We're alive.

It's been a week, so I thought I'd give you a very high-level update on what's going on and why I've been MIA. 

1.) I'm tired. Like, really tired. Addison must think that those 11 straight hours she was sleeping for a full month were no fun anymore, and now gets up at least once, sometimes twice, per night. And Carter, our already not-so-stellar sleeper, began once again getting up at 5:15 a.m. I'm super pumped for daylight savings time when that turns to 4:15. Hold me.

2.) As part of my baby weight removal program, I began the 30 Day Shred (to go with my Weight Watchers). I'm VERY sore. I'm impressed that I'm able to lift my arm high enough to type this right now. Because those were pretty much my only free 20 minutes in a day, I haven't had much time to update. :)

3.) Full-time job. Mothering. Wife-ing. Cleaning. Cooking. Crafting. But I couldn't skimp out on something cute for the kids' daycare Halloween parties, and created s'mores kits for Carter's class and wrapped up some baby food for Addison's (sorry, couldn't be creative there, not sure what else babies could even HAVE! ha).

 

Hoping to have a low-key weekend and, most importantly, TAKE. A. NAP. Is it bad that I'm thinking about that days in advance?? Don't answer that. 

One hilarious kid.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Carter is downright funny. He makes me laugh all the time. Here are a few of the most recent scenarios:

- In the bathtub the other night, Carter leaned down to Addison and said in a little baby voice "Hi pretty girl. You have thunder thighs." I seriously died laughing. I have NO idea where he heard this but I assured him it would be the first AND last time he told a girl she had thunder thighs.

- At bedtime tonight, he was saying his bedtime prayer (which, by the way, prayers are often a source of hilariousness). He thanked Jesus for the normal things, paused, and then kept going. "...for pictures. For Mickey Mouse." Again, I had to bite my cheeks from cracking up laughing.

- Bentley ate a box of 24 crayons last week. The vet told us to expect a colorful yard in 3-5 days but that it was otherwise not a big deal. Last night, Carter was outside with Seth while he mowed the lawn. He proceeded to ask Seth why Bentley's poop had sprinkles in it. HAHAHA.

I seriously love this kid and am thankful he makes me laugh so much!

Addison: Four Months

Addison,

At four months old, you:

- Are 14 pounds, 11 ounces (66%).
- Your head is 42.5 cm (82%).
- Are 24.8 inches long (66%).
- Have gorgeous blue eyes, that have lightened quite a bit this month!!
- Wear size 1 diapers (though just about in size 2), 3 month, 3-6 month, and some 6 month clothing. You are LONG, so length-wise 6 month clothing is really starting to work nicely.
- Usually take two good naps (2.5-3 hours) at home, and a series of catnaps at daycare, with a really good one here and there.
- MOSTLY sleep through the night. You did 7:45/8 p.m. until 6/6:30 a.m. for 3-4 weeks, and then just recently started getting up once during the night again. The lactation consultant says this is prime "growth spurt" time, so maybe it's that?
- Use white noise and are swaddled to sleep.
- Still mostly nap in your swing, which we've moved to your room since your brother is loud or very loud at all times in the living room.
- Nurse about every 3-4 hours during the day if it overlaps a nap, and a bit less if you are awake. At daycare, you go about 2.5-3 hours maybe?
- Are mostly breastfed, but since a few days ago, if you need a 4th bottle at daycare, it will be formula since you eat faster than momma can pump! :) At your last feed before you go to bed, you nurse (albeit not always very well - you are a RESTLESS nurser as the day wears on) and then are topped off with about 2-3 oz. of formula. It works for us.
- Are the love of your teacher's lives. They talk about you all the time--how sweet and cuddly you are and how you are always happy!
- Are still slowly getting better in that darn car seat. You do certainly still cry, but you can also remain awake without screaming sometimes too.
- Care less and less about your paci, which is lovely. You use it occasionally, but rarely to sleep.
- Continue to be the happiest baby. You are so laid back and cannot hold back a smile from anyone who gives you eye-to-eye contact and talks to you. I LOVE it! :)
- Started grasping toys and bringing them to your mouth.
- Drool all the time!!! Teeth already????
- Roll over from belly to back, and just the other night, rolled from back to belly while in your swaddler. That takes some skill, pretty girl. That meant that the crib bumpers have already come off!
- Seem to have blonde hair with a definite reddish tint to it.
- Started spitting up a bit more in the past few weeks. Not sure if it's because you guzzle or if it is because we introduced formula a bit. Nonetheless, it isn't too bad and NOTHING like Carter when he was a baby!
- Don't really like tummy time, but we can trick you by laying on our belly in front of you to talk to you or by putting on either Baby Einstein or a black/white contrasting image video for you. It works!
- Started going in your exersaucer - you like it, but mostly I need you in it while I'm trying to make dinner or clean and your radar knows this so you instantly think you need to eat. :)
- Went on a girls-day shopping trip with mommy, Gramma, Aunt Michelle, and McKenna. You did really well and slept in the car for the 3 hours of driving. Hallelujah!
- Started going to the nursery at church. You are usually a bit fussy because you would normally be down for a nap when we are at church, but that's always how Sundays are with little kids.
- Nicknames this month: Peanut, pretty girl, beautiful. And people have asked...still no Addy or Addie. Just doesn't seem right yet.

You are just the most precious little thing. I do not doubt that you get THOUSANDS of kisses a day. I hate the thought of you growing up as fast as your brother did. We love you, sweet girl.

Funny sidenote: The other night in the bathtub, Carter leaned down close to Addison's face and said "Hi, pretty girl. You have thunder thighs." I DIED laughing. I have no idea where he heard this and am certain it will be the last time he'll say that to a female without being smacked!

Crying over spilled milk.

We're still chugging along at this breastfeeding thing. Some days, it's for us and sometimes, I want to bang my head against a wall. :) She is an inpatient little girl, for starters. AND - working full-time and pumping is hard. Really hard. Last week, we had to start giving her one bottle of formula a day at daycare because I just can't pump enough to entirely feed her at daycare the next day (she outdrinks my efforts!!). SO, needless to say, every ounce is precious.

Cue Wednesday after work.

I walk into the house with my peasley amount of pumped milk from the day (I had work events all day and had hardly any time to pump!!). Knowing it's not enough, I grab a bag of frozen milk out of the freezer and lay it on the counter.

While loading the dishwasher after dinner, I noticed that the entire bag of thawed milk was all over the counter--a teeny, tiny hole in the bag the culprit. Crap! I was so irritated about this loss, but grabbed another bag out of the freezer and began to fill up her other bottles for today with what I had brought home.

AND I DUMPED IT INTO BOTTLES THAT I HAD NOT YET PUT LINERS INTO. Two more bottles worth of spilled milk.

I almost cried right then and there. Now down THREE FULL BOTTLES.

Through my stress/anger, I go to the freezer and pull out two more bags from the stash and put them on the counter. We go about our [insane] normal nightly routine, and go to bed.

You know where this is going, right?

While in Addison's room feeding her at 5 a.m. today, a light bulb came on and I remembered we never. put. the. stinking. milk. into. the. fridge.

I almost screamed. Literally.

A quick sniff proved them spoiled and I KID YOU NOT, had to pull out all entirely new frozen milk to send to school today. That means we used nine--NINE--bottles of milk to feed her for three feeds today.

It was a terrible night for the breastmilk in our house...and literally had me crying over spilled milk.

The sweetest prayer...

Carter said the prayer for dinner tonight.

Here it is, verbatim:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for my house, my dinner, um....for [very long pause] five, six, and my family."

I almost died it was so sweet. I especially loved the counting in there. Seems logical to me! :)