10/26/10 - 3 Months!

Oh boy! Our little peanut is 3 months old today! It's hard to believe, it seems like just yesterday I was in the hospital, now she's just this non-stop growing little thing!

Amelia is doing very well these days. She's been on her probiotics for a full week now, and I really do think they are helping. She's staying up for longer stretches during the day, still sleeping through the night - most nights - (barely qualifying for that title though). She's laughing and smiling up a storm now. She still moves non-stop, she can scoot herself pretty far across the room now, and she can roll over onto her sides. She'll be making the complete turn any day now I'm sure! It just seems WAY too soon for all of this to be happening! Her "hand eye coordination" skills are growing by leaps and bounds...she can follow us clear across the room, she watches us go around the corner, and will continue to watch, waiting for us to come back; she's grasping things/toys/string/etc. VERY well all of a sudden - she has QUITE the grip! All in all, she's doing just great!

She's still nursing like a champ, and I've still been able to pump more than enough every day. SO HAPPY about that! 3 months is the first big "goal" when it comes to breastfeeding, and I'm so proud we made it. Formula free for 3 whole months! YAY. Now, time to work on hitting that 6 month mark!

In other events...I was off to the dentist today. I hate the dentist! But, I actually have pretty great teeth, so it was a VERY quick appointment. I had to get x-rays today since I was pregnant at my last appointment. Everything looked perfect. So, whoo hoo for that.

After work, we all just hung out around the house. Amelia passed out on the way home and took a nice little nap, so we were able to spend some time with Olivia, and we were ALL able to heat a nice hot meal together! Success :) We're in the midst of our first fall/winter storm right now. It's been raining/snowing all night and day, and is supposed to continue on to tomorrow. It's been in the 20's in the mornings, and barley reaching 40 in the afternoons. WOW, it seems like things changed very quickly. It's supposed to get back up into the 50's for Halloween, hopefully that forecast sticks! But, yes indeed, winter is on its way! So, after dinner, Christian started the annual project of putting plastic on the windows. So far, only 3 are done, but we'll get there. Also time to drag out the humidifiers, the winter coats and the boots! Oh my!

10/25/10 - HORRIBLE!

Today, was horrible. Last night, was horrible. Amelia has been a really great sleeper, for weeks now, but completely fell apart last night. She's going through the dreaded 3 month growth spurt, and that definitely showed last night! After a late night watching the game, Amelia still wouldn't go to bed last night. I finally got her down around 11:30 (thank god it was Sunday, so I had time earlier in the day to make bottles for tomorrow and wash everything...my usual before bed chore). So, I finally fell asleep shortly after that....but it was short lived. She was up screaming around 2:30 and would not go back to sleep. She just wanted to eat and eat and eat. Finally, she calmed down, finished eating and I was able to take a nice 30 minute cat nap before it was time to get ready for work. Ugh...I REALLY hope there aren't more nights like this in our future!

So, I was basically dead woman walking all day at work. We had a birthday party for somebody at work...of course I forgot my contribution in all the chaos. Luckily, they let me join anyway. After work I was off to do the weekly shopping, and Christian picked the girls up. Thankfully both the girls went to sleep nice and early (and easily), so we will be able to pass out at a decent hour ourselves!

But, no matter how tired I am, how could you be mad at this face?!

10/24/10 - I Say Relax!

Well, we did not do a whole lot tonight. We were pretty exhausted by the long day and late night yesterday, so we just took it easy. Skipped most of the chores. Christian made us all a yummy breakfast, I hung out with the baby most of the day, Olivia was her usual entertaining self. The weather hasn't been too great, so we were stuck inside. Since the Vikings had the Sunday night slot, we were able to grab a nice nap while the girls napped today. It was WONDERFUL! I don't remember the last time I actually got to do that. After naps, we just continued our hang around the house doing nothing routine.

Olivia managed to ware herself out pretty well throughout the day, and actually went down to bed right as the game was starting. It was the big Vikings/Packers match up, so that's a pretty big deal around here! We didn't want to miss it! Well...turns out we probably should have just missed it. The Vikings threw away another game. They had countless chances to win this one (including a Vikings touchdown, ruled NOT a touchdown, even though it WAS a touchdown - and a Packers touchdown, ruled a touchdown, even though it was NOT a touchdown, but our lame coach didn't challenge it). So yes, between the bad playing and the REALLY bad calling, we lost....very reminiscent of the Saints game last year actually...

At least Olivia looks cute in her Vikings gear though :)

10/23/10 - Busy Busy Day

Today was kind of a mish-mash kind of day.

The day started off well. We all just hung out around the house. Christian trimmed some of the bushes outside, getting ready for winter! We just took it pretty easy. After nap time, we were off to a birthday party! My cousin Lindsey's little girl just turned 1, and today was her party (rescheduled from last weekend). So, we all got ready and were on our way. Olivia had the time of her life. There were lots of other kids for her to run around with and play with, she loved it. Amelia, did NOT share her opinion. She cried, and cried, and cried some more. We managed to make it through dinner and cake, but finally had to pack up and leave before present time because it was just too much. Once again, we were forced out of a party :( But, at least Olivia got some fun in, and we got a little time to catch up with some family.

We made the last minute decision to order tonight's UFC fight. Don't ask me why, but I LOVE UFC. It's weird, but I do. So, Christian's friend from work, and my BFF Kari came over and we all hung out and watched the fight. We managed to get both of the girls down to bed, and I was all geared up to have a couple drinks and relax...well, instead I kept falling asleep and my one drink lasted me through the entire fight! I'm awesome!

Of course our camera battery died shortly after we got to the party, but we managed to snap a couple pictures first...

10/22/10 - Oy...

Today started off VERY rough! It's my Friday off, so I spent the day with the girls. YAY for that. However, Amelia had a very hard night last night. She's always slept really well at night, so I don't know what was going on. But, at around 1:30 she woke up, and she and I fell asleep together in bed. I'm not big on co-sleeping, but sometimes it's just so nice to cuddle! She woke up again at the "usual" time, ate, and would not go back to sleep in her bassinet...so I kept her with me again. Finally, Olivia started waking up, and Amelia woke up, so we all ate and started off our day. At about 10:30 I had an "Oh Crap" moment when I remembered that Olivia had a Doctor's appointment...at 10:05! Dang. Luckily it was actually just a "nurse" appointment to get some shots, otherwise they would have charged me for missing it! They were able to fit me in this afternoon, so after lunch and naps, we all got ready and to the Doctor we went.

Now, this was my biggest challenge to date! The nurse was running late, so we ended up waiting in the lobby for about 25 minutes. Amelia started getting really fussy, so I took her out of the car seat and held her while Olivia played. Finally, they called her name. Here I am, holding the baby, carrying the car seat, trying to shuffle Olivia towards the door. She was NOT cooperating, and I looked like a complete idiot. Finally this sweet lady came and helped me get Olivia through the door. I had to put Amelia back in her seat so I could hold Olivia down for her shots, so Amelia started freaking out right away. Olivia started freaking out as soon as I sat her on the table, ended up getting her hand loose, grabbing the needle and scratching her leg pretty bad with it, but was fine as soon as it was all over. Finally, we were all on our way, and I was exhausted! NO MORE doctor's appointments when it's just me and the girls, that's for sure!

Amelia passed out on the way home, so Olivia and I took advantage of what is supposed to be our last nice day of the season, and played outside for a while. Coloring on the sidewalk, rolling on the grass and having a good ol' time. Finally Christian was home...I made dinner, did the dishes, we gave the girls their baths, put them to bed, and I finally had a chance to pay the bills and get on the computer for a while!

BEST NEWS OF THE DAY: Today marks my one year non-smoker anniversary! One year ago today I quit, and I can't believe I made it. It's been so hard..it's still hard. Every day I think about it and wish I could smoke. I guess in a way those feelings are always going to be there. But, here we are, I pushed through all of the stress and temptations and I made it! I'm so proud of myself!

10/21/10 - Yet Another Thursday

Today was just another ordinary Thursday for us. Work was busy, as usual. Christian has still been getting his hour or two of OT every day, which is great! We took it pretty easy tonight. I was just simply exhausted, and decided all of the dishes and cleaning up could wait until tomorrow! I love when I don't work the next day, and don't have to wash bottles/pump parts and make bottles for the next day. It sounds like a simple enough task, but it's nice to get a little break...makes me even happier that we don't have to worry about bottles :)

Here's a picture of Olivia trying to teach Chuy how to play the keyboard...poor Chuy...

10/20/10 - Hmmmmm

Well, I don't have a whole lot to report today. Things were pretty low key for all of us. Just work, home, dinner, clean up, baths, bed. Pretty exciting stuff! HOWEVER, I got Amelia to give us her first real, big, belly laughs tonight. It was hilarious. As she was laughing, Olivia started laughing...their laugh sounds exactly the same. It was so wonderful, such an amazing little sound! Anyway, tonight I'll just share a couple cute pics of the girls :)

10/19/10 - It's Come To This..

Well, today I "made" Christian pick the girls up after work and I left work early...used 2 of the precious vacation hours I have remaining, and went grocery shopping. Yup...shopping. We still don't really take Amelia "in public" because she's such a fussy little thing. Olivia is OK, and I usually take her with me, but since I had to go on a weeknight, I just wanted to be able to get through the store and focus on what I needed to get. I must admit...it was nice being able to walk through the store and do my thang, rather than focus on shopping and entertaining the little one. I think I was spoiled...

I got home and started packing up my food for the rest of the week at work and getting everything put away. I also managed to unload and load the dishwasher, prepare Amelia's bottles for tomorrow AND start dinner before Christian and the girls got home! Go me!

I'm on a big diet/weight loss kick right now, and loving it. I "started" about 2 weeks ago, and am just trying to get better and better. I stocked up on my fruits and veggies and healthy snacks, and got everything packaged and ready for work. So far, since my kick started, I've lost 7 pounds! YAY. 3 more pounds to my first goal...my Pre-Amelia weight. SO excited. I was going to follow weight watchers again, but since I'm breastfeeding I get 36 points...36! There is no way I could eat 36 points a day, so I don't really have to bother recording my food right now. Just watch my portions and keep the healthy foods flowing!


Finally, we all ate dinner, watched a little TV. I spent some QT with Olivia since I'd gotten my "chores" done early, and gave her a bath tonight. She's so goofy in the bath...I finally invested in some bubble bath at Target today, so she was in heaven! After she was in bed, I fed Amelia and got her to sleep while Christian put up the first of the plastic on the windows. I can't believe it's plastic on the windows time already!

Here's an innappropriate naked picture of the girls. Daddy is funny, at least the girls think so!

10/18/10 - It's Official...

...Our baby girls has some acid reflux going on. Poor thing. I finally broke down and brought her in to the doctor today. She's still been really fussy, and now she spits up EVERY time she eats. It comes pouring out like a faucet, then she gets really upset. It was interesting to sit down with the doctor and really learn what reflux is. Basically, Amelia's body isn't understanding the concept of holding her food down. It goes up and down her throat, and eventually comes pouring out. And, at times, gets some of the stomach acid mixed in with it, causing the painful heartburn feeling that makes her fussy and upset. Poor thing. He's having me elevate her mattress, sit up her during feedings and for 15-30 minutes after she's done, burp her multiple times during feedings and start her on Infant Probiotics. It's a natural remedy kind of thing, which he said he usually is not "in to", but swears by them for gas, fussiness, reflux, etc. So, after the appointment I stopped into a pharmacy and picked some up. We'll be starting her on those ASAP! He said to do all of this for 2 weeks, and if it's still not better, I can fill the Zantac prescription he wrote her. I really don't want to do that...I'm not big on meds, especially on a daily basis. And, I've heard babies grow tolerances to medicines very quickly, so it will become pointless in no time anyway.

In the end, he said it's often developed between 2 weeks and 2 months, hits it's peak around 4 months, starts getting better around 6 months (when they start on solids and start sitting up more) and usually resolves between 8 and 12 months. Good times....

Anyway, that took up my morning. I finally got to work around 11:30. After work Christian ran to Menards, and we all met up back at home. He fired up the grill and we all just hung out playing all night. Olivia was VERY sleep deprived today, and VERY goofy as a result. It was quite hilarious! Here's a picture of our littlest big girl :)

10/17/10 - Fantastic Sunday!

Today was a great day! Immediately after getting up, ready and eating a quick breakfast, we made our annual trip to Sever's Corn Maze and had a blast! Olivia and I played in the corn pool, which is the best part of the entire place. Christian took her down the giant slide (she thought it was simply wonderful), helped her shoot the corn rocket and took her on a pony ride (of course). We hung out in the awesome petting zoo for a while...she was obsessed with the deer, she loved them! They had a free jump house there, which she of course spotted immediately. We finally let her go in it, and of course it was impossible to get her out. Christian finally had to go in and get her...she was NOT happy about that. We had to bribe her with some silly carnival game/prize to get her to stop screaming and crying. DRAMA. Finally we grabbed some lunch, and Amelia (who was AMAZING the entire time) started getting fussy and hungry, so we snapped a quick family picture, picked our pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and were on our way home. GREAT TIME! Can't wait for next year already!

Once we got home, I fed Amelia and we attempted to put Olivia down for a nap so we could eat some pre-dinner snacks and watch the Vikings game. By the time we finished eating, she still wasn't sleeping. Finally, we just got her up and brought her downstairs to watch the game and play. I made a quick run to Sam's at halftime because the cats were STARVING, but we were out of food. Poor neglected cats. We finished watching the Vikings WIN WIN WIN over the Cowboys, made our read dinner and hung out for the rest of the night.

Busy, wonderful day. Now, back to work in the AM!