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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Big News for Miss Jocelyn



1. She met Santa Claus.
2. She weighs 11 pounds 11 ounces (in the 11th month of the year 2011, 11/29/11 to be exact).
3. She slept through the night for the first time last night - 9:30 PM to 6:30 AM. Wowzers.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Another month to be thankful for

Dearest Jocelyn,

I am a few days late writing your two month letter. It is actually the 24th of November, Thanksgiving Day. I'm kind of glad that I am writing it today, because I am so so very thankful for you. In fact, I am fighting the urge right now to go get you out of bed so I can get in some Jocelyn snuzzles on this early Thanksgiving morning. However, you are sleeping, and I will choose to let you sleep and write this instead. I can't wait for you to wake up and give me a big, happy, sleeping well at night smile though. Yes, that is right, you are sleeping well at night. And, yes, that is right, you are full of smiles recently. You really are turning into a happy baby. I used to feel bad when people would ask me if you were a "good baby." I never knew how to answer that. I was so thankful for you and in love with you, and choosing to focus on all your many positives and our blessings, but you weren't really a good baby in the way they were asking the question. You were a blessing baby, a loved baby, a snuggled baby, a healthy baby, but not really a happy baby. For whatever reason, whether it is my diet change, the acid reflux medicine, or you sleeping more, you are much much more content, happier, and I would now call you a "good baby" in every sense of the word.

(Your sweet big sister just joined me in the chair. She loves you so very much. There are many times when I tell her to go do something and she responds, "but I'm talking to Jocelyn." For that matter, you are much less bothered by your siblings in general. You have locked eyes with Micah, following him across the room, flashing a big smile his direction. When they are continually in your face, you don't seem frustrated. You are fitting in quite well with the chaos of the family.)

You seem to like your parents too. You are starting to talk with daddy a lot. You love to make noises back and forth with him; he loves it too. You still like to be held out in daddy's arms, facing his body, being bounced. You are getting bigger though and aren't fitting in his arms quite as well. You will stretch out sometimes with your legs and almost jump out of this position. I'm pretty happy too, because you seem to really like me. I can usually calm you down if you are fussy - you like your bottom patted if you are held in a cradle position and you like your back patted if you are held upright on my shoulder. You also like to lay across my arm facing down and out. In general, you like to be with your mama and your daddy. We like being with you too.

You still like to "run run run" while mama moves your legs. You are interested in your two favorite toys - the Baby Einstein sound and lights gym and your Tiny Love mobile (two amazing purchases). There are many times after eating that you are content to lay and play looking at "nothing," but when this happy contentment wears off, your toys will occupy you a little longer.

You usually go to bed between 8:30 and 10 and will usually sleep until 3:30 or 4:30 before waking up to eat. Then you usually eat again around 6:00ish and sleep again until about 8:00. You are going to be one very clean baby as your sleeping got drastically better and has stayed great ever since we started bathing you nightly. During the day, you generally eat, then are awake for about an hour or more, then you sleep for about an hour and a half before you wake and eat again. You like to sleep on your belly during the day. You seem to be a sound machine addict. This addiction was starting before, but sleeping with a humidifier pretty much clinched this deal. Your eyes start to close as soon as you hear that noise. You sometimes will fuss yourself to sleep within five minutes or so - which is good, because that is pretty much as long as your mama is willing to let you cry right now. I'm okay with "spoiling" you right now. You are my baby. We love you; we are so thankful for you, sweet Jocelyn Raeanne.

Love,
Your Mama


Saturday, November 19, 2011

Season of Gratitude

Micah gave me a good little reminder today during this season of thanks. We are preparing to have some people over for our second annual Pie Night tonight. A chance to get to know some new faces and to reflect on how we have been blessed in this past year - and to enjoy some pie! We rearranged some stuff in the house to accomodate the number of adults and children that will be coming. I was telling the kids that they would play in their room with their friends tonight (not the living room). Micah responded by saying something about how that is because our house is so big, we have room for all of our stuff, and we have all we need.

So so so very true. We have all we need - and so very much more.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Some random Friday thoughts...

- Someone ate "Tasties" in my bed today. Great. What are tasties, you ask? Mini Chocolate Frosted Mini Wheats. Not exactly "mom and dad's bed" kind of food.

- Mackenna peed on the sidewalk outside today. I was actually excited about this. I don't think this says great things about my state of mind.

I had just come around the corner from getting Micah dressed in his room. I realized the front door was open and Mackenna was gone. I was getting ready to talk to her about not leaving the house without me. I then heard her say "mom, I'm peeing" (three words that send chills down my spine). When I saw the puddle, I decided that I was thankful she had left the house and was only peeing on the sidewalk, not someplace where I had to clean!

- The kids were singing the Cubbies theme song in the backseat. They were talking about the fact that God loves them. Micah added, "God loves Jocelyn, too." Yes He does buddy. We are so thankful for that.

- Here is a mothering tip I have learned. If your kids aren't good at waking up from nap, I have learned some magic words that will help. Just say, "hey buddy, you ready for a piece of candy. There's some waiting for you in the other room." Yup, works everytime. And yup, I am an awesome mother.

Getting ready for a playdate

While we were waiting and getting ready to go over to a friend's house today, this is what I heard (in addition to the whining)...

---
Mackenna: "When are we going to Elliana's?"
Me: "After Jocelyn wakes up"
Later...
Mackenna: "When are we going to get Miss Jocelyn up?"

---
(Talking about Elliana's family) Mackenna: "Miss Rachel is Elliana's best mommy. Mr. Ryan is Elliana's best daddy."
Me: "Who is your best mommy?"
Mackenna: "Mama"

---
Mackenna: "Elliana is my best friend."
Me: "You know, Miss Rachel is my friend too."
Mackenna: "Do you play with her?"
Me: "Well, we like to talk and shop and drink coffee. That is what grown ups do with their friends."
Mackenna: "Oh."

---
Mackenna, pretend reading the birthday card that I had just written for Rachel, in her high-pitched "reading" voice: "I love you Miss Rachel."

---
Me: "We need to do ___ and ____ before we go to Miss Rachel's."
Mackenna, correcting me: "You mean to Miss Elliana's."

Advent Activities

Here are some of my favorite Christmas countdown activity ideas that I've found on Pinterest thus far. My goal is to make my schedule and get all the supplies while it is still November, so that December can actually be fun.

This wreath can hold Christmas cards, or you could use 25 clothespins and use it to hold your countdown numbers and ideas. We might do this for a family activity and then keep it or give as a gift.

These cute reindeer cups could be made and then filled with popcorn for a ride on the "Minivan Express" - looking at Christmas lights.

Love this artwork. I'm going to use the art we make this month to fill the existing picture frames on our walls (making sure paper is the right size and orientation before we start). Then I can pull it out each year and make my walls festive!

So Cute!




Preschool Letter Matching Activity



Patterning Activity with a "J is for Jesus"


Edible Christmas Tree
Source: squidoo.com via Laura on Pinterest

Santa Hand Ornament - there are other links on Pinterest for a salt dough to be used with this


Printable Nativity Scene - another link on Pinterest talks about making this magnetic for use on a cookie sheet or a fridge




Coloring Activity





And here is a list of general activities that I compiled a few years ago.
  1. Play a game together as a family, the winner gets to put the angel/star on the Christmas tree
  2. Decorate the Christmas tree together
  3. Each person gets to write a wish list of Christmas presents they would like to receive
  4. Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows while listening to Christmas music
  5. Make Cut-out Christmas Cookies
  6. Decorate Cookies from yesterday
  7. Take a plateful of the cookies to someone in your church or neighborhood
  8. Read the Christmas story from Luke
  9. Read Mary's Song of Praise in Luke 1 - the Magnificat
  10. Learn the words to a Christmas carol
  11. Call a grandparent and sing a Christmas carol
  12. Read a Christmas story by the Christmas tree
  13. Camp out under the Christmas tree
  14. String some popcorn or other homemade garland
  15. Make homemade wrapping paper
  16. Address the Christmas cards together - the kids can write notes to stick in or color pictures
  17. Go see a Christmas concert or play
  18. Make a homemade Christmas card for the grandparents
  19. Buy a Christmas gift for a less fortunate child
  20. Go to the dollar store and buy something for your sibling
  21. Cut out snowflakes
  22. Make an ornament - make sure and date it!
  23. Make a gingerbread house out of graham crackers (and a milk carton)
  24. Take goofy pictures by the Christmas tree
  25. Act out the Christmas story
  26. Make red and green pancakes for breakfast
  27. Watch a Christmas movie together as a family - don't forget popcorn!
  28. Wrap Christmas presents
  29. Record a video clip of everyone in your family singing a Christmas song
  30. Play Christmas pictionary
  31. Make a Christmas craft
  32. Make some kind of munchie snack that the kids can help with - puppy chow, peanut butter balls, no bake cookies, etc.
  33. Come up with a list of Christmas things for every letter in the alphabet
  34. Go drive and look at lights
  35. Have a contest to see who can find the most snowmen (or other Christmas item) throughout the day
Now to pick the 25 for this year....

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

She is such a sweetie

Me: Mackenna, Daddy is Grandma's kid.
Mackenna: No, he's a daddy.
Me: Yes, kids grow up into daddys.
Grandma: And daddys grow up into grandpas.
Grandpa: And grandpas get old and decrepit.
Mackenna: Like you, Grandpa?

And Later,
Me: Mackenna, who is decrepit?
Mackenna (without any hesitation): Grandpa!!


From the Micah Man

After the Awana Grand Prix:
Me: Micah, did your car go fast or slow?
Micah: Well, it was fast when it was going and slow when it was not.

At Crispers with Grandma and Grandpa for lunch:
Micah (about the salt): Can I put some of this on my cheese pizza to make it yummier?

About their little bears from the "You're All My Favorites" book:
Me: Why can't Jocelyn have the little yellow bear?
Micah: Well, Jocelyn doesn't like yellow. But I do like yellow.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

An Ordinary Day

Here is my 10 on 10 kind of day.

Curt did some multi-tasking before leaving for work.

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Jocelyn really enjoyed some time in her crib with her mobile. This photo was taken probably 20 minutes after she first was placed in the crib. (That is what happens when you sleep well at night. You are happy in the morning.)

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Mackenna shows off her now marshmallow free Lucky Charms. I am a bad mother, I know.

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I like to drink OJ in a coffee mug. Everything tastes better from a coffee mug. Try it.

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This one doesn't need a caption.

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Mackenna's face shows that she spent just as much time crying in the chair behind her as she did on the floor doing puzzles.

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I spent some time nursing the baby.

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I survived a trip to the "cookie store" with three kids. I also survived a "mommy, I have to go potty" moment.

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Daddy came home for lunch and to unload the groceries. Hallelujiah.

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Micah learned that he could build this truck and put the wheels on all by himself!

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To see what other people have come up with on this 10th of the month, visit here.

ten on ten button small

Micah's bad word

The kids came home after AWANA tonight, and I asked them what they had done. Micah told me that he had "hit" Reese.

Me: "You hit her?"
Micah: "No, I hissed at her. She wouldn't let me through, so I went 'hhhhhhhhhh' at her."

Curt came in then and told me how he had found this out. They were in the van heading home, and he had asked them what they did in Cubbies. Most of what they told him revolved around the playground.

Micah: "Somebody wouldn't let me up the hill, so I said I bad word."
Curt, extremely perplexed: "What did you say?"
Micah: "I said 'hhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you will not do that.' (in his best, deepest cat voice)

It all made sense to Curt now. As previously mentioned, we have a cat that says bad things/words.

Curt: "Don't hiss at people."

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Think they're related?




Clockwise from Top Left -
Jocelyn at 7 weeks
Micah at almost 2 months
Jocelyn again (same picture)
Mackenna at 6 and a half months

Alternate title for this post probably could be, "Still think Jocelyn looks like her sister??"

Turning a Corner?

Quick update on life with Jocelyn. First of all, she is 7 weeks old and is hanging right in there at the 50th percentile, weighing in at 10 pounds 5.5 ounces. It seems like a crazy amount of weight gain for me, but she isn't growing in the percentiles, just maintaining. Crazy that that amount of chub is required to just be "average."
We are still doing Zantac doses with her; we think they are helping. Also, I have cut most obvious dairy out of my diet; started on November 1st. I don't read labels of baked goods, but other than that I am avoiding dairy. Again, it seems to be helping, but it really is just a giant guessing game.

Nighttime is going better. We had just been pretty laid back about any form of nighttime routine. She would hang out in the living room with her daddy and I until her late night feeding. I didn't mind this, but it really wasn't working well. She wasn't getting the "night memo." After all of her night feedings (which haven't stretched out past three or four hours apart), she would expect wake time like she usually had during the day. It is difficult to love and appreciate a wide awake baby at 3 am. So for about the last 6 nights, we have been purposefully trying to create a nighttime aura around our house.


Either while or just after the twins go to bed, so sometime between 8 and 9, Jocelyn gets a bath (we have started using her baby bathtub in the kitchen sink). She then gets lubed up with baby oil and put into her jammies back in our room (on my antique dresser turned changing table). The lights get turned down, and I nurse her. While nursing, I play a lullaby pandora station on my phone. After nursing, I will rock her for a bit, singing our traditional trio of songs (Jesus Loves Me, Oh How He Loves You and Me, and Oh How I Love Jocelyn) and praying for her (usually working her name tribute into the prayer - finding her joy in the Lord and joyfully giving thanks to the Father for his work in her life). She is usually awake still at this point, but hopefully relaxed. We then swaddle her and lay her in her pack-n-play bassinet, either in our bedroom, the bathroom, or the darkened living room (depending on where we need to be for the next few hours). We do have sound on for her - either her white noise machine or the humidifier (she caught the kids' cold - bummer). I would say that of the 6 nights we have done this, she has probably put herself to sleep with no extra rocking or bouncing for 3 of the nights. This is progress for us. The greater progress has come in the fact that after her nighttime feedings, she has gone back to sleep after being laid down for probably 80% of them - major hallelujiah. (Her first night of 100% going back to sleep after feedings came Sunday night - the night that she was the sickest with her cough - weird and precious child.)

I would say she is waking up happier in the morning and has generally been less fussy (even though she is wheezing and sick). Not sure if this is the medicine, diet, or sleep routine, but we'll take it.
So, for a variety of reasons, we still aren't on a "schedule" - but our current "normal" looks something like this: Feeding every 3ish hours during the day (sometimes less), with about an hour of wake time and then two hours of nap (on belly...shhh....in her bassinet), "bedtime" around 9, feedings around 12, 3, 6, 9 AM.
Oh, and she may be warming up to the idea of having siblings.




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Grown up conversations with my oldest daughter

Curt and I were able to go on a date on Monday night, with our favorite little sidekick, Miss J. Before we left, Mackenna asked us why we were going.

Me: "We are going to on a date because we love each other."
M: "You love each other because you got married?"

That comment made me smile, but it also made me think. I obviously love Curt for more reasons than just because "I married him." But I can think of many worse lessons for my daughter to learn in her life than to love her husband because they got married. It would say a lot for the commitment and permanence. Although, I do plan on showing her a true, growing, committed, passionate, appreciative love that I have for my wonderful husband (who let me sleep in this morning to try and fight off this cold going around our house).

----

When I got home, I went to check on the kids. Mackenna was wide awake and asked me where I went.
Me: "I went to dinner."
M: "Was it fun?"
Me: "Yes"
M: "What did you eat?"
Me: "A chicken sandwich"
M: "Oh yummy." (Smelling my stomach) "I can smell it in your belly."


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Right back at you, sweetie

Mom - After breakfast we are going to do some chores.
Mackenna - What chores are we going to do?
Mom - Cleaning up the house.
Mack - But I don't want to do that kind of chore.

Halloween Hearings

Trick or Treating with my kids was SOOO much fun this year. Here are a few things we heard throughout the day and along the way.

Mackenna: "Is it trick or treat now?" and "Where is trick or treat?"

Micah (as it was starting to get dark during trick or treat): "It's going to be our bedtime soon."

At one house, a man told the kids to take at least three pieces of candy. My friend Rachel told her daughter that it was because she was three years old. At the next house her daughter told the lady that she got three because she was three. Hahaha.

After it was over, we told Mackenna we were going to stop by Aunt Marcia and Uncle Bruce's house. She responded by saying, "Trick or Treating again!!??"

I asked the kids some questions during the day.
"What is your favorite part of Halloween?"
- Dressing up
- Eating candy

"Do you need to be scared of anything we see tonight?"
- No, just go hold mommy's hand and tell her about it
"Why shouldn't we be scared?"
- Because it's not real

Micah: "When is it going to be Halloween again?"
Me: "Next year."
Both: "We get to have Halloween again next year!!"

Mackenna: "Is it Easter yet?"

Oh, sweet girl. Good thing your daddy loves you.

Otherwise, he would probably have puked during this conversation...


Curt and Mackenna were sitting with Baby Jocelyn and Mackenna left (read: Jocelyn stopped getting smothered by Mackenna.)
Curt: "Mackenna, are you going potty?" (She was hiding behind the chair, and we have been having issues with this recently.)
Mackenna: "No"
(Mackenna comes out chewing on something.)
Curt: "What are you eating?"
(She does her famous shoulders shrugged, head tilted thing.)
Mackenna: "I can't explain it...I don't remember what its called, but it's from my nose."
(Curt tries not to laugh.)
Curt: "Don't do that."
Mackenna: "But I do it all the time."
(Curt now tries not to puke.)





It happens to the best of us, buddy

I guess it isn't just the old folks.

Micah, on his way out of the room where only I was: "I'm going to go potty. I'll be right back Mackenna. I mean, I'll be right back Micah. I mean, I'll be right back Mommy."

My munchkins crack me up

Micah, in the van the other day: "I'm having trouble getting my sock on my hand."

Mackenna, on her way to the doctor: "My nose has sniffs."

Micah, an actual but typical conversation with his sister: "If you will play dinosaurs, I will be happy, but right now I am not. If you don't play with me, I will not play dinosaurs. I will not play anything."
Mackenna: "I'll play dinosaurs."
Micah: "Okay, you can be the mom."

Micah, about his knight helmet from a garage sale: "Oh no, my helmet is cracking. Maybe I wore it too hard."

Things said by both of them, showing they are learning letters, but obviously still have room for growth:
"Ru Ru Ring....Mom, can you tell me what letter starts with Ru?"
"Hey, B starts with Butterfly."

Micah: "We are going to go have quesadillas? Oh, are we going to Chipotle?"

Mackenna: "You are not an old lady mama."
Micah: "You are not a lady mommy."


Micah, while playing talking cars: "All the bad cars live with the sheriff."


Mackenna: "Mommy, what did you get from the doctor?"
Me: "Nothing."
Mackenna: "Did you get a sticker?"

Micah, about our first family game night: "Chutes and Ladders AND Popcorn!!??"

Micah, after dad let him climb in our bed at 6:15 AM (stupid time change): "I love you daddy."

Mackenna, to Curt, about some bent horseshoes: "No, you didn't bend those daddy. A big, strong man did."


(What happens when you go for a drive around 5:30 PM on a day when no one took naps.)