megan, blake, carter & addie

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Where Were You on This Historical Day?

Addie was supposed to be doing a photo shoot for friend's new line of baby clothes, however that changed when we were told yesterday that we had have her admitted to the hospital from dehydration due to the nasty stomach virus over the last week..... so we did our own photo shoot....

She was in such a great mood the entire time we were there.... such a sweet hearted little girl... cool, calm and collected except when they put the IV in. This fun pic of her laughing with daddy was at 5AM this morning....

This was quite interesting... Addie is cleared to start eating a "bland" diet. After explaining she doesn't eat anything besides formula and rice cereal, this is what they bring up and seriously encourage me to get her to eat..... (that is an unseasoned boiled chicken breast and RICE!)

So we let her suck on the toast for a while.

Addie, thank our wonderful God, is doing great and we just got home and she is sleeping soundly after a long warm bath to wash all those hospital germs away!

But we will always remember where sweet Addie was on this big day in our nation's history...

Here she with her Ya-Ya watching the inauguration speech.

So when it was time to leave this afternoon, it was just way to weird to sit in that wheel chair and be wheeled out.... I decided I will only do that when I am bringing home a new baby! So, I went and got the car and allowed my mom to experience that feeling she felt nearly 30 years when she had me and rolled out of the very same hospital! ha ha, it was funny!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Fun Weekend of Birthday Party, Intense Potty Training & Tennis

We couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I got a fun girls' night and Blake, a perfect round of golf and in the midst of that.... we had our dear friend Barrett's 2nd birthday. "Balls" to Carter is what "Choo-choo trains" are to Barrett, so his mom did a terrific job planning the cutest choo choo train birthday party!

She hand-made the perfect cake! Happy Birthday Barrett!

Poor Addie has now been sick for 6 full days, but she can still let a smile out!

This weekend was all about "potty training" for Carter. We can't believe the amount of interest and dedication he has shown. (Blake keeps saying he is his mother's son because it is somewhat ridiculous!) He stayed dry all day today, even during his nap... he really has #1 down well going 6-8 times during the day! However... number 2 has been a different story. We missed the opportunity Saturday while at the party so we tried and tried all day Sunday!

To make the #2 happen, we were popping Prunes like candy... here is Carter showing me his prune! His normal time of the day came and went and nothing came! But he would not give up OR GET OFF THE POTTY!!!!

Carter has "Aggie" the Bear that is learning to use the Potty with him... notice Aggie even got a sticker for using the potty!

This house-hold, the past week, could be on a commercial for Lysol products! Forget the "Gerber" baby, Addie has an audition for the "Lysol" baby!

Notice... her hair is starting to grow and definitely have some curl to it as well!

We always potty in the bathroom, however, today we spent so much time on the potty (2 hours STRAIGHT) this afternoon, that I had to have a change of scenery & Addie wanted to move around!!

This afternoon, it was so beautiful, that we spent the entire evening on the tennis courts next door. Carter loves the racket Me-me gave him last year!

But Maverick probably had the most fun!

Carter insisted on playing with daddy's full size racket!

Who knows... tennis maybe in his future!

Even Addie was showing a strong interest!

But of course, as always, her main interest his her 4-legged brother, Maverick!

Since we have let Carter's hair grow out some, we discovered that he definitely has some curl!

Friday, January 16, 2009

A Two-Year Old Rock Star Who Loves His "Wiggles" sleep shirt...

...and he has never even seen the TV show! Weird... I know, what a 2 year old old will take a strong liking to?!? Cousin Marshall gave Carter a ton of PJ's and every night for the last week, Carter has insisted on wearing this "Wiggles" shirt. Since it is short-sleeve and it has been quite cold, I make him wear it over his other PJ's!

Little Addie has been horribly sick since Tuesday with what the doctor thinks is "Roto-virus." She has had severe problems on both ends and unfortunately this has been a week full of travel for Blake, however, Carter has been the stellar big brother listening to mommy so well and being such a loving and kind big brother! Thanks Carter-man!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Friday afternoon at daycare...

Blake & I decided Friday morning to take off out of town (of course the kids came too!) We packed up after he got home from work and went to pick up the kids and these are some of the wonderful sites we saw when we got there...

Look at this duo just 4 months ago!

Addie was out in the stroller enjoying the absolutly beautiful weather!

Inside, when we walked in to Carter's room, he was just finishing up in the bathroom. He had gone potty for the very first time at school!

To celebrate he got a stamp AND and a sticker from Miss Yazmine and Miss Rachel!

Then he gave daddy a big hug! What a great day!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Playing.

This morning we had 4 little friends of Carter's over to play on the bounce house and outside before it gets cold again tonight. It was lots of fun!

"Playing" seems to be the main objective of our time with the kids! I love it... it makes life simpler and reminds me of when I was young and the only thing that mattered was what I was going to play with next! I love this picture of the 3 boys this morning and how they were interacting together. They are all less than 6 weeks different in age!

Carter has started to get a little more aggressive - rough housing in a playful way at school! I think 'dada' maybe the instigator of that. So we are working hard on being very gentle with our friends. :)

This was the sky during our walk on Wednesday evening... very cool!

Our evening routine consists of a walk around our wonderful neighborhood and then we hit the playground hard!!!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Night out at the ballpark.

Friday night was so beautiful outside that we BBQ'd and gave Carter his one last Christmas present. With all the commotion of Christmas, he didn't even get to open the one gift he had from us! So we made a night of it.

I just love the fact that we can be outside cooking out in January! I LOVE TEXAS! And boy does Carter LOVE corn on the cob.... he ate 2 whole ones by himself!

He loved the T-Ball set and got the process down within 10 seconds. You step on the plate and the ball automatically loads! So cool....

My wonderful neighbors Skarra and Diane had been telling me about the NB Children's Museum, so we loaded up and took a trip Saturday morning. It was everything they said and more! Wow... why can't SA have something as good as this?

The problem was we probably only experienced 20% of what it had to offer because Carter just wanted to be outside... so notice I have no pics of him indoors playing with all the amazing creative things they had.... next time perhaps!!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

"It's like we have a 3rd child!"

Those were Blake's words 2 nights ago when we got the best Christmas present charged, up and running! With the Christmas money we received from some of our wonderful family, Blake and I bought a ROOMBA... simply the best invention ever for a family with 2 kids, dogs and wood floors everywhere! Thanks Nancy, Dad & Grandma George!

Blake made that comment because without realizing it, I was following the vacuum from room to room to see where it goes, how much it picked up, how long it stayed in each room, etc... I really feel like "The Jetson's" with this thing. Now, I am not claiming it is perfect or cleans up everything... but if it cleans up as much as it did every night as it did the first couple of days... then my life is definitely changed for the better!

Here are some of the kids favorite toys so far.... Carter had his first ride in what he calls his "new car seat" today and loved it. I just love the fact that one of the best safety & reviewed car seats doesn't cost as much as the last one did! And he loves the cup holders!

This is Addie in one of her favorite toys.... a walker... she absolutely LOVES it and can go through out the entire house and find us all. I was super surprised when she immediately started moving forward! You go girl! You might be walking sooner than we thought! ;)

Delaney's Milestones

2 Month Well Check Up: 11 lbs & 11 oz (58%) height : 23 inches (73%) head:15.4 (71%) McCray said she was perfect. Continuing waking up every 5-6 hours at night completely due to my comfort. Dr encouraged me not to wake up and pump instead. Still I having perfect nights sleeping hard since birth.
WEIGHT GAIN: at 5.5 weeks weighed 10 pounds at lactation center. At 7 weeks, weighed 11 Lbs 8 oz. Tremendous growth in last 2 weeks. Moved out of Newborn diapers at 6.5 weeks, should have moved up 2 weeks prior!
Hates PACIFIER - since 5 weeks
SLEEPING: 7 hours at 3 days old. She has always had nights down going 4-5 hour stretch since 2 weeks old, 5 hour stretches regularly at 3-4 was old and 6 hour stretches by 5-6 weeks. At 7 weeks old, have to wake her up after 6 hours because of nursing. During day going 2-2.5 hrs getting 9-10 feelings in a day
SMILES: started at 3 weeks during Easter weekend when YaYa talked to her. Much more regular at 5 weeks and on demand starting at 6 weeks for sure,
One Month Check Up Stats: 9.1 pounds (42%) height: 21.5" (64%) head circum: 14.6" (61%): Dr. McCray said she looks perfect and not concerned at all about lower % since birth since sleeping upwards of 4-5 hours in between feedings.
Schedule at 1 month: eating 7 to 8 times a day. Every 3 hours at most during day, going 2 stretches of 4-5 hours at night. Has never fused going to bed after 10 pm feeding thru 7 AM feeding, doesn't ever take pacifier at night thus far. Most fidgety time of day 7:30 to 9:30 likes to me held or sleeps those 2 hours in bed with us but then 100% fine at next feeding. Goes to sleep instantly after 3 nighttime feelings and stays awake for 45 to 90 min after each daytime feeding before napping until next feeding.
First smile to YaYa and Aunt Julie Easter Weekend at 3 weeks old, lots more smiles right at 1 month old
Weighed 7 pounds 9 oz at 3 day check up at doctor's appt, back up to 7 lbs & 12 pz just 3 days later at 1 week check
Born March 8, 2013 at 12:28 PM weighing 8 pounds and 20.5 inches

Addie's Milestones in 2012 (3.5-4.5 years old)

March 8'm2013 - became a big sister to Delaney. She was actually excited at hospital mad in first week seemed not too interested in Delaney. We didn't push it and then she started bringing drawings for the baby home from school and in second week started wanting to hold and touch her more. At 11 days old, she was excited to show her off to all her friends at school. At first I was concerned but then Blake pointed out she has been on her best behavior, hasn't been acting out at all and is still 100% the same... She is still our awesome little Addie!
March 2013 @ 4 years and 10 months, decided she wanted to get her ears pierced (see blog post)
February 2013: first kiss (see blog post)
January 2013: loves that she learned how to both snap and whistle this month. She is so proud of both new talents
January 2013- She is fully obsessed with her hair, headbands and wanting to wash her hair every night. she will sit in her room and brush it, ask me to braid it all the time. she has slept in a headband for the past 2-3 weeks. her favorite headband is one from Macy from Gymboree with Ladybugs across the top.
Medical Update- Jan 1, 2013 while in Breckenridge. While there, developed common cold that due to her asthma turned into full blown asthma attack, we treated with 3 doses of steroid and albuteral every 3-4 hours. 10 days later, cough gone but she complained of ear hurting whike at school, took her in immediately to find slight ear infection in left ear, treated with 10 days of 2x/antibiotic. she was fine following day and it best mood ever for following week!
December 2012: 4.5 years old. GREAT great age for Miss Addie B. she just started randomly talking constantly about a boy from her school in her neighboring class- Brady. His twin brother, Owen, is in her class and they all play alot.
November 2012: Right at 4.5- her favorite things are stuffed dogs and SPARKLES. Everyday she comes home with rhinestones or sequins that they find at school. the other 3 girls in her class; Bella, Sophia and Amara even bring them from home to exchange. Her Christmas list this year includes: 1) Sparkles 2) Pink Wallet 3) Stompeez house shoes 4) Pink unicorn 5) Barbie "Rocktar" Guitar. Her other favorite gifts: frilly pink Princess nighgown and 2 Hallmark Storytime talking dogs- Nugget and Jingle
May 2012: 4 Year Old Checkup Weight 36 lbs (59%) & height 39.5" (46%)
Jan 2012 - Turned completely OFF the kid's room audio and visual monitors in our bedroom. Addie was 3 yrs & 8 months and Carter - right at 5. We haven't turned it on once since then although it still sits atop our dresser. Kid's know not to get out of room except for one bathroom trip and must stay in until clock says 7. On rare occasions one may come in if not feeling well to let us know. (Jan 2012)

Carter's Milestone's Since Turning 5 (2012)

December update: Carter thriving in DL Spanish immersion class. He comes everyday telling us a new Spanish word. His little accent when he talks is amazing. All semester Carter has excelled in math and his teacher has recommended testing for GT after holidays. Almost 6 years old
November: Carter started very first season of flag football. he is defintely a natural and lives getting the flags. He has practice 2X a week in addition to a game on Sundays.- Almost 6
October: Carter in the middle of his first semester of Kids Choir at church. he looks forward to attending but isn't as into singing the songs outside of class as Addie is. I think it is helping him come out of his shell a little more as the lime light, except on thesports field, has never been Carter's thing- 5.5 yrs old
August 27, 2012: Carter at 5.5 years old started the Spanish Dual Language class at Vineyard Ranch with Mrs. Mori. In his room, three of his friends from Concordia, Cash McPeak, Addison Pol and Brooke Volz. Absolutely loved his first week!
At 5.5 Years old, started playing first ever baseball season at JCC with six and seven year olds. It was so cool watching him learn the game for the first time ever, never really playing even tball before, besides in the backyard. (Summer 2012)
At 5 years & 1 month: Playing in third year of Winter basketball, playing in SPURS league with the Kindergarden and First Grade League. He is doing great, high scorer and top rebounder even if they are all 5-8 inches taller. He is REALLY into writing anything and everything he can right now. He is also really into addition and subtraction and loves playing math games on IPAD.
New Year 2012 (5 years old)

My Favorite Parenting & Other Books

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons by Meg Meeker. (February 2015) Read when Carter was 8. So many topics it covers but amazing everyday reminders on importance of our relationship when they are young, from affection to how they change in the tween years, teaching them how to communicate their feelings, how to talk to them to get them to open up, bullying, video games, importance of relationship with father, so much. Glad I read now but need to re-read every 2-3 years, especially when he is 11 or 12.
Books To Read To Kids: It's Not the Stork - Plan to read to them when they start asking, "How are babies born?" Body part questions, body changes, how babies are made (sperm/egg - first intro that it's not the stork), 2 mommy /daddy questions, adoption, "okay" touches and "not okay" - haven't used as of Feb 2015 at ages 8 and almost 7
Books To Read To Kids: Good Pictures Bad Pictures - Porn Proofing Today's Young Kids - When to read depends on personality of each kid. Read Ch 1 only with CB when he was 7.5 and it brought about some good questions about why there is this danger. I could tell this was all brand new to him and focused on importance of him telling me any time anyone talks about or want sot show him "bad pics." My plan is to bring in back out in 9-12 months (March-July 2015) to re-visit to ensure we are starting to have very open lines of communication. As far as Addie, unless she shows other signs or starts asking ANY questions, I plan to introduce to her at 8 years old.
Books to Read To Kids: I Said No! - A Kid to Kid Guide to keeping private parts private: I think think this one is perfect for mature 6 yr olds and all 7 year olds. *Perfect book to read before they have any playdates or sleepovers.
Books To Read To Kids: Your Body Belongs To You - Read to CB at 7.5 and AB at 6yrs. It was pretty elementary for them both but good concept and to actually start talking about - "specifically if anyone ever tries to touch you and begs you not to tell" you say okay and come right to mom and dad. ***Keep for DB and introduce to her around 4.5-5 yrs old. (July 2017)
Simplicity Parenting- Sept 2012 Good reminders on what excess and clutter can do to children and families and how it can cause too many choices and create entitlement. Taught me to me more aware as they get older to "soul fever" and teach them to pull back.
5 Love Languages For Kids. Aug 2102. Initially, I believe Carter is quality time and physical touch and Addie is words of affirmation(ages 5.5 and 4)
Too Busy For Your Own Good - Confirms I am handling busy life well but gives great reminders about staying in balance and the importance of getting rid of stress by handling life well so that you lead an all around happy life.
Raising Girls - great reminders of what today young girls are facing (need to re-read when Addie 5 & 6 yrs again) Christian views on raising a confident young girl and setting her expectations how how men should treat her. Somewhat old fashion mentality but overall important reminders
Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child-great for Carter and reminding us how to approach sensitive children
Loving Your Child Is Not Enough (acknowledging feelings, emphasizing, etc... good little reminders)
Montessori Madness (amazing introduction to this incredible environment) Sensitive periods
Family First - McGraw - good at identifying parenting & child styles and how to bring out the best in one another
Dumbing Us Down - on public school education
Love and Logic for Early Years - April '10 - (when Addie was 23 months & Carter almost 3.5)
Potty Training (Back chapter of popular book) like Toddler Wise? Maybe (all about rewarding for staying dry) - Carter was 23 months
123 Magic - Carter was 20 months (worked perfectly for him)
Baby Whisper For Toddlers - When Carter was around 10 months
Raising Boys - 2007 (Need to re-read when Carter 6-7 yrs)
Baby Whisper - Before Carter Was Born (Thanks to Ali and random book she mailed me when she found out I was pregnant with Carter!) SIMPLY THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD!

Things I Have Learned as a Mom

Don't tell them not do something if it really isn't a big deal, it really only does cause them to do it 10X more. EX) 4/11 They were playing in the bath tub pretending to buy drinks and they were asking for "Diet Coke" out of the blue. I told them they don't drink Diet Coke, how about water, milk or lemonade? For the next 30 min, every other word was Diet Coke.
There are still occassional really rough evenings with a 3.5 year old and 2 year old
Weekends away as a couple are so very important and it is equally important for the bond to form between toddlers and grandparents while we are away - Early 2010
Parenting 2 little kids full time can defintley but strain on a strong marriage at times - Carter 3 and Addie 1.5
There are REALLY REALLY rough days and nights with 2 under 3 - late 2009
Follow that inner mommy intuition ALWAYS! - After 4 nights of Addie being extremely fussy while molars breaking through with NO temperature. Took her in at 8:30 PM and had ear infection at 15 months.
Potty trainning a boy is filled with lots of "ups and downs!" - Carter at 2.5 years
A Family Vacation is not really a "vacation" with a 1 and 2 year old but still very fun!
I couldn't have 2 children as close together if I didn't have such a hands on and involved husband... SERIOUSLY.
Consistent and lots of positive reinforcements works well between 12-24 months!
No matter how close together you have 2 children or the fact that you try to do everything exactly the same... your children are completely different people and have their own personalities!
4 oz of formula coming out seems like a LOT more than 4 oz going in (The first time Addison was sick with stomach virus)
You can get a 2 year old to happily do anything for a popsicle and sticker - (Potty training Carter at 24 months)
Don't give into a toddler when he doesn't want to eat any meat for a week (Carter at 15 months) They will give in if you keep giving them what you want them to have!
Allow them to "talk" or slightly "fuss" in the middle of the night, 90% of the time, they will put themselves back to sleep (When Carter was 3 months old; duplicated with Addie)

Why are we blogging?

We are so glad you stopped by. There are 3 purposes of us blogging.

The first and foremost reason is to keep our out-of-town family & friends updated on the activities of our family. Since we have had this blog, we're able to stay connected with the kids & their everyday happenings in all of our lives. Blake & I realize how fast time is going by and don't want distance in miles to keep our families separated.

The second reason is to keep our in-town family & friends updated. In this crazy and fast-paced world, it is easy to miss important and not so important, however, meaningful moments in all of our lives. After reading a friend's blog, I cannot tell you how many times I have picked up the phone and called someone that lives down the street and said... "Now tell me more... I didn't know that was going on!"

Finally, I see this new technology as a perfect way to document our family's actions on a weekly basis through the years. I will turn each year's "jounal" into a hard back book and look forward to surprising Carter and Addison on their wedding day with 25+ voulumes of everything they ever did, documented! I would love if I had that to look back on now that I am a parent!