My loves

It is in these, the quiet moments, I am supremely grateful. When I sit in the quiet listening to the sweet lyrics of lullabies with one sleeping baby in my arms as I look at another sleeping baby, who is a "baby" no more, I am profoundly aware how incredibly blessed I truly am.

So I'll sit here a little longer. I'll soak up the little things: the sound of a little person snoring so softly it sounds like a kitten purring and the feeling of a tiny hand resting on neck as her chest lifts and falls -- every so often breaking rhythm for the softest little sigh. My loves.

Thanksgiving 2012

 Thanksgiving is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I am so lucky to have been able to spend it with some of my most favorite people.

 

Ouch!

We have all been sick lately. On Tuesday I took the girls to the pediatrician's office to check for ear infections and strep since Avery had a fever of 104+ and Olivia had a nasty barking cough. Verdict was Avery has a cold and Olivia has croup (a nasty extension of a cold). No big deal. Push fluids and give Tylenol if Avery's fever creeps up to 104 again or Olivia's gets to 100.3.

On our way out I let Avery push the button on the elevator -- as usual. The door closes and we ride down. I had Olivia in the Kinderpack carrier and Avery was in front of us mostly hidden under Olivia in the carrier. Once we got to the 1st floor we go to walk out. For some reason -- maybe she tripped or she just reached out to touch it because it's shiny -- Avery put her hand on the elevator door. The door continued to open and slid into the slot in the wall taking Avery's hand with it. As soon as I saw her hand squished in the wall I immediately reacted and grabbed her hand.

At first it looked fine. Just some peeled skin. Then the blood. Oh my gosh the blood. It was everywhere. Avery was freaking out. Crying. I'm not sure from the shock of the blood or if it actually hurt because I'm told cuts as deep as this are usually numbed by shock. I pushed the button to go back up to the doctor's office and run in holding Avery's hand in the air. I drop the diaper bag and Avery's toy doctor kit that we just had to bring with us and ask for someone to help us.

The nurses and front office staff were a little shocked, but they got Avery's amazing doctor who told the nurse just what to do. After a saline soak and a little pressure it was decided that they needed to close the wounds. Luckily the doctor could do it in the office and could use glue instead of actual stitches because that would have been even more traumatizing I think. Thankfully one of the nurses too Olivia so I could focus all my attention on Avery and helping her through this.

We got it all glued and bandaged and her calmed down and all she wanted was Daddy. Unfortunately Justin was at work so we decided he would just meet us at home. By now Olivia had fallen asleep so the nurse who had her walked with us out to the car. I got Avery all buckled in and put Olivia in. Before we even pulled out of the parking lot she was asleep; exhausted from all she had been though on top of it being regular naptime.

Poor girl has been such a trooper. She has proudly worn her bandage every day and allowed me to change the dressing as necessary. It doesn't even seem to bother her. She almost never complains about it and when she does it's just to say she needs help with a toy because she can't use the fingers on that hand. Now over a week later it is healing nicely and the doctor says it will not likely leave a scar and if it does they will be so small that by the time she is grown up her hand will be so much bigger you won't even be able to notice them.

Day 2

Day 8

Olivia: 31 weeks!

MONTH: 8
WEEK: 31
WEIGHT: 20+ lbs
LENGTH: 26+ in
HEAD: 42+ cm
MILESTONES: Olivia crawls! Starting in the beginning of the week Olivia is fully hands-and-knees crawling.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: It's hard to get her to sit still nowadays.
EATING: Olivia has been eating better this week now that her nose is cleared up.
VISITS/OUTINGS: We've been cooped up lately because we've all been getting over sickies.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Practicing her newly acquired crawling skills.
MOMMY FEELS: Nervous that we haven't baby-proofed well enough for the new crawler!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Olivia: 7 Months!

Weight: 20lbs 1.5oz

THIS MONTH YOUR BABY MAY:

• stretch her body or try standing on tiptoes to reach a toy Olivia sure is determined when she sees something she wants. She will contort herself in all kinds of ways to get whatever it is.
• get upset if you take a toy away, as her memory continues to develop and she begins to understand that "no toy equals no play" It's something we have to stress with Avery that she cannot take a toy from Olivia without offering something else in return because Olivia gets upset when she doesn't have what she wants.
• identify what you're feeling by the tone of your voice Olivia loves the soft, sweet voice of lullabies and doesn't particularly care for Avery's loud, rambunctious voice.
• eat a cracker or piece of finger food by herself Olivia has always eaten 'whole' foods but she recently started wanting to share my English muffins.

Olivia: 30 weeks!

MONTH: 7
WEEK: 30
WEIGHT: 20 lbs 1.5oz
LENGTH: 23+ in
HEAD: 42+ cm
MILESTONES: Olivia has her first cold.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Even sick she is still all smiles.
EATING: With being sick she has not been eating very much because she can't breathe without her mouth.
VISITS/OUTINGS: We went to the pediatrician's office on Tuesday to make sure the girls didn't have ear infections or strep. They didn't but we also had a mishap in the elevator on the way out that sent us back to the office.
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Since she is sick sleeping is a favorite pastime lately.
MOMMY FEELS: Helpless. My girls are sick and I wish I could help them.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: The girls feeling better.

Where are you going?

Laughter is the best medicine

Olivia has the sweetest laugh. She loves to be tickled because whenever I stop she grabs my hand and puts it back for me to keep tickling her. I love this game we play.

Olivia: 29 weeks!

MONTH: 7
WEEK: 29
WEIGHT: 17+ lbs
LENGTH: 26+ in
HEAD: 42+ cm
MILESTONES:Olivia tried yogurt and english muffin for the first time this week. Only one was on purpose. She stole Avery's yogurt that she left in Olivia's reach.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: Loving this silly smile.
EATING: She really loves oatmeal and yogurt.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Avery and Olivia participated in their very first Presidential election this week!
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Rolling around and getting into everything!
MOMMY FEELS: So proud of my two girls.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Thanksgiving!

Election 2012

This year is an election year. Justin and I are both registered to vote by mail, but this year is special. This year we have two young American's to show the importance of actively participating in the determining the future of the country we call home. This year we decided we would fill out our ballots at home and on election day we would walk to our nearest polling place -- which happens to be the school across the street from our house -- and have the girls see us drop them off. 

We were so lucky that the polling place volunteers were so nice because they let Avery put our (already sealed) ballots in the official box and even gave both girls stickers. Avery sort of understood what the sticker was for but Olivia just likes having her picture taken. I am so proud to have been able to share this with them.

Olivia: 28 weeks!

MONTH: 7
WEEK: 28
WEIGHT: 17lbs +
LENGTH: 26in +
HEAD: 42cm +
MILESTONES: Olivia SITS and we had Olivia's very first Halloween.
OBLIGATORY ADORABLE PICTURE: It's a little blurry, but I was trying to keep the camera away from Avery and get the photo before I forgot to take it!
EATING: Olivia is getting so good at eating. She really likes oatmeal and loves to use the spoon all by her big girl self.
VISITS/OUTINGS: Olivia had her very first Halloween. She was the cutest giraffe you've ever seen!
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: eating and practicing her sitting skills.
MOMMY FEELS: like time is going too fast. I can't believe Olivia is 6 months old and Avery is speeding through her third year.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO: Thanksgiving and Christmas are rapidly approaching and they are my favorite times of year.

Sleep breakthrough!

 Sleep is a magical thing. Unfortunately with kids it is hard to come by. Until last week it was always a fight to get Avery to nap. Then something magical happened. She decided napping is a good thing. It's a fun thing. She just wanted to do it on the couch.

I cannot believe it took me 2 years to figure out, but we are finally at a place where we can both look forward to naptime without anxiety. And doesn't she look so peaceful?

Instragram: October 2012

Here is a snapshot of our month of October.