The kids are ready for baseball season:
Tummy time is more fun with big brother:
Solo tummy time (notice the truck, which Grant has dubbed "Baby Abba Caw"):
Playing on the changing table:
Hello world!
7 years ago
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Random photos from this month - Part 1
Grant loves M&Ms:
The kids are ready for baseball season:
Tummy time is more fun with big brother:
Solo tummy time (notice the truck, which Grant has dubbed "Baby Abba Caw"):
Playing on the changing table:
The kids are ready for baseball season:
Tummy time is more fun with big brother:
Solo tummy time (notice the truck, which Grant has dubbed "Baby Abba Caw"):
Playing on the changing table:
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The first step to recovery
Is admitting you have a problem. My problem is that I have a sick desire to match my little girl. Ok. Not really. It's usually just a sarcastic comment about matching bows. But today in Target I saw an infant swimsuit that matched the bikini I snagged there (on sale) a few weeks ago ($15 total!!). And a force overcame me. How cute are we gonna be?! 
Monday, March 19, 2012
Grant's baby - and singing
There is one specific baby doll at Julie's that Grant just LOVES! It is his baby. Exhibit A:
Changing her diaper
Exhibit B:
Feeding her lunch
He loves to push the doll around in the stroller too... and generally likes pushing around the stroller even if it's empty or full of cars.
Singing
I don't think it's a secret that we're a singing household. We work everyone's name into songs and bust out singing with little provocation. But Derek has made it clear that my new little ditty has to go. I just sing/spell Abby's name to the Alphabet Song (btw - Derek is STILL unsure whether this is REALLY the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle. So clearly our singing skills are questionable). But try her name and see - A-B-I-G-A-I-L H-I-C-K-S-M-N-O-P.... The AB, HI and K all line up to the real song!! Derek says I can't sing it tho because Grant won't learn his alphabet. :(
Derek on the other hand is teaching Grant new songs. Lately it's been Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Heyells sings "MAMA!!! Oo-oooooo-oo!" Grant has started joining in. Sometimes Grant changes MAMA to DADA or BABY. Grant will also try to sing "Skatman" with Derek - basically just repeating a lot of "B" sounds. So cute. I've gotten a few decent clips on HeyTell (to Derek and Susie), but I'll have to try to catch some video of it soon to share on here!
Talking
This weekend Grant started saying "Baby Abby". In the past it's been "Baby Ah-Bah", so he's getting better!! It's still hit or miss, but I'm sure in short order, I will miss hearing him say "Baby Ah-Bah"!
Exhibit B:
He loves to push the doll around in the stroller too... and generally likes pushing around the stroller even if it's empty or full of cars.
Singing
I don't think it's a secret that we're a singing household. We work everyone's name into songs and bust out singing with little provocation. But Derek has made it clear that my new little ditty has to go. I just sing/spell Abby's name to the Alphabet Song (btw - Derek is STILL unsure whether this is REALLY the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle. So clearly our singing skills are questionable). But try her name and see - A-B-I-G-A-I-L H-I-C-K-S-M-N-O-P.... The AB, HI and K all line up to the real song!! Derek says I can't sing it tho because Grant won't learn his alphabet. :(
Derek on the other hand is teaching Grant new songs. Lately it's been Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." He
Talking
This weekend Grant started saying "Baby Abby". In the past it's been "Baby Ah-Bah", so he's getting better!! It's still hit or miss, but I'm sure in short order, I will miss hearing him say "Baby Ah-Bah"!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Day Care Pics
Julie is great about sending us photos - at least once a week - so we can sneak a peak at what our babies are up to! I love it! Here are some photos from the past few months:
December - cooking, eating stickers, and eating gingerbread cookies!
January - we'll call this "that short period of time when Grant played nice"
February - I cheated. That last one is my own iPhone photo. Couldn't resist posting that expression! The first one (on the swing) is right after Grant's second haircut!
March - Julie threw in a group shot to fool us into thinking her job is easy.
December - cooking, eating stickers, and eating gingerbread cookies!
January - we'll call this "that short period of time when Grant played nice"
February - I cheated. That last one is my own iPhone photo. Couldn't resist posting that expression! The first one (on the swing) is right after Grant's second haircut!
March - Julie threw in a group shot to fool us into thinking her job is easy.
30 before 30 update
Today to celebrate a great friend turning 30, I'm going to update by thirty, no wait, seventeen, new and improved, eighteen before 30 list. She's the reason I even made this list to begin with!!! Thanks Rach!
1. Chop it off!! - I have to laugh at the fact that I included this to begin with since it was already done when I posted. It's like when I make a "to-do" list and include "take a nap" so that I can for sure strike one thing off my list!
2. Finish 2 stockings (Derek's and baby's) - No idea when this will happen. I can't imagine finding time to do this... but I will still try! I remember from Grant's baby days that this is easier when the baby isn't mobile, so I need to get on it QUICK!
3. Organize the office weekly - Whoopsie! The "office" is now just a desk and it's still not pretty.
4. Go camping - Hoping to do this soon while it's still relatively cool. New rule - if Derek and Grant go camping and I stay home with Abby, this still counts. It also counts if I join but Abby doesn't.
5. Go to church once a month - Again - whoopsie!!
6. Teach Grant the Lord's prayer - When we say "forever and ever," he says "AMEN!" So he's learning! Anytime Julie prays, she starts with the sign of the cross and Grant will drop what he's doing to hold his hands together. Awwww.
7. Take a family vacation - Miami!
8. Finish our Italy scrapbook - When the hell was I thinking this would get done?! I see a photobook in our future. I wanted to keep several things from the trip, which is why I did a scrapbook to begin with, but I'm thinking I'll take photos of the things I wanted to include and just add a photo of them to the photobook instead.
9. Make photo albums (or photobooks) every other month - Huh-uh. New goal - along with Abby's baby book (produced from this blog), I want to start an annual family yearbook (ala YHL). It will be fairly easy to convert this blog into said yearbook. I LOVE the "Highlights" page that YHL added to the beginning of their book. Stealing that fo' sho'. New goal is to work on that every other month so it's not such a headache at year end. Both Abby's baby book and the annual yearbook will go thru December so "finishing" the book isn't on my 30 before 30 list. I'm sure there will be lots of duplicate material, but this will be the only year I have to do 2!!
10. Have a spa day with the girls - Had a massage with my sis while I was still on maternity leave. It was glorious. And the consignment store find of the DECADE ($40 for a brand new $300 dress) was the cherry on top!
11. Go to work without makeup - I found myself without a powder brush one day and thought it must've been a sign!
12. Plant a garden - I picked up some Rosemary and Basil yesterday (but haven't planted them yet). And the Cilantro from last year is already THRIVING!! An herb garden TOTALLY counts!
13. Make a blog book - A pregnancy book & Grant's baby book. I get extra points for this one - I did TWO!
14. Get a new fence
15. Take 1 day off of work - Ummm... yeah. I did this one. A couple times. Sent both kids to Julie's while I was still on maternity leave to get stuff done! SO glad I did!
16. Get a great pair of red heels - My $13 red heels are actually comfortable and ridiculously cute!
17. Take a hand-made sign to a sporting event - WHAT?! I must've been on crack when I made this list. The only way this is possible is if the kids don't go bc we wouldn't have a free hand to carry in the sign if they go! Baseball season is about to kick off, so maybe this one will play out!
And I'm adding one more item:
18. Learn to use my DSLR - Hopefully for CHEAP! Surely someone has put a dummy's guide on YouTube. Hell - I haven't even read the manual yet! That may be a good place to start...
2. Finish 2 stockings (Derek's and baby's) - No idea when this will happen. I can't imagine finding time to do this... but I will still try! I remember from Grant's baby days that this is easier when the baby isn't mobile, so I need to get on it QUICK!
3. Organize the office weekly - Whoopsie! The "office" is now just a desk and it's still not pretty.
4. Go camping - Hoping to do this soon while it's still relatively cool. New rule - if Derek and Grant go camping and I stay home with Abby, this still counts. It also counts if I join but Abby doesn't.
5. Go to church once a month - Again - whoopsie!!
6. Teach Grant the Lord's prayer - When we say "forever and ever," he says "AMEN!" So he's learning! Anytime Julie prays, she starts with the sign of the cross and Grant will drop what he's doing to hold his hands together. Awwww.
8. Finish our Italy scrapbook - When the hell was I thinking this would get done?! I see a photobook in our future. I wanted to keep several things from the trip, which is why I did a scrapbook to begin with, but I'm thinking I'll take photos of the things I wanted to include and just add a photo of them to the photobook instead.
9. Make photo albums (or photobooks) every other month - Huh-uh. New goal - along with Abby's baby book (produced from this blog), I want to start an annual family yearbook (ala YHL). It will be fairly easy to convert this blog into said yearbook. I LOVE the "Highlights" page that YHL added to the beginning of their book. Stealing that fo' sho'. New goal is to work on that every other month so it's not such a headache at year end. Both Abby's baby book and the annual yearbook will go thru December so "finishing" the book isn't on my 30 before 30 list. I'm sure there will be lots of duplicate material, but this will be the only year I have to do 2!!
12. Plant a garden - I picked up some Rosemary and Basil yesterday (but haven't planted them yet). And the Cilantro from last year is already THRIVING!! An herb garden TOTALLY counts!
17. Take a hand-made sign to a sporting event - WHAT?! I must've been on crack when I made this list. The only way this is possible is if the kids don't go bc we wouldn't have a free hand to carry in the sign if they go! Baseball season is about to kick off, so maybe this one will play out!
And I'm adding one more item:
18. Learn to use my DSLR - Hopefully for CHEAP! Surely someone has put a dummy's guide on YouTube. Hell - I haven't even read the manual yet! That may be a good place to start...
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Park photos
I still really need to learn how to use my camera. But I managed to get a few shots of the kiddos at the park last Friday.
And a bonus shot from when we got home:
And a bonus shot from when we got home:
Monday, March 5, 2012
Things I Love
I'm kind of in love with my Vera Bradley "Get Carried Away" Tote.
The bag was a Christmas gift from another attorney in my office. He got one for all the ladies in the office (sounds like a lot - but there are only 3 of us). It's a homerun with all of us.
I use the bag everyday. It fits my breast pump, my insulated bag of bottles/milk, my purse, my lunch, my laptop and mouse and several other items (Abby's milk that I take to Julie's, Grant's shoes when I forget to put them on before leaving, etc.). If you ever find yourself carrying several bags, you need to put them down, go get this bag and put all your other bags in here. Right now.
Mine is in the Rhythm and Blues print - I actually like other prints better, but it was a gift and since I use it every day to come work with the person that gave it to me, exchanging it for a different print wasn't thinkable.
If you will ever have to pump at work, you need this bag. People KNOW that black bag holds your pump and this is a great way to hold all 14 bags you will find yourself carrying to work and discreetly hide your Medela pump bag.
The bag is cloth so it can be washed easily. It has extra support on the bottom for heavy items. And it has an extra wide strap on the arm. I don't know how, but the end result is a remarkably LIGHT load (even with the laptop). MUCH lighter than carrying everything in separate bags - probably because my briefcase has a vastly inferior design.
This weekend we put it to use too. We carried our picnic lunch and all diaper bag goodies in it on Saturday. And on Sunday we stuffed it full of blankets and clothes for photos, plus standard diaper bag items. I discovered this weekend that 2 (out of the EIGHT interior pockets) are lined with plastic so they are waterproof. This is perfect because we ALWAYS leave the house with a sippy cup and a bottle but the usual diaper bag only has ONE place for a bottle/sippy.
Basically this bag could be all things to all people. 8 interior pockets, 4 exterior, a solid design that makes your heavy load lighter and a zipper to keep everything in. The other women in my office use it for weekend trips, but this bag gets every day use for moms and other people that leave the house in the morning with bags packed for several different things. If you're a mom, you definitely need this bag. If you have to grab a gym bag, plus lunch, plus a change of clothes for happy hour, plus you have to return a dish to a friend - but you're NOT a mom, you still need this bag.
I'm so in love with this bag that it's amazing I hadn't posted about it yet. Sigh.... ok - infomercial is done now.
The bag was a Christmas gift from another attorney in my office. He got one for all the ladies in the office (sounds like a lot - but there are only 3 of us). It's a homerun with all of us.
I use the bag everyday. It fits my breast pump, my insulated bag of bottles/milk, my purse, my lunch, my laptop and mouse and several other items (Abby's milk that I take to Julie's, Grant's shoes when I forget to put them on before leaving, etc.). If you ever find yourself carrying several bags, you need to put them down, go get this bag and put all your other bags in here. Right now.
Mine is in the Rhythm and Blues print - I actually like other prints better, but it was a gift and since I use it every day to come work with the person that gave it to me, exchanging it for a different print wasn't thinkable.
If you will ever have to pump at work, you need this bag. People KNOW that black bag holds your pump and this is a great way to hold all 14 bags you will find yourself carrying to work and discreetly hide your Medela pump bag.
The bag is cloth so it can be washed easily. It has extra support on the bottom for heavy items. And it has an extra wide strap on the arm. I don't know how, but the end result is a remarkably LIGHT load (even with the laptop). MUCH lighter than carrying everything in separate bags - probably because my briefcase has a vastly inferior design.
This weekend we put it to use too. We carried our picnic lunch and all diaper bag goodies in it on Saturday. And on Sunday we stuffed it full of blankets and clothes for photos, plus standard diaper bag items. I discovered this weekend that 2 (out of the EIGHT interior pockets) are lined with plastic so they are waterproof. This is perfect because we ALWAYS leave the house with a sippy cup and a bottle but the usual diaper bag only has ONE place for a bottle/sippy.
Basically this bag could be all things to all people. 8 interior pockets, 4 exterior, a solid design that makes your heavy load lighter and a zipper to keep everything in. The other women in my office use it for weekend trips, but this bag gets every day use for moms and other people that leave the house in the morning with bags packed for several different things. If you're a mom, you definitely need this bag. If you have to grab a gym bag, plus lunch, plus a change of clothes for happy hour, plus you have to return a dish to a friend - but you're NOT a mom, you still need this bag.
I'm so in love with this bag that it's amazing I hadn't posted about it yet. Sigh.... ok - infomercial is done now.
Weekend of fun
Clara was sick on Friday, so I kidnapped my babies for a bonus 3-day weekend!
We played on Friday and made a trip to the park. I got a few shots of the kiddos (will update later). Abby got tired and cried so much that she stopped taking her paci, so we headed home. She fell asleep in the 60 seconds it takes us to drive home from the park. This is remarkable because she HATES the car and pretty much alwaysscreams cries when we're driving - she's slept in the car maybe twice ever.
Friday night we ate at an actual RESTAURANT with our 2 little ones and it went REALLY well. Abby slept 10 hours that night - she didn't get up until 7 AM!
Saturday we dropped off Derek's car for an oil change then headed over to the Crow Center because they were having children's activities and it was FREE. It was a total failure. Abby was hungry as soon as we arrived. I brought a bottle, but it was cold so she refused it. I took her to the bathroom thinking there'd be a lounge area, but there wasn't. I somehow maneuvered myself into a folded up wheelchair (with abnormally high arm rests) and nursed Abby there (again, requiring some contorting of her body to work around the arm rests). Grant did one craft with Derek and then had enough. I had packed a picnic for us, so we ate at a park, then picked up Derek's car. It was a lot of work for the brief outing and Grant was probably too young to really enjoy any of it. But it was free and different, so we'll call it a wash.
I spent the afternoon cooking as much as possible. Derek helped a lot too. I kept asking him to do things (will you wash these dishes? will you tear apart these 3 rotissery chickens? will you open these cans? etc.) and he never complained. Even better - the kids were pretty cooperative while we were both in the kitchen. We have enough food for at least 2 weeks now!
We had dinner, drinks and game night with Cy and Emily (and their 10 month old, Nathaniel) on Saturday. That may sound lame, but it really was a blast! Ever since I made chicken nuggets last week, I've been wanting them again. So we had them for dinner and they were a hit! We stayed up super late (I went to bed at midnight). But NO ONE in the house woke up before 7 AM, so it worked out just fine!
Sunday we met up with Carla at a park in Desoto for Abby's 3 month pictures. She has already posted several - here's a sample of my favorites.
I love this shot! We are both so happy!
Grant and I rockin' our new boots - his are John Deere of course.
We then drove home and Grant fell asleep 10 minutes from the house. Awful. The boy wouldn't nap once we got home. Around 2, we headed over to Zach & Audrey's. We met them in our Childbirth Class - their boy is just a few weeks older than Grant. Grant was a little off (he fell asleep on the way over there), so he didn't like their dog Chompers but everything else was fun. Fajitas, 'ritas and 2 boys playing nice with each other. All in all a great Sunday night! The icing on the cake? Abby slept until 7 AM again!!
Our weekends are now a series of play dates - mostly so we can have some good adult conversation without destroying local establishments. I genuinely love it and don't miss the days when we ate out all the time or stayed up well past midnight. Watching our kids be silly with each other - and even cry/whine when a new playmate takes a favorite toy - is FAR better than our evenings in our DINK days (double income, no kids).
Abby is on a roll - 10 hours, 10 hours, and 11 hours - 3 nights in a row! We're turning a corner in our house! 2 kids that sleep through the night and are often down for the same nap time. We will relish it while it lasts - already dreading the day when Grant stops napping. But for now we're getting lots of sleep and enjoying as much of this spring time weather as possible!
So - who wants to have a play date?!
We played on Friday and made a trip to the park. I got a few shots of the kiddos (will update later). Abby got tired and cried so much that she stopped taking her paci, so we headed home. She fell asleep in the 60 seconds it takes us to drive home from the park. This is remarkable because she HATES the car and pretty much always
Friday night we ate at an actual RESTAURANT with our 2 little ones and it went REALLY well. Abby slept 10 hours that night - she didn't get up until 7 AM!
Saturday we dropped off Derek's car for an oil change then headed over to the Crow Center because they were having children's activities and it was FREE. It was a total failure. Abby was hungry as soon as we arrived. I brought a bottle, but it was cold so she refused it. I took her to the bathroom thinking there'd be a lounge area, but there wasn't. I somehow maneuvered myself into a folded up wheelchair (with abnormally high arm rests) and nursed Abby there (again, requiring some contorting of her body to work around the arm rests). Grant did one craft with Derek and then had enough. I had packed a picnic for us, so we ate at a park, then picked up Derek's car. It was a lot of work for the brief outing and Grant was probably too young to really enjoy any of it. But it was free and different, so we'll call it a wash.
I spent the afternoon cooking as much as possible. Derek helped a lot too. I kept asking him to do things (will you wash these dishes? will you tear apart these 3 rotissery chickens? will you open these cans? etc.) and he never complained. Even better - the kids were pretty cooperative while we were both in the kitchen. We have enough food for at least 2 weeks now!
We had dinner, drinks and game night with Cy and Emily (and their 10 month old, Nathaniel) on Saturday. That may sound lame, but it really was a blast! Ever since I made chicken nuggets last week, I've been wanting them again. So we had them for dinner and they were a hit! We stayed up super late (I went to bed at midnight). But NO ONE in the house woke up before 7 AM, so it worked out just fine!
Sunday we met up with Carla at a park in Desoto for Abby's 3 month pictures. She has already posted several - here's a sample of my favorites.
I love this shot! We are both so happy!
Grant and I rockin' our new boots - his are John Deere of course.
We then drove home and Grant fell asleep 10 minutes from the house. Awful. The boy wouldn't nap once we got home. Around 2, we headed over to Zach & Audrey's. We met them in our Childbirth Class - their boy is just a few weeks older than Grant. Grant was a little off (he fell asleep on the way over there), so he didn't like their dog Chompers but everything else was fun. Fajitas, 'ritas and 2 boys playing nice with each other. All in all a great Sunday night! The icing on the cake? Abby slept until 7 AM again!!
Our weekends are now a series of play dates - mostly so we can have some good adult conversation without destroying local establishments. I genuinely love it and don't miss the days when we ate out all the time or stayed up well past midnight. Watching our kids be silly with each other - and even cry/whine when a new playmate takes a favorite toy - is FAR better than our evenings in our DINK days (double income, no kids).
Abby is on a roll - 10 hours, 10 hours, and 11 hours - 3 nights in a row! We're turning a corner in our house! 2 kids that sleep through the night and are often down for the same nap time. We will relish it while it lasts - already dreading the day when Grant stops napping. But for now we're getting lots of sleep and enjoying as much of this spring time weather as possible!
So - who wants to have a play date?!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Abby is 3 months
Abby is 3 months!! I put her in this onesie at 1 month knowing she’d take a while to really grow into it. Sadly, it is close to retirement now.
Weight: 13 lbs on the nose (according to the Wii)
Diaper: Size 2
Eating: 5 oz every 3-4 hours (but at least once a day she just snacks)
Clothing: PJs really need to be 3-6 month size now, but we’re on the cusp for other clothes.
Sleeping: A good 8-9 hour stretch every night, but usually from 8pm – 4 or 5 am.
Talking: Owl noises (a-whoo)
Teeth: None – she rarely drools so she never wears a bib
Milestones: Abby laughed for the first time on Sunday, February 26th.
Guaranteed Smiles: Whistles, raspberries, tickling her neck, and brushing my hair against her.
Guaranteed Crying: Riding in the car. She hates it!
Grant’s 3 month photo & stats are here.
I’ve got 460+ oz of milk in the freezer and sometimes just thinking about that makes me break out and dance. Abby will be weaned before our SuperExcitingNon-KidandOhYeahMyCousin’sGettingMarried trip in May, so having the stash lets me know I can wean her earlier (and therefore stop pumping at work earlier – the real thorn in my side).
Reading back on Grant’s blog, I see that 3 months is a magical age – she can sit in a Bumbo now! She tried it at Julie's today and at home tonight - she sits in it like a champ!
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