Apple Excursion

Today in between sessions of General Conference, we went to an apple orchard here in Vegas. It was fun!
The Babe loved looking for and picking apples.

The Little Lady got hot and hungry. But this picture makes it look like she's gonna eat the apples. lol.

The hubby loved playing with the kids.
.
We even found a friend.

3 Weeks Old

It's crazy that the Little Lady is now 3 weeks old! It seems like yesterday she was born but at the same time it seems like she's been here forever (and I haven't slept forever). She is starting to be awake more which is fun but also challenging. She loves to be held. She'll sleep in your arms but the moment you set her down she starts wailing. The Babe never did that. He slept better after you put him down. She'll let you hold her all day and actually would prefer it. Yesterday while cooking dinner, she would not let me put her down. So I faced the reality that she's just going to have to cry herself to sleep sometimes. There really wasn't anything wrong with her and it only took her like 2 minutes to go to sleep. So the hubby wanted to try it last night but it didn't work. I still think she's too little to cry herself to sleep at night.

The Babe is doing extremely well! He gets concerned about his baby sister but still doesn't want much to do with her. He won't hold her. He loves her binkie (he'll suck on it and sometimes he'll put it in her mouth). When she's crying and I can't get to her, he'll ask her what's wrong. He's not at all negative just more apathetic. I thought that it was an 'if-I-ignore-her-she'll-go-away' approach but he doesn't seems to want her to go away just maybe that her smallness intimidates him. He is growing up though. We have successfully gotten him to eat bacon on a number of occasions! This is exciting news because he doesn't eat meat usually. On one occasion, he ate a piece of bread. But never since then.

I am starting to get a schedule again. No, my house isn't clean but I have started to get something of a schedule down. My mother-in-law would say that just as soon as you get the schedule going the kids change. It's true though. I have started a project again though. I'm making a Halloween costume for the Babe. He wants to be Curious George and a pumpkin. I found orange felt on sale for like $2 so I bought that and the fabric to make the monkey costume. Yesterday I cut up the felt and sewed it to make a pumpkin and he wouldn't put it on. It said it was scary! So I cut out eyes, a nose and smile for a mouth. He likes it a lot better now! What a weird kid.

What did I get myself into?

Today I had a scary realization. The reality of having 2 kids finally is hitting me. You know the old saying that now we're on a man-to-man defense. It's true! (I can't imagine what zone defense is like.) In the car on the way home from Utah, I noticed that I was going constantly. If one was asleep, the other was awake wanting my attention. Sometimes they were both crying at the same time needing attention. Up until this point, I've had enough help that I could manage their needs within reason. But in the car, the hubby was driving so he couldn't help much and they both needed me. Even when the hubby is home and able to help, I feel like I'm constantly going. They are both in diapers, so as soon as you get one changed the other poops. I'm still nursing (shocking yes) and that feels like a full time job. I relished the few moments today when the hubby was home playing with the Babe and the Little Lady was sleeping so I could sit on the couch and do nothing! I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, just facing reality. We are never having any more kids. lol.

Home at Last!

We are finally home from Utah! It seems like that drive back took 10 hours, oh wait it did take 10 hours. lol. The Little Lady was tired. Last night, she slept 5 hours in a row! Anyway, we had fun! We did get pictures taken and it was miracle picture session. We think we had all the kid's eyes open (even the 2 infants) and most of them are kind of smiling. It was as stressful as last time either! The adults even behaved. The baby blessing was nice. My dad even went to church! It was Georgette's first time at a mormon meeting. Her comment was that it was the noisiest church meeting she's ever been to. The kids are sure glad to be home. The Babe loved being at grandpas but I think he was glad to sleep in his bed last night.

Are We Crazy?!

Yesterday, we drove up to Utah for my brother's baby's blessing (this is like a christening). We were hesitating a little to come with the new baby but we're brave. We when got here we found that my other brother and his 3 kids were here. So we walked into a crowded house last night. It was a bit crazy! Plus, no one got to bed before 11:00. Today we don't have much on the agenda. I'm planning on just trying to stay warm. It's cold here! We saw some snow in the mountains on the way here. Coming from 80 degree Vegas, 50 degree Utah is cold, cold. I think we do have a plan to gather up all the grandkids to get some professional pictures made. That should be a chore lol. We have 5 boys under the age of 5 and 2 girls that are newborns (plus 7 adults which sometimes is more challenging than the kids). We'll see how it goes.

Thirteen Things I love about Fall:

In honor of the first day of Fall on September 23. I wanted to do the things I love about Fall!

1. Cool Mornings
2. Cool Evenings
3. Jackets (not coats)
4. Halloween
5. Pumpkins
6. Thanksgiving
7. The colors
8. Needing a blanket at night
9. That time when you don't have to run the A/C and you don't have to run the heater
10. Fall produce
11. Sweaters
12. Pumpkin Pie
13. Leaves!


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Pictures of the Little Lady

Today I painted the Little Lady's nails. It's so much fun having a girl!

Here's her happy face while awake.

Here's a smile while she's asleep. Bad picture but you take what you can get.

Litlle Lady Birth Day Video

25 Caterpillars, a Prescription Vacuum and Skinny Genes

First the 25 caterpillars. The hubby has been attempting to grow a garden for over a year now. Yesterday, he admitted defeat when he went out to check his tomato plants (which he has watered but hasn't looked at since the Little Lady was born 2 weeks ago) and counted 25 tomato-eating caterpillars devouring his plants. We did get enough carrots this summer for a salad, no green beans, the melons were lost to the neighbors cat, and everything else would grow like crazy but never produce any vegetables. We are successfully keeping 1 tomato plant alive because it is sitting in our house away from the caterpillars. The hubby was pretty discouraged. I think he should start over. It's fall now so he could start a fall garden again and see what happens. I mean give yourself a break, we just had a baby 2 weeks ago.

As for skinny genes, the Little Lady went to the doctor today. She weighed exactly what she weighed at birth, 7 pounds 3 ounces. This is up from her 3 day, which she weighed 7 pounds even. But apparently, that's not good enough. El doctor thinks she should weigh more (even though that puts her in the 25% on the all knowing scale that I think is bologna). He suggested that I feed her more. I said that perhaps she has bulimia because she spits up all day so I assumed I was feeding her too much. I guess that's not the case. I should somehow shove more food down her throat (thereby making more come back up) in hopes that she will gain some weight.

Lastly the prescription vacuum. This one is the best. I ask El doctor about colic. Yesterday she cried for probably 2 hours straight and I was getting nervous. I read somewhere that colic starts at 2 weeks and today she is 2 weeks old. So I of course being the overly nervous parent assumed that she has colic. When I ask, El doctor says, "Ya it's probably colic and what we usually recommend for colic is running the vacuum all day." Great so he prescribes the vacuum cleaner. That will work perfect for us with a 2 year old who is deathly afraid of the "scary" otherwise known as the vacuum.

Weekend Bliss

We made it to the weekend! The hubby almost worked a complete 40 hours, I didn't kill the Babe, the Little Lady is now 10 days old and growing, and I survived 10 days of breastfeeding. So I'd say we're in pretty good shape. Now I have a complete 2 days with the hubby home to help out before it starts over again. We are going to lounge around and do nothing but laundry and dishes this weekend. lol. Next week brings a doctor's visit for the Little Lady, more sleepless nights (well I do get some interrupted sleep), and probably lots more tantrums from the Babe. On the positive side, it probably also brings better nursing, more established routines, and ends with a trip to Utah to visit my family. I am still debating whether I am going to take the Little Lady to church this Sunday or not. I really want to go but the nursing is still pretty rough and I know everyone will want to hold her (which means she could get sick). I know that sounds overly cautious but she's still pretty young to be getting sick or exposed to a lot of stuff.

Thirteen Things I'd forgotten about Babies (and I love!)

1. The way they smell! I wish they could bottle that newborn smell.
2. How much they sleep. I know this will change and I should be grateful for this time. But I forgot.
3. How loud their cry is. The Babe's cry is not nearly as loud as hers is. It's a newborn thing.
4. They way they grunt and grunt to get even a little poopy out.
5. How camera really don't do them justice. She is very much cuter in real life.
6. How mad they get (and red faced) at the silliest things.
7. How much you want to hold them all day even when they aren't doing anything.
8. How sweet they are. How can anyone deny there is a God after holding a newborn?
9. How much laundry you do. I've done at least a load every day.
10. How all their stuff (e.g. car seats, swings, bouncers ect.) clutters your house.
11. How often they eat (and how little you sleep).
12. How tiny they are. Have you tried cutting newborn fingernails? The hubby made her bleed the first day.
13. How much you love them. This didn't happen immediately with the Babe but has with the Little Lady. There's just an instant unconditional love there.


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Now the Real Work Starts

Today the hubby's parents left. It was so nice having them here. His mom did all the laundry, dishes and took care of the Babe (which in and of itself is a full time job). Today was the first day that I had to really take care of 2. We survived, barely. I think I have a little bit of postpartum depression. This afternoon, I found myself crying for really no reason. I told the hubby I wanted to get a job. I've never understood how depression worked until today. There really wasn't anything I could do for it. It was weird. Now I don't want people to misunderstand this. I wasn't seriously depressed or even enough that it concerned me. Just normal baby blues....I had them a little with the Babe. I was just sad, for no reason. Don't get worried.

Tonight, we gave the Little Lady a bath. Her hair is annoyingly wavy (like mine). The hubby curled it around his finger after she got out and let it dry. So now it's just poking straight up (not in a cute way). Well my wish of having a blonde haired, blue-eyed girl probably isn't going to come to pass. That's ok she's still the cutest girl EVER!

P.S. This binkie looks about 5 times the size of her head. It's just the angle of camera.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

I recently read a children's book titled Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type. We got it in a cereal box or something. This book is about some cows that find an old typewriter in the barn and learn to type. They write to the farmer that they want electric blankets and have decided to not give the farmer milk till he gives them electric blankets. I thought this book was appropriate because I have felt almost like a cow this last week. Now my first thought that ending was that the farmer would just say, "Ok we'll see how long you can go without me milking you and see how bad you want electric blankets." But that's not how it ended. I was a little disappointed when the farmer gave in and gave the cows electric blankets in exchange for the typewriter.

This nursing thing is still going (meaning I haven't given up yet) but it's not easy. I realize it is going to get better after about a week (and if it takes more than a week I'm going to be upset) but getting there has sure been difficult. My mother asked me the other day why I was doing it. I didn't really have a good answer. I know that it is better for the baby, cheaper, and naturally what God intended for women to do but all of those reasons can easily go out the window when it's 2 am and I wake up in a puddle of milk and I'm still engorged. She asked if the hubby was forcing encouraging me to do it. I of course said no, he couldn't force encourage me to do anything that I didn't want to. She asked if my friends were putting pressure on me to do it. I again said yes but not enough to make me do it. After some reflection (at 2 am when I wake up in a puddle of milk, still engorged), I have decided that, yes, I am doing it for the Little Lady. She sure is cute and I want to do anything and everything to ensure that she is healthy and strong. Now this isn't to say that if I formula feed her that she won't be healthy but more to say if I have the milk and physically (and mentally) can why wouldn't I breastfeed? I hope that anyone who reads this that didn't breastfeed isn't offended because I thinking raising a child in any way entitles you to a medal. So as of today, I am still nursing and since today is her 1-week birthday, I think I'll go have me an ice cream cone. lol.

A Tribute to Linda Rosenbaum: Victim of September 11th

Someone wanted to honor all the victims of the September 11th attack by having bloggers each take a victim and today honor them on their blog. I decided to participate and was given the person Linda Rosenbaum.

Linda was at the World Trade Center when the attacks happened. She worked as a claims specialist for Marsh & McLennan. She was 41 years old and lived in Little Falls, N.J.

Here is a tribute from her sister's step child.

Linda was my step-father's sister. We were not terribly close but it was a big tradegy to our family. Her sister and her were extremely close and it seems that now her sister wishes that she went with her. She has not recovered. I pray that she recovers from this and takes part back with the family.

Linda was not a bad person, she was a hard and dedicated worker and she will be missed.

*** Posted by Irving on 2006-08-06 ***

Here is a tribute from a co-worker.

I worked with Linda back in Chicago. We both worked for the same company. I remember she always had a nice smile on her face and always had a kind word for everyone. She and I used to talk all the time, about work, about her condo (I wanted to buy it) about being away from home and mostly about being "back east'. We talked about how Chicago just wasn't "back east". She lived with her sister, who I would love to be able to talk to. She can contact me at scole665@mac.com. I cry for Linda whenever i am reminded about this horrible tragedy. I cry for her family and all those people who lost their lives. Linda, you are a great person and you are missed greatly.

*** Posted by Scott on 2004-07-01 ***

Here is a link to United in Memory that made a quilt block for each of the victims of September 11th. Linda's is two thirds of the way down. Sorry it wouldn't let me take the picture.
http://www.unitedinmemory.net/gallery.php?page=28

Here is a link to the list of other blogs/tributes.
http://www.dcroe.com/2996/
(I checked it this morning, it looks like his site crashed....how sad. Probably too many hits but keep checking and I'm sure it will be back up soon)

We will never forget....I feel sorry for the people who did this horrific act. I'm glad I'm not their judge.

Little Lady

The Little Lady is 3 days old today! lol She is so cute and fun! Well she doesn't do much yet except eat and sleep but that's ok. I'm in no hurry for her to grow up. I like her little. She went to the doctor today. She weighed 7 pounds and lost an inch and 1/2 (now she's 18 inches). Weird. The Babe is grumpy again, he didn't get a nap today. Daddy is tired but surviving and I'm engorged. But I was pretty happy when I saw this angelic picture.

WeHadABabyIt'sAGirl

She is finally here!! We are thrilled to announce the little lady was born Tuesday, September 5th, 2006! She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is healthy and has 10 toes and 10 fingers! We are so happy she is finally here and she is the cutest thing ever! She has lots of dark hair and long fingers and fingernails! We are home and recovering well. The Baby isn't quite sure what to think of her yet but he'll come around.

Disclaimer: The pictures don't do her justice! She is a million times cuter is real life!

Letter to the Baby

Dear Child,

Tommorow I go in to be induced with you. This is an exciting but nervous time for me. I am so excited to finally see you and hold you. I am nervous because there are so many thing that I worry about already. I can really only hope that you are a healthy little girl. Your father and I love you very much already! Your brother is excited to see you as well. He doesn't quite understand what is happening yet but he is so thrilled to be a 'big brother' and have a baby sister. Grandpa is here to be with your brother while we're in the hospital. This makes me feel a lot better. I was scared we would have to leave him with a neighbor. We can't wait to see you and know that you will have a special place in our family.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Mt. Charleston

Today we had a ward breakfast up at a picnic area on Mt. Charleston. We've never been there so we decided to wake up super early on a Saturday to be an 8:30 breakfast hlaf an hour away. We were actually hoping that the change in altitude would put me into labor but I'm beginning to think this baby doesn't want to come out.....ever. I was even trying to climb some rocks, slipped and fell and that didn't do the trick. But the mountains were gorgeous! It was super nice weather up there too. Weather I could get used to. I miss the seasons. The Babe and the hubby hiked and climbed all over the rocks. They had a great time! It was fun. We checked out some camping places and will probably go up there camping sometime. Apparently, they get a lot of snow because they had some avalanches last year that you could see where they had been. Here's some silly pictures.

51's Game

Last night, we went to a 51's game hoping that all the walking would put me into labor! But it didn't work. I am doomed to just wait until Tuesday. We had a lot of fun at the game though. It was hot but the baseball was great! Here is the picture you've all been waiting for...yes I'm huge and very hot!