Kids Playing

I haven't done a whole lot of blogging this week because I've been desperately trying to catch up on baby books and finish pregnancy journals. Everything is up to date in terms of writing, but there are a lot pictures that I need to develop for them and I'm trying to get them all picked out. I also have a lot to do to get ready for our Super Bowl Party tomorrow night, so this will be brief.

Wyatt's new favorite place to hide out and play Peek A Boo is Reese's overturned exersaucer. He also has a new obsession with singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." He even shouts "One, Two, Three" before I sing "strikes you're out, at the old ballgame."

Reese has been protesting day time sleeping this week, but she still lets me work out (down 5 pounds!) so it's fine with me. She doesn't even get grumpy! It's so funny when she laughs out loud at her Daddy too! She thinks he is so funny!

Here are some pictures...

Hiding in the exersaucer
Peek A Boo!

I went out to dinner with my old slumlord (we lived in the hood) Meredith on Thursday and when I came home this is what I found!

Reese playing! Minnie is never very far away!

I LOVE this smile!

Reese Fighting Sleep

Reese has been a lot of fun lately. She's really discovering her toys and loves to play with them. She likes to use everything as a teether, and she talks to all of her toys!

Last night she was in her exersaucer playing. She was talking up a storm and cooing, but then she stopped. I walked over to check on her, and she was asleep. She kept drifting in and out of sleep in the exersaucer. Her head was bobbing and she would fall asleep, and then perk up, touch a toy and fall back asleep. She finally gave up the fight and passed out!

Here she is with her Ariel!
Watching me make dinner

Falling asleep, but then she jerked up

Finally resting!

Maybe He's Been Sick Too Long

Wyatt decided that Monkey (not Monkey that he sleeps with every night, but a different Monkey) needed his nose aspirated. He kept saying "Monkey gonna feel better." As he stuck the nasal aspirator up to Monkey's nose he said "Monkey crying." And that about sums up Wyatt's illness.

I Can't Stop Watching

So, the last few weeks Brian and I have been catching up on all of our shows that started back up. We've also been talking about cutting back on some TV. Then the friendly Verizon Fios guy came today and gave us a stinking multi room DVR! But based on what I've seen the last few weeks, I think I'll definitely be cutting back on some shows soon.

Friday Night Lights will NOT be one of them. This show is back this year significantly better than it was last season (any plot line that doesn't involve Tyra and Landry murdering someone is better than last year). A few things have confused me, like how did Tammy go from not working for 15 years, to school guidance counselor, to Principal? Where is Jason Street (at least he's coming back to wrap up his story line right)? Why isn't Lyla still all religious? And is Smash really leaving? That's stinks!

But I still love it. If there is going to be a next season, then they will have to start developing younger players so that will be interesting. I'm hoping to see more Taylor family interaction soon because I've always thought they were funny, and I was happy to see how hard Coach worked for Smash. I'm really into this show!

24 is getting good, but I'm waiting to see where it goes....you just never know! Big Love started and I'm really liking the new season. I just hope they don't add a fourth wife.

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are getting the ax. I'm over the ghost sex, I'm over the Derek/Meredith dynamic (I've been over it for the last 3 seasons, but whatever). I was really hoping they were going to kill Meredith off that time she tried to drown herself. And my main question is - Why are any of these people still Doctors? The Chief can't control his doctors, the Doctors can't get along with each other, and they cut each other open! I don't care about Izzy. I think T.R. Knight is right to leave the show, considering that fact that he's on the screen for about 5 minutes every episode.

I only started watching Private Practice this season, and it's just not that interesting. I was kind of irritated that there was a character named Wyatt on there too. Our son's name is not trendy, and I don't want it to be! As soon as they use a name on those shows it becomes popular. Sure, I liked the name Addison, but I got overruled. Okay, and Brian pushed for Bailey, but I said no (because it made me think of Party of Five). And sure, my cat was named Sadie. But that was before Grey's!

I frequently say I'm going to cut the shows out, but I think I might actually do it this time. My new DVR gives me a clean slate!

The Weekend

We didn't do too much this weekend since both kids are recovering from colds. Reese was very tired at times, but her cough would wake her up. But she did love her brief moments of sleep cuddled up with her bunny and blanket...
On Friday Brian was home with the kids while I was at work. Wyatt is obsessed with putting on shoes (to the point that I've now started leaving my heels in our bedroom because he will put them on). He decided to put on Daddy's shoes and socks to keep comfy.

Friday afternoon I took Reese with Katie and I to get measured for our dresses for Marc and April's wedding. We then had to go back to my parents' house for Katie's guitar lesson. Since we were going to be gone, the boys went to Brian's parents' house to play. The kids and I (and Katie who spent the night) had a low key night while Brian went to the movies.

On Saturday Brian and Wyatt decided to read the new Newsweek together (we're obsessed with Newsweek).

Reese is getting very good at playing with her toys when she's exersaucering. This giraffe is great for a teething baby girl!

We also went to dinner at my parents' house for my Dad's birthday. Wyatt LOVED the cake. Today we've all been in organizational mode getting ready for the annual Super Bowl Party next weekend. The thought of people coming over is stressing me out, but it's always a good time. Reese, on the other, was low key, just hanging out!

Five Months Old!

Reese is five months old now! I can't believe how big she is...or that she's bigger than her brother was at the same age. She's "talking" even more now than she was a month ago. She actually plays with her little toys and loves to reach out and grab things...like my hair! She's got another cold (her first since she was 2 weeks old), that's causing some congestion and sleep issues. It's not helped by the fact that she's teething now too. Her first little tooth will probably push through some time in the next month. Dr. Jones said family patterns are pretty good indications of teething, and she's definitely following Wyatt!

By the time Wyatt was 5 months old I was already supplementing his breast milk with formula, which is something I probably won't have to do for Reese. Working only half days definitely helps because Wyatt's problem was that he ended up liking his bottle so much, and that's definitely not a problem with Reese. She only takes a bottle if she has too!

She's showing signs that she'll start sitting up on her own soon, and she's enjoying her exersaucer more and more. When she cries we have a surefire technique to calm her down...Daddy sings her the Kiss song "Beth." I'm not sure what it is about Brian's voice but he used to be able to calm Wyatt down with the Gilligan's Island song! Reese loves to watch her brother move around the room, and he loves to make her laugh. I'm really looking forward to watching them grow up together!

Here she is this morning with her Minnie Mouse at 10:07 when she officially hit 5 months. We were on our weekly WalMart run, so Brian took this with his Blackberry Storm. I like to call it the Worst Phone in American History....it drops calls, but it takes a good picture!

Newborn

One Month

Two Months
Three Months

Four Months

Inauguration Part-ay!

I've known since election night that I wanted to throw a small party for Wyatt and Reese on Inauguration Day. I know that they won't actually remember it, but I do want them to value it. Inauguration Day, regardless of your politics, is always an exciting time. I would have thrown them a party if the election had gone the other way. It always marks an end and a beginning, and (whether you think it's needed or not) provides a little hope for the future.

Ronald Reagan was President when I was born, and I don't really remember a ton about his Presidency (I know about his Presidency, but I don't have recollections of it). What I do remember is the '88 election and having little polls at school and pretending to vote. At that point, I began to understand the significance of the American Democracy. I am a History fanatic. Maybe because some of my very best teachers (and I had some amazing teachers) were history teachers. They instilled a passion for History and Politics that still make me want to learn about it (and not just American History, my two most fabulous teachers ever taught European History).

That's what I want for my kids. I don't want to raise apathetic, bored, spoiled children. I won't. That's part of what having this little Inauguration Party was about. I want to teach them to respect the Office of the Presidency regardless of who they vote for (and I don't mind if my babies grow up and vote differently than I do...as long as they vote!). I want to educate them about the generations that sacrificed before us, or as Barack Obama put it in his speech, the ones who, "For us, fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh." They need to know about what's taking place in the world now so that they can figure out where they belong in it, and know who to thank for their freedom. I want them to understand the historical significance of this election. And I want them to know that when they were itty bitty babies, I still threw them a party to celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Obama, because being an American is that important.

Wyatt eating a Barack Obama cookie watching "Brockin Mama" being sworn in
Some of the Barack Obama cookies

Streamers hanging from the beams

Wyatt's booster seat all decked out

Quick Story

Tonight Wyatt was sitting on the couch and we heard him say "Feed Baby Sissy." So he gets up, grabs the boppy and pulls it on his lap. He motions to me for Reese, but I tell him no (he's still sick and she's getting sick). He then pulls up his shirt, and reaches out and says "Feed Baby Sissy" again. Brian and I lost it. He wanted to breastfeed Reese. He looked so funny sitting there with his shirt pulled up, boppy on his lap, reaching out for her.

A few minutes later I asked Wyatt if he was ready for bed. We were watching the inauguration with Brian (we used the DVR - at this point I'd watched it three times) and Wyatt said "No, watch more Brockin Momma." ("Brockin Momma" is Wyatt-speak for Barack Obama). What a silly kid!

Random Photos

Between the cold weather and Wyatt being sick, we didn't leave the house this weekend. But we did a lot of playing and hanging out around the house. Wyatt's mostly been keeping himself entertained with his drum and his cars. I know that I'm probably the only person who didn't want it to snow here, but I really didn't want it to. I want Wyatt to be able to play in the snow, and he's just not at that point yet. He did get a lot of sleep last night and he's taking his nap now, but he's not ready to go outside! Here are some pictures of the kids over the last few days!

Playing his drum while he watches Caillou
Smiling!

Reading!

He decided to put my crocs on...maybe cause they have wool in them!

Helpless

I don't know what to do. Wyatt literally can not sleep. His nap yesterday was very brief, last night he only slept in brief increments and today hasn't been any better. His nap lasted about 20 minutes before he woke up coughing, and even though he fell asleep in his high chair at dinner, he's been in his crib for an hour sleeping in intermittent bursts. Dr. Jones' nurse told me this morning to only give him cough medicine at bed time and that should help him sleep, so I gave him some and turned on the humidifier and have his mattress propped up.

But he still just seems so miserable. And I know that he doesn't understand it. Every time I go in to suction out his nose he looks at me with this sad look and says "Wy wy gonna feel better?" And I can't tell him that he is. There is absolutely nothing else that I can do for him. He's slept in our bed with Brian for a few nights while Reese and I stayed downstairs, but that's all we can do. Worst of all, the first real snowfall that we've had since he was born is coming and he's not even going to be able to play in it. I just feel helpless.

This Weekend

1 sick little boy

1 Monkey washed

2 nights spent downstairs by Reese and I

3 hot showers to clear up his chest

6 meals thrown on the floor

8 sheet changes

12 loads of laundry

13 cloth diapers washed after being used to wipe snotty noses

15 toys soaked in bleach water

2 frazzled parents

Kicked Out

Wyatt and I were just in the playroom playing trains. We were having a little fun. Until Brian came in the room. At that point, my son said "Daddy wanna play trains?." He then picked up my hand, pulled me up and grabbed Brian's hand and put him in my spot. Apparently I am not good enough to play trains with.

And my husband found this to be hysterical.

Reason 7482736 Why I Hate the Cold

I am not into frozen tundras. In particular, I don't find them to be nice places to live. If I were ever to move away from home, I would go south, not north. I think 75 degree days are perfect days. Basically, I am miserable right now.

Our pool is frozen over. That's right. Frozen over. And some Genius decided to take a step on it this morning for fun.

It started to crack, so he got off.

Despite my severe hatred of the cold, Reese and I braved it this morning to take her over to my parents' house. She and I slept downstairs last night so Brian and Wyatt could sleep in our room. Typically I strongly oppose letting my kid even think that he can sleep in our room, but he woke up every hour after we put him down. When Brian went in to check on him Wyatt said "Go night night with Daddy pease?," in his most pathetic voice, so into our room they went.

Anyway, Reese needed some fresh air away from her sick brother so I took her over completely bundled up to hang out for a few hours. She's sleeping now and I'll go pick her up once she's awake. Brian and I didn't get much sleep last night either, so I think we're going to try and catch a nap while Wyatt does.

Just

A nasty, snotty cold. That's all. Now we just have to keep Reese from catching it!

Wyatt Update

Wyatt woke up from his nap with a snotty nose, a really hoarse cough and a high fever. I called the Pediatrician's office and Brian just left to take Wyatt to see Dr. Jones. I'm staying home with my sleepy baby, who hopefully stays healthy!

Why Does this Always Happen?

So yesterday we took both kids to the Doctor (Reese for the check up, Wyatt because we didn't have anything else to do with him). Reese got two shots. I completely expected her to be "feverish" today. I figured that if she was whiny and cranky from the shots Brian could handle it on his own. And he could have.

What I did not expect was the cold my son was coming down with less than 4 hours after we got home. I should have though. No matter what happens, no matter which waiting room we wait in (there's the obvious sick child and well child waiting rooms, but there is also a "Newborn" waiting room), Wyatt can not leave the Doctor's office without some sort of illness. And my darling husband can not tend to two sick children at the same time, especially when one isn't that "sick" and we don't want "Really Sick Wyatt" to infect "Not As Sick Reese."

So Wyatt has a fever, a snotty nose and a cough. I'm guessing that his immune system isn't as strong as other kids' his age because he's not in daycare and around sick kids, so he hasn't had to build up immunity to anything. He just hangs out with his buddies when they're all healthy. That's probably why coming in contact with germs at the Pediatrician's office gets him sick every time. I don't know, I just want it to end. Fortunately, I've got the fact that Friday Night Lights starts tonight getting me through the day :).

SUCH a Big Girl!

Today was Reese's four month Well Baby Check Up with Dr. Jones. Her appointment was at 1:30, so it was a bit crazy to get me home, her bathed, Wyatt fed and all of us out the door in 45 minutes, but we made it! Mostly because Brian surprised me by meeting us here rather than at the Doctor's office. We always love having an extra pair of hands when we're rushing out the door...especially when they're Daddy's hands.

Here are Wyatt's stats at 4 months

15 pounds (50th percentile)

24.5 inches long (30th percentile)

16.5 cm head circumference (45th percentile)

Here are Reese's stats

16 pounds (82nd percentile)

25 inches long (60th percentile)

16.75 cm head circumference (78th percentile)

She is huge! She clearly loves to eat, she's gained 3 pounds, 10 ounces since her two month appointment when she weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces, and she's grown 2 and a half inches! I knew she was big, she skipped wearing 3 month clothes completely. She went straight from newborn to 6 months, but I wasn't expecting her to weigh this much!

Dr. Jones usually recommends holding off on solids until 6 months, but she was doing such a great job holding up her head and moving around that he said we can start her early if we want. We probably won't, but we'll see.

Wyatt went to the appointment with us and impressed the Doctor with his vocabulary. Wyatt usually clams up when he's the one being examined, but today all he did was talk about what was going on! I can't believe next time we go it will be for Reese's 6 month check up and Wyatt 2 year appointment. My baby boy is getting so big too!

Weekend Randomness

Brian and I went on a date on Friday night. We went to dinner at Outback and then saw Valkyrie. Now, there was a time in my life, I think I was 7, where Tom Cruise was just THE hottest guy on the planet. Not so much now. Perhaps its the couch jumping. Maybe its the sheer craziness. I think maybe I don't have the same taste in men now that I did when I was 7. In any case, he's just not the dreamboat he once was. The movie was average. I think knowing how Hitler actually died ruined it for me. Impressive that some German folks wanted to kill him and almost succeeded, but he still killed himself. Which makes the movie a little less intriguing and a little more boring.

On Saturday we cleaned out the garage, the attic and I took down the rest of the Christmas decor. We also had a wonderful treat provided by our neighbor. Somebody gave him a microphone. And he stood out in front of his house all day narrating things. Narrating his son's attempts riding his bike on his ramp, letting us know when people were driving down the street, announcing when he ran out of beer. It was irritating.

We did our usual grocery store run yesterday and came home to watch football. ALL DAY long. Last night the boys had a blast running through the den and the kitchen...and that about sums it up.

Playing with his Little People Airport wearing his "My Aunt Rocks" T shirt - no he doesn't match. But we were just hanging out at home!

Both kids on Wyatt doggie pillow and mat

Running through the house

4 1/2 Months Old!

Playing in his exersaucer
Laughing at Daddy

Playing in her exersaucer

Staring at Daddy

Holding her bottle...which her brother NEVER bothered to learn how to do!

Brother and Sisterly Love

She's Rolling Over!

This afternoon Reese and I have been hanging out while her big brother's been taking a LONG nap (don't be jealous Ri!). Actually for a bit I had both kids down so that I could get some time in on the elliptical. I am kicking this weight off before my brother's wedding in June. I've lost all of my "Reese weight," but I've got 20 pounds to kick to get back down to my pre-Wyatt weight (I REALLY took advantage of being pregnant with him!). Then I'd like to lose another 15 pounds to get back to my skinniest weight ever. So I was waiting tables and working at the waterpark and never sleeping when I was at that weight, but I can get back there!

Anyway, I put Reese on her tummy for tummy time, and then I sat her up to see how she would do "sitting." She looked silly, like a little tripod with her hands between her legs supporting her. From the seated position she kind of ended up on her tummy, and then she ROLLED over! She's done it at least 5 times now, and she's right next to me on her back, trying to roll over on her tummy. Maybe that will happen soon! Here's some footage of her big moment!

January...It's the New September

Not really. It's cold and I hate it. But my nickname growing up was "TV Guide" and there was a reason for it. And in the wonderful world of television, all my shows are either starting up again or starting up for the first time in awhile. I'll start with my favorite shows that I haven't seen in years (okay, at least one year).

24 - Seriously, I can't wait to see Jack Bauer kicking some terrorist butt. I love him. I could have done without last season (and by last season, I mean 2006-2007, the writer's strike resulted in an entire missed season) because it just wasn't on the same level as the previous seasons, but I can't wait for Sunday night. As long as no little kids get killed. I can't watch that.

Big Love - I LOVE this show, even if it hasn't had a new episode in a year and a half. At first I was all like "Why am I going to watch a show about a polygamist and his three wives?" But then the answer became clear. Yeah, it kind of makes my stomach queasy, but it's incredibly engaging and entertaining. And it follows the whole culture of the fundamental sect of the religion being morally corupt. Fantastic.

American Idol - Seriously, what can I say? I'm addicted. I love Simon. But I'm going into this season with no expectations because I'm pretty sure Idol's seen its better days.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - My absolute favorite show currently airing on television. And I say "currently" because people with Direct TV have been getting new episodes since October or something. I love the small town football drama, I love Coach Taylor and his family, and I think it is just an amazing show. Brian and I saw our first episode while we were on our honeymoon in Orlando, and even though I didn't want to watch some "dumb football show" I loved it. I don't think last season was nearly as good as the first, but I'm optimistic about the third. Hopefully it will be fantasic.

And I checked my DVR and we've got an all new Grey's this week, House and Bones are going to start up again, and my guiltiest pleasure 90210 had a new episode tonight. I may watch bits and pieces of the Bachelor so I can keep up with the chats at work, but it's not worth the DVR effort. I'm really just looking forward to seeing my favorite shows return, and I'm really hoping that Izzy stops having "Ghost Relations" with Denny this week.

But enough about me...here are some pictured of my precious children, who watch none of the above shows!

Playing together on Reese's play mat

He's not really supposed to be hanging out there

Smiley

Wyatt thought Monkey needed a diaper

Decent Service! Finally!

Okay, so when I first had Wyatt and started pumping I used the Medela bags that went along with my Pump & Style. Those worked pretty well until I found free samples of Lansinoh bags (sorry, Jessica they are ALL plastic) in my breast pad box. I decided to try them because they were free, but also because they hold more milk than the Medela bags. After the first try the Lansinoh bags and I formed a beautiful friendship. The saved my precious breast milk, and I continued to trek to the store to buy them.

When I was getting prepped for Reese to come I went out and got the Lansinoh bags and loaded them in my pump bag. I currently have about 432 ounces of breast milk stored in my freezer in those bags, with who knows how many more to come.

So anyway, last week I opened up my freezer bag filled with milk bags from mid September. And at least 3 bags have leaked while they were being thawed! I was so irritated. I mean, that's my breast milk! I can't get that back!

I emailed the company yesterday. They explained that the problems may be a result of going BPA-free and using "safe, virgin" plastics and the defrosting process. Then they offered to let me send them the faulty box of bags (which I was finished with months ago), or to send me more bags to put my frozen bags in when they're defrosting. That way if milk does leak, it just leaks into another breast milk bag! The customer service rep said she's send me a few boxes of bags! Score! I'm not used to be treating like this by a company. In fact, I am currently fighting my wedding photographer (yes, two years later) to get my photo album and a CD with our pictures on it. Lansinoh will seriously have my business forever...as long as I don't continue to lose my baby girl's food.

*And what the heck is up with blogger? It will not let me put spaces between my paragraphs, and I like spaces between my paragraphs! Irritating!

Reesie Piecey

Reese is 19 weeks old today and she is getting SO big. The teething isn't bothering her as much as it was, and she's hitting a stage where she is a lot more active. She is on the cusp of rolling over from her back to her tummy. She rolls onto her side, and as much as I cheer her on to roll onto her tummy, she can't do it yet. But she's getting so close! I've been putting her in her exersaucer occasionally over the last few weeks to gauge her interest and ability to "stand" up in it. Yesterday was the first time that I was actually okay leaving her in it. She really seems to enjoy it which makes me happy. Wyatt absolutely loved it, and I'm hoping she continues to.

Playing in her exersaucer
Checking out the giraffe

She fell asleep on her play mat

Hi Daddy! And Wyatt left her his puppy

Here she is with her new favorite toy, a little bunny that she gnaws on when her gums hurt.

Gotta Love Gino's

Last night Dave, Steph and Natalie came over so we could exchange Christmas gifts (yes, they came over after our tree was down). They brought some Gino's pizza with them. I have to say that I LOVE Gino's, but I usually only have it at work. We used to be some Gino's ordering fools (some people were obsessed with pickled vegetables in salads when they were pregnant), but we've been more health conscious lately. Or maybe Robert and I just don't feel like getting a big pizza to eat by ourselves...

Anyway, Wyatt ate TWO pieces of pizza cut up. Dave went back for another slice after Wyatt was out of his chair, and Wyatt asked for a bite. Then he stole the entire slice, and ate the whole thing. THREE pieces of pizza. And we're not talking small slices here. This kid is ridiculous!

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Reese is becoming a pro at reaching out and grabbing things. She loves to play on her play mat and reach out for the hanging toys and to reach and hit the button for music. Her favorite toy is the doll and she will lay down and shriek at it for long periods of time. She gets the biggest smile on her face - I may be biased, but she is absolutely adorable!

We've hit a bump in the road in the last few days with teething. I know the first teeth are always the worst, but she's been pretty upset. We went through the same thing with Wyatt - he didn't get teeth until he was almost six months old, but around 4 months his gums began to bother him. Same thing with Reesie. She just constantly needs to gnaw on something. I gave her a little Tylenol last night to tide her over until we got Orajel, and that seems to do the trick.

Tonight I put her to sleep upstairs for the first time. I've been placing her in the swing and letting her sleep there until I go upstairs, but I needed to break her of it at some point, and I'd like for her to start self soothing. She did a great job. I laid her down drowsy, she cried for a bit, I checked on her and told her it was okay and she fell asleep. When she woke back up to eat I put her down drowsy and there was no crying. I'm not jinxing my self though. I know it'll get worse. But Wyatt (as good of a sleeper as he is now) had us up at 4 in the morning every day a year ago. We finally had to buy a video monitor so we could watch him, but turn the volume down so we couldn't hear him. After a few days he realized we weren't coming and he stayed asleep until 7....and it's stayed that way for almost a year! Now, even on the days that he's up before 7, he entertains himself until we come and get him. I'm anxious for her to sleep like he does, but I know we'll have ups and downs along the way....I'm just ready to get the downs over with!

Seriously, Gino's has HUGE slices

Taking a bite

Don't bother me, I'm eating

Pizza is yummy

Reesie! Note the drool coming from the mouth and all over the outfit! And of course, those beautiful blue eyes!