Alyssa updates

Alyssa pooped 3x last week!  Very unusual for her, since sometimes she doesn't even poop 3x a MONTH!!  I took her to the dr this morning for a cough.  She has a mild ear infection & some congestion.  We are continuing the breathing treatments & starting a 3 day antibiotic. 

Once we got home I left her in the infant carrier while I did a few things. Not even 5 minutes later I got her out & went to change her diaper - not having any idea what I was about to find!  Holy Moly!!!!!! Let me start by saying I had poop on my shoulder!  I can't remember the last time she pooped such a large quantity!  She weighed 16.3 pounds at the dr, but I bet she's a couple of ounces, if not a pound, lighter now!
Things Alyssa loves:
Pat a cake
Itsy bitsy spider
Baths
Her big sister
Buddy
Outside

Things Alyssa doesn't love:
Getting dressed
Bouncer
Jumperoo
Playmat
Bottles
Being woke up by her big sister

She has started sitting up with a little help.  She can do it for about 30 seconds.  We just really started practicing this week, so she will get better.  Ahhhhh, she found her feet about 2 weeks ago!  I forgot how stinking cute it is when this happens!  

We also started oatmeal this week!  When Addison took her first bite of cereal she cried because it scared her, but not Alyssa! She kept reaching for the spoon & cried because I wasn't feeding her fast enough!  Next week I plan to start making up some purees & freezing them.  

I sure hope Alyssa isn't as picky as Addison when she's older!  I often wonder where I went wrong with feeding Addison.  She ate everything for the first 15 months  then refused to eat anything.  That left me resorting to nuggets, Mac n Cheese, yogurt, cheese & crackers, cereal, carrots....  Occasionally she will eat something like spaghetti or pork chops, but the next time it's served - NO WAY!  

A Sick Christmas

Last Friday morning we were supposed to be on the road to Louisiana.  Unfortunately, Addison started coughing at 5am & it only got worse from there!  By the afternoon, I was debating on making a trip to the ER.  Instead, I started breathing treatments.  Thank goodness we had Pulmicort & Albuterol along with our handy-dandy nebulizer.  Since Friday, we've been doing Pulmicort every 12 hours & Albuterol every 4 hours.  It's made a huge difference, so maybe we can wait on going to the dr.  She goes back next week for her follow-up appointment anyway.  Despite being icky sick she still had an awesome time opening gifts & playing with her new toys.

Carrots for the reindeer

Cookies for Addy & Santa

Stickers, stickers & more stickers!  

Why do I do this to myself?

Rumblin' Chuck - she's been talking 

about this dump truck forever!

Addison enjoyed Alyssa's toys too!

Friends

Both girls have colds right now.  Addison started getting sick last week with a runny nose & little cough.  Over the weekend she started waking at night, which meant one of two things:  she's 2 or ear infection.  Well, I'm glad I didn't put off taking Addy to the dr....EAR INFECTION!  This make #4 for the year.  We are so lucky to only have that few.  I know babies that had to get tubes by 9 months!  Alyssa's ears are fine - for now!  While we were at the dr office waiting in the exam room a baby next to us was getting vaccinations.  The baby was crying & Addy said "I need to make that baby feel happy"!  Such a sweet thing to hear her say.

Blake is doing a great job finding new places for Eric the Elf to hang out around the living room/kitchen area.  Eric the Elf keeps a close eye on Addy & reports to Santa each night.  It's so cute to watch her each morning when she is looking all around for Eric!

This is our Elf on the Shelf, Eric.  

Addy has a crazy obsession with candy canes right now!  That's all she talks about!

Maggie saw us outside checking the mail yesterday & ran over to visit Addy.  They played for a bit then it was time for Maggie to go home.  It makes me happy to see them together.  

Addy's MDO Christmas Party Day 2010

**Another post I forgot to publish**

Wednesday (12/15) was Addison's last day of MDO until 2011!

This is what I dressed her in that morning.....BEFORE I knew it was so warm outside!  The high was a sticky, humid 74 degrees!

This is what she ended up wearing.  At least she still has on the Christmas Hello Kitty socks!

Alyssa 5 months old (12/14/10)

Hard to believe we are almost 1/2 way to ONE YEAR!  Alyssa is rolling, squealing, laughing, crying, talking, demanding...all of the wonderful things that 5 months old do!  She still isn't taking a bottle, but I haven't given up hope yet!

I think I found my answer to getting Addy to take pictures....just take some of Alyssa!

Today is also POOP DAY 11.  This is the longest yet!  I was expecting a massive blowout, but instead only got about 1/2 of what she usually does each week.  Weird.  Pretty soon she will be eating solids & that will probably give me more dirty diapers to change!  

So Many Babies

Our family has grown by 5 in the last 3 years!  Holidays are what they used to be 20 years ago when all my nieces & nephews were little.  Now, it's my GREAT niece & nephews along with MY own babies!

Drew 1 1/2 years old 

Addison 2 1/2 years old 

Alyssa 5 months old 

Arabella 2 months old 

Logan almost 2

This is what it looks like when you try to get 5 babies together for a picture!  Sometimes these are the best photos anyway :)

Merry Christmas to me!  This charm goes with the one I got when Addison was born.  Hers is square with footprints.  

Video Message from Santa

Video Message for Addison from Santa

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/aT7l-DsVGCX8R5lB7fJslw

Kelli's Baby Shower

Last weekend we went home to Louisiana.  I was a hostess for Kelli's baby shower & this was the first time I've seen her since Summer 2009!  She was glowing & just beautiful!  Her due date is mid-January & everyone is so excited for her & Sam!

While there I asked Addison if she knew who was in Kelli's belly.  She said "baby"!  A few minutes later someone else came in the room & I wanted them to hear Addison say that, so I asked her again.  This time her response was "Jesus"!  LOL  Everyone got a great laugh!  She is at that age where she is unpredictable & I never know what she will say.  This is cute & scary at the same time!  Later she was playing & I heard her say "And the angel came to Mary and said...".  I asked her what the angel said to Mary & she said "No more monkeys jumping on the bed"!  Oh goodness :)

5 Years!

Last week we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!  I've decided that time goes by much faster as we get older.  I wish there was a 'slow motion' button!

Elf on the Shelf

A few weeks ago KJ sent the Elf on the Shelf to us, but we waited until now to introduce the elf to Addison.  Last night we read the story to her & positioned Eric the Elf high up on the computer cabinet. This morning I moved him to the Christmas tree & Addy looked all over for him when she woke up!  It was so cute watching her study the elf & wonder how he got in the tree.  This will be a cute tradition for many years!

Addison has been asking to hold Alyssa a lot lately!  I'm thrilled that Alyssa is finally growing on her! They have started laughing at each other too!  Alyssa just learned how to blow raspberries & when Addy does it back to her she just giggles & giggles!  I've GOT to get that on video.  It melts my heart to watch my girls interact with one another.  I know it won't always be kittens & rainbows, but for now it is & I'm enjoying every second of it!

No, those aren't Alyssa's fingers, but the turkey body IS the palm of her hand & thumb.  She keeps her hands balled up, so there was no way I could put paint on her fingers for the picture!