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!

Holiday Wrap Up

So, I'll wrap up the holiday season with one last post. Here are some pictures that we took the kids to have taken the Sunday before Christmas. The very next day I took them to have their pictures taken with their cousins for Mimi and Baba for Christmas. We went to Portrait Innovations for these, but we usually go to Picture People. I think that there are pluses and minuses to both with Picture People coming out on top, but Portrait Innovations was cheaper and we get a CD.

Either way, their pictures came out really cute.

Wyatt opening a box with a ball inside.
Reese sitting up

Smiling

Brother and Sister

Good big brother giving baby sissy a kiss.

For New Year's Eve Brian and I went to my Grandfather's wedding. It was pretty fun to hang out with the family for the night, and we made it home around 10. We contemplated going to Dave's traditional New Year's party, but we wanted to give Brian's Mom plenty of time to get on the road to get back home. I was asleep by 11 (I had a few drinks and was tired!), and Brian stayed awake past midnight but just to see some dare devil do a motorcycle jump.

Yesterday we went to the aforementioned breakfast at my parents' house. We went to Red Robin for dinner and then went to the Garden of Lights at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. I have to say that I think the Garden of Lights are significantly better than the Lights at the Beach. The Garden of Lights had lights everywhere, above the car, in the trees, along the pathway. We went a few years ago (before children), but it's gotten significantly better since that visit. I think we decided that if we can only go to one from now on the Botanical Gardens is going to be the Oceanfront. We'll probably go to both because we love all things Christmas, but Wyatt absolutely loved the entire car ride!

I am taking down the family room tree today. It goes against our tradition because we usually leave the tree up until January 8 (Brian is a big Elvis fan), but I think Brian and I are both a little holiday-ed out this year. The loss of Noelle has a lot to do with it, it just didn't feel like Christmas without her. I'll still probably leave the fake tree in the Yankee room up, but the real tree that's taking up space in the family room is done. How bah-humbug of me!

Happy New Year!

For about an hour this morning all 4 Lyons kids were able to be at my parents' house for breakfast. We exchanged gifts with Matt and Wyatt got his very first light saber! More importantly, he devoured his biscuit with jelly!

Happy New Year Everybody!

No Sarge, you cannot have my biscuit!

Messy, Messy!

Getting Pop Pop with the light saber