Finding our Schedule

School is officially in session...and it's really nice to finally have a "schedule" in place!  Monday and Fridays are our "slow" mornings because they are our free days!  However, Tuesday and Thursday are nice because we have a schedule now and it makes the day smooth and relaxing!

Tuesday/Thursday Schedule:

7:00 Get up (if not up...which rarely ever happens)

7:00-7:30:  Milk and Mickey Mouse

7:15:  Caitlin goes back down for a nap.

7:30: Abigail eats breakfast

8:00:  Get dressed, do hair, brush teeth

8:45:  Get Caitlin up, dressed, and fed breakfast

9:00:  Go pick up Luca and head to school

9:15:  School drop off

9:30:  On Thursdays, we head to the gym. 

On Tuesdays, Caitlin started her library class!!!!

Cailtin loves being around all the other kids.  It's so nice for her and I to have some one-on-one time together!  She did a great job listening to the story and loved all the singing.  Cailtlin LOVES to dance...she will bust a move to any song she hears...so the singing part was her favorite!!!!

11:15-11:30:  Pick up at school  (Probably the best part of the day...Abigail is so excited to see Caitlin and mom and tell us all about her fun day)

11:45:  Play at home for a half hour before lunch

12:15:  Lunch

12:45:  Story time

Abigail knows that after lunch we read books...and if it's nice outside, we take advantage and have our DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time outside! What can I say, I'm still a kindergarten teacher at heart!

1:30-3:30:  Nap Time   (ahhhhhhhhh)

3:30-6:00:  Just trying to stay sane until daddy gets home from work.  This is definitely my least favorite part of the day....the kids are crazy!!!!  In the summer it's not too bad because we play outside a lot, but in the winter, we are going to have to find something to keep us busy!  Hopefully a new wave of toys at birthdays/Christmas will help!!!  ;)

6:00:  Dinner

Look at this cucumber from Daddy's garden!  It was insane!!!!!

6:30:  Family time (games, blocks, puzzles)

7:00:  Head upstairs for bath, books, and bed!

And I have to post about the PINK CHAIR!  Caitlin is obsessed with Abigail's pink chairs (she has one in her bedroom and one in our family room).  I am not exaggerating that every single second she is not sleeping or eating, she is sitting in this chair.  She can sit there for 30 minutes...just sit there!  It's really the cutest thing I ever saw!  She's sort of like an old man just sitting in his chair and observing the world!

(Look at Caitlin's face!  ha ha)

Hope everyone has a great weekend...the girls are going to get to meet their cousin for the first time and they are so excited!!!!!!

First Day of Preschool

Last week was Abigail's 1st week of preschool!  She loves it...and we love seeing her gain some independence!  She was very excited about starting school.  She met her teachers before and loved them!  The first day of school was great.  No tears...she walked right in, gave me a big hug, and got right to playing.  I love her school so much...it's such a great fit for our family!  I cannot wait to watch her grow and change this year!

Our BIG girl

September 2010

October 2009

Flashback to Abigail's 1st day of playgroup..look how much she has grown!

I love her bookbag so much!!!!!

Little Sister Caitlin all ready to take her big sister to school!

Luca goes to school with Abigail.  Who would have though back when they were next to each other in the NICU that one day they would be starting school together? 

Abigail loves playing in the kitchen!

At the end of the first day of school....2 happy kids!

First Day Success!

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!!

We just wanted to say:

"Happy Birthday, Papa!"

We love you! 

Love, Abigail and Caitlin

"Princesses on Ice Cubes"

I know I need to post about the first week of school, but first I have to post about our mommy/daughter date night last night.  Abigail and I went to Princesses on Ice (or Princesses on Ice Cubes as Abigail calls it).  We were both very excited for our night out....Abigail has lately become obsessed with princesses (a little girl at her daycare loves them and they play them/talk about them/read them all day long). 

Leaving for the show.  Thanks so much Reese for letting us borrow your dress for the show!!!  I think we'll be asking for a princess dress or two for Christmas for dress up!  She loves Belle, Snow White, Cindrella, and Tiana dresses the most!  ;)

When we walked in, I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed (I'm known as "tears" in my family so not a big surprise) because she was so excited she couldn't stand it.  I heard "Mom, Look!!!!" a hundred times.  Every princess sign, souvenir stand (there were LOTS), and lil princess walking by holding their mom's hand (even more) was so exciting to her!  She had to point out every princess!  Then she'd say "They look just like Abigail!"

We got to our seat and were ready for the show!!!

Waiting for the show to start

From the moment the princesses came on, she was so happy.  I wasn't sure if the whole "concept" would be lost on her, but it wasn't.  She watched everything and interacted with the show (clapped, yelled "NO" when they asked a question to the crowd, and waved bye to every princess who left the ice).

Waiting at intermission.

I don't remember seeing a Disney On Ice show (although I'm sure I did) but I have to say, the show was actually great!  So many great stunts and special effects.  I was having just as much fun! And the best part were all the girls sitting around us.  There were squeals the whole time.

We thought the show was over and no Cinderella...oh man, the tears by the little girls around us....but it was just intermission and after intermission, the big lady appeared! 

A great night out!!!

Even Princesses get cold

The show went from 7-9:15, which I was very impressed because the tickets were very affordable!  I had a quiet ride home with a little princess in the back seat....dreaming of "happily ever after" I"m sure of!

When Abigail woke up this morning, the first thing she asked was if she could go back...but bring Caitlin with this time because she likes princesses too!  So sweet!

I look forward to many more events like this with my girls.  Rob and I are going to try to do something special with each girl each year...I'm with the girls all day but it's amazing how important this one-on-one time is!  I have a feeling daddy will be taking the girls to sporting events on his daddy-daughter date night!!! 

10 Months Old

Happy 10 Months Old to our happy Caitlin Elizabeth!!!!!

What Caitlin's up to these days:

*Wants to walk and is getting closer.  She can walk with her walker

*She is a monkey.  She can somehow crawl up on anything (Abigail's bed, chair, even a table or two)

*Still eating gluten and dairy free, which makes meals a little more difficult but not too bad.  Her favorites right now:  avocados, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, Mum Mums, Gorilla Munch cereal

*We use "more, all done, and milk" in sign language right now.  She knows "all done" and just started doing "more". 

*Is very content playing by herself, but really loves to play with Abigail.  They will chase each other around the house and giggle for hours.

*When she wants something, she will let you know.  If she's hungry and sees her bottle, watch out!  SCREAMING until she gets it!

*Still only bottom 2 teeth, but her top two are popping through as we speak (can see them).

*Weighs 15 lbs

*Can use her sippy cup, but we still use the bottle as we are trying to get her to gain some weight

*No words yet, but some new babbling which is exciting!

*LOVES Elmo (not tv, just the stuffed animal or character in book)

*Starting her library class next Tuesday

*Makes us laugh so much with her big smile!!!  She's so beautiful, with green/blue eyes and hair that is getting longer and blonder by the day.

Happy 10 Months, Caitlin Bug!!!!  We love you!!!!!!

Lucy Alexandra is Here!!!

(Turn your speakers on for her song)

On Saturday, September 4th, Lucy Alexandra was born!!!!  After a LONG 36 hour labor, Lucy arrived via c-section at 2:22pm weighing in at 7lbs 1oz.  She is such a peanut!!!!  Jules had a LONG, rough labor, but did so great!  And Joe was a "dad" from the first contraction (in a good way)!!!!!  Look at how beautiful she is!!!!!

And let's not forget how cute her name is!  We were so excited to finally hear the name...and we were so excited to have a little Lucy in our family!!!!!

The family gathered at Jules and Joes to wait for the good news...and after we heard the news that she was here and everyone was safe, we celebrated with cheers, tears, and champagne.  And then, what all people do in 2010 when they have good news....we all hit the cell phones!!!!!

About 4 hours after Lucy was born and Jules was out of recovery, we got to go see Jules and Joe...and meet Lucy!!!!!

She is so beautiful!!!! 

And has the most amazing long, black hair!!!  She's perfect!!!

(My pictures are bad cause I had my flash turned off...but I"ll get better ones).

The Blandford Family

Kisses from mommy

Cuddles from daddy

On Monday, the proud Aunt and Uncle returned for Round 2 visit!

I'm an aunt!!!!

Proud 1st time Uncle

We love our niece

Lucy, we LOVE you so much!!!!!  We can't wait to watch you grow up!  You are going to be so spoiled!!!  We are already planning the first trip to Ocean City and all the girl outings!!!  There will be lots of tutus, princesses, and dance parties in your future.  Your cousins are so excited to meet you too...Abigail has been talking about you and getting all her toys ready for you!  And Jules and Joe, you guys are already great parents!!!  Enjoy this crazy, most amazing journey ever!!!  Congrats!  And Cheers!!!!!!! 

We Now Return to our Regularly Scheduled Program

Last Friday we were headed to Brookfield for a much anticipated trip to the zoo to celebrate the beginning of school.  On the drive down, I heard quiet crying in the back and looked back to see tears running down Abigail's cheeks.  She said "I want to go home and sleep, but I want to see the Alligator first".  I knew she must have been sick, but we were at the zoo so we went in anyways....big mistake.  She cried the whole time and we quickly left and headed home.

Her best "smile" with the alligator.

It was rough weekend full of HIGH fevers (103-105 the whole weekend), scary nights (she was delusional and thought bugs were on her and had 105 fever) and lots of calls to the dr.  On Saturday she started screaming her teeth hurt and then her nose started bleeding.  SCARY!

On Monday, we went to the dr (this morning her fever was 104).  We found out she had a burst ear drum (which explains the teeth pain and bloody nose).  She started antibiotics and her fever finally broke on Tuesday!  So needless to say, we spent 5 days in the house....with  LOTS of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!

Caitlin was a trooper the whole time...and managed to stay healthy and avoid the ear infection even with her tubes in....so we are lucky!

Just a couple pics from our week of being cooped in:

On Sunday, we headed to the park (no other kids were there) for a little fresh air

And Caitlin was a BIG help with all the laundry

And Abigail drew an EXTREME "A"

We would like to thank our soon-to-be niece/cousin for not coming during this time because I was very worried she would be born and I wouldn't be able to go see her....Her due date is 3 days and she still is pretty content inside!!!  Since she wasn't born on her mommy's bday or my grandma's bday, she could still be born on Sept 6th on my grandpa's bday!

We are headed to Indiana this weekend for a lil Labor Day Relaxation!  And then, we return Monday to get ready for Abigail's 1st day of school on Tuesday!