Thursday, December 18, 2008

Shots and Stats

Miss Chloe is a growing girl. On Friday we had her 2 mo checkup.

Weight: 9lbs 4oz - 7th percentile
Height: 20 1/2 - she isn't on the scale yet...she is a shorty
Head: 14 1/2 - 5th percentile

She also got a round of shots. She did pretty good w/ the shots...she was pretty fussy that evening and the next couple of days. Thank goodness for Tylenol.




















All swaddled up















On Wednesday we had the BFSG playgroup. Here are all the kids:
(l to r): Ashten, Preston, Luke, Zach, Oliver, Mallory, Chloe and Ethan (just ignore me:)






























Melana reading to the kids. We had a great time visiting and the kids had a great time opening up presents.















After many attempts to get a family photo for our Christmas cards we were successful...it just took a while.















































Tada!!!














Cute pictures of Mallory














Miss Chloe taking a bath














Mallory and Daddy ready to go play in the snow. It lasted about 15 minutes for Mallory until she fell, then she was ready to come inside.




















Chloe laying on the floor.















Mallory did not want her picture taken. She was saying NNOOOOOOOOO while I was taking it.















Chloe's apt went well. I hate shots...they make me want to cry because you know they hurt. I'd take them for her if I could. I can't believe Christmas is in a week. We are so excited to see how Mallory is going to act. I think we already know...very excited. I'm sure I will have a ton of pictures to post after the holidays. Everyone have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

We are Thankful for so much

We went to Illinois for Thanksgiving last week. We had a great time and the trip went very well. As you know Mallory has been potty training and it's been going great. She didn't have any accidents on the way out or back...she had a few while we were there but that is because she got distracted w/ all the new people and things going on. Part of that is my fault because I also get distracted and forget to ask her if she needs to go. Most of the time when we are home she will go in the bathroom and go by herself w/out telling me until after she is done. I am so proud of her for being a BIG girl.
Daddy and Chloe taking a nap




















Josh and Mallory got our tree last week. Isn't it beautiful















Mal checking out the decorations.




















Last Wednesday we went to Nana's to help her decorate her tree.




















Aunt B holding Chloe




















Mallory playing w/ Chloe's playgym















These are pictures from Thanksgiving...they are out of order so bare w/ me.
Saturday mom, Chloe, Mallory and I went to the farm to visit G&G Edsall. Mallory and Colton playing w/ blocks















4 generations picture: Grandpa, Oma, me, Mallory, Grandma and Chloe




















Grandma Anne loves those babies. She held Chloe then entire time we were visiting. Chloe enjoyed grandma's soft, fluffy lap:)




















Sue Farr (family friend) stopped by to meet Chloe. She was a great rocker and got Chloe right to sleep.















Om and Mallory reading a Tinkerbell story and Mallory's new Tinkerbell dress















One of her favorite presents from Oma and Gpa: Tinkerbell dress















Opening up her ball pit from Oma and Gpa















She was so excited to get a princess bubble nightlight















Helping Oma open presents















Mom teaching Mallory about the meaning of Christmas: Baby Jesus' birthday. Mallory is really into birthdays right now. She loves to wear hats and sing Happy Birthday. This year for Christmas we are going to make Jesus a cake and sing Happy Birthday to Him. She loves to randomly say "Happy Birthday Jesus" and throw her arms in the air.















Post bath picture of Chloe. She isn't too long but she is getting wider. We have finally finished the diaper cake we got at the BFPG. Thanks again girls for the diapers...it's been heavenly not to buy diapers















Oma giving Chloe her 1st bath at the Bidney house




















Some family friends joined us for Thanksgiving: Jen and Austin. Mallory was slightly in love w/ Austin. She followed him around everywhere and kept saying 'that's Austin'. He was a great sport and let her sit by him all day.




















Ashlyn holding Chloe, Mallory and Austin















Two old bitties in the kitchen...just kidding. Grandma Anne and Oma getting the T-day dinner ready to eat.















Colton (who just turned 20) has never held a baby...besides his baby sister so we had to capture him in the act.




















Jen, Chloe, Mallory and you guessed it Austin. Look how she is starring at him longingly















Mal and the grandpa's















The week before we left Mallory and I did a lot of hard work and got the leaves in piles so daddy could burn them. She was a great helper and loved running through the piles after she raked them up.








































Mallory and Oliver playing in their fort.















Josh and I splurged on a game called Singstar for PS2. Basically it's karoke w/ scoring. We had a blast breaking it in...Mallory even got into it.
Here is Mallory w/ her microphone singing along.




















Josh rocking out.




















Things have been going well lately. Chloe is still eating about every 3 hours. Lately she has been going about every 2...I think she's trying to up my milk supply. It's been rough at night lately. We will get her to sleep and lay her down and about 15 min later she is awake again. I don't believe she is ready to cry herself back to sleep so I have to drag my butt (and sometimes Josh does...depending on the night) out of bed and rock her back to sleep again. Usually after the 2nd time she will sleep for a longer period. It is very exhausting. Sometimes I find myself standing at the kitchen sink ready to break down in tears for no reason. I just wish we could get past this stage and she would give me a longer stretch of sleep at night. I think it might have something to do w/ the fact that she is usually in the swing during the day and we lay her in the crib at night...so not having the motion is hard for her to adjust to. But I am stubborn and refuse to put her in the swing at night because I think she should get used to the crib. Oh well, it will all work out one of these days.
Mallory on the other hand has been kind of a pill lately. When we put her down at night and 'she' isn't ready to go to bed she will get into her drawers and change clothes...I mean take the pjs off plus the diaper (she isn't in panties at night yet...she doesn't wake up dry) put underwear and different clothes on all by the light of a nightlight. Then she will lay down on the floor by her door and yell at us through the crack. It's pretty frustrating because Josh and I are exhausted and usually getting ready for bed...then it takes another 15 minutes to get her back in her pjs and into bed. Sometimes she won't put any clothes on...just be naked. It's pretty funny when you think about it. I have stopped going to the door everytime she calls our name...unless she says she has to go potty. I have told myself that it's just a stage and she will soon (hopefully) grow out of it. Sometimes you just have to laugh about it.
Josh's hours at work got cut back to 25 hr/wk. He is looking for a part-time job to hold him until he can get a different full-time job but the way it's looking the market is pretty competitive even for a part-time job. We have been talking about me also going back to work full-time but there isn't a lot out there that doesn't pay more the $8.50/hr. If you could please keep us in your prayers. Luckily we both still have jobs but I'm so afraid that it won't last.
I don't want to end on a sad note so everyone have a wonderful week. I will be posting later this week w/ Chloe's 2 mo stats...she has her apt on Friday:) Have a great day.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Fall is great

There are a lot of pictures on this post so I will cut to the chase.
Miss Chloe snoozing in the bouncy. We have to swaddle her 80% of the time. I feel bad because her arms are always glued to her side but that's what she likes. Not hearing her cry all the time keeps my blood pressure down too.




















Big sis Mal




















A couple of Sunday's ago I had my friends Lacy, Ethan and Zac over for Lacy's b-day...the big 2-9. We had a great time eating and laughing. Mallory and Ethan had a great time playing. Josh was wonderful because he watched over the little ones and Chloe while we were chatting. Thanks honey!!! You are the best.
Me, Zac, Chloe and Lacy














Enjoying some b-day cake w/ our Princess b-day hats















Happy b-day Lacy...Ethan and Mallory blew the candles out for her.














John and Eleanor came up for a visit a couple of weeks ago. Here are the guys trying to replace a breaker...lets just say our breaker box is super old and it didn't want to let go of the breaker.




















Eleanor and Chloe




















Mom and her girls.















Miss Chloe got her 1st bottle the other day. She did sucked it right down got her calmed down (swaddled). I haven't been pumping on a daily basis (because I hate pumping)...but I need to get some milk stored up for when I start working again.
Mal feeding Chloe















Close-up















Guess who is a BIG girl and goes on the potty...Mallory. We started potty training a couple of weeks ago and it's been going great. We still put her in a diaper at night but she does great during the day.




















On 11/5 we had our playgroup Halloween. The kids look so cute in their outfits.
Here are the two newest members of playgroup. Ashten (Preston's little brother born 9/30) and Chloe. Ashten was full term. Chloe and Ashten are 6 days apart.




















Mallory and Chloe















Another pic of Chloe and Ashten















All the kids: (L to R) Mallory, Oliver (lion), Zach (firefighter), Ethan (batman...he blends in w/ the fireplace), Luke (construction worker), Preston (horsey), Chloe and Ashten















Look who is awake and not crying.




















Bright eyes




















Mallory is really starting to want to play more w/ Chloe. She is good about keeping her distance but I usually have to remind her to be gentle.




















Wednesday it was so nice out Mal and I decided to rake the yard and play outside. Mallory loves the leaves. She kept getting her toys out and playing w/ them while she was sitting in the leaf pile.



































The weekend of my baby shower (9/27) Josh, Mallory and Aaron visited Papa John and GG in Rolla.
Family pic: Josh, Mallory, GG and Aaron















Josh and Mal. She likes to hide her face when she doesn't want to do something.















They all went fishing and Mallory caught the biggest fish (w/ dad's help) on her princess pole.















Holding up her catch















Mallory and GG















Mallory has really been giving me a run for my money lately. She has been acting out a lot and getting just as many spankings. I finally figured out the other day that she is acting out for attention. I really haven't been paying very much attention to her during the day because I am so busy trying to get chores done. Then when I finally do sit down it's to feed Chloe. On Wednesday when we went outside (Chloe was in the swing inside) Mallory had a blast and was extremely good that day. In part I kind of feel like a failure because I can't always give her all the attention she needs...but in a way I guess that is what happens when you are the oldest (I wouldn't know, I'm the youngest:). So my goal ever day is to spend more floor time w/ her. I am hoping this works because before too long I'm going to loose my mind.
She has been doing great w/ potty training. Only a few accidents and all but two have been pee-pee. I am really surprised how well she has taken to it because we have tried before and it never stuck. Oh well at least I don't have to buy diapers for her every 2 weeks now.
Everyone have a happy and save Thanksgiving. I'll post more after the holidays.