Joey 2 Months

My little nugget is 2 months old!  I somehow managed to get my act together and get photos on the ACTUAL day, but am only about a week late getting a post up.  I'm cutting myself a little slack these days though.

I don't have stats yet; we had to reschedule his 2-month well check so we will find out how much he's grown next week.  I'm guessing he's weighing somewhere around 10-11 pounds now?

Nicknames include: Bubby, Bubbs, Lil Man, Lord Fussypants, BBJoey.  We rarely ever just call him Joey!

I am continually amazed at how full of expression he is; how active and alert he is; and I've said it before but this kid is STRONG!

I had a few photo props I wanted to try and let's just say my boy did not share in my enthusiasm, lol!

Mom....this is dumb.

Not much better...

Yes I will give you the stinkface if you continue to put me in these ridiculous getups!

I'VE.HAD.ENOUGH.ALREADY!

 After lots of tears, we took a feeding break.  If there's one thing in the world that makes this kid happy -- it's eating.  Our little model was MUCH more cooperative afterward!

He continues to nurse like a champ, eating every 2-3 hours, but giving me a decent stretch of sleep at night (like 4-5 hours sometimes!! Hallelujah!).  In the afternoons he wants to nurse EVERY HOUR starting at around 2pm.  By 7pm I am drained, both literally and figuratively.  I know my supply drops as the day goes on so I think he gets frustrated he's not getting as much?  Early evenings are tough right now; he's always Mr. Hungrypants, + I'm trying to feed Morgan dinner + trying to get something together for me & the Hubs to eat for dinner + if it's bath night and I'm trying to get Morgan ready for bed.  It's a circus and one of them is usually crying.

As for sleep, we moved him to his crib around 5 weeks old.  He had to go.  Nobody was getting any sleep when he was in our bedroom - the little guy is noisy!  I turned the monitor down so I wouldn't startle with every little grunt he makes - but I can still hear if he cries just fine.  THIS HAS BEEN KEY to me getting ANY sleep at all.

He LOVES to sleep on his belly and will sleep quite peacefully for hours that way.  He sleeps so quietly and deeply this way that I am constantly creeping back into his room to check on him.  I waited to allow him to belly-sleep, of course, until he could turn his head side-to-side, which he does with no problem now.  I still always end up flipping him over onto his back though eventually, just for peace of mind.

I still nurse him once or twice in the night and if it's a 2nd time and it's still really early (like before 6am), I will usually bring him in bed with me to sleep a while longer.  For some reason, after that 2nd feeding, he can't seem to get comfortable in his crib and I was constantly going back to his room to rock him.  Usually by this time, the Hubs is getting up and ready for work anyway.

His little expressions crack me up!

 This month he started "talking" to us.  He will "aaah" and "goo" and carry on a little conversation when we talk to him.  It's enough to make a Mama melt ;-)  He's been SO SMILEY lately too...he crinkles his nose as his smile begins.  I don't want to forget that.  And his smile is completely disarming.

Haha...he's not having it!

In the hat my Grandma Edith knit him.

 His eyelashes are darkening and filling in; hopefully they grow like his sister's...she's got some killer lashes!  His hair is rubbing off on his head, mostly on the sides.  He's also getting a flat spot on the back of his head that I hope we can remedy with frequent position changes.  He still LOVES to be held 24/7.  I don't mind one bit; I love snuggling in his warm chubby squishy little rolls he's growing!

Happy 2 Months Bubbs....we love you SO much!

I got a little sleep

...and had a little dream.

Or maybe I had a little dream that I got a little sleep?

No..it was the first one.

Because I remember the dream CLEARLY.  I woke up semi-freaking out.  I had been dreaming that I was lying on the OR table (wasn't I JUST there??) and there was a team of docs & nurses getting ready to do my c-section.  They were about to do one last ultra-sound for our THIRD BABY. 

See why I was freaking out?

And then, in REAL LIFE, the very next morning I wake up sick.  Like "I'm-pretty-sure-I'm-gonna-throw-up-right-now" sick.

So between dry heaving all day, not being able to eat a single thing, taking care of the babies, freaking out, and wondering when OHDEARGODWHEN I could crawl back in bed, I convinced myself it was most certainly that glass of wine and questionable steak I had the night before.

Thankfully it seems to have only been a 24-hour stomach bug.  But don't think the Hubs didn't have fun teasing me all day texting things like "It's not IF we have another baby...but WHEN?"  We are both open to it, but I need a hot minute to regroup here!!

The thought of another baby (down the road!) has been on my mind.  As I pack up Joey's NB clothes and watch him grow SO FAST into the next size, I keep thinking "This can't be it!"  Every time I snuggle his warm chubbiness up under my neck and kiss his plump little cheeks I think "This can't be the last time..."  It brings up the question "How Do You Know When You're Done?"  I'm not, deep down.  Maybe it's still those post-partum hormones circulating in my body...or maybe I have some weird, strange Baby Addiction?

Anyway, I need to go love on the 2 I already got because they are sweeter than sweet.  And I was a lame-o Mama since I was sick yesterday, so I plan to make up for it today!

Morgan 18 Months

I can't even believe my little baby girl is really no longer a baby.  She's getting closer to "2" every day.  Where is the time going?

I want to freeze this phase of life with her because she is developing her own personality and is SO funny!  Her little voice, her belly-forward toddling walk, the way she scrunches her nose to smell anything, her crazy hair....all of it.

 

Says No, More, 'Mo (for remote) Down, Done, Ducky, Doggy, Shooooees, Thank You (Tate-ooo), Mommy, Daddy/Dada, Nana, Ba-Nana, wassat (what's that?), and oiseee, although I still haven't figured out what that one means.  Has also just learned to put her index finger to her lips and say "SHHHH!"  Usually it's "SHHH!  Baybeee!"  Haha, guess she's heard that one a few times ; )

When you ask her "Morgan, are you one?"  She says "TWOOO".  We work on counting, and she is constantly walking around chanting "Two, twee, two, twee" (2, 3, 2, 3).

When eating something, she always tries to feed you and holds out the food saying "AAAH?"

Tries to help me burp the baby by patting his back and saying "BayBEEE".  She will usually come toddling fast into his room when I'm changing his diaper and say excitedly, "Hi BayBEE!"

She's very cautious when walking in unfamiliar areas, climbing on the furniture, etc.

LOVES technology - our cell phones, the iPad, our computers.  Basically anything with a screen or keys she can push!  She can often be seen roaming around the house with a little remote held up to her ear as a pretend phone.

Has found a new love for pacifiers now that baby brother always has one.  She walks around with one in her mouth at some point every day now *sigh*  I choose to pick my battles and this isn't one of them.

LOVES books  -- and to read -- and be read to.  I love this about her (even if it means reading "Who's Making That Smell?" 479 times a day).  I hope she always loves to read because I love it myself.

Is really starting to get into imaginative play with her tea pot and cups and her baby doll.  Loves on her baby doll and kisses it. She often does this while I'm nursing Joey.

Is back to one nap a day.  It's so early and I'm trying to push it back, but currently it's anywhere from 9:30/10:30 and lasts about an hour and a half.  I'd love to get it pushed later, to say, 12:30.  But when she's tired, she lets me know it!

Goes to bed around 7:30/8:00 and sleeps through the night til about 7:00/7:30am.  Will occasionally wake in the night but usually puts herself back to sleep.

Is always happy and smiley in the mornings when I get her out of her crib.  She stands up and tries to hand me her blanky.  I had to wake her from a nap the other day (something we rarely EVER do) and all I did was say her name and she was up on her feet talking away!

Daddy puts her to bed at night.  During the day time for naps, all I have to say is "Morgan, is it time to go nigh-night with your Seahorse upstairs?" and she will walk over, pull on the baby gate at the stairs.  I lay her down and she babbles for a while as she holds her blanky and before long she's out like a light.

Weighs 22.5 pounds at her last well-check about 2 weeks ago.  Is in the 24th percentile for height & weight, so still on the petite side even though she looks like a giant compared to her baby brother.  

Eats almost anything but WILL NOT drink plain white milk out of her sippy cups!  I started adding chocolate to her milk, per the pediatrician's recommendation because I was evidently giving her NOWHERE NEAR enough milk every day.  Oops.  I didn't get the memo on that one...

She also always wants whatever we are eating -- and she's very tuned in to when Mama tries to sneak a snack in.  Must. Be. Sneakier.

A typical lunch + milk + fruit for dessert.

Mac n'Cheese all over the face and hair.  Why not?

Gives the best hugs and kisses.  

 

Tries to be a good big sister but will still yank the paci right out of her brother's mouth.  Is getting more gentle every day.

Is going through some big separation anxiety with Mama lately.  Even chooses to be held by Mommy over Daddy (quite the shocker!)

Has TWELVE teeth!

Bites (a fake bite) and claws/scratches Mommy's legs when she doesn't get her way.

Can follow simple commands, such as "Sit down please" and "Go get your shoes" and "Throw the diaper in the trash please".  That last one has come in real handy ; )

We love you so much Morgan!!  You make us smile and laugh every single day.  I thank God for such an incredible blessing and allowing me to be your Mama! 

Minnesotan Invasion

OK, well it was only 2 Minnesotans that came to visit, so technically I guess that can't be considered an invasion...

My sister & nephew came for a few days to meet Baby Joey and hang out before they both return to school this fall.

We ate way too much, as always, and took Morgan and Jacob to a nearby pool/waterpark - I so wish we had found this place earlier in the summer!!!

Boy cousins, hanging out.  Joey 8 weeks old; Jacob 8 years old.

Morgan's favorite face to make lately

Loving on Auntie Connie

Diva at the pool

Diva getting carried across the hot blacktop by Jacob

Mama & Mo having a little snackie between swims

We are way overdue for a trip to MN with the kiddos....I think the Hubs and I need to work up some guts to actually travel with both babies.  

Boo to the Weekend Being Over

I say that every time the Hubs is off!  Bear with me here...I wanted to attempt a post from my iPad.  And now I'm on the Hubs's laptop because I couldn't get the photos loaded.  (Sidenote to all you iPad users, What is up with the grainy self-photo feature of the iPad?  Am I doing something wrong?)

So...the hair cut....I did it.  I wasn't crazy about it, so I went back yesterday and my gal fixed me up.  The back was all wonky; blunt and heavy and flipping up ala Carol Brady.  At midnight last night, I realized I never even took a picture of it all weekend long, until sitting in bed.

I can't believe I'm doing this.....no makeup even.  Thank God for grainy iPad self photos ;-)

 so that's that.  I feel like its much shorter in person than this picture makes it look.  Yep....It's def. shorter IRL.

Anyhow, on to MUCH cuter subject matter:


I had to put away the rest of his newborn clothes this weekend as he's officially outgrown them.  Makes this mama so sad!  He is losing his baby chick hair too.  Smiling when I talk to him, and boy, is this little guy a charmer!

We had a pretty quiet weekend.  One fun thing we did was take Morgan to a minor league baseball game that the Hubs's work sponsored.  She shocked me by wandering all over the place and going up to other little kids...or anyone else for that matter!  She had a blast!  She even got a foul ball that almost hit her in the head (it bounced off the fence behind us & I was able to deflect it just in time).  She was so happy to carry it around the rest of the night saying "ball!"

She went right to Sarah, Hubs's Med Assistant's daughter

 Sadly, I only got the one cell phone pic....I was too busy chasing after my wide-eyed toddler. I loved seeing her so happy & just exploring every little thing. Clearly, we need to get out more, ha!

I can see again!

We also trimmed Morgan's bangs (with a sucker used as bribery to sit still -- the sucker lasted waaay longer than the hair cut, lol!)

Annnnd I went for a run Saturday morning.  2 days later I am STILL sore.  Man am I out of shape something fierce!  It was only a little over a mile, but it felt good at the time.

I'm off to wash our bed sheets since a certain little Prince peed on them this morning.  And I have Nursing continuing education to finish up.  It's not even noon yet, I need more coffee!

Friday Confessions

• Today is my "big" hair appointment.  I'm kind of chickening out about cutting my hair.  I want a change, but I just can't make up my mind!
• Toddlerhood has to be one of the most frustrating phases of life - for both parent & child.  One second she's kissing and hugging me, the next she's crying, crying, crying for no reason.  She gets SO frustrated that she can't express her words.  I feel so bad for her.  I really do love seeing this ultra-sweet side of her though.
  
  Also?  She's started biting.  Yes, my angel child.  Biting.  So far, it's only directed at me.  It's more like she puts her teeth on me, but doesn't clamp down hard...yet.  Although yesterday she got me on the shoulder while she was hugging me (see what I mean about the flip-flopping emotions?) and I swore she broke the skin.  But she didn't.  This morning I KNEW it was coming and I gave her "the look" like "DON'T YOU DARE".  I could see her pause and think about it.  She bit the chair instead, lol!
  
  I can't leave the room without her freaking out.  Someone told me this clinginess peaks at 18 months.  Are we there yet?
• I'm kinda bummed I haven't found a little school to send Morgan to yet, most of them require the child to be at least 2 years old.  BUT I'm not yet willing to force her to 1 nap per day either.  I need those 2 nap times as much as she does!  And I kinda don't want my little vampire sinking her chompers into someone else's kid.
• I confess:  I kinda want my new babysitter to just go ahead and move in.  I heart her.
• I feel guilty for everything this one, but, lately -- when we have an "event" to go to, the Hubs and I have gotten into the habit of just taking 1 child with us.  So we always say "Which one do we want to take with us?"  It just makes life easier.  If it's something I think Morgan will enjoy, I definitely take her since Joey doesn't know what's going on.  Once they get older, it will be easier, I know. Right?  Right?
• I've got a serious sweet tooth that needs reigning in.  I complain the scale won't budge, yet every day I'm making rice krispie bars (that one was the Hubs' fault!), chocolate chip cookies, and then the Pie Lady came to visit my Hubs this week.  "NO" isn't in my vocab when it comes to baked goods!  Come to think of it, I kinda want the Pie Lady to move in with us too, ha!
  
  Happy Friday and Happy Weekend....I will post a pic later on IF I decide to go for the hair cut!!

August Lately

I've given up on the hopes of an organized post.  Here's a random rundown of what we've been up to lately and photos of my adorable littles as they grow up right before my very eyes:

That Leapfrog phone has been a lifesaver!

Morgan's been VERY clingy to me lately - I need to do an 18 month post this month.  I know it's normal Toddler development, but holymoly!  She's been super affectionate too, so I'll take it ; )

She got her shots a week & a half ago at her checkup and has broke out in a rash & fever the past few days.  No fun for anyone.

My new favorite custom necklace from etsy seller The Dedication Company:

My sister asked "Why J&M?"  Um...those are the first initials of my CHILDREN?? Hahahaha!

A smile...I was too anxious with the camera, hence the blur!

It's hard to capture on camera, but his eyes are the deepest indigo blue.  His cousin Jordan said "They are like the sea after a storm".  I hope they never change!

Blowing bubbles and outgrowing his NB size clothes & diapers!

I Amazoned (it's a word, trust me) waaaay too many newborn sized diapers and little man needs to go up to size 1.  Oops.

Here I come!!!

And here is Little Lord Fussypants (his new nickname, ha!)

His onesie says it all ; )

Happy now.  This kid is a paci kid.  

What?  It fell out????

Morgan is back to 2 naps a day and we are all happier.  Bedtime isn't so bad, but that's because if he's home, Daddy does it.  It just goes so much more smoothly for him.  He's got the touch!  But there are a lot of nights he's not home by 8pm so I'm left to battle it out.  And it's a battle....especially if Little Lord Fussypants is screaming downstairs.

Hi.  I just woke up from my nap.  Do you like my hair?

This is untouched nap hair people.

And one more time...

Our late evening ritual...a little feeding and our newest addiction....

I'm so hooked on this show!

An attempt to photograph both kiddos.  Try again another day.

I've had healthy eating and working out on the brain a lot lately.  I lost all but 3-5 pounds of my baby weight.  Yay, right?  But I lost it all within the first 2 weeks.  And despite nursing around the clock, I've not lost another ounce!  I am SO HUNGRY all the time.  Ravenous. 

I was also in the bad habit of eating ice cream every night.  No wonder that scale won't budge?


I've been taking the kids out in the double stroller for walks most days - it's very hilly where we live, so it's always a bit of a workout.  But when I've tried to actually "Work Out", my entire core starts hurting.  I think I need to wait a bit longer to try anything too strenuous despite getting the all-clear from my dr. last week.  So I guess I'm struggling on where to even begin with the exercise.

Trying to eat healthy around here.  Rotini + turkey meatballs + roasted squash/peppers/onions + whole grain baguette

The Hubs has been on his 12-day stretch, so he's been trying to cheer me up a bit.  The babies and I had some ROUGH nights in there.  One night the fire alarm went off inside Morgan's bedroom, indicating it needed new batteries.  At 12:15am.  I had just spent 4 HOURS trying to get Joey to bed too.

Of course we had NOT ONE SINGLE 9V battery in the house, and the thing wouldn't stop beeping, so I had to drive down to Kroger's at 12:30 am to get new ones.  As I was installing the battery, of course Morgan woke up, freaked out.  It took over 2 hours to get her back to sleep!

Two nights later, after Joey was having some tummy troubles (the usual, reflux, gas), I FINALLY got him to sleep after about 3 hours of nursing/cuddling/burping/rocking/etc.  I hadn't even laid him in his crib yet and Morgan is awake, screaming, with a fever :(  I didn't make it back to bed til 6am that night and she refused to lay anywhere but ON TOP of me with her arms in a deathgrip around my neck.  I'll miss this one day, right? ; )

This showed up on my doorstep yesterday.  I was shocked!

All in all, things are getting better.  The Hubs and I have had a couple of date nights -- that's been ESSENTIAL.   And I hired a babysitter to come over so I can do stuff like get groceries and go to the dentist ALONE.  

I've only taken the kids out by myself a couple of times -- to their dr. appointment (that was just awful!) and to the park a few times.  It's getting easier, but I've come to the realization that Joey doesn't care if we leave the house ever.  Morgan, on the other hand, needs to get out -- as do I.  So I've taken just her a few times with me to the grocery store, or wherever, just to get her out a bit more.

We visisted a little school for her to attend but it was pretty expensive.  You have to pay for the whole day and I don't want her to go full days, just half days to get some socialization with other kids.  So I might try out a Gymboree class or something....if I can figure out how to also take Little Man with me ; )

My constant companion

I have so much more to blog about, but this post has already taken me 2 naptimes, haha.  It will have to wait.