Grant loves Abby

I feel like I need to brag on my boy after my Grant Rant yesterday. I forgot to even mention what a sweetheart my boy is.

Grant is always so so sweet to his sister. I recently read through his 18 month post where I wondered how they would get along. So far it's so much better than I imagined. Yes - I know it's early. She can't move, therefore she can't get in his way or play with his toys. But I'm overwhelmed by how much he loves his sister!

Grant loves cars and the first 2 people to get assigned cars (no matter where we go or whose cars we play with) are ALWAYS Dada and Baby Abba. They get cars even before Grant assigns himself a car!! He brings Abby toys without us even prompting him to do so, and lets us know they are hers. "Baby Abba momo" (monkey) or "Baby Abba dog" - she also has a bunny and certain teethers that are hers. He also has no problem taking turns. When I play with Abby counting "1, 2, 3!!!" and do something silly, he will lay down and say "my turn." After his turn, he tells me "Baby Abba turn."

And the kisses. Oh so sweet. He is so gentle, always kissing her forehead ("po head") or the back of her head. The icing on the cake? He actually LIKES throwing out her poo poo diapers!

Abby is 5 months!!

Abby has only been in this world 5 months and already has more teeth than my grandma! ;) Her two bottom teeth have broken through the gums! Carrie said she could see the second one on Sunday, but I didn't see it until today! Here's what my girl is up to:

Weight: 16lbs, 2 oz according to the Wii.

Height: Will update at 6 months.

Head Circumference: Will update at 6 months. Assuming I survive the combined 6 month & 2 year visit with both kids.

Diaper: Size 3 for now, but I don't think I'll buy another box. We'll need 4s soon!

Eating: 6-7 ounces every 3-4 hours. I just started mixing of milk and formula.

Clothing: 3-6 month onesies are ok, but we desperately need bigger PJs. Last month I said I was worried that our hand-me-down clothing supply would run out soon. I hate being right ;). I have been scooping up 18 month gear for the winter and 2 year gear for next summer on sale (She seems to be tracking sizes along with Grant who was in 18 month gear at 1 year and 2 year gear at 18 months). Not very much stuff, but so far I've never paid more than a single digit for clothing (other than outfits for special occasions or tutus - and she has more than 1 tutu). So far I've even avoided the 30% off rack at Target and stuck to the 50% off rack! You sorta have to be a Target stalker to do this.

Sleeping: Last month it was 10-11 hours. This month it's been 9 hours, but I'm blaming the teeth. She's congested and coughing and wants up at 5 or 5:30 every day. I try to turn off the monitor and give her 5 minutes, but she still insists on getting up. I'm not swaddling her at night anymore. I also don't give her a pacifier. She gave it up on her own. Or at least she did at home. Julie still swaddles her & gives her a paci, but she's not interested in either at home.

Talking: Lots of screaching! She just now seems like she's talking - as in - she speaks up to say "AGGGGOOOOWAAAOOOO." You can hear her from across the house! She talks the most in the mornings and on her changing table.

Teeth: TWO! On bottom. The teeth show up best when she's crying:


Milestones: She rolled over from her back to her belly for the first time today at Julie's!

Guaranteed Smiles: Watching Lola and watching Grant. She LOVES to watch them. I call Lola over to me just to see Abby's grin spread across her face. She also loves her giraffe & lion toys.

Guaranteed Crying: Being put down. She's ok for about 5 minutes if she's not in your arms. I can get a longer stretch in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work (thankfully!!!). She also cries when she drops whatever she's been chewing. And she's always chewing and not very coordinated yet. So - yeah - girl is fussing a lot.

As of last week, I stopped pumping at work. Abby nurses in the morning and at night only, so we're plowing through the freezer stash at lightening speed. I just completed everything for the breastmilk donation (DNA swabs, freezer temperature reports and blood samples). Next week I'll get the supplies to ship off my 300 ounces and within 3 more weeks, I'll have a nice check in hand from my "donation." YEAH! In the meantime, my non-donation stash has dwindled to 70 ounces.

And more for myself, a link to Grant's stats at 5 months.

Grant-isms

How long do the terrible twos last?! A week? A month? Oh yeah - a whole friggin year... or more if you're not so lucky (I have some mom friends who thought the 2s were bad until they got to the 3s). Of course in our household just as 1 kid finishes the terrible twos, the other will be starting - so we get to endure them for 3 more years without a break.

Grant has good days and bad days. But the bad days just.keep.coming. This morning he went to timeout at least 5 times and he was only up for 45 minutes before we left. Playing with Abby's door while she gets a diaper change = timeout. Saying "bad dog" = timeout. Hitting me when I closed Abby's closet door (he wanted to play in there) = timeout. Not giving mama a hug & kiss after timeout = timeout. Saying "bad dog" while Abby was getting a diaper change (she poops alot) = timeout.

Derek played golf on Sunday so I was flying solo in the morning (until Aunt Coco came to play and help). Grant was supposed to be in timeout as I was getting a bottle ready for Abby. Instead I found him climbing on his bed & sliding off his nightstand. I should have gotten onto him, but I snapped pictures instead - hoping an injury would teach him (but he never fussed - even when he banged his head on the nightstand trying to climb over from his bed or when he slid off straight onto his bottom).

Time out is now in the pack & play in his room. We keep it set up in there. Why? Because after sleeping great in a toddler bed for 6 months and being able to open doors for the past month, this weekend Grant finally figured out that he can escape after we put him down for a nap. We tried being firm and putting him back in bed. But after 1.5 hours, Derek set up the pack & play. Night time is better than naps, but he still ended up sleeping in the pack & play last night.

But when he's not testing us limits, he is a really good boy. Funny even. After one of us goes to the bathroon (even #1), Grant says "Bye bye mama poo poo" (or dada) when we flush. Because Derek always says "HOLLA!", Grant started saying "Ha-ha, dada." He's getting better about please and thank you ("Mee mama" = please mama and "tay ooo" = thank you). Over the weekend he kept fastening straps on the baby gear (seat saver, bouncy chair and car seat). Once it's fastened, he says "Hepp mama. Mee mama", meaning "Help mama. Please mama." I unlatch it every time and honestly never get sick of it, even after the 20th time. I had a big cooking day on Saturday (I take 1 or 2 days per month and stock our freezer, otherwise we'd never eat),and he stayed at my feet fastening straps for a solid 20 minutes.

Carrie wanted him to show her "Coco's car," because he always refers to the purple hot wheel as "Coco car." She'd ask him "Where's Coco's car?" and every time, he pointed outside to her ACTUAL car!! He really does love cars. Today on our way to Julie's, he kept pointing out SUVs that were the same make & color as Sandy's (Mimi) and saying "Mimi car!!!" (Those exclamation points are no joke.) That boy loves Mimi!! And I guess the only person I talk to on the phone is my mom. Last night, Derek was on the phone canceling our cable and land line, and Grant said to the phone "Hi, Wose."

Grandma Betty

Last week Derek's grandmother was admitted to the hospital. She stayed a few nights and then was released to hospice care. We took the kiddos over for a visit this weekend. Betty was in good spirits and even held Abby for a while! Grandma Betty passed away this morning. She will be missed.

Big Gaga's house

We visited Big Gaga yesterday. We ordered in Angelo's. Grant loved the baked spaghetti and between what he ate and what landed on the floor, he had an adult-sized portion. I don't have any photos from the visit, but I did take this about 3 minutes after we left. Both are OUT! Big Gaga's house is TIRING!

And just because - here's a photo of Abby from earlier in the week. I think she's already rolling her eyes at me!

Matthew's baseball game

We went to Matthew's baseball game this week. With 2 kiddos, we were doing good to make it through the third inning. I have no photos of Matthew playing, but I DO have some of my babies playing. Matthew had a double and 2 singles (I think) at his 3 at-bats and lots of RBIs.

Grant enjoyed the playground, but he also did decently well (when bribed with food) watching the game.

Hello Minnesota!

I just added some code to my website last week for Google Analytics. It's pretty fascinating stuff. If you haven't done this for your own blog, I definitely recommend it.

Most of my blog hits come from DFW, although Waco made the list too (Hi Jenna!). North Carolina had 4 hits to my site since last week. Hi Mitts!!

But there was also 4 hits from Minnesota, 1 from Georgia, and 1 from England. Who was THAT?! Show yourself Minnesota! I just dedicated an entire post to you, so you owe me.

"That is all." (Peter Griffin voice).

Hello, twos.

The terrible twos are knocking on our door - only 6 weeks away. Grant’s testing us all the time now. I wonder if it ever really stops or if this is the age where parents are shocked into a lifetime of children testing limits. Are the twos really terrible or is it terrible because this is just the beginning?

Grant’s new phrase is “bad dog.” We always correct him and tell him “no, nice dog!” But this phrase is carrying over. When he’s not getting his way, it’s “bad mama” or “bad dada.” UGH! He says it when he’s frustrated that we can’t understand him, but more often he says it when he has to stop playing to get a diaper change.

Reading his favorite book, Go, Dog! Go. with Susie ("Tootie")
Manners are a work in progress. We have to tell him to say please and thank you (“Meee” = Please and “Tay too” = Thank you). He always takes his plate to the sink when he’s done eating. He will stop eating and put his hands together to pray. He always puts his hands together for bedtime prayers too and whispers his version of “Amen.”

He loves planes and Elmo. We live near the airport so we see and hear planes ALL THE TIME. He always points them out. And if we’re playing and he hears one, he runs to the window to try and find it (all the while telling me “Mama – dat” and pointing to the sky).



After the storms 2 weeks ago - tornado prep at Julie's and playing with the hail my neighbor saved.
His favorite toys are the baby doll and stroller at Julie’s, the dog pillow/blanket that my aunt Debi gave Abby at home (that dog is ALWAYS “Nice dog”) and CARS! The boy loves Hot Wheels, his Cozy Coupe and all cars of all sizes in between. They are all assigned to certain people. Baby Abba Caw = lime green flat bed big rig; Coco (Carrie) caw = white & purple; Mama caw = White with the driver in it (from Great Grandpa KC); Dada caw = shiny green hot wheel (also from Great Grandpa KC). And on and on… When we were at Grandma Rose & Papa’s house last weekend, he gave everyone a car for the toys in the house and never strayed. He also assigned the hot wheels in the garage, again never straying. He remembers which car belongs to each one.

The child can also be a comedian. If I toot, he’ll say “Mama, poo poo.” HA! He’s starting to understand jokes. This morning I told him the dog pillow/blanket thing (I need a name for it!) was “Susie’s dog.” He looked at me with his chin slightly down and a grin on his face and corrected me, “No – my dog mama.” We laughed and kept going back & forth. I do the same with his cars – pointing at Abby’s and saying it’s mama’s car. I remember watching my brother tease Matthew (pointing to a pig and saying “cow”, etc.), thinking it was all in fun. While it is fun, I now see it’s important to teach him to think on his own.

The boy just ADORES his sister! He helps me move the Bumbo in the next room for sister (“Baby Abba Bumbo.”). He actually says Baby Abba so much that I find myself saying it too instead of Abby! Derek doesn’t have a mirror set up in the car to see Abby while he drives, but Grant does a great job of telling us whether she’s asleep or awake when we’re on the road. “Baby Abba nigh nigh” or “Baby Abba waaay”.

He has hit her a few times, but it’s when he wants her to stop crying. A few weeks ago she was BEGGING to go to sleep (read: screaming her head off) while I was getting dressed in the morning. It’s impossible to put on clothes and hold a baby, so she just had to be upset for a few minutes. Grant did NOT like that. He was at my feet in my closet – “Mama, baby. Mama, baby.” And when that didn’t work, he went up to her and smacked her on the forehead.

But I'm sure they'll do fine sharing toys! I don't have to take my head out of these clouds until Abby is mobile. I like the view up here anyway!

Abby is teething!

Grant started drooling like a boxer when he was 3 months old. We thought he was teething for the next 4 months until he finally DID get a tooth (two) when he was 7.5 months old. So when Abby started doing the same thing, I was sure that she'd be a drool-monster for several months like Grant was without any signs of teeth.

I was wrong. When the kids were with my parents on April 13, my dad felt a tooth. And now you can see it (if you look hard enough). Abby's first tooth is in at 4.5 months!!

On a related note, we're going to start weaning. Teeth + vacation next month = time to wean!!

Abby is 4 months!!

Special thanks to Roberta for the adorable outfit!!
Abby is 4 months!! Here's what she's up to!!

Weight: 14 lbs., 4 oz (50th percentile)

Height: 25 inches (75th percentile)

Head Circumference: 42 cm (75th percentile) It’s a little crooked but should straighten out soon.

Diaper: Moving up to Size 3 today!

Eating: 7 oz. every 3 hours.

Clothing: 3-6 month size

Sleeping: Almost always 10-11 hours! There were 2 days last week where she woke up in the night, but I think that was a growth spurt. We still swaddle her for naps and at night.

Talking: Owl noises (a-whoo), Gargling type sounds, squeals, and other vowel sounds

Teeth: None – but she’s become a drool monster!!!

Milestones: She’s getting close to rolling over from her back to her belly, but hasn’t done it yet. Grant started rolling over just before he was 4 months old. Grant also started in the exersaucer and jumper at this age, but Abby has been in them for a few weeks already. She loves them!

Guaranteed Smiles: Same as last month - whistles, raspberries, tickling her neck, and brushing my hair against her.

Guaranteed Crying: Same as last month - riding in the car. She hates it!

I’ve got 500+ oz of milk in the freezer. I just found a program that basically pays you $300 for 300 ounces of “donated” breastmilk. The company fortifies the milk, then sells it to hospitals for premies (under 3 lbs). Economically, it is sort of a no brainer. It’s strange to sell my milk, but I’m glad it’ll help babies and also help me offset formula costs!

I’m pretty nervous that our clothes supply may be coming to an end soon. If Abby stays in the 50% range, then by 6 months, Abby will weigh about the same as Lila did at 1 year (17 lbs, 8 oz is the projection on the growth chart for Abby and Lila was 17 lbs, 4 oz). I will still refuse to pay more than single digits for baby clothes though!!