Five Minute Friday

I don't have a lot of time for this today, but I'm going to do it anyway because both girls are sleeping and this is the first time I have sat down since 6:30 this morning.  Well, besides the time I sat in the car to drive to the dentist and back, and sit in the dentist chair.  I am beginning to wonder if I am too young for dentures?  Seriously.  My gums feel tender and sore, exactly the way it felt before I needed a root canal.  I figured I better not wait it out on a friday morning to see if it got worse.  They had an opening at 9 am.  This was 7:55 that I called.  That is the fastest I have pumped and gotten three girls out the door.  No root canal needed this time, but they couldn't tell me the reason for my soreness.  I hate teeth.  If you're wondering, I do brush daily, a good day I do it twice.  I floss a few times a week.  I don't drink pop or sugary drinks, but I do eat sugary food.  I hate teeth.

My mom is coming today, woo hoo!  Wade is hunting again this weekend, boo hoo.  Whitney really needs some attention and love.  I wish I had more time for her.  I keep telling myself once Ellie can walk I will be more available.  Available to Whitney, Wade, MYSELF, the house, etc.  We're getting close.

Whitney is so excited for Halloween.  I can't wait until Monday to do trick or treating on main street, and again that night.   Whitney has been asking all week if she can go trick or treating.  I tried to make a calendar and drew pictures on each day showing her what we were doing each day and when Halloween finally is.  She didn't get it.

I tried to do a Chirstmas photo shoot with the girls in their cute matching dresses.  I took them outside on a nice afternoon with a red velvet tree skirt for a blanket, some red ball ornaments and some garland and it just looks like I took Christmas pictures in the middle of fall.  Didn't really come out the way I pictured it.  Pooh!

Carving Pumpkins

this was a brief moment she was actually having fun with the pumpkin guts.  She was not that into it like she was last year.  With all the Halloween cartoons on she has been asking repeatedly to go trick or treating.  I think she will have fun with it this year!

she is very ready for the snow and cold.  She will randomly ask if she can eat snow.  not sure if she remembers that she was obsessed with eating it last year??  We rented Christmas Classics and she is very into Rudolph and the "hairy monkey"  (abominable snowman)

whitney insisted on putting this on yesterday afternoon and when I asked her where she was going  "I'm going to Wal-Mart!"

Ellison- 8 Months

Just taught her that tonight!

My baby bear is 8 months old now.  I could almost, almost, keep her at this baby age forever if I didn't already know that the fun is just beginning.  She is learning so much so quickly and I am so looking forward to these next four months until she is one. 

 She is developing a fiesty personality lately.  For the most part she is still happy all the time and will contently play by herself as long as she knows where I am.  If you take something away from her or she is frustrated, watch out!  She has crying temper fits and lately has taken to biting.  Biting anything she can get her mouth on.  She acts like an ornery little ankle biter dog that you don't want to cross.  I am not looking forward to the day Whitney is on the receving end of the bite.  She has three teeth, two on bottom and one on top.  Her second top one should be popping through any day.  She is just like Whitney getting one tooth at a time.

Sleep- We were getting better but she is getting over a cold right now so I hope she goes back to her old sleep pattern.  She still goes to bed around 8:30, give or take depending on her last nap.  She will wake between 4-6, nurse and go back to bed until 7ish, when she hears the rest of the house waking up.  She will take a morning and afternoon nap if we are home.  We usually are not home in the morning, so lately she will catch a quick snooze in the car and then take a 2-3 hr midday nap and that's it.

Eating-  about 4-5 oz milk at a time.  She prefers table food and lately will not eat off a spoon.  I may be done buying baby food.  I recently gave her a chicken nuggett (small bites of course).  Amazing how much earlier you give things to your second.  She has mastered the pincer grasp and prefers to feed herself.  She still takes formula and just a few days ago I dropped down to 4 pumping sessions a day.  I had a good supply going and rarely needed to supplement.  I have a feeling my supply will drop more than I care for it to, but, oh well.  

Milestones-  She loves to play peek a boo.   She holds a blanket over her head and waits for you to ask, "where is Ellie?" and then she'll pull the blanket down smiling.  She has mastered the drop game.  It isn't so bad when you have a two year old to keep picking up the items!  She likes to do "so big".  She can wave.  She tries to share things and puts stuff in your mouth.  She furniture cruises like no other and now likes to walk holding your hands.  She knows exactly where she wants to go steering us around.  She babbles a lot now, saying mama, dada, ba ba.  She says dada when she is happy babbling and ma ma, or mom mom when she is whiney.  I really think she is whining for me.  She likes to "talk" and say "ahh" really loud when we use public restooms because they echo.  Like I needed more attention drawn to me taking two girls to the bathroom.  She is not a cuddler, but loves to cuddle soft blankets and stuffed animals.  She can doodle.  We have one of those magnetic doodle board things and she will watch me write and then she tries too.

playing peek a boo under our coffee table.  she usually will bend down to peek under and then stand back up

Size-  about 17lbs??, size 6-12 month clothes, size 3 diaper.  She is a bit leaner than Whitney was, but she is a lot more mobile at this age

She is a total mama's girl, but what's wrong with that?!?

Five Minute Friday

It's that time again when we learn of Wade's new duty assignment.  It would probably take some big changes for this NOT to happen, but this is what the Army has planned for us next.  Wade will complete his ILE course in Alabama starting January.  I  will stay here with the girls until he done with school in April, and then it is off to Offutt AFB, just outside of Omaha, NE for a two year assignment.  We have been fortunate to stay around the midwest so far, Kansa, Missouri, Iowa and now Nebraska.  Being in the Army we would like to take advantage of being able to live somewhere cool, so don't be surprised if we move far away next time.  We would love Colorado, but so would everyone else.  I would like to try Hawaii and Wade would like Alaska.  We will see if either one of us wins that one.  We for sure would like to live in Germany when the girls are older and will appreciate being able to do all of the touristy things.  After Omaha, it is crazy to think that we will have to consider what school Whitney would be going to!  When Wade finishes his course in April we have one week to get him home and us to Offutt.  Makes my head spin thinking about the packing and unpacking that will happen in that week, but we've done it before many times.  And finding a house while Wade is in Alabama, oy!!!

I have been on the hunt for a babysitter, trying out care.com and sittercity.com.  Sittercity is free for military members so we'll see what luck I have with that. It looks like there are alot of candidates on those sites.  Thanks to FB we can kind of see what kind of person they are, and if we can't find a profile at all we consider that a good thing!    I will for sure need to take a break while Wade is gone for three months.

Callie Turns 2

My niece Callie had her 2nd birthday party last weekend.  Whitney just loves going to their house to play in their play room and out on their swing set.  My little miss who doesn't go anywhere on her own will go upstairs and turn the light on herself to go play.  She won't go back to her own room if it's dark!

her favorite present was a package of wipes!

Callie loves her Grandpa!

I was looking at her the other day as we were ready to go play at the gym thinking "when did she turn into a little girl with her pig tails, blue jeans, and UNDERWEAR on underneath!?!?"

Sniffles

My girls have colds again... surprise surprise.  Sunday Whitney's nose was dripping so i said, "hey sniffles, do you need to get a kleenex to wipe your sniffles?"  She looked at me and looked at her sleeve, "no, I just wipe my nipples on my sleeve, okay."    Wade and I about died laughing, I'm sure she was wondering what was so funny!

She also likes to ask Ellie if she is "faking"  "are you faking?"  She clearly does not know the context of the word.  She also says "that be an idea?"   as in, "we go to the park today, that be an idea?"  or "that be fun?"

Five Minute Friday

If you're expecting complaints out of me this friday you're not going to get it.  I've been trying to focus on what I'm thankful for and seeing the joy in every day moments.  If you would ask Wade he may say other wise, but really, I'm trying and I've been less stressed and ornery this week, really!  So this friday I am doing a few of my favorite things.  

apple cider donuts. I can't get enough right now.  Dahls has this this weekend for 2.99 for 6.  It's worth it.  We had donuts for lunch today!  And coffee, I love my coffee right now.  (decaf)

Hudson jeans.  have you heard of them?  I had not, lucky for me they didn't fit my friend and she sold them to me super cheap.  These babies will cost you close to 200 bones retail and I can see how they are worth every penny.  They fit like a glove!, in a good way!

and of course my favorite girls, because who would I be without them right now?

and my favorite man who gives Whitney the love and attention she needs at the end of the day

Just the Beginning

 

Ellie has been pushing around toys for a few weeks now.  She is starting to get much better at it, however, I do think it will be a while before she masters the coordination to walk on her own.  Another month?  Even these last few days she is getting better and better and furniture cruising.

Potty Training Whitney

It's time I do the potty training post, and I feel it's safe to say that she is potty trained.  We certainly aren't going to revert back after making it this far!  I (we) started potty training about 4 weeks ago.  We had been trying to get her to use the toilet for a long time with occasional cooperation.  We had been discussing setting a date to start the training because we weren't sure she would want to do it on her own, that she would need that decision made for her.  She did transition to her big bed with no problem, so we were hoping the same for potty training.  Well, the weekends started filling up (we wanted to start when we were both home so we could give the attention needed to both girls, because you hear of those potty training stories where you read a book for 20 minutes in the bathroom before they finally go) and we weren't sure when we were going to be able to commit to it. 

Well, one monday morning she wanted to be naked butt and use the bathroom.  She had been being "naked butt" more and more recently for an hour or two at a time.  This monday morning I asked her if she wanted to be all done with diapers and be a big girl and use the potty.  She said yes, I said okay, and we haven't looked back since.  She surprisingly has very few accidents.  We basically let her be naked for two weeks straight before we got grossed out by her naked butt all over everything and curious little fingers constantly touching herself, and then toys or snacks... you get the idea.  We then let her be naked butt under her pants and just recently she has some interest in wearing underwear.  It took a while for her to get the concept of underwear, she had more accidents in them.  She does really well in pull ups.  She is fascinated with public restooms, but doesn't like to use the if they look dirty.  She will even ask to go more than once, but how do you tell a potty training two year old that they can't use the bathroom?  Not an easy feat with a wiggling 7 month old.

She can hold her pee for longer periods now, and I am comfortable leaving the house without pullups for short trips and if there are bathrooms available.  If I leave the pull up on too long after we get home she will likely wet it because she is too lazy/busy to use the toilet.  She poops and sleeps in diapers.  We have to ask her a lot or just take her to the bathroom.   When she has pants and/or underwear on she is less likely to go on her own. 

I'm very proud of her and surprised with how easy it has been for her.  I guess we did the right thing with waiting for her to initiate it.  I was begininning to think she would be three before she was potty trained (which I was okay with) because she had been so resistant to it previously.  Great job Whitney!  I'll pat myself on the back too, I didn't think I could start it without Wade's help and attention, and man, is it some extra work when you throw a baby into the mix too!

What the Heck....

A long while back I said out loud, "what the heck are we going to do today?"  Not really thinking 'what the heck' is a horrible thing to say, until it stuck in Whitney's head and she pulled it from that incredible (selective) 2 year old memory and ALL THE TIME she randomly will sing song... 'what the heck do today!" "what the heck do today!"

Five Minute Friday

This is what is going on in my head today (lately).   I won't lie, I have been overwhelmed/stressed with the day to day demands of being a SAHM.  Now, I wouldn't trade it for the world to be able to stay home with my girls.  I wouldn't go to work right now if you paid me (ha ha!).   I think I have been feeling defeated lately because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not getting brighter fast enough.  Meaning-  a full night of sleep is oh.... so...... close!  Getting stuff done in the kitchen without a baby hanging on my legs is oh... so.... close!   Not having to carry a baby on my hip while we are out is oh... so.... close!  I love my little Ellie bear and I do cherish her baby days and just kiss those chubby baby cheeks all day, but I'm exhausted. .  It's not just the baby phase that exhausts me.  It is the 2 year old stage too.  Not listening, whining, potty training, never been much a sleeper, etc.   I know I need to suck it up and regroup and I'm not the only SAHM out there that also does it every single day who doesn't complain (publicly).  There are more good moments than bad and I just need to shake that whoa is me mindset.   I have had the opportunity to get out without the girls lately.  I went out to eat with my SIL's one evening, I got an hour massage last weekend (heaven!) and have been to bible study two weeks in a row at 1 1/2 hrs each.  I was okay without having me time with Whitney, but with two, whew!, I sure need it and feel great after I get it.  Call me a whimp, I don't care, that's how I feel right now and I know it will get easier.  I am grateful for being able to stay home and know many moms would stay home if they had the opportunity.  I can vent, can't I? 

As for my breastfeeding update... I will go to 8 months because that is only two weeks away now.  My long term goal is to make it 10 months.  That will put us literally right before Christmas and before Wade will have to leave in January.  I'm holding this goal loosely, but I think I can do it.

Boone Scenic Valley Railway

Yesterday afternoon we went to Boone to ride the train.  Wade and I never had so we figured since we were so close we may as well go.  It was a gorgeous day and the leaves are starting to turn.  Well.... we weren't the only ones with the great idea to ride the train.  It was PACKED!!!  The train left 15min behind schedule and they claimed they are always punctual, but so many people showed up that day to ride.  It was about an hour and a half ride and the girls did well.  It was at 1:30, so it was at Whitney's nap time and she fell asleep on the ride back.  It is crazy how high up the trestle bridge is.

if you click on the picture you can see Ellie's bottom teeth :)