Clara's 2 Months

This past month (4-9 weeks) has been a long one with Clara. 

She is still vomiting a lot. I am afraid to have her sleep on her back at all because of how much she spits up or vomits. She still has the nursing blisters, it was more of a constant thing at the beginning but is now tapering off. Clara got some baby acne but it wasn't that bad, lasted about 2 weeks. She has yet to get any cradle cap! She requires a lot of bouncing and shushhhing.  She doesn't find much comfort in rocking and knows the second Dan or I sit that it's her cue to wake up and cry. Her fussiness parallels my memory of Jake a lot.

Her vomiting problem has brought me to tears and complete exhaustion. I have tried everything I can think of to help her stomach. The pediatrician wasn't much help at her one month appointment. However, I received some good info/advice from my sis-in-law, Hollie,  and decided to contact the La Leche League. I had an abundance of milk. The guess was that Clara wasn't getting both the fore-milk and hind-milk as I nursed her both sides each feeding. I could pump 4-5oz out of one side and knew she was getting too much. The LLL consultant was very kind and sympathetic to my frustrations. She suggested I block feed to reduce my milk supply, nurse reclined if possible to help ease my powerful let-down, and cut out gassy foods. So I went off of all dairy, nuts, and chocolate. After doing the block feeding for 5 days I went to feeding one side each feeding (my body adjusted to this faster than I thought). It seems to have helped a bit. Her spitting up and vomiting problem hasn't disappeared but has decreased a bit. I think it is time for some acid-reflux medication to hopefully help her feel better as she spits up. As far as her gassiness goes... WHO KNOWS? I haven't noticed much difference with what I've stopped eating. I think her little tummy just needs time to develop and adjust.

Dan went to Washington on business the week before school started. It was a very long week. However, Dan gave all the kids a fathers blessing before he left. Clara slept the best ever! At night she went 7 hours between feeding! Sadly the day Dan returned she is back to waking up 2-3 times a night.

Dan has super-powers when it comes to getting her to sleep!

 She loves to sleep with her face in Dan's arm, or in a blanket. 

 Peek-a-boo!

(Funny sleeping picture)

She likes the swing for a short amount of time but is content the longest under her play-matt. 

 I came home from church and quickly went to feeding the kids a light lunch, preparing dinner since we were having the missionaries soon, all the while taking care of feeding and comforting Clara. Jake likes to use my phone, I found the following pics later.

 Cooking and bouncing her seat...now that's some serious multi-tasking!

My sweet little red-heads!!

She has started to smile and coo when she is happy. We love it!

She has found her thumb a couple of times. 

Within the last 2 weeks she has taken to a pacifier, either one sure helps!

At her 2 month check up she was 12lbs 12oz! 

Abigail Turned Three

I really want to remember just how much fun Abigail is these days. She is so full of personality and spunk. She is entertaining and exhausting. Here are some reasons why:

* She is always talking or singing. (If it is ever quiet she is into something she shouldn't be!) She is quick to pick up new songs and has natural rhythm! I love to dance with her in the kitchen. I would love to put her in a dance class. Hopefully soon.

* She has a great imagination. I enjoy sitting down and playing with her when I can. She loves to play Barbie's or "dog owner". This imagination of her has kept her up at night. She has come in to me at night to tell me about the "white flies" in her room that she is scared of. Recently she has made a habit out of sleeping on the floor in our room. 

* She doesn't nap anymore. When we made our last trip to SC we were so busy that she didn't get one nap the entire week and a half and went to bed late every night. Ever since then she won't nap for me. I am still trying.

* She is very precocious and says the cutest things, for example: 

1. The kids were arguing and Abbiy says, "I can't take this anymore!" Her tone was spot on.

2. It was President Monson's birthday. I told Abby that and her response cracked me up! She replied, " Ah, They grow up so fast" headed tilt and all.

3. Abby in the car: "Im thinking of a number between 1 and 6...." Dan and I gave our guesses and then asked her what it was, she replied "a pink elephant!"

* People adore her instantly. I love hearing people comment on how cute she is when we are out shopping. Her Grandma Great loved spending time with her when we were in SC. Grandma Great enjoyed swinging with her and being entertained by her spunky personality.

Abby adores her Uncle Herald. I wish we lived closer to Blythewood, SC, so she could spend more time with him riding his tractor and dancing to his guitar play'n!

* I ask her to put her clothes on several times a day. Over this past Summer I usually just let her run around in her undies but now I am trying to correct this clothes-less habit of hers! Her pants are usually off or on backwards.

* Abigail no longer uses a pacifier! It is something that should have happened long ago but pregnancy and a new baby bumped her deadline back to her 3rd birthday. Abby is one stubborn little girl so I wondered how on earth I would actually get her to do it without to much drama!  I got the idea to go to Build-a-Bear from a friend and thought it would work great for Abby. So while we were in South Carolina we made a big dsaid good bye to her passy (She stuffed one passy in the kitty cat she picked out and lovingly named Samantha). 

Her birthday: Abby woke up before I did so I sent her back into her room and quickly got her requested breakfast, Lucky Charms and OJ. Abby's face was so cute as we all came in singing happy birthday. I could tell she felt special having all the attention on her!

She asked for a pony cake. I did my best in the little time that I had:

We love you Goose!

First Day 2012...

This is Tess's very first day of public school, FIRST GRADE! Last Friday she was pretty nervous as she met her teacher and saw her classroom at the open house. However, today she was super excited and did great! I was on the verge of tears all day long.  I missed her and worry about everyone treating her kindly. I'm so grateful to have had one extra year at home with her. 

Jake was an old pro at the whole school thing today! Excited and confident. At the open house we walked through the school, Jake as our guide, showing Tess the closest bathroom, gym, art room, music room, ect. I loved how protective and caring he was with Tess. He is a good big brother. I think he will really like his teacher this year.

Dan's says "30 Years Left of Work!"

Jake and Tess wanted Dan to walk them to school. We met up with the Warner family and Dan and Bonnie walked the kids to their classrooms.  Benjamin and Tess are in the same class this year (upon my request). I think having her cousin in her class will help Tess adjust quicker. I think Benny is pretty happy about it too.

It is going to be a great year.

Our Summer Trip

This Summer the kids and I have spent our time indoors with our sweet, fussy, baby Clara. So, we packed a lot of fun into our visit to South Carolina. Here are the highlights:
(Most pictures are with my iPhone, wish I had kept the nice camera with us all the time, oh well.)

* On our drive down we stopped at the Oshkosh Outlet to do some back to school clothes shopping. It was an eventful 2 hour stop. I fed Clara in the dressing room after she finished she vomited it all up making a huge mess. Then as we were getting into the car to leave Jake closed his hand in the sliding side door of the car. Scared us all to death! Luckily nothing was broken.

*Here are some reasons we love the South:

We are Big on the Pig!

* We made a quick trip to Aiken to visit some close friends, the Ballards and McArthurs. It is so nice to have friends that we can just pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been since seeing each other. We sure do miss them!

 Ainsley and Abby

 Nicholas, Emma, and Jake

Abby and Amy loven'n on Clara

* Columbia Z00
The Columbia Zoo is the best zoo I've ever been to. We were super excited when Grandma said she had season passes that allowed her grandkids to get in for free AND all exclusive! We thought we might get rained out but it turned out to be perfect weather. It was muggy but not scorching hot and the zoo wasn't over crowded. The kids went on the carousel 4 times, rode the train twice, fed the animals, did a ropes course (they went clear to the top, so proud of them!) fed the birds, saw lots of animals and had a great time tiring themselves out! It was a great day!

* 10 YEAR Anniversary! That's right, Dan and I have been married TEN years. We didn't spend this anniversary like we had envisioned over the years...going on a kid free vacation will have to wait. We did go out to eat and did some shopping with only Clara.

* On our way home from church on Sunday Jake was eating a piece of candy that Grandpa Larry had given him when all the sudden his first tooth came out! The look on his face was priceless. He has waited a long time to have a visit from the Tooth Fairy!

* Dan blessed Clara Ann. This trip was planned several months ago in order to bless Clara with her cousin Alexander (Xan) who was born only 10 days before her. We joined Hollie and Cris and a lot family at Grandma Barnhurst's home in Lexington. It was a sweet time being with family. In all the craziness that 4 kids brings I didn't think to try on Clara's blessing dress before the day of. Tess and Abby were both blessed in the same adorable white dress but not Clara. I couldn't even button one button. Oh well, she still looked pretty in pink!

I wish I had take more pictures and written down more about her blessing. I do remember Dan blessing her with a strong love for the truths that this country was founded upon. Also that she would learn from the examples of Jake, Tess, and Abby. And that she would be a special friend to ME!

Earlier that morning as I was feeding Clara (before dawn) I thought about Xan and Clara's big day and my heart ached for Hollie and Dan to have their father there. Grandpa David passed away before I had a chance to meet him. Over the past 10 years I have heard many times how close Hollie was to her father. I said a prayer than and throughout the day that Grandpa David would be able to be a part of that day. He was.

* Visits with Grandma Great: golf cart driving (Jake drove all by himself this time), Uncle Herald who everyone adores (especially Abby),  swinging on the front porch or relaxing in her sun room and eating lots of treats.

Sweet Grandma Great made me Rice Krispy Treats!

* Tess learned to whistle. She whistles none stop now! It's cute. Some how she coined the nick-name "whistle-pig". Not really sure how or why that came about but she is our cute whistle pig!

* Carowinds
Dan, Jake, and Tess were super excited for weeks to go to Carowinds Amusement Park! Dan asked Uncle Cris to come along and they had a blast! I got video updates throughout the day. Jake was hesitant and masked his thrill on the rides. But Tess and Dan giggled and screamed with hands flying on every ride. It was worth every penny and a great memory made! Abby and I wish we could have gone but we had fun with Grandma and Aunt Hollie. We spent the day shopping, ate at Charley's, and made a very important visit to Build-a-Bear (post to come). We ended the day in Blythewood with Grandma Great and Uncle Herald. Grandma took Abby to Uncle Heralds place where they sang, danced, and ate a southern breakfast for dinner. Hollie and I enjoyed a relaxing 2 hours with Grandma Great out in her sun room. Grandma Great worked her magic with Clara and got her to sleep so it was a peaceful 2 hours for me!!

* Day trip to Folly Beach in Charleston. We have seriously missed the beach all Summer long and our time there went way to fast!

Holli, Xan and Grandma 

After feeding Clara I put her, sound asleep, in her car-seat and headed out to the water. Within minutes she had vomited all over herself. Below is a picture of her in Xan's onesie as happy as could be.

* Visits with Grandma Riley and Rhonda & Lee.

Rhonda cooked us a delicious meal and we spent the evening visiting while the kids played happily in their play room. 

* Fun with Baby Xan! (Clara at 7wks, Xan at 2months)

* Apples Orchards
We knew we wouldn't be able to make another trip south for a while so we decided to do our annual apple picking early. We left South Carolina Thursday evening and drove to Henderson, NC where we stayed the night in a hotel. Friday we picked some early Gala/Fuji apples and enjoyed the playground and yummy food at Sky Top. Now Dan and I get to make lots of applesauce with all our spare time! Ha.

The obligatory traditional pictures above and below.

We made it home late Friday night. Saturday we unpacked, cleaned, and prepared for our Sunday responsibilities. Sunday Dan left on his business trip to Seattle for the week. Wish I could be there with him! Now we are gearing up for school to start in a week. Jake and Tess already have their book bags packed! Abby will be starting preschool at DCP in two weeks as well. The Summer is coming to a crazy, tiring, end. Hallelujah!