Hadley and Rhylinn's Playdate

I heard today from one of my avid readers (or should I say my one avid reader -cough mom :-)) that she checks the blog everyday and liked seeing the new post.. so I will try to post more. I write so many post in my head but they never actually make it on to the blog. I also have a ton of videos that I need to am uploading now (trying not to procrastinate) so hopefully I can share them soon.

This is one post I have been wanting to share for awhile. This is Hadley and Rhylinn during their play date:

It's hard to believe this little girl was born at 24 weeks gestation. After many many months in the NICU and surgeries and a few touch and go scenario's she is now a very active and happy 20 month old! A true miracle.

Rhylinn's mom and I have been friends since we were 5 years old. When I was in elementary school, I can remember my mom threatening me in the checkout line at Randall's that Raquel could not come over to play if I kept misbehaving. Another time we went to an office building with my mom and Raquel was deathly afraid of the elevator and wanted to take the stairs. We made her ride the elevator and she says broke her of her fear of elevators. Oh and she had these awesome hi-top pink Reebok's that I really wanted in 5th grade.. funny the memories that stand out!

Crosby 6 Months

Crosby had his 6 month check up on August 17th and despite the fact that he spits up all the time he is apparently doing just fine in the weight department :-)

Height: 27 3/4" (93%)
Weight: 18lbs 7oz (70%)
FOC: 17 1/4" (69%)

He is really my sweet little cuddle bug! This past Sunday, as I was rocking him before bed, he just cuddled up to my neck and laid on my shoulder and I just couldn't lay him down. He actually does this a lot and I love it! I really cherish those moments especially now that I know how fast each stage passes.

He is a little bit fussy at times and I am guessing it has to do with the spiting up/teething. One morning, I got him out of his crib (which was covered in spit up) and gave him a bath, dressed him and put 2 bibs on him (one thin and one thick  - our usual for him). I sat him up and he turned his head and spit up on his shirt and gets just a little bit on the bibs. New outfit and bibs and then I put him in the exersaucer and a minute later I walk by and he stinks.. blow out diaper and more spit up. A new diaper, new outfit, new bib along with a wipe down and all of this happened in less than 30 mins. We go through some laundry around here - my nemesis!

I thought Hadley spit up a lot and she did, but this boy has her beat. Hadley was on reflux medicine, but the doctor doesn't feel Crosby needs to be. I am okay with that - I mean every time he spit up in front of them he would cover me and himself in it and then smile really big. They say if he is happy when he spits up = a laundry problem and not reflux. He is happy, but he is fussy, too. There is no way that spitting up that much cannot hurt or irritate him in one way or another. We have given him all the over the counter remedies and changed formula and nothing really helps. It's weird because he didn't spit up a lot when he was a newborn but then again he had majority breast milk the first few months. I sometimes wish I had not started taking a medication for the Meniere's disease that caused me to stop nursing. However, I can't change that now so I must not dwell on it!

He loves to roll around on the ground. He gets places by squirming around and rolling there. I don't think his plan is to go from point a to point b, but he is happy when he realized he moved somewhere on his own! Everything goes into his mouth and despite the fact that he acts like all his teeth are coming in at once I don't see anything yet. I thought I saw a little white spot of a tooth cutting the gums, but there wasn't really anything there. I guess just hopeful thinking on my part. Frozen bananas in the mesh bag or apple juice ice cubes really help him and if it gets really bad a frozen fruit bar does wonders.

He eats 3 meals of oatmeal and fruit or a veggie a day along with 24-30 ounces of formula. I really am trying to decrease the amount of liquids he gets because of the spit up. He spits up food as well though so I guess it will really just be a thing he has to out grow. He is also over his pacifier.. He mostly turns it side ways and chews on it. Hadley gave it up at 4 months and he is almost there. I will be happy to get rid of them for the sake of my dog and wallet :-).

Here are some pictures of my handsome little boy!

Watching us cook dinner!

Really giving us the stare down!

Playing in his exersaucer during coloring time with sister.

Just too cute for words! I want to squeeze those cheeks :-)

Playing with cousin Jacob

Look at the tummy :-)

Playing in his exersaucer during play-doh time with sister

  Teething much?!

 I see you!

Hadley do it!

This is Hadley's favorite phrase right now. It sounds more like 'hall-ley or holly' do it when she says it. She has been in the independent stage for a little bit and everyday tells us more and more "hall-ley do it!". I love watching her try to do things we do or have done for her. She is successful most of the time and when she gets frustrated I hold back everything in me to just do it for her and actually help her figure it out. Luckily, most of the time these things happen when we are not rushing out of the house. She loves to also tell us no! I'll ask for a kiss or hug and she will say NO! and then if I give her a sad face she will give me a big kiss or hug. Now, it is just a game to her and we happily play along.

She has also been better about controlling her temper - there are moments for sure - but she will get frustrated and maybe even get ready to whine and then she will stop and look at me and give me a kiss.. I think it is insurance that I will get over being upset if she does do something wrong. Not sure if that is good or bad parenting on my part, but hey I'll take the least amount of toddler tantrums as possible.

Some funny things that she has said or done lately:
 
Hadley loves candy (aka ten-knee as she calls it) and will ask for it, and when I say no she will then ask for two ten-ney while holding up two fingers and if I say no again, she will say one ten-ney while holding up one finger.

We were watching the neighbors dog, Princess, last week. Hadley and I developed a routine while taking care of her. I would grab the neighbors keys and she would ask for her key (aka our house key) while saying "I go see Princess" and then we would walk to their house. She played with her and would get her food and fill up the bowl, etc. Well, on Friday when they got home I grabbed the keys to take back to them and Hadley ran over asking for her key while saying "I go see Princess!" I told her no not right now and she gave me a sad face and said "one princess?!" like she was asking for a piece of candy or something!

She loves to run around "nakey" after her bath. She runs through the house loudly and chases the dogs and crashes into the couch and if we don't let her do it she will not go to sleep as easily. I guess it is her one last moment of the day to get all her energy out! Usually, if she does this and drinks her shark milk (milk in a shark cup - cause shark milk just sounds gross!) she will blow me BIG kisses (ones that are so big I fall down like a big goof ball!) from her crib and then tell me bye! I like the nice and easy bed time routine we have going on.

She is talking, talking and talking all the time. In the car, in her bed, while taking a bath - all talk all the time! Last night, Matt said she laid in bed saying Paw-Paw? CC? Pay pay-doh? No, no, no! and on and on for a good 45 mins.

I call Matt, Matt, not daddy unless I am talking to Hadley and tell her to go to daddy, etc. So Hadley has started calling daddy - Matt! She will yell through the house - Matt! or at the grocery store like she did yesterday to get his attention. She thinks it is hilarious because we always laugh. Well, in-turn he taught her my name. She cannot say the "ka" sound. Yesterday, I was trying to have her repeat the phrase "My name is Hadley". So I asked her to say "My name is" and she said "My name is Tayleigh"! I busted out laughing and she thought she was a comedian! When you ask her to say her full name it comes out like this- Hall-ley Dace Teneneney.

The other day I went on a jog while pushing her in the stroller. During my few short moments of jogging she would turn around and look at me and say "faster, faster!"  Then turn around and sip her cup of juice and relax with her sunglasses on - oh to be two!

the eyes have it

 

 

I love all eye colors but I really love all 3 of my blue eyed beauties! Posted by the only non-blue eyed member of the family :/

p.s. I know the saying is the AYES have it, but I couldn't resist an opportunity for a play on words... my husband, unfortunately, is really good at it and I am not!

Birthday Weekend / Ramblings

I have posted about Hadley's birthday and an update on Crosby because as a parent your kids come first, but now I want to take a moment and talk about MY birthday. My brother use to joke growing up that I celebrated it for 2 months and I am sure I did. It's June 30th so I get to celebrate the month of July as well, no question. I can only imagine my annoying self counting down until my birthday and then getting to celebrate it for weeks on after the fact. I know I did this. I can tell you I only had a handful of spankings as a kid and they were probably almost all on my birthday. Legit spankings. I don't know why I just assumed I could be a brat and get a way with it just because I was a year older. My mom proved me wrong every.single.time.

I am not like this anymore. I swear. In fact, I only remember how old I am by my friends birthdays' and how old they just turned. However, I do have to say I have some big plans for my 30th. It involves 2 vacations. Disney with the kids and one just adults on a beach for a week, because you know I'll be rich by 30 - ha. It is going to be amazing!

I also use to make a big deal about my half birthday. Rachel and I share birthday/half-birthdays since her bday is December 30th. She usually sends me a happy half-birthday to me text on my birthday and I do the same back - all in good fun!! I don't actually expect a cake, singing and celebrating on my half birthday, just a present. :-) I don't think that is too much to ask.

This past birthday was really special for me and Matt. We really really needed some time to relax. We had never taken a vacation since either one of the kids were born. It's funny because when Hadley was a baby I couldn't imaging leaving her. She was 8 months old and we had a wedding to attend in Austin. I invited Stacy to come along to babysit since I was the photographer and Matt was a groomsmen. Now, if there was a situation like that I wouldn't think twice about getting a babysitter to watch them at home while we enjoy a weekend away. Parents need a break.

I am not great about asking for help. I know exactly who I get this from and I have to say it is both a strength and weakness. I like taking care of myself and family and I love to help anyone else, but when it comes to asking for help I would rather suffer through before making that request. I knew Matt and I needed some time away. Life has been tough for awhile and when Stacy offered herself and BJ to babysit the kids so we could have a weekend away I was ecstatic! She knows me and knows I would never ask - so the offer was the best gift!

I picked my birthday weekend and we stayed at the Woodlands Resort and it was so wonderful. We just watched T.V., had massages on Saturday morning, went to restaurants and even a bar. It was just what we needed and I cannot even express to Stacy and BJ how much it meant to us. I never once worried, I knew they were taking great care of this kids and loved getting the funny pics and videos throughout the weekend. I cannot thank them enough but I hope they know we will return the favor one day!

Stacy and I have been best friends since high school. She was 2 grades ahead of me. I actually met her through my brother when she was dating one of his best friends. The first time I met her I was in middle school and I remember just thinking how pretty she was and that she was the coolest thing ever because she was a Bearkadette (high school drill team)! I had always wanted to be a Bearkadette(BK). My mom told me that when I was 4 one of the neighbors was a BK and I told her I was going to be one one day and have a bear sign in my yard. I probably just wanted the sign with my name on it.  I don't remember that, but I do remember always wanting to be a BK once I realized what it was all about.  I am so thankful for the organization for many reasons, but mainly because of the relationships made and kept for hopefully a lifetime.

Stacy is an incredible best friend who has been there for me through so much. I cannot even put into words what she means to me. All I have given her in return is a scar above her eye when I could have very well decapitated her from a jet ski accident (sadly that is a true story). The second I found out Crosby was a boy I became a little sad (just for a minute) only because I had imagined Hadley having this sister and sisterly bond since they would be so close in age. Then I realized, I may not have been born with a sister but I do have many and got to pick them myself!

When Stacy and I lived together in college we would do everything (mostly nothing) together. We are both so indecisive we would sit on the couch trying to figure out what to eat or go do and then could never pick so we would just do nothing! And those times were some of my favorite! Today, we went back and forth through 21 texts messages and a phone call about the right fabric for a chair she bought the kids! I could do a million post about Stacy and I but since pictures are the most fun part - I have dug up a few gems to include in this post:

*Some of these pictures go back 12 years! * My make-up skills have improved slightly *
What BFFs don't get a pair of bearded dragons and name them something inappropriate?!

Our couple photo on Andrea and Jeremy's Wedding Cruise.. the photographer assumed
our relationship was something a little different than it actually is - but we went with it! :-)

Looking at these pictures just make me laugh so much! I cannot wait to see what the next 10, 20, 50, + years of our friendship looks like!

Hadley's Birthday Weekend Part 2

I really wish we could repeat last Saturday and Sunday a few more times. I am pretty sure Hadley would love that as well!

Months ago I had designed a birthday invitation for Hadley's party and was really excited about it. I wanted to do a Minnie Mouse theme. I wanted it to be a sophisticated Minnie Mouse theme, because you know a 2 year old cares about that.

However, a couple of weeks ago we decided not to have the birthday party. We were going to use the money we would would spend on a party on a day for her.

Last minute, I decided that Hadley loves to sing Happy Birthday and I really wanted people to sing to her. I thought she would love it and she did. We live on a street with 18 kids under 16 so I figured inviting the neighbors over would be plenty of people to sing to Hadley.

Turns out most people don't listen when you say stop by for cake and ice cream; it's not a party - please no gifts. I truly mean it. However, to be honest I do the exact same thing when people say no gifts. I really do enjoy buying gifts, especially for kids! I also asked my mom to make a chocolate cake. She asked if she should decorate it and I said you can put her name on it if you want and so this is what she made:

Oh and she also made her a matching birthday top! That is quite the chocolate cake (and vanilla cake, rice krispies, cream cheese butter cream, etc..;-)).

Here are a few pictures from her non-birthday party party:

I love Maddox in this picture... so serious about the ball pit!

Rhylinn joined in on the fun and she loved the tricycle!

Loving everyone singing Happy Birthday!

I'm not going to lie I am pretty sure I was just as, if not more, excited about the easel! I may or may not write on it everyday.

We couldn't resist :-) I am sure there will be many more moments like this with his big sis!

I also have a video from when Rachel mailed her a giant box of Minnie Mouse goodies.. I need to upload them to YouTube and post it - it is so funny. I laid it all out before she woke up from her nap and when she came out she saw it and looked at me like Minnie herself was standing there! Those moments make me so excited about all the holidays this year - she is going to be so amazed by everything!

I know she enjoyed the day very much! We loved seeing her get so excited about everything and everyone. My neighbor texted me later telling me how sweet Hadley was with Emma (she is 10 months old and WALKING every where!) She said she would sweetly touch her arm and say "Emma" and give her a hug. As a mom, that is the best compliment. I love hearing how sweet she is :-) there are those moments that I am just in awe over how sweet, cuddly and caring she is. Tonight, I was coughing and she was yelling "mommy otay? mommy otay?" and she also runs over to give Crosby hugs and kisses all the time. She also plays with him or shows him toys and how they work.. She is a really good big sister.  I think it just took some time to adjust to having a sibling and now that he is older, more sturdy and can laugh and smile at her - she is much more gentle with him. She really loves it when he smiles at her.

We had her 2 year appointment yesterday and she was hamming it up for the doctor. No shots or blood draws this time, just time to show off her climbing and speaking skills. ha!

Here are her measurements:

Height: 35 1/2"  and in the 83%
Weight: 27lb 12 oz and in the 76%
Head: 18 1/4" and in the 27%
BMI: 15.7

It is crazy to think her next check-up is at 3! However, I am pretty sure we will see the doctor before then. She is not the most GRACEful little girl :-)

Speaking on the topic of gracefulness, we did see a orthopedic doctor about her broken foot. It is crazy because he said that in 22 years he has not seen a toddler break that bone, but that it could be possible or it was another bone that was broken and that bone was just 'bruised'- just needs more x-rays, etc and that since she is doing so well we would take a wait and watch approach. He also told me not to let her jump and at about that point she fell face first off the chair in front of him. Awesome. Matt was watching her by they way, not very well if you ask me (that's not really fair I think I have a little resentment in me b/c this morning I woke when she dumped a bottle of water on my face and he was supposedly watching her then, too :-/) We are not sure her middle name fits, but we love our very active/silly girl so much!I still cannot believe she is 2!

Dryer Fire

I was going to post Hadley's Birthday Weekend part 2, but this just happened:

I was sitting at my computer, procrastinating from packing to go to Dallas for work, when I heard the dryer make a weird noise. It was so loud it made Zoe jump up and bark. It was smoking when I went in the laundry room. I saw my neighbor (and coworker) and ran outside yelling *I think* my dryer is on fire (Um DUH! where there is smoke there is fire). He ran over and we were able to get it outside. I use we loosely - more like I was saying something explicit and he was dragging it out with a towel because it was too hot to touch.

Our other neighbor heard our fire alarm going off and ran over to help. It took a couple of fire extinguishers and the water hose to get it out. Steve had to get the drill to open it up so we could reach the fire. It's only 6 years old. I take it apart and vacuum up the lint a few times a year and I always clean out the lint trap after every load. We have 2 hairy dogs so I know that multiples the lint.

The laundry room is right next to Hadley and Crosby's room. Lesson learned, I will not run the dryer at night or while I run an errand. I am guilty of doing that to keep things moving along. Not worth it at all.

I have a feeling this may slow down my laundry momentum, but that is okay. I am glad I still have a house and dogs that are okay. This could have a much different ending.