Buddy the Conehead

Last week I noticed Buddy chewing on his tail.  After further inspection, I realized he had a hotspot.  Poor Bubba :(  I called the vet right away & took him in to be seen.  Now, taking Buddy to the vet along with Alyssa & Addison in tow is about as exciting as you are thinking.  Between Addison asking what everyone's name was to repeatedly saying she has to pee - it wasn't a dull trip.  Buddy got a shot & the vet said that would cure him.  This was Thursday afternoon.  Monday I was in denial that his tail wasn't healing because he wouldn't stop chewing on it!  I tried wrapping it up with a bandage, but that was a joke.  So, Tuesday morning I called the vet back.  I wasn't sure what else they could do other than a cone, but we had to do something!  Another trip to the vet with the girls!  Eating glass sounded like a better option, but we all managed to make another trip to the vet. While there the second time Addison had to use the potty twice (we were there maybe 15 minutes)!  What is it with kids & public bathrooms?!?!  Gross!  Then, you could've heard a pin drop when she held up her little toy frog & asked if she could put a baby in her belly!!! That got a laugh out of everyone!  I guess she really paid attention when I was pregnant with Alyssa & we would always talk about it!

Buddy got fitted for a cone & prescribed some antibiotics.  This morning I noticed that he can still chew on his tail EVEN with the cone!  UGH!!!!  I don't know what to do at this point.  

Her bib says it all!

Thank goodness the weather has warmed up & we can spend time outside!  It's awesome.  Both girls love it!  I need to get one of the little splash pools like Addy had when she was a baby.

From the baby splash pool to a slide!  My Addy has gotten so big!

Alyssa has started going from sitting to belly every time I turn my back!  She gets mad once she's on her belly & rolls over.  We may never have a crawler if she doesn't spend a little more time on her belly.

 

Solids & Stuff

Last Friday I took Alyssa for her flu vaccine booster.  She was awesome!  Barely a sound came out of her!  I sure hope we get through this flu season without anyone getting sick.  Especially the babies.  Alyssa weighs 16.14lbs & is 24 3/4 inches.  Addison weighed 16.9lbs at 7 months.

After the doctor visit I had to go by the post office to try & recall a package that I sent to the wrong address.  Customer Service told me it wouldn't be a problem to recall as long as the package hasn't reached it's destination & to go back to my local post office to fill out the form.  I had just mailed it last Wednesday, so I knew there was still time.  Well, the idiot at the post office didn't have a clue what I was talking about & argued with me that a package couldn't be recalled.  While I was waiting for the Post Master to get off a conference call the rude clerk finally found the form I was talking about.  It will be awhile before I can go back to the post office!  Next stop was getting the van washed.  I carried Alyssa in the car wash in her infant seat just in case she fell asleep.  I'm SO happy I did!  When the van was finished the employee waived me over to let me know it was done.  ONE PROBLEM - they LOCKED the keys in the van!  Seriously, could the day get better?  Thank goodness I had Alyssa's infant seat!  One of the employees gave us a ride home to get the spare van key.  Luckily, I keep a spare house key in the backpack!  Blake could've left work, but it was faster to just have a stranger drive us a couple of blocks.  Next stop, Target.  I went in Target to get diapers & a few other things (see books below).  Well, again, I just left Alyssa in her infant seat & sat it in the buggy.  After we checked out & got to the van I took Alyssa & the infant seat out of the buggy & what did I see?  DIAPERS UNDER THE BUGGY THAT I DIDN'T PAY FOR!  So, I ran back inside & paid for the diapers praying I wouldn't be late to pick up Addy from school!

Alyssa is now eating 3 meals a day in addition to nursing.  At breakfast she has a fruit + oatmeal, lunch veggie + fruit combo, dinner veggie.  She isn't a fan of Gerber baby food, so I made the MISTAKE of buying Ella's Kitchen organic & Plum Organics for her to try ($$$$$).  Well, she loves the stuff!  Addy does too!  Both brands have yummy combos like spinach, apples, rutabaga or broccoli, peas, pears or carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes.  Alyssa will still eat what I made (sweet potatoes, squash, apples), but the organic tubes are super convenient, whereas, I have to thaw the cubes I made from the freezer.

In case you are wondering about how Alyssa's pooping these days - I get a dirty diaper every 2-3 days now.  No complaints here.  At least now it's solid & manageable!

It was a great weekend & we took full advantage of the beautiful weather!

My two beautiful girls!  

Everyday I look at them & wonder how I got so lucky!

I've joined an online photography course with some of my Internet friends.  It's a 12 week course & hopefully will teach me a thing or two about my camera.  The local college is offering a course this summer & I may take it too.  Pictures are priceless :)

BEWARE of the Dollar Spot at Target!  (No, the MacBook wasn't on the Dollar Spot!)  These books will go in Easter baskets and/or for birthday presents.  I did go ahead & give Alyssa one of the bath books.  She loves books just like Addy!  Read Across America is March 2 & right now Walmart has all Dr. Seuss books for $5.  I need to take an inventory of Addy's Dr. Seuss books.  We must have 20, if not more.  I just picked up 3 more that she didn't have.

Last week Chase Bank was at the top of my %#$* List!  I kept my account open after I quit my job with just a small amount of money in checking & savings.  Well, I had setup the email alert to notify me when my account went below a certain balance.  I got an alert one night & the next morning checked my account online.  Hmmmm Chase started charging me a $12 service fee in November.  The last time I used the account was October.  So, I called to get more information about the fee.  The rep told me that since my checking account didn't have direct deposit or an outrageous balance then a fee is charged.  When I told him that I haven't had direct deposit since September 2008 & never had the fee before he was stumped.  He then told me that maybe the fee was waived for some reason.  I said for 2 years, really, are you that stupid or do you think I'm that stupid.  I was livid & requested a refund for the fees & to close my accounts!  He told me it would be faster to go to my local branch & close the accounts.  So, off I go to Chase to close my accounts.  Wow!  They lady at the branch couldn't tell me why this fee suddenly appeared either.  I could go on, but I'll just say that I closed my accounts & will not do business with the bank again.  The fee on the account really wasn't the issue...I don't understand why NOBODY could explain WHY it just started!

7 Month Comparison

Alyssa is 7 months old

My smallest Valentine turned 7 months old on Valentine's Day!

Alyssa is:
*sitting by herself (still topples over some)
*moves from sitting to belly then rolls over & gets MAD
*wakes up smiling every morning
*loves Addison
*loves to be held all.the.time
*loves taking a bath & splashing water everywhere
*GETS EASILY DISTRACTED WHILE NURSING - I feel like going & sitting in the closet to nurse sometimes!  Whether it Addison playing or Buddy walking by or the tv.  She is interested in everything!

I can't believe as soon as I finish planning Addison's THIRD birthday party it will be time to start planning Alyssa's FIRST!

Happy Valentine's Day

Addy had her Valentine's Day party at school last Friday.  They also celebrated a classmates birthday.  So, a day full of pizza, cookie cake & lots of sweets!  

Addy got tulips for her teacher, Ms C.

Stop with the pictures!

Sweet Cheeks!

I had to make this picture black & white because I seriously looked like Rudolph last week!  All better now though!

Over the weekend, we met up with my favorite photographer Ashley for some way overdue family pictures.  I can't believe this is the FIRST family pro photo-shoot since Alyssa was born!  Shame on me!  Alyssa is 7 months old today!  I won't wait so long for family pictures again.


Here's a video of Addy playing with her ABC Train puzzle!  I think she's the smartest kid on the block!

I use my phone for everything from checking the weather to managing my grocery list.  Ah, the grocery list!  Usually when we go to the store, Blake always gets the list from my phone & writes it all on a notepad (old school).  The other day I convinced him that really wasn't necessary since I had my phone.  Well, about 5 minutes in the store & guess what?  Yes, the list got deleted!  I guess I was fumbling with Alyssa & not paying attention that my phone wasn't locked!  We made it out with about 90% of what was on the list.  I'm slowly remembering more things we missed!  I will never try to change how Blake handles the grocery list again!


Yay!  FINALLY WARM WEATHER!  I've been waiting for it to get warmer to take the girls for a spin in our new double stroller.  This week we may wear the wheels off this thing!

I think this blog post is long enough.  Alyssa's 7 month pics will be posted separately.

Big Bed Day

Not sure why the other day I decided to ask Addy if she wanted to nap in the big bed, but I did.  100% success!  YAY!  I don't know if we will attempt to try for bedtime.  That room seems so far away...although it really isn't far at all.  *Update* The next day we tried the big bed again for a nap & it was a FAIL!

My picky eater has been eating without a fuss lately (ex. grilled chicken, sauteed squash & pasta)!  Who is this child?  THIS IS HUGE PROGRESS!  I always feel like a crappy mother when I give her mac n cheese, nuggets, etc.  Maybe this is the beginning of change in her eating habits.

We finally got out of the house last weekend since temps were above freezing!  A trip to Toys R Us is just what we all needed!

Addy watching Toy Story!

This isn't a great pic of the toy that Alyssa got, but it's THIS.  She can play with it while sitting & then once she starts pulling up we can attach the legs.  Addison loves it too.  

Friends

Maggie came over to play last weekend.  It's been a while since the girls have gotten together outside of MDO.  We have to plan lots of playdates this month, because Maggie is leaving in March for a couple of months.  Her dad works out of town & he's taking the family with him this time.  I can already picture Addy looking out the window for Maggie wondering where she is.  Guess they are old enough now to try out the webcam with them!

Brrrr Ice Ice Baby

I was really hoping there would be a very brief accumulation of snow - just long enough for me to sit Addy & Alyssa in it for a picture.  Instead, we only got ice.

Let's Bake!

This is one cute baby!  Alyssa is still using the boppy for sitting.  She hasn't gotten the concept of using her arms to catch herself when she starts to fall.  We've had a couple of face plants on the floor mat & she still doesn't get it!  I've been trying to put her on the floor more lately, because she will never learn how to sit up on her own in MY arms :)

Mmmmm brownies!  Everything we bake tastes even better since we got our cute aprons!

I really really want to get Alyssa  PBK chair like Addy's (different color) for her birthday, BUT I have NO idea where to put it!  Maybe I'll put it off until Christmas...

I love this picture!  It captured her beautiful smile (yes, there's brownie batter on her mouth)!

Alyssa enjoys watching Addy play & be silly.  She just kicks back & enjoys the entertainment.  This gives my arms a much needed break sometimes.  I snapped this picture while Alyssa was sitting on the bed in the toy room.

TOO COLD!!

Mom, it's too cold for school!

It's a chilly 25 degrees right now & I was very tempted to keep Addy home from school this morning.  I know she's been antsy to see her friends & get out of the house, so she went.  Hurry up warm weather!