Lots of Catching Up!

Well, we will just start with the big news first.  

One random Thursday in September, John came home from work to find this picture from me and Caroline.  That's right, baby #3 coming in May!

To say the least, he was surprised!  

We had a great Halloween in our neighborhood this year.  

We had the cutest Varsity girls, Curious George, and Man with the Yellow Hat you have ever seen.  

John has been hunting several weekends this fall.  

He sent me this picture one morning.  It made me so glad to be a girl and at home in my warm house on a cold Saturday morning.

Caught these two wiped out one night and holding hands.  

The "Paci Fairy"came two nights after this picture was taken.  

I don't know if it was Caroline's personality or the fact that she is 3 and totally understood (for the most part) what was happening, but it was the easiest transition yet.  I was dreading it, but made me feel better for letting her sleep with that darn thing for 3 years.   

We took C to her first Auburn game for Homecoming.  Christian was in town and it was fun to have him join us.  She made it to the end of the 3rd quarter and Auburn won so it was quite a successful trip.   

The popcorn and the band were the biggest hit for C though.  

This cutie turned 11 months on the 12th of November.  We love seeing her little personality come out more and more.  Her top two front teeth have come through in the last month.  She is into everything and only wants to be on the floor trying to keep up with Caroline.  No interest in walking at this point probably because crawling is faster.    

She still doesn't love a sippy cup (doesn't matter what is in it).  Hope to transition that in the next month or so.  I am tired of bottles.  She loves to wave, loves to clap, loves to laugh, and babble.  She can repeat mama, dada, Hiiii, and loves to say ohhhhhhh.   

They are loving interacting more and more.  C just wishes she could do everything she can and I think Annie wants the same thing!  

We spent the week of Thanksgiving in B'ham.  It was wonderful!  We were able to see lots of friends and family, but there never seems to be enough time to see everyone and do everything.  

Lunch with Grandmama

Annie was introduced to a Milo's toasted cheese for the first time.  Of course, she loved it!  She is her mother's daughter.  We may or may not have gone twice in the short time we were in B'ham.  

The only picture I took on Thanksgiving.

Friday after Thanksgiving, my high school was in the playoffs and played our biggest rival.  Perfect opportunity to take John to his first Alabama high school football game.  It might not be Texas FNL, but it is pretty close.  

We ended Thanksgiving weekend, heading back to Atl and picking out our Christmas tree.  The picture is a little blurry, but I liked that the girls were looking at each other instead of the camera.  

 

It has taken us several days to decorate....
(Much to my dismay, my husband loves multi colored lights and has won that battle in our house).

but today Caroline and I finally finished the ornaments.  Most of them are at a 3 ft level, but it looks sweet and she had a ball decorating.  

More to come...big sister turned 3 in October and I have a birthday post to write!

Sleeping updates, visitors, and preschool

I am nervous to even share this good news for fear I may be sticking my foot in my mouth.  But, I really appreciated all the tips and advice people shared and wanted to give an update.  

We are going on almost 3 straight weeks of back to normal sleeping for C!

In the bed, door closed, lights out (night light on).

She still wants to know exactly where we will be when she is sleeping, but something all of sudden made her feel more comfortable.  We did put a child lock on the door handle of the inside of her room so she can't open the door.  I really thought this would scare her more, but we told her about it, and even "practiced" showing her how it worked one afternoon.  She would go in her room and and try to open it and realize she couldn't.  Then, we would open the door and tell her we are right here and can open it if you need something.   Maybe it worked, maybe not, but I can tell you we are not changing anything right now!  

We also got a kids clock that sits by her bed.  Through the night it is a picture of a cow sleeping (also serves as a nightlight).  We set it for 7am and at 7 another picture lights up of the cow awake, dancing and sun is up.  So, C knows if she wakes up and the cow is still sleeping it is not time to get up.  It makes no noise though so incase she is still sleeping at 7 it doesn't wake her up.   She LOVES it and loves to call for us and say, "Mommy, Mommy the cow waked up!" 

Needless to say, we LOVE the cow too! 

In other news, Matt and Natalie came in town for a couple nights in late August to visit.  

We loved having them here! 

Caroline thought Matt was so funny and I think Matt thought C was pretty silly too.

Baby Davis is here!

Davis DiCristina was born August 27.

He is precious and his momma is a champ!

C started preschool this week - wearing big girl undies everyday and being dropped off/picked up in carpool too.  Where did my baby go? 

We love, love, love her sweet preschool. 

When I picked her up today, she asked if she was going to school tomorrow.  I told her not until Tuesday (even though she has no idea how many days away that is) and she responded with, 

"I will be so excited when it is Tuesday!"     

And it has been great to have some mornings with just this adorable munchkin.  She is melting my heart more everyday.  Cannot believe she will be 9 months next week!

Not so picture perfect...

Just incase you thought things were looking too good to be true around here...here is a dose of reality post for you. These are just a couple things we are dealing with right now.  Whether on vacation or at home they are some of the not so fun parts of our day.  

I am kind of breaking some major "no, no's" in the world of toddlerhood right now.  Caroline will be 3 in 2 months.  She is not fully potty trained.  She sleeps with a paci.  And she gets out of her bed everyday/night instead of sleeping.  Whew!  That either made you think I am crazy or made you feel better.  I am okay with either.  To make things even more crazy, the first two I mentioned do not even bother me anymore.      

"Because it is ok, they will not go to kindergarten with _____ ."  Everyone tells you this and you know, we are just taking that to heart right now. 

So, here is the deal:      

1. We attempted potty training in June.  The look on C's face in the pic on the left about sums it up.  Does she look interested?  Well, I thought she was interested and ready,  but that quickly faded after day two or three.  Potty training is not fun AT ALL.  Add resistance and it was pure misery! So, we dropped that without thinking twice and moved on.

Fast forward to July while we were at the beach, she all of a sudden decided she was fascinated (see pic on the right) with the whole thing! Like she had never seen it happen?! Kids are funny, you know!  We have made tons of progress and she is doing so much better!  Not 100% there, but I am fine with that.  My girl is too strong-willed to be pushed on certain things and this is a battle I do not feel is important or necessary to push on right now (although I will admit I would like to push it a lot of the time)!

2. I do not even know what to call this crazy phase with C right now because every day is a guessing game.  While we were at the beach several weeks ago, C had a night terror.  If your child has ever had one of these, they are awful and pitiful.  She has had one or two before, but had been over a year since the last one (until the beach).  Anyway, ever since that night, she has not slept the same and I mean drastically different sleep patterns. 

She is full of fear.  The emotions of this pure fear I see every night are heartbreaking.  We have had trouble pinpointing exactly what she is scared of and I don't not want to put ideas in her head and make it worse.  At first we thought it was the dark because she wanted all the lights on.   So, she slept with her lights on.  Below is a pic of her I took when I went to bed around 11pm.  All lights on!  Then, this started happening at naptime too and I knew it wasn't the dark.  So off the lights went at night.   

Then, we have encountered some sleep walking, a few more bad dreams, and LOTS of trying to walk the fine line of discipline and giving her grace.  Because even though I do not understand I can tell she is upset and afraid.  While, I mentioned it is heartbreaking, well it is, but it is also quite frustrating when we are exhausted and one of those things we just cannot fix.  

We think now the main source is just being alone and not totally understanding where John and I are when she sleeps.  She has always been curious.  She would not stay in her room much less her bed.  She is exhausted and not fighting bedtime or even sleep, just where she sleeps.  Some nights it is a major battle and others she is quiet and we find her sleeping all over the house...

On the steps

In the doorway.  This was at my mom's house and she was told not to leave her room, so she slept in the doorway.  Told you she was strong-willed.   

And at the bottom of the steps.  

This sleeping all over the house was making me crazy not knowing where I would find her.  So, this was our solution (see below).  I know it is a bit "cage like" and looks awful, but we didn't know what else to do?!?! This has obviously kept her in her room, but not in her bed.  She starts in her bed and we find her here every night when we come upstairs to sleep.    

I have asked tons of moms for advice and I am all ears!  

Let me know if any of you have had a similar issue. 

This too shall pass, right? 

Happy almost weekend! 

Happy Birthday Uncle Matt

Yesterday was my brother, Matt's, birthday.  Matt flies for the Navy and he is currently deployed.  He is on the USS Lincoln (that is why C says he is on a boat in the video).  Birthdays are one of those things that make me sad I live far away from close family.  But another reason I am grateful for technology!  

Happy Birthday Matt!  We love you and hope you come home very soon!  

To read more about the USS Lincoln and what they have been up to, click here and here. 

This picture was taken several years ago, but is one of my favorites.  

Two and a half

Oh, this little girls keeps me on my toes.  She is officially two and a half.     

She is cautious and timid and does not take a risk at anything.  At the same time, she is strong willed and knows exactly what she wants.  She wants to do everything all by herself.  She is shy and quiet in any new environment and will not open up until she is comfortable.  Once she is comfortable, she is a social butterfly.  

She talks all day long and asks questions even more.  Today she asked me, "Mommy, who built our house?" Out of the blue.  I don't know how these things pop in her head.  Every time she hears a new word she says, "oh, I don't know that word."  

She is a diva and as girly as the come! She loves to play and pretend. 

Curious George might be her best friend.  

Two things she definitely got from her Daddy: sleeping and eating.  She has always been a good eater and the girl can sleep a lot! 

She does not like preschool anymore.  I am not sure exactly why, but pretty sure it has something to do with me and Annie being together while she is at school.  She doesn't cry, but just says she doesn't want to play.  Hoping it is a short phase because she used to love it and she is going back next year.  Thankfully, it is almost summer!

She is witty and silly.  Makes us laugh daily.

Her nicknames are monkey and pumpkin.  Not sure how those started or clicked.    

She loves her paci and does not want to potty train yet.  I don't really care about either of these things right now and I am not pushing them.  We will figure it out this summer.  Like everyone says, "They will not go to kindergarten with a paci and in a diaper."  So, that is my motto.  

I cannot believe we are half way to three! What a fun journey it has been for 2.5 years.  We love you more than you know little monkey!   

The Circus

Papa loves the Circus.  

And for his birthday this year, he wanted to take Caroline to see the show for the first time.  

It was precious and I am not sure who loved it more.  

We talked with Caroline the days leading up to the show to tell her all she would see.  

But, I am afraid there was no way we could accurately prepare her for all the lights, animals, clowns, music, and dancing she would see.  Talk about being over-stimulated. 

She was glued to her chair for the better part of 2 hours.  Didn't even think to take off her jacket and never once asked for a snow cone, cotton candy, or any of the other junk they sell.  

She was in total awe.  The animals were for sure her favorites.  In fact, I do not even have pictures of the animals because I was watching Caroline's face as she saw them.  

Although she looks frightened, this was her mesmerized look all night!

When I asked her what was the best thing of the night, she said "The elephant went poopie!" 

And that it did.  Directly in front of us.  

What a special memory.  Happy birthday Papa! 

February

February has been a busy month around here.

John and C had a daddy-daughter date night at Chick-Fil-A.

As if we didn't already love this place enough?!   

John and I had a "mini celebration" for our 5 year anniversary on the 17th.  This is still crazy to me.  We hope to take a small getaway in a few months once I stop nursing. 

Little Annie is growing and changing everyday!  She is now 10 weeks old.  

2 month posts and stats to come soon.

Caroline's beloved Ducky celebrated a birthday on Feb. 10.  I had no idea it was his b'day until I woke her up that morning and she said, "Mommy, today is Ducky's birthday!"  I asked her how she wanted to celebrate and she said, "with cake and a birthday hat!" 

Incase you were curious, Ducky is now "Two years old , just like me, Mommy!" Well, of course.

Conveniently, someone brought us some cupcakes that day, so when John got home from work, we had a little birthday party.  It was a priceless memory to see Caroline's excitement from it all. 

She has a great imagination and knows how to get some cake!  

Valentine party at school

Looking through our Valentine cards from friends.

First trip to the circus! More pics to come on this one.  

We have also just spent a weekend in the mountains with the triplets!  

Much more to come!