To the Fair!

This week is the local hoopla known as the Tri State Fair. For those of you not familiar with this, let me break it down for you. For the low low price of your left kidney, you can spend an evening riding crappy and probably uber-dangerous rides, and gorging yourself on any food item of your choice served deep-fried and on a stick. Considering this is a right of passage for every child in the area, we decided to load up Taylor along with three of her cousins and give it a go. The kids had a blast, and Jody and I got to gorge ourselves on the wonderful nastiness better known as "fair food."

The kids petting a goat at the petting zoo. This was probably the only "free" attraction.

Ah, the pony rides. This was such a good idea in theory. The only problem was that Taylor had so much fun that she only wanted to ride the ponies. Insert massive meltdown here......

Taylor and Cambree on the train.

...and again on the boat. Cambree was being rather selective in her boat choice, she wanted to make sure they got one with a bell.

Kaylee, Jody, and Colten. He's not the one who should be afraid!

Me and the kiddos. Thanks again Kaylee and Colten for helping us wrangle Taylor once the "I'm up past my bed-time and I'm really not happy about it," moments hit.

Stranded

Seriously, this is one of the funniest things I have ever heard about anyone. Before anyone gets too mad saying that I'm mean to share this about my mom, let me just say that I did ask permission to share, and she agreed that it was too funny not to post. Also, just a warning, this post does kinda slip into the territory of TMI, so if you're grossed out by that sort of thing, just skip this one and come back another day.

This past week Jody and my step-dad Dan are on their annual hunting trip in Indiana. During this trip, my mom always comes up to stay with me and the girls because let's face it, it's boring being home alone for a whole week.

And of course, because Lovie was here, there was no way in hell I was going to be able to convince Taylor to go to daycare. So she stayed home with Lovie, which is also great because then she gets one on one in regards to her potty training. Taylor was hitting almost 100% with her pee (still batting zero for the poo) while at home with Lovie. The only drawback is that now, she's gotten so comfortable on the potty that she wants to just sit there and hang out for a while after she goes. Any attempt to move her along results in a hairball fit.

So, Friday afternoon Taylor had set up camp on the potty and wouldn't budge when Mom had the sudden urge that she had to go too, only hers was emergency-style. After failing to convince Taylor to get off the potty so she could have her turn (as I understand it the argument ended with, "NO LOVIE!!! MY POTTY!!!!!), Mom retreated to the other bathroom and just left Ms. Thang to fend for herself. After barely making it to the other bathroom in time, Mom looks over to realize the toilet paper roll was empty. Now, don't criticize me, there was more paper in the bathroom, Mom just didn't know where it was stashed. It was at this time Taylor comes streaking through the house to see what Lovie was doing (She has to be butt-naked to use the potty. Don't ask me where that came from.). Given her situation, Mom decided to give it a shot and said, "Taylor, help! Get Lovie some toilet paper!" So, Taylor takes off running back to the other bathroom and returns proudly with one square of tp. Then she runs over to Mom and starts trying to push her forward off the pot saying, "Wipe! Wipe!" Yes, Taylor was trying to wipe her Lovie's butt, with one square of toilet paper. Then she was also adding insult to injury with, "Shoo, Lovie! Nasty!"

Fortunately, Mom made it through the debacle, and lived to laugh about it. And honestly I have to admit that I absolutely cracked up too. And yes, fear not, I showed her where we stash the paper so that she won't get stranded again.

She loves them, so don't feel too bad for her ;)

How Time Flies

We have been some busy folks around here as of late. It seems like every day we're running in a different direction to get something done. Last week Ava had her first round of shots, she is now measuring 24" and is 13 lbs.

You're going to do what to me today????

In case you're wondering, that's exactly 1 lb and 1 inch bigger than Taylor was at her 2 month checkup. She handled it like a pro, although it really hurt her feelings when they got around to the shots. She let me have the what-for for a good 20 minutes afterward.

In other news, Taylor has finally come around and wants to play with Ava somewhat. She likes to grab her feet and say, "Tickle tickle!" Once again, I think Taylor's main motivation in interacting with Ava is the "aww" reaction she gets from us. Whatever, I don't care what the ulterior motive is, as long as we're finally having some peace.

She was showing Ava her tub toys. She was saying, "Quack quack Aba!" No, that's not a typo, Taylor can't quite say Ava, so she calls her "Aba."

And Ava is doing splendid I must say. She's now sleeping from 7:00pm-6:00am straight. Can I get an amen for "Babywise?" Especially when she first wakes up, she is such a smiley happy baby. We are finally entering my favorite phase of babyhood, which is 3-9 months. They are just so happy and smiley all the time, and it makes for great photos.

See????

Next month we'll be getting the girls together with their cousin Kadey for group photos, so be on the lookout for those. I'm just curious to see if we'll be able to get any snaps of Taylor and Ava together, lol!

Two Months!

Today is the two month anniversary of Ava's birthday! I refuse to call it a "two month birthday" because that's just asinine, you only get one birthday a year, quit being greedy. Our little girl is growing and changing so much every single day. In just the last two days she has achieved what is to me the most important milestone in a child's early months - she is sleeping through the night! Woohoo! Our little-bit is going to bed around 7:00 pm and sleeping through straight (Ok, so I wake her up at 9:00 for an "insurance feeding" but that so doesn't count) until 5:30ish. I really have been trying to set her wakeup time for 6:00, but for some reason she's been hellbent on 5:30 since day one. Considering I'm already up and around at this point, I usually get up around 4:30, its really no big deal.

Ava is also getting better at holding her head up by herself, she's still a little wobbly, but for the most part she's got it down. Her reflux seems to be improving as well, most days we only have a mess at the 6:00pm feeding. I don't know if that's due to her just being kind of tired at that point in the day, but it's really the only time we have Linda Blair style spit up (unless she's having a bad reflux day, those are only about once a week, but that's when she winds up with more wardrobe changes than Britney Spears in concert.). She has also become quite the pacifier connoisseur in the last couple of weeks. We have three different types of pacifiers on hand at all times, and it depends on her mood as to which one she'll take. Seriously, I've never seen anything like it. Sorry not to have size stats, but we don't go for shots until next week so I will post her stats then. All I can tell you is that she's growing like a weed!

Me trying like hell to get a picture of her smiling. After about 20 minutes I gave up.

Look at how big she's getting!

Poor baby was just starving to death. Look at how malnourished she is.......

Sisterly Love

Lately Taylor has started taking a bit more of an interest in Ava, namely if I try and convince her to "help" me take to care of her. Typically this is my attempt to diffuse a temper tantrum when I need to take care of Ava but Taylor wants my undivided attention. So today, I was trying like hell to get a picture of Ava smiling (and yes, I was unsuccessful) when Taylor comes barreling into the room. So, I told her to stand next to Ava for a picture.

Taylor immediately decides to "help" by rocking Ava (note the terrified look on her face, she's nobody's fool) all the while chanting "ROCK-A-BABY!!!!" Which happens to be her rendition of Rockabye Baby. Mind you, Taylor is a bit of a bull in a china closet, and her version of rocking is neither gentle or soothing. After about 15 seconds of her "helping" she manages to dislodge the thingie that adjusts the reclining position on the astronaut chair causing Ava to come crashing down flat.

Again, note the terrified look complete with the "HOLY SHIT I'M FALLING!!!!" arm-stance. So I readjust Ava's chair and tell Taylor to try again, but be easy.

Ok, we're groovy. Until I tell Taylor to look up at me and smile for a picture.

Yeah.....

Eventually though, the mission was accomplished, a decent picture of both kids, neither one playing terrorist or looking terrorized.

Fast forward an hour to Ava's bedtime, Taylor wants to read a book, Ava's done with it all and ready for bed. I ask Taylor to "help" me put Ava to bed. As soon as I go to get Ava situated my little spider-monkey scales the side of the crib and begins trying to reach Ava so she can pat her and say "Night-night!"

Now, this would be cute if not for the fact that Taylor was all the while reaching for Ava's Glow Worm so that she could activate it, and then haphazardly chuck it back in the crib.

Yeah, the only thing stopping her from climbing all the way into the crib was me telling her to get down before she fell. Oh, and ignore the giant kitty port-a-potty behind her. I still haven't figured out a place to relocate it to.

'

Even though I know she was plotting to use the Glow Worm to knock Ava unconscious it's still flippin' cute to see her at least sort of trying.

Not Back to Work After All

I was planning on headed back to work yesterday, and giving you all a lovely post about dropping both girls off at daycare, yadda yadda. Instead, Sunday night Ava decided to spike a really high fever. After calling our pediatrician's office, the doctor on call decided that we needed to be admitted to the hospital Sunday night for observation. Mind you, I say "we" because Ava had to have an adult in the room with her at all times, so guess who was the lucky volunteer?

Now, before anyone gets pissed that we didn't call you, or that we kinda kept it under our hats, mind you - Ava was only running a fever, and people tend to panic at the mention of the word hospital. She wasn't showing any other symptoms, she was still happy (mostly), and eating well, and the doctor wasn't terribly worried, but wanted to err on the side of caution. After running a boatload of labs, it looked like we were dealing with a virus of some sort, which was a good thing (aka - no bacterial infection which would have required antibiotics). So, Ava and I settled in to let the virus run its course.

Poor baby had to sleep in the newborn Tupperware crib :( She barely fit in that sucker.

The first thing the nurses did was make sure the temperature in our room was as close to that of a meat locker without going to the hassle of actually hanging meat in there - I guess we were the pork chops being preserved, lol! I do understand keeping a cool room when the patient has a fever, but is it really necessary to set the thermostat for 55 degrees?????? I'm not even exaggerating. For the majority of our stay Ava wasn't allowed to be covered, or clothed in anything more than a short sleeved onesie. Again, I get the reasoning, but considering I was freezing (and I usually run hot), and I was wearing jeans, I felt so sorry for her. After that, it was a series of temperature checks and Tylenol.

Fortunately, our pediatrician is a pretty laid back guy, probably due to the fact that he has five kids of his own. I don't see how you can survive five children without being somewhat of a realist about things. So by 5:00 Monday we were being discharged to wait the rest of the fever out at home.

Just after Daddy and Taylor arrived we got the green light.

Taylor loved all the "freebies" you get at the hospital. Here she is chewing on the world's most expensive drinking straw.

Fortunately, as of this morning Ava is fever-free. I'm hoping she stays that way (and that Taylor also stays healthy), so that I can get myself back to work. Not that I don't love my children or love being a mother, I'm just not cut out to be "Mama" 24 hours a day. I cherish my 9 hour break every day, and I feel that it makes me even more thankful for the time I do spend with my kids in the evenings and on weekends.

My New Pet Peeve

Most days I'm pretty sure Taylor's mission in life is to give me as many gray hairs as possible before she starts Kindergarten. Case in point, she has developed a new habit of "savoring" the last one of whatever it is she's eating. Translation - she will carry around a slobbery potato chip, fruit snack, or Reese's Piece (Is that the correct singular form? It just sounds weird....) and lick it for at least 15-20 minutes before actually eating the damn thing. This absolutely drives me nuts. For one, she winds up with slobbery gunge all over her hands, and for two just eat the damn thing already!

For example, this morning I gave Taylor two Pringles as bribery for taking her allergy medicine (Yeah, yeah, I know. But bribing her with junk food is waaaaaay easier than sitting on her and forcing it down her throat.). Ten minutes later, she is still holding on to the last one:



Me: Taylor, eat your chip so we can go to school please
Taylor: No. (And she says it with a very nonchalant tone. Kind of like no thanks, I'm good.)

At this point she just licks the chip again adding to its grossness. We need to leave for daycare, but I do not want that nasty thing in my car.



Me: Taylor, please, eat your chip so we can go to school.
Taylor: No (again with the nonchalant tone). School!!!!! (said very enthusiastically).

Again, she licks the chip.


Me: Taylor, eat your damn chip!
Taylor: School!!!!!!

Now she hops off the chair (still clinging to the soggy remnant of the Pringle), and heads for the door. Ava is already strapped into her carseat and is getting rather impatient, so I admit defeat once again and have to concede to having that nasty thing in my car. The drive to daycare from our house is roughly a 15 minute trip. No lie, she continues to lick and finally take tiny nibbles of that chip and doesn't actually eat it until we pull up into the daycare parking lot. Oy vey.