Monday, January 23, 2012

18 Months and a False Alarm

First things first.  Allie and Olivia are approaching 19 months old.  WOW! Time has flown.  They went for their 18 month check up today and here are their stats:

Allie
Height: 34 1/8 inches
Weight: 26 lbs
Head: 46 cm

Olivia
Height:  35 inches
Weight: 28 lbs
Head:  47 cm

A few other exciting milestones and accomplishments both girls can do:
  • Color like crazy
  • Climb like a mountain climber on EVERYTHING!!!
  • Eat with forks and spoons
  • Hop over things while screaming "HOP!"
  • Speak in very well put together sentences
  • Identify certain colors
  • Identify certain animals
  • Identify sounds with the animals
  • Dance like its going out of style
  • Find certain body parts on themselves and mommy and daddy (i.e. belly button, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.)
  • Climb in and out of the car by themselves AND climb in and out of their car seats!!!! Thank the LORD!!!!!
  • And much, much more
These may seem trivial or small to some of you but to mommy and daddy it means that we are doing something right! We cannot take all of the credit, though.  Our nanny, Mary Ann, is our life savor.  She spends all day with the girls and teaches them so much.  We couldn't make it through the day without her.  We love her SO much and so do the girls.  She has taught Allie and Olivia so much in the past 18 months and has been my 3rd, 4th, 5th, and even 6th hand around here. 


NEXT............................
We had a bit of a scare/false alarm today.  Last night Justin had to work so I went to bed early (around 9).  I laid in bed with so much discomfort that I could not fall asleep.  It took me hours to finally go to sleep, but that sleep was not deep at all.  I texted Justin and told him how I was in pain.  He gave me some words of encouragement and made me feel better.  I awoke this morning just feeling........well, more than uncomfortable.  I ran through the morning routine like I always do but this time I felt worse than ever.  I chalked it up to stress, lack of sleep, a long weekend, work today, and two toddlers ready to start the day. 

I got to work and it was a typical day in the life of a teacher.  I taught, made parent phone calls, graded papers, broke up a fight and a half, taught some more, and then after lunch came my last class............MATH.  All students' favorite subject, right?  I had been having constant pain every 10-20 minutes with sweating and everything else that goes along with braxton hicks.  I got my aid to cover my class while I waddled/quickly walked to my Principals office.  Got the okay to leave and jetted out the door to pick up Justin and got to the doctor.  We weren't scheduled til 4:00 today but he wanted me to come in anyway.  Since we were early today, we didn't get our ultrasound because the rooms were all full.  Maybe next week.  Anyway, Dr. G checked to see if I was dilated.  He said I wasn't even close, but I am having REAL contractions.  UGH!!!! He called me in some meds and ordered me to rest from work for a few days.  I took the meds and said "yeah right" to the rest from work thing. 

Even though I am at ease knowing that Lillian won't be coming tonight or hopefully before Feb. 10th, I did realize how much I am behind on certain things.  I have been working on those things tonight and plan to finish getting everything ready before the weekend approaches.  Please pray that we will make it until Feb.10th.  I am very ready to meet this spunky gal but want her to be as healthy as she can be at the same time for her due date. 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Lillian Claire's Baby Shower

Our wonderful family and friends threw Lillian and me a shower this weekend to celebrate her arrival in just 3 very short weeks.  The shower was beautiful, the company was wonderful, and the presents were amazing.  Thank you to my Sister-in-Law (Mallory), Mother-in-Law (Darlene), my Mom, and Mrs. Indyia for everything this weekend.  We appreciate everything you all have done and continue to do.  Below are some pictures from this weekend. 

We are done with Lillian's nursery (I'll post pictures soon).  The only thing left is to hang a picture frame and for some reason I can't ever remember to do it.  It is hard to believe that we will have three cribs in our house at one time.  I am very eager to meet this Prissy little girl.  She is very active and is very ready to meet the world.  We go back to the doctor tomorrow for my 37 week check-up and will continue to go weekly now.  We are going to get an ultrasound tomorrow to see how big Miss Lillian is and get an estimate of how big she will be on February 10th!!!. 

Stay tuned for weekly updates on Lillian Claire. 

My wonderful Sister, Whitney and me


Beautiful

Too Cute for Allie and Olivia

Allie and Olivia have matching blankets with their initials



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Exploration

The girls have been very curious about their bodies lately.  Today, we have found our belly buttons.  The girls have walked around over half of the day with their shirts up pointing to their belly buttons and trying to say "belly button."  This morning, Olivia came over to me while I was on the phone and tried to push up my shirt to find mine.  When I got off the phone, I knelt down for her to find mine.  What she found was perplexing.  She looked at my stomach (which by the way is not a pretty sight at this point), looked up at me, looked at her stomach, looked back at me and cocked her head to the side and babbled something I could not understand and then ran away.  Exploration.

Later this afternoon Justin, Allie, Olivia, and I were in the living room and Olivia came up to me and attempted to "explore" my tummy for my belly button again.  She lifted my shirt and as clear as day pointed, looked into my eyes, and yelled, "BALL!"  I guess she has been thinking about this all day.  Justin and I died laughing as it does look like I have swallowed a basketball.  Exploration.

I have been very fortunate with both pregnancies to not have gained a ton of weight ( I'm going to be honest and document this so that I can look back and give my children the accurate details.  I gained 34 pounds with the twins and so far 26 pounds with Lillian).  Even though I feel like a whale, I cannot complain a whole lot.  So when my 18 month old child points at my belly and yells, "BALL" I guess I should be very happy to hear that rather than something else.

5 weeks and 1 day until we add #3 to our growing family.  I go back to the doctor next week and then once a week until the big day.  So far Lillian Claire is doing very well and growing fast.  She is BIG, ladies and gentlemen. I am very ready to meet her and so is her Daddy.  Please keep praying that all continues to go well.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Christmas: Round two and the Zoo

My Mom and Step Dad came to spend Christmas with us this past weekend.  We had a great time.  We always do.  Every time my Mom and I get together reminds me of how much like her I am.  The girls racked up yet again with a doctors kit, clothes, and the best of all......................DVD players!!!!!  The girls had a great time opening gifts and love their doctors kits.  They go around giving shots to EVERYTHING and checking heartbeats on EVERYTHING.  Thanks Mom and Dennis!!!!!

Mom trying out the tunnel

I promise my children wear pants.  They just woke up from their nap and were too excited to put on pants for the camera.  A and O opening their presents from Mom and Dennis.

The girls got zebra slippers with pink fur on them.  These were a huge hit, especially since they are OBSESSED with shoes.



Doctor kits.

Doctor Allie and Doctor Olivia in action

We have yet to even start on Lillian's room.  Well, the "nesting" syndrome hit hard this weekend after I almost had a panic attack when realizing she will be here in less than 6 weeks (5 weeks and 2 days to be exact.)  Before Mom and Dennis left, we cleared out the guest bedroom in hopes of tackling the nursery this week.  We have picked out paint samples and are painting little bit by little bit this week.  I plan to paint while Justin is at work, after the girls go to sleep.  Right now, Lillian's room is currently being used as a "play room" for the girls.  They LOVE this room.  We put their HUGE ladybug tent and other toys in there and they spend tons of time in there just playing.  Please pray that we will have Lillian's room ready for her by the time she gets here.  I'm getting very nervous.

Today, Justin and I took the girls to the Zoo. This is something that I have looked forward to for a VERY long time.  We met up with my Aunt Debra at the Zoo and had a great time visiting and watching the girls reactions.  We have been working on their animal sounds and they are so stinking smart.  I know everyone says that about their kids, but ours girls truly amaze me for their age (18 months on Jan. 7th) at what they can retain.  Anyway, here are some pictures of today at the Zoo. 
Allie before we left this morning.  She loves to say "cheese" when I pull out my camera.  What a HAM. 

Olivia was very much into eating and not posing so early

The first exhibit; the birds.  The girls loved the birds.  The Zoo keepers were feeding them at this time so we got to see more than usual. 

A (left) and O (right)
It was very chilly this morning

They loved the monkeys

This little guy walked right up to us and starting talking to the girls.

Allie was very curious about the swan

They thought the chimps were SO funny.  Olivia was trying to get out of the stroller to play with them.

As I look back at 2011, we have so many things to thank God for.  I am going to continue to thank Him everyday for my amazing husband, my two (almost three) perfect children, our loving and wonderful families, and most importantly His faith in Justin and me to raise his children. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!