Kaylee goes skating!

We had a lot of fun last night - after spending a good Friday off with the kids Kaylee woke up from a nap like quite the grouch. She snapped out of it though as we were on our way with Aunt K to see Grandma/Grandpa (who were staying at a hotel for the night). We went up to their hotel room for some pizza and then down to the winter carnival to see the ice sculptures. Kaylee was quite taken with the girl who was dancing to the band playing in the park and just wanted to watch her, and was quite distraught that the band was taking a break. We all enjoyed the ice sculptures and I think Levi liked the Christmas lights still up in the trees. He seemed content all bundled up in his carseat. It wasn't too windy so that helped.

When we got to the ice rink, there was quite a long line because they were limiting the number of people in the warming house. It looked to me like we would be waiting 20 or more minutes and I didn't think I should have Levi waiting outside in the cold. So, I considered cutting our losses and calling it a night. But then I went to go ask the guy at the door if he would let me just bring in my 4 month old and I would wait for the rest of my party to skate. He let us in! I felt so much better that Levi would be in the warming house. Then thankfully they had Kaylee's size 8 skates for rental...she put them on and seemed very excited and gung-ho about going skating. She liked watching people skate over the boards as we waiting to get in. I was nervous I have never skated with someone so young and I didn't want her to fall or get hurt. I told her to just walk on the ice or hold her feet still and I would do the rest. I held tightly to her armpits and bent way over. I am a strong skater and it wasn't hard to keep control of her - she doesn't weigh much - and have control of my own skating. She loved it! She said, "Oh I love to skate. I want to skate some more." When I got tired and said she'd have to go back with Grandma, then she said "I want to skate with Aunt K." Then skating together the same way. A passerbyer asked her age and said she was doing an amazing job for her first time. I was very proud of my little girl and her bravery. We will definitely be doing it again soon! And I may see skating lessons in our near future - maybe next winter??? As many of you know, I grew up skating...freestyle, power, precision and speed skating. I have a passion for it - not that I'm that good at it - but I do enjoy it and would love to have her skating too! I wouldn't mind as well if we ended up with a couple little hockey skaters in the family either...I'm glad my Mom had the idea. I was worried about taking her thinking she was too little and didn't want her to fall...but she loved it and I'm glad we went for it.

Kaylee put on her own outfit entirely yesterday. She put her shirt and pants on backwards. I was so proud of her. I cheered and we celebrated with a fruit roll-up! Looks like her dressing herself is right around the corner! As you may remember from previous posts, Kaylee is tough to dress and runs away a lot. Maybe with more control on her own dressing, things will get easier on that front. One can only hope.

Have a great rest of the weekend everybody!

Croup

Levi has had his first case of real sickness, other than the common cold this week -- he came down with croup. He woke up from sleeping on Tuesday night with a barking, very low rasping labored sounding breathing pattern. It was concerning right away. I said immediately, "I will be taking him to the doctor right away in the morning." That night wasn't so bad. I had given one bath before bedtime and gave one more, then slept with him and had him sleep in the swing later when he sounded too congested. I took him to the doctor and that was sort of another adventure. The doctor thought he didn't have it at first, and said she wanted to just see how the night went. Then she came back and heard more stridor-like breathing and was convinced then that he had croup. This was my first experience with it. She said usually babies as young as him don't get it, so she went out to talk to other doctors about it. This made me a bit nervous, since she talked about giving him a steroid shot to help his breathing. She came back and said another dr. had already diagnosed two other 4 month olds with this that morning, that it was really going around. So I had some questions about the steroid shot, they tried to get my literature and their computer wouldn't work. So I had to wait for another dr. again since I guess I had given our dr. the sense that I didn't trust her - which really wasn't the case. So, all the while this was going on, we were also waiting for a throat culture because the dr. was concerned with how red his throat was, saying to me as well that strep throat is was extremely unlikely. The throat culture came back negative, Levi got the steroid shot and we were FINALLY on our way. I went off to work then to leave him with my Mom, who thankfully had the day off. My mom had a fine time with him up until the end of the day when he started to fuss, crying inconsolable. So I rushed how from work. The fever hadn't been too bad since that first night so then the next day our saint of a daycare provider accepted him back into daycare. He's still coughing and congested, but social and smiley and pleasant. The shot did it's good that next night, where they said without it we probably would've gone to the hospital in the middle of the night with him. So, end of a long story, he's getting better every day. Haven't heard any coughing from Kaylee yet and I'm crossing my fingers somehow she won't get it.

Levi said "da-da" or "de-de" quite a few times this week. His voice is a high-sounding sweet little melody. So pure and angelic. I love hearing him learning to make sounds and "talk." Levi's eyes are very dark - he's either going to have brown eyes or like Kaylee, a very dark hazel.

Kaylee keeps saying, "I don't want to go to daycare." everyday. I sat her down to have a discussion this week about why Mommy and Daddy work. I told her we work to make money to live in our house, to have food, and so we can have a car. She said, "Mommy and Daddy, you work so I can have tokens for Chuck E Cheese?" She also went on to say, "When I grow up big I will work and I will drive a car (with had motions on a steering wheel and bouncing). I will have tokens to go to Chuck E Cheese."

Levi Firsts

Levi said "Hi" quite a few times this weekend. Not sure if he's just experimenting with the sound or if he's repeating the word we have said to him so many times in greeting. Either way, it's darn cute and I'm proud of my boy. He also was experiementing with "Boo" and was seemingly trying to get that out of his mouth. Maybe we have another early talker on our hands! :)

Also Levi started razzing, or blowing raspberries as they call it (blowing bubbles with a noise). He is very proud of this. He thinks he is very funny and entertaining. He does this for long periods for an adoring audience. He is a little social guy already! Smiley, laughs easily and entertaining - who does that sound like? His daddy! Like father like son!

Photos from my Mom bday party

kaylee's 1st haircut and our Mr. congeniality

yesterday I took Kaylee to get her first ever haircut at a kid's salon. It went really well, she quickly settled onto her froggie shaped chair (like the ones on playgrounds that go back and forth) and watched 'toy story'. every time the hair stylist would go in front of her for her bang trim, she would try to look over her shoulder so she could see the TV. She looked so cute in her coverup and her clippy pigtail things they used to hold back her hair. Another little boy came in and was probably a little over 3, he still had a nukie hanging from his mouth. He got on the chair next to her and started whining and moaning, all the while with his nuke hanging out. Kaylee just stared at him, wondering "what's the deal? Why's this so bad?" His Mom was annoyed with his behavior, he did look like he was about 15 months old instead of 3 years old. Oh well, kids will be kids. Kaylee did fantastic though, thanked the stylist without my prompting her and got a sucker and a certificate for her first haircut to add to her baby book. I promised her a sticker and they didn't have them, but on the way home at the bank they happened to have some toy story stickers for her so we left for home very delighted with how the trip had gone. She looks cute, but I came away a little more confident about the way I had cut her hair, because it does look very similar to what I had done. Anyways, she's read, behaved well and we will be going back. No more Momma trims.

Levi is Mr. Congeniality. He wakes up in the morning, giving me a huge smile as I meander over to pick him up and change him. He cries very little for a baby his age. I think we might have the easiest baby every. Luckily he's so tolerant of Kaylee and so satisfied by simple levels of entertainment. He keeps himself content for long periods looking at the aquarium or sucking on his teethers. He's been enjoying his exersaucer, Kaylee plays with him/it too while he's in it. He's so good... He didn't even complain when we rushed him through -10 weather into a mall yesterday. When we play with him and sing to him, the smile the goes over his face is to die for. It is huge, beautiful...a symbol of pure happiness. I thought Kaylee was an easy baby, and she was, but Levi's got her beat. Both babys' smiles melt me, and still do, I love my little kiddos so very much!

Levi Sits on his Own and Kaylee's fun stories

Levi is now sitting up on his own. He's still really unstable and needs a spotter (me!) Yesterday on his changing table he sat for over 10 seconds and then last night we went to Chuck E Cheese's and he sat in front of a play wheel touching and watching it for probably 5 minutes with little help from me staying sitting up. The only problem is that he wanted to try to suck on the wheel instead of watch it, oh well.

Kaylee had a great time at Chuck E Cheese. She specified before we left that she did not want to see the big mouse walking around. Her daddy was teaching her to throw a ball up the ski ball ramp. she was running around the play structure with the slide with another little girl who was probably a little over 3 years old. They were giggling hilariously, Kaylee was laughing so much she could barely breathe. The little girl and her were holding hands every time they went down the slide together. Very cute. Kaylee was being more adventurous than last time, climbing all the way up and going down the slide. It was cute to see her proud of herself. But when the other little girl started traveling deeper into the tube circle overhead, Kaylee didn't hestitate for a moment to follow her fearless leader into a new play space.. Kaylee is very social and friendly. I am glad to see her self confidence coming through. I told her afterwards that the little girl's mommy was about to have a baby, like Levi, so soon that little girl would have a brother too. She said in protest, "But I want her to be my broder!" I said, "She can't be your brother, but she can be your friend." Then she said, "No Mom! I want her to be my friend!"

Kaylee has been telling us little stories now in response to our question, "How was your day at daycare?" The other day she said, "A chased me around and around. He is a very silly boy. It was lots of fun." and then another day she said, "We all played with Levi. H and N played with him and made him laugh a lot. He was laughing and smiling." Hearing how things are going and the way she feels helps me feel better about things, knowing she could say if something in particular was bothering her...basically it makes me feel better about working.

This week has been a crazy week at work, lots of construction going on and it was fun to attend the open house for our large building that was constructed. It was truly a beautiful building (I only helped with ceilings, doors and the audiology dept) it made me so proud of our team and the firm I work for. They do high quality design. It was so great to see a finished built product be so ultimately beautiful! I can't wait to see my surgery project built, they are well into construction and have it framed out. I have been at the construction site a couple times a week to meet about various issues. Very exciting!

The other day during bath time, Kaylee was so so cute with Levi. She said to him, "Oh Levi you are my best broder. You are my best boy. I love you so much. I hold you, hug you, feed you and change your stinky diaper (and then the cute words turned to potty talk)". It was so sweet though, I saw her face and how very genuine she was being when she said that to him. I've been telling her what a good big sister she is, and she corrects me, "No mommy I'm a little sister." Then I say, "No you are a big girl, older than Levi that means you're his big sister and he's your baby brother." She says then, "No I'm the baby!" She's insisted often and fervently that this is the case, and even sometimes gets on the floor with him and acts like him to prove her case. It hasn't gotten too bad though, she hasn't asked to nurse or insisted on wearing diapers. She has asked if she can have a bottle and we just refuse.

Kaylee bothered our daycare provider yesterday all day with asking her over and over to take her swimming so it looks like that will be something we'll be doing this weekend. Can't wait - it is so fun to do. We also want to take her bowling again. We'll see what we have time for.

All week long Kaylee has, for some reason, been calling Levi "Levike." She thinks it's funny. She has also been calling me "Mamaque" and Eric "Daddike."

I had a busy week at work and had to go all 5 days. The kids didn't notice that they weren't with me that extra day, but I felt the stress of it on my end - more work and less time to keep up the house and hold my babies. Oh well! I'm thankful to have a job and that we are busy enough to keep us all busy and productive. I'm lucky to work at such a nice firm with nice people.

yesterday we got a package from Kaylee's great aunt in the mail full of books. We are having tons of fun reading all of them and picking ones that are fun for Levi and ones that are fun for Kaylee. It was such a nice surprise. We really love books as the best toy of all. Reading time is so special everyday, and very pleasant cornerstone in our night time routine.

Levi has just this past week started bineg so much more squirmy. He's started splashing in the tub. It's cute, his face is so very serious while he's splashing. It's apparent that he's concentrating on it...he splashes himself in the face and then recoils then splashes hard again, recoils. It's funny to watch. Kaylee has been entertained by it too. The way his is physically, how strong he is is amazing at his age...I'm worried we might be following this one around before he has sense to keep himself out of danger. Kaylee walked at 13 months and had a bit more sense about her than a 6-8 month old would have. Oh well, we'll see. Whatever he does it's a new experience, refreshing and fun to experience with him. Looks like baby proofing is in our near future and what that means mostly this time around is getting Kaylee's toys with small parts put away.

Everybody have a good weekend, I hear Miss Kay callin'!

Anniversary

Tonight Jenny and I dropped off Kaylee and Levi with their aunt K and uncle M. When we got back, Kaylee asked excitedly "Did you go on a date!?!"

Aunt K told me that earlier in the evening she'd said:

"I want to go on a date with Daddy"

Aunt K asked "what would you do on the date with Daddy?"

K said, "To go for a walk."

Aunt K said "What would you do on a date with Mommy?"

K said, "We'd say 'It's ok Levi.'"

4 month doctor appointment

Levi had his 4 month appt yesterday! Can you believe he's already 4 months old? Anyways, first off his stats as usual: 17 lbs 7 oz (90%), 26 3/4" long (95%) and 45 1/2 cm head circumference (100%). The doc said he is well proportioned, and thriving. She said he had great eye contact, tracking, head control, engagement socially (smile, laugh, coo, giggle). She seemed impressed by how strong he is. She put him on his tummy and right away his head was up and he was trying to pull himself up a bit on his knees. I told her he could roll and then she cautioned again, to make sure everyone latches him in and holds onto him on taller furniture.

Of course he had to do the vaccinations, which I feel we are fortunate to have but of course he cried very hard. He couldn't be consoled by anything until I packed us up and left the scene, everyone in the waiting room stared at us sadly as we left. i remember Kaylee would be soothed after with nursing but this wasn't the case at this visit with Levi. It's funny to experience the difference between the kids, Levi sucks the tylenol right out of the dropper, happily, while Kaylee seemed tortured by taking medicine. He sipped out the pertussis vaccine like he was having a little snack.

I asked if we can start feeding him rice cereal. She said she wants us to wait a month at least. She said rice cereal is really for 4 months old only if they are not doing well with weight gain, or having trouble sleeping less than 4 hour stretches at night. Since obviously Levi is thriving weight-wise and with sleep, she said he can for sure wait a month or two.

Something fun she okay'd is she said we coud bring out the exercauser or the jumperoo for him to start playing in. She thought he was strong enough for this. I can't wait to see how fun he thinks this is. I remember Kaylee giggling so hard and excitedly, loving it so much! Now I just need to find time to bring this out of storage. I'm going to also grab out his highchair, he starting to sit up a little and is ready as long as we use the shoulder straps.

Levi held himself up while sitting the other day. He held it for a few seconds. Can't wait for him to sit up - it's so much fun for them to be able to see everything going on around them! It also means he's less fragile physically when he's able to do these things so it makes things a bit easier.

Family visit for New Years and Happy 9 years to us!

Levi’s little personality is blooming. He’s interacting a lot more. He’s more interested and amused in his big sister’s antics. He laughs at her performances, much to Kaylee’s delight. She’s still in love as much as ever, and it seems he is #1 on her list of favorite people. He’s drooling a lot now, teething is in full force. I suspect any day now we will see his teeth pop out. Kaylee was entertained by this idea of Levi’s teeth “popping out” – she said “Levi’s teeth will pop out and run around on the floor, then Levi will learn to walk and chase around after them.” (Obviously Kaylee’s imagination is hard at work.) I saw him finally roll over on Monday. It was a 100% roll over, not leaving his head behind this time. It was from his tummy to his back during tummy time. I tried to get him to do it again afterwards but he was not a happy camper. He’s very strong in his head control and only needs a little support as he’s been carried around. He seems like he will start trying the “tripod” (precursor to sitting up) any day now. He’s strong and sort of army crawls during tummy time and he can scoot himself around on his back during his playmat playtime.

Eric's parents and his sister and their two kids stayed with us this past weekend. We spent New Years Eve watching ‘Toy Story’ with the kids, and lots of snacks to choose from. The kids got tired of ‘Toy Story’ and then all hopped into the tub for some fun together. Very cute. They then had a blast coloring with tub crayons, using the colored water tablets and bubble bath. We also went for a nice dinner at Eric's aunt/uncle's where it was a family reunion they hadn't seen the likes of for about 10 years. We got to see Eric's cousin's son and how much he has grown as well.

We took Kaylee and Levi for a re-do with Eric's sister and her kids E& F (and their grandparents in town) at the community pool. Thought it would be fun time for the kids, and it was! The kids had a grand time, it was much less crowded and no one got hurt. Kaylee’s stitches have been removed and her chin looks pretty good. The pool was way less crowded without the holiday influx of people. It was very enjoyable, though was close to naptime and it was smart to leave when we did.

Also, with Eric’s parents we took Kaylee to go bowling for the first time. It was a blast! She fit into the smallest shoes they had even though her feet are smaller, and was a champ. She loved carrying the ball to the ramp that they had to assist toddlers in bowling. She put in on this ramp and the ball gained the momentum that the she would have otherwise not been able to give the ball. The bumperrails were the best! It was so cute to see her wait for her ball to come back, running in place excitedly. Also everytime she pushed her ball off, she wiggled the ramp around excitedly waiting in anticipation for the impact between the ball and the pins. After we went out to pizza, Kaylee was very good but Levi was a little fussy. After he settled down for a catnap, we were all able to enjoy our meal.

Kaylee was very much a daddy’s girl during the family’s visit and seems to always be so when she is overwhelmed or overexcited. He is a calming influence, and has a relaxed, fun(ny) response to everything in life. His good cheer rubs off on everyone in our family. I feel very fortunate to have such a great husband and father in Eric. Happy 9th anniversary to us, next year will be the big 10 year anniversary! Can’t wait to see what the future brings in 2011! We are going to have my sister and her hubby watch the kids so we can have a nice dinner out together this weekend! Eric, I love you!

There have been a couple of falls on the ice this winter in the family, we are praying for a quick recovery for those involved - everybody take care and be careful on the ice!