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.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Yay Me!
Today I had a very productive day. I got my kitchen all cleaned up (it was such a disaster, I am embarrassed to even think about it), got everything unpacked from camping on the weekend, cleaned up all the toys that were scattered from one end of the house to the other, did some laundry and even got my floors washed!
My sister also took Addy and Alexis for me this evening. She wanted to take them for some Auntie/Nieces time and I jumped at the chance to have 2 free hours to myself. Jamie was already gone to work and I spent the whole time doing what I wanted to do. And man did I need it. I got to blast my music, did some reading, had a little workout, took a bath and just relaxed.
And now the heat in this house could very well kill me. It has to be close to 30 degrees in here and it seems no matter how many windows I open, it's not cooling off in here like it is outside. If it doesn't get much better tonight, I'm definitely not going to be sleeping well. All I can say is thank heavens I'm not pregnant!
My sister also took Addy and Alexis for me this evening. She wanted to take them for some Auntie/Nieces time and I jumped at the chance to have 2 free hours to myself. Jamie was already gone to work and I spent the whole time doing what I wanted to do. And man did I need it. I got to blast my music, did some reading, had a little workout, took a bath and just relaxed.
And now the heat in this house could very well kill me. It has to be close to 30 degrees in here and it seems no matter how many windows I open, it's not cooling off in here like it is outside. If it doesn't get much better tonight, I'm definitely not going to be sleeping well. All I can say is thank heavens I'm not pregnant!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Another Long Weekend Is Here!
This week has been a really good week with the girls. They have been in good moods, napped well, went to bed well and were cuter than usual, if that's even possible. They slept in and treated their mommy to leisurely mornings and quiet afternoons that they slept away. And still, I managed to get absolutely nothing done around here!
This weekend we were supposed to be getting the house ready to have the realtor come take a look and give us an idea of a selling price, but it looks like that will be pushed to the back burner again. Instead we're going to spend the weekend out at the lake with friends and possibly at another lake with my sister and her hubby. There isn't a whole lot to do around here anyways, that doesn't require a trip to the city to buy supplies, and we aren't going to the city any time soon so I suppose it's no big loss. I'm still in love with the house we looked at in Myrnam, but we're not sure we're ready to make that move. But it has been for sale for quite some time now (things don't seem to move very fast out there), so my fingers are crossed that when we're ready to make a move, it will still be available.
Jamie is off until Tuesday evening when he goes onto nights, so I'm looking forward to having some family time and for the girls to get to spend some time with him. This week he has been long gone by the time they get up for the day, and when he's been getting home, they're already in bed asleep, so I know they are missing their daddy and he is missing them.
Anyways, I have lots to do to get ready for the weekend, and not much time to do it, so I am off. Enjoy your long weekend, everyone!
This weekend we were supposed to be getting the house ready to have the realtor come take a look and give us an idea of a selling price, but it looks like that will be pushed to the back burner again. Instead we're going to spend the weekend out at the lake with friends and possibly at another lake with my sister and her hubby. There isn't a whole lot to do around here anyways, that doesn't require a trip to the city to buy supplies, and we aren't going to the city any time soon so I suppose it's no big loss. I'm still in love with the house we looked at in Myrnam, but we're not sure we're ready to make that move. But it has been for sale for quite some time now (things don't seem to move very fast out there), so my fingers are crossed that when we're ready to make a move, it will still be available.
Jamie is off until Tuesday evening when he goes onto nights, so I'm looking forward to having some family time and for the girls to get to spend some time with him. This week he has been long gone by the time they get up for the day, and when he's been getting home, they're already in bed asleep, so I know they are missing their daddy and he is missing them.
Anyways, I have lots to do to get ready for the weekend, and not much time to do it, so I am off. Enjoy your long weekend, everyone!
Friday, July 18, 2008
My New 'Do!
Today was a day I have been looking forward to for awhile. It was my afternoon, child-free, to get my hair done and relax. I wanted a change, so I went in and told the stylist "Something short, and red, and different," and this is what she did. It's bold and I think it's way cooler than I am, but I love it!
Here is my before picture, taken yesterday:
And here are the after pictures taken this afternoon:
Here is my before picture, taken yesterday:
And here are the after pictures taken this afternoon:
Thursday, July 17, 2008
1 More Sleep!
1 more sleep until my kid-free afternoon of pampering. I can hardly wait! It will be so nice to have an afternoon to myself. I love my girls, but I need some time for myself. It is long overdue.
Today was another uneventful day, although I did put a pretty good dent in Mount Washmore. There is still alot to do, but I did get a surprising amount done. I didn't manage to get much else done, but I can deal with that. It seems that whenever I do laundry, it gets washed and dried, but then just stuck in a laundry basket and forgotten about. So today I had alot of folding and putting away to do.
Tonight seems to be a nice treat. Both girls are already fed, bathed and in bed asleep. So it looks like Jamie and I may have some couple time!
I broke Addy's blind in her bedroom today. It's one of those stupid roller ones that you have to pull down farther to get to go up. Well I pulled, and it fell on my head. So now her window is covered with our duvet cover, which is a not so subtle pink. And being in her room is now like being in a cotton candy machine. Everything is pink. Hopefully Jamie can get that blind fixed soon!
Today was another uneventful day, although I did put a pretty good dent in Mount Washmore. There is still alot to do, but I did get a surprising amount done. I didn't manage to get much else done, but I can deal with that. It seems that whenever I do laundry, it gets washed and dried, but then just stuck in a laundry basket and forgotten about. So today I had alot of folding and putting away to do.
Tonight seems to be a nice treat. Both girls are already fed, bathed and in bed asleep. So it looks like Jamie and I may have some couple time!
I broke Addy's blind in her bedroom today. It's one of those stupid roller ones that you have to pull down farther to get to go up. Well I pulled, and it fell on my head. So now her window is covered with our duvet cover, which is a not so subtle pink. And being in her room is now like being in a cotton candy machine. Everything is pink. Hopefully Jamie can get that blind fixed soon!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Happy Hump Day!
Well the week is half over now. Only 2 sleeps until my child-free afternoon! I can hardly wait, although I know as soon as I leave the house I will be missing my girls.
I didn't do much of anything today, although I did see the doctor. I went because my ears have been giving me issues, but it turns out it is just because of my allergies and the fact that I'm not (not to mention can't) take anything for them because I'm breastfeeding.
I also asked about all my belly pain. I have been having alot of numbness and pain around my c-section incision as well as pain on the left side of my abdomen. He says that it is muscle spasms from screwing around with my muscles during my surgery (obviously he didn't use those words...lol) and that I have 2 options. Option #1 is a topical gel that should help. Option #2, if that doesn't help, is "targeting the spasms" and he says he does that for a few patients but that it is incredibly painful. So I figure I'll try the gel, but if that doesn't work I'll just wait and let it work itself out. It's not painful enough that I want to try an "incredibly painful" procedure to get rid of basically some mild-moderate discomfort. Plus I'm a wimp. lol
Not much else to mention, though. Tomorrow will be dedicated to laundry and housecleaning, assuming my kids let me.
I didn't do much of anything today, although I did see the doctor. I went because my ears have been giving me issues, but it turns out it is just because of my allergies and the fact that I'm not (not to mention can't) take anything for them because I'm breastfeeding.
I also asked about all my belly pain. I have been having alot of numbness and pain around my c-section incision as well as pain on the left side of my abdomen. He says that it is muscle spasms from screwing around with my muscles during my surgery (obviously he didn't use those words...lol) and that I have 2 options. Option #1 is a topical gel that should help. Option #2, if that doesn't help, is "targeting the spasms" and he says he does that for a few patients but that it is incredibly painful. So I figure I'll try the gel, but if that doesn't work I'll just wait and let it work itself out. It's not painful enough that I want to try an "incredibly painful" procedure to get rid of basically some mild-moderate discomfort. Plus I'm a wimp. lol
Not much else to mention, though. Tomorrow will be dedicated to laundry and housecleaning, assuming my kids let me.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
What is wrong with people?
I sat down at the computer this morning with my cup of coffee to check my email and see what's in the news today, like I usually do. And what do I see? Yet another news story of a dead, abandoned newborn being found.
I just don't get what is wrong with these people. I can understand someone finding themselves dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. It's not fair, but I know it happens. But do these women (and girls) not understand that they have options? As much as I disagree with it, and I am 100% pro-life, I would rather see a woman have an abortion than to leave their baby in a dumpster or a stairwell or wherever to die. But if they do carry on with the pregnancy, why not just give the baby up? Why abandon it? Why not seek medical help when they go into labor? Or if they don't, at the very least drop the baby off at a hospital after it's been born so that it can be taken care of.
There are so many couples who can't have children, or who miscarry, or who have a baby or child die, yet these women who are blessed with these babies just throw the child's life away like it doesn't count.
Hopefully one day there will be a system in place for women who feel they have no other option. So that another baby doesn't have to suffer like so many have. In the meantime, I suppose all we can do is hold our own kids close to us and be thankful to be able to provide for them.
I just don't get what is wrong with these people. I can understand someone finding themselves dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. It's not fair, but I know it happens. But do these women (and girls) not understand that they have options? As much as I disagree with it, and I am 100% pro-life, I would rather see a woman have an abortion than to leave their baby in a dumpster or a stairwell or wherever to die. But if they do carry on with the pregnancy, why not just give the baby up? Why abandon it? Why not seek medical help when they go into labor? Or if they don't, at the very least drop the baby off at a hospital after it's been born so that it can be taken care of.
There are so many couples who can't have children, or who miscarry, or who have a baby or child die, yet these women who are blessed with these babies just throw the child's life away like it doesn't count.
Hopefully one day there will be a system in place for women who feel they have no other option. So that another baby doesn't have to suffer like so many have. In the meantime, I suppose all we can do is hold our own kids close to us and be thankful to be able to provide for them.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Another new week.
It is Monday again, and for once I am actually feeling well-rested and happy. I am usually not a morning person, and although I am usually in a better mood by this time of the morning than when I first get up, I have been strangely un-grumpy since I rolled out of bed.
It's certainly not because I had a restful weekend. Saturday Jamie was barely around at all and I had a difficult day with the girls. By the time the weekend rolls around I am so ready for his help, and he was busy and I didn't get it. Yesterday was also busy, but the girls were much easier than they were the day before.
I think the real reason why I feel so wonderful is because I got a good night's sleep last night. And not just 6-ish hours of straight sleep like parents of a baby are thrilled to get...Lexi was down by 11:00, I was asleep shortly after and she let me sleep in until 8:45 this morning. That's how real people sleep! lol
This week should be relatively uneventful. Nothing planned until Friday, when I get an afternoon to myself. Either my mom or my mom-in-law will be watching the girls and I will have the entire afternoon to myself to go to St. Paul and get my hair done. Something short and red, I think.
The weekend should be busy because we have a wedding to go to, but it will be nice to get out and do something. We won't be kid-free (although we will likely only take my breastfeeding lady with us), but it will be a nice change of scenery, not to mention routine.
So I have my fingers crossed for a nice, quiet, maybe even relaxing week. Hopefully my 2 lovely ladies are in agreement with me on that one!
It's certainly not because I had a restful weekend. Saturday Jamie was barely around at all and I had a difficult day with the girls. By the time the weekend rolls around I am so ready for his help, and he was busy and I didn't get it. Yesterday was also busy, but the girls were much easier than they were the day before.
I think the real reason why I feel so wonderful is because I got a good night's sleep last night. And not just 6-ish hours of straight sleep like parents of a baby are thrilled to get...Lexi was down by 11:00, I was asleep shortly after and she let me sleep in until 8:45 this morning. That's how real people sleep! lol
This week should be relatively uneventful. Nothing planned until Friday, when I get an afternoon to myself. Either my mom or my mom-in-law will be watching the girls and I will have the entire afternoon to myself to go to St. Paul and get my hair done. Something short and red, I think.
The weekend should be busy because we have a wedding to go to, but it will be nice to get out and do something. We won't be kid-free (although we will likely only take my breastfeeding lady with us), but it will be a nice change of scenery, not to mention routine.
So I have my fingers crossed for a nice, quiet, maybe even relaxing week. Hopefully my 2 lovely ladies are in agreement with me on that one!
Some photos!
Lately I have been trying to make a conscious effort to take more pictures of the girls. I always took alot when I just had one child, but since Lexi was born, I haven't taken as many. Which I suppose is to be expected, but I really want to have those memories.
So along with taking more pictures, I have been really trying to get some good ones, too. To put some thought into them and try to make them as good as can be, not just Lexi propped up in the corner of the couch, or Addy in the highchair eating because that's the only time I can get her to sit still.
So here are some of the ones I am most proud of. They're almost all of Addy. For some reason, I hardly get any good ones of Lexi. Although she has gotten much better, she is still not greatly photogenic, and her movements are still a bit jerky and unexpected, so I end up with some part of her blurry.
So along with taking more pictures, I have been really trying to get some good ones, too. To put some thought into them and try to make them as good as can be, not just Lexi propped up in the corner of the couch, or Addy in the highchair eating because that's the only time I can get her to sit still.
So here are some of the ones I am most proud of. They're almost all of Addy. For some reason, I hardly get any good ones of Lexi. Although she has gotten much better, she is still not greatly photogenic, and her movements are still a bit jerky and unexpected, so I end up with some part of her blurry.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
One Of Those Days
Today was a day, as Cathy so perfectly put it, from you know where. It started last night, with both of my girls not sleeping well. Jamie was on nights so I was left to deal on my own. Addy was a little difficult to get to sleep, but there was no throw-up, so I'm not going to complain about that. But she had a very restless sleep and was up countless times crying out, but she was able to soothe herself back to sleep, so that was good.
Alexis...Not so much. She was up at aroung 12:30am, and then again at about 4:00am, wide awake both times and very demanding of my constant attention. She also had me up much earlier in the morning than I would have liked, and wouldn't you know, as soon as we were up and I was semi-awake, she was snoozing in her swing.
Addy had a very difficult morning. She was very bratty, which is unusual for her. She was pinching, hitting, throwing toys at her sister, picking on the cat and throwing tantrum after tantrum after tantrum.
Lexi was a little better, but still not very happy. Fussy and, again, very demanding of my attention. I'm beginning to wonder if she might be teething already. I was hoping that would wait a few more months so the breastfeeding would continue to stay pleasant, but I'm not so sure.
Anyways, they both basically slept the afternoon so that was nice. And I shipped Addy off to her Grandma Dianne's for the night, so it's so nice and quiet around here. Lexi is already fed, bathed and in bed, and I have the evening to myself.
The weekend is nearing, but I don't think it will be very relaxing. It sounds like it's going to be another busy one that won't be much of a break. Maybe one of these times I'll get a bit of a break. Just not this time.
Alexis...Not so much. She was up at aroung 12:30am, and then again at about 4:00am, wide awake both times and very demanding of my constant attention. She also had me up much earlier in the morning than I would have liked, and wouldn't you know, as soon as we were up and I was semi-awake, she was snoozing in her swing.
Addy had a very difficult morning. She was very bratty, which is unusual for her. She was pinching, hitting, throwing toys at her sister, picking on the cat and throwing tantrum after tantrum after tantrum.
Lexi was a little better, but still not very happy. Fussy and, again, very demanding of my attention. I'm beginning to wonder if she might be teething already. I was hoping that would wait a few more months so the breastfeeding would continue to stay pleasant, but I'm not so sure.
Anyways, they both basically slept the afternoon so that was nice. And I shipped Addy off to her Grandma Dianne's for the night, so it's so nice and quiet around here. Lexi is already fed, bathed and in bed, and I have the evening to myself.
The weekend is nearing, but I don't think it will be very relaxing. It sounds like it's going to be another busy one that won't be much of a break. Maybe one of these times I'll get a bit of a break. Just not this time.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday Yet Again
Another week has come and gone, and we're back to the weekend. I sat down a couple of times this week to write in my blog but I just couldn't think of anything to say. It was a pretty uneventful week here.
We tried the potty training thing again with Addy. I was happy leaving things alone for awhile (although I am so tired of changing diapers I could cry). But Sunday night Addy made the "poop face" and Jamie asked her if she needed to go potty and she went straight to the bathroom. So I thought maybe she was ready. Monday morning came, I put her on the potty right away. You could tell she was trying but nothing came, so I put her in a pair of panties and off we went with our day. We tried a couple times between then and lunch (she had slept in so there wasn't much time there) and nothing. During lunch she was sitting in her high chair and got a strange look on her face, so I asked her if she needed to go and she gave me her yes "noise" but by the time she was out of the chair she had wet herself. And boy did that upset her. And after that she didn't even want to try anymore. I'd say 'potty' and she'd throw a tantrum. So that was the end of that.
Lexi had her shots last Friday and that went well. She cried a bit, but I managed not to. She is now weighing in at 13 pounds, 12.5 ounces and is just under 25 inches long. She seems chubbier to me than Addy did, but I checked Addy's book and she was actually bigger at her 4-month shots (14 pounds 6 and 3/4 ounces and 25 inches long). So I must not be remembering very well.
Anyways, at that appointment the health nurse also told me they changed the recommended age to start introducing solids. It was 4 months when I had Addy, but now it's 6 months. But I had already started Lexi on rice cereal at that point. So I'm still debating whether I will continue or not, but since then she hasn't gotten it.
This week has actually been really crappy weather-wise. Overcast every day (although I believe Wednesday morning was nice, but it went to the crapper by lunch time) and at the very least rain, although I think we had a thunderstom every day too. But so far, today is nice. Hopefully it stays that way. Savannah and Alicia are spending the night here tonight and I thought it'd be fun to have a campfire. And I'm dying to get outside and get some fresh air (and get my kids out...You can tell Addy has been cooped up too long), so hopefully the weather cooperates.
This weekend should be a busy one too (although aren't they all?). Tomorrow is the community garage sale, so I will definitely be doing alot of garage-saling. The rib cook-off happens tomorrow too, so that saves me having to make a meal but it's definitely not a time-saver. Tomorrow night is Irene's bridal shower, which Martina, Lexi and I are going to. And then Sunday we're off to the city to buy Jamie his Father's Day BBQ, do his tux fitting for Kim and Ryan's wedding and hopefully be back in time to get to the beach with Holly and the girls, assuming it's nice.
I'm tired just thinking about it all.
We tried the potty training thing again with Addy. I was happy leaving things alone for awhile (although I am so tired of changing diapers I could cry). But Sunday night Addy made the "poop face" and Jamie asked her if she needed to go potty and she went straight to the bathroom. So I thought maybe she was ready. Monday morning came, I put her on the potty right away. You could tell she was trying but nothing came, so I put her in a pair of panties and off we went with our day. We tried a couple times between then and lunch (she had slept in so there wasn't much time there) and nothing. During lunch she was sitting in her high chair and got a strange look on her face, so I asked her if she needed to go and she gave me her yes "noise" but by the time she was out of the chair she had wet herself. And boy did that upset her. And after that she didn't even want to try anymore. I'd say 'potty' and she'd throw a tantrum. So that was the end of that.
Lexi had her shots last Friday and that went well. She cried a bit, but I managed not to. She is now weighing in at 13 pounds, 12.5 ounces and is just under 25 inches long. She seems chubbier to me than Addy did, but I checked Addy's book and she was actually bigger at her 4-month shots (14 pounds 6 and 3/4 ounces and 25 inches long). So I must not be remembering very well.
Anyways, at that appointment the health nurse also told me they changed the recommended age to start introducing solids. It was 4 months when I had Addy, but now it's 6 months. But I had already started Lexi on rice cereal at that point. So I'm still debating whether I will continue or not, but since then she hasn't gotten it.
This week has actually been really crappy weather-wise. Overcast every day (although I believe Wednesday morning was nice, but it went to the crapper by lunch time) and at the very least rain, although I think we had a thunderstom every day too. But so far, today is nice. Hopefully it stays that way. Savannah and Alicia are spending the night here tonight and I thought it'd be fun to have a campfire. And I'm dying to get outside and get some fresh air (and get my kids out...You can tell Addy has been cooped up too long), so hopefully the weather cooperates.
This weekend should be a busy one too (although aren't they all?). Tomorrow is the community garage sale, so I will definitely be doing alot of garage-saling. The rib cook-off happens tomorrow too, so that saves me having to make a meal but it's definitely not a time-saver. Tomorrow night is Irene's bridal shower, which Martina, Lexi and I are going to. And then Sunday we're off to the city to buy Jamie his Father's Day BBQ, do his tux fitting for Kim and Ryan's wedding and hopefully be back in time to get to the beach with Holly and the girls, assuming it's nice.
I'm tired just thinking about it all.
Monday, June 16, 2008
My Lucky Girls and Their Wonderful Daddy
This Father's Day has really gotten me thinking about how lucky my kids really are. I always thought I had a great dad when I was growing up, but when push came to shove, he made it very obvious his children are not a priority to him.
When I was first pregnant with Addy I wasn't too sure how Jamie would do. But he surprised me and he really grew up and stepped up to the plate when she was born. And all through my pregnancy with Lexi when I was unsure of everything and had no idea how things could possibly work out, he was there to remind me how wonderful she would be and to not worry about things.
He may put up a fight about changing dirty diapers, and he may not help with the laundry, and Lord knows he is completely oblivious to the housework that I need help with, but my 2 little girls have the most wonderful Daddy they could possibly ask for.
He loves them and spoils them. There is always room in his lap for a little lady and I quite often find him hiding out in one of their rooms playing with them. I know in the years to come he will endure more tea parties than either one of us can imagine, have more pretties in his hair than he could care to count, and he will probably end up made up more than once too, but I know there will be no complaints out of him.
Sometimes I think he could use a lesson or two in compassion, but he always puts their needs first. His baby girls are his top priority and he doesn't try to hide it. We were barely home from the hospital with Lexi and he was asking me when we could have another baby.
Addison and Alexis are very lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy, and I know they will never have to endure the emotional pain my father has put my siblings and me through. And that is a good feeling.
Even though it was yesterday, Happy Father's Day to a wonderful father and husband! I hope you enjoyed your day about you, when you make every other day about your kids!
When I was first pregnant with Addy I wasn't too sure how Jamie would do. But he surprised me and he really grew up and stepped up to the plate when she was born. And all through my pregnancy with Lexi when I was unsure of everything and had no idea how things could possibly work out, he was there to remind me how wonderful she would be and to not worry about things.
He may put up a fight about changing dirty diapers, and he may not help with the laundry, and Lord knows he is completely oblivious to the housework that I need help with, but my 2 little girls have the most wonderful Daddy they could possibly ask for.
He loves them and spoils them. There is always room in his lap for a little lady and I quite often find him hiding out in one of their rooms playing with them. I know in the years to come he will endure more tea parties than either one of us can imagine, have more pretties in his hair than he could care to count, and he will probably end up made up more than once too, but I know there will be no complaints out of him.
Sometimes I think he could use a lesson or two in compassion, but he always puts their needs first. His baby girls are his top priority and he doesn't try to hide it. We were barely home from the hospital with Lexi and he was asking me when we could have another baby.
Addison and Alexis are very lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy, and I know they will never have to endure the emotional pain my father has put my siblings and me through. And that is a good feeling.
Even though it was yesterday, Happy Father's Day to a wonderful father and husband! I hope you enjoyed your day about you, when you make every other day about your kids!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Mondays Suck
Today was a rainy day and I spend most of it in bed being lazy. Jamie is on nights this week so he was my enabler. He watched Addy for most of the day and Lexi either slept or laid in bed with me and nursed.
Usually I like rainy days but today I didn't. The weather just made be feel mopey and exhausted. And now Jamie is working and my pity party is continuing. I've been trying to get Addy to sleep for about 2 hours now with no luck. And all I want to do is go to bed so I can sleep and not feel so tired tomorrow.
This weekend really did me in. Since 2 Saturdays ago, Holly and I had been into the city 4 times including this weekend. And yesterday I didn't seem to get anything done but it still somehow was a busy day.
My house is still a disaster and I'm beginning to think it will look that way until my kids have moved out in a couple of decades from now. And even then it might still look like a disaster because I'll probably need another few years to catch up on my lost sleep.
I'm also still behind on my laundry. But I am coming to terms with the fact that that's never going to change.
Well, Addy is still in her room, wide awake, crying her head off and now my boobs are leaking like the Hoover Dam, so I guess it's about time to cut this short.
Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day.
Usually I like rainy days but today I didn't. The weather just made be feel mopey and exhausted. And now Jamie is working and my pity party is continuing. I've been trying to get Addy to sleep for about 2 hours now with no luck. And all I want to do is go to bed so I can sleep and not feel so tired tomorrow.
This weekend really did me in. Since 2 Saturdays ago, Holly and I had been into the city 4 times including this weekend. And yesterday I didn't seem to get anything done but it still somehow was a busy day.
My house is still a disaster and I'm beginning to think it will look that way until my kids have moved out in a couple of decades from now. And even then it might still look like a disaster because I'll probably need another few years to catch up on my lost sleep.
I'm also still behind on my laundry. But I am coming to terms with the fact that that's never going to change.
Well, Addy is still in her room, wide awake, crying her head off and now my boobs are leaking like the Hoover Dam, so I guess it's about time to cut this short.
Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
My Girls
Thought I should post a little update about the girls, seeing as it's been awhile since I have. Plus I like to talk about them. lol
Addison seems to have entered The Terrible Two's a few months early. She has become very stubborn and the temper tantrums are happening more and more often. She has also begun to really climb things. I am forever catching her on the little table in her bedroom, up on the back of the loveseat sitting facing the window checking stuff out and on the kitchen chairs, which are really only on the way to getting onto the table where I most often find her. When we first brought up the patio furniture, we had put the baby gate up on the deck and Jamie and I were outside playing with her. Lexi woke up to be fed so I went to get her and Jamie went to get us some drinks and before he even had them poured Addy was on top of the patio table.
But even if she is very defiant and has that famous Davidsen Temper, she is still a wonderfully loveable little girl. She likes to give hugs and kisses, and she loves her baby sister more than anyone. She is forever getting up close to her face to look at her and talk to her and she loves to snuggle her and shower her with kisses. She will even try to pick her up of of your lap if you are holding her, or take her out of her bouncy seat. And the scary thing is she can pick her up no problem, so unfortunately for Lexi she doesn't get to chill out on a blanket on the floor.
You can definitely tell that Addy is transitioning from a baby to a toddler when you look at her eating habits. Before she would eat anything and everything and lots of it. Now she is becoming a little bit more picky and will take things out of her mouth that she doesn't like and chuck them across the room. Also, some days she will eat like crazy, but the next day she will hardly touch anything.
She's still on the formula and gets a bottle when she goes down for her nap and at bedtime. I have been debating trying milk again, but I think this time we will try soy milk and see how that goes.
I am anxious to start potty training, although I know it's still too early. We have the little potty in the bathroom and every so often I will sit her on it (still clothed, though) just so she can get used to it. I am just so tired of changing diapers, so I blame that on my anxiousness.
Addy is also learning new words all the time. Unfortunately her grandma taught her Shit when we were in Jasper and now it's not unusual for me to hear "Oh shit!" come out of her mouth. I find that so frustrating and it upsets me to the point that I really think I could cry because I try to be so careful and I was always worried other people's language would result in this. She also has learnt Stick, but that seems to come out as Dick and unfortunately some people don't feel the need to correct her and ennunciate when they speak. Some of the words that don't tick me off that she has now added to her vocabulary are Duck (and any bird is a duck), Daddy (which she says clear as a bell and when I coax her to say Mommy, this is what she comes back with), Hot and Ow.
She has made the adjustment to her toddler bed amazingly well and is back to sleeping through the night I would say about 95% of the time. She is going down well for her naps and I have noticed a real decrease in her making herself throw up (praise the gods!).
Alexis seems to be a completely different baby and sometimes I can barely believe my eyes and ears. She has completely outgrown the colic and is a happy, smiley baby. She was laughing the other day, but I think that is going to be like what her smiling was like. When she first started smiling she was soooooo hard to get to smile, and that seems to be where the laughing is headed. But now she is smiley all the time so hopefully in a few weeks we will get to hear that amazing little giggle on a regular basis. I said to my sister a couple of weeks back that there is nothing more amazing than looking down at your baby when he/she is breastfeeding and having them smile at you, but I think hearing that laugh for the first time might just be right up there with that.
Lexi is definitely on the road to sleeping through the night. I was getting a good 6 hours out for her usually, which is really nothing to complain about. But since I have started trying to get her out of our bed at night and into the bassinet, those stretches have seemed to decrease, but I guess that is to be expected. Soon enough she will be sleeping through the night, though, and she'll be out of the bassinet and into her room, so for now I think I will just cherish these nights where I get to snuggle with her in bed, even if I do get woken up more often than I would like.
This morning we gave the rice cereal another shot. I think this is about the 3rd or 4th time we have tried. Addy started at 4 weeks (no, that's not a type-o, and boy was she ready for it!) so I have tried Lexi a few times since about that age, but she just wasn't ready for it yet. But today she was. Those little arms and legs were flailing and kicking like crazy, and her mouth was open like a little bird waiting for the food in between bites. And when the bite would come, she would slurp it off the spoon like there was no tomorrow! With it taking her so long to be that way, I really find it amazing that Addy did those things at a fraction of Lexi's age.
Lexi has also started rolling over from her tummy to her back. I thought to myself one day that she should be getting close the being able to do it, so I put her on her tummy and she rolled almost immediately.
She's still breastfeeding like crazy, but she is also getting better with the supplementing. I have to hand it to those moms who breastfeed without the occasional supplementing. I sure couldn't do it. Some days by the time the evening rolls around, I just feel so "touched out" that I have to ask Jamie to give her a bottle. And actually, last weekend my sister and I spend an entire day in the city doing some shopping, getting pedicures, saw a movie and just had a girl's day, so Lexi didn't get to breastfeed from about 6:30am until about 9:00pm and she did amazingly well. I, on the other hand, was very full and tender and that was after "taking care of it" twice in the last 5 hours.
Well, Jamie is home from work now, so I guess it's time I go find us some supper.
Addison seems to have entered The Terrible Two's a few months early. She has become very stubborn and the temper tantrums are happening more and more often. She has also begun to really climb things. I am forever catching her on the little table in her bedroom, up on the back of the loveseat sitting facing the window checking stuff out and on the kitchen chairs, which are really only on the way to getting onto the table where I most often find her. When we first brought up the patio furniture, we had put the baby gate up on the deck and Jamie and I were outside playing with her. Lexi woke up to be fed so I went to get her and Jamie went to get us some drinks and before he even had them poured Addy was on top of the patio table.
But even if she is very defiant and has that famous Davidsen Temper, she is still a wonderfully loveable little girl. She likes to give hugs and kisses, and she loves her baby sister more than anyone. She is forever getting up close to her face to look at her and talk to her and she loves to snuggle her and shower her with kisses. She will even try to pick her up of of your lap if you are holding her, or take her out of her bouncy seat. And the scary thing is she can pick her up no problem, so unfortunately for Lexi she doesn't get to chill out on a blanket on the floor.
You can definitely tell that Addy is transitioning from a baby to a toddler when you look at her eating habits. Before she would eat anything and everything and lots of it. Now she is becoming a little bit more picky and will take things out of her mouth that she doesn't like and chuck them across the room. Also, some days she will eat like crazy, but the next day she will hardly touch anything.
She's still on the formula and gets a bottle when she goes down for her nap and at bedtime. I have been debating trying milk again, but I think this time we will try soy milk and see how that goes.
I am anxious to start potty training, although I know it's still too early. We have the little potty in the bathroom and every so often I will sit her on it (still clothed, though) just so she can get used to it. I am just so tired of changing diapers, so I blame that on my anxiousness.
Addy is also learning new words all the time. Unfortunately her grandma taught her Shit when we were in Jasper and now it's not unusual for me to hear "Oh shit!" come out of her mouth. I find that so frustrating and it upsets me to the point that I really think I could cry because I try to be so careful and I was always worried other people's language would result in this. She also has learnt Stick, but that seems to come out as Dick and unfortunately some people don't feel the need to correct her and ennunciate when they speak. Some of the words that don't tick me off that she has now added to her vocabulary are Duck (and any bird is a duck), Daddy (which she says clear as a bell and when I coax her to say Mommy, this is what she comes back with), Hot and Ow.
She has made the adjustment to her toddler bed amazingly well and is back to sleeping through the night I would say about 95% of the time. She is going down well for her naps and I have noticed a real decrease in her making herself throw up (praise the gods!).
Alexis seems to be a completely different baby and sometimes I can barely believe my eyes and ears. She has completely outgrown the colic and is a happy, smiley baby. She was laughing the other day, but I think that is going to be like what her smiling was like. When she first started smiling she was soooooo hard to get to smile, and that seems to be where the laughing is headed. But now she is smiley all the time so hopefully in a few weeks we will get to hear that amazing little giggle on a regular basis. I said to my sister a couple of weeks back that there is nothing more amazing than looking down at your baby when he/she is breastfeeding and having them smile at you, but I think hearing that laugh for the first time might just be right up there with that.
Lexi is definitely on the road to sleeping through the night. I was getting a good 6 hours out for her usually, which is really nothing to complain about. But since I have started trying to get her out of our bed at night and into the bassinet, those stretches have seemed to decrease, but I guess that is to be expected. Soon enough she will be sleeping through the night, though, and she'll be out of the bassinet and into her room, so for now I think I will just cherish these nights where I get to snuggle with her in bed, even if I do get woken up more often than I would like.
This morning we gave the rice cereal another shot. I think this is about the 3rd or 4th time we have tried. Addy started at 4 weeks (no, that's not a type-o, and boy was she ready for it!) so I have tried Lexi a few times since about that age, but she just wasn't ready for it yet. But today she was. Those little arms and legs were flailing and kicking like crazy, and her mouth was open like a little bird waiting for the food in between bites. And when the bite would come, she would slurp it off the spoon like there was no tomorrow! With it taking her so long to be that way, I really find it amazing that Addy did those things at a fraction of Lexi's age.
Lexi has also started rolling over from her tummy to her back. I thought to myself one day that she should be getting close the being able to do it, so I put her on her tummy and she rolled almost immediately.
She's still breastfeeding like crazy, but she is also getting better with the supplementing. I have to hand it to those moms who breastfeed without the occasional supplementing. I sure couldn't do it. Some days by the time the evening rolls around, I just feel so "touched out" that I have to ask Jamie to give her a bottle. And actually, last weekend my sister and I spend an entire day in the city doing some shopping, getting pedicures, saw a movie and just had a girl's day, so Lexi didn't get to breastfeed from about 6:30am until about 9:00pm and she did amazingly well. I, on the other hand, was very full and tender and that was after "taking care of it" twice in the last 5 hours.
Well, Jamie is home from work now, so I guess it's time I go find us some supper.
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