Buh-bye pacis and a sickness.

[Christmas recap backdated to 12/25]

Because I am insane, I decided that Christmas eve was the perfect time to finally break our 2.5-year-old of the paci. Thankfully, he was down to using them only for nap and at bedtime, but still--it was time.

We had talked about it a few times leading up to the big night but sort of left it go. Randomly on Christmas eve, I decided to throw the idea out there to Carter and he went with it. I told him that, instead of cookies, we'll put his pacis under the tree, and in the morning, Santa would bring him a present for every paci he gave up. He willingly placed them all under the tree. Shockingly, there were only a few quick tears at bedtime, but he was so exhausted that he fell right asleep.

Santa kept his word, and there was one very excited little boy on Christmas morning! The novelty had worn off slightly by naptime and there were a few tears then, too, but I just laid beside his bed until he was asleep and he slept for just under three hours. The afternoon of Christmas, he was a handful, but I can't say if that was because of the pacis or overstimulation of toys! toys! toys! on Christmas day.

But that night...NOTHING. Not a single mention of them at bedtime. HUH!?!? Dang. We should have done this earlier.

Five days in, and he has mentioned it only once when he got scolded for something and once when he found one in a bag. Shoot, that silly Santa missed one. After a meltdown of toddler proportions, I bribed him with M&Ms and a show on tv, and that was that. A few minutes later, he reiterated that Santa took his pacis to the North Pole for the babies.

I'm so proud of how things are going. There's no difference in his sleeping except for the better (no more mini wake-ups because his pacis are lost!), and that, at bedtime, he is FULL of stall tactics and excuses now rather than just popping in a paci, rolling over, and going to sleep. Here are a few of his favorites right now:

- "It's too dark/light."
- "I have to pee/poop."
- "I need to play."
- "My pillow fell."
- "My foot is sticking out."
- "My arm is stuck."
- "I need a drink/snack/hug/kiss/song/prayer."
- "I can't see my clock."
- "My door is shut too tight."
- And on...and on...and on.

Here's to hoping we're officially done with the pacis and can get back to quickly falling asleep soon!

Oh, and baby girl was diagnosed with her first ear infection today and is a hot mess. Praying this amoxicillin kicks in incredibly fast, or else this will be the seventh or eighth consecutive night of crappy sleep. Currently, she's in the swing because she screams when I lay her down. Pray hard...momma needs some sleep!

Christmas 2012

Time for the Christmas eve/Christmas day re-cap! We spent Christmas eve at my (Danielle's) parents' house with my sister and her family, and my brother and his fiance. We had hors d' oeuvres for lunch and attempted to keep the kids calm and sane until my brother got home and we could begin the gifts. They were verrrry excited. Little Miss Addison was tuckered out before we began, so she was down for a nap. Three of the four cousins (soon to be five with Owen's arrival in January!) pose for "we're-stalling-but-please-hurry" photos!

 

 

The kids were SO excited to open their gifts, and it was complete with the standard "can we open it?" with every one. Carter loved helping his little sister, too! Baby girl got some snuggles in with Uncle Brad.

 

At my parents, Carter got magna tiles (cute little magnetic pieces that you can hook together to build 3D structures), a moon bounce, lacing beads, bath accessories, play stix, and a bunch of other things. Addison got a baby doll, the drum set above, bath toys, and a bunch of other things, too! Spoiled kids. :) I got a vacuum that actually sucks (in a good way), lots of decorations for my house, a gift card, and a stamped necklace with the initials a, c, and s on it! Seth got part of the vacuum as well (haha), and lots of hunting stuff! We also got a pizza making kit with all the fixins'. Hmm, spoiled parents too, I guess. :)

 

After the kids played for a bit, we headed to my grandma and papa's house for dinner and exchanging gifts with them! Carter got two cool wooden block sets and "dinosaur food" for his dino bank. Addison got a baby laptop of her very own (so she doesn't have to steal her brother's anymore!) and an activity center! Seth and I both got gift cards.

 

By this time it was reallly starting to snow, and we had intended to go to our church back at home, so we packed up and headed out (in a frenzy, of course). It took us forever to get home, so when we pulled into church, we were already 12 minutes late. Addison, of course, blew out her diaper into her outfit so I had to take care of that as soon as we got inside. By the time I had actually sat down in church, it was about 7:25, and at about 7:27, Carter fell--face first--off his chair onto the floor. His nose and forehead hit first with the rest of his body coming behind in a not-so-pretty way. People behind us gasped and, sure enough, the wails followed. I hadn't even taken off my coat yet, but I swooped him up and ran out of the sanctuary into the lobby. After a treating a bloody nose, we headed back in. I finally got to sit around 7:35, and church was over at 7:42. So not exactly what I was hoping for, but such is life with small kids, I guess. :)

 

We headed up for some chill time, and to put out cookies. Plans changed and we ended up putting out pacis instead (explanation in another post coming soon). We put the kids to bed and sat down to relax for a few. We had NO PLANS at all today, so we didn't worry too much about putting stuff away. We whipped up our Christmas morning sausage, egg, and cheese casserole, and hung out.

 

Santa visited!!!

Carter was very excited and had a great time! They were both spoiled rotten again. :) Carter got a race track, a small pillow/case for daycare, puzzles, books, clothes, new pajamas, Memory, cars, play food, Play Doh and accessories, and more. Addison got mostly clothes, pajamas, books, and stocking items (plate, silverware, sippy cups, etc.). I got a new lens for my Nikon, Photoshop, my 2010 blog book, a candle, and a bunch of gift cards. Seth got a lantern, a memory foam pillow, some clothes, and a bunch of hunting stuff!

It was a white Christmas and a certain little boy was dying to go outside, so Seth took him out. He got a snowman kit from Oma and Opa so he wanted to build one! He thought it was so fun and was giddy while he played.

 

The snowman turned out so cute, and even looked a little french the way his hat fell. We spent the rest of today chilling out and enjoying an italian dinner in our sweatpants (BLISS!).

 

We were, and are, incredibly blessed. We're thankful that we know the real reason for the season and can spend so much time with friends and family.

 

Merry Christmas.

Be blessed.

Christmas in New Jersey

This year, we spent Christmas in New Jersey before Christmas, which was a nice change of pace that allowed us to chill at home on Christmas day. We got to spend a lot of time with the entire family, and the kids had a blast playing!! Let me tell you--eleven kids under age seven makes for a very active household. :)

Oma and Opa made a yummy breakfast yesterday morning and then we did gifts as a family. This year, the kids each pulled names and so did the adults, so it did cut down on the chaos a little. From Oma and Opa, Carter got a tool bench and some clothes, and from his cousin, he got two really cool Melissa & Doug puzzles which he LOVES.

 

Addison wasn't quite herself while we were there--our normally laid-back little girl was a fussy mess, and of COURSE refused to sleep. Our kids always seem to do that when we travel anywhere, and always when it's a full house for them to wake up! Sorry, everyone! She made an appearance from her super long nap to open gifts after everyone was done and she had fun, too. She got lots of clothing, the snap and lock toy she's chewing on below, a snack trap, and a laugh and learn purse.

 

I got my blog printed into a book, and money (which I used to buy perfume!), and Seth got Bass Pro gift cards toward the many things he has in mind. We also got a gift card for Olive Garden! Yum!!

 

And the photo that takes the cake for the weekend, and the award for most hilarious...Oma and Opa attempting a grandkid shot which they were all CLEARLY into. Haha! :)  Real life at its finest right here.

 

Last night, the rest of the extended family came down for a big dinner and hanging out. Addison had a super rough night, so unfortunately, we got up and headed out early this morning. We were pretty certain it was an ear infection, so we called the pediatrician on the way home and made an appointment. Sure enough, though, it was viral (that dreaded word), and not an ear infection. Good on one hand; terrible on the other because there's no medicine for that!

 

Anyway, we had a fun time in NJ hanging out with everyone!

The Christmas celebrations begin!

On Saturday, we celebrated our first of many Christmases with my mom's side of the family. Of course, the day couldn't start without some standard Ran-family drama, right? The morning was pretty calm and laid back. I had made the highly-requested chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing, and transferred them from my plastic case into the nice bakery-style box I use when I have cupcake orders. We placed them in the back of the car, but left the hatch up. Bentley gets beside himself when he thinks we're going somewhere without him, so naturally he took off out of the house into the garage, ran around the car, and jumped up into the back.....right on top of the cupcake box, smashing the center twelve or so. Couldn't resist dog-shaming him. :)

 

As at any Christmas party, there was good food and a lot of candy, cookies, etc. Carter began the day by digging right in to the juice and junk food and never stopped. We'd find him hiding, eating chocolate and I counted A LOT of pieces of chocolates hidden in his pockets when we unloaded them that night. More on that later...

 

My mom did a craft with the kids...these little ornament wreaths. They were really cute!

 

Sweet girl (with her bumped up nose) with Aunt Michelle!

 

We got home around 7 p.m. and Carter was pretty chill and laid back. He hadn't really eaten dinner, so I tried to give him some pretzels, which he refused. I had a feeling he wasn't feeling so hot after all the junk, but didn't think much of it. He went to bed like normal but started crying around midnight. Sure enough, alllll the junk reappeared in a big way! Oy! We spent quite some time cleaning his room and giving him a bath but he went back to bed with no issue. He wasn't acting sick yesterday but was refusing to eat (but who wouldn't be??). He went to daycare today like normal, but was sent home after he threw up again. At this point, we were thinking maybe it was a stomach bug and not the junk. Who knows??

 

Anyway, much more on Christmas festivities to come!

Near to the Brokenhearted.

 (source)

 

I am overwhelmed with emotion over the elementary school shooting today in Connecticut. I cannot even fathom being a parent or loved one of someone in that school today. Praying for a peace the passes all understanding for those families today and in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Addison: Six Months

First of all - half a year old already?!?! WOW. Times flies.

Addison,

At six months old, you:

- Are 17 pounds, 9 oz. (76th percentile). You have some precious chubbiness, and your cheeks are super round and cute.
- Are 26.5 inches long (68th percentile)
- Have a big head like all of us! (44.9 cm, 97th percentile)
- Wear size 2 diapers during the day (and size 3 overnights) but you really should be in size 3 all the time. We're finishing up a box of size 2 and then you can be comfy again! :) 
- Wear size 6 month clothing. In some hand-me-downs that have been washed multiple times (mostly pants), you can wear 9 month.
- Are still a pretty inconsistent napper. At daycare, you mostly take catnaps with a few good ones here and there. At home, you usually take two 2-hour naps, but sometimes just one 3-4 hour one. See? Inconsistent. You do nap in the swing most of the time yet, but we're working on crib naps.
- Are back to sleeping through the night (hallelujah!), thanks to a quick bout of Ferberizing. I could hug that man.
- Are unswaddled now (and have been for about 3 weeks) but are in a sleep sack with the arms swaddles wrapped around your belly.
- Are still nursing, but only before bed as of yesterday. But we made it to our six month goal, so I'm very happy (especially since I made it less than 2 weeks with Carter!). Honestly, you don't even really care about nursing anymore, so that feed will probably be weaned within a week or so.
- Love your food! You have eaten rice, oatmeal, peaches, apples, pears, peas, bananas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. You eat it only one time per day as of right now (dinner) but today at your appointment, the doctor gave me the go-ahead to give you breakfast as well!
- Are still a very happy, chill baby, though you are starting to have separation anxiety a bit. You don't cry at daycare drop-off but if you are tired or hungry and we leave your sight, you freak.
- Still LOVE the new jumperoo and have a blast in it!
- Still didn't get your teeth but we can almost see the little buds.
- Take a paci a bit better this month but don't care that much about it.
- Continue to hate your carseat. Unless you are sleeping or have a parent sitting beside you in the backseat, you are fussing.
- Put everything in your mouth!
- Had your first overnight away from mommy and daddy when you are Carter stayed at Gramma and Pa's on December 8. We went out with friends for daddy's birthday. You had a blast and of course were such a good girl!
- Met Santa this month and smiled like such a happy girl.
- Nicknames this month: Peanut, peanut girl, pretty girl, beautiful, baby girl. Still no Addy or Addie.

Baby girl, you are the light of our lives, right along with your brother. You are just so sweet and we can't get enough of you! We love you so much, but stop growing up so fast!!! :)

Why You're Never Failing as a Mother...

(source)

Fabulous article. If you're a mom, especially of young kids right now, take a read! Some rough language here and there, but look past that.

Why You're Never Failing as a Mother

Homemade Handprint Ornaments!

I saw this on Pinterest, so naturally I had to try! I'm sad I didn't do this for Carter's first and then again for Addison's first, but I did Carter's third instead. Hey, we didn't have Pinterest back then! ;)

 

All I did was take some acrylic paint, spread it on a plate, dip those chubby little hands, and put it on a clear, plastic ornament I picked up from Michael's for $.77! I my add some colored crinkle paper inside (pink for her, blue for him), but I sort of love them clear and simple, too! When the paint dried, I just wrote 2012 on it with a black sharpie. Voila!

 

Tis the season!

Let me begin by saying that this is the state of my living room 98% of the time right now. The toddler has always wreaked havoc in .2 seconds but add a Christmas tree and decorations into the mix, and things get pretty chaotic. I took a deep breath and sat back down and let him have fun. There's a quote out there that says a messy house is the sign of a happy kid, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :)

 

This weekend was the all-important breakfast with Santa. We've been talking up the big guy the past week--saying how nice he is, how he will give you a present, and how he has a big, white fluffy beard. Here's "Santa's little helper" before we left to go to meet him!

 

Of course had to get some of both of them in their Christmas colors. So sweet!

 

I couldn't believe it! When we got there, Carter was instantly excited and waved to Santa. I'm sort of glad we were third in line because it gave him time to see two other kids sit on his lap without skitzing. He went right up to him and climbed up on his lap. When Santa asked what he wanted, he went right into the list (and let's just say, "Santa" and his...um, parents did an excellent job! Ahem...). It was adorable! Addison, of course, was oblivious and loved everyone oohing and aahing over her.

 

It was a buffet, which is one of Carter's love languages, so he chowed down and had sausage, eggs, ham, pancakes, and who knows what else!

Santa gave Addison a small stuffed animal and Carter got a goodie bag of treats, which he enjoyed. All in all, it was great!

Later that afternoon, Seth and I headed to Lancaster to meet up with four other couples from college to celebrate Seth's 30th birthday a few days early (and KID-FREE). It was so fun to hang out, take as long as we wanted, and celebrate Seth. I called the restaurant a few days in advance and asked if we could bring our own cake. They said of course, so I made a chocolate peanut butter cup cake. When I told them we were ready for the cake, it was taking a while, but I thought nothing of it. I caught a glimpse of fire out of the corner of my eye--it was the waitress was carrying it out with candles. Now, this is a big no-no for us, and I cracked up laughing but immediately told him I had NOTHING to do with that. They don't sing at the place, but a bunch of college kids next to us saw what was going on and started singing LOUDLY and pretty much the whole restaurant joined in. Haha. Certainly was hilarious.

Carter and Addison stayed with my parents, and of course did great and slept well. Thanks, mom and dad, for an overnight date night (and a full night of sleep)! :)