Long time no post!

I have a certain family member (no names mentioned) that keeps telling me Lindsey is only 2 months on the blog.  Yes, life happens and yes it has flown by but right now, I have 3 family members that are taking naps which is a rare occasion.  I have a brief moment of quite (I even went to the bathroom without someone crying or opening the door)!  So here are a few updates on what we are doing!

Courtney is loving this week as she is home with Daddy and Mommy a few of the days.  She has been playing legos nonstop since Christmas. Throughout the day she is often breaking into song including many Christmas songs, Jesus loves Me, Old McDonald, and C is for Courtney.  It feels like we live in a musical :) She loves her little sister and now plays on her own a lot more than even 6 months ago.  Much more pretend play as well.  She "saves the day" a lot just like Super Why does.  She still watches Dora a lot but only on video as Xfinity has changed their on demand and won't let us watch Dora anymore.

Lindsey is crawling backwards, and army crawling forward. She can go from her hands and knees to sitting, and likes to take apart her sister's Legos.  The last is causing much drama in our house!  She loves bananas, sweet potatoes, oatmeal and rice.  Not so much a fan of pears.  She gets squash next.  We are still trying to get used to her putting everything in her mouth as Courtney didn't.  Lindsey won't get to color until she is 3 at this rate :)

Brian is back to coaching JO volleyball on Wednesday evenings.  He has his first playdate on January 6th.  Otherwise he is busy playing volleyball and teaching.  He also loves taking Courtney to gymnastics on Monday evenings. 

I am still working, thankfully.  North Memorial had a bunch of layoffs the week before Christmas and there are more to follow in January.  We have been quite busy the last quarter.  We will see what the new year brings as it tends to slow down.  I have been working a few evening shifts because they have been short while the day shift has been overstaffed.  I would have to say, I am not a big fan of it, but we do what we have to do.  I am also working New Years Eve, and I hope that it is completely uneventful!  I am back to playing volleyball,  it has taken me  while to get back into where it feels normal, but the last 2 times I have played have been better.  Hopefully that streak continues.

We hope that you all had a great Christmas and that the New Year brings peace and joy to all of you!       

Lindsey's 2 month appointment

Lindsey is a happy and healthy baby!   We saw Dr. Sprenkle yesterday and Lindsey was very good during the visit.  Dr. Sprenkle said that physically she is acting more like a 4 month old than a 2 month old.  She pushes up with her legs, rolls over (from front to back), and holds her head up most of the time.  Here are her stats:
Height 24 1/4"  95%
Weight 12lbs 4.5 oz   50%
Head Size: 39.5 cm   75%

She is an inch longer and a pound heavier than Courtney was at this age.  I know you are not supposed to compare children but at this age, I don't think it will give her a complex :)

Courtney's 2 year check-up

Well the results are in!  She is a healthy and happy.  This time at the doctor she got to use the big girl scale and the big girl height chart. She really liked the scale and didn't want to get off.  We then proceeded to the room in which the Medical Assistant gave Courtney a table place mat to show the correct proportion of fruits, veggies, grains, protein, and dairy.  Guess what is on our table?  You guessed it, her plate has to go there each meal. 

She did quite well with the examination and immunization. I wish that I could say that she didn't cry at all...... well I can't.  She did not cry during the actual visit or the immunization, she cried when we had to LEAVE!  That is right, she wanted to stay at the doctors office!  I think that speaks to multiple things: our clinic if fun, Dr. Sprenkle is amazing, and we have been at a lot of hospitals/clinics in the past month.  Now hopefully we can go another year without Courtney having to see the doctor.

Here are her stats:
Height: 34.6" (75%)
Weight: 29.3 (50-75%)
Head Size: 49.8 cm (95%)
BMI: 17.2 (50-75%)  Yes, that number that plaques us all is implemented at age 2!

Bird feeder craft

We made homemade birdfeeders a few weeks ago.  I don't know if the birds would really eat them, but it was fun and it worked on her hand eye coordination!  

 

And lastly- hanging them up with Daddy!

Children's Museum

Last Wednesday it was a rainy day so we decided to go to the Children's Museum!  Courtney had a blast, especially in the Habitot area.  No, I did not misspell habitat... it is a little playground area for children under the age of 4.  She also enjoyed the Curious George area as well as the child size ant colony which involved a lot of running.  Some of the other areas were a bit old for her, but she made up her own games!   Lindsey was a complete angel and pretty much slept in her stroller except to eat. Here are some pictures of our adventures.

Spinning the wheel!

Running through the log.

Playing with the fake Salamander

We played here for a long time!

What's in the window?

The rocket slide

I heard her say "My George" multiple times.

Make the weights even.....

The slide in the Habitot area.

Pictures and Pets

Courtney had her 2 year pictures yesterday.  It was a little rocky at first, but after a bit she actually started to smile and we had a good time.  Take a look here!

Following pictures, we decided to get a family pet.  Since Brian is allergic to cats, Courtney is supposedly allergic to dogs, and I hate the rodent types of pets, we decided on a fish.  Really we just didn't want a huge commitment at this time and fish are about as easy as it gets!  So here he is... our new pet fish, Sara.  Courtney got to name him and she named him after her daycare provider, Sara.  I can't wait to tell Sara!  So far she has fed him twice and enjoyed watching him eat!

Playdough

Earlier this week, we got out the playdough.  I am trying to find lots of things to do inside as it is so hot outside, I'm afraid she will overheat if we go outside except in the early morning or evening.  She likes playdough and it takes me back to my childhood as well!

Snakes and pizza

Pretending to eat the hamburger (mostly pretending that is).

Holding the "Courtney-size" snake.

Using the cookie cutters

Happy 4th of July!

We made our own fun this 4th of July.  Normally we go to a friend's cabin for the 4th, but this year with our new addition and the heat, we opted to stay home.  We had a fun filled day for Courtney and Mommy and Daddy but Lindsey had her normal day of eating, sleeping, and pooping!  Here is what we did!

Brian and Courtney went to the park this morning for about 30 minutes.  Lindsey and I stayed home as it was 90 degrees and that is no place for a newborn! When they came back they were both extremely sweaty and they shared a frozen treat! 

When Brian went out to fill Courtney's pool for the afternoon, he came upon a tiny little frog.  So here was our science lesson for the day.  She looked at it for awhile and then helped Brian release it into the grass.

 

After our afternoon naps, we made our own fireworks (sort of).  I follow a blog that has tons of ideas for toddlers and this was one of her sensory ideas.  It is shaving cream and finger paint.  It was pretty messy, but it cleaned up easily.

It started with simple stirring.

Getting into it a little more-and we added glitter!

There go the fingers.

Then the hands......

It's everywhere!

The final product!

  After we cleaned up our project, we decided it was time to go swimming and play with Courtney's big sister gift from Loretta, Andy, Roxanne and Gloria.

 We then got dressed and watched the fireworks.  The loud noises scared her, but she watched from the safety of our window. 

Since there are so many little kids in our neighborhood, they set them off early so the kids don't stay up too late!

We finished the night with a bedtime snack of popcorn and read lots of books!  

 

 

Here was Lindsey's favorite part of the day.... as far as I could tell anyway.

Hanging out with Daddy!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Update on Lindsey

As of this morning,  Lindsey's infection did not look any better than on Sunday evening so we headed to our pediatrician.  Lindsey's temperature was still completely normal, they took some blood from her heel and did a white blood cell count which was on the high side of the normal range, and she is still eating well so Dr. Sprenkle changed her antibiotic and said that if she gets more irritable, isn't eating or spikes a fever to head to Children's to the ER.  If any of these happen they might need to aspirate out the fluid.   Please say a few extra prayers that this antibiotic works and we don't have to visit that last option. 

Eventful Day

So- haven't been much of a blogger lately..... but come on!  I was busy having a baby :)  Anyway, I know you all know about our new little addition Lindsey.  She is a pretty good baby so far.  We are adjusting.  Courtney is having a bit of trouble not having Mommy at her beck and call.  That is probably the hardest part for me as well.  Courtney really likes it when Brian and I are together with her and I think the 2 days at the hospital were hard for her.  Not only because we weren't home but when we did get home, we brought Lindsey with us.  She does really like Lindsey and cuddles and kisses her all of the time, but it is time that Mommy can't be with her.

On to our eventful day.  Here it is in a nutshell:

1. Play-date with Inge -in which Courtney had to share her toys.  We are still practicing that :)  Lindsey didn't really get into the play-date much!
2. Professional pictures taken:  A lot of poking and prodding for Lindsey, but Courtney handled it remarkably well.
3. Trip to ER: Lindsey has a very swollen and red breast.  It was really weird and showed up sometime between 6AM and 12PM.  We called the nurse line and they said if she didn't have a fever that we were OK waiting till tomorrow, but after a few hours, I got pretty nervous so we decided to go to Urgent care.  Due to her age, they directed us to the ER.  2 different doctors looked at it and they decided that there was no abscess, but that antibiotics were required and a follow up with our regular pediatrician.  Her temp was normal so that was good news.
4.  While in the ER, Courtney peed through her dress and Lindsey had a near blowout.  I guess it was as good a place as any to get pee all over the bed.  They are meant to be easily cleaned!
5.  One dose of antibiotics has been administered and we will give 1 mL every 6 hours.  I am watching her for thrush as this will wipe out the little normal flora that she has.  I'm not looking forward to her messy diaper changes that are going to follow either.  Courtney also got her medicine so she could be the same as Lindsey (a syringe of diluted juice). 


We have another eventful day of the agenda tomorrow (depending on how Lindsey is) that does not involve a trip to the ER, but a trip to the Children's museum!  That should be much more fun, although Courtney didn't want to leave the doctor and has asked multiple times to go to the doctor again.  I guess it is much better when there are no shots given :)

Strawberry picking

This morning we decided to go to Bauer Berry Farm and pick our own strawberries.  We haven't done this before and know that our relatives on the other side of the world do this and love it, so we thought we would give it a try.  There is only a week left of strawberry picking at the farm, so today was perfect as we are all three home.  I don't know why I thought that I would enjoy crawling around being 39 weeks pregnant, but it wasn't so bad.  I think I will make a strawberry rhubarb pie today.

Find the red ones!

Daddy's bucket is almost full.

Yummy!

Look at all the berries!

Back to the car.

A picture of the field as we were leaving.

Eating our pickings for the day

Say "Strawberries"!

We got a lot of rain yesterday... my wet pants.

Swimming!

It's pretty cold!

Still too cold

On Monday, I kept Courtney home with me and after nap time we went swimming!  It was a very warm day so I blew up her pool and silly me didn't think about letting the water warm up!  I put a bunch in with the hose and then ended up adding buckets of hot water.  Good thing her pool is still pretty small

Still too cold.... right Daddy?

It's a little better.......

Now that tastes good!

Perfect temperature!

Aren't I cute!