Day 171: Snow Again

Day 170: Just A Picture

Day 169: Dancing Tumble Bears

Day 168: Sippy Cup

Day 167: Puffs

Mitchell tried puffs for the first time tonight. He made some funny faces, but figured it out right away without choking!

Day 166: Noodle Soup and Jello

The most exciting part of my day was waking up from a nap to find that Arthur had cleaned the kitchen and living room. That totally helped with the anxiety levels! The second most excting part was Maya trying new foods: noodle soup and jello!

Day 165: Good News And Bad News

Good News: Our TV is working again. It's just too bad the repairman couldn't figure out what the problem was in order to prevent it from happening again. Apparently he just took apart the back of the TV, put it back together, and then it turned on. Hopefully it won't die again.

Bad News: Just as I suspected, another ear infection for Mitchell. I knew after Monday's dud of an appointment it would only take until the end of the week to need another appointment to get the diagnosis. So after Arthur missing a whole day of work, another $20 co-pay, and a 10 day round of antibiotics, maybe we'll be healthy for two weeks!

Day 164: Unhappy Baby

Day 163: Little Loves

Day 162: Snow Fairy

Day 161: False Alarm

I had to pick Mitchell up from daycare early today because he was running a slight fever. After an unpaid half day and $20 co-pay the verdict is he is fine. Maybe teething, maybe a just a cold. Whatever it is it's making him extra sleepy and grumpy. Hope it clears up soon.

Day 160: 45 Months

• Only 3 months from 4. Here is what you did this month...

• You are still a horrible listener and seem to think you make the decisions in this house.
• Outfit changes are getting better because I laid down some rules. However, when I got sick with strep throat you picked it up again. We will continue to work on it.
• You will be continuing with swim lessons but not gymnastics. You refused to participate in your last session, so we cancelled the next term.

• You ask endless questions. Even ones you obviously know the answer to. Your questions are physically exhausting.
• You finished the first week of your new sticker chart. You got 11 stickers out of a possible 21.

• You got a lot of great toys for your fourth Christmas. Your favorites are a tent, Tag reading system, Polly Pocket, and board games.
• Of course, you still love playing with your baby dolls.
• You still love Dora and watching TV. You got your own portable DVD player for Christmas, from Mimi and Papa, which you love.
• You also love your first radio from Uncle Everett. You always ask Daddy to dance with you.

• You've picked up a nasty habit of lying. Sometimes you hide your food and say you ate it. This needs to improve.
• Bedtime is still a nightmare. You will sleep in your own bed if Daddy is home. When Daddy is gone you throw too much of a fit. I have been letting you sleep with me, but that means no bedtime sticker.
• My favorite quotes and conversations with you this month:
• To me after a three hour drive in the snow to Cincinnati: "See Mommy, I told you it would all be OK."
• About our house: "It's an old house, but it's a good house."
• Maya (to Peyton): "I missed you honey. Do you cry when I'm not here?"
• To Mitchell during a crying fit: "Mitchell Marie!"
• "Mitchell needs me to feed him all the time because he likes my pretty face."
  
  

Day 159: Kate's Birthday Party

Day 158: Steroids

I was supposed to make the 3rd about me, but that didn't happen since I was prepping for my colonoscopy, yuck! Today I am documenting what my face looks like prior to the steroids I will be starting tomorrow for the ulcerative colitis. My Dr. is letting me try a steroid that usually has less side effects than the prednisone, but may not work as well. Hopefully it will work and I won't get the moon face I had while pregnant. At least it is only temporary - just until I can start the other medication and it has time to kick in.

Day 157: Five Months

Sheesh, five months already! Here is what you're up to:

• You still spit up a ton
• You're still a super smiley baby
• You still sleep between every feeding

• You are starting to be able to sit up all by yourself. We put the boppy around your body and toy in front of you and you can almost balance independently.
• You reach out, grab, and play with toys. Play with means almost everything goes right into your mouth.
• Whenever you are on your back you try to do sit-ups. It is so funny to watch you life your neck and literally do a sit-up. Everyone cracks up when they see you do it.
• You are also constantly rolling. If I lay you on your back and turn around, you will probably be on your belly when I turn back around.

• You haven't turned down one single kind of food. You love it all, even peas!
• You drink 6 oz bottles every three hours and sometimes you can only make it two and a half. You also eat baby food for breakfast and dinner.

• You go to bed around 8 pm. You wake up several times a night. Sometimes only twice, sometimes every 20 minutes for hours. The bright side is that we just give you your paci and we don't have to feed you.
• You have finally figured out how to get your feet into your mouth. You have been working on this for months.

• You still love your big sister so much. She always makes you happy.

• You such a sweet sweet boy. Your smile and laugh can brighten up the dreariest day. This family loves you more and more each day!
  

Day 156: Sticker Chart

We have a new sticker chart to promote good behavior. Maya can earn three stickers a day: morning/daycare, evening, and bedtime. At the end of the week, she gets a quarter for every sticker. At the end of four weeks she can spend her money she has earned.

P.S. Thank you Aunt Heather, Uncle Shane, and Celia for the princess accessories. She is in love!

Day 155: Growing Like A Weed

Size 9 month one piece outfits are already creeping up on Mitchell's legs. 9 month pants are still too long though and he still wears 3-6 month shirts. I guess he is going to be tall!

Day 154: Sweet Set-up

This is our current tv viewing situation thanks to insight for breaking our tv.

Day 153: Smart And Handsome

Day 152: Happy New Year

Let's hope 2011 turns out much better than it started: me in bed with strep throat, broken TV thanks to the cable company, and crabby kids. Wow, yesterday was quite a disaster. Thanks to the Wilson's for a great visit and for putting up with the craziness. Hopefully our "do-over" will go much more smoothly.