Our Princess

I thought it was time for an update on Abigail!

She is quite a character lately.  She LOVES to dress herself!!!  Almost every outfit she wears is picked out by herself.  She also loves to choose how her hair will be done!

"I do it" is the phrase we hear most often.  She wants to brush her teeth, dress herself, go potty by herself, buckle herself in her carseat, get her food, etc! 

She still LOVES Mickey Mouse every  morning.  However, the rest of the day, she only wants to watch Princess and the Frog!  Everything is Princess and the Frog now!!!!

She knows most of her letters...and knows what letters stand for her favorite people!  (D for Daddy, C for Caitlin, etc).  She can count to 20 to. She loves to sing "Down By the Bay" and "Sticky Bubblegum." She's a little sponge!

If she says something that makes you laugh, she'll say it LOTS more...and crack herself up every time!  We were watching Mickey Mouse and she said a line  "Oh, I know" before the monkey said it...and we both laughed...so now every time she watches Mickey Mouse, she says it and literally falls over laughing at herself!

She does not forget a thing!!!!  It is amazing to me how she remembers things months later....for example, if you mention swimming, she'll talk about the Easter Bunny from our Egg hunt.  And she remembers who gives her every toy...and tells me where she got it from before she plays with it!

Probably our favorite thing she is doing right now is imitating us, especially with books.  She'll sit and read the books we read...it's so cute to listen to.  She had this book from the library about ladybugs and reads it just like we read it!

She is still afraid of ladybugs and still claims there are ladybugs in her hair!

She still LOVES ketchup!!!  But yesterday I asked her what her favorite food is and she said "Edamame"...ha ha!  What a character!

Her aunts, uncle, and grandparents are her favorite people of all time!  She always wants to know where they are...and talks about them (or to them on her play phone) all day long!

She is really excited to have a new baby cousin!!!  (Only, mommy isn't as happy when she tells me I have a baby cousin in my belly too!)

She is a wonderful big sister.  She loves to help with Caitlin..and is always concerned about her if she's crying.  She loves to make her laugh, always reads to her, and gives hugs and kisses before bed!

She is going to start 2 1/2 year old preschool next year.  I'm a little sad to send her, but I thinks she's ready and will love to have friends to play with.  It's only 2 days for an hour and a half so it's just enough time for Caitlin and I to do a class together or do some errands....but it seems a little sad that she's old enough for preschool.

Here are a few cute pics from Abigail, Caitlin, and Aunt Katie's adventures at a park in Chicago!

Can You Hear Me Now????

YES!

Yesterday was Caitlin's tube surgery.  It went great!

We got down to Children's Memorial at 10 am.  After checking in, we had some cuddle time!  Caitlin hadn't eaten since 4am, so we were expecting a crying baby, but she was so wonderful!  She didn't cry at all!!!  It may have something to do with the magic pacifiers at the hospital (she doesn't use a paci, but these are vanilla flavored and she LOVED it...we got a few extras when we left!).  After lots of cuddling and meeting all the drs, nurses, and anesthesiologists, they finally took her back around 12:00.  We went to the surgery waiting room, and by 12:30 we were called to the recovery room.  She was cuddling with a nurse...very content.  It was a wonderful way to find her...there were lots of kids really upset when they came out of the anasthesia so we were lucky.  They didn't have to give her an IV, they just put her to sleep with a mask, so it was a relatively painless procedure. By 2:00, she was able to take 2oz of sugar water and we were headed home.  It was a fairly easy day...just a little stressful watching them carry her away for the surgery.  And of course, Caitlin was a total ham for the nurses and doctors.  She couldn't have been more cute the whole day, and as always our day was full of comments about how cute she is!  Not that we didn't already know!

She slept most of the day.  Today she seems to be doing good. She does have a slight fever and threw up once, but that's fairly common.  As for hearing, of course I'm driving her crazy seeing if she can hear.  She can definitely hear better than before.  The doctor said one hear hear a lot of clear fluid, the other side had a very thick substance like peanut butter, so there is definitely a good reason she couldn't hear.  She seems to be startled by noises now and turns her head to her name.  In about a month, she'll go back for a hearing test and we'll learn if her hearing is fully restored or not.  Until then, we are just enjoying our same old happy Caitlin, who now just can hear a little better!!!!  ;)

What do you want, Mom????  Yep, I'm wearing my new pajamas...sort of my "coming home from the hospital" outfit!!!  Also, thanks Nana and Papa for dropping off a new "sound" toy that Caitlin can play and HEAR!  How exciting!

"Hello, Ball!"

Abigail also had a great and busy day yesterday.  My dad took her to the Dupage Children's Museum, McDonalds for lunch, and then Cosley Zoo.  At the Dupage Museum, they even went to a story time and made an art project.  She had a really great time with grandpa and hasn't stopped talking about it today!  My dad taught her some saying from the honeymooners "Hello Ball" and she is saying it to everything.  They also must have sang "This Old Man" a lot because she's singing it today!

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!!!! 

Post through Pics *Updated*

Post through Pictures!!!!!

We DID celebrate Caitlin's 6 month birthday with a treat...I just didn't put pictures.  It's actually half a cake-shaped brownie!!!!

UPDATE:  Also, I forgot to post about Caitlin's 6 months stats!  She had her 6 month app't last week, and she weighs 13 lbs 1 oz (3% for weight) and is 25.25 inches (22% for height).  I don't think Caitlin is going to be as tall as Abigail, but they are both gonna be skinny mini's!  We are trying to add weight to Caitlin (same as we did with Abigail) by adding calories to her formula...but maybe we'll just give her frozen yogurt instead (see below)!

On Friday morning, Abigail got herself breakfast!

Tour De Caitlin!  She's getting up on all fours and scooting backwards!  Any day now she'll be crawling!  And she was sporting her Tour De France pajamas Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe brought her back from France.

Today, we had a great day enjoying the weather.  We started at Cosley Zoo!

Then, we headed to downtown Wheaton to walk around and go to the park.  After the park, we found the BEST frozen yogurt place EVER!!! YoYoLand!!! It's my absolute new favorite thing!!!!  They had all these different types of yogurt, and tons and tons of toppings (fresh fruit, candy, etc).  You just make whatever you want, and then they charge you $.49 per ounce.  It was so much fun!!!

Abigail enjoyed her Vanilla with sprinkels.

Caitlin tried Mommy and Daddy's peanut butter with chocolate chips and oreos.  Obviously, she's our kid!!!!

Also, a few random pics from our wonderful Mother's Day! I got to spend Saturday shopping with my mom all day, including a fun lunch with GREAT drinks and coffee! Sunday I woke up to a LARGE Starbucks and flowers to plant!!!  I also got new running shoes (so excited) that I could pick out myself! We went for a family walk.  We met Rob's parents at a really fun restaurant in Bolingbrook...where we had alligator for an appetizer.  And we went and saw my grannie Frannie!  And then today (following week) I got a pedi thanks to my parents, coffee thanks to my sister Kate, and new shoes thanks to my hubby and kids!  So yep...it was a great Mother's Day and I feel so blessed!!!!

We went for a family walk around the "fountain" in Carol Stream!  Searched for ducks...found mean geese!

At dinner with Nana and Papa, Caitlin was being cuddley, which she never is so we had to document it!!!!

Tomorrow is the big day...Caitlin's ear tubes surgery....hopefully!  Of course, both kids got sick this weekend.  They both had a touch of the stomach flu; Abigail on Friday and Saturday and Caitlin on Saturday and Sunday.  They both threw up only once each day, so we really, really hoping they will do the surgery tomorrow and by noon tomorrow, Caitlin will have a whole new world!!!!

Also, thank you to Aunt Katie for taking the girls on Saturday so I could go celebrate the soon-to-be-arrival of Luke Hackney and Rob could golf in a benefit golf tournament!  It's much harder to have the girls in the city and I give you credit for taking them to the park and finding a bathroom!  :) You have to send me the pics from the park!  And thanks to Jules for meeting the girls later for lunch!  We loved seeing our neice growing!!!!!  Sorry guys that Abigail got sick at the restaurant!  ;)  But the girls had a great time....Abigail LOVED it...but sorry to say, the best part of the day was the moment UNCLE JOE came to the window to say hi to her.  HOURS of talking about it!!!!  ;)

Update as soon as possible tomorrow about Caitlin!

SWAGGER WAGON

6 Months...Too Fast!!!!

Our sweet Caitlin bug turned 6 months old this weekend.  We can't believe how fast the first 6 months went...and that we are half way to celebrating her 1st birthday!  My baby really is growing up fast!!!!

Caitlin Elizabeth at 6 Months:

*Almost 14 lbs (exact stats next week)

*Drinking about 30 oz of Nutramigen Formula daily

*Doing rice cereal once a day, but very thinned

*Rolling over both ways...and all over the place

*Has begun rolling onto belly to sleep

*Is beginning to "scoot" and trying to get her legs into a crawling position

*Beginning to sit on own, can balance for 10-20 seconds before falling backwards

*LOVES to stand in her exersaucer or jumpy toy

*LOVES to be with other babies, especially at Ms Kelly's house

*Napping 3 times a day (8:00 am, 1:00pm, 4:00pm) for about an hour each

*Wearing 3-6 months clothes and size 2 diapers

*Has the SWEETEST demeanor...just a go-with-the-flow baby with a smile that lights up the room!

6????  Nice try at creative photography, Mom!

For Caitlin's 6 month birthday, she got a new mirror for her crib!  She loves mirrors!

Watching the 2 girls together is so wonderful.  Abigail is very gentle and kind with Caitlin...and always wants to help with her.  She brings her toys, reads her books, and is constantly concerned if Caitlin is fussing, crying, or needs to be "rolled over".  No matter what Caitlin is doing, when Abigail is near her, all eyes are on Abigail.  Abigail can make her smile and laugh like no one else can.  We can't wait to watch them grow up together!

I mean....come on....HILARIOUS!  Abigail is so proud, and Caitlin is like "Uh mom...get her off of me!"

In honor of Mother's Day, a picture from my 1st Mother's Day with Caitlin (photo taken by Abigail)!

Dear Caitlin bug,

We can't believe our "baby" is 6 months old already.  We love you so much and are so proud watching you as your grow and develop.  You are such a beautiful, happy girl!  Next week will be a HUGE week in your life...and we hope that it will open more doors for you!!!!  Even if you can't always hear us, we tell you we LOVE you every second of every day!  ;)  Daddy and you have a special bond...he can watch you play for hours!  You and mommy spend special time together every day reading books and singing our song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"!!!  Your grandparents, aunts, and uncles love you so much!  You bring joy to everyone around you.  Thank you for choosing us as your family!  We hope the next 6 months bring you peace, joy, and happiness!  We love you!!!!  Mommy, Daddy, and Abigail

Happy Mom's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to the best moms, grandmas, nanas, great-grandmas, great-nani's, aunts, godmothers, and role models in our lives!!!!!!

We LOVE you all and hope you have a wonderful day!

Friday Fill-In

Here is a random post about things from last week..and some new Caitlin updates!

1st, Caitlin started rolling last week..and is rolling all over the place!  I never know where I'll find her, cause she rolls all over the family room.  She is also rolling onto her tummy to sleep, which of course makes me nervous, but she seems to be sleeping well on her stomach!

Random tummy time while playing outside...sporting the sweater Rob's Aunt Karen made for Abigail (and Caitlin).

Caitlin has also started rice cereal.  She is getting it once a day.  She needs it thinned out, so I don't think she's anywhere ready for baby food yet, but we are continuing to practice once a day.  (More on that at bottom).

1st attempt at rice cereal.  We knew she was ready because she was using the spoon herself!  :)

Love that bib!!!

Last week we went to Joey's Lacrosse game.  He plays for Notre Dame in Niles.  Joey and Nick are Kim (Rob's cousin) and Steve's kids.  We had a lot of fun watching the game and are hoping they  make the playoffs so we can go watch another game.  I think Lacrosse would be a really fun sport for the girls to try one day!

Joe scored like 3 goals today!!!!!

Nick did a great job as the "ball boy"...and kept us entertained too!!!!

Last week Abigail got her 1st real haircut....one where I didn't wimp out and have them barely cut any hair off!!!!  Here are the before, during, and after pics!

And finally, an update on Caitlin!  We went to her new doctor at Children's Memorial yesterday and LOVE him!!!  (Thank you so much Jenny for watching Abigail during the appointment!)  They did another hearing test and confirmed she still has severe hearing loss (minimal 40 decible loss) and her ear drums are not vibrating/echoing due to fluid.  So they want the tubes put in asap.  So we schedule the surgery for Monday, May 17th.  We will get more information about the surgery the Friday before (time, procedure, etc).  We know we'll be at Children's Memorial in the city for the surgery, and it will be in the afternoon.  I am looking forward to the surgery being over...so I'm happy they were able to get us in quickly!  After the surgery, they will retest her hearing a month later and we'll go from there!!!!  After we get the hearing under control, they will be doing another swallow scope on her (tube down throat while swallowing) because of continued concerns over swallowing issues...but we won't worry about that until we get there!  So that's Caitlin's update..and we are very confident in the ENT doing the surgery...and with Children's Memorial in general!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day!!!