My Dad’s Birthday

Filed Under Birthdays, Four Months Old- Taylor, Grandparents, Three Years Old, Video | Leave a Comment

We celebrated my dad’s birthday a few weeks ago… Taylor wore his sharks outfit since my dad is a shark junkie. My dad actually used to scuba dive and my mom even joined him a few times. I think their honeymoon was to Grand Cayman. Oh and Shark Week was a big deal at our house growing up.

Great Grandpa got a chance to love on Taylor, too.

Bailey was so excited to give her Grandpa his gift. As we walked in, she said, “Grandpa I hope you like your movie! I didn’t mean to drop it. It was a accident!” She isn’t so smooth with the surprises at this point but I love her excitement.

She got a new set of golf clubs to play with her Grandpa. She knows he loves golf, but she insisted on calling in hockeyball. I was cracking up because my dad got more and more irritated that she wouldn’t call it golf.

Taylor watched with wide eyes. We had to cover his head a few times because of his sister’s wild swinging.

Happy birthday, Daddy! You’re the best father I could ever ask for.

A few videos of Taylor at 4 months

Filed Under Four Months Old- Taylor, Grandparents, Play, Video | Leave a Comment

I am trying to get videos uploaded as I have time. Here are a few of Taylor at four months.

Yes, his eyes are often huge like this!

Papa is 89

Filed Under Birthdays, Grandparents, Three Years Old, Two Months- Taylor | Leave a Comment

We celebrated my grandpa (Papa) 89th birthday!

Bailey loves her Papa and was so excited to celebrate

I love this one- so sweet- I think I am going to get it framed for her.

Her first smiley face EVER!

Happy birthday, Papa! We love you!

Lone Elk Park and Bird Sanctuary

Filed Under Grandparents, One Month- Taylor, Outings, St. Louis, Two and a half years old | 3 Comments

Today the weather is so beautiful. And I was so tired of being at home in our pajamas. I called my dad and told him I was going to come pick him up and we were going to Lone Elk Park. It’s a drive-through park where you can view wildlife and stuff. It’s a pretty drive. But best of all, it’s something easy to do and you don’t even have to get out of the car, but it at least gets you out of the house!

Sometimes, we see a lot of animals there. Mostly elk (duh), deer, bison, and ducks/geese. Today we only saw a few geese and then a herd of buffalo that were really close to the road. One was about five feet from our car. Bailey thought it was pretty cool and wanted me to open her window so she could wave. Taylor slept through the whole thing.

At one point we stopped at a “viewing area” (there are certain places where you are allowed to get out of the car- NOT in the bison area though). There was a wooden feed bin type thing so I decided to make it a learning opportunity. I talked to Bailey about how it was a manger like what Jesus slept in as a baby. I showed her how the animals food was in there, but Mary put her baby in one just like that because he didn’t have his own crib. I love trying to help things “click” for her.

After we were done at Lone Elk, we decided to stop by the Wild Bird Sanctuary. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was right next door and it was free! It was actually kind of cool. Local moms- we will have to do a playdate there one day. I wouldn’t say it’s exciting for adults unless you are really into birds. But cool for kids to see, lots of room to run around, an “animal hospital” you can go inside, and another building with a gift shop and other animals that we didn’t get a chance to check out. And it’s something different. Bailey enjoyed seeing all the owls, hawks, eagles, and other large birds. They are in outdoor cages just a few feet past a fence.

Once again, Taylor was really impressed…

The whole thing is a big long path that you walk down and there are cages and perches on each side. I would say it’s a half mile walk maybe. There are spots where you could bring a picnic or snack and sit to eat as well. The path was gravel, which was annoying for me because Bailey LOVES to play with rocks and throw them. It took us about twenty minutes to walk ten feet because she kept sitting down to play in the rocks.

I’m so glad my dad was able to come with us and make it easier for me to get out of the house with the kids!

So I’m talking to my dad…

Filed Under Clothes, Grandparents | Leave a Comment

And I told him that I got a new swimsuit and shirt for Taylor. My dad says in a teasing voice, “Oooh did you get the matching sunglasses and sandals too?”

So I guess everyone has noticed I am obsessed with shopping for my kids. Thanks, Dad.

NICU Day Five

Filed Under Breastfeeding, Difficult Stuff, Grandparents, NICU, Newborn- Taylor | 1 Comment

On Monday morning, I called the hospital first thing when I woke up. They told me Taylor had passed his carseat test and done so well during the night. Jonathon had planned to come up to the hospital with me, so my mom came over early to watch Bailey and we got up there in time for his first feeding.

While he was eating, our nurse, Katrena, came over and told us that he would be able to go home by early evening. He was scheduled for pictures, then his circumcision (no debating here, thanks) would be done on my OB’s lunch hour, then after they observed him and made sure he was peeing okay he would be released.

We went and got his pictures done. As with typical newborn pictures, they are just okay. Of course his eyes aren’t focused and he’s kind of a lump, but he looks cute anyway. Not posting them on here yet because I haven’t decided which picture to use for birth announcements.

After his pictures, Jonathon and I went to the breastfeeding room so I could pump. When we came back to the NICU and were waiting to be let in, Jonathon was like, “I hear Taylor crying!” I kept saying no, that’s not him, blah blah blah. They let us in and I saw the nurses putting him under a blue light, wearing only a diaper. My first thought was, “Why is he going under there, I hope they know he is leaving soon!” We walked up and the nurse looked at me and then I just knew and started crying.

She kept saying, “We’re so sorry! We wanted to get him settled and calm before we called you back in.” The neonatologist had decided to get one last check on his bilirubin levels and they came back way too high. She said it was good that it happened while he was still in the hospital, because if his numbers had spiked like this after he went home he would have been admitted back into the hospital. Basically he was jaundiced, which made sense because I kept thinking he looked more yellowish. They said he would probably need a few days of phototherapy. The light breaks down the bilirubin in the blood when the liver is not yet working properly.

Here is Taylor in his “tanning bed” complete with sunglasses velcroed around his head.

I guess here I should admit that I completely lost it when they told me he wouldn’t be going home after all. This whole experience was such a roller coaster ride. To be told that morning he was leaving, and then hours later to be told that he was staying days later… it was just more than I could handle. Someday I will write more about what it’s actually like to have a child in the hospital. Right now I’m still alternating between processing and pushing it out of my head. Oh and I’m going on little sleep too, so my posts aren’t so eloquent right now!

Jonathon and I took a break and went out for lunch, and went up to his work to pick up some gifts and visit and share pictures of Taylor. We went back to the hospital for another feeding, then went home for dinner. My mom offered to come back up to the hospital with me after dinner. That evening, there was a girl I knew from church working in the NICU. She was assigned to transport but shifted things around and ended up being Taylor’s nurse for overnight. It was so good to talk to someone familiar. She also said that honestly she didn’t think he would go home until at least Wednesday or Thursday.

NICU Day Four

Filed Under Birth- Taylor, Breastfeeding, Grandparents, NICU, Newborn- Taylor | Leave a Comment

On Sunday morning when I got up, I called the NICU first thing. They told me that Taylor had a wonderful night and not only was he off all his oxygen and forced room air, but that he was doing well regulating his body temperature. That meant a move to the other side of the nursery! The sickest babies are in the middle close to the nurses’ station/desk. The medium sick babies are to one side, and then when they start doing well they move to the other end. I was so happy to see Taylor at the other end when I came down to visit.

The other big difference is that he got moved into an open crib instead of one with the warmer above it. This crib is just like the ones the “regular” babies sleep in during their hospital stay! The cute sign inside his crib was courtesy of Nurse Susie.

His nurse told me we could put regular clothes on him too. It just had to be something where his foot was free for the wires to come out. Here he is FINALLY wearing real clothes!

I officially had to be out of my room that morning by 10:00 (they had let me stay one extra night since my baby was still there). Jonathon was up there to help me get our stuff to the car and he stayed a while to visit. After he left, I began the longest few days of my life, basically living in the breastfeeding room next to the NICU. I just sat in the back “booth” with the curtain closed and read and wasted time online. I just had to sit and wait until it was time to go feed the baby again. He was on a three hour schedule with feedings at 11, 2, 5, and 8 around the clock.

My parents came up to visit that evening and they both got to hold Taylor for the first time. My mom was so nervous and didn’t want to hold him at first but I didn’t give her a choice.

Free Day

Filed Under Books, Food, Grandparents, Me, St. Louis | 1 Comment

Tomorrow my parents are watching Bailey so I can have a day to myself. They always watch her if we have kid-free plans, or if our schedules don’t work out right. But about once a month they take her for the day so I can just go do something fun.

Tomorrow I am going to deliver ONE Avon order (not wasting the whole day with work stuff!!) and then I am going to go to the new CVS and use my coupons! We are just starting to get CVS’s in our area but I am assuming it’s pretty similar to Walgreens. Only they mailed me some pretty sweet coupons! Like $10 off $20, which will be used for diapers…

Then I am planning on going to a book sale at the library and hopefully getting some new books for Bailey (25 and 50 cents each, if you are local, email me and I’ll tell you which branch!) and then I am going to enjoy a lunch alone with a book at either Macaroni Grill (Chicken Scalloppine) or Uno’s (deep dish pizza and dessert). I’m leaning toward pizza!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Filed Under Birthdays, Gifts, Grandparents, Parties, Two and a half years old | Leave a Comment

My grandma (Nana) turned 84 earlier this month. I have been so bad at updating this blog but wanted to at least share a few pictures. We had a nice afternoon/family party for her. We got a bunch of Subway sandwiches and chips and drinks, and I made cupcakes. We’re fancy like that. Of course she got some Avon stuff for her birthday- a perfume set and some jewelry. She also got some candy, a jewelry box, and some promotional products.

Just a cute one of Bailey with my mom (Grammy)

We didn’t think we could do all 84 candles on a cupcake

I am so thankful to have my grandparents living here in town with us. I know I complain sometimes about having to “help” with them… but it is nice to spend time with them and I am glad they have gotten to know Bailey. And that they will get to know Baby Boy. Whose middle name will be the same as Papa’s middle name.

My Grandpa’s Birthday/ Bailey’s Tricycle

Filed Under Birthdays, Grandparents, Toys, Two Years Old | 1 Comment

We celebrated Grandpa’s (papa’s) birthday a few weeks ago. This day was also significant for two other reasons: Bailey wore “real” ponytails for the first time AND she got her first tricycle!

Okay but we’re supposed to be talking about Grandpa. He turned 88. I am so proud of him and my grandma. They live on their own in a condo nearby and they do pretty well, most of the time. Bailey loves to go over and visit them! Here she is giving her Papa his birthday present.

My mom gave Bailey her new tricycle that evening. She had so much fun riding around the house with it. It is the pink and purple version of this Kettler tricycle and I seriously recommend it. My mom got it used and the price was really reasonable. It is much more sturdy/stable than Radio Flyer or any of the ones we saw at the toy store. The base is wide, the wheels are wide, and it’s heavy. Bailey is getting a helmet before she takes it outside because we want her to learn early that she has to wear a helmet to ride a bike. We have a family member who had a head injury from a bike accident so I take it pretty seriously!

Happy birthday, Grandpa!

Randomness in Picture Form

Filed Under Avon, Church, Clothes, Gifts, Grandparents, Random, Toys, Two Years Old | 1 Comment

This was the first warmer-weather outfit I put on Bailey this spring. I can tell the difference in her looks even from just a few weeks ago when this was taken!

Bailey got some cool new stuff for her birthday. One of her favorite gifts was the monkey play-dough set from her friend Mackenzie. She got a little obsessed so we (I) made a rule that she only got to do play-dough with Daddy!

Speaking of her friend Mackenzie- here they are at church. They see each other every week in the hallway outside the nursery and get so excited! They were rolling around on the floor and laughing.

Then I decided I should try to get a picture of her with Grampa, but she wasn’t really into it.

And at home watching Barney after church, wearing her sunglasses, OF COURSE. Because she likes to wear them ALL THE TIME.

This is a Dora nightgown that Grammy gave Bailey for her birthday (or Easter, maybe). She loves to wear it around the house but she WILL NOT sleep in it. She thinks it’s a dress and I haven’t been able to convince her otherwise. But it works well for a comfy play-around-the-house outfit.

I don’t remember if I posted this one before but she was putting puzzle pieces all over Jonathon. He let her do it for a long time… that man has much more patience than I do! It was pretty cute though.

And just one last one of her playing… if you look on the table you can see some Weebles stuff. I found it at a yard sale in our neighborhood and she was with me at the time. She thought it was Little People and started yelling “Peeeeepole!” One of the best $3 purchases I have made lately- she can interchange a lot of it (size-wise) with Little People and she just adores any type of little guys/cars/houses/animals like that right now. This set came with a house, swing, about five guys including Santa and a snowman, a motorcycle, and a car. Hours of fun.

As for me- I am winning a new prize for my Avon recruiting. We are getting two new gold iPod mp3 players in a few weeks! Jonathon was SO excited about this. I will have to figure out how to use it now…

St. Patrick’s Day

Filed Under Clothes, Grandparents, Twenty-three Months | 1 Comment

I wrote a post about St. Patrick’s Day that was deleted. I talked about visiting my grandpa at the rehab facility where he went after his knee replacement. He is home now and doing great. But that whole post was lost when my blog crashed about a week ago.

So let me post the most important part again: The picture of Bailey (being held still by Grammy) !  I forgot to dress her in green for St. Patty’s but she rocked her new Bon Voyage outfit, didn’t she? Even though I had to roll the pants down at the top and up at the bottom! They were capris and she has short legs just like her mommy. Poor girl.

Happy birthday, Jonathon and Grandma

Filed Under Birthdays, Food, Grandparents, Nineteen Months | 1 Comment

Last week we celebrated the birthdays of my wonderful husband and grandmother (Bailey’s great grandma). Jonathon is 33 now. I thought he was turning 32 but apparently not. My grandma is 83, I think. I thought she was turning 84 but she says she is 83 now. I have no idea what year she was born, so I can’t argue. I might ask my mom one of these days. Sad that I don’t know anyone’s age.

We went over to my parents house for their little family birthday party. My mom set up the table so pretty. She is always good at stuff like that. I love her dining room table. She has these table pads that go on the top, and there are separate pads to fit on each leaf of the table. When I was little, she let me use all the spares to build legos on, and play Barbies on. The mismatched chairs are because the extra chairs went downstairs to make room for the Christmas tree so then she brought in other ones. My mom is kind of weird.

My mom’s shirt is from Avon. Isn’t it cute?

Posing in front of the tree, in the Elmo dress discussed previously.

Stopping for a sniff or a close-up look…

Jonathon got to do the honors of putting the angel on the top of the tree. It was always my job as a kid. well my dad can’t exactly lift me up to do it anymore and I was busy chasing Bailey, so I passed it off to Jonathon. I was kind of touched that my dad still saved that for me to do, since they had put up the tree a few days before that.

My mom made this cake for my grandma. In the past few years we have gotten into the habit of just getting store-bought cakes, but we decided to start making them again.

I made this cake for Jonathon. I know it’s not very pretty but it’s really hard to make a pretty mint chocolate chip ice cream cake!

Grant’s Farm Halloween Night

Filed Under Grandparents, Halloween, Outings, Seventeen Months, St. Louis | 3 Comments

Last weekend we went to Grant’s Farm for their Halloween event. It is every weekend in October, I think. It was $20 a car to get in, but no per-person admission. So it wasn’t too bad considering that we fit the three of us and my parents all in our car! I think it was really well done. It was cheesy kid-scary stuff. Like Bailey was not afraid of anything except this woman dressed as a witch who kept trying to talk to the kids. She was really nice, but they were scared. Anyway. We met Dave, Amy, and Kaitlynn and Christopher, Emily, Emily’s parents, and Ella there. We all rode on the tram separately and then met before the goats.

These first few pictures are from when we were waiting in line for the tram. The line started on the parking lot side of the bridge, for those of you who are familiar with GF. It was the longest I have seen the line but my guess is we waited no more than 20 minutes.

Also now you get to see what Bailey’s Halloween costume is. I know I was being funny keeping it a secret. She is going to be a frog. She loves her costume and wore it the first part of the night, before she got too hot.

Here’s a really funny one of me, when we were riding the tram. I just never have any normal pictures of me with Bailey!

Once we got into the park, we took a bunch of pictures on the bench. Obviously it’s not easy getting pictures of three toddlers. And Bailey and Ella kept poking at each other and trying to kiss.

I loved seeing my little Muffin in her frog suit. However, quite a few people commented on how “HE” was such a cute frog. I knew that was going to happen. I have to remember to glue a bow to the head of the frog suit before she wears it again.

When you walked through the park, there were things like ghosts in the trees, and at one part it looked like giant moth traps, and some version of the Scream guy. But if it was stuff your kid was going to be scared of, it would be really easy to distract them so they didn’t look up at those spots.

I tried to get a shot of Bailey and Ella kissing (again) but I was too slow. They kept doing it but I just didn’t get the timing right with the camera. They were so cute and funny. I am so glad that the girls are starting to interact with each other more. It’s fun to watch them develop their little friendships.

Bailey and Grampa- and she was no longer wearing her frog costume because she got really hot in it. It was about 70 degrees out- too warm for a busy girl to be wearing a long furry suit!

Family picture in front of the Anheuser-Busch sign/logo, but our flash didn’t light up enough to really get a good shot of it.

We went and enjoyed our free drinks and let the girls run around and play. Bailey was definitely busy the whole time. She found a Grants Farm stroller that someone had abandoned and wanted to go for rides in the stroller, then the girls decided it was more fun to push the stroller. She also danced A LOT and got so sweaty.

My mom bought Bailey one of those wand things with spinning lights in it. She was obsessed with it for about five minutes. Then it quit working, they traded it for another one and it was put together funny, so they ended up returning it. We got her some glow necklaces and a different wand for next time we go out at night.

Relaxin’

If you live in the area and you haven’t been to Grant’s Farm for their Halloween event, you have to go before they close for the season!! We had a great time and will definitely do this again next year.

Not having a camera, well it sucks

Filed Under Fifteen Months, Food, Grandparents, Outings, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

I am so used to photographing everything Bailey does. When she makes a new cute face, or does something funny, or gets a new outfit or new toy… last weekend I cut her hair in the back (about an inch off the bottom) and I didn’t have my camera. On Thursday, my parents watched her for the day. They took her to Build a Bear and she made a stuffed bunny. Now I am waiting to take a picture of her with her new bunny, whose name is Floppy. This is the best I can do at the moment.

I feel like I am letting these moments fly by, uncaptured. I want to remember every smile, laugh, hug, every moment. We were at my parents house last night for my mom’s birthday and I took a bunch of pictures with their camera so hopefully they will loan me the card soon so I can dump them on my computer. Here are some pictures from hanging out with my parents a few weeks ago. I didn’t even realize I had these because I saved them into the wrong folder and discovered them last night when I was uploading to Snapfish.

We took Bailey to a local kids museum and she loved it. We will probably get a membership this fall. She had a great time exploring and learning. They also offer toddler and preschool classes so we might sign up for some of those after we get our membership.

In this picture Grammy is showing Bailey how to fish. After the fish are caught (magnets on the end of strings) they can walk them upstream and drop them into a small pool, then watch them go back downstream through glass in the floor, all the way back to the fishing pond. It’s really cool!

All sweaty after playing outside

Eating her favorite food ever- fries!