped she would do it.
Well, no matter how well I try to retell the story, it won't sound as precious as it truly was..... My mom was holding her and we walked toward santa. It was just us and santa, no other kids or crowd. We stood about 6 feet away from him. He said hello. Liv was star struck with a little (or alot) of fear. All of the sudden her little voice said, "My name is Olivia". My mom and I both couldn't hold back the tears. We knew how much courage it took for her to talk to him. For three years, she has been deathly afraid of him. He said "Hi, Olivia. what would you like for Christmas?" While clinging to my mom and in her shy little voice she said, "a pink polka dot phone". Santa offered to shake liv's hand but she denied. Talking to him was a far as she would go.
My mom and I were just full of tears. We hugged her and just were so proud. It is a moment only a parent or grandparent would find so precious. It was so magical to her. She actually had a conversation with Santa with no other kid to fight for attention. It felt like a movie scene.
This is the first year, I as a parent, really can enjoy the magic of christmas. She fully gets it this year...... I am not sure who is more excited her or I.....
Well, no matter how well I try to retell the story, it won't sound as precious as it truly was..... My mom was holding her and we walked toward santa. It was just us and santa, no other kids or crowd. We stood about 6 feet away from him. He said hello. Liv was star struck with a little (or alot) of fear. All of the sudden her little voice said, "My name is Olivia". My mom and I both couldn't hold back the tears. We knew how much courage it took for her to talk to him. For three years, she has been deathly afraid of him. He said "Hi, Olivia. what would you like for Christmas?" While clinging to my mom and in her shy little voice she said, "a pink polka dot phone". Santa offered to shake liv's hand but she denied. Talking to him was a far as she would go.
My mom and I were just full of tears. We hugged her and just were so proud. It is a moment only a parent or grandparent would find so precious. It was so magical to her. She actually had a conversation with Santa with no other kid to fight for attention. It felt like a movie scene.
This is the first year, I as a parent, really can enjoy the magic of christmas. She fully gets it this year...... I am not sure who is more excited her or I.....
Ouch.
I know I nursed Liv through all 20 of her teeth. Whenever she would get a new tooth, I luckily became her teether (while nursing)..... Lo is taking after her sis...... OUCH.
12/08/2008
Happy Monday.
4 month sleep regression, growth spurt, itchy eczema, teething, Daddy working late nights. All a formula for 4 sleep deprived people. Can't wait for Charlotte's doctors on Wednesday where she gets 4 shots. (sorry for the negativity).
We will get through this.....
We will get through this.....
12/07/2008
christmas tree, oh christmas tree.
On Sunday we ran out to get our tree. It was so darn cold out, we basically ran up and picked a tree as fast as we could. Then ry and liv ran to get coffee drinks. We watched frosty and started trimming the tree. It felt very festive. Liv had so much fun putting the ornaments up. Although most of them are at the bottom of the tree in a big cluster......... So funny because I remember doing that a kid too. Between Chrissy, Johnny and I, we each were given a certain height of the tree to decorate...... In the end it was pretty balanced out.
Maybe once Charlotte gets older, we can have a more balanced tree. Until then, I will help.
The last step was the star at the top....Ry held liv up so she could put it on.
Fun and Festive.
(the picture is without Liv because she was having one her her "3 year old"moments and refused being in it.)
Maybe once Charlotte gets older, we can have a more balanced tree. Until then, I will help.
The last step was the star at the top....Ry held liv up so she could put it on.
Fun and Festive.
(the picture is without Liv because she was having one her her "3 year old"moments and refused being in it.)
12/06/2008
Slumber Party.
Daddy had to stay out of town on Friday for work. The girls and I put our PJ's on early (matching pjs and slippers for the girls) and watched some classic Christmas movies (Frosty, Grinch).
I was able to sneak these pictures and video...... so precious. Liv was teaching Charlotte what was on the tv. Saying "now that is a snowman. Do you see it?" Charlotte was staring at her sister and kicking with excitement.
Notice the girls holding hands....
My favorite part of the video is when Liv reaches over and gives Charlie a genuine hug.
We had a fun night but Charlotte is teething and kept me up most of the night......we are excited for daddy to return.
I was able to sneak these pictures and video...... so precious. Liv was teaching Charlotte what was on the tv. Saying "now that is a snowman. Do you see it?" Charlotte was staring at her sister and kicking with excitement.
Notice the girls holding hands....
My favorite part of the video is when Liv reaches over and gives Charlie a genuine hug.
We had a fun night but Charlotte is teething and kept me up most of the night......we are excited for daddy to return.
12/05/2008
Monkey Pants.
I am so in love with these pants. I got them for both of the girls. It makes their hineys look so cute!
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