That's A Wrap: Summer 2015

I think it is safe to say we will never have another summer like the summer of 2015.  We rang in the new year knowing that this summer would mark the birth of two more children as well as Reese turning two, but nothing really could have prepared us for all the monumental shifts we experienced in our family. Since my brain exists in a fog these days, I want to recap this for my own records as I will likely never remember it otherwise.

May:  I know May isn't technically summer but in my head it always marks the beginning of summer for me so I'm going with it.  My third trimester was in full swing and I was feeling rough.  This month brought about a slew of contractions and "maybe babies" trips to triage that left us scrambling to get coverage for Reese just in case the babies came. Not fun.  I cut back on work significantly and we celebrated several birthdays in the family. Tom completed his fourth Flying Pig Half Marathon and we were in major twin prep mode.  I didn't know it at the time but my last day of work was May 29th, our fifth wedding anniversary, as I would go into premature labor just a few days later. 

June:  I kicked off the month of June by promptly going into labor at 33 weeks on June 1st.  This earned me a week in the hospital where labor was thankfully stopped and I was sent home on bed rest.  That week was terrible for a myriad of reasons I won't go into but suffice to say the first half of June was brutal waiting for our boys to arrive.  Any mom who has experienced a twin pregnancy knows what I'm talking about!  

On the evening of June 15th I went into labor again and we dutifully headed to triage hoping this was it.  A few hours later in the wee hours of June 16th our sweet little men were born and our family was complete.  Hands down the highlight of the summer!

July:  July marked Tom's return to work and us settling into our new normal.  This month was a blur of the newborn life x2 and if I didn't have the pictures to prove it I'm not sure I would even remember it. This month also marked my first outing with all three children (music class for Reese) and looking back I have no idea what I was thinking taking that on three weeks post-partum! We got by with a lot of help from family (hi mom!) and if it weren't for them I'm not sure I'd be standing today.  Three children under the age of two is no joke and not for the faint of heart. 

We wrapped up the month with our very best girl's second birthday and celebrated with family. 

August:  Things got a little tough this month thanks to some unwelcome colic and other difficult transitions. We powered through and found joy where we could.  I had my first outing away from the babies (a friend's bachelorette) and Tom held down the fort like the champ he is. I became a lot more confident in taking all three children out by myself and we frequented the park, the library, and made our usual Target runs.  I figured out a configuration of baby wearing/toddler hand holding that works for brief trips to the store which I'm pretty proud of :). Overall we enjoyed our time together and just took it one day at a time. 

That's a wrap on an epic and most life changing summer!

Reese is 15 Months Old!

Last week my baby girl went and turned 15 months on me.  I've finally purchased a baby book for my poor child so it's been fun going back and filling it in.  So for posterity's sake, here is what 15 months is looking like for Reese.

Stats:
Weight: 21 lbs. 2 oz. (49th percentile)
Height: 30 and 1/2 inches (49th percentile)
Teeth: 12 and number 13 is on it's way.  Her most recent three teeth have all been molars and seem to be super painful :(

Sleeping: 12 hours at night (approx 7pm-7am) and about 2 hours during the day (morning and afternoon nap)

Eating: Still a bit of everything.  She currently likes (and I say currently because she changes all the time!) eggs, fruit, graham crackers, goldfish, raisins, Aidell's Chicken and Apple Sausage, pasta, turkey sandwiches, and peanut butter.  Over the last couple of months meals have become a wee battle.  Reese is very independent and wanting to feed herself, or wants me to feed her a certain way, and most times the majority of her food ends up on the floor after she excitedly and/or angrily threw it across the kitchen.  What can I say, we're working on it :)

Drinking: Organic Whole Milk and Water

Playing: We still love reading books, dancing, clapping, swinging, and more recently Reese has really loved playing with her cozy coupe outside.  We try to make it to the park at least a couple times a week and Reese loves climbing on the toddler playground.  She is currently OB-SESSED with Taylor  Swift's 'Shake it Off'.  I really don't know how much more I can take of the song...but it makes her so happy. She has really taken to playing with her baby doll and loves hugging her, putting her in the toy stroller, and pushing her around the house.  And, of course, playing with Lily is at the top of her list.

Likes: Library Babies Class, playing with other toddlers,  reading books, music, owl straw cup, playing with mom's make up bag and wallet, anything having to do with animals (particularly DOGGGGGIES), fruit and goldfish crackers.  Riding in shopping carts is tops and she and she loves waving to passerby's as though she is Duchess Kate.  She makes friends everywhere we go!

Dislikes:  Car seat (but overall this improving), diaper changes, having something taken away from her, mom leaving for work, and generally being told something is off limits.  Pretty typical toddler stuff.

Says: She mimics words and phrases that we say to her and really picks up on anything said to her repetitively. Currently she is saying Mama, Dada, Doggy, Down, There You Go, Thank you, Do Do Do (means I want that or do that), Love You

Milestones:  The big one is Reese is walking!  Right around her 14 month birthday she started getting more confident taking a few steps here and there.  About a week after her 14 month birthday, she put it all together and just took off. Naturally this was a day I was gone for a training and missed it all, but luckily Tom was with her to witness and record it.  In just a few weeks she practically runs now...and you can tell she really loves it.  After discovering her deep love of her belly button, we are working on identifying her eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

In addition to speech gains she is really becoming more and more independent.  And my mama heart is a little sad about this one.  Don't get me wrong, I know it is all age appropriate and shows that she feels secure enough to begin exploring her world...but sometimes I just want my baby to sleep on my chest.  But, she still treats me to the occasional resting of her head on my shoulder and my favorite thing right now is how she walks over to me and folds herself into my lap with a book.  Nothing better than that.

Not to sound like every other parent in the world, but it really goes by in the blink of an eye.

12 Months: The Rundown

Before Reese goes and turns 13 months on me {sob} I want to have all of her 12 months stats documented for posterity.  That, and I have yet to purchase a baby book for my ONE year old.  So this will have to do until I find one that I deem non-cheesy enough for purchase that is not $150 on Etsy.

As of R's one year well check her stats are:

Weight: 19 lbs   (39th percentile)

Height: 29 ins.  (42nd percentile)

Teeth: 8

Sleeping: 11-12 hours at night, 2-3 hours during the day

Eating: A little bit of everything!  Three meals a day with snacks in between.  Loves all kinds of fruit.

Drinking: Cow's milk and water

Playing: Loves books, music, dancing, clapping, playing "chase", swinging at the park, and anything with water.

Likes: 'On the Night You were Born', 'Dog ABC's' book,  her lovies, Lily, dogs, Mickey Mouse, owl straw cup, story time at the library, swimming, and going on walks.

Dislikes: Car seat, diaper changes, and mom leaving for work.  No bueno.

Says: Up, Mama, Dada...and a whole bunch of other adorable gibberish.

Milestones:  Doing everything close to walking but not yet able to walk unassisted.  R can climb stairs, cruise along furniture, and walk holding your hand.  Take your time munchkin.

One year well check, with snacks of course.

Standing on her own.



Playing her drums...thanks Uncle Adam.

The wild woman dance.

Giving Minnie some lovin' at the store.

Deck the Halls

Since Thanksgiving was so late this year we wasted no time buying our tree and beginning to decorate.  We still have some work to do (everything takes so much longer with a baby, am I right?!) but for the most part we are in the full swing of the holiday.  Although we decided not to host our annual Christmas party, we will be hosting dinner on Christmas day and we're very much looking forward to celebrating R's first Christmas together.

First Thanksgiving

Last month we celebrated our sixth(!) Thanksgiving and R's first.  We split the day with both sides of the family and we had a wonderful time.  The first half of our day was spent with Tom's side and the second half with mine.  I don't think R was ever put down throughout the day!  Here are some pictures from the day...

Snow Day!

Yesterday we were hit with our first real snow of the season.  I tend to have zero faith in our weather forecasts but it was actually accurate.  Although Fridays are one of my days in the office, snow storms and good  client attendance do not mix, so I had unintended time home with R.  Looking out at the snow from the comfort of her room was about as close as she's getting to snow this year.  BUT, next year you'll find us suited up and making a snowman.  Until then we'll stay warm :)

Gouda and Lily love the snow so much we pretty much have to drag them back inside!