A case of the Whys

Oh. my. gosh. If I have to answer one more Why question, I am going to jump off the roof. Here are some examples of that impossible question:

L - Why McDonald's is this way?
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Me - Ian isn't home yet so we have to wait at our house.
L - Why we have to wait at our house?
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L - Why we going to Wal-Mart?
Me - To get Clorox wipes and paper towels
L - Why?
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L - I wanna go to the broccoli play place. (There is a mall play area with a big broccoli in it.)
Me - Not today, baby, it's too far away.
L - Why?
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L - Why Erin needs her diaper changed?
Me - Because she's stinky.
L - Why?
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And the list goes on and on and on and on...

Muppet Babies

Mike pointed out this face Erin was making and I had to film it because it was SO. FREAKING. HILARIOUS!



We got a movie from Netflix and I told Leah that today after lunch when Erin naps, she and I will watch it. She was trying to remember the name of the movie and said, "Mommy, when are we going to watch Poppin' Beans?"

The movie was Mary Poppins.

Update: Leah has been calling the movie "Hoppin' Poppin'" all day. I laugh my head off every time!

Last but not least, I know Mike posted this one on his blog but some of my friends don't read his too. So here it is. Last night Leah was telling Mike that he had "dumpies." He was like WHAT? Leah insisted that he and Erin had dumpies. I finally realized that she meant dimples. I had told her that morning that Erin and Mike had dimples and she and I do not. She got "dumpies" from that. :)

Tag from Erica

Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your Friends. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then post this on your blog. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6am to nurse Erin, she never went back to sleep and neither did I

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, my engagement ring and wedding band specifically

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Juno

4. What is your favorite TV show? I like too many shows to have a fav. I currently watch: Supernanny, Biggest Loser, Notes from the Underbelly, and Lost

5.What do you usually have for breakfast? cereal, oatmeal, egg sandwich

6. What is your middle name? Cathleen

7. What food do you dislike? bananas

8. What is your favorite CD at moment? The only CD's I listen to are Leah's Laurie Berkners.

9. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Odyssey

10. Favorite sandwich? Roast beef and provolone at Jersey Mike's

11. What characteristic do you despise? Deceptiveness - agreed with Chelsi & Erica

12. Favorite item of clothing? Jeans

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Grand Canyon

14. Favorite brand of clothing? Old Navy

15. Where would you retire to? Retirement is too far away to think about

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Last birthday I spent at the zoo with some cousins, my dad and my family, that was fun

17. Favorite sport to watch? Football

18. Farthest place you are sending this? Mmmm not sending this, I dont even know where my visitors come from - Ditto with Erica

19. Person you expect to send it back first? First to repost? Tiffany maybe

20. When is your birthday? December 27, 1978

21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night, although lately I am more of a midday person

22. What is your shoe size? 6

23. Pets? cats names Allegra (Ally) and Lily

24. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us? Not so much, just same ole, same ole

25. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher

26. How are you today? Stuffed up and drippy, but happy

27. What is your favorite candy? snickers and reeses

28. What is your favorite flower? Gerbera daisies

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? March 22nd when my dad arrives for his visit and April 17th when we go to FL

30. What is your full name? I’m not putting this one only because I dont want search engines picking it up :)

31. What are you listening to right NOW? Erin babbling and Leah asking for help (I am trying to ignore her)

32. What was the last thing you ate? PB & J and grapes

33. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Something bold

36. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Yesterday I left Laurie a message about traffic on the way home.

37. Favorite soft drink? Pepsi, but I RARELY drink it

38. Favourite restaurant? Maggiano's hands down. We have a gift certificate there, we just need a babysitter...

39. Hair color? dark brown

40. What was your favorite toy as a child? barbie's and cabbage patch kids

41. Summer or winter? Summer, I'd rather be hot than cold

42. Hugs or kisses? Like them both

43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Depends on my mood

44. Coffee or tea? Tea or Lattes

45. Do you want your friends to email you back? I’d like them to repost this :)

46. When was the last time you cried? I have been tearing up at the most ridiculous things lately.

47. What is under your bed? dust and hairballs

48. What did you do last night? watched TV with Mike and read blogs

49. What are you afraid of? losing my family

50. Salty or sweet? both

51. How many keys on your keyring? a few , but I only use my car and house keys

52. How many years at your current job? stay at home mom 9 months

53. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

54. How many towns have you lived? 10, I think

55. Do you make friends easily? Yes

56. How many people will you send this too? Whoever stops by to check my site

57. How many will respond? No idea, but if you do repost this, leave me a comment!

Can you see it?

It's Erin's first tooth!

You may not be able to see it. It is on her left, the right side of the picture, on the bottom. It has just barely broken the skin. Part of it isn't even out yet. I can't believe I was able to get a picture of it. Macro mode is the best. I have never used it before and it came out great! The tooth next to it is also just about to bust through.

Leah's new bed

We bought this bed yesterday for Leah.I am SO excited because I have had in my mind for the longest time that I wanted her to have a daybed with a trundle. I was thinking about how I had a trundle bed when I was little and I loved it. Sleepovers were so much fun. But I was having trouble finding what I wanted for under $1000 not including mattresses, which Mike refused to pay for a kid's bed. I tried to explain to him that she would keep it for MANY years to come. But he was not having it. In the end we found it for $750, which includes the daybed, trundle, and both mattresses!

The downside is that is doesn't come in until April 23rd. So Tiffany, you may have your toddler bed back then. I hope that is okay. :)

Erin's a big girl now

Here she is in her big girl car seat!

Leah got the boot

Mike is playing Guitar Hero. He let Leah have a turn and she got booed off the stage. When he told me she got booed, she said, "Yeah, I got foo-ted."

I feel different

Okay, all my friends out there with two or more kids, I need to know something. How are your feelings different, if at all, with the second and subsequent children? It's hard for me to put it into words. I am going to try.

I know I always loved Leah from the minute she was born. But I don't remember feeling it this intensely. When I look at Erin and snuggle her, I am overwhelmed by my feelings for her. I literally can't. get. enough of her. What is it about this time around that makes it so much MORE? Not that I am saying I love her more than Leah. It's just that the experience is more.

Maybe we are lacking the fear of first-time parents this time around. Maybe the confidence allows more of the joy in. Maybe it's due to Erin and her personality. Unless she is sick or super-overtired, she never stops smiling her big-mouth grin. But Leah smiled a lot too and was almost always happy. I just don't know what it is.

Anyone else out there have a similar story? Or am I just crazy? :)

Erin makes a mess

Love/hate relationship

Here is something funny I just realized. When Leah was a baby, I hated any top that did not snap under her tush. I did not like shirts that would ride up and leave her belly hanging out at all. If I happened to put one on her, I was constantly pulling it down and straightening it out.

Now, Erin very rarely wears onesies. Maybe it's because I did not have that many from Leah in the correct size/season. I had to buy most of Erin's winter wardrobe new. I found that I was drawn to regular shirts. And now I love them on her! When I think about it, it's probably because I like to buy the girls matching shirts and they are usually both regular shirts. But they are super cute.

We took Erin's 6 month pics today. I put a small white BOW in her hair! Don't pass out now, y'all. I know I am not a bow kind of mom, but both my girls wore white bows in their hair today. I will take a pic after Erin gets up. They are beauties!

Love Tag

I was tagged by T to list 14 things that I love in honor of Valentine's Day. I have been saving this tag to do today. So here it is, in no particular order:

1. Erin - I cannot get enough of my baby!

2. Leah - My logical girl learns faster than I can keep up with and remembers EVERYTHING!

3. Mike - After a month of being disconnected due to vacations (his) and sickness (both of us), we're back, baby!

4. My parents - All of my parents have contributed to the happiness I have today

5. My neighbors and neighborhood - I couldn't think of a better place for my babies to grow up.

6. Cooking an elaborate dinner for guests

7. A really good book (like Expecting Adam)

8. Visiting friends

9. Taking vacations

10. Being able to be there for all my girls' milestones

11. Making crafts with Leah (we gave those butterflies out at her Vday party at school)

12. Going to Maggiano's

13. When my house is clean (but I hate cleaning it!)

14. Buying people presents

Happy Valentine's Day all!

Where has the time gone?

Erin is 6 months today! Her stats at the dr were: 17lbs 3/4oz (82%) and 25 inches tall (25%). This morning I did a photo shoot with the girls. On Leah's 6 month birthday, we took pictures of her in her Princess dress (thanks to Megan!). So I dug it out and put it on Erin. Check out the comparison on the right! Leah got in on the act with her ballerina costume she got for Christmas 2006 from Mimi & PawPaw. Here are my favorites:







Okay, so that's more than a few, but I couldn't decide!

A flaw or a virtue?

I came to a realization about myself tonight. Nothing happened particularly to make me think about this. I was just driving home from my WW meeting (7 lbs down) thinking.

In situations that are potentially of concern (like a sick relative, etc.), I am not very comforting. I don't know what to say to people. I tend to ask a lot of questions so that I know all of the facts, but I don't do the whole encouraging words bit. I think I am more of a problem solver. I try to give options to make things better. It's not that I don't want to encourage or help. I guess I just don't know how to talk like that.

I guess I was thinking about Mike being sick. He has been home from work these last 2 days with congestion in his head, headaches, and a horrible cough that has made him sore from neck to waist. When we talk, I usually don't say nice things like, "Oh, babe, I'm sorry" even though I think it. I ask him what his symptoms are, suggest things to make him feel better and move on.

My dad recently had emergency eye surgery to repair a detached retina. My immediate response upon hearing the news was to ask a million questions and clarify the next steps. Of course I was concerned, but I did not show it with the love I felt.

Now I know this is not a virtue. But is it really a flaw? Do you think people see my approach as lack of emotion? It makes me sad to think that. To all my friends and family out there, I want to you know that the reason I ask those questions is that I don't know how to voice my feelings. I would not feel the need to understand the situation if I didn't care.

I guess the flaw is that I don't know how to put my support into words.

Thank you!

I just have to thank all of my commenters on my last post. Those words went a long way toward relieving my guilt. I admire all of my mommy friends so much and your words mean a lot. Those who are not mothers, I so appreciate that you took the time to give me encouraging words. Thanks for all the love!

Numbered days

I have been reluctant to talk about this, not because I'm afraid of what people think, but because I feel guilty. So here it is. I think my breastfeeding days are numbered.

I can rationalize this a lot of ways. Here is one. I did an experiment and started giving Erin formula bottles before bed to see if she was waking up so much because she was hungry. Sure enough, she has slept between 10 and 11 hours at night straight since we started it. So she wasn't getting enough from me before bed to last her. I know that it is normal in breastfed babies to wake up in the night more often, but it doesn't make me enjoy it more.

Here is another one. Erin really seems to love bottles. Whenever one is in her sight, she opens up her little birdie mouth so wide and starts hooting in excitement. When I pull the bottle out for a break, she grabs it and tries to bring it back to her mouth immediately. Who am I to stand in the way of my daughter's happiness?

And really here is the most pressing reason. I am just done. From day one, I have never been one of those moms who feel such a special bond from breastfeeding. It was just my job. I worked through problems to do that job just like anyone else might. But I was never excited about it. I feel just as attached and bonded to Erin when I bottle-feed her.

So there it is. I feel guilty because I should be wanting to do it longer for my child. But six months is pretty good, right? Mike is fine with whatever I want to do, which is saying a lot when he knows our costs are going to go up. Those of you who know him know how very much that means. :)

So our days look like this:
wake-up time - breastfeed
an hour or so later - cereal and fruit
mid-AM - bottle (7 oz)
noon - veggie and maybe cereal
mid-PM - breastfeed
dinner - cereal and veggie
before bed - bottle (7 oz)
middle of night (if awake) - breastfeed

And those breastfeeds will probably gradually change to bottles as time goes on. I really don't anticipate a problem with engorgement because i just don't think I produce that much milk. Erin is always eager to take a bottle, even after breastfeeding. I do kind of feel like that is another rationalization. Well, I just don't have enough milk, I could tell myself. But I know there are things I can do to change that. I just don't really want to put in the effort to continue something I don't enjoy.

It was fun while it lasted.

Poop du jour

I have never in my life experienced a poop explosion of this magnitude. Here are the items sullied:

Erin's entire romper
the changing pad
the carpet in spots from the kitchen to the living room behind the couch
Erin's car seat
my shoe
my pants
Leah's pants
the bathroom sink (where said romper was rinsed)
the dryer (where said romper was sprayed heavily with stain spray)
the washer (where said items of clothing are currently swishing away)

Mike & I were just talking the other day about how Erin has peed/pooped out of diapers MANY times less than Leah. She is just neater, even down to spitting up and eating (so far anyway). But today topped them all. Even Leah's movie theater disaster didn't touch this for sheer number of items requiring cleaning. Thank goodness I was just getting home is all I have to say.

Note: I believe this is due to the fact that Erin has had glycolax in a juice bottle every day for a week. This is the first poop of exploding consistency she has had since she was a newborn.

Monday night timeline

7pm Erin goes to bed

7:30pm Leah goes to bed

7:45pm Watch Deja Vu with my mom (great movie!)

10:30pm Go to bed

11:15pm Erin wakes up and cries for 20 min before falling back to sleep

1:30am Leah wakes up crying, saying she has to pee pee. I take her and she gets back in bed.

2:20am Leah is crying again. This time she says "Mommy, I have a bad feeling." What can I say to that? She gets in bed with me.

3:30am Erin wakes up to eat. Goes right back to sleep.

3:50am Back in my bed.

5:30am Erin wakes up and cries for 20 min.

5:50am I go in and try soothing her in her crib.

6:00am I change her diaper and nurse her back to sleep.

6:11am I am back in my bed.

7:15am My mom comes in to take a shower.

7:30am Leah wakes up and my day begins.

All I can say is, Mike is on duty from the minute he walks in the door.

PS Happy Mardi Gras y'all!

Leah these days

She is such a card! (Are cards funny? Because that's the only way that saying makes sense.) Yesterday we went to the mall and on the way out to the car, we were wandering around a little. I didn't realize I went down the wrong row for the car and I was looking around for it. Leah says, "Mom, it's over there," and points right to the car in the next row. My two year old found my car in the parking lot.

My mom was doing something with her and she says, "Grammy, you are smarter than me."

She is always asking "or" questions like "Yes or no?" or "Rest or nap?" or "Hot or cold?" Everything is "or."

With Mike in Colorado, the other day Leah was sad in bed. She said "Daddy didn't come home for dinner." That is what I always tell her, that Daddy will be home at dinnertime.

At the Wal-Mart checkout, she always makes me hold one of those furry pens, usually a Pooh one, while she takes my picture with a pretend kids camera.

She has only ever had a pee-pee accident at home. Never while we are out (*knock on wood*). She has been in underwear for about 3 weeks solid during the day.

This morning we were on the Harcourt (textbook publisher) Math site and we were doing the Pre-K games. She could do all of them. I had to prompt a little on the comparing length game and on the pattern game, but on all the rest she had it down pat. Should I put her in kindergarten in the fall? :)

So full of joy

I am so in love with my baby lately. She is becoming such a personality. She gives open-mouth kisses almost non-stop. I lay her on her changing table at night to get her ready for bed and we have a ball. She loves being stripped to her diaper. I give her lots of kisses on her neck and armpits and she laughs up a storm. She is stingy with her laughs, so I love them all the more when they come out. I say "Oh Ma Ma" to her and she sometimes repeats back "Ma ma ma ma." When I lean over her to talk, she places both hands on my face and I let her pat and rub while I tell her gentle. That makes her crack up too. She still smiles her big mouth grin, but sometimes I can get a regular gummy one in.

She eats two meals a day, oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and oatmeal with 2 veggies or a veggie and a fruit for dinner. She LOVES her mealtimes. Her mouth is always open like a baby bird. When you eat, she watches the fork go to your mouth so intently. I can't wait to start her on Stage 2 foods because there is so much more variety. Yesterday she got a biter biscuit for the first time and had a blast with it. Of course she was a total mess, but it was fun. Also last night after her dinner we were feeding her Cheerios. She actually reached for them for the first time and was raking them around the tray. When I picked one up to put in her mouth, she would grab my hand and lead it to her mouth. She gets a daily bottle with juice and glycolax (stool softener) since she is now having trouble pooping. (Same meds Leah was on, Leah goes off it Erin goes on *sigh*) She loves her juice. I have stopped giving her formula in bottles because I want to limit the amount of bottles she gets. We were having some trouble nursing, so Laurie suggested that maybe she was getting used to the ease of bottles and needed to relearn to nurse properly. So we have been working on that. It is getting better.

Erin is almost sitting up. She can sit for short periods on her own but she still tends to fold forward or fall back often. She has been sitting in the cart at the store and in the high chair at restaurants in my shopping cart/high chair cover I still have of Leah's. (It's funny that when Leah was born, it was just becoming a thing and there weren't that many out there on the market. But now there are tons of cuter ones to choose from. I will never get away with buying a cuter one when the one I have still works great.) Erin has rolled over front to back a few times but not consistently. When she lays on her tummy, she usually swims instead of holding her upper body on her arms.

When she is not tired, she is such a joy to be around. I know I thought Leah was just the most lovable baby, but I feel like Erin is so cuddly, she just makes you adore her. I have forgotten Leah like that. Now I am just in awe of the way Leah's mind works. I will have to pay attention today to all the wonderful things she comes up with and I will post tonight some new Leahisms.