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So So Blessed!

Benjamin Edward 20 weeks

Benjamin is so much fun.  Seriously.  I really really love him. so. so. much.

Where to begin!  He LOVES the alphabet.  The first few weeks of being a big brother, provided Benjamin with a little extra t.v. time, and we fell in love with IPTV's Super Why.  Add that show to the great alphabet puzzle Grandpa Earp got him for christmas, and Dr. Seusses ABC's book (a favorite since birth) and we now have all of our ABC's memorized.  I point and Benjamin identifies, or I ask him where the letter is, and he can find it.  However, he doesn't know the song.  Not even the tune.  

Benjamin loves his trucks also, not as much as his books, but they are a close second.  His blocks are a close third.  He reads to himself quite a bit, but still loves when I have time to sit and read with him, and its even better if daddy does!

Benjamin's vocabulary has shot up exponentially since the last blog about him.  He thinks he's pretty big stuff when he says phrases like momma and daddy : "O.K!" and "There it is!" are some favorites.  An instant pick me up, is looking down and seeing Benjamin reading to himself and hearing words that are actually on the page.  He's memorized almost as many books as I have!  He most often reads Go Dog Go to himself and we hear, "Go OG Go!"(Go DogGo)  "Wok"(work) "Pay" (play) "Round gan" (Around again) "at gbye gbye" (hat goodbye), "TOP! (Stop!), "tee!tee!" (tree) and many others.  He's started to repeat Joel and I quite a bit more, so we're becoming much more conscience of what we say.  Its scary!  As exciting as it is for Benjamins vocab to be developing it is so frustrating for the both of us when he is trying so very hard to tell me something, and I can't understand.  Usually it results in whining/sobbing on his part and I don't know how to act.  He usually gets in trouble for whining, but in this case, I would be frustrated too!

Speaking of getting in trouble...Benjamin is pushing the envelope when it comes to doing things that he's aware of as "no no's".  Take for instance the remote or my cell phone.  Once he makes eye contact and knows that I see him with them, he brings them to me, but I can't get him to not touch them in the first place.  Little Stinker!

Another mini battle is his love for the T.V. and D.V.D (both of which he says soo adorably with his french accent at the end).  If momma says no to the t.v. being on, let the flood waters begin.  Crocodile tears begin dropping from his cheeks.  Or if I say he can watch them, and then a channel that he doesn't like, or a stupid afternoon IPTV show is on, let the water works begin!  So far once I explain that he needs to be patient and get him to take a deep breath, we seem to recover o.k., but pretty soon he's going to have to prevent the break down in the first place, or say good bye to George (Curious George) and The Cat in the Hat (one of his favorite phrases to say!)

Speaking of the Cat in the Hat, the theme song is the only song that I can identify when he sings without watching for actions.  He sits and mutters " Go Go Awaaaaay!"  Its adorable!

Today was the first day that Benjamin attempted to interact with Violet (besides laying beside her) without momma or daddy's help.  She was in her bouncy seat and the car seat was beside her.  We were getting ready to go to Wal-Mart, and he wanted to help pick her put and put her in the seat.  He only got as far as squatting and prematurely grunting which thankfully made me curious enough to turn around and see what was about to transpire.  What a "good" helper! :)

I can't believe that 2 years is right around the corner.  I'm probably going to cry a lot when that birthday comes.  For some reason its a big mile marker to me, and although 1 year was "not as much a baby anymore", 2 is "not at all a baby anymore" in my head.  3 more months!

Violet Ann Eloise 9+ Weeks

My sister and I just were talking the other day about our fear of claiming to have good babies.  There is this internal terror that hits that once I claim it tomorrow will prove me wrong and that by somehow failing to state what I think may be true, I won't be disappointed and left with a fussy baby.  But I'm feeling bold, so I'll say it: 

Violet Ann Eloise, thus far, is a great baby!

Our day doesn't have an exact start time yet...but it seems that she regularly gets up around 7:00 to eat and depending on the rest of the families activities she sometimes goes back to sleep till 9:30ish.  We eat about every two hours after that, and has been starting to also take an extended nap around 1:00ish, which momma LOVES because her brother is also sleeping around then.  

I would say that I'm encouraging schedule now, but not trying too hard.  I really try to have her hold off eating if its been less than 2 hrs, and I enjoy my "2 sleeping babies time" so very much that I make sure she is fed, changed, and if sleep doesn't follow after 1:00, I run the hair dryer and that usually does the trick!

I don't know that I've paid much attention to her schedule for the rest of the afternoon.  It seems she has one long nap and another cat nap or two.  Lately she's been pretty content in her bouncy chair (as long as the vibrator isn't on! much to her brothers dismay) and she lets me eat dinner with Joel and Benjamin!

Violet's evenings are confusing me.  I think I could figure them out if I tried harder, but I haven't...Week 2 through Week 6ish it seemed as though for about and hour and a half/two hours she cried if she wasn't being bounced.  I would say the last 2weeks, she is definitely beginning to move past this stage.  yeah!  However she does need constant attention: eye contact and conversation or nursing.  I get so tired after 9 that I usually just nurse her, but I'm afraid that I'm letting her overeat and subsequently throw up.  It happens regularly(a.k.a. every night).  It started because I thought she was cluster feeding, and honestly hungry.  But my fear now is that she just likes to hang out, and accidentally eats far more than her tummy can handle.  So back to the bouncing/2 hour "conversations" we go.  The other 2 options is that she's just a spitter (she has spit up other times as well, just not as regularly and not as large of quantity)

So around 10:00 I start to look longingly at my bed...I usually try to nurse Violet Ann Elouise one last time and then put her down.  This takes place one of two ways...If Joel is gone (Monday-Thursday) I nurse her to sleep in bed with me, and Joel puts her in her bassinet when he gets home.  Friday-Sunday, I usually feed her, and then run the dryer till she's asleep.  

Now for the exciting part, Violet has sleep through the night 4 times!  Joel thinks it is only because she has a cold, and that may be true, but hopefully we're developing a great habit!  Last night was "rough" but she only woke up twice, so I really can't complain.

Violet is getting extremely responsive with smiles and laughs.  She is having more and more awake time and content just watching us.  I love her so much and as much fun as I'm having watching her grow, I think I'm going to tell her to slow down just a bit!

Whats for dinner Honey? cont'

I'm so very proud of myself...Wait, I think that might be a sin...How about...I'm so very excited for the success that we have had in the Lewicki menu saga.  I think that is allowable!

Well its been about two weeks and I'm not only smelling victory, I think I'm tasting it.  I haven't been stressing about what to have for dinner.  We've had variety and we haven't minded eating leftovers for lunch.  I feel as though we may have even been more nutritious than before, and that wasn't even the specific goal!  Its so infrequent that I have ideas that I actually follow through on, so this is such a huge step in so many ways.

We have had:

• lasagna
• talapia
• homemade pizza
• tacos
• chicken salad
• BBQ pork
• chili
• chili dogs
• sloppy joes
• cheddar potato soup
• grilled cheese and tomato soup

That's all I can remember, but its been great.  Benjamin is still a fantastic little eater, and Joel has been fantastic at going along for ride of meal experimentation with me. One more week, and I think we can call this a new way of life! 

P.S. Benjamin will pretty much eat anything.  If he doesn't eat it out of desire, he does pretty good obeying when daddy says he has to chew it.  But this crazy little boy got excited for his carrots and blueberries today because his dad put taco sauce on them.  YUCK!  Usually we dip everything in ketchup but if it has a kick he gets even more excited!  I have to look away so I don't get sick watching...

Grocery List

o   Bananas

o   Clementines

o   Grapes

o   Potatoes

o   Carrots

o   Lettuce

o   Peppers

o   Ketchup

o   Mayo

o   Mustard

o   BBBQ Sauce

o   Lemon Juice

o   Lime Juice

o   Peas

o   Corn

o   Chili Seasoning

o   Chili Beans

o   Tomato Sauce

o   Diced Tomatoes

o   Jelly

o   Peanut Butter

o   Hot Dogs

o   Bacon

o   Ground Beef

o   Turkey

o   Stew Meat

o   Roast

o   Coffee

o   Tuna

o   Chicken Noodle Soup

o   Tomato Soup

o   Cream of _____ Soup

o   Brownie Mix

o   Muffin Mix

o   Taco Seasoning

o   Salsa

o   Tortillas

o   Sponges

o   Flour

o   Sugar

o    Brown Sugar

o   Baking Soda

o   Baking Powder

o   Pizza Crust

o   Ragu

o   Pepperoni

o   Lasagna

o   Spaghetti

o   Prego

o   Alfredo Sauce

o   Granola Bars

o   Fruit Snacks

o   Rice

o   Hamburger Helper

o   Tortilla Chips

o   Potato Chips

o   Frozen Pizza

o   Club Crackers

o   Saltine Crackers

o   Frozen Juice

o   Frozen Tilapia

o   Sausage Links

o   Frozen Dinners

o   Pot Pies

o   Chicken

o   Cottage Cheese

o   Cream Cheese

o   Sour Cream

o   Coffee Creamer

o   Milk

o   Eggs

o   Yogurt

o   String Cheese

o   Cheese Slices

o   Shredded Cheese

o   Croissants

o   Cinnamon Rolls

o   Bread

o   Hamburger Buns

o   Hot Dog Buns

o   Grape Nuts

o   Oatmeal

o   Kashi Go Lean

What's for Dinner cont'

"The List"

• Sloppy Joes (hamburger ketsup and brown sugar)
• Chili (with left over sloppy joe meat)
• Chili Cheese Dogs (with left over chili meat)
• Meatloaf (I'm still looking for a great recipe)
• Chef's Salad (lots of toppings required for it to reach 'lewicki meal' status:)
• Fish (Frzn Talapia - kept on hand)
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
• Chicken Quesadilias 
• Taco's
• Chicken and Rice
• Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Chicken Alfedo
• Grilled Chicken
• Loaded Baked Potato
• Pizza
• Grilled Burgers
• Lasagna (still looking for a great recipe)
• Hamburger Helper 
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Roast and Potatoes
• Stew
• Gravy Steak (the verdict is still out if Joel likes this)
• BBQ chicken sandwhiches
• BBQ pork sandwiches

honey, whats for dinner?

I've never been a great cook.  The thought of being becky homecky in the kitchen sounds great and everything, but it just isn't a reality.  When I watch Rachel Ray and Alton Brown, it all seems to make sense and I see myself capable...but then I stand in my kitchen, and it all goes down hill, well actually it starts in the grocery store, but ya know...

Well, I have no solution to becoming better in the kitchen but lately the problem has gotten much bigger than just not being able to create delectable dishes...I can't even think of the dish.  Growing up I remember one of my moms least favorite parts of the day was deciding what to make for supper.  I used to think..."Good night Mom, you've been doing this for 20+ yrs!  Just think of a meal and make it!..."  But the last few months I've felt her pain.

It was the same every night for weeks and weeks...Joel would look at me around 4 or 5 p.m. and say, "what are you thinking of for supper"...and every night the only things I could think of were pizza and quesadillas.

Meal Planning...I know, I know, I know.  It seems like a great solution, I've sort of tried it. But long story short - its not the solution for Joel and I right now.  But I think that I can smell Victory!

So on the way home from my parents house Saturday night, I was forlorn, and stress'n about what to make for supper when we got home.  I was trying to think of something other than the two staples...when I just started writing.  I wrote down everything I could think of that Joel and I liked to eat, had ever eaten, and I wasn't horrible at making.  I came up with a list of 21 entrées.  It was a very rewarding activity.

So I then picked the meals from the list with ingredients that I can keep on hand.  Now I always have have a dozen + meals on hand, and a list of those meals to remind myself of my options.  The other meals just kinda get rotated through, and I buy the ingredients for one or two of the other meals each week!.  Its fabulous.  And when I'm not not nursing, contorting my body in an uncomfortable position in an effort to type, I'll share our menu, and get a electronic copy for myself that can't be lost!

like her momma...

Oh Violet!  I never knew how scary it was to see yourself duplicated...I'm starting to learn!  Violet loves snuggling, she loves being held, she loves eating, and she LOVES attention...She is her mothers daughter. :)

I have loved Violet for the last 8 weeks and 7 hrs, but I just recently feel like I actually "know" her and am therefore now completely smitten!  She is starting to smile, she is super attentive with her eyes, and those cheeks are ridiculously kissable!

She's 8 weeks today and it has been an incredible whirlwind. Violet loves nursing (she's just under 11 lbs) and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.  Sometimes she fakes me out and convinces me to start nursing, but really just wants to hang out.  She isn't the most scheduled eater yet, but she eats about every 2 hrs, and is down from 50 min sessions to 15 - 25ish.  She would love to eat more but her little tummy can't handle it.  Over eating/not getting her burps out - unfortunately end in lots of spit up.  Even more unpredictable than her stomach is her sleep.  Her fussy time is an hour or two in the evening between 8:30 and 11:00.  Lately it seems that we have our late night snack 10:30 or 11.  Although she likes to nurse that last time in bed with me and then sleep there the rest of the night, the last 2 weeks, she's been a big girl and done great in her bassinet. She sleeps for 4 - 5 hrs, then we have another snack, and sleep for 2-3 more hrs.  She goes back to sleep for a couple hrs, but by then end of our early morning snack, its after 7, Benjamin's awake, and the day begins!

I forgot how hard it is to go places with a newborn.  When Benjamin was a nursing newborn Joel and I were beginning to work with the Navigators.  We were with each other a lot, and all of life was able to slow down and wait for Benjamin.  However Violet isn't getting that advantage and neither is momma.  Timing errands, or even the getting ready between Violets hunger, burping demands, diapers, not to mention her brother, is a learning process that seems to be coming along nicely...slow, but nice. :)

Well, its about 8:30, and Violet seems to think I'm ignoring her...heaven forbid!

Beautiful Babes

more January Pictures

Dum ditty Dum ditty Dum Dum Dum

Dum ditty Dum ditty Dum Dum Dum

That's the sound I hear all day, every day.  O.K. maybe not all day, but it seems that if Violet isn't nursing or sleeping (usually next to me or in my arms) than we're constantly patting her back/booty to pacify her.  I am suddenly very aware that she is starting life out very spoiled and very used to getting her way.  (Watch out Audrey - there are one, if not two little girls about to challenge you for your throne!)

Students have only been back from Christmas break for a day, which means that Joel has only been working outside the home for one day, and I feel that this one day has told me so very much about the rest of the winter:

• Violet likes to be held about 95% of the time...awake or asleep it doesn't matter...
• Violet likes her pacifier about every hour and a half...a.k.a. her mom...she won't take the plastic kind...
• I am going to have a tricky time deciding when to let Violet sit and cry so that I can follow through with Benjamin (ie: picking up) and when to let it slide
• Benjamin LOVES affirmation
• My goals and standards need to be lowered exponentially in order to not finish the day/week in depression.  Things like Getting Groceries may be the only accomplishment of the day...and things like Ironing may take 2 or 3 days before they get checked off the list...things like dusting and mopping may be seasonal activities...
• Long hot showers should NEVER be taken for granted...
• It isn't the infant that you have to contemplate when thinking about having multiple children, its having the time of day for your toddler while an infant is literally attached to the hip (or boob).  
• T.V. isn't so bad

Well, with that said, I really have loved getting to know my little girl, watching Benjamin develop an interest in his little sister, and attempting to lovingly parent both at one time!  Violet is growing so fast (She's over 10 lbs!) and Benjamin has more and more curiosity and love for her each day.  He's still jealous sometimes, but now that she can make eye contact with him, he's quite smitten!

Violet's schedule is unknown...at least kind of.  I'm so sleep deprived that I can't really remember day to day specifics. I think I'm going to start charting it, so that in the next couple weeks I can notice trends.  Sometime around 3 months I think I'll get her on more of a schedule/routine.  For my sanity if nothing else.  Every night seems to be a little bit different.  Violet usually hangs out with her dad from 10-12 so that I can get a jump start on sleep for the evening...then i feed her 12 or 1ish...the rest of the night varies...she gives me 2, 3, or sometimes 4 hr break with her last feeding around 6ish.  About the time we finish Benjamin awakes and the day begins.  The rest of the day is highly unpredictable and just depends on if I'm holding her or not.  The only certain fact is that she'll want to eat when Benjamin eats...and usually when I'm eating too :)  She definitely would snack all the time if I let her.

I just packed up a box of all her newborn clothes.  She suddenly looks ridiculous in her NB pants, with her muffin tops hanging over the top, and high water bottoms.  Our professional picture day didn't go as well as I would have liked, but I'm sure that Rebekah, our photographer, got some excellent shots anyway.  Violet cried for all our family pictures, Benjamin wouldn't stop playing awkwardly with his upper lip and nose, he didn't want to cooperate with a decent pose for the sibling picts, and Violet started crying again by the time we got to her individuals...It was a disaster, but yet I can't wait to see them!

Tomorrow will be 7 weeks and I hope to start keeping better record of how our little peanut is changing!  Heck, maybe I'll even get her a baby book one of these days!