C & T plus Baby Makes 3!: February 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014

Letters to Adeline- 10 months!

Adeline,

My sweet girl, you turned ten months on February, 9th, 2014 so this is a recap of your tenth month.

Milestones this month:

- You started dancing on 1/13
- You waved hi! for the first time on 1/14
- You started flipping to your belly to sleep on 1/14 (although 75% of the time you still prefer to sleep on your back).
-You pulled up by yourself on 1/23 for the first time, although you don't do it consistently.
- You cut your 4th tooth on 2/5. Now you have your two bottoms, the top left snagle (ha!), and now your left center tooth has cut through. It seems as though the right center tooth will be coming next.

You are such a goof!

Worth mentioning:

- You are still NOT sleeping through the night consistently. You have given us a handful of nights that you will, but then it's back to waking up once or twice. I think you've got a lot going on developmentally with trying to master some new skills, and I also think that you are not a good teether. You must be in pain. There have also been a few HORRIBLE nights recently where you wake up more times than I can count, and I don't know how to help you. We've had such a bout with sickies in our house recently, so I'm sure that's not helping, but I'm dying here. I don't take you out of your crib, but do the binky re-insert 4,000 times because I can only let you cry for 5 or so minutes before you wake your sister up. The both of you are incredibly light sleepers, and even with both of you having sound machines going, and being at other sides of the house, you can still manage to wake each other up.

-You are still NOT crawling. You will roll from one side of the room to the other, and you push yourself backwards and sometimes drag yourself to reach something, and even sometimes get up on all 4's and rock. However, you still get pissed off being on your belly because you get so frustrated and WHINE. Oh the whining! It's really annoying. I am praying that you figure out this crawling thing SOON.

- You love to stand against the couch, your music table, and ottoman.

- You now take tubbies in the big tub without your infant seat. For a while I was scouring the internet to find you a bath seat (they have all been recalled! so they aren't sold in the US anymore), and couldn't. I didn't know what to do because you were too big for your infant tub and actually pushed your legs against the bottom of it and went flying out. I had a heart attack because you flew out and went under water for a second. Thank God I was right there, but man! The issue was that you'd still throw yourself backwards out of nowhere, so the big tub was so scary. Now, you've mastered sitting in the big tub and it makes our lives so much easier bathing you and Reese together.

Adeline 10 Month Stats:

Weight: 20lbs still

Height: No appointment this month, but I'm guessing 28.5" still or maybe 29".

Clothing: 9 and 12 months, 6-12 months, and 12's for jammies. Just depends on the brand. Size 3 shoe. I looked back and Reese was already wearing a size 4.5 in shoes at 10 months. I'll be interested to see how you girls compare size wise as you get older.

Diapers: Size 3. Need to buy size 4 for nighttime next box.

Favorite Toys: You want all of the remote controls, cell phones, and cords that you are not allowed to have. You love things that make noise. Some of your favorites this year are the music table, the ball popper, and your puppy. You also love to watch yourself in the mirror, so I will sometimes set that up in our room if I need to get ready with you there.

Favorite Past Time:

- You love baths
- You also love to see your baby friends and enjoy being out and about.
- You love music and to dance!

Communication: You cry when you're hungry or tired, or in pain. You whine and yell when you're frustrated (like when you are on your belly and can't crawl to get something). The fun has begun!

Cries: Only when hungry, tired, or frustrated when you can't get something/ go somewhere or when in pain (teething).

Bedtime/Nap time:

- I just can't even anymore. I have never been so tired in my entire life. I feel like I've aged 15 years over the past 2.5 years. I feel ugly. I just do not do well without sleeping. If I'm not sleeping, I'm not myself during the day, am too tired to work out, eat crappy food, etc. Such a terrible cycle. With your inconsistent, not sleeping through the night sleep, and your sister now waking up once a night since potty training I'm slowing coming unraveled. Between lack of sleep, the snow, sickness, potty training, and teething I'm over it. PLEASE start sleeping through the night soon!

- You take 2 naps per day. Your first nap is around 9:30am, your second around 1:30-2pm. Your morning nap is usually about 2 hours and your afternoon nap is about an hour or hour and a half.

Foods: You drink 4 6oz bottles per day and are a rockstar eater. You eat anything we put in front of you-- you love veggies, chicken, beans, cheese, yogurt, fruit, etc.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Letters to Reese- TWO and a HALF!

Reese,

I've sat down to write you this letter a handful of times and am lost for words because I feel like whatever I write here just won't do you justice. This age is tough and wonderful all at the same time. You are STRONG WILLED, SMART, SWEET, ADVENTUROUS, FUNNY, and KIND. You light up our lives and amaze us every day.

You are thriving at school and are such a sponge for learning anything. You are a whiz at putting puzzles together, you know your alphabet, can count to 20 (sometimes you get a little confused around 14/15), you know all of your colors, and most of your shapes. You still cry almost every time at drop off for me a year later, but are 50/50 for daddy. You always stop crying as soon as we leave, but you make sure to make me feel guilty pulling out of the parking lot. You are scheduled to start transition to the Preschool room next month (March 14') for a full transition in April. We will be keeping you at MB through the summer, but then plan to move you to an actual Preschool in Sept (vs. a center). You will start at FH in Sept and go M,W,F mornings 9-12. I'm so excited for you and hope that you do okay with the change. You seem to be a little uneasy with transition.

You are the best big sister that I've ever seen and have never shown any sort of jealousy towards Adeline, ever. You are always getting Adeline a toy, binky, blanket, etc. You now want to be the one who gets Adeline up from her naps, and actually tell me to stay downstairs so you can do it. You then go into Adeline's room, turn the light on, and climb into her crib and snuggle with her. You'll even "read" her stories. You can make her laugh like no other, and the two of you already share an incredible bond. I'm jealous (in a good way!) of you having a sister so close in age. I hope and pray that you two will be the best of friends and always have each other's backs.

You constantly want to help with everything from opening your curtains, turning off your sound machine, opening doors, putting your clothes in the hamper, making mommy's coffee or latte, pressing the buttons on the microwave, turning on/off all lights, loading/emptying the dishwasher, helping with laundry (filling the laundry detergent), sweeping, cleaning surfaces with a paper towel, cooking, etc. You are a nightmare when it comes to getting dressed when you want to be. Sometimes you are so easy, but whenever you don't want to get dressed you put up the biggest fight which typically ends with me sweating, swearing in my head, and sometimes even putting you in a time out in your crib. Don't even get me started on putting your socks on. You are so damn stubborn that you want to do it (half the time you can't do it), and get pissed off and want to start all over again. UGHHHHH. You also can be tough getting in your car seat. Everything has to be just so, or it throws you off. You want to clip the chest buckle, you want to climb in, etc. You are a RUNNER! You will out of nowhere just run away from me. It's terrifying and annoying all the same. We'll be leaving school and bam! You just run away in the parking lot. So fresh. I keep reminding myself that your strong will and determination will help you later in life. You will be confident and assertive. Your insides are all Mommy. ;-) (edited to add: I read this back to Daddy and got offended that I said that you are all mommy-- so let me clarify-- I was just like you as a toddler. I put up a fight with Nanny on most things, very similar to you. From what Nonna has told me about Daddy as a toddler, he seemed to be much more "go with the flow"). Better, Todd? Ha!

You still can be very shy in social settings when you're not comfortable but seem to be getting better. It's strange, most times you will smile and interact with strangers if I'm there with you and you feel safe, but in situations like big family gatherings, it's like pulling teeth to get you to say hello to my uncles, or go with anyone other than Daddy, Nanny/Grampy, Nonna/Papa, Auntie Jamie, Auntie Sarah, or Connor. It can make things difficult for me because I've got to deal with your sister, and I'd like for you to just go play, but you are stuck to me like glue.

We started you in dance lessons this past fall, ballet and tap, and at first you wouldn't even go into class. You gave me such a hard time and would just be in hysterics. It being a closed door class was foreign to you and I think that you were so afraid that I was going to leave you there, which I of course would NEVER do. After about the 4th class, you began going in and actually enjoying it. There are still weeks that you need a little extra coaxing to get in, but you never come out until class is over. We have a little tradition that after class you get a Ring Pop, and we go to Chipolte for dinner. You get your favorite "rice and beans and chips and quesedilla and milk". Ha! You thrive on routine.

You are still taking swim lessons and are doing AWESOME. You are by far the most advanced and skilled in your class. You can swim without daddy (you still wear a bubble), but can go the length of the pool, jump in all by yourself, and just began going underwater (!!!!). You are going to be so much fun to watch this summer in our pool. At age 3 you can start lessons without a parent, so for you that will mean in September.

One of your favorite traditions is going for "car rides" with daddy in the mornings to go get coffee. You've been doing this since you were little (like a year old) and go in your pajamas and bring the iPad. It's so cute that you now ask me, "Mommy, you want coffee? What you like?". Some other funny sayings that you say are "two ones" for two of them, "I go want it it" for I don't want it, and you pronounce your L's like Y's so I love you comes out like I Yove you. You also have a funny little accent where you say "they ah" for there. Ha! You also refer to a group of people as "guys" "what you like guys?".

You had your very first sleepover ever away from us at Nanny's house a couple of months ago. You slept in the big bed with Nanny, and did pretty good. You've gotten better each time that you've stayed over. I'm so happy that you are able to spend this special one on one time with Nanny and Grampy. I still have memories from my childhood of spending time at my grandparents and Aunt's house, and I hope that you cherish the time you spend with your grandparents. Hopefully soon your sister starts sleeping through the night so that she can either tag along with you for the sleepover, or at least Mommy and Daddy can enjoy their night without being woken up 4387374 times a night.

On February 18th (your 2.5 birthday) we started potty training you. I had been DREADING this, but you did awesome! We hunkered down one weekend and put underwear on and never looked back. We started by setting the timer on the microwave, and giving you fruit snacks when you went. By the end of the first day we didn't even need the timer, you just told us when you needed to go. You used your little potty, but now prefer to go on the regular toilet. You have no fear of using any public restroom, and do great when we are out. I am so preoccupied/sleep deprived half the time that I sometimes even forget to show you where the potty is in a store/restaurant/etc. it's not until your little voice says, 'Mommy! I have to go pee!' do I remember that you are potty trained. You got it right away and never really had any pee accidents, only one that I can think of and that was at dance class. Poop, however, is another story. You are still hit or miss with going in the potty. You are content with just pooping in your underwear and telling me right away that you need new underpanties. Ugh! We are trying to encourage you with positive reinforcement and give you rewards for pooping on the potty. The other day your teacher text me that you actually went on the potty at school so I took you to the movies for the very first time and we saw Frozen. You loved it! We went with Stella and her mommy. You now love to watch the Frozen songs on YouTube.

In some ways Reese, I think back to when I was pregnant with you and it seems like forever ago and I can't remember not having you in our lives. Other times, I feel like I blinked, and you are 21. You are such a big girl and it blows my mind that I can have conversations with you. You are the best girl, and Daddy and I love you SO much. We are so lucky to have you.

Love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy xoxox

Doing puzzles-- one of your favorite things to do!

This was when you were all dressed up to go see Santa!

Being silly with mommy-- with cookies in your teeth!

At dance class

Swim class with daddy

Sisters!

Your favorites are:

Favorite food: raviolis and fruit snacks

Favorite drink: milk

Favorite movie: Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and now Frozen

Favorite shows: Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Little Einsteins

Favorite color: pink

Favorite clothes: luckily you don't show preference yet, and still let me pick your clothes.

Favorite shoes: Ugg boots and your pink Nike sneakers

Favorite toy: you love puzzles, and to paint, you love your cutting food, and your Little People princess castle

Favorite book: this changes daily but you've had Penny Loves Pink, the Sofia the First books, Brown Bear, and Snow in heavy rotation.

Day one of potty training-- love the leg warmers

Baking banana bread with mommy!

Waiting for daddy to come home from a business trip

At the movies for the first time with Stella-- going to see Frozen

Some stats:

- You sleep from about 7/7:30pm to 6:30/7am with a nap around 1-2:30pm.
- You are 30lbs and 36" (you are tall and skinny! such a string bean)
- You wear size 2T or 3T and size 8 shoe.

- Your hair is still light brown and your eyes are blue/green (but looking more green everyday)

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Christmas Recap! 2013

I am so late recapping this, but I don't want to forget how awesome our Christmas was. This year was the first year that Reese started to really get the concept of Santa. She got so excited about our Christmas tree, our Elf on the Shelf, Holly, and seeing Christmas lights and decorations.

Christmas Eve we spend with my dad's family. This year he and his girlfriend, Kathy, hosted our family and hers at Kathy's house. One of Kathy's daughter's has a baby that is just a couple of days younger than Adeline, so it was really fun to see them together.

Christmas Day we hosted. Instead of the usual brunch that we do, we decided to switch it up and have a late afternoon/early dinner. It worked out perfectly with the kids. We were able to enjoy opening gifts in the morning, and then had plenty of time to shower and get ready to host. We'll do that again next year.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Santa came! Notice Holly the Elf up on top of the Christmas tree.

Todd and I always open a gift on Christmas Eve after the kiddos are in bed. This year Todd opened his LL Bean slippers.

He surprised me with "blow out" from this new hair place that opened at Market Street.

These pictures are not completely in order, but I'm just going to go with it.

Miss Reese wearing her new Minnie Mouse light up high heels.

Add caption

Todd totally surprised (and SPOILED) me! He purposely did not put this bag under the tree so I wouldn't know he got me the bag I've been wanting forever.