Week 36

Well I will be in my 36th week starting on Thursday. I had my first “check” on Monday and so far, “not much is happening down there” as my fav doc put it. I had pretty much expected it since I was the same way with both girls. My babies just like to stay put. Although I had expected it, I was hoping I would be at least 1 or 2 cm’s dilated. Gosh give a girl some hope please!!! He is def head down though and in position. So that is very good news!!! I am sure he will need a little jump-start like Camille did (doc did that at 38 weeks and she was born at 39 weeks). The doc I saw is the same doc that delivered both Av and Camille, which is pretty crazy in a 5 doc practice. They rotate you through all the docs so I know them all and would be fine with any delivering E but would love for Dr. Simpson to complete the hat trick! She delivers every Friday night which would work really well for me too so I hope E cooperates. I’m sure he wouldn’t though. Hehehehe

"I played with lots of boys today."

In the car yesterday on the way home from school this is what Av tells me. Heheheh Her father’s worst nightmare already starting. I think it’s bc we have been working on learning the names of all kids in her class and she mostly talks about the girls. I have started asking her about the boys as well and before yesterday she didn’t really know them. I think this was her way of telling me she was getting to know the boys too.

'mommy hold you"

I love when little kids say this. Instead of “hold me” it’s “hold you.” Av never really said this I guess bc of her speech delay she already knew the right way to say it when she really starting talking. I have always thought it was the cutest though and now Camille is saying it. Makes me melt every time she says it.

ABC's

Last Thursday when I picked Camille up from school she was in the front lobby with a sub teacher. I immediately thought, “oh no, what has she done now?!?!?!” Nothing this time. She was putting on a show and singing her ABC’s for them. They were totally amazed that she could do it. Which John and I have been as well but we both just figured they sang them so often in her toddler room (which I am sure they do) that she along with the rest of the class had the song memorized. Apparently it’s not normal for a 23 month old (she’s been doing it for months though) to sing her ABC’s. They all went on to tell me how smart she is and how the just could not believe she could sing her ABC’s. As I walked back to her classroom to get her stuff I had 3 more teachers stop and tell me the same thing. Then her teachers all said it too. I guess they didn’t know she could sing them all by herself. It just made me feel so proud. This is totally a post to brag about how smart our kid is but it’s our blog and we can brag all we want!!! I do need to give her school all the credit though. We used to sing the ABC’s at our house but not enough for Camille to learn the song. Av knew it and I never really thought Camille was old enough for it yet. Now we sing them all the time bc she is constantly wanting to sing it as well as, “sunshine song, twinkle, itsy bitsy spider and row row row” as Camille calls them. She knows most of the words to all of them. She is pretty amazing!

fair

The girls went to the fair with Daddy, Opa and Shelly. They had a great time!!! I'm sorry I missed all the fun.

Week 35

I am just starting my 35th week. Wow I really can’t believe it. It has gone so so so fast. 3 or 4 more weeks and I will have a baby boy!!!! What are we going to do as a family of 5?? I have no idea but we will figure it all out. I’m not worried about that at all. Last night I held a friend’s 4 week old. John said it was a good thing Camille didn’t have a weapon in her hands. She was giving that baby looks that would kill. She did not like her mommy holding another baby. Have no idea how she is going to handle it but she will adjust. She just loves her big sis so much I think once she comes around and once E can play she will find the good in having him around. She did get to see the baby and touch his foot. Maybe that helped a little to her understanding when I say a baby is going to come live at her house soon??? I keep thinking he could come at anytime but in reality I think he will stay where he is at until close to the end. He is moving a ton. Taking up every inch he can and stretching me to my max. To the point that it’s partly uncomfortable. Lots of contractions but not the real ones yet. I do have about one a day that makes me stop and I can feel it in my back but that’s it. It’s not followed up by anymore so I guess for now he is happy where he is. Last night I had to tell him to go to bed he was moving so much and keeping me up. Heheheh

Funny things Camille has said and done recently

batma
Is what Camille calls Grandma. That’s her word for Grandma. She will pick up the phone and say, “hi batma.” Too cute.

it's good
This is a few weeks old. Forgot to post. Camille was going through a small picking her nose stage. One time we were all together and we told her not to do that. We said, “it’s yucky.” She pulled her finger out of her nose and put it in her mouth and said, “it’s good!” So gross but so funny at the same time. She has not done it again for a while. I’m sure that’s not the last we have seen of that though. Av never did this. Funny how some kids do and some don’t.

"Emily sit here" as she patted the chair next to her for her friend to sit in at school at lunchtime. This is her friend she talks about all the time. Crazy how she already has a favorite friend

The last 3 separate times we have been at the pool, Camille has pointed to the diving board and said, “I want to do that.” The last time all 4 of us were in the pool and she actually took off kicking and made it under the rope to the deeper water. Crazy girl. John was going to let her(!!!!!!) but the lifeguards said no bc she could not swim on her on. Thank goodness

Camille woke very early the other day. 6:45. John and I were still both in bed. Usually John can go in there and tell her it’s still night-night time and she will listen and at least be quiet for 20 more minutes or so. She was not having it this time though so we brought her in with us so she didn’t wake up Av. She kept asking for cartoons to be turned on and I told her it was too early cartoons were not on and it was still night night time and to lay down and go back to sleep with us (it was still pretty dark in the room). Then she asked to go downstairs. I told her the same thing. After that she thought for a moment and then scouched herself to the edge of the bed, got down, and went downstairs all by herself without saying a word!!!! We could not believe it. We laid there for a few minutes waiting for her to need us but she never did. It was quiet, which with her is scary so John went down there to find her quietly playing with her toys. She must of thought, “fine, sleep, I don’t need you, I know where the toys are.”

“Pretty”
In Camille’s class when a girl wears her hair in a whale’s spout (as I call it, when they don’t have much hair and wear the top portion in a rubber band sticking up) they call it a “pretty.” It’s really not all that pretty but it is kind of cute. Camille will surprisingly sit still and let me put a “pretty” in her hair. It’s about all that she leaves in her hair as well. It makes it through the day. So every school day she asks for a “pretty” in her hair.

funny things Av has said and done recently

She came downstairs the other morning and told me, “I wiped my butt and put my underpants on.” She was proud of herself. I didn’t know whether to laugh or be horrified. “Butt” did she really just say that??? We always call it a bum bum bc I think that word is so funny and much better than butt. Hmmmm where did she learn that???? The reason she was wiping her butt though was bc she still wears a diaper to bed and I always wipe off her bum bum before we put her underwear on.

"I be a big sister 2 times, 1 to my baby sister and 1 to my baby brother.” Av getting excited and ready for her baby brother.

This one is embarrassing to me. Little background. We have a cleaning lady that comes every other week. I hate cleaning and would rather spend my time with my family so that is one of the things I choose to work outside of the house for. If I ever started staying at home the cleaning lady would be gone. John used our mop the other day in our bathroom and it was sitting on our back deck drying out. We all came home and Av saw that and said, “what’s the mop doing out here?” John likes to tease me in the fact that I never mop so he was laughing and asked Av, “how do you know what that is?” meaning since she had never seen her mother use it. She said, “Kathy comes and uses it at our house.” Oh my, maybe not really want I want Av to be learning. I might have to re-think the whole thing.

All roughed up

It's kind of hard to see in this pic but Camille her first black eye (first of many I am guessing) from bumping her head on the corner of her dresser drawer and a fat lip from jumping on the bed and landing on a toy. She is a mess. I asked her to close her eyes for the picture. She did, it's pretty cute.

big girl = big helper

This morning at 8 we went in to wake Av up for school. She didn’t want to get out of bed at all. We left the room so I could get dressed and change Camille’s diaper. I was rushing around trying not to be late the whole time thinking I was going to have to drag Av out of bed and fight with a sleepy kid to get her dressed. She came in when I was about done and she was completely dressed!!! Even down to the shorts we make her wear to school under her dresses. It was such a relief. What a big girl!

drool monster

Camille must be getting her 2-year-old molars. Wow she is drooling up a storm. She is drooling like a 9 month old. I have never seen anything like it. She soaked at least 2 shirts yesterday. I sent her to school today in a bib. Just for the drool like you would your 9 month old. So crazy. Yesterday you could tell they hurt. She was kind of under the weather all day. Today she seemed better though. I really hope the drooling stops soon.

adult toothpaste

If you ever want free funny entertainment give a child adult toothpaste. It is the funniest thing ever!!! Heheheh I’m not laughing in a cruel way. It is just funny to see their reaction. Anyway the other night we were totally out of the girl’s toothpaste. I didn’t think anything of it and told John to give them a small blob of ours. They both followed him into our bathroom to get the toothpaste. I’m SOOOOOOOO sorry I didn’t follow them all. I missed all the funniness. All the sudden I hear them both scream and John saying, "mommy told me to!!" I guess adult toothpaste is way to strong a taste for a kid. Their little virgin taste buds can't handle it. Both of them at the same time had the same reaction without looking at each other. They grabbed their tongues and started wiping it off amidst the screams and the mad eyes looking up at John saying, "what have you done to me?" They acted like he had poisoned them and was just standing there watching their reactions. So he tells them it was my fault?!?!?! He said their reactions were priceless though and we laughed about it all night. So wish I had not missed that. So file that away somewhere. Don’t give your kid your toothpaste.

And before anyone judges us yes we know about adult toothpaste and fluoride and such. They have their own kid toothpaste for that reason. It was a small drop of toothpaste once. Not a big deal. Just a funny reaction.

new big girl bed

Av is totally and completely in love with her new bed!!! All she wants to do is play in her room and her new bed. She has room for all her friends in it. It’s so cute. She can’t get enough of it. She loves going to bed in it at night. She is so proud of herself that she has a real big girl bed like Caroline and Jackson. She tells me every morning that she "slept so well in my new big girl bed." She is just beyond herself in happiness. I love seeing/making her so happy. Camille likes it too. She can climb up on the bottom bunk with Av and plays. She says "sissy's big girl bed" when we walk in the room.

Av’s ‘friends’

Here are all Av's friends on their cots going "night-night."

Av has many many ‘friends’ that she plays with all day everyday and takes them from floor to floor with her in our house and she must sleep with them all. They are just her stuffed animals but we have always called them her 'friends.' Let me see if I can remember them all. Monkey (the first friend ever), ducky (what she slept with at school when she napped there), periwinkle (from when I took her to Blue’s Clues), Mickey (the horse John bought her named after the first horse she ever rode), school blankie (the blanket that she slept with at school, Matt’s mom made it for her), and Good Luck Bear (Care Bear, this one is the newest. She has had it forever. John bought it for her when she was first born. We took it to every one of her many many many dr appointments we went on with her. It brought us good news each and every time. It has been sitting up on her shelf till the other day when it came down and now goes everywhere with her). She sleeps with all of those ‘friends.’ During the day though she adds baby Rachael, baby snow white, another baby, 2 pillows and many blankets to the mix. She puts all her ‘friends’ night-night on their cots for nap while I am putting Camille down for hers. Then she gets them all up and folds all the blankets (about 10 of them). She is something else.

nesting

Boy did it hit me this weekend. I worked all weekend on the house and made sure everyone around me did too. Heheheh I was a slave driver. Finally on Sunday afternoon John said, “lets go to the pool, I need to have some fun!” So I let us go for an hour. Heheheh We got some much done though. Av is now in her room in a super duper big girl beds (bunk beds, top one is blocked and no one is getting up there for a while). She is very excited. The rest of her room is very cleaned out and organized. All baby stuff is out. Camille and her crib are waiting to move it. There is plenty of room for her though. We got the guest room furniture moved out of what was Camille’s room/the guest room that no one was allowed to sleep in. The changing table, rocker, baby stuff and his clothes are in his dresser. This coming weekend we will take apart Camille’s crib to move it to the girl’s room. Then they will officially be roommates! On top of their rooms being completely cleaned out and purged, we did the basement and the playroom too. Many loads went to goodwill and some stuff just went out to the curb so we could be WT for the day as John said. It worked though; everything we put out was taken. By different people at different times. It was a game all day to see if and when things were taken. An old cheap TV cabinet hung around for the longest. At one point John went out and “re-marketed it” as he called it. He wiped the dust off and turned it so it’s best side was showing from as many different sides as possible. It was pretty funny but worked, it went shortly after that. Makes me feel better that it all went to people that will actually use it. We are about all ready for baby E!!

Yes Camille is staying in a crib a little while longer. Until she is actually 3 as long as I can help it. No way I am going to make my life more difficult and take her out of a crib when I know she is 100% safe there and she is happy there. I would be a nervous wreck and not sleep worrying she is wandering around my house if not for the crib. We borrowed a second crib but even if we hadn't I would have bought one.

friday

Av went to school in the morning. It was her second day of school. The first day she went all day to after care bc I work on Thursdays. Then I picked her up and took her to hbr like I had been doing all summer from Cornerstone. It all went great. She had a good day and was very excited. She took a small catnap in the car on the way out to hbr. She never does that but whatever. So Friday Camille and I pick her up at noon and head to the park to play and eat our lunches. Something we do a lot. Went home for quiet time/nap time at 2. Spent till about 4 doing quiet time so I thought she had a pretty good rest. Guess not. That night we had planned to go eat dinner with friends and then head to an out door concert. It was about 7:30 and we had just got to the concert. All our friends were there and the girls were having a ball dancing with their friends. One of Av’s Cornerstone friends was there and I was excited to see them getting to remain friends. All the sudden Av bumped heads with a little boy and she lost it. It hurt I’m sure but she could not pull it back together. She cried and cried and cried. We tried to go back and have fun but she just could not. My first clue that she was over tired when she wanted to go home and to bed over staying and playing with her friends and getting ice cream afterwards. I was so sad/mad/disappointed. I didn’t want to go home, all our friends were there having fun. To top it off I had to go home alone bc it was John’s night to go out and he had plans. At that moment I could not rationalize that Av had had 2 big days and was just tired. To me she was being different than all the other kids and of course that was/is bc of the chromosome and I just didn’t handle it well. I blame the prego hormones for that. I cried the whole way home and for the rest of the night after that. Hehehehe I know she was tired though bc I brought her straight home and put her straight to bed without the usual books and playing in her room we do. She was sound asleep by 8. Crazy. It's really hard being a parent sometimes.

biting

Is it ever going to end???? We had not had a biting incident for a while now. Partly bc I think she was learning not too and partly bc Av has gotten better at showing her she is not standing for it any longer. Until 2 nights ago. Ugh, I just wanted to cry. We were in Avery’s room reading books before bedtime. It had been a very nice night. The girls were sitting next to each other on the floor facing me and I was reading to them. Out of nowhere Camille laid back, rolled over into Av’s leg and bit her! I could not believe it. I just sat there in disbelief for a minute. Poor Av, I think she tried to pull her leg away as Camille had a hold of it so it made the bite that much worse. She has a huge red, black and blue mark on her leg now. I was trying to comfort Av while John ran in to deal with Camille. It’s so hard and breaks your heart when one child hurts your other child like that on purpose. Poor Av was so upset and it hurt her so badly. I had a hard time calming her down. John took Camille gave her a stern talking to and put her right to bed. Told her that biting was bad, that hurt her sister and to go to bed. She must have knew we meant business bc she didn’t make another peep after that. We felt bad not kissing her good night. We would have for sure went back in there and calmed her down if she was crying and upset but since she was not making a peep we didn’t want to disturb her. It was hard not saying goodnight to her. The following night they were playing on our bed and for some reason Camille tried to bite again. Av got her off quickly before it could so much harm. I told her “No Bite” and put her in time out. She was upset of course. When I got her out of time out I told her she hurt her sister and to go say she was sorry. She went in and said “sorry sissy” with her little lisp that she has. Av was so sweet. She said, “it’s okay sissy, I love you” and gave her a hug. It made me melt how forgiving Av was. I think Camille is starting to feel her 2-year-old molars and I think that’s why this is happening again. I just hope it stops quickly and for good.

zoo

I took the girls to the zoo yesterday. We had such a nice time. We have not been to the zoo all summer due to the heat. Usually we are there a few times but not this year. Our zoo is one big circle set up on a huge hill. So once you go down of course you have to walk back up pushing a stroller and 2 kids. Although I love to walk and still walk a lot that hill is very daunting to a 34-week prego momma of 2 in this heat! Our zoo has just put in a wonderful new sea lion home and has starting putting on training shows. I knew there was a show at 10:30 so our goal was to see that. It was pretty cute. After that we were hot already so we went off to the splash park. The girls loved it and had a great time playing and getting soaked. After that we had lunch and then went to see some animals. Our zoo had another baby giraffe on July 21st so we got to see him. He is sooooooo cute. All legs. His legs go right up to his neck. As of now he really does not have a body. We watched him and his mother for a while. They were inside so they were about 3 feet from us. Pretty neat! It was a nice day with my 2 favorite girls.

Big accomplishment!!!

Av can now button her own shirt!!!!! Even when she is wearing it. I have to admit this is something I have never worked on at home with her. Just not something I think about. The only thing she owns with buttons (shirt wise) down the front is a hideous pair of princess PJ’s that she does love but does not wear them that often. Her OT has been telling me for weeks this is one of the activities they do weekly. Really good fine motor work for her. First it was really big buttons on a shirt on a table. Then they started working on smaller and smaller buttons and putting the shirt on. I’m not sure at therapy though she has ever done it totally by herself. Well she did at home a few nights ago. She got those PJ’s out and did it and came running over to show us what she did “all by myself!!” We were amazed. The buttons were not lined up though and after telling her that she unbuttoned them all by herself and re-did it correctly! It’s really pretty darn amazing. The last couple of nights she has worn those PJ’s and every night she button’s them. She loves practicing it and is so proud of herself. She is too cute.

first day of school 2010

Av started back to Friends today. She was so excited. She woke up early even before John and I were out of bed. We could hear her bouncing around in her room. She looked so cute in her “school day outfit” and backpack. It was just a normal day for Camille but she of course had to be in the pictures. Aren’t they sweet??? At school I stayed for just a bit with Av and then she came over and said, “give me a kiss momma.” I bent down and gave her a big hug and kiss and asked her if she was ready for momma to leave? She said, “yes!” So off I went. I am sure she will have a great day!

school

Av starts school this week (Thursday), her last year of preschool. Some of my friends have kids starting kindergarten this week. It has really thrown me into a panic! I am so not ready for my baby to start kindergarten. This time next year it will be us. I will be a mess of a mom for weeks leading up to it. So hard to let your kids grow up. It will be hard to stay positive, happy and excited in front of Av and not let her see me sad. I am sure she will be apprehensive and seeing me a mess will not help her at all. Anyway, the other reason I am in a panic is just thinking we have a year left to get her ready for kindergarten. I need to make sure I do all I can to get her ready. We finally have her verbally spelling her name right and constantly thanks to John!!! Av and I were working on it last week and she just could not keep it straight. I was so frustrated when John got home from work. She knows her letters, she can pick her name out of anything and everything, why can’t she spell it then? Ugh!!!!!!!!! John came in, made up a simple song of it and now both Av and Camille can spell Avery. The song is in my head pretty constantly now. Hhehhehe A-v-e-r-y. We have been reading a lot. Simple books and I point to all the words for her. Camille got out animal flash cards yesterday and I was able to use them to work with both of the girls. Camille to learn the animals and sounds (which she really already knows them) and Av I would point to the picture and ask her what animal that was. She would say then I would point back to the word that said the animal and tell her that’s what that word says. Then I told her she was reading based on the picture on the card. She was so excited! She is getting it that the picture matches up to the words. She was “reading” to her babies yesterday. It was too cute. We also have been playing a lot of memory and yesterday she drew a pic of her family for the first time. She did a great job and got it off the fridge to show John as soon as he walked in the door. I have learned that once a child can draw a stick person well they have every stroke mastered to write all the letters. So we have taken a step back and are practicing stick people. I hope that helps to give her more confidence with her letters. We went and saw her classroom yesterday and met her new teacher. Av was really excited and didn’t want to leave. I think it will be a great year!

week 34

He has a name! We have decided and both really love it! I am thinking it in my head when I think of him and it’s not a name I think I can let go of. So that’s what makes me pretty positive it’s the one!!!! Sorry I am not going to put it on here yet. Just not ready to share it with the world. Avery does not like it though. Every time we say it she says, “I don’t like that name!” Camille on the other hand says it over and over again. So I take that to mean she likes it. I have told Av, “sorry but I think you have been out voted.” I have also given her a nickname that she could call him and she likes it. So I think he has a name!!! Now this weekend to get his room ready! We are getting there. It’s happening fast all the sudden.

Lake

This weekend we went to the lake with the Shumans. We had the best time!!! Marci and I loaded the kids in the mini van and left early on Friday. We were all very excited. We stopped for lunch and then made it to the house about 2:30. We let the kids play and explore while we got settled. About 4:00 we took the kids down to the water to swim off the dock. Avery and Jackson jumped right in and loved swimming and jumping. Even the little two became big swimmers. By the end of the weekend they were jumping off the boat themselves and swimming around in their life jackets. They all loved it. About 6 we went up to the house to make the pizzas and to wait for the dads and the dogs. That night we went for a boat ride and put the kids down about 9. Everyone slept pretty darn well. On Saturday we left on the boat at about 10:30 and stayed out till 4:30. It was quite a big day for the kids but everyone had a blast. We swam, jumped, tubed and played forever. Everyone was tired by the end. After a shrimp boil the kids were in bed by 8. Marci and I were in bed my 10. hehehehe On Sunday we pretty much did the same thing. Played in the water all day. We didn’t get on the road until about 6 pm. Stopped for a quick dinner then back in the car. We thought for sure the girls would fall asleep but nope. They hung in there but they were very glad to climb into their own beds that night. I love the lake and I love having great friends to share it with. We are very lucky.

Ps….I forgot my camera so pics to follow when Marci gets them to me. Could be awhile seeing how I am still waiting on GA pics from her. Hehehehe

Week 33

OMG I can’t believe he is almost here!!! Time to really start to focus and get ready. Next weekend we will turn the guest room/room where Camille’s crib is into his room. It has the guest room furniture in it but no one has slept in there for over a year now bc Camille has been. Only her crib is in there though. We have a lot of furniture to move out of there and NO place to put it. Plus I am still not so sure where Camille is going to sleep. We really really really need a bigger house. In a year from now the girls sharing a room would be great and is ultimately what we want. But if you read the handful post you can see why them sharing a room right now is not really going to work. Plus not mentioned in that post is the fact that Camille gets up every morning before Av (by usually an hour). For a while Camille can stay where she is bc I am sure ncb will sleep with us but ideally when he is 6 weeks I would like him in his room. Or whatever will be his room. I just don’t know. It will work though, it will just have to. The room is still green and we will move all the gender natural stuff back in that we had when we didn’t know what Av was. After all the pink in my life that stuff seems so boyish now. I have made a list of things we need to get for him or do before he comes. I am excited. I can’t wait to meet him and hold him. I hope nursing comes as easy for us as it did for Camille and I. I need to start reading some posts from when Camille was a baby to figure out how we got her to sleep so well (other than being up twice a night until she was 9 months). I feel okay. Heartburn is bad and my poor lower belly muscles are about done but otherwise I am hanging in there. As long as I don’t eat anything (or drink water or brush my teeth) an hour before bed I can manage the heartburn. I am just big. My belly is huge and it’s uncomfortable. I’m sleeping well as long as the heartburn or anyone does not wake me.

PJ party

Today is Av’s last day at Cornerstone. She seems decently sad that she will not be going back. She says all the time that she will miss her new friends. I have given her the choice a few times about staying there or going back to Friends and she always picks Friends. Since both schools are great I feel confident that she can make that decision herself and I will respect what she wants even though it makes my life so much easier when she is at Cornerstone. So anyway, they were having a PJ party in her class today bc there are a few kids leaving Cornerstone and a lot of kids moving up to the 5 year old class (kids that miss the kindergarten bday cutoff). She has been so excited for weeks to wear her PJ’s to school. So this morning she went off to school in her favorite bright pink obnoxious princess nightgown with spaghetti straps, very loud pink and purple striped socks, tennis shoes and her very fancy bright pink flower headband. She looked just oh so sweet and was very smitten on herself. She kept saying, “I look pretty!” She slept in this morning so I was not able to get a pic as we rushed out of the house but I will for sure this afternoon and post. I hope she has a great day!

Never got a pic. So sad. She was so tired by the time we got home that day and very grumpy. She had already taken off the socks, shoes and headband so the outfit was pretty much gone. Total bummer.

handful

Camille is still of course a handful. She would not be the Camille we all know and love if she weren’t. She has moved into this “mommy” stage and that comes out of her mouth a million times a day. I can’t do anything or go anywhere in the house without holding her and carrying her. I wonder if she senses the big change that is coming?!?!?!

After being a TERRIFIC sleeper for about a year now she has moved into this monster of a sleeper. She wakes a least once a night and screams this terrified scream until someone goes in there. She screams “mommy, mommy, mommy!” but is just equally as happy if daddy comes to her rescue. There is a mirror tied to her crib that has been on there since Av was a baby, so a long time. The other night she woke up and it freaked her out. She was screaming and pointing to it. J showed her it was okay and since then the mirror has been fine but she still freaks once a night. It’s not too bad though bc once you go in there and give her a hug and tell her everything is ok she goes right back to sleep but then I’m awake for awhile afterwards. Ugh.

Putting her to bed has also become a challenge. She used to just play in there and go to sleep. Now she screams. You have to keep going back in there to calm her down. It is somewhat sweet though she wants a hug and you to sing to her. She stands and I hug her (not picking her up) and sing, “you are my sunshine” twice. Then leave her to go back and do it 15 minutes later. Usually it takes about twice.

I know I am going to regret saying this but we have not had a biting incident in over a week. She has not bit Av or anyone else. Is she starting to get it??? I hope. The girls still wrestle and it still makes me nervous but lately it has not turned nasty. They just giggle and love it so much.

Camille really gets her feelings hurt when you sternly reprimand her these days. Her little lower lip comes out and quivers and she gets so upset. The emotions are good though; hopefully it means she is getting it!!

Mister Dustin, a teacher that is in both of the girls classrooms a lot, said to me the other day, “Camille sure is a bruiser.” Av’s teacher overheard “brusier” and thought he was talking about Av. We both laughed and said “no way.” I said “the two of them could not be more different” and he laughed. He said, “boy is she cute though.” She is too. She is cute and sweet and smart. She amazes me everyday and I love being her mother.

rings

I just realized my rings still fit!!! With both Camille and Avery I bought a fake engagement ring to wear that was a size bigger. Wonder if I will have to pull those out again? So far it’s not looking like it!

bad bad bad

Camille is so cute but so bad at the same time. I was just trying to clean up the dinner the other night. I had to keep stopping to get Camille out of things she knew she was not supposed to be in. She went from sitting on the dinning room table, to feeding Jack treat after treat, to playing in his water, to sitting on the door of the dishwasher. I had to keep stopping to remove her from whatever she was doing. It is very frustrating. The whole time Av just sits and watchers her and laughs. She just knows she is not supposed to be doing whatever she is doing, as does Camille. Avery finds her very funny.

All About Kids

Yesterday I could not stand the thought of being out in the heat or putting sunscreen on the girls so we decided to head to an indoor play place called All About Kids. It has bouncies but it is also a big gymnastics place so from 12-1 you can play on all the trampolines, balance beams, bars, and slide, jump, trapeze and swing your way into foam pits all you want. Basically a kid’s wonderland! We have not been in close to a year and boy did the girls enjoy it. They played very hard. They ran down a long trampoline and jumped into a foam pit over and over again. Av is really starting to run well and fast! By 12:45 Av was done. Poor little thing could not think of playing anymore. She hung in there like a champ but with her low tone she had done all she could do.

bday cards for the grandmas

My mom’s birthday is Aug 8th and John’s mom’s is Aug 9th. So on Sunday we spent a little time making bday cards. My plan was to finish them up on Monday and get them in the mail. As we were sitting down to write the girls names on them and special messages I was also trying to cook dinner. I turned around for a few minutes and in that time the girls had taken the stickers back off the cards that they had so carefully placed on the day before. The cards are now ripped up pretty good and pretty ruined. UGH!!! Stickers were everywhere! So we will be starting over this week. Sorry Grandmas your cards will be even later!

Grandma from WI

Was in town this weekend. The girls were so excited to see her and had a great time playing with her. She arrived later on Thursday. Av kept asking about her and as it got later I was worried she was not going to get to see her. Right at bedtime she arrived and the girls could not have been happier. Av went right up and gave Grandma the biggest hug and Camille followed in big sister’s footsteps. Bedtime got delayed as they showed off for Grandma. It was pretty cute. Grandma read them some books and helped me put them to bed. Very nice! Friday morning Grandma watched the girls for me so I could go and get an oil change in the van. They had a great time playing and Camille was very cuddly with Grandma, which Grandma loved of course. After hours at the pool and naps we all went to dinner together. On Saturday Matt, Luke and Lindsey joined us for a few hours. It was nice to see them and the girls just ate up the extra attention. That evening John and I went to a black tie charity event for the Human Society. It was very nice getting dressed up and going out. Grandma said the girls were great and they all had a great time. Sunday we had to say bye to Grandma. After that we spent most of the day at the pool. A lot of our friends were there so it was a very fun day. Av is starting to swim without her swimmies! It is pretty exciting and cute.

Vacation pics

the girls playing

enjoying mousse beaters

Ethan

We have to add Ethan to the list too. Our only hang up about Ethan is that it is #2 on the list of most popular names for 2009. I have always been very against using a name at the top of that list but we don't know a single Ethan. I have talked to a few friends and they do not either. Where are all these Ethans?

Week 32-names

Well it's the start of week 32. I figure I only have somewhere around 6 weeks left. Yikes!!! We finally have a top 5 list. The names are not in any order bc there is not an order. If we had a #1 it would be his name.

Elliot

Reid

Davis

Tyler

Everett

I welcome any comments and suggestions. Middle name is John for sure.

terror

Av still calls Camille terror on almost a daily basis. It’s kind of funny bc John and I don’t say it much at all anymore (not that we don’t think it) but it has stuck with Av. And for good reason really. She still gets bit a lot by C. Also, like any good little sister Camille loves to terrorize and torment big sis. She loves to come up and mess up anything Av is trying to play with and set up. All the sudden I will hear Av scream, “terror NO!” The biting is slightly better. I told Av recently that she needed to push Camille off of her and get up right away. Get out of her way. I have been telling Av this for months but I think it is finally sinking in.

stinker

It’s really neat to see Av’s little brain mature and for her to start really getting stuff. She is really starting to ask smart questions these days. It’s not just random questions out of the blue anymore, it’s questions that come from something she sees or hears. Anyway she is also starting to learn how to play John and I against each other. Neat her mind is maturing like that but she is becoming a stinker. John (John’s dad-Opa), Rachelle, Alex and Maddie were over after DC and we had the pool up in the back yard. Av and Camille were in the pool with John’s dad and they were hiding under a raft while Alex sprayed them with a hose. They stopped and moved on to more fun and awhile later Av asked me for “new water in the pool.” I said, “no the pool is already too full.” Earlier John had let some of the water out and Av had remembered that. So she went to John and said, “daddy there is too much water in the pool.” He said okay and let some out. As soon as it was at a better level she asked “ for new water so her and Opa could hide again.” Stinker.

DC

John and I got a 24-hour get away to DC this past weekend. It was heaven! Exactly what I needed. It was only 24 hours so I didn’t have to miss them for too long. It was just enough time to let me regroup and miss their cute little smiles and hugs! It was also nice bc although the time was very short I got to go and get on an airplane and do adult stuff, like traveling. Just like back in the days before kids. I only packed for me! Everything in my purse was all for me! Stuff I am so not used to anymore. John was asked to speak at a conference on a Sunday. He said no way but his boss really needed him to do it so after a little negotiating I got to go too! We stayed at a 4 seasons and had the best time. Did a little window shopping, had a great dinner, watched a movie in bed, I lounged in bed in the morning and got to take a bubble bath. Then when John got done we had time for lunch and a little site seeing before the plane ride home. It was perfect! The girls stayed home with John’s dad and step mom who they love and always have so much fun with. All went really well and I didn’t have to worry for a minute.

PS. after dinner we went walking looking for someplace John could get a drink and I could get a yummy dessert. We went back to our hotel swanky bar. John ordered a drink and I got a cherry coke. Come to find out that was a $6 cherry coke. Yikes. Well they didn't have anything chocolate on their dessert menu?!?!?! So we went back to the room and ordered a dessert from room service. $18 dollars later here is me and my yummy dessert. I guess you don't get between a pregnant lady and her chocolate.