LEWICKIPEDIA

A Penny for your Thoughts...Here's mine for free!

2012-02-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my dear friend Alison...http://www.rufflesandramblings.com/...Thanks for the fun thoughts!

I get weirdly excited about...a great font. If you chose a font well, you have my attention, my appreciation, and usually my business.

I feel overwhelmed with gratitude when...someone cares enough to listen, or observe a need/want. I am in awe of this gift because of how beautiful of a quality it is, and embarrassed I am for not seeming to have a trace of it. It always makes me cry!

I can't stop thinking about...so many things, there isn't enough space on this page to list, or time in your week to read...

I just want to eat...all the time :)

I am kinda a bad person and...don't take a shower that often in the winter...like 3 times a week! Sometimes 4...And one time just 2...

I wish I could...cook, and hire a cleaning service...So I could make delicious food, and then not have to clean it up.

I can't believe how close I am to...having to think about school for my first baby! Its crazy enough that I have kids...but school age in 2 years?!

I strongly consider spending a lot of money on...traveling. I love big trips with my husband. Road trip or Flying...hotel or camping. I just love it!

how about you?!

more pictures

2012-01-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

This is a little girl, that I'm just getting to know...post cast she is SUCH a lounger!

Don't worry she's really not this skinny (see picture above) but this is after our first bath with the casts on, before we went to get them switched out. I thought she looked like a cow girl :)

Benjamin came up to me and said "momma! Benin sit...momma picture?!?!" and then he ran behind Violet and posed :)

lazy bones

resting her eyes :)

lots of kisses from mom...(check out that hair, its been doing this a lot lately!

she knew she was cute :) (yeah, she's diaperless...she prefers it that way)

cute and funny

she cried when i tried to move her and they fell off

for some reason the casts have resulted in this position more often than not...I don't get it

Friday afternoon I was kinda going crazy. Violet had been especially needy wednesday night, thursday and friday. She wasn't easy or super content being held, and she was Super upset being by herself, but the Hippo saved the day...She just sat and looked out the window for quite a while!

And Benjamin did too

33 Months

2012-01-26T19:51:00.000-08:00

Oh Benjamin!
I've said that Benjamin will always be my baby, but truth be told, he is SUCH a little boy! The activity that he needs, the ways that he describes things, his love for wrestling with daddy, and methodical way of thinking through things...the way he talks about eating poo...need I say more?
I don't know if I can't say what his favorite, anything, is. He is truly his father's offspring and has MANY interests...He's super good at puzzles. I know that sounds pretty boastful, but deal with it...its my blog :) Being pretty good at them, has shed some light on a personality struggle of dealing with the frustration of not being able to get it to work...there comes a point in almost every puzzle where he's worked on a piece long enough and can't figure out where it goes, and often he lets out this grunt/cry and thrashes his hand across the table in frustration...we're working on it!

He LOVES trains. He would play with them almost all day, if his mom weren't so crazy. I have recently tried to scatter his toys and put some of them away for a day or two, so they hold his attention a little better, when I bring them out again. So far its working, but lets be honest, its only day 4...My recent attempt is to not run to his aide when he immediately yells "help momma!pleeeeeease!" I am more than willing to help when he actually needs it, but he more than knows how to make a circle, and many other shapes with the tracks, and when he stops whining, its so incredible to watch how creative he can be with the designs. i love it!

He loves these bendable/sticky/pipecleaner like craft set that Aunt Tara go him for christmas. He doesnt' do much with them but roll them into balls, and pull them apart and stick them to the window, but he can do that for a very long time! momma likes them too :)

He likes, play-dough, his chalk board, his sisters plastic food, juice, chocolate anything, being asked to help and go find his jammies, or get momma the diaper creme, his green Bible songs DVD, or wipe off the table. He's a good picker-upper but he used to be good, just because...now he's good if there is strong enough motivation. I've been pretty lax this week making him obey the first time, and he is taking full advantage of it. I see that changing very soon!

I've noticed here lately his interest/frequency of being scared. mostly of animals or the dark. Tonight Joel was gone, and I got him to sleep, in daddy's bed, with the bathroom light on, and the door open...but he has started to really not like the dark, especially if he hears something. not fun!

His phrases are too numerous to count, but in closing I'll try to jot a few down...

Let's see here (frequently heard when he's working on a puzzle by himself)
up and over to the side (the location of everything)
dat nipple? (pointing to a raised section of paint on the wall)
dose shoulders? (referring to mommas chest)
oooh Benin like it! (any favorable meal)
Thank you God for this day , for this food, for this family, for friends, in Jesus name, amen (meal time prayer)
Benjamin turned to the page in his encyclopedia of a world map and said, "oh da world momma"...glowing with pride I said," yes Benjamin, so good!" "And this is where Benjamin lives over here," I said pointing to our continent. At which time Benjamin replied, "oh yea Merica mom. Dats Merica" :)

Good night folks!

14 months

2012-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

First of all Violet @ 14 months...
Violet has been transitioning every day of every week, of every month of her life...I guess we all are, but she refuses to let me use the phrase "her norm is...", but lets face it, when I use it, she makes me a liar. So at the risk of lying, I will tell you what her norm could be perceived to be, right now at this very moment...just for the sake of recording something :)

Since stopping nursing Violet has been a rock star sleeper, with the exception at considering quitting her morning nap. If she's tired, she lays down, and goes to sleep without a peep....If momma hasnt worked the whole day, or been gone for the second half of the day, or if she doesn't know that there is any company over...And she also goes down well, for Aunt Auburn, Nana, or daddy - as long as momma is gone from the house, and isn't an option (see what i mean, but struggling to tell you about a "norm"...It all makes perfect sense to me, but seems like insanity when typed...
She is starting to play independently much better than at other times. She has some favorite toys such as the numbers puzzle, hand-me-down lego boat, and a cow from Benjamins tractor. She does like her tea pot and cups if someone is pretending to drink with her, and also will rock-a-bye with her baby, if momma rocks a baby also.

Violet is very texture sensitive. She screamed about the not so soft texture of her chirstmas dress, until I took it off, and spits out any chunk of fruit in her yogurt. She doesn't want to even touch the jello, and loves to touch her skin.

Last week, I was thinking of something fun to do with our new casts, and thought of painting the little toes poking out of the bottom...I knew it would either be a great idea, or more probably a horrid one. It shocked me to find out that SHE LOVED IT. She cried only because she didn't get to hold the bottle the whole time, and that I had to stop painting. It has given me the itch to get her ears pierced :)

Violet loves her hair, but hates bows...Her hair is as straight as a pin, and momma is having a very difficult time excepting the mullet that appears if it is even 3/4 inch longer than her neck line. It will be a very sorry excuse for a bob for a little while long, but thankfully her little face is so stinking cute when she smiles, that its hardly noticeable :) sort of...

I forget what her "achievements" are supposed to be at this age, so I honestly don't know if she's ahead behind or right on...lets go with the last one :) She was 17 lbs at 12 months (3rd %?), and they had us attempt to plump her up with butter and olive oil, to make sure she didn't have a metabolic disorder and to ensure that her body was processing fat correctly. (She was 17 lbs for 6 months) Well daddy took this job seriously and we got her to 19 lbs in 6 weeks. :) I don't know what she is now, and I thought she was going to gain a bunch with these casts, because she can't move well, but she has gotten even pickier with food, so who knows...Before the casts she was walking/running, and now, not even crawling, just a lot of rolling :) She might get a six pack though from the amount of effort she puts into sitting up over and over throughout the day. :)

Her Words:

juice (which really just means drink)
dada
momma
that?
mooo (cow)
baba (not as consistent sheep)
cheese (when someone has a camera)

Her Signs:

please (occasionally she says it as well, but not frequently and never speaks on command! I am proud of this one because if she grunts and points for something, I ask "what do you say violet?" and she signs please:)
all done (mostly if she just doesn't want to eat something)
more (this one is so occasional that I've kind of given up on it, and switched my focus to "please"

Violet still wants momma for comfort 90% of the time, and starts crying the moment I come back from being absent for any amount of time. Its like an instant, "oh yeah, you were gone, and I'm miserable without you, pick me up and never let me down" kind of reaction sometimes...But at the very same time that she is a mommas girl, she is in love with her daddy. It makes me pretty jealous, because if she's a little crabby, she frequently will give him the instant smile, or cuddle up to him, and look at him with this smile out of the corner of her mouth and adorable eyes...She is wrapping him around her finger very intentionally, and very carefully. Its incredible to watch!

The bitter part of our day, many times a day, is the battle for my phone. She doesn't mind playing with one of her 4 play phones, but if she catches a glimpse of my phone anywhere anytime, she is miserable until I manage to distract her or give in...and that is the problem, that I do sometimes give in. She also has this love for bananas. I love to keep them around because she eats them so well, and her eating well, isn't a common thing, but you can only give a little girl, or anyone, so many bananas before they are miserable, and so its a battle...Even while we were walking through Methodist into Blank's for Violets cast switch, her eye caught a banana as we walked by the coffee stand, and we didn't even fight it. We bought the $1 banana. silly girl.

Well, Violet has been so fun, even with all her changes...only nursing to not nursing anymore, anti sleeper to napping/sleeping incredibly, running after Benjamin, and barely moving 2 inches in a half hour, etc...it has truly been a joy seeing her personality develop. She is a smart cookie and without a question will test mom and dads rules and follow through, but seeing her reaction to a stern "no" already, and how it makes her so sorrowful to know that we aren't happy, gives me hope that obedience is possible, and I would be doing her a disservice to not expect it! (But my! it is much harder around than the first time. It seemed so black and white with Benjamin, and gray has become a very common color in my mind!)

Now, if her brother can learn to sleep through the night without going stinky, so it stops waking her up with the unpleasant fumes!!!!...:)

more of our week!

2012-01-19T15:21:00.001-08:00

Beware! Brag session Ahead!
Benjamin did all this himself...opened the box...took all the pieces out...I helped with one piece, but not because he asked, but just because it was habit...top top part is tricky, and he has much shorter attention span by the time we get to the top, but still...he's 2 1/2...Even if every other 2 1/2 yr old can do the same thing...I'm impressed...Just a year ago I was excited he was putting more than two words together!

She was much more frustrated today. Walking is far from her vision (I actually think it would be impossible with the angle of this weeks cast) and after 4 perfect sleep sessions, now they...well they are less than perfect. All in all I still think she's doing well considering the circumstances...I just have nothing on my To-Do list this week, until after everyone's in bed. That way I don't have to be disappointed!

She was so sweet this morning. Normally He's the lover and she gets a little overwhelmed, but here she just kept looking up at him...so happy he was near!

Yesterday I painted her toes for the first time. I used a very pale pink, not knowing how it would go, but she LOVED every minute of it...except when I would stop painting. It was such a light color, it wouldn't photograph well, so today we switched it up :) She was a little more wiggly and a little more frustrated she didn't get to hold the bottle, but all in all, it went ok. She loves skirts and nail polish...I just can't win with the bows!

a common look today...frustration

and again...

She's super quiet here, and so so so happy, I didn't make her sit by herself in the living room while Benjamin had a potty break.

Constant birthing position...It makes me laugh how lady like she is in her little skirts :) (ps - I found casual skirts at Target for $1.50 yesterday. AHHH! They're perfect!

Other funnies from the day:

"Daddy's fingers? 10, Benin fingers? 10, Jonah fingers? 10?, Rubies fingers? 10"...etc This was the first time he whipped out "Rubies" :)
"ABCDEFGsus loves me this I know, for the 'biber' tells so, little ones...weeaak! are stroooonnnnngggg! Yes Jesus Loves me! Yes Jesus loves Thomas Yes Jesus loves Gordon Yes Jesus loves Percy Yes Jesus loves James :)
1st Husband-less bedtime in 7 weeks Tonight...V : #1 - murmur for 10 minutes and then hard cry for one....brought her out to the living room, checked her pants, #2 - barely a peep, and she was out...B: #1 - I put him down, Violet heard us, and they both started whimpering. I had to go the bathroom so bad, I left them in their bed, and 30 seconds later they were both silent....MIRACLE! Then 5 minutes later I heard Benjamin followed by Violet and went in to lay down by Benjamin for a bit and when I reached my arm around to hug him, I felt extreme dampness. In my Violet focused day, Benjamin never got out of his jammies, and so I left him in them to go to sleep (he cried when I ever suggested changing them). Well, thats all fine and dandy, but this little boy still needed to switch from undies to a diaper at night....and his momma forgot...so, I brought Benjamin out, Violet fell asleep again in two minutes and Benjamin's 2nd attempt went great. The only positive thing about these casts is, if Violet is tired enough she gives up and lays down easily!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Cast Pictures

2012-01-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

pictures for papa nana grandma and grandpa, and whoever else cares :)

breakfast time before our apt

she was in such a good mood that day!

such a pretty girl with such crazy hair!

post casts, post nap...she was pretty stationary all evening and only cried if she wanted to sit on my lap

our nap went well after the cast, and she slept without peeping for 12 hours, and woke up just chatting with Benjamin content to lay on her tummy till i got her (despite the fact that she soaked through her diaper and was drenched in urine...she's going to be one stinky girl by next tuesday!)

so far on day #2 she has yet to be interested in learning to stand or walk with her casts...its kind of cool leaving the room and not having to be concerned with where she will be when i get back :)

she doesn't mind wearing skirts all the time, but the bows she can do without! :)

a close up...its just a white cast...and polka dot legwarmers...she thinks its cool her toes poke out :) I see nail polish coming soon :)

I thought that her personality type would be annoyed that she couldn't walk, and that she would scream till she figured it out...instead she has been perfectly content to sit/lay and have things brought to her...Benjamin has been a great helper!

her usual spot and position

He thought it was a great hide and seek tool

lets hope the rest of the day goes as well as the morning did!

pictures and quotes

2012-01-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

happy girl!

dance moves

surprise!

lov'n to chase

he knows how to turn on the charm!

with the exception of Violet destroying Benjamin's train creation, the play SO well together!

white squirrel at grandma and grandpas!

does anyone else see Violet here in the middle!?!?!?

Benjamin Quotes:

"Violet a princess...Benin a mircle...a chrismas mircle!"

""Benin Looove salad...Benin Looove carrots...Benin loooove water"

"Ohh Benin stinky buns!"

Christmas by the lake '11

2012-01-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas by the pond ' 11

2012-01-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Ames

2012-01-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

no pictures...don't get excited

2011-12-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hey...i can't remember when i last took a picture, and there is no big event that I'm wishing to write about...Sometimes I just panic that if I don't get my thoughts down, I'll forget about life as I currently no it (and as my history shows, this is a probably scenario) so pardon my sporadic thoughts.

Violet took a leap in her cuteness factor this week...specifically today. Every time I looked at her, I just stopped and wished I had a camera handy, because she was so stink'n cute. (Her new shoes didn't help!) She's playing silly little games, and pushing her chin down on her chest laughing at herself. She loves when I hold her and run from the car to wherever our destination is, and also loves when I hold her and dance. She has started reading to herself, and points with her little index finger, quite expressively, just like her momma does when I read to her. Violet is running everywhere...but that might change soon. We just had our check up with the doctor at Blank Childrens Hospital, and Violet's feet haven't improved. It looks like we will begin a series of casting mid January. I have such mixed emotions. I'm so happy they can correct it, my stomach hurts thinking of her in these little casts. :( I opted not to let them get started last week. The idea of lots of people sleeping in the same place for the holidays with a newly casted 1 yr old...frightened me. so we will wait!

I'm going to make a leap in this post, and go with the word handsome for my little man. Don't get me wrong, he's still super cute, but he has a couple sweaters that make him look 10 years older...its frightening...the other day he was sprawled out on my bed, and he looked like he took up the whole thing...and its KING SIZE! He's getting kinda skinny, and once in awhile I feel like I'm looking at his cousin Jonah...partly because when Jonah lived in Ames, he was Benjamin's age...partly because they both are handsome and kinda tall. His new word is "sure". I think that makes him seem older too. His verbal skills haven't every been super advanced, but this last two weeks he's picking up phrases that are hilarious....

"Mom, Benin No like Frosty...Benin want a different DDDD (DVD - gets a little jumbled), Benjin wants a Rudolf udder one."
Benjamin, who was the baby born at Christmas? Nemo? No, what was the name of the Baby in the manger? Sheep 12356...6 sheep and the baby? Yes, Benjamin there were sheep, but what was the name of the baby. who's birthday is on christmas day? oh...Baby Videt? No...Mary's baby. His name was Jesus! Oh Nemo and Baby Jesus, and Light Queen says kchow... (I kept repeating the story, and the third time that day, he finally got it right!...We'll see how he does in the morning!)
Momma, Videt hold you?!?! (when he wants me to hold Violet because she's getting in his toys)
his new thing is to say yucky and make gagging noises when violet has a stinky diaper...he must have seen momma do it...!

The End...I just got super tired...:)

Momma moon! Benin touch it?!

2011-12-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

And this is why we love him...

After being denied 1 more M&M, Benjamin's following questions, with increasingly bigger smiles..2 More? 5 More? :)
Tonight he sat and read to himself for quite a long time while Joel helped me work on some stuff, and suddenly I stopped to figuring out why there was spit flying, and I saw Benjamin reading the story of Jonah and he had stopped on the page where the whale spit Jonah on dry land...:)
Sometimes after knocking Violet down and sometimes just randomly he will shout across the room, in a nervous giggle type fashion, "Oh sorry Violet, I hurt you Violet!"
This morning I woke Violet up from her nap and she had been dressed and ready to go to church...his response to her skirt..."Oh momma, Violet a princess! Twirl Violet Twirl!"
One of my favorite things to hear from the kitchen, as they play in the living room..."Oh Sweetheart! Love you! Love you Sweetheart!"
Our usual conversation on the way to the bathroom, when Violet is kept in the living room by the gate..."Momma! Violet cry? Violet sad!" He's always worried she's going to be sad that she isn't coming.
"Momma, Moon! Benin touch it? Bnin Fly in sky? Benin fly in sky and touch it? Daddy fly with Benin?"...A usual conversation when Benjamin sees the moon.
So I don't think we eat out that much, and we do like the cheapness of mc donalds, but I would say we maybe go there once a month...Sometimes twice, but Benjamin is in love. When he sees the arches..."Donalds! Benjamin cheesehamburger?!?! Benjamin loves Donalds! Donalds dark..." (he thinks we go there in the dark...and sometimes when it gets dark out and leave the curtains open, he yells "dark! Donalds!" I can't figure it out!
After shopping for the kids winter coats and boots for months...on this first morning of snow he exclaimed "Momma! Benin jump in boots! Benin jump in snow! Momma? And in 15 minutes, this momma bought him boots on line, so that the next snow, he could go jump. It was the first time I realized I was wrapped around his little finger.

I think I could keep going...but I'm pretty tired. Gotta get my rest for this little ball of energy. :)

One Year One Week and Two Days

2011-12-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have many drafts that have not made it to "posts", because every time I go to finish a post, Violets norms, are no longer normal. So here I got for round 4...

Violet is so much fun. Sometimes I have "a moment" and realize that although Benjamin is louder, and that 2 yr old silliness is easier to recognize, we have another comedy act rising up from the woodwork. They often have "laughing matches" in the car, and at the table. When Benjamin wakes up before Violet, he gets so excited to hear her cry, and starts to pull me to her doorway saying, "Violet! happy to see you?! Happy to see you!" There are probably positives about every space amount between siblings, but I wouldn't have their 19 month gap, any other way!

When I began this post a few days before her actual birthday Violet had just started walking super well, and decided that she was in love with meat. I thought that she was getting old so fast. I had no idea the aging escalator we were about to jump on. My stomach has that "rushed elevation change" feeling just thinking about it. Here's whats new...

Violet started walking the week of her birthday party (1 1/2 weeks before her birthday), and is now pretty sure footed and wouldn't fall down if it weren't for a bruit of a brother, slippery pants or an out of control sprint!
Violet has 6 teeth. 4 super visible, and 2 more that have descended half way and stopped!
Violet has at least 1 word and possibly 1 phrase. "Ju" aka juice = any beverage. "Hold You" = Hold me...this one is a little less clear, and I think only Joel and I would recognize it, but were both pretty confident that she is taking her best shot at talking!
She has recently fell in love with books...specifically "That's not my dolly". We read it before every nap and bedtime!
Violet gets a little claustrophobic sometimes...mostly because Benjamin has a very small personal bubble...actually Benjamin's bubble popped sometime in the womb and is no where to be found..."Benjamin, give Violet space!" is frequently heard.
Her dance moves are stellar! She frequently bounces with the beat :)
She is obsessed with phones. She likes play ones, but is unhealthily in love with the real deal...She holds them both up to her cute little ear, usually with the ear piece pointed out. Other than sleep protests, taking away a phone brings the biggest tears, the largest pout, and sometimes the sharpest shrill screams.
She loves pretending to drink either from empty cups, or her new tea set from aunt Lora
Yogurt Melts are her favorite snacks(she squeals when you get the bag out!), and she has recently discovered sugar cookies. She also devours hot dogs (don't worry, we buy the all beef kind), pulled pork, pulled chicken, and has an egg every morning for breakfast. More on her eating habits in another paragraph...
Bedtime is between 7 & 8. Nap #1 is around 2 hours after she wakes up, and Nap #2 is around 1:00. I try not to let her sleep longer than 1 1/2 hrs in the morning. Even then, she wouldn't mind being done with taking two naps, but she is WAY too crabby if I let her skip!
Her favorite game with daddy is a form of peek-a-boo where they don't hide behind anything, but turn away from each other, and then she slyly creeps her little head back around and sticks it right in Daddy's face. Its adorable!
Violet is in some 6 month skirts, 12 month outfits and dresses, and 12-18 month one piece jammies

So another "big" piece of news is, that as of the 26th, 3 days after her first birthday, Violet is done nursing. This will probably be a very long story, but in the weeks approaching her first birthday I new that a change of some sort was about to take place. I have nursed Violet to sleep since birth. She began nursing and not falling asleep, and bouncing and rocking were failed attempts, 90% of the time for daddy...and 100% of the time for momma. And because tired babies are not fun babies, I needed to change something. I contemplated stopping nursing Violet to sleep, and only nursing when she woke up, or in the middle of "play time" but I didn't want her waking up early to nurse, and because I had yet to get Violet to take more than 1 oz of milk a day, from a sippy cup or bottle, I had a feeling that she would continue implementing her strong preferences, and bypass the sippy cup and hold out for nursing time. So I went "cold turkey". After an embarrassing night of looking like an idiot of a parent at a friends house, with a baby who wouldn't eat or sleep, I had motivation to make a dramatic change. (this was FAR from the first time I have felt stupid around people for not getting my baby to sleep, but as she gets older, the embarrassment grows. And even more than my own pride, I am sad because people see such a poor side of my baby girl, and I fear that she will be known as "the difficult child". I continued to ask things of Violet that I had no intention of following through on, and that is no place for a parent, and no future for a 1 yr old!) I nursed her Saturday night, being mostly sure it was my last time nursing, and when she ate for 2 minutes, and conked out, I knew she didn't need me for nutrition any more, and she couldn't keep waking up multiple times a night for "a pacifier". Momma was getting tired, Violet was sleep deprived, and so change ensued! She woke up for 2 hours that night, I instinctively brought her to bed with me and nursed her. Joel, in a sleepy and only half alert state, freaked out and shouted, "what are you doing?" I woke up from my habitual state, and brought her to her room. I rocked her for a while, and close to 2 hours later, out of frustration, I nursed her again. Surprise -Violet didn't fall asleep. I was at a loss for ideas, and again, it clarified what must be done...The end of a nursing era. Since then we have a new habit: our blanket, our bear, one or two books, white noise (at night) and songs (during naps) on the sound machine, one song, and lay her down. She has done remarkably well. Not overly consistent, but impressive none-the-less. She has slept through the night over 50% of the time, and does much better, if I don't go in the room at all, when she cries out. Settle down people...I'm not as cold hearted as you think. Having her cry alone for 15 minutes, is really a loving thing to do, when the alternative is crying in my arms for 2 hours. (I'm not exaggerating, this was becoming a habit) The most exciting thing to me, is she has went down well for Joel twice! once for a nap and once at bedtime. The freedom is selfish but loved! I was housebound for a year...In hindsight I don't regret a day of it, but I don't regret being done with it either. :)

On to Violet's stats...

Height: 28 inches

Weight: 17 lbs 8.5 oz

The doctor said "developmentally Violet is perfect", which we already knew :), but then the doctor shared concern for Violets weight. Violet was 17 lbs at 6 months, and also 9 months, and the graph that they look at to chart her progress has kinda flat lined. I can honestly say that I'm not that worried about it, but our doctor put Violet on a super fatty diet for 6 weeks. They need to make sure her body is properly handling fats. This could be affected by a metabolic disorder, thyroid issues, or lots of other things that could effect brain growth. Again, I'm not too worried. Her activity is off the charts, she hasn't nursed for a substantial amount of food for a couple months, and she wasn't interested in table food until lately, and today was the first day she drank more than one glass of milk. With the amount of butter and olive oil we pumped in her, today alone, I think she is going to be one plump little lady in a few weeks!

Well that's about all for now! We go back to the foot doctor soon to check if she has straightened out. Meantime, I'll be trying to balance Violets strong personality, with necessary obedience (despite her manipulative eyes and adorable pouty lip). Also helping her develop healthy habits and getting good sleep, with lots of comfort and cuddles. Those two sentences made me tired just thinking about it! Good Night!

Too Late and Too Emotional!

2011-11-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

I was on my way to bed, (because its almost 11:00, and ridiculous for me to be up!) when i got very very sad. My baby is 1 yr old next week. She has been eating so much table food, the last two weeks, and walking EVERYWHERE. She's so... independent. You knew it would happen, I knew it would happen - she has gone from needing me every 2 hours (this is not an exaggeration when describing much of her last 11.5 months of life) to being perfectly fine, playing by herself or with Benjamin for long portions of the day. I have dreamed of this day for 5ish months. I've felt claustrophobic, smothered, matronly, disheveled, unattractive, boring, did I say claustrophobic...? but only for about 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the day, when sanity beckons me and productivity can be put off no more. When I have a rush of selfishness to do something I want to do, or when I'm hot and can't have another body touching mine. But only for those 10 or so minutes. For the other 23 + hours, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than reading Hop on Pop for the 3rd time of the day, or giving raspberries to a little girls tummy.

For a year now (actually about a year and 9 months!) I have been her everything. Her food, her sleep...did I mention her food?!?! :) Now she can drink out of a sippy cup, and eats more meat than I do at the supper table. She would rather follow Benjamin at times, than me, and she doesn't care much how long I'm gone, as long as I grab her right away when I get back. I'm going to have to share her, and I don't know if I want to.

But as I mourn the end of our first year, I am so thankful for God's timing. Quite honestly I'm ready to stop wearing nursing bras, I'm ready to not put Benjamin in front of DVD's everytime Violet needs to nurse to sleep, and I'm ready to say, "Joel its your turn to put them to bed!". Even if I'm not at this very moment, I think I would forget how much I loved it, if it lasted much longer...So here's just a cluster of snapshots of recent Violet snuggles. Just so I don't forget...

Oh Benjamin...

2011-11-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

"Come on Baby, Come on" (Benjamin's self created game entitled 'come on baby', where he runs around, and Violet chases him...All while Benjamin shouts...Come on baby!)

(Violet and Benjamin running around the foot stool, Benjamin running too fast and knocking Violet down...) "Oh sorry Videt, I hurt you? I hurt you Videt?" (Commence running, and repeat 1 minute later)

"Oh, pretty 'dressed' " (usually said to Violet and occasionally momma!)

"momma, Thomas happy to see you! Thomas happy momma!"

"actually da moon, actually da star, no actually da moon...actually momma." (last night when he said he saw the moon and it was really Jupiter. I said, "actually its a star", and he repeated me for quite some time!)

"Quiet Videt, Quiet" (when she cries)

(After using the potty) Me - "Benjamin, momma's so proud of you!" Benjamin-"Daddy proud?" "Nanny proud?" "Papa proud?" "Jonah proud?"

"Mmm Benin like!" (usually when he's really hungry, and he takes a bite of his lunch)

More November Picts!

2011-11-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

Birthday Celebration

2011-11-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

11 Months

2011-10-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

11 Months...Both Benjamin and Violet are asleep, Joel is out with college students, and I got on-line to plan for little miss Violets birthday party next month, but for some reason I am procrastinating. Its probably related to my denial that my baby will soon be 1 year old. Joel told me that soon I won't have a baby anymore and I assured him that I will always have 2 babies. Always.

As far as Violet related news goes, there is always the subject matter of sleeping. Violet had been sleeping through the night for almost a week at her 10 month milestone, and continued to do so for another 2ish weeks. Then I took Echinacea to combat a bug of some sort, going through the house, and it killed my milk supply. Violet got hungry and hungry babies don't sleep well. My milk supply came back, but the non-sleep habit returned, and actually got a little worse every couple nights. This last Wednesday, Benjamin started coming down with a cold and by Friday night Violet had a 103.5 fever that stuck around till Sunday night. We were waking up every 1 1/2 hrs with Violet, and Benjamin slept in our bed, as to not be wakened by his sister, resulting in Daddy getting involved in kick boxing matches, against his will. To top it all off, Violet didn't want to nurse the last 2ish days, and therefore didn't go back to sleep well (and when you get up every hour, not going back to sleep, is a problem!)...Tired doesn't begin to describe our first emotion when we wake up. Well, her fever left, and she started to half-heartedly nurse again, so although she might only be at 85% health still, I was not about to return to our habits of long...so as of 9:30a.m. today, I have stopped nursing Violet to sleep. We sing a song or two and down she goes in her crib. I can happily say, Violet has put her self to sleep in a very brief amount of time, 3 times today, and even let out a cry just a minute ago, and it was one cry, and back to sleep she went. This is monumental people. We will be staying in a hotel two nights this weekend, and pray that we develop a habit this week, and don't undo it, this weekend. Wow, this paragraph is entirely too long, considering I haven't been that stressed about Violets sleep. She did so well for those three weeks, and I know it won't take long, to get back in the swing of things!

As for development...WOW! Violet is officially taking one or two steps. She is scooting along things pretty fast, and if you hold something that she wants (ex: the remote) two or three steps away, she will walk to it...much farther than that, and she doesn't even try. She free stands quite a bit (which she loves to do in the bath tub...yikes!) and thinks she's pretty cool, and then doesn't even fall down, but rather, slowly lowers herself to the squatting position, then sits.

As for other motor skills, she was clapping at 10 months and has now passionately started waving to Joel and Benjamin when I ask if she's ready to go ninite. After she waves she hits the back of her hand against her mouth attempting to blow kisses. I would like to think she has the "more" sign down for meal time, but when I stop lying to myself I would admit that she just is just obsessed with clapping, and screams a deadly scream as her "more" command. I really need to do something about that. Oh and she has dominated SOOO BIG! She doesn't need you to ask her how big she is, she just likes to tell you at random. :)

Violet and Benjamin LOVE chasing each other. Joel and I were getting upset with Benjamin for being too rough with his sister, but have recently notice that she totally asks for it. One of them is going to get regrettably hurt one of these times, but that's what siblings do, right?

These are some of our random favorite things about Violet right now:

her dance that she does when she likes a song, or sees Benjamin dancing with momma...its more of a very unstable bounce than a dance, but its definitely a dance attempt :)
her very long cuddles on Daddy's shoulder. (Momma has a love/hate relationship with this activity, because it is VERY RARELY duplicated on her shoulder, but it is oh, so sweet!)
the way she burrows her head into...anything, and presses her tongue against her teeth to make a hissing sort of laugh. It's so stink'n cute.
this one I can't say that I love, but it is noteworthy. When Violet gets determined, she loves to jut out her chin. This scares me for a very determined personality popping through, but we shall see!

Violets feet update... Joel and I took her to a orthopedic surgeon at Blank Children's hospital last week. It was a great visit and I had confidence in the doctor...much unlike her previous visit with a podiatrist. Dr. Ferguson told us that many children get "smushed" in their small living quarters pre-birth, and then take the next 3-6 months to stretch themselves out. Many children will fix their mis-shapen feet in the first few months, and if their legs/hips were mis-shapen have difficulty self-correcting. Violet has done the opposite. She self-corrected her upper leg, and her feet have remained noticeably curved inward. She gave us some stretches and foot manipulations to do multiple times a day with Violet, and we will re-visit Dr. Ferguson in December. If the stretching has helped, the doctor will be able to clearly see improvement by using a measurement involving lining up the heel and between certain toes. If there has not been any improvement than we look at the option of series of casting. We appreciate your prayers! (prayers that the stretching is effective, and prayer that I remember to do them!)

And lastly...I think we might have gained a half pound finally. When I say finally, I mean in the last 5 months. :) She was 17 lbs at 6 months (I think, I'll have to check) and we are finally at 17.5 lbs. I was confused why Benjamin seemed so much older when we were creeping up on 1 yr of age (if you remember, I was 1 1/2 months pregnant by now! Say WHAT?!), but I think I figured it out. Benjamin hair seemed fuller, he had a considerable amount more teeth, and he weighed 9 or 10 lbs heavier...thats a lot of lbs when you're only dealing with 17ish vs 26ish!

Well thats all for now, folks. This is the first in 3 nights that the kiddos are sharing a room, after being sick, so this momma needs to get to bed. Who knows what the night will bring!

g'nite!

Sooo Big

2011-10-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

banana hair - its all the rage

she loves to suck that bottom lip in

I thought about cropping out everything but her feet here...LOVE them!

Soooo Big! (but a little hesitant to let go of the foot rest with both hands)

I don't even know what to think about those eyes!

definitely sassy!

again with the lip...

"Benin do it", is heard frequently...and a good job he does!

Usually his mouth is as wide open as hers :)

mmmm so good

"Benin turn", is also frequently heard

Such a good helper :)

Center Grove Apple Orchard

2011-10-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today we ventured out to Center Grove Apple Orchard, and it was a bit windy, but GORGEOUS! Benjamin was a little overwhelmed by the quantity of activities to choose from, and the insane amount of fun he had doing all of them. For having such a cooperative smiley guy, he was in quite the "zone" and made it difficult to get a good picture, but all in all, both Benjamin and Violet made it a pretty great trip. Thankfully we caught at least some of the emotion on camera!

Benjamin will still say his favorite part was seeing the cows, but we did not, in fact, see any cows. We don't even think he saw any in the field on the way to the orchard. The crazy thing is, I'm sure he knows exactly what he's talking about, and as soon as we figure out what that is, it will be oh, so obvious to us. And so it goes having conversations with a 2 yr old. :)

Violet didn't get out of her stroller much, but she had impressive patients for getting her nap pushed back more than an hour, and wasn't short for any smiles. She's about 3 months too little to interact a ton with the animals, but it seemed like she had fun none-the-less.

Happy picture viewing!

Happy October!

2011-10-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hi! Do you ever feel so happy, you feel guilty? Like you don't really want to tell people, because you know they might not be as happy, but at the same time, you want to tell everybody, because, it's like a great sale at your favorite retailer...you want to share it with all your friends! Well, that's me right now...Happy. I would say life is "perrrfect" (in-fluctuation provided by Benjamin), but its not. There are many life situations that are kind of -insert questionable word here- right now, but I think I'm experiencing the joy of the Lord. Sounds cheesy, right?!

Well, I've never "been good" at "quiet time"/devotions. Like NEVER., but I recently prayed that the Holy Spirit would help give me a strong desire for them...a passion. And He did. He is. And he's helping take that incredible time, and apply it to most areas of my day - which makes bad situations bearable, and helps me have incredible thanksgiving in the good ones. Speaking of thanksgiving...here are the people that I am bubbling over with thankfulness for!

I'm scared he's starting to know he's cute!

A well rested Violet, is SUCH a fun Violet!

He does not hesitate giving kisses!

After a few days of lots of work, and a few days of being sick, can you tell they are excited to see their daddy!

I'm in soup making mode!

I refer to this picture as the sin nature picture...I was putting Violet down to sleep, and came back to this, newly purchase tupe of Balmex, "slightly used." You should have seen his face when he realized I was looking at him!

He loves to line up all his "nemos" in all his books and count them. He told me tonight, that this picture includes a "daddy fish, and a Jonah fish" (everything is either a momma, a daddy, a nana a papa, a grandma, a grandpa, or a Jonah...and sometimes a Marcus)

if she won't eat from me, I give the spoon to Benjamin, and she gobbles it up! Little Stinker!

Happy October!

loving life

2011-09-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

My mom frequently referred to the "glory days" when my two sisters and I were little, and life was great!. I was always a little bit bummed that my current state wasn't her favorite...but I think I get it now. I know I make Violets sleep seem like a big deal/problem, and there are occasions I mourn the loss of a carefree, child free life...but only because I like to talk, and I have a horrible habit of complaining more than being thankful. Because as reality has it, that I totally get it now, mom. I don't think life could get better than it currently is. Yes we could have more money, Joel could be home for supper more, there a million and one "life circumstances" that I would change if I had the power...but the happiness that these two give me day in and day out, is more than I ever knew possible

Benjamin divided his cereal up so that he could share some with me. Then I left the room and somehow his pile which had dwindled down to nothing, grew substantially at the cost of mine!

I cut the mullet off. It wasn't my best work of art!

This picture doesn't show how bad it is...It looks fine when its wet, but once it dries its quite unfortunate!

p.s.

2011-09-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

For my own poor memory's sake...Violet can clap, and is rather proud of herself. She also fully understands "no", although she feels she never deserves the command. And lastly she goes to sleep fantastically if she's tired, but will not be tricked into naps or bed time. Benjamin just needed to go through the routine, and he could sleep anytime! Violet cannot.
...o.k. Thats it!

10 months

2011-09-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is our ONLY picture so far in September...I can't believe it! I guess we have a couple on our phones, but I don't know how to transfer them. Anyway, here's the cutie patooty at my friend Abby's wedding. Look Closely...There are many of my dear friends skills and characteristics that I would excitedly wish upon Violet, but this isn't one of them! :) We caught Violet yellow handed!

Oh Violet. It's been a big month! Lets just start off with the best of news....Violet has slept through the night 5 nights in a row. :) It's been facebook, text, and phone call news so I'm sure you all knew that, but why not say it again! It took one night of an hour of tears, and a couple other bursts of 5ish minute episodes, but all in all, its been a breeze! I know "cry it out" method proves to be controversial, but the fact that she has cried less in the last 4 or 5 nights, than in the three nights before, leaves me regret-less!

The other side of the story concerns naps...She doesn't want to take them. At least not more than 1. Today I decided to get serious and take the same attack as we did with her nights...but she's obviously teething, so we'll have to wait for another day. One where she is not chewing on EVERYTHING!

She is scooting along all furniture, and has started standing, resting no weight on the furniture, but not being able to part from it. She'll keep her hand in mine, or on the couch even though she doesn't need it, but the moment I try to make her free stand, she panics!

Her and Benjamin are Amazing in the mornings. They play together so stink'n well. Sometimes Benjamin gets frustrated when Violet destroys his "circle" (His Train Tracks), but then we talk about how we can build it again when Violet goes down for her nap, and he happily shares for at least another 20 minutes. (at least this paragraph has been true the last 3 days...:)

She Loves Baby food, but isn't a fan of peaches, and really just wants grains...granola, rice, oatmeal, etc...She loves crackers and Veggie Straws, and is selective about veggies. if she's hungry they are not a problem!

We are waiting to schedule an apt with Dr. Ferguson at Blanks Childrens Hospital in Des Moines for her feet. We got a recommendation from our peds dr. after the first doctor failed to impress me. I've found I don't do well with new Dr's. I am familiar enough with insecurity that I can smell it a mile away, and when you cost that much, and have a say in my, or my child's health, I'd like you to know your stuff!

Anyway...Violet's personality is unfolding more and more everyday. She LOVES to be tickled, LOVES to play with her older brother, Hates to be alone, and Hates to be told "no". Her pouty lip after being scolded is enormous! We love our little giggle box (even when she's oh so loud, or when she's not fully cooperating with sleep.) Hopefully her negligent momma will take some pictures of her adorable self this next month!

Always remember and Never forget

2011-09-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of some daily if not hourly conversations around our house:

Benjamin crawling around, frequently looking behind him, yelling, "come on baby, come on!"
Violet, "BaBaBaBa" ... Benjamin, "BaBaBenjamin, BaBaPapa"
Memorable: Violets smile when she's so so tired and I lay her down 90% asleep
Benjamin: "Very Yucky"(diapers), "Very Hot"(almost all food, and anything microwaved!), "Very Wet" (diapers),"Big Bug"(in reference to an ant),"Big Yucky", "Big Momma" (with shifty eyes, trying to be funny)
"Nanny" - Benjamins created name for "Nana"
Benjamin and My morning conversation...Daddy? Work. Papa? Work. Marcus? Work. Nanny? Work. Jonah? at Jonah's. Josh? at Josh's. Oh.
Benjamin - "Help Hellllp Heeeeelp mommy"

Some notables of the week:

Walking into the living room finding Benjamin pulling Violet by one leg...and Violet not caring a bit
Walking upstairs to find that Benjamin opened the gate and escorted Violet into the bathroom to play with bath toys...(I bawled, being so upset of what could have happened with Violet and the stairs.)
Benjamin's love for hiding, in the same place OVER AND OVER and always under pillows
Benjamin, "Oh! Mommy." (smiling out of the corner of his eyes, totally aware of his cuteness)
He's started consistently counting to 10, and often to 13. When asked to count the quantity of something he actually starts at 1 now.
He's super proud of his new skill of drawing circles
Violet has proved to have great will...I used to think she only cried for so long because she was mobile and stood up preventing sleep...I now know she cries just as long when she's wrapped up and stuck laying down. She just doesn't want to miss ANYTHING!

Birthday Bliss

2011-09-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

It was a week and a half ago. We were driving home from my parents on a Sunday morning after celebrating my friend Abigail's wedding. I was hysterical. Well, it started more gradual than that, but with every passing sentence I grew more and more distraught. I was drowning in the sea of self pity and horrified at what I thought was negligence on the part of "my life guard". But in retrospect I was standing in waist deep water, so I guess he wasn't as careless as I thought...

Well, I will save you the details of my self imposed birthday drama. I will not throw my husband under the bus in what I thought were "grounds for concern" that my birthday wouldn't be recognized, and I will not humiliate myself in sharing all my selfish thoughts concerning appropriate birthday honor. I will say this, however, that whether it was my near breakdown the week before the big day, God's provision, my husbands overwhelming awesomeness or a healthy combination of all of the above (yes I'm including my breakdown), I had an epic birthday. :)

I failed to capture pictures of all that pieced together my 4 days of bliss, so I'm excited to get it in writing so as to never forget how loved I am, and how loved I want to make others feel.

My sister's birthday was the 5th and Thursday the 8th was the first day that worked for us to connect. So Benjamin, Violet and I got to their house at 8:41, 4 minutes early to watch Elise, Reuben and Audrey while Tara took Jonah to school. Everyone, all 5, exceeded my expectations in survival, obedience and happiness and the rest of the day continued as such. Miss Audrey was perhaps the highlight of my day in several circumstances, and I'm not sure how much my sister would love me sharing all her quotable statements. However I can't help but record my greeting of the morning, "Hi Tori, (to my eyes), (glance down) Why don't you have pretty shoes on today?" :) Oh, and I do want to remember a Reuben moment of the day as well. Setting: Jonah and Audrey whaling in the basement after an unfortunate exchange of sibling "love" as Momma
Vos reminded them the appropriate way to love each other. I was on the main level with Violet (who, not surprisingly, had everything on her mind except napping) and Reuben who was at the table eating a snack. I heard laughing in the midst of voluminousness cries and asked Reubs what was so funny about his snack? He squinted his little eyes and grinned from ear to ear, saying "Audrey and Jonah crying...funny!" I used to think my family would hold the largest quantity of humor. I no longer think we hold a chance of that title.

So moving ahead to Friday...I don't really remember the morning, so we'll skip ahead to the evening. We met Auburn and Colin at Dublin Bay for supper which was awesome because I love Dublin bay, and had a ton of fun with the Van Kootens. It was a relaxed evening involving sitting on the porch playing with kids, getting updated on jobs and school, a successful kids bed time, margaritas, good conversation and an early adult bedtime! :)

Saturday was surreal. Auburn and Colin brought delicious Jaarsmas Bakery doughnuts and coffee cake. Combined with some really yummy coffee, it was quite delightful. Around 9, Joel took the Van Kootens to the football game, and I put Violet down for a nap. It went quite well, and around 9:30, are you ready for this?, I went to Jordan Creek Mall - by myself. It was glorious. I love my day to day life so much, so I didn't know how much I would enjoy a break from it. But pure silence in the car, free hands in the mall, and a little bit of birthday money gave me a couple hours of pure joy. I came home to a beautifully clean house, with a napping 2 year old and a little Violet asleep on daddy's lap in the rocking chair (which I completely messed up, and struggled with Joel the next 1 1/2 hrs to remedy) and even a clean bathroom & tub so I could take a bath and get ready for my birthday date. Well Joel had borrowed a motorcycle from his friend, and took me out in style for a winery taste test, Thai food at The Spice, and frozen custard at Orange Leaf. I was a little worried leaving Violet for a chunk of the day, and then again a large portion of the night, but went home to find a clean house again, Benjamin, with jammies on, sitting in the center of his wooden train tracks "choo chooing" Thomas and Spencer, and Violet, also in her jammies, reading books with our great sitter, and a lullaby playing in the back ground. Seriously people, it was like a movie was being filmed at my house all weekend. Oh, and Iowa State won the Iowa vs Iowa State show down...WHAT?!?!?!

Sunday, September 11. We woke up, ate some breakfast around the table, and then got ready for church. well, we were 30 minutes late. We left the house around 9 (which is when church starts) and surprisingly I wasn't stressed about it. As we started off Joel decided I needed a coffee, and on our way to starbucks, we got lost in conversation, and started heading to church again. When Joel realized we forgot to stop for coffee, he turned around, we made the planned stop and we were right on time for the sermon. :) I put Violet in nursery for the very first time ever. She screamed and they didn't come get me, which is fine, but I don't think we will try again for a few months...The rest of the day was fantastic. Well, sort of fantastic. The Vikings played, I made some yummy football food. My parents came up and celebrated with us, and bought me a Taco pizza I had been wanting since seeing the commercial. Those parts were so great. However, Violets rocky start to the day, and lack of nap in the a.m., threw off the rest of the day for her cute little self, and it kind of had me a little worked up. Oh and the Vikings lost, which was a bummer, but whatever. I still got to wear my great jersey. :) I guess I could say that it was the Perfect Ending to the perfect birthday weekend. I got to spend it with my beautiful babies, my handsome husband and the two people who got me here in the first place. I'm so glad I get to call you mom and dad! Thanks to all my family for loving me in this 27th year of life!

HAIR

2011-09-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm developing a stronger love and (i think) a better knack for updo's. Here's some fun hair that's happened recently and not so recently. It's incredibly sad how little I've documented!...

Still 9 Months :)

2011-09-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, I feel like this is the millionth time I've done a 9 month post for Violet. That's funny to me for a couple of reasons...#1 - because I'm super tired and everything is either crazy funny or the end of the world, #2) because I said early on that Violet could get to 9 months and then she had to stop. I guess if I just keep posting 9 month posts, she'll just always stay that age in my mind!

Well, we had her 9 month old well baby visit today. I have a love/hate relationship with the doctors office. I love getting stats, I love having a professional tell me my baby is beautiful and healthy, and I love seeing Benjamin's ear to ear grin when he hangs out with Nemo and Dori in the lobby. However, I hate insurance questions that I don't know the answers to, I hate trying to fill out forms keeping one eye on Benjamin and one hand around Violet(which is definitely not an adequate number of hands for her personality!) and I hate when my babies get shots...I hate deciding if they should get them, I hate the guilt with either decision, and I hate the pain of them getting poked. I hate them.

Well, I completely missed my appointment two weeks ago, but thankfully when we rescheduled I was able to find a non-nap time appt. yay. hurdle #1 conquered. #2 - we switched insurances, and I of coarse forgot the cards (I thought about it the day before, but never saw joel again when the sun was up, and i was thinking clearly to ask if he knew where they were) So that was complicated, especially since I didn't even know the name of our new insurance. But the lady was super patient, and Joel answered my emergency phone call, so we got it taken care of...hurdle #2 - dominated. Then came the waiting period, which wasn't as bad as normal. We found a chair by the fish tank and Benjamin was about as cute as ever running from side to side, identifying Nemo's and Big Dori. He was singing songs to them, and saying hi to them, and checking the water level, and singing more songs. Seriously I just wanted to eat him up. (I felt horrible for the little boy who was also watching the fish. His grandma was less than a peach of a woman and never made eye contact with me or Benjamin. Seriously, if you knew how funny Benjamin was being, you'd know how cold it made this woman seem. But they didn't seem sick so it could have been worse.) Last came the appointment. This requires it's own paragraph.

Violets Stats:

height 27 inches (Benjamin was... 2 inches taller)
weight 17 lbs 3 oz (...over 5 lbs heavier)
head 44 cm (...2 cm bigger)

Developmentally she's a rock star. Doing everything she's supposed to and more. So then she asked if I had any questions...

she sleeps from 7:30pm - between 6:30 and 8:00am. Getting up once at 1:30am (the last week or two, I kinda forget) my Q.) Should I stop feeding her at 1:30a.m., or since she primarily nurses is she truly hungry. A.) She's only hungry out of habit, and could totally make it all night if I just stop enabling her...but she might start getting up earlier. To which I replied, "I'll keep getting up at 1:30!"
Her cheeks are raw from biting them Q.) is her mouth o.k.? A.) Yes, she's just teething
Benjamin's breath is HORRIBLE. He breaths through his mouth some, but I try to tell him to shut his mouth and we brush his teeth. Q.) is his nose/ throat o.k.? A.) after checking down his throat...Yes, just floss his teeth. He might have food stuck
Violet Feet. Both feet, primarily the left one, go ~~severely~~ ( Joel would disagree) noticeably inward. Q.) is she going to grow out of it? A.) Appointment with the Podiatrist. After looking at them, watching her and trying to straighten them, she decided that although many moms come in with the same question Violets are fairly difficult to straighten and bounce back rapidly to their angled position. She noticed a curve in her foot and would like me to have it checked out, so we have an appointment on the 14?th with the podiatrist.

Hurdle #3 were the shots. Violet got poked, and cried for 3 seconds, and recovered like a champ. Benjamin only had to get a spray in his nostrils and acted like we were castrating him. He was nervous it was going to be a shot, and readied himself for the worst...but recovered quickly. Then came the time to leave, and consequently hurdle #4. This is so ridiculous. She said I was able to go, and I looked around and there was no well baby visit info sheet, no card for our next appointment, or info about the podiatrist. I was confused. I asked the nurse and she said she would look around. After 5 minutes of trying to corral my kiddos in that small space I opened the door. Our two nurses were sitting at the front desk and had a paper to hand me (As if they were waiting for me) and said they couldn't find the other card and they would make me a new one. They sent me out to the waiting area, where I waited and nurses kept coming out handing me things like vaccination charts, and finally I went up to the front desk ladies and said "I'm just a little confused, they told me to make an appointment with the podiatrist, but I don't have any information." At which time another nurse came and handed me a card with an appointment written on it for Violets feet. I guess they don't ask you when you are available, you just get what they have. It kind of offended me, but I'll get over it. We said bye to the fish, and our Morning at the Doctor's house (Benjamin's wording) was done and defeated.

Now we're just praying for healthy feet and a easy "fix"!

Violet 9 month details

2011-08-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Violet = 9 months

Miss Violet Ann Eloise is over 9 months and still 17 lbs. I'm pretty sure this is exactly her weight at 6 months. Little Stinker LOVES being mobile and between her constant crawling after her brother, walking along furniture, and constant dirty diapers, her love for nursing and baby food isn't making a bit of difference on the scale! She is nursing 4-6 times a day, and eating baby/finger foods around 4 times a day. (a lot of our day revolves around food) :)

She is crawling, standing, walking around furniture, and attempting to free stand. Good thing she has super padded diapers! She is still just saying "ba ba ba" (Although Benjamin really wants her to say, "Papa" "Nany" and occasionally mommy and daddy...)

I think I wrote about most of my Violet news the other day...Oh, except she's starting to let me sing/pat her back to sleep. She is falling asleep while nursing, less and less, and is much less hysterical about me putting her down. She just whimpers a little bit and then lets me keep her calm until her blinks get longer and I try to quietly leave the room. :) I haven't done much to try to get her to sleep through the night, except add an extra supper, to fill her tummy before bed. She's pretty consistent about getting up just once now. I'm tired, but ok with it. On that note, I'm headed to bed!

Picture Time

2011-08-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

Violets signature pierced lip smile

I'm usually not this brave/stupid to put them above floor level, but it worked for the picture!

Benjamin watches TV like his cousin - ZONED! Violet had fun with it :)

This picture solidified what I've always thought - she looks a lot like momma. :)

the summer of RIBS!

no, he's not doing the worm, he just likes to flop on the ground to make his sister laugh

its not tough to get this little girl to smile for the camera

theirs that smile again :)

don't you wish you though a graham cracker was this funny!

our new morning activity is making fruit smooties after I make Violets baby food. As you can tell, they are delicious!
This day was 1 peach, 4 strawberries, 4 ice cubes, 1 T sugar and 1/4 C Milk

good till the last drop!

we try to go outside during Violets morning nap, and yesterday morning Benjamin had a blast making "bridges" with the clothes on the clothes line

Grandma Sue sent a surprise package in the mail the other day. Violet got a brand new baby doll and LOVED it!

How cute are these two naked babies!?!

The baby has more of Cousin Elise's skin coloring, but their a pretty cute pair :)

Benjamin got some Thomas the Tank Engine trains. We haven't even put batteries in the yet, and look at that smile!

He really needed a bath last night, but I just could pull that face away from his trains! Thanks for the package Grandma!

9 Months

2011-08-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Violet,
Momma is kind of sad tonight because I just realized you turn 9 months tomorrow. I don't see how that is mathematically possible because I feel like I just had you 3 months ago. I was never very good at math...

Oh Violet, I feel so upset with myself. I feel like the last 3 months (and maybe even longer) I have grumbled and complained about you. Well, not about all of you, just about your obsession with nursing, and less than perfect sleep habits. I'm sorry. Just the other day it hit me, how good you really are, and how much your sleep could be worse. And quite honestly, even if you were crabbier, nursed more, and slept less, I'm realizing that life would still be o.k. and I would still be head over heels in love with you! (don't get any ideas...) So I'm done wishing away our 5 -15 minute nursing sessions a day, and I'm taking responsibility for my own tiredness and doing my best to help both of us. If you're never a sleep rock star like your brother it's completely o.k., I need someone to be an early bird with me! And if I were to be perfectly honest, the biggest reason I want you to take a bottle, is so I can leave you with Nana for my birthday, and you're worth sacrificing a birthday for. I get another birthday next year, so I can wait. :)

You are so much fun. You have this deep belly laugh that is incredible. You love when your brother laughs at you and he is obsessed at making you laugh. You love eating his feet, which completely grosses me out, and also love sitting under his chair during supper so you can eat his crumbs. I try to prevent it, but there is only so much one momma can do! Benjamin also loves tickling you, and gets very jealous when I play patty cake with you, or sing a song, or...anything that involves just us.

You have been so adorable lately when your daddy gets home. I put you on the ground, if you aren't already there and you crawl so fast over to his feet and smile so sweetly. You like being tickled by me and Benjamin, but daddy does it best! You are still a mommas girl in crowds, but here at home, you are needing me less and less. It's very bitter sweet.

I would have to look back at my posts, but I feel like you started crawling right around 8 months and within 10 days, you were pulling yourself up on stuff, and taking steps along the furniture. I think you will be walking in the next 6 weeks. Your little legs aren't so stable yet, so we'll see!

Back to the sleep thing. I can sum it up best to say, "you've been teething..." I think you will walk much faster than your brother, but, your teeth are MUCH slower. causing MUCH more pain. preventing MUCH more sleep. For a while you were waking up three times a night. not cool. We got home after a weekend of camping and a night at Nana and Papa's house and I put you in the basement. My hope was that you would sleep better, I would sleep better, and if you chose not to sleep I could just bounce you down there, without nursing, and without waking up the boys. After night #1 you woke up only once, and I'm not convinced you aren't legitimately hungry that one time, so I nursed you back to sleep. But you slept 11 hrs, with one feeding in the middle and I would be VERY ok if we duplicated that tonight. Getting to sleep is a little unpredictable lately. I was just going to give in and nurse you to sleep till we stop someday, but a) everyone says you'll sleep more solid if you can get yourself to sleep and 2) you stopped falling asleep after eating. So sometimes you conk out while eating, and sometimes you cry a little while and then let me rock you to sleep, and sometimes you cry yourself to sleep. You have little norm. I guess thats o.k.

I love you miss Violet Ann Eloise. Today before lunch I sat at the table feeding you apples and blueberries, and your brother not wanting to miss any of the action crawled up on the chair behind me...those chairs really aren't big enough for two!...and I wanted so badly to stop time. You both were giggling about something, and Benjamin was giving me kisses, and you were doing your signature smile with your lips pierced, and I had to stop and soak it all in. I'm so thankful God lets us feel that kind of love, and as twisted as this world can be, days like today makes it bearable. So thanks for being so cute, and so stinking easy to love.

PS you can stop growing now. :)

Birthday wishes

2011-08-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

My birthday wish list:

A BLAZER : I'm so nervous about this, after a friends recent post about her struggles with this classic clothing type, but I'm determined to find one, and make it work. I'm thinking a dressy/casual style with emphasis on the casual...neutral colors, double or single breasted, but definitely not floppy...

KNEE length Boots : this is also a nerve racking item, because I have only ever found one pair that I LOVED and it was last season, and I could get them on my foot. They didn't zip all the way down the back, and it took me over 2 minutes to get them on...no practical!

If I had a picture I would have bought them!

Skinny/Straight jeans. This is mostly only necessary if I get the boots mentioned before. Also a stressor because I my largest body mass is found in my hips/thigh. I don't feel like this is an ideal shape for me, but I feel as though 4 years behind the trend, is slightly embarrassing, but time at last for me to join...

Benjamin's turn...

2011-08-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Two posts ago I was insane, last post was pretty concentrated on Violet so I guess it's Benjamin's turn...

Today was a fantastic day. It started a little too early, but Violet went down great for her morning nap, and Benjamin and I got some awesome outside time with Bubbles and Bugs. He was shaking with excitement. Our neighbor came home and Benjamin was talking so fast and incomprehensible to poor mr Rick...I think he's hard of hearing anyway, but Benjamin's ramblings about bugs and trees and bubbles and planes was a bit much! We found this beetle, and before I knew it Benjamin just picked it up, and carried it everywhere. I wish knew the difference between safe bugs and the "other" kind.

Benjamin also answered me with "sure", today. I know this doesn't seem note worthy, but his inflection and attitude matched it perfectly. It was hilarious.

He wants to "touch" everything, from planes, to semi's, to garbage trucks, to birds....he's obsessed with touching EVERYTHING. He's also getting a little jealous of the games that I used to play with him (peek a boo, so big, songs with names inserted) If I sing it with Violet we HAVE to sing it again with his name.

Our big news of the last month is that he is very successfully sleeping in a twin bed! I feel like he's waking up a half an hour earlier, and we usually lay with him 5ish minutes to get to sleep, but all in all, he's sleeping like a champ!

Next order of buisness (besides his sisters night time sleep) is potty training!!!! It's always something, isn't it!

Violet portion of the post con't

2011-08-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

The following isn't entertaining nor is it witty, just a "snap shot" of current lewicki life...
So last night I began a post and was interrupted by sweet Violet needing a late night snack. Now that I'm back to finish the post I realize how tired and nonsensical I was last night. Ridiculous. It was titled "Stop Growing", but should have been labeled "momma's going crazy". Maybe I'll try again.

Although last week I would have described Violet as a "bad sleeper", Now I will say she is "unpredictable". She took two great 2 hr naps yesterday and 2 good naps today. Her second one was "only" an hour and a half so I put her to bed early tonight. She loves her new schedule(the past 3ish weeks)

wake up & nurse (lately 6:15ish )
Breakfast
Nurse & Nap 2 hrs after we woke up
Lunch between 11 and 12
Nurse & Nap between 12 and 1ish
Nurse @ 4
Supper @5:30 (and sometimes again when the rest of us eat)
Bath @ 6:30 or 7:00
Nurse when she acts tired
Bed by 8

I might have already posted that I got a schedule example off of http://www.babycenter.com/. Its pretty close to the example they give for nursing stay at home moms. When I was at my wits end a few weeks ago, I just copied it down, and told Violet that the next day when she was crabby, I would just look at the next thing on the list to determine our activity. It was amazing. When I'm consistent she seems to follow. Who would have thought...!

Her nights are awful. She's waking up after 2ish hours. This is a new development over the last week and 1/2. She was getting up once at 1:30, and then sometimes one more time before she got up at 7ish. Now, She goes down at 7 or 8, wakes up sometimes at 10 or 11, occasionally has a two or three hour stretch, and then every hour and a half till her 6ish alarm clock. I have to stop feeding her more than once a night, and either bouncing with her or patting her back while she cries, but I'm so tired and it seems like an unbearable amount of work when i think about it in the middle of the night. maybe this weekend...Did I mention she's back in our closet???

I know that last night I talked about how mobile she is. Its insane. She follows Benjamin and I EVERYWHERE, and only wants the toys he's currently playing with. There is no longer the ability to play the "distracting game". I think she's going to be walking in about 2 months. I'm pretty sad about it.

Although I can't argue that she is a definite mommas girl, I don't think she's as bad as I was at her age. (from what I'm told). This is very happy news for Joel. In fact this last week I worked quite a few hours, and she was soo good for him, with great naps, and fun play time, and only lost it from the time I walked in the door to the time it took me to pick her up.

I think I also said last night was her first stern voice from daddy and momma has continued it all day when she screams for attention or more food. It doesn't take anything but a stern "Violet" or "No", to bring out the pouty lip and silence. It must be addressed or we are prepared to lose all friends and invitations to social events. Its ridiculous.

Joel and I know she has strong resemblance of her brother, but lately have seen more and more of momma. She has these "crazy eyes" as Joel calls them. They come out when she catches you looking at her, or when I bring her to bed with us in the morning, and she curls up and tries to convince you that its time to play, or when you get up real close and tickle her...Joel says we both have the same ~~manipulative~~ crazy eyes.

We sure love her a lot and as excited as we are to see her little character unfold, we would mind if time slowed down just to let us drink in this phase of life. In the meantime, I'll just keep pushing her down so she isn't tempted to walk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GewZfLskUuM - its pretty non eventful, but a quick look at the well rested version of violet!

Stop Growing!

2011-08-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm so tired right now that I wrote the title for this post, and then just stared at the screen, thinking about what I was going to write, instead of just typing. Exhaustion happens to all mommas. Some in the infant stage while nursing frequently, some when the have crazy busy toddlers, some when the have children in multiple stages...but my baby isn't an infant anymore, my toddler is kinda calm(this is questionable), and I "only" have two kids...however while helping one sleep uninterrupted in a big boy bed, and one just sleep more than 1 or 2 hours at a time, I have reached my limit! On a happy note, Violet took a two 2 1/2 hr naps today, and I'm hoping that not being sleep deprived will help her sleep longer stretches. I don't have a very optimistic attitude. History prevents it! (I know she has one tooth coming in, and I feel like she is going through her 9 month growth spurt. I've stopped giving her tylenol, because I think its side effects for her include the inability to sleep.Its like I shoot caffeine in her veins.)

I didn't mean to start so negatively. When Violet is well rested, she's sooo great. She plays by herself for super long periods of time if she just has a bucked of random toys in front of her. She's super mobile. Have I blogged about that yet? I can't remember. She went from crawling, pulling herself up, standing for long periods of time, and taking a step or two in a little over a week...Right at 8 months She's trying so hard to keep up with her brother. His train track building operations have been seriously compromised. We're working on sharing, and having patience.

Speaking of patience, Joel and I had to have serious patience(and kind of failed) at supper. Benjamin has starting taking a bite or two at the end of the meal, and leaving it in his cheeks. Its the same food he's eaten the entire dinner, but for some reason he just refuses to swallow. He will make the swallowing motion, he will make the sound, he will take drinks, yet the food remains. Tonight it ended in gagging and spitting it up...any suggestions?

He also has another new/odd habit. He will randomly either lie face down, straight a pin on the floor, or curl up in the fetal position if he feels sad, embarrassed, or other similar emotions. I've seen him do it mostly when he is around his friends and occasionally just with me at home. I'm trying to either just let him have his time, or talk him through it. Any thoughts?

His new phrases are "Bery Hot" "not working" "mmmm good" "Help please Momma" and we're working on "no thank you". He is so stinking funny right now, and we're having to stop talking about him, in front of him. He's much too aware of whats going on. He also has this new thing, when we say "no", he asks again with a smile, and then a bigger smile, etc etc etc. Manipulator!

Back to Violet, yesterday afternoon was her first good nap in a while, and today she took two of them. This is worth repeating because we were starting to forgot how happy and cuddly she was before this sleep boycott. Her cuteness carried us through the stubborn sleep issue, but her happy/sad/exciting/hurt scream that is always the same tone, and always soo loud was driving us a little batty. Joel got stern with her for the first time tonight, telling her to be quieter, and I wish I had her pouty lip and tears on film. It isn't good that sometimes I think she's cutest when she's sad!

Her constant and only phrase is "babababababa". Benjamin loves to repeat her. Well,I hear her, so I gotta go, write more later!

Greenpoint!

2011-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

Here's just a few snapshots of our great weekend with family up in northern Minnesota! Joel spent a lot of time on the boat, Benjamin had quite a bit of fun with his cousins, and Violet got plenty of love as well! Between good family time, and a great book on Friday, it was the perfect northern retreat!

Kawaii Diapers

2011-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to blog about these for a while, and since they have come up in conversation with several people the last week, I decided that the time is now!

(scroll down to the bottom if you just want the facts!)

I had better start off by saying that I always saw people CRAZY about Cloth diapering, and their obsession and Initialing of everything scared me away. Well, I still refuse to go by initials, but i'm not so critical of their passion. I have found a diaper that seems to be great for both Violet and I, and one of the best money saving decisions Joel and I have made in a long time (it's only comparison is the decision to shop at Aldi sometimes) :) So try to gloss over my passion, and just take a glance at the facts. For someone who's budget is super tight, and who's day is filled with poo...It's pretty exciting!

My diapering story started with disposable. Joel wasn't on board with cloth. I then began to request diapers as gifts, and experiment with Benjamin. I didn't find them to be as much work as I was expecting and soon bought Econobums. They were cost effective but the short story is: #1) they snaped, and I hated snaps(personal) #2) they were a prefold (the insert sat on top of the cover) and because the moisture sat on my babies bottoms, they seemed to get rashes. It wasn't a failure of an experiment, but a good learning experience, I was able to find someone who could use them, and didn't loose any money (I had good coupons when I bought them).

My sister had gotten me BumGenius and Fuzzibuns as gifts, and although I loved them, they were too expensive. I just couldn't make that big of an investment without Joel on board, and without knowing if I would keep up with it. I'm a great started, and HORRIBLE finisher.

This is where my sister becomes the hero of the story. She found Kawaii diapers at http://www.theluvyourbaby.com/. Then she found the website: http://jackbenatural.com/. I'm not sure which one I'm more in love with...the Kawaii diaper or jackbenatural.com. Both are Amazing. I have found the Kawaii diaper to be equivalent to the BumGenious line. Same functionality and almost same appearance (I actually think the Kawaii's are a little slimmer/cuter). theluvyourbaby.com website isn't super for ordering. This is where jackbenatural.com comes into play. As soon as they have stock, the diapers are super speedy. Their emailing communication is extraordinary. They have a rewards system for ordering, and deliver with special samples and gifts. AHHH! I love them. Oh, and this is how I got Joel on board:
(ps, I feel these are very conservatives numbers for # of diapers a day, and price of diapers...)

3640 diapers 0-18 months
* 12, 10, 8, & then 6, diapers per day
$ .16 per diaper
* average cost of diaper(up & up target brand)
$582.4 on diapers by 18 months
* + $151.2 by 2yrs = $733.6 ToTaL

So, from a money saving perspective...So far I have spent about $30 on Violets disposable diapers, and $95 on her cloth. We are 8 months, and a 90% cloth user. I bought the style that only goes up to 22 lbs soI will sell them, and re buy in a few months. The great thing is that even If I only get half my money back when I sell them, my total disposable & cloth investment, would be $155.

Its totally different for all parents, but for us $155 vs $733 seemed like a pretty great deal!

It doesn't get better than this...

2011-07-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZlvThMiBL0

I'm embarrassed at the state of my closet in this clip, and was actually in the process of cleaning it but had to stop and capture these sweet sweet giggles!

8 months

2011-07-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Well at the end of the week, Violet turns 8 months. 8 Sounds like big number. I was anticipating my depressed state at these large number milestones, and I admit that I don't like the idea of her getting too old, but what I forgot was how much I LOVE parenting the next 6-12 months of life. She's discovering new things daily, and sometimes hourly, and from what I remember of Benjamin, discoveries keep coming at that speed till she's about 18 months. I'm smiling in anticipation just thinking about it!

As for Violets current life skills...

pretending to drink from a sippy cup
rolling, sitting, and crawling forward
saying "bababa" in a talking tone
picking up and eating "puffs"
grabbing EVERYTHING, mostly glasses
deep belly laughs!

Violets sleep isn't going great. I really just want to hire a super nanny to come figure her out, and then let me take it from there. I'm not joking. But since that won't happen, we'll keep trying. What's the problem you ask? She doesn't nap long (or at all) in the mornings. She gets pretty ticked if I try to put her down too early, and has a super hard time trying to fall asleep when she's over tired. She won't "let me" rock her, without nursing her, but should I continue to do that, no one else has a chance to get her to sleep because she won't take a bottle. She occasionally is ok being bounced to sleep, but only about 30 % of the time, and then, usually only with Joel. And as far as "crying it out" I have tried the method a couple times, for a few days each time, and she will do great once, and then cry as long as we let her the next time. So my current attack plan is to attempt to get her to fall asleep on her own in the first 10 minutes, and then just pat her back till she is out. I have to bend over in the pack n play to reach her, as we haven't done the bed switch yet, and my legs fall asleep fast! Its crazy times over here, in our closet - where she still sleeps! (yes mom, we tried the basement but its too cold, and i'm not running the heater in July!) But as much as I have written about Violets lack of sleep, she's really oddly happy. Most of my frustration comes from wanting "me time" which doesn't happen when babies eyes are open! She is getting a little fussier so I know we do need to tackle the issue, but thankfully I don't have a bear on my hands...yet!

On a positive note, her and her brother LOVE each so very much. Its so much fun to see them interact! She also is playing so much and finding toys oh so interesting! She has the best expressive eyebrows and when you combine that with her smile, she's TROUBLE! (and yes, thats probably why she's whooping us in the sleep department...)

I hope that time slows down just a little bit, but I'm looking forward to the next few months! Hope you all have a great July. Stay cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZlvThMiBL0

They're here !!!

2011-07-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Benjamin - 2 Years

Violet - 6 months

http://www.rebekahstephenson.com/#/special/splash/

BaBaBaBa

2011-07-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Joel and I took the kids to Walmart and Target tonight in search of another sound machine, and light blocking curtains. Violet had her first non-vowel sounding words...Ba Ba Ba (she doesn't take a bottle, so it was purely gibberish!) It was repeated by her older Brother, and went back and forth many times, interrupted only by giggles. :)

Violet is doing great putting more spacing between feedings and is also being more adventurous with baby food. Our sleep domination, well, hasn't been dominated. She has, however, established a "norm" (a three day trend) of sleeping 10-30 minutes in the morning, and 2-4 hrs in the afternoon. Evenings are still random. So I repeat, sleep has yet to be dominated.

We're sitting up, rolling EVERYWHERE, and "crawling" forward and backward. It doesn't look like typical crawling, but I can't say I've seen it enough to describe it. Last week she moved but only went backwards to the wall, and this wee she is purposeful about her goal, and somehow gets there!

Violet is incredibly ticklish. It makes my heart happy. She loves eye contact and being held but is doing pretty well playing by herself, now that she is mobile. She still likes to be wrapped a lot, but I have "cut back", just because I've needed to get things done. She also likes Benjamin's toys... a lot!

Wish me luck as I go for day 4 of our fantastic afternoon naps!
Here's some baby rolls for you viewing pleasure:

Momeee!

2011-07-13T20:41:00.000-07:00

Being a momma is pretty incredible. I really really love it. There are however times that hearing your title over and over and over and over isn't incredible. Unfortunately that is Benjamin's new "favorite activity"!

Other Benjamin news:

He loves singing "Super Why" and "Dinosaur Train".
He names EVERYTHING he sees. And if he isn't sure what its called, "What's that?" is shouted out REPEATEDLY until he learns the name.
If you ask him to finish his food 'all gone' and give him a motivator (like getting to watch t.v.) he shoves ALL his food in his mouth.
He's AWESOME at picking up his toys
We're gaining ground on our numbers, but have resorted to humor if we don't know them. I'm not losing hope...It happened with our letters until one week he just decided to master them!
He would live outside if he could. You think I'm exaggerating. I am not. He LOVES the park and pool!
We're experimenting with a later bed time and trying to sleep in later. Tonight Joel and I got some light blocking curtains and we'll see how the morning goes!
Benjamin Loves running, but quickly switches to marching when commanded. :)
If we don't get enough energy out, Benjamin runs from our front door to the kitchen door. For those of you who have been to my house, you know that it isn't very far!
He's having a little bit of a hard time sharing. It could be worse, but we have some work to do! Its normally not a problem with peers, just with Violet. However the other day at the pool, he was very protective of Violets floaty seat. It was kind of embarrassing.
He has special "cookie radar". He woke up from his nap the other day. stopped in the hall. looked up at the counter, pointed and said, "Cookie! Cookie!. And that night, as he marched off to his crib, he threw up his hand with a wave, saying, "night cookie!" :)

And that concludes my "need to remember" Benjamin notes...As always, there are many more, but I'm pretty tired! G'nite all!

A Happy 4th and Nana and Papa's!

2011-07-08T05:47:00.001-07:00

The last days of June

2011-07-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

our toys show we have an older brother

this is why i don't get much done during the day!

they play so well together, and I trust them WAY too much!

mmmwwa!

I'm not sure who's taking the fish away from whom...

violet, however, won the fish battle

violets first time in the pool

take off the pink hat, and this picture could be Benjamin

for some reason he doesn't like to sit on his bottom in the pool

Yay! I'm not taking a nap!

mmm, this sun screen smells good!

Violet: Project SLEEP

2011-06-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on Violets sleeping, eating ect....
SUMMARY: UP and DOWN!

Violet is teething (I can feel the one on her bottom left!) and somehow I got it in my head that her mouth hurts, and it makes me want to hold her. So I do. So I've nursed her to sleep a couple more times than I was planning the last 3 days, but she has gone to sleep on her own, the majority of time. She isn't nursing great (seemingly uninterested), but when I go to hold her she tries to eat my chin off. I think my supply is o.k., so I don't really know whats up with that. She also has started to know that the sound machine combined with my singing to her, means she has to go to sleep, and she grips on to my shirt SUPER tight. It breaks my heart. Yesterday and Today, she only took short naps for some reason, unless I was holding her. Then she would sleep until I went to lay her down. It's as if she's going backwards on this sleep training project. (I think that she actually is just a lot smarter than I give her credit for!) Tonight, I fed her(unsuccessfully) she cried for a while, I got her up to console her and feed her, then while she was still wide awake, I laid her down. She let out ONE peep, and was out! So, hopefully she learns to just eat good the first time, so we don't have to go through such an emotional process.

All in all, I think things are going well. When she's dry, fed and well rested she's happier than a week ago. We're seeing success, but just not quite done establishing our "norm". Maybe by Wednesday...

Ferber, Babywise, Attatchment Parents...blah blah blah

2011-06-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Readers Beware!
Only proceed if you are needing some encouragement in your baby's eat/sleep story.
For the rest of you...the following is really wordy and boring....Don't say I didn't warn you!

I LOVE being a mom the 2nd time around. Its not that I didn't love the first time - I loved Benjamin (that statement seems highly inadequate), I loved cuddling and I loved watching him grow and hit milestones...But I HATED making parenting decisions. I hated feeling as though I had to decide on a parenting method. I hated that when I desired schedule and structure, People thought I was making my baby suffer. I hated that when I stuck to structure I felt people thought I was cold to him, and that possibly he would suffer long term. I hated that it divided friend groups.

Benjamin was schedule-less for a while. I am foggy in memory of how he fell asleep. We did A LOT of bouncing. I think he began to fall asleep on his own around 3 months, and took 3ish naps a day. He slept through the night o.k. till around 4 or 5 months and suddenly started getting up 3+ times a night. That is when Joel and I said enough is enough and after 2 nights of patting his back and not picking him up, he was a sleep rockstar. Predictable for naps, Solid Sleep at night - as long as we were at home anyway. (Thats another story...)

Well its no secret that Violet has called the shots the last 7 months. She is held a lot, or wrapped with a Moby Wrap. She nursed to sleep, nursed to eat, and nursed to pacify! And we all lived happily ever after...0-6 months anyway.

I noticing Violet was a little more crabby than usual, and I started needing to do things without a 6 month old attached to me. I began to add up her hrs of sleep and it was well short of the recommended amount. I began trying to get her to sleep more often, but I would nurse her and she would just laugh at me, I would lay her in her bassinet and she would get so upset she puked, I would wrap her and walk and my back would be aching, but her little head would just pop out from under the cloth and she would smile at me. So after 7 months of her frequently sleeping with me and very rarely crying, the rules needed to change. She needed to sleep. Everything I read said that her sleep would improve if she could get to sleep on her own. So I had a conference with Joel and we came up with a plan.

We decided to take an adaptation of the Ferber Plan. She could cry for 3 min, 5 min, 7 min....etc up to 19 minutes. After every interval we would pat her back, and start again. This would be for two naps (with an optional 3rd) and bedtime. Also I would work to get in an Eat, Play, Sleep Pattern. We would do this for a Week and re-evaluate.

This was decided yesterday afternoon and around 4:00 it was obvious she needed to sleep. We set the timer and on the 9 minute stretch, she conked out at the 5 minute mark. At bed time, she fell asleep on the 7 minute stretch. Her morning nap we started with a 5 minute stretch and she was asleep at 5 minutes! And get this, she slept 1 hr and 45 minutes!!!!! (She usually only sleeps 30 to 45 min stretches!) I started to put her down again at 11:30 because she was acting tired. She cried and my momma instinct recognized it was a "different" cry, so I stopped trying. I think I mis-read her sleepiness. She fell asleep around 12:30 after just a few minutes of crying (broken up by one "patting" session) and slept another2 hrs. She woke up in the middle of the nap, and I knew she wasn't done sleeping, so I did nurse her back to sleep this time. The pro's seemed to outweigh the cons -if any! Around 5:00 she was acting pretty sleepy. I sang to her, laid her down and she was asleep within 7 minutes. This was just a 45 minute nap, which seemed perfect so as not to hurt our bedtime! Our 7:00 nursing session didn't go great but I foolishly tried to lay her down around 7:30. She cried for 5ish minutes when I knew something wasn't right. I went in, patted for a while, and eventually picked her up. She tried to eat my face off so I nursed her again. This time seemed a bit more satisfying for her, and then I laid her sleepy self down, and without a peep, she was out!

I say this all for just a few reasons...

Because I'm flip'n excited that we are seeing super positive results - She's playing well without constant interactions, and she's sleeping longer!
Because although I don't regret my 6 months of nursing glory, I am elated that as she changes, we're able to change with her!
And for other moms out there with sleeping issues they are dealing with, and searching for a solution. I sympathize with you. I know its not simple. I know you and your baby will be O.K.!
There is such a thing as a Wise momma who takes advice from Ferber, is Attached to her Baby who is Happy and Healthy. You don't have to only chose one method, but you do have to be moderately consistent and Lovingly gracious.
And last but not least, when your baby is crying during your sleep training moments, remember how happy he or she will be when they are getting adequate rest and are well/fully fed!

Wishing you all lots of sleep and tons of cuddles!

Violet's 7 months!

2011-06-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

sitting up!

This little peanut is 7 months! (well two days short)

Well, all I can say is that this little girl is getting much too old WAY too fast. And she has a smile that is making it very hard do anything but hold her!

Everyone comments on what a happy baby Violet is and yes, she is very happy...when you're holding her, or looking at her. In fact she's almost ALWAYS happy when you're doing one of those two things. However, she is seldom happy for very long when you aren't.

She also won't take a pacifier.

She also likes to(has always been) nurse to sleep.

The facts above aren't in and of themselves a problem, but I'm of the persuasion that they (primarily the nursing to sleep factor) have created short - 15-45 min - or no naps. This is a problem.

So for the sake of her happiness, the sake of her quality of life, and the sake of my claustrophobia this week begins her schedule. So far so good. Last week I was going to see if I could get Violet to sleep without nursing her their, and she got so upset she puked. Today, I was much more planned out, I talked it out with Joel, and we are 2 for 2 in our attempts. I pat her little back and sing, "I'm a little bunny and my momma loves me" and away we go!

She also has started puffs, cereal, bananas, and applesauce. In an effort to get her to go 3 hours between feedings, I'm supplementing these other snacks in the middle (thats right, she's 7 months and 3 hrs is a STRETCH!)

She LOVES Benjamin, and watching him, and when he plays with her.

She's super ticklish, and giggly!

She sits up on her own (with many falls!) and LOVES to be wrapped. She's not a fan of the car seat.

I feel like I've failed in reading books to her. I'm hoping to make up for lost time!

Well, thats all! Happy June!

sleeping in our closet!

Benjamin reading video

2011-06-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Benjamin's story times are normally quite long, and more bi lingual but you get the idea...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwsVz0_XcbA

Benjamin and Violet Video

2011-06-21T19:09:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a8BlAPhmmk

Happy Stuff

2011-06-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Benjamin cleaning up his trains, and without any cue or direction pulling his big green tub of trains behind him from the living room, to his bed room.
Violet laughing at me when she's supposed to be eating
Joel tickling either kiddo's feet with his unshaven face
Benjamin playing with his planes and trains and cars and trucks and motorcycles...Crash after Crash after Crash
Violet rolling her eyes to the top of her head to find me
Joel not being able to sleep until he checks on everybody, making sure there's no pillions or blankets on our heads...
Benjamin's inflection when he whips our his new phrases, "heeere it comes", "where'd it go?" and "thanks for coming!"
Violets guaranteed laugh when I sing, "I'm a little kitty, and my momma loves me..."
Joel's wresting matches with Benjamin, and ability to make Violet laugh and laugh

Time to Detox your Home!

2011-06-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

I rarely do things that make me think..."that was a great thing...everyone should do that...Go Me!", but this weekend I did (when I say, I really me my husband and I). We took a good portion of our "precious" belongings, and put them up for sale. Ok, it was a very small portion, and they were quite well used items, but most all had some sort of sentimental value, and at times, it wasn't easy...the adorable little outfits of my babies, the dress that I wore that fabulous night in the Bahamas, the super cute coffee cups I registered for before our wedding, and those expensive pants I let myself splurge on...

But after the difficult task of bringing them out to the sale, and agreeing to the VERY small monetary exchange people were willing to give me for them, it feels pretty great! You see, my little ones only wore that cute outfit for a week before they hit a growth spurt, I won't be going on a cruise again any time soon, those coffee cups hadn't been used in 6 years, and those pants never fit as well as I wanted them to, and especially don't fit now!

Well, the sale ended, and we felt great about what we got rid of, how our stuff might actually be getting used at this very moment, and how we have a nice little chunk of change to help us out on our next adventures in life! We aren't done Detoxing our home yet (careful, it is a little addictive!) but this is how we started...

Stop seeing things as Yes-for sale, vs No-not for sale. EVERYTHING but your child is for sale, some things just might have a high price attached to them!
Go through your closet. would you trade 4 of those pants for 1 great pair? have you not had shoes to match that dress for 2 years? is this the third season that shirt hasn't fit you? think of how much less stressful it would be to get dressed in the A.M. if the only things that stared at you were things that fit, and that you might actually wear!
The burn test. If your house burnt down, would you cry over that item? Would you even notice it was gone? How much would it cost to replace it?
Advertise like crazy, and be happy salesmen. People need to know your junks for sale, so use every free venue possible and even ones that cost a little...a $30 add is worth a couple hundred in sales! Be helpful, be honest, and make buyers like you. The chances of people buying something when they're ticked off isn't too high.
See Clean & Enjoy the free feeling of SPACE. My basement feels so stink'n big and spacious right now, all because it doesn't have unnecessary crap cramp'n its style. Its fun to be able to spread out, its fun to be able to pick up and see clean and not just cluttered

Well, our phase 1 of Mission Detox is over, and phase 2 has already begun. Wish us luck as we hold on to our stuff with a Very loose grip!

cloth diapers

2011-06-12T12:11:00.001-07:00

Several Econobum cloth diaper covers, with several more prefolds

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4060012&CAWELAID=524773592

$4 for 1 cover and 1 prefold. $1 for any extra prefolds

GARAGE SALE

2011-06-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

People, we're selling everything but our children...

come one, come all, come short, come tall! Stuff for electronic nerds, stuff for babies, new clothes with tags, and name brands for Gents and ladies. strollers, wipe warmers, bedding & more,rakes, fishing poles, out door stuff galore! So come for a Diaper Champ,& find some new shoes, pick up some formal wear to wear on your cruise.

Seriously - be here-Saturday - 7-1

Couches, dressers, desks, night stands, recliner, Dishes, Bowls, Phones, ECT

GARAGE SALE

2011-06-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

GARAGE SALE:
Saturday June 11, 7-1...
3418 west st...

weight bench, tread mill, hide a bed sofa, black recliner, Dell p4 system, set of poker chips, Symphonic TV and Converter, TV stand, Samsung SCH i760, ice cream maker, Senseo 1 Cup Coffee Maker, Simpsons DVD's Season 1-4, wireless Keyboard and mouse, Shovels, Gateway laptop, diaper pail,

TONS of clothes...
boys NB-4T, girls NB-9MNTH, Womens:Sm M and Lg, Mens:XL, Winter coats, Toys and MORE! Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Limited, Nike, J CREW, etc

Walk in the Park

2011-06-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

springing into summer

2011-06-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Violet Ann Eloise is 6 months!

2011-05-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

This post will be short, and pictureless, but I wanted to get some Violet news up before I forget! Hopefully I will have pictures, candid and professional, up shortly.

Violet turned 6 months on Monday. I can't believe it! Time is such a funny thing, and its gone ridiculously fast. Here are some Violet Benchmarks:

Rolling all over the place, both ways
Scooting like a worm
less high pitched screaming...HOORAY!
still not taking a bottle
eating every 2.5 - 3 hrs
Just this week we've moved bed time up from 8:30 or 9:00, to 7:30ish. She usually wakes up an hour and a half later to get a quick snack in...and then wakes up one or two more times before 7:00.
Naps are not our strength...mostly moms fault. I need to get more regular in my schedule, so she can be regular and not sleep deprived...I'm just being selfish
she's in 6-12 or 9 mnth clothes
She LOVES watching Benjamin
She LOVES being tickled.
She also loves this song I sing, "I'm a little kitty and my momma loves me...Goodnight" it makes her giggle if I look her in the eyes while I sing it...and it just makes her snuggle otherwise
She has a forward swing, and sideways swing, a vibrating seat, a play mat, and a bumbo...SO MUCH STUFF! but her newest favorite is the Excersaucer. :)
We started cereal, and it went ok the first two weeks, but she's started just letting it run out the sides of her mouth. She also has had Veggie Puffs. She eats the first one fine, and then starts to spit them out...followed by Benjamin yelling "Uh OH!"
I'm wearing her a TON the last two months. She loves it, and I love my hands! Its awesome because I don't have to decide between her and my house...I get to love on them both. :) haha
No teeth yet. my predictions were wrong.

Well, thats all that comes to mind now...actually, I could probably write more, but its 8:49 and both kids have been in bed since 7. I am EXHAUSTED and will take this opportunity to go to bed crazy early. Have a good night!

On the road again- part 2

2011-05-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

Well, after waking up Sunday morning, and sleepily re-packing our belongings, we ate a quick breakfast (more importantly guzzled some coffee - thank you Lora! I depleted you of coffee and creamer...sorry!) and Benjamin unwrapped some birthday presents from Grandma and Grandpa. Play Dough, A View Finder and Puzzles! Benjamin LOVED them! And somewhere around 10:30, we hit the road.

The plan was to leave MN and drive about 9 hours, with a quick stop in Ames. The 3.5 hr trip to Ames is fuzzy in my memory, but if I remember correctly, Benjamin was out in the first 15 minutes, and Violet slept half the trip again, and was awaken by yet another dirty diaper...more curses against poo!

Our stop at home was a little longer than planned, but I planned on it being longer than planned, so that means that it was exactly according to plans, right? haha We stopped for about an hour, and picked up some things that we needed for the remainder of our trip. We also made some sandwiches and had a late lunch. Benjamin was even more patient than normal with our 1:15 lunch. yeah! we used up some milk, and avacado that couldn't wait till our return home, and washed up dishes that got left behind after the first leg of our trip. Joel made some coffee, then, it was back in our car seats (much to the children's dismay!) and we were off.

Benjamin slept again, and Violet did O.K. (are you noticing a trend? Benjamin's a pretty great traveler now, and Violet poos too much :)) Finally...9:00p.m. or 10:00ish, I forget, we were at our hotel in NE, and ready for a new sleeping environment. We "unpacked" enough for a 12 hour stay, and started to put the babes down. It was super late, and they were super tired, but all in all, it went remarkably. We only have one pack n' play, so Violet usually gets to sleep with momma, and Benjamin has gotten quite comfortable in his new sleep zone. In fact, as I wrote most of this entry, he napped in his pack n' play, and I just laid on the bed next to his "crib". He played for about 15 minutes, and when I told him to lay down and go to sleep, he put his head on his pillow, and started pretend snoring, until they became real ones. :) I LOVE IT! He's been waking up quite a bit at night (on the trip,compared to normal), and we're learning that he goes back to sleep best if we let him cry out unattended once or twice...Otherwise, Joel pats him on the back and he conks out again...(opposed to if I pick him up, he's up for good. no matter what time it is! I learned this the hard way.:(

We were up and at 'em the next morning around 7ish, and went down to the continental breakfast with our swim suits on and eyes focused on the pool! Violet doesn't have a suit yet, and just watched from her Bumbo on the side lines, but Benjamin's NEMO swim trunks still fit from last summer (the waist is fine, however the length is a bit short!). Joel and I were SO EXCITED to take turns with Benjamin in the pool, and the other relaxing in the hot tub. Sadly, however, the hot tub was so ridiculously hot...i'm talking scald your toes in seconds...we both hit the pool with Benjamin. He wasn't a fan at first, but Violet got lonely just watching us, so I took her upstairs, and Joel got Benjamin to relax and splash around. We then showered, packed up, let Benjamin run around in a Veterans park nearby, and hit the road again.

This 6 hour leg of the trip was pretty great...I think hour 3 and 5 weren't all that great, but I'm thankful for the other 4 hours. Benjamin slept a ton, and loved looking out and seeing cow, after cow, after cow, and the occasional horse. Violet is starting to do better playing on her own with toys, but she drops them a lot, and once she sees me, she wants me to hold her. Its tricky!

Finally late afternoon came, and we were at our final destination! Glen Eyrie Conference Center:

Rough, I know. The sacrifices we make for ministry...:) This is the castle, and beautiful setting of Glen Eyrie...Navigator Headquarters. Joel attends some sessions in the great hall, near the top of the castle, and most of our dinning is in the Hall connected to the left of this picture. Other than that, the campus has several buildings, lodges, meeting rooms, etc, that are disconnected from the castle. We are staying in a one room hotel like room with two queen beds, a dresser, and a bathroom. Its on a floor with many other married couples and new babies, and also the location of a meeting room for about half of the sessions. It has a shared space for laundry, ice machine, microwave, fridge, and tile floor (important for play dough creations!).

So far Benjamin has seen:

The deer welcomed us right when we arrived, and the turkeys have hung out right outside our lodge the whole time we've been here. We only got to see the great horned sheep once so far, but Benjamin looks for them constantly. We're hoping to see them again before we leave! They also gave Daddy the highlight of his trip, when we saw them right on top of a foot hill as the sun was setting. It was an incredible sight!

Well Daddy is busy most days attending meetings, and studying for an upcoming test. I knew we wouldn't see much of him while we were here, but waking up and having him here in the mornings seemed worth the long car ride! My only request was to all eat meals together, and I promised to have no expectations of the rest of our time! It was so great, on our "free day", Daddy took the morning off studying, and we headed off to Focus on the Families, Whit's End.

This room was the 0-4 room, and although all the other slides and planes, and ice cream shop interested Joel and I, this was Benjamin's favorite zone. He was O.K. with the awesome airplane, and whits end coffee shop, but really just LOVED the 4 ft slide in the Toddler room. :)

Well, after Benjamin got a bite to eat and some milk at Whits End, we headed back to Glen Eyrie. Joel and I picked up some food to bring back and after putting both kiddos to sleep had a nice uninterrupted lunch in a quite conference room.

The rest of the week included more DVD's (The Letter Factory - to be specific) gazillions of walks, some kickball, and more play dough! (Benjamin's favorite play dough activity is taking everything , dough and tools, out and then figuring out how it all fits back in the container. Its hard for me to watch!)

Saturday came and upon realizing that the conference was pretty much done we made the call to pack up and leave. Joel was up for the challenge of driving through the night. So drive we did. I might write about that more soon, but this post has been sitting in my drafts box for more than a week now, so I'm just going to end it! All in all, Joel and I are both so glad that we made it a trip of FOUR!

On the road again

2011-05-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

1,973 miles

31 hrs + rest stops in the van

11 days away from home

5 different beds

2 little people

1 happy/crazy family

TRIP #1: A WALK DOWN THE ISLE

May 5th started out a little nutty with Joel running errands, cleaning out the car and spending unexpected time on the phone clarifying insurance details about Violet. I had spent the previous day doing laundry, laundry and more laundry, and purposefully decided not to pack until I could lay everything out in front of me. This meant that Thursday morning I needed to pack EVERYTHING for our 11 day adventure....and it needed to be done by 1:00pm. I've had better ideas. :)

We got on the road only 45 minutes late and the kids slept pretty well on the 3.5 hr trip. Violet didn't do so hot on the second half of the trip (curses to dirty diapers that wake up babies). But we finally arrived, and Joel was off again to meet up with the guys for the bachelor party. Benjamin had a blast with his cousins in their big back yard, and after a tasty supper and quick bath, we were off bed. Normally this wouldn't be much of a note worthy event, but the last 4 months Benjamin has been a mommas boy who lets me put him down for naps, and frequently wants me to hold him, but only goes down well at bed time for daddy, especially when we're traveling. To make a long story shorter, I didn't have any extra hands available when I was putting Benjamin down, and Violet needed to eat, and we all three ended up in the bed Joel and I were staying in - till Joel got home...Unfortunately Benjamin likes to flop around a lot, and he silently, yes silently, flopped from 8:30 - 10:45. The only words spoken were the occasional whisper, "pillow...pillow", from Benjamin's tired lips And there you have the account of the first night of 11 on the road :)

The next night was fuzzy. Thats what sleep deprivation does to a person. During the day Joel got Benjamin down for a nap, and we (Daddy Momma and Violet) went to the mall to pick up Joel's tux and get something for me to wear to the wedding. (Note to all: when borrowing a friends dress, try it on before you travel...or at least bring a back up!) After Joel VERY patiently shopped with me, we picked up his tux and found Benjamin back at the Whitehouse residence snacking with his cousins! (Grandma was a saint and agreed to watch Benjamin along with Henry and Jace!). Our little man played so very hard the rest of the afternoon with his cousins and I was able to slip out later that night(with Violet) and join Joel at the rehearsal dinner...It was at this Chinese restaurant and SUPER yummy! If I remember right, Joel came home after rehearsal, put Benjamin down and picked up Violet and I. I felt like an incredibly inept mother who couldn't even put her own child to sleep, but I just tell myself he loves me so much he doesn't like to see me go! :) After dinner, Joel dropped his women off and went out again with the guys. He got back so late, but had some good times with friends he doesn't see very often.

Saturday morning - wedding day - started much earlier than I would have liked. I woke up early to Benjamin crying "help help help!", and let Joel sleep due to his back to back late nights!. Joel was off at 10:30 to start groomsmen duties, and Benjamin played outside for a large portion of the day. I wasted much of the morning trying to get Benjamin down for an early nap. He was EXHAUSTED, and I was pretty tried myself. I thought it would be nice to get him down early, but he had other plans. The beautiful sunshine, fun cousins and lack of daddy prohibited sleep, and finally I called in grandma for some much needed back up. She rocked him to sleep, no problem! Violet and I cleaned up and got to the wedding. It was fun sitting with the Lewicki family, and pretty great having all the boys at the sitters! Its not often that we get to have uninterrupted conversation. I missed having Joel around during the reception (he had to sit at the head table,) but was VERY appreciative that Daddy took time between the reception and the "after-party" to come back and put Benjamin to bed. Violet and I made a last minute decision to go to the dance, and it probably wasn't the best decision of the weekend. We left the party early and Grandma and Grandpa took us home to bed!

After another late night for Joel, we woke up Sunday morning, and began loading up to hit the road for CO....but that is a story for another day...or at least sometime when my lap top battery isn't dying. :)

Birthday Party Pictures

2011-04-29T20:24:00.001-07:00

Violet: 5 months and 1+week

2011-04-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am so embarrassed how few pictures I've taken the last 2 months. I MUST do better!

So much Fun!...other than nights that is! Violet is loving life, and is overall a super happy little girl! She loves her momma and looks for me when she hears my voice, but LOVES her daddy too, and laughs so hard for him. Big Brother Benjamin is right there on the top of her list of favorite people, and its very nice when he will play with his trains, or run, or ANYTHING right in front of her, to keep her entertained!

Nights were starting to get better, and then earlier this week, she slept through the night 3 times in a row! then she got a runny nose and had a bad night, followed by the worst night ever. Tonights she's been sleeping for an hour and a half already, so there we're guaranteed to be better off than last night! YAY (I should be sleeping now, and will most definitely regret my decision!) We go to Minnesota next week, and then CO for a week, so I'm not getting too worked up about a schedule or habit. My goal is just to be able to go 2+ hrs between feedings...the rest is optional!

Violet is SO aware of everything around her, and wants to grab it all! She's quick and has a death grip, and I'm not used to this new found talent of hers, so I have spilled frequently the last two weeks. She can roll over both ways, but I've only witnessed tummy to back, and seen the results of back to tummy. She scoots around in a circle quite well (on her tummy) and I'm afraid she's going to be a fast crawler. Hopefully not!

My least favorite thing about our current stage, even more than the lack of sleep, is experimenting with her vocal chords. I can cure the sleep problem with coffee, but her ear piercing screams, happy or sad, are maddening... especially when Benjamin copies!

Well off the top of my head, thats all the interesting facts for the month. I'll be surprised if we don't have teeth by 6 months (Part of me wants them to wait so I keep my baby, and part of me wants them to hurry up so I don't have a slobbery, sad little girl!) I love watching her personality pop out more and more, and also have so much joy, watching Benjamin love her more and more!

Its going to be a great summer!

2 Incredible Years

2011-04-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

Benjamins 2nd Birthday

We woke up on this Thursday morning a little earlier than normal. I wish it was because of excitement for your birthday, but really, I think you and your sister are both teething! :( It was a great morning and you got to watch BOZ (dvd) while mommy and daddy figured out some summer calendar/to do details.

I made your FAVORITE lunch, grilled cheese and tomato soup, (technically the soup was left over from the day before, but you didn't complain). Your getting great at eating soup and usually ask for "more more more" when we're done. The last 4 or 5 bites of your sandwich took me by surprise and as I watched from the kitcen, you stuffed all of them in your mouth. I was kinda mean and made you chew and drink milk until you could swallow them. :)

After lunch you were very tired so I asked if you wanted to go to bed and you started walking to your bedroom. It was a very unusual, and very rough nap experience. All together, Your sister screaming(happily but loudly), me hearing you rip the pages of your book, and your pesky gums/teeth, it took over an hour to get to sleep. However you did eventually nod off. (I was panicking that our birthday evening was going to be ruined by a tired little boy!)

After your nap we went grocery shopping. While bagging the groceries, you saw a itsy bitsy bug, and FREAKED out. Other than your current obsession and fear of bugs, you were a great shopper. We went to Flowerama afterwards and bought you four balloons. They are one of your favorite things right now! Thankfully the sales woman gave us 4 for the price of 3, because the blue one popped right when we got home!

For supper we went to Hickory Park with some friends. We should have gone earlier, because after waiting to be seated, and waiting for our food, you and Devon were ready for bed. Afternoon watching both your eyes get VERY heavy, they perked right up when it was time for ice cream!

You got your very own scoop of ice cream with a candle! (I helped you blow it out after 5 tries)

Benjamin, you are SO fun right now. Your vocabulary is exploding, with single words, and you are slowly putting two words together. Your comprehension is so fun to watch develop. Today, I was explaining to you how and why we stop for cars, thinking how ridiculous I was for waisting my breath when you had no idea what i was saying. On our trip home from the park, you then tried to stop for EVERY car, stationary or moving. Then I tried to explain we only stopped for the moving cars, and you tried to stop for every moving car on Lincoln Way. Too bad you don't have a better teacher!

You continue to love to read, but also love imagining things, especially pretending everything is a phone. You are so energetic and will run from our front door to the kitchen door for 5 - 30 minutes, yelling "run run run". You love looking out the window and finding a bug (as long as its outside), a car (or any other vehicle), or birds. You love to play "chase", to be scared, to be tickled, and to "help" me work out. Your discovering the magic of chalk, and love making "snakes". In fact, thats all you make! :

We still love our ABC's, but are starting to figure out numbers. You finally acknowledge the #1 (for FOREVER you would repeat any number but #1, and if you counted on your own, it was "2, 6, 9, 2, 6, 9". Things are starting to click, and I don't think it will be long till you can count using numbers 1-9! Another favorite thing of ours (at least your mom and dad and Nana,) is singing familiar songs and having you fill in words. "Jesus Loves ___" is our favorite. :)

So far we aren't horrible at sharing, but don't have a lot of experience with it, so I'm sure that challenge is coming up! Your whining more than before, but when it gets really bad, and deep breaths don't work, you are usually cured of the whiny disease by two minutes in your crib...Some days are much better than others! You have gone through a stage the last 3 or 4 months being o.k. with Dad putting you down for bed, and not mom. I like to think its that you just are too sad to watch me leave your room, but were not sure...This week we had our first success in a very long time, so hopefully its only up from here!

I could keep writing for a very long time, Benjamin, but your little sister has been a pistol the last two nights, and I'm exhausted. Your daddy and I love you so very much. We are so thankful God blessed us with you, and pray that He gives us wisdom as we help you "grow in wisdom and stature with God and men!"

stats

2011-04-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

BENJAMIN: 2 YR APPT

height - 35.5 inches (78%)
weight - 29.5 lbs (71%)
head - 49.4 cm (75%)

VIOLET: 4 MONTH APPT

height - 24.5 inches (41%)
weight - 14 lbs (43%)
head - 40.3 cm (19%)