Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
It's been awhile!
I haven't been very good at keeping my blog updated. As it turns out, I did get offered the job covering the mat leave, and I accepted the position. I ended up getting 1 week of training (but only the equivalent of about 4 days due to her leaving early one day and me leaving early another) for a position that I would say needed a good 3-4 weeks of training. So that first week was very stressful, but by the Friday, I thought I would do ok.
And then the next week started. It was awful. People seemed to not realize that having just started, I didn't just know what they were talking about when they asked me something, and that it was taking me longer to get things done because I hadn't been doing it for 3+ years like the last girl, and that I just needed time to learn and become comfortable. And I was having all sorts of things come through my office that I had never seen before and had no idea what to do with them, and there was really no one I could ask for help for alot of it...Just had to figure it out on my own. I spent the better part of Wednesday afternoon crying at my desk, and even that didn't seem to deter people from their crazy demands.
At about that same time, Jamie spoke to his foreman and the owner of the company he was laid off from, and they wanted him to start back pretty quick. So after discussing it to death, Jamie and I decided that when he went back to work, I would go back to staying home with the kids. Not just because the job was seriously not working for me, but because we found out that to get subsidy for child care, they go by pay stubs, so if we got subsidy, it likely wouldn't last long. And if we weren't subsidized, we'd be paying up to $1200 a month in child care when I was only making $1500-1600 a month. I'd basically be working to pay a babysitter, especially taking into consideration the cost of gas to drive back and forth to Veg, and wear and tear on the car. So Jamie got called back to work on Tuesday (Monday was Victoria Day) and I am now back home with the girls and couldn't be happier about it.
And as if the job itself wasn't bad enough, one of the girls I worked with had chicken pox while I was there, and it got passed onto Lexi. She is covered in spots (although strangely enough, none on her face, just her torso and limbs) and is crabby, crabby, crabby.
The girls did get spoiled with having their daddy home (and I must say I quite enjoyed it too), and they are really, really missing him now (again, as am I). He is working all day shifts, which means more hours and he's not home at all during the week when they're awake. And they also are going to need him to work some weekends to load trucks, so he is going to be busy and the girls and I will have to adjust, but I think we'll all do just fine.
Our house is still on the market and we unfortunately have not had much interest. I'm actually quite upset, because in a span of less than 2 weeks, 3 comparable houses sold (and 2 out of 3 with our realtor) and we didn't even get a showing. So I'm not thrilled about that, but I'm still confident that we can get the place sold.
Our credit unfortunately did take a hit with Jamie being laid off for so long (and his EI taking well over 2 months to come in) so we figure when the house sells, we will just worry about getting as much of our crap paid off as we can (obviously mortgage, but our personal loan we had to take out, Jamie's car loan, the credit card and some other stuff we have financed) and spend about a year saving up for a down payment and building up our credit to the point that it was before. We really hope to be able to buy some land (probably around 10 acres) and put a house on it (although we'd have to go factory built and not custom). I grew up on a farm and living in town, even a small town, is just not where I want to be.
But at this point, we are just taking it one step at a time and trying not to think too far ahead. We don't have any control over when the house sells, so we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. I am definitely a planner, so this is hard for me to just play it by ear, but it really is all we can do at this point. But I am still hating that it's all unknown and I have no control. LOL
And then the next week started. It was awful. People seemed to not realize that having just started, I didn't just know what they were talking about when they asked me something, and that it was taking me longer to get things done because I hadn't been doing it for 3+ years like the last girl, and that I just needed time to learn and become comfortable. And I was having all sorts of things come through my office that I had never seen before and had no idea what to do with them, and there was really no one I could ask for help for alot of it...Just had to figure it out on my own. I spent the better part of Wednesday afternoon crying at my desk, and even that didn't seem to deter people from their crazy demands.
At about that same time, Jamie spoke to his foreman and the owner of the company he was laid off from, and they wanted him to start back pretty quick. So after discussing it to death, Jamie and I decided that when he went back to work, I would go back to staying home with the kids. Not just because the job was seriously not working for me, but because we found out that to get subsidy for child care, they go by pay stubs, so if we got subsidy, it likely wouldn't last long. And if we weren't subsidized, we'd be paying up to $1200 a month in child care when I was only making $1500-1600 a month. I'd basically be working to pay a babysitter, especially taking into consideration the cost of gas to drive back and forth to Veg, and wear and tear on the car. So Jamie got called back to work on Tuesday (Monday was Victoria Day) and I am now back home with the girls and couldn't be happier about it.
And as if the job itself wasn't bad enough, one of the girls I worked with had chicken pox while I was there, and it got passed onto Lexi. She is covered in spots (although strangely enough, none on her face, just her torso and limbs) and is crabby, crabby, crabby.
The girls did get spoiled with having their daddy home (and I must say I quite enjoyed it too), and they are really, really missing him now (again, as am I). He is working all day shifts, which means more hours and he's not home at all during the week when they're awake. And they also are going to need him to work some weekends to load trucks, so he is going to be busy and the girls and I will have to adjust, but I think we'll all do just fine.
Our house is still on the market and we unfortunately have not had much interest. I'm actually quite upset, because in a span of less than 2 weeks, 3 comparable houses sold (and 2 out of 3 with our realtor) and we didn't even get a showing. So I'm not thrilled about that, but I'm still confident that we can get the place sold.
Our credit unfortunately did take a hit with Jamie being laid off for so long (and his EI taking well over 2 months to come in) so we figure when the house sells, we will just worry about getting as much of our crap paid off as we can (obviously mortgage, but our personal loan we had to take out, Jamie's car loan, the credit card and some other stuff we have financed) and spend about a year saving up for a down payment and building up our credit to the point that it was before. We really hope to be able to buy some land (probably around 10 acres) and put a house on it (although we'd have to go factory built and not custom). I grew up on a farm and living in town, even a small town, is just not where I want to be.
But at this point, we are just taking it one step at a time and trying not to think too far ahead. We don't have any control over when the house sells, so we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. I am definitely a planner, so this is hard for me to just play it by ear, but it really is all we can do at this point. But I am still hating that it's all unknown and I have no control. LOL
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Another Interview
On Monday I had a job interview at the Chrysler dealership in Veg. It was for the financial manager position. The interview went really well and was with a guy that Jamie and I know, so it was very relaxed and not alot of questions, but more an explanantion of the position. I feel I would do really well at the job, but my only concern is that it is a commision-based position. For about the first 3 months I would make a wage, and after that it would be strictly based on how much life and disability insurance and extended warranty I sold. So that worries me. I know I could do it, but it concerns me that there could be slow months (especially with where the economy is right now) and that I might now make alot those months.
The interview I had today was actually with the GM dealer in Veg. It went much better and is a job I think would likely be a better fit. It's the customer contact manager position. I felt that the interview went extremely well, and because it's a managerial position, I am much more confident about the financial aspect of it as well. The only thing is, it is a temporary position covering a mat leave for 12-18 months, whereas the other one is a permanent full-time position. Although, at this point I don't have to be worried because I haven't actually been offered either of them, but I am going to think confidently and tack on a "yet" to that sentence, and worry about which would work better, or if either of them will, because worrying is what I do best. lol
But it still comes dows to child care. Yesterday I mentioned I found a dayhome with immediate openings but it would cost $1200 a month to send both girls. I had found one right in Veg (this other one is in between Two Hills and Veg), but she doesn't have openings until mid-June, so that wouldn't work, but she is $200 a month cheaper, which would have been really nice (although still a rip-off in my honest opinion).
I do have to say, though, that I am very excited at the thought of going back to work. I had been toying with the idea since about last October, but I really just wasn't ready until now. I know it still won't be easy to get used to sending the girls to a dayhome and not spending my days with them, but I think that it will be good for all of us once we settle into the new routine.
Jamie applied for another job today that would be really great for him. The pay is supposed to be really good, but again, it is only a temporary position until next fall. Ideally the company he is with now would get their act together and take him back. They have one crew back to work, and it is his crew, but rather than put him back in his regular position as a loader operator, they brought back another guy who isn't even supposed to be running loader (he is the tower guy, whatever that means). We thought maybe it was because this other guy has more seniority, but then we found out that the foreman's son was brought back, even though Jamie has over a year of seniority on him. I think a call to employment standards is in order (especially seeing as the foreman will neither take, nor return Jamie's calls now), but Jamie doesn't like to makes waves. I, on the other hand, would be kicking some ass.
The interview I had today was actually with the GM dealer in Veg. It went much better and is a job I think would likely be a better fit. It's the customer contact manager position. I felt that the interview went extremely well, and because it's a managerial position, I am much more confident about the financial aspect of it as well. The only thing is, it is a temporary position covering a mat leave for 12-18 months, whereas the other one is a permanent full-time position. Although, at this point I don't have to be worried because I haven't actually been offered either of them, but I am going to think confidently and tack on a "yet" to that sentence, and worry about which would work better, or if either of them will, because worrying is what I do best. lol
But it still comes dows to child care. Yesterday I mentioned I found a dayhome with immediate openings but it would cost $1200 a month to send both girls. I had found one right in Veg (this other one is in between Two Hills and Veg), but she doesn't have openings until mid-June, so that wouldn't work, but she is $200 a month cheaper, which would have been really nice (although still a rip-off in my honest opinion).
I do have to say, though, that I am very excited at the thought of going back to work. I had been toying with the idea since about last October, but I really just wasn't ready until now. I know it still won't be easy to get used to sending the girls to a dayhome and not spending my days with them, but I think that it will be good for all of us once we settle into the new routine.
Jamie applied for another job today that would be really great for him. The pay is supposed to be really good, but again, it is only a temporary position until next fall. Ideally the company he is with now would get their act together and take him back. They have one crew back to work, and it is his crew, but rather than put him back in his regular position as a loader operator, they brought back another guy who isn't even supposed to be running loader (he is the tower guy, whatever that means). We thought maybe it was because this other guy has more seniority, but then we found out that the foreman's son was brought back, even though Jamie has over a year of seniority on him. I think a call to employment standards is in order (especially seeing as the foreman will neither take, nor return Jamie's calls now), but Jamie doesn't like to makes waves. I, on the other hand, would be kicking some ass.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Still Here!
So it has been a ridiculously long time since my last post, as usual. Things here have been crazy lately. Jamie has been laid off of his job since 2 weeks before Christmas. He did have another temporary job for about 2 months starting the end of January, but that is over and done with now. He had EI in between those 2 jobs, but we are still waiting on it to come in after the second one ended.
So that has prompted us to put our house on the market (which wasn't a hard decision to come to because neither of us are very happy with the town we are currently living in). I also have been putting out alot of resumes to go back to work too. Jamie has been looking for work and applying alot, but it is hard to find anything what with the recession, and everything that he does find he don't hear back from, I assume because there are so many applicants. Which is what prompted me to start looking for myself. Also, he isn't going to find a job making nearly what he was before, so we would really need the second income.
That being said, I looked into childcare today because I have found a few options for myself and have had, and do have, interviews lined up. They are all around the same price per month for the 2 kids, but I only found 1 place that actually has openings. She's out of town, but on the way into Veg, which would work ok. What doesn't work, is that it would be $1200 per month for the 2 girls. That just seems ridiculous to me considering this is small town, rural Alberta. When I had my dayhome, I never charged anywhere near $600 per kid, and I had family rates so that it wasn't full price per kid. And I had trouble filling spots. So I don't understand how they're able to charge that much now.
So I'm a little unsure about what is going to happen there. With what I would be making at any of these jobs, and with travel expenses, after I paid for child care I would be pocketing less than $1000. It hardly seems worth it to me. But we shall see.
So with all I have talked about Jamie, you might be wondering about us, and yes we are back together. It was the right move not only for us, but for our family. We are very happy and have been doing really well.
The girls have also been doing well. Addy is now 2 years and 2 months, and Lexi is 14 months. Addy is talking up a storm (you can't get her to shut up...lol) and she repeats everything...And I do mean everything. She is a busy little girl and is almost always into some kind of mischief. She is most definitely into the Terrible Two's now, and is teaching her sister all about how to throw tantrums. And man oh man does that little baby have a temper! Lexi is all about what she wants, and if she doesn't get it, you will feel her wrath! She is actually even more mischievious than her sister, if you can even believe it. She started really walking about a month ago and now that's all she wants to do. When we're out and Addy gets to walk, she gets quite annoyed that she can't always do the same. And while, like her sister, she is fiercely independent, she also loves to snuggle up and give love and kisses and hugs (again, also like her sister). She still isn't much of a talker (although Addy makes up for it)...She seems to know alot of words, but has absolutely no desire whatsoever to use them. But every once in awhile, she will surprise you and come out with a word, and then refuse to say it again no matter how hard you try to get her to.
The most wonderful thing, though, is that the 2 of them really have a great relationship now. I mean, don't get me wrong, they beat up on each other (although today at the pediatrician's I discovered that they do actually know how to place nice with other kids, just not each other) and they steal toys, pull hair, push and shove and yell like you wouldn't believe, but they can also be so great to each other. They will share when they want to, and they will bring things to each other that they know they like (Addy usually just brings Lexi food, or a toy if I ask her to, but Lexi will find Addy's suckies or special toys and bring them to her), they give each other hugs and kisses (on their own without being prompted...lol), I'll catch them sitting together (sometimes even holding hands...they especially do this in the car), Addy still asks to hold Lexi and they'll sit with her in her lap for the longest time, and sometimes they even play nicely together...lol.
They are both still on the bottle, and Addy also still has her sucky. I didn't want to wean Addy off the bottle before I could wean Lexi too, because I figured it would just cause jealousy and fighting and Addy would likely just steal Lexi's bottle. So now we are slowly working on that, and once the bottle is gone, we will work on the sucky.
We also have Lexi's big girl bed, but we haven't set it up for her yet. I think she is ready, but Jamie figures it will just cause them to take even longer to fall asleep than they already do (because it will be both of them out of bed tearing the room apart rather than just Addy). So we are going to put that off for awhile too. Maybe give it a shot when the bottles and sucky are gone.
But other than that, I don't think there is much more to share. Hopefully I will get better at blogging more often. At this point, I actually tend to have more free time so maybe now I will be able to make a better effort.
So that has prompted us to put our house on the market (which wasn't a hard decision to come to because neither of us are very happy with the town we are currently living in). I also have been putting out alot of resumes to go back to work too. Jamie has been looking for work and applying alot, but it is hard to find anything what with the recession, and everything that he does find he don't hear back from, I assume because there are so many applicants. Which is what prompted me to start looking for myself. Also, he isn't going to find a job making nearly what he was before, so we would really need the second income.
That being said, I looked into childcare today because I have found a few options for myself and have had, and do have, interviews lined up. They are all around the same price per month for the 2 kids, but I only found 1 place that actually has openings. She's out of town, but on the way into Veg, which would work ok. What doesn't work, is that it would be $1200 per month for the 2 girls. That just seems ridiculous to me considering this is small town, rural Alberta. When I had my dayhome, I never charged anywhere near $600 per kid, and I had family rates so that it wasn't full price per kid. And I had trouble filling spots. So I don't understand how they're able to charge that much now.
So I'm a little unsure about what is going to happen there. With what I would be making at any of these jobs, and with travel expenses, after I paid for child care I would be pocketing less than $1000. It hardly seems worth it to me. But we shall see.
So with all I have talked about Jamie, you might be wondering about us, and yes we are back together. It was the right move not only for us, but for our family. We are very happy and have been doing really well.
The girls have also been doing well. Addy is now 2 years and 2 months, and Lexi is 14 months. Addy is talking up a storm (you can't get her to shut up...lol) and she repeats everything...And I do mean everything. She is a busy little girl and is almost always into some kind of mischief. She is most definitely into the Terrible Two's now, and is teaching her sister all about how to throw tantrums. And man oh man does that little baby have a temper! Lexi is all about what she wants, and if she doesn't get it, you will feel her wrath! She is actually even more mischievious than her sister, if you can even believe it. She started really walking about a month ago and now that's all she wants to do. When we're out and Addy gets to walk, she gets quite annoyed that she can't always do the same. And while, like her sister, she is fiercely independent, she also loves to snuggle up and give love and kisses and hugs (again, also like her sister). She still isn't much of a talker (although Addy makes up for it)...She seems to know alot of words, but has absolutely no desire whatsoever to use them. But every once in awhile, she will surprise you and come out with a word, and then refuse to say it again no matter how hard you try to get her to.
The most wonderful thing, though, is that the 2 of them really have a great relationship now. I mean, don't get me wrong, they beat up on each other (although today at the pediatrician's I discovered that they do actually know how to place nice with other kids, just not each other) and they steal toys, pull hair, push and shove and yell like you wouldn't believe, but they can also be so great to each other. They will share when they want to, and they will bring things to each other that they know they like (Addy usually just brings Lexi food, or a toy if I ask her to, but Lexi will find Addy's suckies or special toys and bring them to her), they give each other hugs and kisses (on their own without being prompted...lol), I'll catch them sitting together (sometimes even holding hands...they especially do this in the car), Addy still asks to hold Lexi and they'll sit with her in her lap for the longest time, and sometimes they even play nicely together...lol.
They are both still on the bottle, and Addy also still has her sucky. I didn't want to wean Addy off the bottle before I could wean Lexi too, because I figured it would just cause jealousy and fighting and Addy would likely just steal Lexi's bottle. So now we are slowly working on that, and once the bottle is gone, we will work on the sucky.
We also have Lexi's big girl bed, but we haven't set it up for her yet. I think she is ready, but Jamie figures it will just cause them to take even longer to fall asleep than they already do (because it will be both of them out of bed tearing the room apart rather than just Addy). So we are going to put that off for awhile too. Maybe give it a shot when the bottles and sucky are gone.
But other than that, I don't think there is much more to share. Hopefully I will get better at blogging more often. At this point, I actually tend to have more free time so maybe now I will be able to make a better effort.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
An Update!
I'm such a bad blogger, I can't even believe it. Maybe my New Year's Resolution should have been to blog more often...Like at least once a month! lol
Things here are busy, busy, busy. It's just the girls and me now, and it seems like I never have a free minute. We are just a few short weeks away from their birthdays, and I cannot even believe how quickly this last year has flown by.
My little Lexi baby will be turning 1! She is a snuggly, obedient and sometimes mischievious little girl. She loves to eat and to follow her big sister around (which is when the mischief usually occurs). She is gloriously chubby and has the cutest little round tummy that just loves to be tickled. I see changes in her everyday and she picks things up so quickly. I absolutely love that she is still very much a baby, unlike Addy at the same age. And she gives the best wet, slobbery kisses you ever got!
She has the biggest grin I have seen on any baby and it doesn't take much to get to see it. She sleeps great, is always in a good mood (except for when her sister picks on her) and loves to be loved. Her only word is still Dada but we are working on Mama! lol She waves, she blows raspberries and makes funny noises with her tongue. She crawls around the house as fast as her sister can run, and is alarmingly close to walking. I wouldn't be surprised if she was toddling around by her birthday.
And my Addy Pie is going to be 2! *sniff sniff* Where have the last 2 years gone? I look at pictures of my tiny, beautiful newborn baby girl and I cannot believe that she is the toddler that is running around here today. Can you say defiant? Or mischievious? Or stubborn and independant? Because that is my Addy! She is into everything and truly believes that she has every right to be into everything. How dare I say no?!?! She has reached that toddler stage where, for days, she will pick at her food, barely eating anything, and then one day she eats so much I think she'll never stop.
She has quite the impressive vocabulary and you have to be extremely careful what you say in front of her now. Or even what you do. She has picked up alot of my little "quirks" like humming while doing something, or playfully shaking her little fist at you (at least I hope it's playfully...lol). She gives wonderful, big hugs and smooches on the lips. She doesn't usually like to snuggle, but if she knows you're feeling sad she'll climb on your lap, give her you big hug, a kiss and then snuggle in your arms. She frustrates me to a level I never thought I could be frustrated to, but the next minute she has me laughing or bursting with pride.
I cannot believe that in less than a month I will have a 2 year old and a 1 year old. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions, but has been an amazing time with the 2 of them. They have a great relationship and it's obvious to see that they love each other very much. And I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us, and to see them grow and develop even more.
Things here are busy, busy, busy. It's just the girls and me now, and it seems like I never have a free minute. We are just a few short weeks away from their birthdays, and I cannot even believe how quickly this last year has flown by.
My little Lexi baby will be turning 1! She is a snuggly, obedient and sometimes mischievious little girl. She loves to eat and to follow her big sister around (which is when the mischief usually occurs). She is gloriously chubby and has the cutest little round tummy that just loves to be tickled. I see changes in her everyday and she picks things up so quickly. I absolutely love that she is still very much a baby, unlike Addy at the same age. And she gives the best wet, slobbery kisses you ever got!
She has the biggest grin I have seen on any baby and it doesn't take much to get to see it. She sleeps great, is always in a good mood (except for when her sister picks on her) and loves to be loved. Her only word is still Dada but we are working on Mama! lol She waves, she blows raspberries and makes funny noises with her tongue. She crawls around the house as fast as her sister can run, and is alarmingly close to walking. I wouldn't be surprised if she was toddling around by her birthday.
And my Addy Pie is going to be 2! *sniff sniff* Where have the last 2 years gone? I look at pictures of my tiny, beautiful newborn baby girl and I cannot believe that she is the toddler that is running around here today. Can you say defiant? Or mischievious? Or stubborn and independant? Because that is my Addy! She is into everything and truly believes that she has every right to be into everything. How dare I say no?!?! She has reached that toddler stage where, for days, she will pick at her food, barely eating anything, and then one day she eats so much I think she'll never stop.
She has quite the impressive vocabulary and you have to be extremely careful what you say in front of her now. Or even what you do. She has picked up alot of my little "quirks" like humming while doing something, or playfully shaking her little fist at you (at least I hope it's playfully...lol). She gives wonderful, big hugs and smooches on the lips. She doesn't usually like to snuggle, but if she knows you're feeling sad she'll climb on your lap, give her you big hug, a kiss and then snuggle in your arms. She frustrates me to a level I never thought I could be frustrated to, but the next minute she has me laughing or bursting with pride.
I cannot believe that in less than a month I will have a 2 year old and a 1 year old. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions, but has been an amazing time with the 2 of them. They have a great relationship and it's obvious to see that they love each other very much. And I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for us, and to see them grow and develop even more.
Christmas 2008
This year we had 3 Christmases and it was very crazy and chaotic. We had one at home with Ryan a few days before the 25th, and I would say that was the only calm and relaxing one out of them. Lol. We had a really great day together.
Christmas Day was at my mom's, and even though Jamie and I aren't together he still came so he could spend the day with the girls. There was a houseful that day, and I was coming down with a bug, so it was really overwhelming, but still a good time.
Boxing Day was at Jamie's mom's with all this family. I was very sick that day, so I spend most of the time sleeping.
The 3 of us got very spoiled. I basically had my lists checked off, and then more on top of that. The the girls got a ridiculous amount of stuff. I would say our toy population doubled. It is insane!
Anyways, here are some pictures to share. None from Boxing Day, though, because like I said I was sick and sleeping for most of the day.
Addy was scared of the mall Santa, she didn't want anything to do with the Santa at the Christmas party her grandma took her to, but when she saw this Santa at the school Christmas concert she went right up to him and crawled up on his lap.
The girlies and Ryan on our Christmas.
The tree Christmas Eve.
And all the presents! Christmas morning there was about twice the amount that there is here. Crazy!
The stockings.
Christmas Eve after reading our story.
The girls waiting to open presents Christmas morning.
Lexi on Christmas morning.
Lexi again.
Stocking time!
Opening her stocking presents.
Getting help with her stocking from Grandma.
And from Mommy!
Santa gift!
Oooooh!
Santa gift!
Checking stuff out.
"Ooooh! What's that?"
Stuff for her kitchen set.
My Addy pie (and her talking sippy cup from Grandma).
Christmas Day was at my mom's, and even though Jamie and I aren't together he still came so he could spend the day with the girls. There was a houseful that day, and I was coming down with a bug, so it was really overwhelming, but still a good time.
Boxing Day was at Jamie's mom's with all this family. I was very sick that day, so I spend most of the time sleeping.
The 3 of us got very spoiled. I basically had my lists checked off, and then more on top of that. The the girls got a ridiculous amount of stuff. I would say our toy population doubled. It is insane!
Anyways, here are some pictures to share. None from Boxing Day, though, because like I said I was sick and sleeping for most of the day.
Addy was scared of the mall Santa, she didn't want anything to do with the Santa at the Christmas party her grandma took her to, but when she saw this Santa at the school Christmas concert she went right up to him and crawled up on his lap. 
The girlies and Ryan on our Christmas.
The tree Christmas Eve. 
And all the presents! Christmas morning there was about twice the amount that there is here. Crazy! 
The stockings. 
Christmas Eve after reading our story.
The girls waiting to open presents Christmas morning.
Lexi on Christmas morning.
Lexi again.
Stocking time!
Opening her stocking presents.
Getting help with her stocking from Grandma.
And from Mommy!
Santa gift!
Oooooh!
Santa gift!
Checking stuff out.
"Ooooh! What's that?" 
Stuff for her kitchen set.
My Addy pie (and her talking sippy cup from Grandma).Friday, October 24, 2008
I am a bad blogger!
It's been over 2 months since my last entry, and strangly enough, I don't have a whole lot to share.
The girls have been growing like crazy. Addy is now 20 months old. She has a great vocabulary, but only uses it when she feels like it. She understands every word you tell her, but half the time when it's something she doesn't want to hear (such as "Don't do that" or "Put that down") she just looks at you like you're an idiot speaking a different language. She has discovered a new love, as well...The Wiggles! lol She is also going through a phase right now where pretty much the only thing she wants to eat is bananas (known as numnas to her). But there are many, many things that she could be wanting to eat, that I'm not going to complain about something healthy like numnas.
She has officially stopped walking and now runs everywhere. There is no stopping that child. She is into anything and everything and no matter what it is, how heavy it is, how high up it is, or whatever, she is determined to get into it! She doesn't seem to understand the word no in the listening context, but in the speaking context, she has it down pat.
Bedtimes and naptimes have greatly improved. She is now going down fairly easy, and when she doesn't want to sleep she just gets up and plays until she tires herself out and crawls back into bed. Although the other night, rather than playing she decided to color. All over her closet doors, her bed and her sheets. Whoever left those crayons in her room where she could reach them will be in big trouble when I find out their identity!
Potty training is not even in our vocabulary right now. She was doing really well with pooping on the potty, but has since decided that it takes too much time and she just can't fit it into her busy schedule. So when she is ready, I will be there dropping to my knees and thanking God I only have one in diapers!
And speaking of that little one in diapers, my tiny little Lexi-Lou is not so tiny anymore. She is crawling all over the place, although she still isn't sitting up without having to support herself by keeping her hands on the floor. She loves to babble away and make lots of loud, high-pitched noises.
She's taken after her sister in the great sleeper department. We get a solid 10 hours before she wakes up for a bottle and goes back to sleep for another 4 hours. Naps are pretty good too. She was napping for 3-4 hours in the afternoon, but she has started preferring to take 2 naps that are only an hour to an hour and a half long. Still nothing to complain about though! She never did take the soother, she just goes down with her bottle (yes, I know, I'm bad) and sucks on her 2 middle fingers.
She absolutely loves to be in her jolly jumper. As soon as you start to put her in it those little legs start kicking and make it quite difficult! lol She will just jump and jump and jump in that thing. I think the only thing she might like more than it is crawling around.
At this stage with Addy, her sleep habits had kinda gone to hell, and she was either sleeping in bed with me or having to be put to sleep in the swing and then moved to her crib. Lexi won't even lay still in my bed, and she isn't too crazy about the swing, whether for sleeping or distracting her so I can get stuff done.
The 2 girls absolutely adore each other, but even at this age they are already fighting. A little sibling rivalry is to be expected, though, especially when they are both so young and don't understand the concept of sharing, or quite get that pulling hair and pinching hurts like a mother. lol
It's sweet to see them interact when they're getting along. They love to hug each other and give kisses and their faces light up when they see each other. I'm sure that they will be great friends throughout their childhoods and when they are adults.
The girls have been growing like crazy. Addy is now 20 months old. She has a great vocabulary, but only uses it when she feels like it. She understands every word you tell her, but half the time when it's something she doesn't want to hear (such as "Don't do that" or "Put that down") she just looks at you like you're an idiot speaking a different language. She has discovered a new love, as well...The Wiggles! lol She is also going through a phase right now where pretty much the only thing she wants to eat is bananas (known as numnas to her). But there are many, many things that she could be wanting to eat, that I'm not going to complain about something healthy like numnas.
She has officially stopped walking and now runs everywhere. There is no stopping that child. She is into anything and everything and no matter what it is, how heavy it is, how high up it is, or whatever, she is determined to get into it! She doesn't seem to understand the word no in the listening context, but in the speaking context, she has it down pat.
Bedtimes and naptimes have greatly improved. She is now going down fairly easy, and when she doesn't want to sleep she just gets up and plays until she tires herself out and crawls back into bed. Although the other night, rather than playing she decided to color. All over her closet doors, her bed and her sheets. Whoever left those crayons in her room where she could reach them will be in big trouble when I find out their identity!
Potty training is not even in our vocabulary right now. She was doing really well with pooping on the potty, but has since decided that it takes too much time and she just can't fit it into her busy schedule. So when she is ready, I will be there dropping to my knees and thanking God I only have one in diapers!
And speaking of that little one in diapers, my tiny little Lexi-Lou is not so tiny anymore. She is crawling all over the place, although she still isn't sitting up without having to support herself by keeping her hands on the floor. She loves to babble away and make lots of loud, high-pitched noises.
She's taken after her sister in the great sleeper department. We get a solid 10 hours before she wakes up for a bottle and goes back to sleep for another 4 hours. Naps are pretty good too. She was napping for 3-4 hours in the afternoon, but she has started preferring to take 2 naps that are only an hour to an hour and a half long. Still nothing to complain about though! She never did take the soother, she just goes down with her bottle (yes, I know, I'm bad) and sucks on her 2 middle fingers.
She absolutely loves to be in her jolly jumper. As soon as you start to put her in it those little legs start kicking and make it quite difficult! lol She will just jump and jump and jump in that thing. I think the only thing she might like more than it is crawling around.
At this stage with Addy, her sleep habits had kinda gone to hell, and she was either sleeping in bed with me or having to be put to sleep in the swing and then moved to her crib. Lexi won't even lay still in my bed, and she isn't too crazy about the swing, whether for sleeping or distracting her so I can get stuff done.
The 2 girls absolutely adore each other, but even at this age they are already fighting. A little sibling rivalry is to be expected, though, especially when they are both so young and don't understand the concept of sharing, or quite get that pulling hair and pinching hurts like a mother. lol
It's sweet to see them interact when they're getting along. They love to hug each other and give kisses and their faces light up when they see each other. I'm sure that they will be great friends throughout their childhoods and when they are adults.
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