What's Been Going On Here!

We're tired! Seriously exhausted! Ok - we cannot complain a HEAP about Annie's sleeping. Most nights she is going to bed around 7:00-7:30 pm and waking around 2 or 4 am to eat. Then waking again around 6 or 7:00 am. (we prefer 7:00 - Matthew and I are NOT early risers at all - somehow our kids feel it's fun to wake us up super early). She sleeps great at night, and if I'm smart, I go to bed around 9ish and then I'll feel somewhat ok the next day.

What's not been great is daytime sleep. Lucy gave up the nap a few days after we brought Annabelle home from the hospital. She'd nap here and there, but finally just stopped. So we do make sure she has a "rest time" each day. She'll either rest/play in her bedroom or the basement. That gives me some time....well...not exactly. Annabelle naps about 10 min. at a time. I can get her so quiet and I'll put her down and she'll wake up about 10 min. later. I know this time is just crazy - usually they start to slightly get it together around 3 months. But right now I'd give anything for a good nap from her. I miss having some alone time with Lucy. But I know at some point Annabelle will start to nap well (at least praying she will!) and we'll get some time to just do some fun stuff.

so naps - when Annie does nap her fav place is the bouncy seat or the swing. That's the best I can do. And now we have to make sure she's in the kitchen most days with the fan over the stove on. White noise - I don't care what anyone says to me about "getting them used to the sounds of the house." What that means at this point is - I finally get Annie to sleep, lay her down, then in comes Lucy slamming a cabinet door or something. The Annie jumps and starts to cry and then it takes me 10 more min. to calm her down. When you spend so much time trying to get your fussy, overtired 2 month old to sleep - the last thing you need is for them to learn to sleep with a ton of noise around waking them up. So, when "sleep training" begins in this house at the lovely age of 3-4 months - we will be using a nice, quiet, darkened room with white noise. It worked perfectly for Lucy and she became an amazing sleeper. We'll go with it this round also. Naps in the car or naps of 15-30 min. don't cut it over here, esp. if we can be home to make sure naps are taken. NOT that this should work for everyone's family or lifestyle.....this is what works for us. Matt and I have always loved that Lucy napped so well and we never felt we (or she) was missing out on anything. What we got in exchange was a sweet, well-rested little girl.

Annie and Lucy are cute together. i can't wait to see how their relationship will blossom. I know they'll be some crazy stuff that happens - as it did with my sister! :) But I'm praying they will be the best of friends. My sister and I drive one another nuts - but we love each other deeply.

So for now - we're surviving! One day I'll realize that this man I share the house with is my husband and we'll chat once again about things NOT related to babies/kids. Right now our conversations go: "How long did she nap?" "What time did she wake up?" "When did she poop last?" "Did you change her diaper?" "Can you cut that hot dog for Lucy?" "Lucy needs to potty before we leave!"

Ah! The joys of parenting!!

First Preschool Field Trip

I'm 2 months old!!!!

This is my silly face!

Apparently, Annabelle doesn't like kisses as much as Lucy does.

This is a rarity these days! Most days she is taking 10 min. naps, then is so tired she is scratching my neck and chest while screaming. Her witching hour began last week right at that lovely 6 wk. mark. Anywhere between 5-6 pm Matt and I just watch and wait. She's got some lungs! That stage will pass......ug.....in about 8 more wks. maybe??? But for now, this pic shows her peaceful side. She's pretty adorable, huh?

Sleepover Party

Since we've had some limited mommy/daughter time, I thought it was a good idea to have a sleepover party in the basement. We got out the blowup bed by request (even though we have a perfectly good futon, popped some popcorn and put in a movie. Veggie Tales Christmas video - St. Nicholas. Another of Lucy's requests. We had some fun girl time! And since we were sleeping together, I got to go bed @ 8 pm! (bonus!)

Ringing Endorsement

Having a little one with a stuffy nose is not fun for anyone. No matter what we do - those bulb syringes do nothing for a baby's nose. When Lucy was little - I bought a BeBe Sounds nasal aspirator. This was supposed to successfully clear out her nose - but did not. And it made this crazy noise that sounds like you are pumping up your car tires, while playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Freaked her out!

Since Annabelle has her first cold - a friend told me about NoseFrida (aka the Snot Sucker). Sounds gross - but it's an amazing product! You do actually use your own mouth (via a tube) to suck out the snot from their nose. It works wonders!

First Smiles

Annabelle is now 10 lbs. and 22 in. long and smiling and cooing every day! Here's a few cutie pics of her - her little eyes are red/glassy since she has her first cold. You have to just love the crazy hair!