Wordless Wednesday

Let her eat cake ...

For Carter's first birthday party, we hosted nearly four dozen people at our house. We decided to scale back for E's first birthday. We kept the party to immediate family only. It was just as enjoyable, and far less stressful.

And it turns out, Ellyson not only likes cake ... but the girl knows how to handle a cupcake. I remember Carter looking at his cupcake for a minute, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do with it. This one, on the other hand, picked it up like a pro, and right into the mouth it went. She ate the whole thing.

She enjoyed all her gifts, too (which is a lot easier to do when you don't get dozens and dozens of them). Jack and I gave her a wooden play kitchen. Carter gave her a matching wooden smoothie (blender and cut fruit) set. She also received a wooden cookie baking set, a shopping cart with play food, a couple little toys and some pretty clothes for summer. Carter liked her toys as much as she did. Naturally.

First Birthday Video

Jack created video/photo montages of our kids for their first birthdays. I never posted Carters. Back when he turned one, I had never visited YouTube. Even now, I could count on one hand, the number of times I have. Luckily, I have a husband who wanted to share his work with others, so he converted the file and uploaded it for me. He is the brain of technology around here, folks. So anyway, below is a link to Ellyson's video. It's about 10 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLhF2ANp4gE

P.S. Carter now officially refers to "you know ... precious ... Ellyson's song." He considers the first song in the video, to be her song. And Ellyson, whenever she hears one of these songs, swings her head around to the TV, looking for the video.



Happy Birthday, Miss Ellyson!

Miss Ellyson turns a year old today. Happy birthday to her!

February 2011

February 2012

Size: Wears 12M clothes comfortably. Just shy of 20 pounds (just below the 50th percentile). Size 3 shoe.

Mobility: Not yet walking. Stands pretty well on her own. We are trying really hard to get her walking. We weren't in a hurry until we learned about the twins. I can't be seven months pregnant with twins, carrying a 15-month-old around with me.

Vocabulary: Says a handful of words. Is very good at saying "Carter", which is probably her favorite word to say (and her favorite person).

Diapers: We've made the conversion to 100% cloth. Loving those FuzziBunz. Even at nighttime. In fact, I've come to prefer the cloth overnight. I just put two or three of the inserts into the diaper shell, and it's so much more absorbant than the size 3 disposable she would otherwise wear. Now, I do still use disposables for babysitters/nursery at church. I'm not going to make them deal with the extra steps involved in handling a dirty cloth diaper. :)

Sleep: Morning nap at 10 (lasting 1.5-2 hours); afternoon nap at 2 (lasting 1.5-2 hours); bedtime at 7 which means she's in bed by 7:20 and sleeps for 12 hours. She actually is really good (now) about going to bed. She gets one story or a song or two, and then I lay her in bed with her pacifiers (2 or 3) and Sleep Sheep, and she goes to sleep on her own. It's so liberating.

The Greatest Show on Earth

Carter's "grade" level at school (the K3 and K4 classes) took a field trip to the circus yesterday. Our whole family went, and we had a blast. Some favorite acts were definitely the animals. The tiger were a sight to behold because ... they're tigers. But the elephants were just wonderful.

Carter was excited about his very first school bus ride.

Ellyson had a great time, even though it meant she skipped her morning nap. She loved all the lights (we were in the sixth row), and waved to many of the performers.

She even let one of the other dads hold her for some time. She only started fussing to come back, after Jack came back with food.

Entertainment

So, E has entered this phase now ... yay. The good news is, it's less destructive than trying to climb the stairs or eat cardboard (a phase which she unfortunately is still in as well).

Happy 31st Birthday, Jack!

Today we are celebrating Jack's 31st birthday. For all the jokes about how hard it is to leave your 20s, we never thought 30 would be so challenging. So today I welcome a new year! The birthday boy celebrated by sleeping in an extra hour and working from home until rush hour passed (to which he commented that he was more productive in one hour at home - since he didn't have to manage children - than he is in three hours at the office; I know how that goes!). Later, we'll have his birthday request, banana pudding. He's been telling me for months that's what he wants for his birthday.

And for the first time, Carter picked his card to Daddy. I actually had one in my card organizer already, but I guess it'll get pushed to another year. Because when I took the kids shopping so I could pick my card to Jack, Carter started jumping up and down yelling that he wanted Ironman. Which happened to be a "to Daddy from Son" card - so Ironman went home with us. How could I resist? He does love superheroes right now! And he already told Jack that he got Ironman for him, so in the event Jack reads this post before he gets his card, well, the surprise is already ruined, right??

Here's to 31 candles on top of banana pudding!

Truck Flair

While in Disney, we got some flair for Carter's truck. It's perfect. The whole trip, he kept saying he wanted to ride the monorail. After we left, we asked his favorite part. He said riding the monorail. FYI - You can ride the monorail for just the $14 parking fee ... no park admission required. Oh well.

Valentine's Day

We had a pretty accomplished Valentine's Day around here. As normal, we ate in but I made a fancier-than-normal dinner and dessert. In the eight Valentine's Days we've celebrated married, we've only gone out once on the actual day. So, Carter made his card for his daddy. I asked him to write "Daddy" after I wrote "Happy Valentine's Day" - well, he drew his daddy instead. I loved it.

And then I made praline chicken (the sauce thickened a little too much; I would have preferred it as more of a glaze), parmesan grits and roasted asparagus. Of that, Carter ate the chicken.

And for dessert, I made a chocolate charlotte. We used to eat this masterpiece at a now-closed restaurant in Atlanta. Finding a recipe to replicate it wasn't easy. But it did turn out well. I even made the brownie crust from scratch because my only boxes were "triple chunk" - and I even used pasturized eggs for the chocolate mousse, being cautious of raw eggs during this pregnancy (though I threw that caution to the wind with Ellyson, I've noted that the twin thing has rattled me). Do you know how long you have to beat pasturized eggs to make chocolate mousse? It took a solid 15 minutes with the electric mixer. Ellyson had ALL my pots on the kitchen floor in that time!

Midwife Meetings

Last week, I had my 12-week (almost 13-week) checkup. We got some pretty cool pictures of the twins, and I had some long discussions with two of the midwives. Our practice had two midwives while I was pregnant with E. They recently added a third, whom I saw last time ... but on this visit, I was able to see both of the others who I'd seen last time. My appointment actually was with the CNM (certified nurse midwife) who delivered Ellyson. We talked about carrying and delivering the twins ... and had honest discussions about running, attempting unmedicated delivery of twins, and critical periods of the pregnancy, when twins tend to try making an early entry.

I also was paid a visit by the other CNM. She popped her head in when she saw my name, to congratulate me. It made me feel special that she even she remembered me. Then she came back a couple minutes later, after she looked at my chart and saw we're having twins. So she gave me some reassurance and talked with me for a few minutes while I was waiting for my "official" appointment.

I learned a LOT. I learned that I'll probably have to stop running in the next 4-6 weeks. (I'm really going to have a hard time with that, emotionally.) I learned that 18-20 weeks is critical (hence the running moratorium), and that 24-26 weeks is as well. I also learned that 38 weeks is the cutoff with twins - the same way single babies run out of room around 41 weeks, start to lose amniotic fluid, and are at risk of wrapping the cord ... with the tight quarters in a twin pregnancy, that happens at 38 weeks. So really, August 18 is my due date, but August 4 is the cutoff. (Which is funny, since Carter and Ellyson both were due on the fourth of the month, though neither came that day.) I also learned that if the first baby is head-down and I deliver it, my midwife will help me deliver the second even if it's breech - as long as it's butt-first, and not leading with its hands, shoulders, knees, etc. I learned that breech delivery is far more painful for graphic reasons I won't write about here. I learned that I can have a midwife delivery as long as baby A (the one further down) is head-down - but that an OB will be in the room also because anything can happen between delivery of A and delivery of B. I learned that twins mature faster in utero, so they aren't at as high a risk of respiratory distress at, say, 37 weeks, as a singleton would be. I also learned that I can choose a c-section delivery because twins are considered high-risk. Obviously, I won't be taking that route. Ideally, I'll deliver unmedicated again. I just have to consider the spectrum in between those two options, and which detours I would or would not be okay with. And THAT is why I love using midwives. They ask me what I want to do, and they help me do it.

Oh, and here's a cool picture ... also posted on Facebook ... of the twins having a conversation during my ultrasound last week.

Cow's Milk

I have successfully weaned Ellyson to cow's milk. Because of our Disney trip, I followed the footsteps of some of my friends and weaned during the week after she turned 11 months. I did the math and knew there was no way I could provide her breastmilk for the four-day trip, so I wanted her on cow's milk before we left. She actually made the switch more easily than Carter did. I mixed vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast into his milk for about a month after we switched ... Ellyson only got the vanilla for a few days, and then she was fine. I did continue to give her bottled breastmilk at bedtime, until a week ago - and then we took that away. She didn't put up a fuss.

So she's now completely drinking cow's milk (2%, like Carter did until he turned two) from straw cups. I have a couple soft-tipped sippy cups that I've used for water, but otherwise she's completely on straw cups. Considering Carter still drinks from a strawed thermos, I think that will save me any further cup transitions for her, for the next few years.

I have still been pumping, though today was probably the end of that. I have - probably - about 200 ounces frozen and ready for the twins. We have a deep freezer, and the La Leche League approves storage for up to 12 months. So that should give me a little wiggle room as we get the ball rolling next time.

The Waldorf Astoria Suite

As previously noted, we spent a long weekend in a hotel way too fancy for the likes of us. I was convinced that the kids were going to break the hotel itself, at any moment.

We had actually booked two rooms at a Hilton resort for our Disney trip: a room for us, and one for my dad and stepmom. We are Hilton rewards members (and actually have pretty good status with them), so we were redeeming points to stay for free. Turns out, there was a big corporate event at the Hilton that weekend. So there were actually no rooms free. So Hilton bumped us to their property next door - the Waldorf Astoria. But they didn't just give us regular guest rooms. No, they upgraded us to the signature Waldorf Astoria Suites - two of them, since we'd booked two rooms. These suites were ridiculous. They were corner suites with 1800 square feet, separate bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, balconies overlooking the pool and golf course, an EPCOT view from our bed, three telephones ... amazing. The hotel had five categories of rooms, and these signature suites were second only to the Presidential Suite. We had to know ... what was the price of a suite?? Jack looked it up. He was able to find an opening next week. For $2,200 per night. Per suite. They gave us two of them! It was unbelievable. The valet gave us bottled water when they brought the car to us ... since it had the WA logo on it, we carried those bottles all through the theme parks. Jack even perfected the angle at which he could hold the bottle and drink from it, while displaying the fancy logo on the front.

Bedroom

Kitchen

Living room

Balcony

Nighttime view from our balcony

Daytime view from our balcony

Disney Weekend

Some highlights from this trip to Disney ...

My dad and stepmom were able to join us this time. They were supposed to make the trip with us in October, but a family emergency in my stepmom's family caused them to stay home.

We successfully surprised Carter with where we were going. He didn't find out until we were on Buena Vista Drive, in sight of the big, arching "Walt Disney World" sign.

Ellyson was big enough to really enjoy the carousel and the parades.

On the third day, Ellyson peed all over me during a standing-room-only diaper change, which prompted me to have to buy a new Mickey shirt.

Carter had two new experiences this time around: meeting Buzz Lightyear (something we never managed to do previously) and riding the teacups. He really liked the teacups. He rode with Jack and my dad. He can't wait to do them again ... I think we'll have to draw straws to see who has to ride with him!

Finally, there was no nighttime electrical parade at Magic Kingdom. Because it's the off-season, they were doing some repair work on the walkways/parade route. So the afternoon parade was a short route, and the nighttime parade wasn't running. But we did see the "Wishes" show on the castle. Never had seen it before. It involves Tinkerbell flying out to say goodnight, and then a fireworks display.

Misplacing a Child

I originally titled this blog "Losing a Child" but realized that word had a whole different meaning from what I'm posting about.

Last weekend, we went out of town (separate post coming). We were staying at a fancy-pants hotel (another separate post coming) that we would never have paid for. I was getting Ellyson dressed in the bedroom while Carter was playing in the living room. I also was texting my dad across the hall, asking if they were ready for a good-bye visit from the kids, as they were getting ready to begin driving home.

I stepped out of the bedroom and saw the door to our suite didn't have the security bar/latch closed. And I knew Carter was capable of opening the door without that latch in place (I realized later that he also can move that latch, so it was actually a minor barrier for him). I popped my head into the living room and didn't see him. Called his name. Nothing. Jack was in the shower, so I knew Carter wasn't in there ... Opened the door to our suite and found my dad heading my way. No, he answered, Carter was not with him. I darted back into my room and did a quick survey that yielded no sign of Carter. Still no answer to me calling his name. So barefoot, with Ellyson wearing only a diaper and bumping up and down on my hip, Dad and I took off down the hall of the ninth floor of the Waldorf Astoria, calling Carter's name. We looked down the two turns on our floor, and nothing. So Dad took the elevator downstairs to check the lobby and notify security, while I ran back to my room to check our suite again. I realized I hadn't checked our powder room (yeah, like I said, fancy hotel).

I hand off Ellyson to my stepmom, who has now emerged to the hallway upon hearing the commotion. I run into our room, check the powder room. Empty. On my way back out of my room, I'm still calling Carter's name and I hear "tee-hee-hee". What was that? I run into the living room and notice the mound of covers on Carter's pull-out bed, is actually moving. I pull them back and find a three-year-old who thinks he's being funny, hiding from Mommy.

As much as I wanted to scream, I calmly but firmly explained why he shouldn't hide unless Mommy knows we're playing a game (a game I've never actually played with him ...), and explained that because we didn't know where he was, I thought a bad guy might have taken him. I think he might have understood, finally?

I am in trouble when the twins come. I can't even keep up with two kids. When I have four, I'm definitely going to lose one.

12 Weeks

Well, as of last Saturday, we are at 12 weeks with the twins. So here is my first update.

Weight change: +1

Symptoms: Some of my energy is coming back. Some of my nausea is subsiding. Both were much stronger with this pregnancy, than with my first two - though I still haven't actually thrown up from pregnancy. Many of my food aversions seem to be moderating now, too - like coffee, water and juice.

Cravings: "Ants on a log" -  a childhood snack, quartered bananas with peanut butter and raisins. I eat it almost every day. Unfortunately, both of the kids seem to really like it, too. So I only get half of it.

Workouts: I had to relinquish my three-mile, 7-mph runs. They were putting too much strain on my body. I was seeing symptoms that didn't pop up until the third trimester with E. So I've slowed to 6.3 mph for a three-mile run ... or 7 mph for a mile, followed by 1/4 mile walking, then repeat that cycle two more times. Both of those modified workouts seem to be acceptable for my body. I have been able to run outside with E a bit ... I just have to be cognizant of my exertion level. Running with a Garmin and heart rate monitor are a huge help in that arena.

That's really all I've got right now. Sorry, no belly pic. You'll have to settle for the one I posted a week ago.

Word of the Week: Carter

Yes, I'm posting the word of the week on Wednesday. I'm forgoing Wordless Wednesday. Because, you see, the word of the week is just too darn cute to wait for Friday.

Ellyson has learned how to say Carter's name. And she often says it with remarkable clarity: Carr-tuh or Carr-terr. But then, she also has moments of laziness (usually after calling his name for five minutes or more) when she reverts to "Car!"

She follows him around the house (crawling) and calls his name ... Car-tuh! Car-tuh! Caaaarrrr! Caaarr?

And Big Brother loves it.