The sweetest sounds

I guess I'm back to being bad about updating this thing. However, my lack of updates means that Audrina is sleeping through the night. Hooray!!!!!

A couple weeks ago, I shot this video. It's one of my favorite moments with both girls!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Growing girl!

We had Drina's 4 month check up yesterday. She is 16 lbs 3 oz and 26" long. 97th percentile on height and 95th on weight. Her perfect little head? Well, apparently mist babies have giant heads because she seems perfectly proportioned and her head circumference is only in the 17th percentile!

While there, the doctor discovered she has an ear infection. She hasn't been quite herself lately, but not so much that I would have suspected se didn't feel well. I just thought she was overly tires because she hasn't been taking the best naps.

Tomorrow, we are having Drina dedicated at church. I tried to explain this to Essie and that she gets to go up front with us when it happens. She replied, "Oh no Mommy. Don't dead-cake my sister. If something happens to her, I will cry!" Oh, Essie. Always finding a way to make me laugh!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Big day for Drina!

This morning, Audrina rolled from her back to her belly for the first time!!!! She's been working on it for over a week now, but her little arm kept preventing her from getting that last little bit. Of course, the roll was followed quite quickly by crying as she seriously dislikes being on her tummy! :)

In big sister news, I finally have proof that she does hear me when I'm talking, even if she doesn't actually listen. While playing, I overheard her putting Pooh and Tigger in a time out because they didn't pick up their toys..... Silly girl!

Here's my silly girl after dressing herself the other day. No, I did not let her leave the house with her socks all pulled on top of her pants like that!!




And, here's the little one. I took this Monday night as Nick and I were finishing our 'rearrange the basement' project. Apparently, she was bored from watching us!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Could she be any more beautiful?

Even when she felt horrible, if you looked at Audrina, she would just smile! When I took this picture, she was on the up-swing, but still not feeling to well. We had gone outside for some fresh air ~ and to burn some energy out of big sister! :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Diva or tomboy?

Even by the minute, we never know which side of Essie's personality is going to come out! But, boy is there a lot of personality packed in that 3 year old little girl!! :-)

Over the weekend, Ess picked out a new hat at the store. So, Sunday's church outfit had to be completely planned around the hat!! Here's our little diva:




And, here's the tomboy. Having way too much fun with worms after a day of rain! (Yes, she dressed herself!!)





We could not be more proud of how Essie handled her overnight transition from only child to big sister. While most kids get 9 months to prepare, we had a 5 minute conversation as we rushed out the door to head to the hospital! Even during our 13 month wait, we had no way or preparing her, except to ask if she'd like a brother or sister one day. Situations from the agency were all over the place - from families choosing to place early in a pregnancy to 5 and 3 year old siblings. We wanted to be open to whatever God has in store for our family!

Really, the only issue we had was potty regression. And, that happens when kids do have 9 months to prepare for a baby! As Audrina grows and becomes mobile, I'm sure we will deal with some typical sibling issues - she took my toy, she's touching my blanket. In the meantime, we will enjoy how much Ess loves her little sister!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To go or not to go?

So, I've never been the type of mom who freaks out and runs to the doctor about every little ailment or strange sound coming out of my child. Although I'm definitely the type to Google it! :) I firmly believe in natural remedies and homeopathic treatments, so that's the route I attempt first.

I mentioned Drina had a cold a few days ago. My healing regimen for her included Vick's on the bottom of her feet, warm mist humidifier in her room (which actually runs all winter - we keep one in each bedroom), a plug in vapor unit overnight, and Hyland's Sniffles 'n Sneezes remedy (1 tablet dissolved in 1 tsp or water, given by medicine dropper every 4 hours).

I did call the doctor's office in the midst of it to see what I should look for in case I did need to take her in. They said to bring her in if she developed a cough. Of course, she woke up with a cough Friday morning. There is nothing worse than getting to Saturday night over the weekend, having a child who doesn't feel well, and having to fret over the fact that you didn't call the doctor on Friday.... And, being so little, there is the risk of RSV, so I took her in. Her lungs are clear and all is well.

Both the nurse and doctor commented on what a wonderful and beautiful baby Audrina is! Of course, every mom believes their child is the cutest ever, so it's always fun to have other random people gush over her!

Our little princess weighs 15 pounds! The nurse didn't measure her length, but she is a tall baby because she doesn't look chunky. (And, I've already had to put away a lot of her 3 month clothes because they are too short!!)

Throughout this past week, we have received further proof that Drina is just the most perfect baby. Even not feeling well, she's still so smiley! When I come at her with the bottle of saline solution to spray up her nose, she smiles at me. When I'm using the syringe to suck out snot, she smiles at me. When I can't get it so I just stick my own finger in her nose (and what mom hasn't resorted to that one!?!?), she smiles at me. She even smiled at the nurse today while she was taking a rectal temperature! Seriously! I cannot get enough of how laid back and happy our little girl is!!!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ahh, sisters!

I can't tell you how unbelievably excited I am to have two girls!! I so desperately wanted a sister growing up. I was 8 when my brother was born. This was back in the day before Ultra Sounds could confirm the sex of the baby. My first comment upon hearing I had a brother was, "but I wanted a sister!" Then, I tried to convince my parents to wait 8 more years and try again. They would have none of that!




I had one heck of a time trying to take this picture!! Ess is at an age where all I get are big goofy smiles featuring a large underbite. In the middle of my attempts, Ess just started screaming. I looked down to see that Drina had a wad of her hair tightly wrapped in her little fist. One glance at her face told me that Drina was thoroughly enjoying herself!! And, I believe this was payback for a couple of weeks ago when Ess wanted to help me vacuum. I thought it was really cute of her until I looked over to see her holding the suction hose dangerously close to the baby's foot.

And so it begins.....