12 Days Of Christmas Break!

Blake and I were both home with the kids for nearly 2 weeks over Christmas and New Years! We had no major plans but just decided to enjoy the relaxed time together and do things that we don't normally get to do. The kids were really great all week which allowed us to do go to a ton of new places! It was a great time to use several GROUPONS we had. As part of the "RELAXED WEEK," I decided NO BIG CAMERAS allowed, only ones from an Android or  Blackberry!)  :)

Day 12: A Pre Christmas Trip To Julian Gold

Day 11 - We got to feed the swans with our cousins!

Day 10 - We got to play outside in the rain!

9 We got to check out Funtastic Playland!

8. A trip to to Kiddie Park was on our agenda!

Day 7 - A trip to the dentist!

This was an important first trip to watch Carter and get her excited for her first official visit in 6 months! She loved Dr. Bob.

Day 6 - We got to go on our first trip to the Witte Museum!

Day 5 - Went got to go to Aunt Danielle's basketball game

Day 4 - We took a Jeep ride in December

Day 3 - We BOTH caught our very 1st fish

Day 2 - We went to Marble Falls to looks at Christmas lights!

Day 1 - We did fireworks to Welcome 2011!

Addie's Favorite Sayings at 2.5 years!

  1. "Momma... I want to fold your hair!" She says this every night and this is how you will find us before bed time.

2. "I have an idea." "My idea is..."


3. "Wait one second!" The most recent time I can remember her saying it was after I asked her tonight to go and get her inhaler to do before bed.


4. "Singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Last month, Megan posted Ella singing nursery rhymes and it reminded me to video Addie's sweet voice while it is at the CUTEST stage it will ever be!  I remember posting a recording of Addie exactly a year ago of trying to say "M&M." It is mind blowing to see how far she has come. Here is a recording from a few weeks ago.

We Can Pretend...

...that we live in a cold enough place where we actually would get to use this hat for more than just adorable pictures! BUT I do hear it is supposed to get in the "teens" this coming week so she may get to pull it out for real! Until then, these are some of my favorite pictures of Addie recently.

I think my 2 year old is learning how to work the camera. :)

How Many "Frogs" Will Addie Have To Kiss?

One of my great friends, Cindy, was the VERY first girlfriend I met when I moved back to San Antonio (as an adult) 6 years ago! I thought it was so neat that she had a very cool collection of Frogs. We always kid around about how many "Frogs" us girls have to kiss before we find our "Prince." Because of Cindy, I started Addie a frog collection during her first Christmas and have looked forward to finding her the best Frog Prince every year since. This is her giving her new 2010 frog a BIG WELCOME SMOOCH!

Carter's Milestones in 2010 (3 years old)

Carter's Milestones in 2010 (3 years old)

MEDICAL:While at ped. for first time in over a year, Dr. McCray noticed Carter's right tube in his ear from 3 YEARS ago dislodged and behind ear drum. Had same day 3PM appt. with Dr. Nau (ENT) and he said that was the first time he has EVER seen that happen. Out patient surgery schedule 12.20.10 to remove. - 5 days before 4th bday



MEDICAL:103 temperture otherwise in pretty good mood Sunday, woke up in middle of night Sunday night with high temp. Positive for strep throat, Rx'd 10 days of Omnicef. - 5 days before 4th bday


4th Birthday Party - Arial Gymnastics with a Spiderman theme. HUGE SUCCESS! (Very first birthday party outside of our home!) - 4th Birthday


Visit with Santa was a SUCCESS for the very first time! His 4th Christmas, Carter showed hardly any timidness and got to eat breakfast right next to Santa and then jumped up on his lap picture perfect! A far cry from the last 3 years. - Just before 4 years old


UPDATE from most recent "aggressive" post - Carter has not watched cartoon Batman or anyother superhero realistic cartoons in over 3 weeks and his agression has all but disappeared.... could be a coincidence?!?!?


Over last 2-3 months we have noticed him getting slightly more aggressive with Addie and his friends when he is playing, purposly running into them, throwing a little elbow sometimes. He is in a class of majority of boys in his new 4 year old room they seem to play well overall but are getting into the "boy stage" of rough housing much more. We are really staying on him at home reminding him what is and is not appropriate. - just before 4 years old


Obsessed with Batman and Spiderman. Constantly has "cape" on usually his red ELMO hooded bath towl for hours every day. Sleeps with a minature Batman and Spiderman figurine. LOVES to watch Batman movie and cartoon. Constantly running around house pretending to be a super hero! - 3 yrs and 7 months and on


Carter's VERY FIRST TRIP TO THE MOVIE THEATER WAS AT EXACTLY 3 years old for Alvin and The Chimpmunks - The Squeakel with Cash McPeak (he was perfect!), 3 months later he saw SHREK III and at 3.5 years he saw TOY STORY III 3D (which was too scary for him! He burried his head into my shoulder for the entire 2nd half!)


Addie and Carter suddenly at FIRST HORRIBLE stage of not getting along over last 10 days (very stressful on Blake and I.) It is mainly Addie hitting or scratching Carter for NO REASON and I think the difference is Carter is finally sick of it) - Addie: 26 months and Carter: little over 3 1/2 (Follow up after 10 days: suddenly the issues went away and totally back to normal and in many ways they are getting along better than ever. They have full conversations with each other now and love "skating" together wearing socks through out the house's hard wood floors.)


First Sports Camp - Dominion Mighty Muscles with Macy and Marshall for a week 9-3PM with no NAP!! He did GREAT and LOVED it - 3.5 years


Moved up to Ms. Nancy's room from Ms. Sandy's right at 3.5 years old


First sleep over with Ya-Ya and Grandpa at Lake with Marshall and also the first night with Aunt Erin at her apartment - June 2010 (3.5 years old)


Confidently with out ANY pauses can count to 40, stumbles on 50, but knows sixty. I am working on 70, 80, 90 to 100 with him. - 41 months


Swimming this summer has been awesome, he isn't afraid to get his ears wet. Although he isn't going under water for long periods of time, he is virtually swimming the width of the big pool and back with no assistance from us with his floaties on - 41 months


Comes up to me and holds up his indez finger and says, "I have an idea mom..." to tell me what he wants to do. (So cute!) - 40 months


Playing in first YMCA Soccer League with Cash - 39 months


Obsessed with "basketball pants" over the last month, which are actual athletic SHORTS with holes in them, but don't let him catch you calling them shorts! - 39 months


Began his first YMCA soccer team with Cash McPeak - he totally gets the concept of the game, pays attention at practice. He scored 2 goals during first game - 1 for his team and one for opposing team - 39 months


Blake and I want to hit "pause" on this age for Carter. He is so incredible except 1-2 short mini (30 second) meltdowns a day if something doesn't go his way exactly - 39 months


Will run up to you and tell you "something," usually a very detailed account of something he just saw or did. It is so cool because he talks to passionately and clearly about the topic - 39 months


Understands that daddy is out of town for this entire week, spoke with daddy on the phone everyday and it was no big deal (he never got upset). He did ask 2X a day EVERYDAY what day he was coming back though - 38 months


LOVES TV and would sit and watch his kid's shows for HOURS if we let him, he gets in a "zone," we have noticed recently. If TV isn't on, then no big deal, out of sight, out of mind and he will shoot basketball/dribble for hours at a time (again) at this age - 38 months


Minor but consistant problems at school in Ms. Sandy's class on many days with time-outs not listening, "tackeling" other kids, etc... - we are taking away all balls and other favorite toys at home when this happens. - since right at 3 years old & continues at 38 months


Contines to LOVE sleeping with balls at night ever since a few months after his second birthday when he lost interest in his little blanket and pacifier - 38 months


After 3rd basketball game... YMCA refferee came up to me and told me that although he is clearly the youngest out there and by far the smallest... he has the most "heart" for sure and he would take that any day. (Talking about how much Carter goes after the ball not afraid of the much bigger kids 2X his size!) - 37 months


37 months to the day - wrote his name "CARTER" all together VERY LEGIBLE for the VERY FIRST TIME!!!


Cute Carter Phase - 37 months - VERY into writing all letters using the Aquadoodle Mat


Cute Carter Phase - 35 months - always confirms before you walk out the door after tucking him in that "you will be back at 7?"


Cute Carter Phase - 36-37 months, Wants to look at the digital clock and actually see the time before he goes for nap or to bed.


Follow up with Dr. Nau (ENT) from ear infection 2 wks ago. Ears perfectly clear and Carter acting like a different child, much less fussy and whiney - 37 months


A call from daycare during nap (1/7/10) saying Carter complaining of right ear hurting and not able to sleep and crying. (This complaining has randomly been going on since the summer 1-2X a week for brief periods always with the right ear.) We took him Dr. Nau the next day where they did ear pressure test and found both ears were -250 range (normal up to -180.) Dr. Nau said right ear tube is gone and that it does look somewhat infected. Going to to antibiotic for 10days and see if all pain goes away.) - nearly 37 months


Suddenly his blatter 1 month before his 3rd birthday could easily last all night and through the morning and no more waking up at 5-6AM needing to pee - 3 years old


3 YEAR WELL CHECK UP STATS: Weight 33.5 lbs (50th%) Height 38.5 " (75%)


Follow up at ENT 2 years after tubes being placed in, both still visible. RIGHT one has fluid around it and Dr. Nau wants to see back in 3 months to evaulate if we need to take it out (they normally don't like to leave in past 2 years.) His LEFT tube is almost about to fall out, which he said it fine. - 36 months

Addison - Milestones in 2010 (20-31 months of age)

In Descending Order:

• Health Update - Mid December, after Perkins family came down with 3 hour stomach bug, Addie got it and threw up for 2 hours straight the same night as Jack. But was fine the next day. - 31 months Besides that, she has had no sickness where she has had to go to the doctor since July 2010 (6 month record for Addie!) 
• Had 2-3 nights in a row waking up around 1AM with nightmares (one night she told Blake her big Euro sham was attacking her.) We can't tell if she is fully awake or not. (We stopped allowing her to watch MONSTERS INC (even though it is the CUTEST movie ever.) - 32 months 
• Loves Disney movies now - Beauty and The Beast and Monsters Inc (Will watch an entire 85 minute movie.) She loves BOLT (anything with dogs still.) - 32 months
• Great mood and stage except the last 7 days of giving us the hardest time going to bed at night. Tries to stall and ask for anything and everything instead of going to sleep. Won't get out of bed but SCREAMS uncontrollably for 45 minutes repeating whatever she last wanted that we didn't give into. Have tried everything, even letting her cry it out to no avail. After 45 minutes, we go in and lay next to her and pat her and she will usually calm down enough to pass out around 9:15 or 9:30. - Just over 2.5 years UPDATE just 7 days later. Started rewarding her with a small piece of candy first thing in the morning if she went to bed easy. We talk about it while going to bed. We also got in much more of a routine about singing nursery rhymes in a order where she knows when I leave the room. "Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle and Rock-a-by Baby." It helps if I lay in bed with her for 3-5 minutes more just rubbing her back and talking to her about ideas to fall asleep. I then tell her "I need to check on Bubba." and she is okay. 31 months
• Loving books more and more. I love when we ask her to say long big words like "Metamorphosis!"- 2 1/2 years old
• Addie stick a ROCK in her nose at school and the director had to stick plyers up there to get it out - 29 months
• PERSONALITY UPDATE at 28.5 months: Random MAJOR tantrums are still occuring usually at night (when tired & doesn't get her way about something little) and it quickly develops into MAJOR (45 minute hysterical fit where it seems like she isn't able to listen or understand even if we are trying to do what she is yelling, like reading a book.") We must distract her at perfect time to get her to calm down. She is very routine oriented as far as having to read a book at night or nap NO MATTER WHAT. - 28.5 months
• Memory and sentence building growing by leaps and bounds and UNITING. Example from tonight as she was randomly talking as I was patting her while she was going to bed "Last time Daddy didn't wash his hands and he got sick with cough." (Just like this. I had said this 1X to her over 5 days ago when explaining why we always must wash our hands/" - 28.5 monhts
• Big into understanding and constantly talking and asking about "Is Bubba's momma Addie's momma?" Is Bubba's daddy Addie's?" (Worded JUST like that! - 28.5 months
• Big into talking about everyone who is a "girl" and who is a "boy," ver accurate - 28 months
• Becoming much more of a mommy's girl :) - 28 months
• Completely transformed her nursery to a BIG GIRL room and bed. She has stayed in her new bed with no rails for almost 2 weeks without getting out of bed AND has stayed dry ALL night for almost 3 weeks!!!!- 27.5 months
• Over the last 4-5 weeks, we have noticed dramatic change in maturity of Addie. Her overall behavior has consistently been good except for occassional (3-4 times/wk) meltdowns mostly when tired. This is such a massive change from a year ago. - 27-28 months
• Addie has had lingering cough for about 2 weeks, several kids had viral cough going around and we were so excited when for the first time, it didn't develop into anything worse as it always had for Addie in the past however the cough stayed around and then last week got worse at night, waking her up crying, very dry, like "seal like" cough but with NO OTHER symptoms or runny nose. Took her to Dr. day before Labor Day weekend to see. Dr said both tubes in and ears look perfect although her right tube was moving some (no big deal.) Breathing was fine, no wheezing, oxygen levels at 99%. Dr. said probably allergies with weather change b/c they have seen more recently. Try to do Nasonex nose spray to help and said there were "greenish" gunk way up in nose so could possibly be slight sinus infection. Gave her 10 Days BID if Amoxicillian and I asked for Steroid in case cough got worse over holiday. She gave us 3 doses of Prednisolone (I only gave her 1 dose on 1st day). 4 day follow up... cough got better within 1-2 days (don't know what it was.) - Sept 3, 2010 27 months
• "WHY?" "WHY?" "WHY?" to EVERYTHING and always asking "Whatcha doing?!?!" - 27 months
• Can put socks and shoes on 100% by herself - 27 months
• VERY VERY affectionate with everyone from the dogs, to us, Jack to Ella, ANY baby she can get her lips on (Easton, Rose, Cali, Reese.) She is a very affectionate little girl. - 27 months
• Swimming under water with out floaties, holding breath for at least 5 seconds under water, diving off driving board with NO floaties (with us assiting her to ladder.) She is swimming almost as good as Carter this summer, 17 months younger - 26.5 months
• Addie continues to be EXTREMEMLY strong willed and if she doesn't get her way with the tiniest thing, it turns into a dramatic meltdown where we usually put her in her room and close the door. She screams and cries for sometimes 15-20 minutes at the top of her lungs and won't calm down even if we try to go in and sit with her. Over the last month, we have found that she must calm down alone and she will suddenly stop crying, snap out of it, open the door and be perfect for the rest of the night. She recently even started coming out and immediatley saying "sorry" to Blake or I. - 26.5 months
• Addie and Carter suddenly at FIRST HORRIBLE stage of not getting along over last 10 days (very stressful on Blake and I.) It is mainly Addie hitting or scratching Carter for NO REASON and I think the difference is Carter is finally sick of it) - Addie: 26 months and Carter: little over 3 1/2 (Follow up after 10 days: suddenly the issues went away and totally back to normal and in many ways they are getting along better than ever. They have full conversations with each other now and love "skating" together wearing socks through out the house's hard wood floors.
• First Visit to ALLERGIST/ASTHMA Specialist - Dr. Dilley: Addie got skin test and is allergic to: Lingustrum, Mesquite, Mulberry, Short Ragweed, 3 mold spores, DUST MITES, CATS, beef, chicken, chocolate, MILK, ORANGE, PECANS, RICE. We are contining Zyrtec & Sigulair, changing Flovent to Advair (better for night time cough.) He also started her on 4 days of Steroid again (Orapred15mg/5ml) and 10 days of 2X/day Omnicef in case she has a slight sinus infection due to colored stuff coming out of nosse. We are going to take down curtains & vacuuming room everyday, STOPPING ALL MILK, oranges, pecans, chocolate and not make any significant changes with beef, chicken and rice right now to see how she does. - 26 months (UPDATE 72 hours later: Addie's cough is 90 percent done with jsut all milk items removed from diet... AMAZING)
• Really attached to her baby "Marcie." MeMe and her named her a month ago and it has really stuck. She wants Marcie and a blanket with her at all times - 26 months
• Loves the color PINK - 26 months
• Loves the show Super Why on PBS - 26 months
• Moved up to Mrs. Cissy's, Rachel's and ? room (24-30 month room) with out any problems with Ella P, Ella M, & Jack - 25 months
• Over heard her several times in last week counting by herself to "11" with out missing any (why 11... cute) - 25 months
• Woke up with sudden steady cough during the day and woke up for the 1st time in several months coughing (while we were out of town in Miami.) Ya-Ya took her into Dr. McCray Friday morning and she heard substantial wheezing and said defintely asthma perhaps brought on by allergies. 1.) Rx'd her Albuterol or Xopenex treatments every 3 hours for 1 day, then every 4 hours and try to spread out more over week. 2.) Prednisolone (Steroid) - 1 tsp/day for 4 days. PREVENTION: 3.) Flovent - 2 puffs 2X/day every day (she will not use inhaler with spacer at all.) 4.) Omnaris - nasal spray for allergy control 2 sprays on each side of nose 1X/day (she hates the nose spray.) 5.) Continue Zyrtec 2X/day. Ears okay at visit, shared with her night time cough over last 3-4 months, rubbing red eyes and sneezing the last couple of weeks. Dr. McCray said to remove all bumpers and stuffed animals, which we did. Cough has sig. decreased by Sunday with just a few bouts on Tuesday all day. Mon & Tues - we did Albuterol/Xop 3X a day. - 25 months UPDATE 5 days later: Doing breathing treatments only 2X a day, finally got to take Flovent with Chamber 2X/day and doing well, still will not do nose spray. At follow up w/ Dr. Jacobson, we started Singulair at night for allergy/asthma prevention and following up with Dr. Dilley for allergy testing in 10 days UPDATE 10 days later: Doing albuterol only 1X a night to control/prevent night time coughing
• Switched Pediatricians from Scott Cuming to Brandy McCrae (much closer to home.) - 24 months
• We think she is teething and getting molars - dramatic drooling for 4-5 days and for a couple days, she wanted hand or anything in her mouth - 24 months
• Schedule/Routine at 24 months: Wakes up around 7 and will contently roll around in bed for at least 20 minutes. (Not attempting to crawl out of crib yet) and gets up and goes potty. Bfast at home (cereal, oatmeal, eggs, fruit, etc..), play time and get dressed (not picky about what she wears yet.) Not into TV at all. Get ready to "load up" or go upstairs to play on mornings I am off work. Taking very regular naps at daycare on standard matt for avg 2 hours (12:30-2:30) and wakes up and snack. Staying dry all day long everyday at school. I think they take them 9AM, 11, after nap, and 5. Comes home and knows to take shoes off at door and first thing we do is scrub our hands! ;) Play time out back until dinner is ready. Dinner at 5:30 or 6. Play time until 7:15, bath time and read books at 8, lights out usually 8:15-8:30. We are trying to move closer to 8 sharp. Likes to read "3 Little Bears," kiss everyone including dogs "night night" and be covered with her large white minky dot blanket and "patted" to sleep for at least 3-4 minutes. Doesn't usually wake up at night at all and doesn't usually stay dry since we still do allow her to drink what she wants before bed time. - 24 months
• Confidently knows her 10 primary colors - 24 months
• For the time being most tantrums and melt downs have disappeared in last 2 months. She hasn't been to "timeout" in over 2-3 weeks (at home) and instead we give her choices. We are using Love and Logic principles, which is all about making choices and living with them, VERY successfully (so far), working well with her. She still is 1-2X/week trying to bite Carter when frustrated but it has dramatically dropped off. - 24 months
• Loves singing ABC's ALL the time - while she goes to bed and when she wakes up, can count to 5 on own and to 10 with a tiny bit of help, knows confidently all her primary colors - 24 months
• 2 YEAR WELL-VISIT: 30 lbs (80%) & 36" (95%) Doing above avg developmentally. Told him about 2 times this summer we have put alcohol drops in left ear after swimming and she screamed in severe pain for an hour. He said it was due to tubes... We should NEVER put alcohol in ears with tubes, makes alchol go into middle ear and stings like crazy. Left ear did have a little fluid but not infected. Going to do try to do 1X day drops to get it unplugged.
• She has been wearing panties to school ALL DAY EVERYDAY for almost 3 weeks with NO ACCIDENTS, telling us proactively many times however we still have her go every 2 hours and before we leave to go some where. Staying dry some nights hasn't gone #2 in pants in 4 months. She still gets a M&M if she tells us proactively - 24 months
• Came home Friday with 103 temp after 2 kids in her class had same temp 2-3 days prior, not other symptoms. I think her LEFT ear was infected due to her SCREAMING in pain after putting alcohol drops in LEFT ear after swimming the day before this & also could see a little dried drainage coming out of left ear. Since Friday night, treated with ear drop antibioics we had on hand 2X a day and fever subsided by Sunday - 2 weeks before 2nd birthday
• Sudden coughing returned at night waking her up multiple times howevery NO OTHER SYMPTOMS or much coughing during the day. Took to Dr. Cuming and said either beginning of cold or allergies. We treated at 5PM with 4 ML of Zyrtec and NOT ONE COUGH ALL NIGHT!!!! - 23 months (April)
• FULL OUT TANTRUMS if something doesn't go her way in the last 2 weeks. It can be that I gave her "milky" in a wrong sippy cup, Ella took her "baby" or that we ask her to sit down to eat dinner. The thing is that once she gets "worked up" over anything, it takes 45 min - hour for her to calm down. (This is similar behavior dating back from when she was 2 months old.) Meltdowns usually happen around 6-7 PM and we have 1/day. - 23 months
• 8 day follow up after Addie's recent sickness. Left ear still had fluid in it although Dr. Cuming could see the tube was still in place. Changed her antibiotic to 5 day zithromycin and changed drops to Ofloxacin for 7 days. No wheezing at all in chest therefore we have stopped all breathing treatments. Dr. belives cough related to allergies since been lingering for almost 3 weeks and with a clear runny nose. - almost 23 months (6 days later cough getting better ever day and correlating to "oak levels" decreasing this week
• 30 pounds - at doctor's office (22.5 months)
• 2 times in 1 week - "gunk" coming out of Addie's left ear, 1 week later began suddenly threw up in middle of night 3X but acted fine next morning w/ no other symptoms except very runny nose. Then occas. wet/dry cough began and she started acting very strange and clingy, took immediately into Dr. Cuming on Good Friday; diag w/ LEFT ear infection (can't see tube) and thinks some kind of stomach virus. Rx'd Amoxicillian and antibiotic ear drops 2X/day. Over weekend, cough started getting really bad and lots of wheezing; doing breathing treatments every 4 hours (Sunday-Easter) )to get under control. Besides cough, she is fine - 22.5 months
• Beginning to tell us proactively when she needs to go "potty," otherwise if we ask her every hour, she will accurately tell us, "yes" or "no." She is still wearing pull up to school as she is still not making through nap time dry on many days - 21 months
• Loves having her baby and baby blanket with her more and more (loves to "pat" them to sleep) - 21 months
• Has become an incredible eater over the last month, will eat anything and a ton of it! - 21 months
• Addison tries to COPY EVERYTHING Carter does (both good and bad, for instance, we have contests on who can eat bigger bites of food at dinner & as a result, they will both eat a TON) - 21 months
• Her tongue is STILL constantly out to the side of her mouth when does everything like running or playing (just like her brother) - 21 months
• Weight - 21 months naked - 28.5 pounds (her BFF Ella has finally equaled her in the weight at this point!)
• Loves her nails clipped... can't just do fingers, she wants us always to do toes as well - now since 17 months
• 21 months is such a great age for Addie - mostly sweet, listens well, communicates well with "okay" or "yes;" pottying in the potty most all the time except occasional accidents at nap time and not staying dry over night; still dislikes most things in her hair at this age; favorite movie is Polar Express; LOVES books all day long; loves patting her babies to sleep under blankets; eating very well all foods; good going "night-night" now & loves sleeping on her pillow; LOVES the dogs and all animals (Future vet?!!?); has no fear with everything still
• MEDICAL: 9 days of coughing(nasal congestion)/super runny nose/ low grade fever never above 100 for 3-4 days. Night times particularly horrible sleeping waking up crying out of frustration. Treated with over the counter day/night cough medicine/ saline nose spray sometimes suctioning (which she HATED!) and breathing treatments 2-3X/day days 3-4 and one time at night days 5-9 - 1 wk prior to 21 months (end of 2009)
• She LOVES jumping. Whe we read Olivia book of opposites and "up" and "down," she runs off to jump up and fall down a million times - 20 months
• Shakes her "finger" and says "No No" when someone is not supposed to do something - 20 months
• Over the same weekend of 24 hour stomach bug, I return to home on Sunday evening and spend the entire following day home with kids to find that Addie has suddenly potty-trainned herself. She wore big girl undies ALL day today and had NOT ONE accident. WEIRD!!!! (Not expecting this to last.) - 3 days shy of 20 months
• Blake got a call from daycare while I was in Mexico on Friday morning at 9AM, she was suddently throwing up multiple times with NO OTHER SYMPTOMS (trip to Dr. Cumings) until following day with bad 12 hours of diarrhea and then as quicly as came, it was gone. No others in class got it. - almost 20 months
• We realized we haven't given Addie Prevacid at all in last 2 weeks - nearly 20 months old
• Over the last 2 weeks, Addie has been regularly going pee-pee in potty before bath time each night and also at least 1X at school during the day. Over the last 3 days, she has also gone #2 in the potty at home (This is without any focused initiation of true potty trainning yet.) - 19 months & 3 wks

Christmas Afternoon!

Our afternoon was spent at Grandpa and YaYa's enjoying family some more! The kids received so many thoughtful gifts that they have already begun to put to good use. They are so blessed and that is why we have to constantly talk to them about the REAL meaning of Christmas and that receiving gifts is not what it's all about. They are slowly catching on but I won't lie, it is easy for them to loose sight of that when they walk in and see an amazing tree like this...

It was a special treat to see Cousin Ainsley who is right in the middle of Carter and Addie. She is such a smart and adorable little girl and I don't think I have ever seen her misbehave! That must come from Colleen!! :)

It was a great ending to a great Christmas.

Carter Memorable Events - 2010 (37-48 months)

In descending order and of age:

VERY SENSITIVE STAGE - Right at 4 years old. Busts out crying if I gently kneel down next to him tonight and said I was disappointed in he and Addie when they didn't listen when asked them to get out of the office (seconds before part of the glass computer desk fell and shattered into a million pieces!) (Also busted out crying today when his teachers told me he had 2 time outs at school for not listening and I told him that he couldn't eat his marshmellow snowman?!?!?" - 4 years EXACTLY



While at ped. for first time in over a year, Dr. McCray noticed Carter's right tube in his ear from 3 YEARS ago dislodged and behind ear drum. Had same day 3PM appt. with Dr. Nau (ENT) and he said that was the first time he has EVER seen that happen. Out patient surgery schedule 01.10.11 to remove. - happened 5 days before 4th bday


103 temperture otherwise in pretty good mood Sunday, woke up in middle of night Sunday night with high temp. Positive for strep throat, Rx'd 10 days of Omnicef. - 5 days before 4th bday


4th Birthday Party - Arial Gymnastics with a Spiderman theme. HUGE SUCCESS! (Very first birthday party outside of our home!) - 4th Birthday


Visit with Santa was a SUCCESS for the very first time! His 4th Christmas, Carter showed hardly any timidness and got to eat breakfast right next to Santa and then jumped up on his lap picture perfect! A far cry from the last 3 years. - Just before 4 years old


UPDATE from most recent "aggressive" post - Carter has not watched cartoon Batman or anyother superhero realistic cartoons in over 3 weeks and his agression has all but disappeared.... could be a coincidence?!?!?


Over last 2-3 months we have noticed him getting slightly more aggressive with Addie and his friends when he is playing, purposly running into them, throwing a little elbow sometimes. He is in a class of majority of boys in his new 4 year old room they seem to play well overall but are getting into the "boy stage" of rough housing much more. We are really staying on him at home reminding him what is and is not appropriate. - just before 4 years old


Obsessed with Batman and Spiderman. Constantly has "cape" on usually his red ELMO hooded bath towl for hours every day. Sleeps with a minature Batman and Spiderman figurine. LOVES to watch Batman movie and cartoon. Constantly running around house pretending to be a super hero! - 3 yrs and 7 months and on


Carter's VERY FIRST TRIP TO THE MOVIE THEATER WAS AT EXACTLY 3 years old for Alvin and The Chimpmunks - The Squeakel with Cash McPeak (he was perfect!), 3 months later he saw SHREK III and at 3.5 years he saw TOY STORY III 3D (which was too scary for him! He burried his head into my shoulder for the entire 2nd half!)


Addie and Carter suddenly at FIRST HORRIBLE stage of not getting along over last 10 days (very stressful on Blake and I.) It is mainly Addie hitting or scratching Carter for NO REASON and I think the difference is Carter is finally sick of it) - Addie: 26 months and Carter: little over 3 1/2 (Follow up after 10 days: suddenly the issues went away and totally back to normal and in many ways they are getting along better than ever. They have full conversations with each other now and love "skating" together wearing socks through out the house's hard wood floors.)


First Sports Camp - Dominion Mighty Muscles with Macy and Marshall for a week 9-3PM with no NAP!! He did GREAT and LOVED it - 3.5 years


Moved up to Ms. Nancy's room from Ms. Sandy's right at 3.5 years old


First sleep over with Ya-Ya and Grandpa at Lake with Marshall and also the first night with Aunt Erin at her apartment - June 2010 (3.5 years old)


Confidently with out ANY pauses can count to 40, stumbles on 50, but knows sixty. I am working on 70, 80, 90 to 100 with him. - 41 months


Swimming this summer has been awesome, he isn't afraid to get his ears wet. Although he isn't going under water for long periods of time, he is virtually swimming the width of the big pool and back with no assistance from us with his floaties on - 41 months


Comes up to me and holds up his indez finger and says, "I have an idea mom..." to tell me what he wants to do. (So cute!) - 40 months


Playing in first YMCA Soccer League with Cash - 39 months


Obsessed with "basketball pants" over the last month, which are actual athletic SHORTS with holes in them, but don't let him catch you calling them shorts! - 39 months


Began his first YMCA soccer team with Cash McPeak - he totally gets the concept of the game, pays attention at practice. He scored 2 goals during first game - 1 for his team and one for opposing team - 39 months


Blake and I want to hit "pause" on this age for Carter. He is so incredible except 1-2 short mini (30 second) meltdowns a day if something doesn't go his way exactly - 39 months


Will run up to you and tell you "something," usually a very detailed account of something he just saw or did. It is so cool because he talks to passionately and clearly about the topic - 39 months


Understands that daddy is out of town for this entire week, spoke with daddy on the phone everyday and it was no big deal (he never got upset). He did ask 2X a day EVERYDAY what day he was coming back though - 38 months


LOVES TV and would sit and watch his kid's shows for HOURS if we let him, he gets in a "zone," we have noticed recently. If TV isn't on, then no big deal, out of sight, out of mind and he will shoot basketball/dribble for hours at a time (again) at this age - 38 months


Minor but consistant problems at school in Ms. Sandy's class on many days with time-outs not listening, "tackeling" other kids, etc... - we are taking away all balls and other favorite toys at home when this happens. - since right at 3 years old & continues at 38 months


Contines to LOVE sleeping with balls at night ever since a few months after his second birthday when he lost interest in his little blanket and pacifier - 38 months


After 3rd basketball game... YMCA refferee came up to me and told me that although he is clearly the youngest out there and by far the smallest... he has the most "heart" for sure and he would take that any day. (Talking about how much Carter goes after the ball not afraid of the much bigger kids 2X his size!) - 37 months


37 months to the day - wrote his name "CARTER" all together VERY LEGIBLE for the VERY FIRST TIME!!!


Cute Carter Phase - 37 months - VERY into writing all letters using the Aquadoodle Mat


Cute Carter Phase - 35 months - always confirms before you walk out the door after tucking him in that "you will be back at 7?"


Cute Carter Phase - 36-37 months, Wants to look at the digital clock and actually see the time before he goes for nap or to bed.


Follow up with Dr. Nau (ENT) from ear infection 2 wks ago. Ears perfectly clear and Carter acting like a different child, much less fussy and whiney - 37 months


A call from daycare during nap (1/7/10) saying Carter complaining of right ear hurting and not able to sleep and crying. (This complaining has randomly been going on since the summer 1-2X a week for brief periods always with the right ear.) We took him Dr. Nau the next day where they did ear pressure test and found both ears were -250 range (normal up to -180.) Dr. Nau said right ear tube is gone and that it does look somewhat infected. Going to to antibiotic for 10days and see if all pain goes away.) - nearly 37 months


Suddenly his blatter 1 month before his 3rd birthday could easily last all night and through the morning and no more waking up at 5-6AM needing to pee - 3 years old


3 YEAR WELL CHECK UP STATS: Weight 33.5 lbs (50th%) Height 38.5 " (75%)


Follow up at ENT 2 years after tubes being placed in, both still visible. RIGHT one has fluid around it and Dr. Nau wants to see back in 3 months to evaulate if we need to take it out (they normally don't like to leave in past 2 years.) His LEFT tube is almost about to fall out, which he said it fine. - 36 months

Addie Memorable Events - 2010 (19-31 months old)

In deceding order of age:

Great mood and stage except the last 7 days of giving us the hardest time going to bed at night. Tries to stall and ask for anything and everything instead of going to sleep. Won't get out of bed but SCREAMS uncontrollably for 45 minutes repeating whatever she last wanted that we didn't give into. Have tried everything, even letting her cry it out to no avail. After 45 minutes, we go in and lay next to her and pat her and she will usually calm down enough to pass out around 9:15 or 9:30. - Just over 2.5 years UPDATE just 7 days later. Started rewarding her with a small piece of candy first thing in the morning if she went to bed easy. We talk about it while going to bed. We also got in much more of a routine about singing nursery rhymes in a order where she knows when I leave the room. "Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle and Rock-a-by Baby." It helps if I lay in bed with her for 3-5 minutes more just rubbing her back and talking to her about ideas to fall asleep. I then tell her "I need to check on Bubba." and she is okay. 31 months



Loving books more and more. I love when we ask her to say long big words like "Metamorphosis!"- 2 1/2 years old


Addie stick a ROCK in her nose at school and the director had to stick plyers up there to get it out - 29 months


PERSONALITY UPDATE at 28.5 months: Random MAJOR tantrums are still occuring usually at night (when tired & doesn't get her way about something little) and it quickly develops into MAJOR (45 minute hysterical fit where it seems like she isn't able to listen or understand even if we are trying to do what she is yelling, like reading a book.") We must distract her at perfect time to get her to calm down. She is very routine oriented as far as having to read a book at night or nap NO MATTER WHAT. - 28.5 months


Memory and sentence building growing by leaps and bounds and UNITING. Example from tonight as she was randomly talking as I was patting her while she was going to bed "Last time Daddy didn't wash his hands and he got sick with cough." (Just like this. I had said this 1X to her over 5 days ago when explaining why we always must wash our hands/" - 28.5 monhts


Big into understanding and constantly talking and asking about "Is Bubba's momma Addie's momma?" Is Bubba's daddy Addie's?" (Worded JUST like that! - 28.5 months


Big into talking about everyone who is a "girl" and who is a "boy," ver accurate - 28 months


Becoming much more of a mommy's girl :) - 28 months


Completely transformed her nursery to a BIG GIRL room and bed. She has stayed in her new bed with no rails for almost 2 weeks without getting out of bed AND has stayed dry ALL night for almost 3 weeks!!!!- 27.5 months


Over the last 4-5 weeks, we have noticed dramatic change in maturity of Addie. Her overall behavior has consistently been good except for occassional (3-4 times/wk) meltdowns mostly when tired. This is such a massive change from a year ago. - 27-28 months


Addie has had lingering cough for about 2 weeks, several kids had viral cough going around and we were so excited when for the first time, it didn't develop into anything worse as it always had for Addie in the past however the cough stayed around and then last week got worse at night, waking her up crying, very dry, like "seal like" cough but with NO OTHER symptoms or runny nose. Took her to Dr. day before Labor Day weekend to see. Dr said both tubes in and ears look perfect although her right tube was moving some (no big deal.) Breathing was fine, no wheezing, oxygen levels at 99%. Dr. said probably allergies with weather change b/c they have seen more recently. Try to do Nasonex nose spray to help and said there were "greenish" gunk way up in nose so could possibly be slight sinus infection. Gave her 10 Days BID if Amoxicillian and I asked for Steroid in case cough got worse over holiday. She gave us 3 doses of Prednisolone (I only gave her 1 dose on 1st day). 4 day follow up... cough got better within 1-2 days (don't know what it was.) - Sept 3, 2010 27 months


"WHY?" "WHY?" "WHY?" to EVERYTHING and always asking "Whatcha doing?!?!" - 27 months


Can put socks and shoes on 100% by herself - 27 months


VERY VERY affectionate with everyone from the dogs, to us, Jack to Ella, ANY baby she can get her lips on (Easton, Rose, Cali, Reese.) She is a very affectionate little girl. - 27 months


Swimming under water with out floaties, holding breath for at least 5 seconds under water, diving off driving board with NO floaties (with us assiting her to ladder.) She is swimming almost as good as Carter this summer, 17 months younger - 26.5 months


Addie continues to be EXTREMEMLY strong willed and if she doesn't get her way with the tiniest thing, it turns into a dramatic meltdown where we usually put her in her room and close the door. She screams and cries for sometimes 15-20 minutes at the top of her lungs and won't calm down even if we try to go in and sit with her. Over the last month, we have found that she must calm down alone and she will suddenly stop crying, snap out of it, open the door and be perfect for the rest of the night. She recently even started coming out and immediatley saying "sorry" to Blake or I. - 26.5 months


Addie and Carter suddenly at FIRST HORRIBLE stage of not getting along over last 10 days (very stressful on Blake and I.) It is mainly Addie hitting or scratching Carter for NO REASON and I think the difference is Carter is finally sick of it) - Addie: 26 months and Carter: little over 3 1/2 (Follow up after 10 days: suddenly the issues went away and totally back to normal and in many ways they are getting along better than ever. They have full conversations with each other now and love "skating" together wearing socks through out the house's hard wood floors.


First Visit to ALLERGIST/ASTHMA Specialist - Dr. Dilley: Addie got skin test and is allergic to: Lingustrum, Mesquite, Mulberry, Short Ragweed, 3 mold spores, DUST MITES, CATS, beef, chicken, chocolate, MILK, ORANGE, PECANS, RICE. We are contining Zyrtec & Sigulair, changing Flovent to Advair (better for night time cough.) He also started her on 4 days of Steroid again (Orapred15mg/5ml) and 10 days of 2X/day Omnicef in case she has a slight sinus infection due to colored stuff coming out of nosse. We are going to take down curtains & vacuuming room everyday, STOPPING ALL MILK, oranges, pecans, chocolate and not make any significant changes with beef, chicken and rice right now to see how she does. - 26 months (UPDATE 72 hours later: Addie's cough is 90 percent done with jsut all milk items removed from diet... AMAZING)


Really attached to her baby "Marcie." MeMe and her named her a month ago and it has really stuck. She wants Marcie and a blanket with her at all times - 26 months


Loves the color PINK - 26 months


Loves the show Super Why on PBS - 26 months


Moved up to Mrs. Cissy's, Rachel's and ? room (24-30 month room) with out any problems with Ella P, Ella M, & Jack - 25 months


Over heard her several times in last week counting by herself to "11" with out missing any (why 11... cute) - 25 months


Woke up with sudden steady cough during the day and woke up for the 1st time in several months coughing (while we were out of town in Miami.) Ya-Ya took her into Dr. McCray Friday morning and she heard substantial wheezing and said defintely asthma perhaps brought on by allergies. 1.) Rx'd her Albuterol or Xopenex treatments every 3 hours for 1 day, then every 4 hours and try to spread out more over week. 2.) Prednisolone (Steroid) - 1 tsp/day for 4 days. PREVENTION: 3.) Flovent - 2 puffs 2X/day every day (she will not use inhaler with spacer at all.) 4.) Omnaris - nasal spray for allergy control 2 sprays on each side of nose 1X/day (she hates the nose spray.) 5.) Continue Zyrtec 2X/day. Ears okay at visit, shared with her night time cough over last 3-4 months, rubbing red eyes and sneezing the last couple of weeks. Dr. McCray said to remove all bumpers and stuffed animals, which we did. Cough has sig. decreased by Sunday with just a few bouts on Tuesday all day. Mon & Tues - we did Albuterol/Xop 3X a day. - 25 months UPDATE 5 days later: Doing breathing treatments only 2X a day, finally got to take Flovent with Chamber 2X/day and doing well, still will not do nose spray. At follow up w/ Dr. Jacobson, we started Singulair at night for allergy/asthma prevention and following up with Dr. Dilley for allergy testing in 10 days UPDATE 10 days later: Doing albuterol only 1X a night to control/prevent night time coughing


Switched Pediatricians from Scott Cuming to Brandy McCrae (much closer to home.) - 24 months


We think she is teething and getting molars - dramatic drooling for 4-5 days and for a couple days, she wanted hand or anything in her mouth - 24 months


Schedule/Routine at 24 months: Wakes up around 7 and will contently roll around in bed for at least 20 minutes. (Not attempting to crawl out of crib yet) and gets up and goes potty. Bfast at home (cereal, oatmeal, eggs, fruit, etc..), play time and get dressed (not picky about what she wears yet.) Not into TV at all. Get ready to "load up" or go upstairs to play on mornings I am off work. Taking very regular naps at daycare on standard matt for avg 2 hours (12:30-2:30) and wakes up and snack. Staying dry all day long everyday at school. I think they take them 9AM, 11, after nap, and 5. Comes home and knows to take shoes off at door and first thing we do is scrub our hands! ;) Play time out back until dinner is ready. Dinner at 5:30 or 6. Play time until 7:15, bath time and read books at 8, lights out usually 8:15-8:30. We are trying to move closer to 8 sharp. Likes to read "3 Little Bears," kiss everyone including dogs "night night" and be covered with her large white minky dot blanket and "patted" to sleep for at least 3-4 minutes. Doesn't usually wake up at night at all and doesn't usually stay dry since we still do allow her to drink what she wants before bed time. - 24 months


Confidently knows her 10 primary colors - 24 months


For the time being most tantrums and melt downs have disappeared in last 2 months. She hasn't been to "timeout" in over 2-3 weeks (at home) and instead we give her choices. We are using Love and Logic principles, which is all about making choices and living with them, VERY successfully (so far), working well with her. She still is 1-2X/week trying to bite Carter when frustrated but it has dramatically dropped off. - 24 months


Loves singing ABC's ALL the time - while she goes to bed and when she wakes up, can count to 5 on own and to 10 with a tiny bit of help, knows confidently all her primary colors - 24 months


2 YEAR WELL-VISIT: 30 lbs (80%) & 36" (95%) Doing above avg developmentally. Told him about 2 times this summer we have put alcohol drops in left ear after swimming and she screamed in severe pain for an hour. He said it was due to tubes... We should NEVER put alcohol in ears with tubes, makes alchol go into middle ear and stings like crazy. Left ear did have a little fluid but not infected. Going to do try to do 1X day drops to get it unplugged.


She has been wearing panties to school ALL DAY EVERYDAY for almost 3 weeks with NO ACCIDENTS, telling us proactively many times however we still have her go every 2 hours and before we leave to go some where. Staying dry some nights hasn't gone #2 in pants in 4 months. She still gets a M&M if she tells us proactively - 24 months