Christmas 2012

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Home Schooling

OMG, I don't think I have ever laughed so hard!  Of course I was trying to hold it in.  The hand gestures and facial expressions on this kid are to die for!  I got to be a student in Miss West's class after I filmed this video and lets just say there was a lot of pointing and stomping.  She addressed the class as "Okay, guys..."

Fall 2012

A sunny Tuesday, October 30th.  Nina is 34 months and Ty is 11 months.

Sugar High

Ballet Tuesday

Today we saw the St. Paul Ballet perform Peter Pan.  Nina was entranced and gave the dancers a shy wave.  She was also just as thrilled with a small tree branch she found on the ground and of course the ants on the steps.  On the way home she said "I think I should take a nap!  Please mama, please!"

Back Seat Partners

Today we were talking about brothers and sisters and how Luke is my brother and so on.  Then Nina asked who my friends are so I named a few.  When I asked her who her friend is she said Ty.  So cute...

Here they are entertaining each other in the back seat

The Potty Story

I am trying to remember how we trained Nina so I have something look back on when its Ty's turn. I think I bought her a little potty when she was 18 months. She randomly peed on it in the next few months and had pooped a couple of times before her 2nd birthday. She seemed interested but I wasnt convinced she was ready and after Ty was born I was the one who wasnt ready - it was easier to have her in diapers.
Nina had been waking up with huge soaking diapers in the morning. But Saturday, Feb 25th was different - she woke up dry and thus Chad made the executive decision to start potty training and there was no looking back! We even went out to the MOA on her first day where she rode the ferris wheel and carosel with no accidents!
The next week we pretty much stayed home and sat her on the potty as much as I could remember. She would tell us after she went by saying "I skeez it!" By Friday she was telling us "I want to go potty! I have poopoo!" and she made the cartrip to WI with no accidents! It has now been over a week and she has never peed in her bed so I am thankful for that! And pooping has not been an issue at all. Probably because she loves getting 2 chocolate chips for poo and a "treat" (yogurt raisin) for a pee.
Today we went to the doctor because she was having painful urination, but there was no infection - just irritated from "too much wiping".

Almost 4 month photos

Valentines Video

I couldnt get these videos on blogger, so here they are on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAfMPpGFgfc&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hv3bLn7wfQ&feature=youtu.be

Weeks 12-24

Weeks 14-15: laughed for the first time on Valentines Day (when tickled), eating every 3 hours during the day, sometimes have to wake him up which is painful when he is napping so good but keeping him on that schedule makes him sleep 6-9 hours at night. diaper rash went away but is coming back again. had his first blowout diaper. started using the whale bathtub and seems to like bathtime. really loves sucking his thumb! hates the carseat - screams a lot then passes out. there was a point i thought he might be a needy baby because he would cry and then stop when we picked him up, but he has turned out to be the opposite! he likes attention, but he is content pretty much anywhere.

A Day in the Life - Feb 10, 2012

Again, for my records.... Ty at 3 months, Nina 2yrs

Ty ate at 9pm and was in bed by 10. His reflux is getting better so I just have to make sure he burps, then give him a nuk and cradle him until he is drowsy-but not in a deep sleep. He is still sleeping in our room and we always have a fan on for white noise. I took a shower and was in bed by 11. Then an amazing thing happened - I got 6 hours of sleep! In.a.row!!
5:30am - feed Ty
6:00 - go back to bed for another 1.5 hours! yes!
7:45 - Nina wakes up and cuddles in bed with me
8:00 - make pancakes and actually all sit down for a family breakfast before Chad goes to work
8:15 - get Nina ready and play, pay bills online, do a load of laundry
9:00 - feed Ty and give him vitamins
10:00 - Nina watches Sesame Street while I give Ty a bath
11:00 - make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with Nina
11:30 - lunch:mac-n-broccoli, yogurt-n- blueberries, & of course a cookie! Nina was THRILLED!
12:00 - Nina watched Clifford while I fed Ty
12:30 - Nina nap. I scarf down a fried egg sandwich and grapefruit
1:00 - want to shower and maybe nap, but Ty is wide awake! so we play and he rolls over!
2:00 - shower
2:45 - Nina wakes up and we cuddle on the couch. Clean up a little & get ready for the library. pay 3 medical bills over the phone while Nina is whining because she wants my credit card
3:30 - feed Ty. Nina gives him a huge hug and he spits up all over her - his first revenge as the little brother! Nina starts balling and says "yuck! Ty no spitting me!" Tears roll down my cheeks from laughing so hard. Sorry Nina, I cant help it!
4:00 - library
6:00 - everyone is starving when we get home - feels like chaos. make nina grilled cheese (grill sammich), strawberries, and she decides she likes leftover wild rice that is still cold. while I am feeding Ty, Chad calls to say friends will be over at 7. Hurry to wash the HUGE pile of dishes
7:00 - PMN! (pizza movie night)

**in general Ty is up for about an hour after he eats and then lets me know he wants to nap by getting fussy. He is such a cozy cuddler and loves him some blankies. We just got this awesome rocking basinette thing from my cousin so I put him in that and surf the web while rocking him until he dozes off. He naps so well in there that I have to wake him up when its time to eat!

Melt My Heart

Weeks 1-12

I have realized I forgot everything from when Nina was a baby, so I want to record Ty's milestones so I can refer to them later (much much later!)

week 1: enjoyed room service in the hospital and the luxury of taking care of myself and perfecting nursing (thank you c-section!)

week 2: probably had his first bath. eating every 3 hours. put to sleep in sling, then swaddle

week 3-6: had some fussy nights, nothing cluster feeding couldnt solve! sleeps in swing, started busting out of swaddle at night. cant put himself to sleep but sleeps in basinette after he is in a good REM. very sensitive bottom, can only wear pampers swaddlers and use extra strength desitin

week 7: smiled and started sleeping longer (9 hours in carseat). only cries when tired or needs to burp. took a bottle with no problem (2.5oz). i think he eats around 3 ounces but did take 4 in a bottle once.

week 8: sleeping 4-8 hours at night. likes to kick, no longer screams at diaper change and bath. doctor says he has some reflux so he spits up if laying on his back. we still have him sleep in basinette anyways because we dont want to create the habit of only sleeping in a chair.

week 9: talking and eye contact! found his fingers and likes to suck them! eating every 3 hours during the day and napping 1-2 hours between feedings - no set nap schedule yet. he really likes attention from his parents and sister!
week 10- 11: now sleeping 5-7 hours at night. if he wont take his nuk, it means he has to burp.

Miss Minnesota Hockey

Nina Alphabet