Driving Lessons?

Uncle Matt and Daddy let me drive Uncle Matt's Bronco! Well, they at least let me play with the steering wheel while Uncle Matt reved the engine. I sure did enjoy that!

Finally pictures with BB & LB's cousin!

We went to see Uncle Matt and Aunt Chrissy yesterday for a few hours, and I FINALLY got pictures of the girls together. For those of you who may remember, BB and her cousin were due on the same day, but born a week apart. Other coincidences were as follows: Both Chrissy and I had our sonograms on the same day at the same time, they were both girls, we delivered at the same hospital, and to top if off, even though I delivered a week earlier, Chrissy stayed in the same room I did the week before. Even though we have gotten together since the girls were born, we finally took pictures of them together!

New Trick

My daughter has taken up sticking out her tongue. Much to my mother's dismay, she can not take credit for teaching her this trick, unlike with Little Bear!

Comparision

They don't look anything alike do they???

My Husband

You may remember a while back, Mike got stuck in the crawling tube... well.. genius strikes again. Mike got hung up in the playhouse. LB took it upon himself to climb on his father and blow raspberries on his back and belly. TOO funny!

Pictures of the Day

My little precious girl loves to sit in her vibrating bouncy seat. She even looked like she was trying to smile while in it.. a real smile, not a gassy one!

Fresh Veggies

My wonderful son has not been the best eater for the past 8 months or so. He used to eat EVERYTHING I placed before him.. now not so much. I'm lucky if I get him to eat anything I've prepared for the family. He likes what he likes, which happens to be the following: Mac & Cheese, rice, quinoa (yes, I know, of all things, he likes quinoa!) peaches and pears (only if they are in the individual packs, like Libby's), bananas, applesauce, spaghetti with tomato sauce, potatoes (fried or mashed only), yogurt, raisins, Cheerios, crackers. Basically, my kid eats carbs and dairy. But Hallelujah! He has begun to eat something new... fresh corn on the cob! He tears into it. He'll eat up to an ear and a half! I'm getting a quasi veggie into my kid.. granted it's mostly a starch, but hey he's eating it!

If any one has any recipies that can help me hide veggies into his favorite foods, please pass them on!

Happy Father's Day

I have a wonderful husband, and feel blessed everyday that he is in my life. How lucky am I that I chose this guy to be the father of my children?!?!?!

We didn't have the Father's Day I had originally planned, but we still had family time together and Mike had time with the kids.

I hope my hubby had a great day!

Love you babe!

The Crack Monster Cometh...

To a birthday party that is! I wish I had had my video camera on Saturday afternoon. We went to one of LB's friend's house for his 2nd birthday. Being fashionably late as we tend to be these days, we were just in time to welcome Elmo to the party! Little Bear was in awe. At first he was a little aprehensive, but he spent the next 30 minutes dancing, high fiving, yelling "Elmo" and hugging Elmo. It was TOO cute! The other kids weren't as animated or were frightened of Elmo, but not my kiddo. He must have inherited my sparkling personality! He was definately the life of the party.

Tummy Time

BB discovered last night that she enjoys leaning up on the Boppy to look at the world. It also gives her great access to her forearms, which she enjoys sucking on. My daughter likes to give herself hickies on her arm. Let me tell you, it is an attractive sight.

Week 3

The end has come to all of my wonderful help from my family members. My dad and Linda left Sunday morning to go home. We had a wonderful few days with them, and really appreciated the help!

BB and LB are getting along well these days. He still enjoys kissing her on her head, handing her a binky, and his latest and greatest helping feat is to hand me a diaper while I'm changing her.

BB is still getting her days and nights confused. For the first time as a parent, I actually sent my husband with my daughter at midnight for a drive, to help her fall asleep. She was up from 8 pm and FINALLY fell asleep last night around 2ish in the morning. Yep. I'm a little tired. LB was bigger, therefore, he slept better as an infant. I just have to keep reminding myself of that!

In other news, those of you who have been to my house may recall a certain white fluffy rug that sheds like a dog. If you recall this said carpet, you'll also remember how much Mike HATES the damn thing. Apparently so did my father, mother, etc. My father hated it enough to buy me a new one! Thanks Dad!

First Bath

BB did really well with her first bath. It woke her up and kept her awake for about 2 hours. That in turn makes momma and daddy very happy! The more she's awake during the day, the more I get to sleep at night! Good Girl!

Week 2

Week two has been less eventful then week one. We only had to go to the lab 3 times instead of everyday. Baby Bear had her last blood test done on Sunday, and even though her levels are still higher then they'd like, the doctor decreed no more blood tests! Thank GOD! My poor baby's feet have become callused due to being pricked practically everyday she's been out in the world. Dam Ma came and went. She was here just over 2 weeks, but not with us the entire time. Next she is off to San Deigo for 6 months for work. We're hoping she can fly here for a weekend visit to see the kids.

My father and L. will be here today. I'm not sure how long they are staying, but we are happy to have them here.

LB has been acting out. Time Out has been insituted in our home as of late. This morning, while snuggling with me and the baby watching Seasame Street, he decided it was a good idea to try to kick the baby. Thank god he's cute. I could have whooped his little butt. He loves to talk to her and kiss her, but he is not too happy to share right now. He'll get over it. All of us older sibilings do!

In other family news, my neice was born on May 18th, the day she was due, and Baby Bear was due! We got the cousins together yesterday for dinner. They have much in common these days. Sleeping, eating, and going through 20+ diapers a day. I meant to take pictures. But as with a lot of things these days, I forgot!

We're supposed to get together with my brother-in-law and his family again this weekend. Hopefully we'll remember to take some pictures then!

Picture of the Day

Here is my cutie girl. She has actually done so much better today getting back on the boob! She nursed 3 times for a good 10 minutes at a time. I think the secret to her right now, is get her when she isn't starving. She's more likely to latch after she's had an ounce or two from the bottle.

Woohoo...

We are off the Billy Blanket!!!!!! Baby Bear's billy rubin count was at 11.7, her weight was back up to 7 lbs 10 ozs, AND she even grew 1/2 an inch, putting her up to 20 inches long.
This of course ONLY took a week, but that's ok. She is healthy and we are ecsatic!

Dinner time sheniagans

Little Bear was enjoying one of his favorite dinners the other night, spaghetti. You may have heard the phrase, "It tasted so good I could take a bath in it". Well my son proved that sometimes it is soooooo good you have to rub it all over your face. That was done with the sause. I offered him his applesause, and left the room for the bathroom. I came back to find my son looking like an OompaLoompa. While I was gone, he appartently decided that applesause tastes better after being rubbed in your hair several times... hhhmmmm... And my husband was laughing and taking video of this... As long as he doesn't do this in a restaurant we'll be ok!

Jaundice Sucks

Well, my Baby Bear's level of Billy Rubin apartently has gone down then up again. We started at 18.5, went to 19, went down to 16.2, and now we are back up at 17. At this point it would have been cheaper for us to be put in the NICU, not good for the family mind you, but easier for us monetarily. So I have to continue keeping BB on the bottle so we can see the amount of fluid she is recieving, along with TRYING to breast feed. She spent 20 minutes hollering at me last night, and 20 minutes this morning screaming at me when I offered her boobs. Of course the Baby Blues are starting up and I'm trying VERY hard to keep it together when she fights me. I just go and cry when I pump. At least right now, I'm 2 feedings ahead of her so if she won't take momma, she at least eats from momma. I guess if I just have to pump and feed her that way, I will, but I really wanted to be more successful with breast feeding this time. I just can't get her to latch anymore. Maybe I'll have better luck this afternoon.

First 6 Days

What a whirl wind of activity here in Northern Virginia. After making myself sick with LB the first week home from the hospital, I vowed NOT to run around, go to Target or the mall, and to just be still. Well folks, life doesn't work that way. The ONLY days I have stayed home to rest is half a day Sunday, for Mother's Day, and Monday. Tuesday, we had our 5 day check up, plus LB's ENT follow up. LB's Tubes are great. Baby Bear however has jaundice. SO, instead of having to take her back to the hospital, they sent us a nurse and what is called a Billie Blanket to get rid of the jaundice. Baby Bear has to lay on this UV lighted pad, 24/7 unless we are at Kaiser getting blood drawn. She also lost enough weight that we have to have a weight check on Friday to make sure she is getting enough. She was 7.2 pounds on Tuesday. I've had to start supplementing just to make sure she is hydrated and getting enough fluid. Now of course since BB has had expressed milk and formula, she is liking the bottle, because it's EASIER! She's started to fight me when I want to breast feed her. After I'm sure we've gotten her weight off, she and I are going to have a little converstation about feeding only from Momma for awhile!

Other than Doctor's appointments, sleeping with a blue night light on my baby, everything else has been going well. Little Bear has been very attentive to his little sister. He calls her "Ba-be" and kisses her head. He's also been seen trying to give her a pacifer, and rocking her bouncy seat up and down. That is of course, when he isn't trying to crawl into it himself!! I've found him in her swing, trying to crawl into her bassinet, and lying underneath her baby gym. He has also been having a wonderful time with his Nana. Dam-Ma (my mom) comes back on Friday.

She is very sweet and because of the jaundice, sleeps all the time. When she is awake and alert she enjoys looking up at her mother and eating. All good pasttimes for a 6 day old.

With this C-section, I was much smarter, and filled my prescription for my drugs. I'm not being a martyr this time and I'm feeling much better because of it!

I'll fill in more news as I have time. Right now, I need a percocet and a nap!

Vivian Ann is here!

Hello, this is Daddy Bear, Mama Bear asked me to post onto her blog. Vivian was born yesterday morning, and clocks in at 7lbs 14 ounces... a petite flower when compared to her big brother. Mama and baby are both doing fine, and "Booger" has successfully latched on already! Please enjoy the attached pictures. I'll let Mama Bear fill you in on the other details later...

Sibling Rivalry already?

LB found one of Fetal Bears new blankets and decided it was one he wanted to snuggle with before bed last night. It is also great for playing peek-a-boo!