Happy Valentine's Day!

I know it's early, but I couldn't wait to share -- 

With help from Gran and Papa, this may be my favorite shoot yet... 

A Day in the Life...

I keep up with this blog not only to provide friends and family with updates, but also for myself and for my kids in the future.  I have gone back several times with questions for myself of "when was Rudy...?" doing this, that, or whatever else.  And I think (or hope) they will enjoy reading about their early years, too.  So while some posts everyone can enjoy, some are merely selfish and even though the public may find this "boring"...this one's for me! :)

Between 5:30 and 6:00 am:  Avery wakes up, eats, and goes right back to sleep in her bassinett

Around 6:30:  Rudy wakes up and we either snuggle in bed for a few minutes or head straight to the kitchen for breakfast

From about 7:00-8:00:  Breakfast, pump (usually 4-6 ounces), and clean up the kitchen

From about 8:00-10:00:  If John is home, he takes Rudy with him to FitClub

About 8:30-9:00:  Avery wakes up and eats

Around 9:30 to 11:30:  Our best time to get out if we have errands to run or want to do something fun.  Rudy has a snack somewhere in here, too.  Avery is usually up for most of this time - falls in and out of sleep, but is generally awake.  I usually hold her, have her in her chair, or on the ground playing, or she is perfectly content in her carseat if we are out and about.  I try to avoid using the swing too much because I don't want her to not be able to be happy anywhere else.

Between 11:30 and 12:30:  Lunch

Between 12:00 and 12:30:  Avery eats and Rudy usually watches a show (at the moment, Barney is our go-to to keep him entertained and distracted)

About 1:00 until 3:00:  Naptime!  Avery goes in her swing for a nap.  I try to get her situated and close to sleep, if not asleep, before taking Rudy back.  Then I rock Rudy in his room for about 10-15 minutes  until he falls asleep.  Sometimes Rudy's nap lasts until 2:30... other times it is as late as 3:30.

Between 2:30 and 3:30:  Whenever Rudy is up -- snack time.  Sometimes I feed Avery at the counter while Rudy eats (we are trying to keep all food eating in his chair -- Rufus follows him around too much otherwise or he just feeds Rufus instead of himself or makes a mess), but most of the time the timing works out that Rudy is back to playing while I feed Avery.

Around 3:00-3:30:  Avery starts to squirm from her slumber (I think he favorite nap is in her swing!) and is ready to eat again.

4:00 until dinner:  More "free time" or time to run errands, etc.

Between 5:00 - 6:00:  Depending on when we had snacks or what we have going on, dinner time varies a bit.

About 6:30:  Avery eats

About 7:30-7:45:  Bath time and bedtime routine starts.  Rudy gets a bath every night about 7:30 (at least as of now.  He has gradually moved his bedtime back.  We try for 7:30, but if we try and it's too early I end up rocking and reading books forever -- so basically he goes to sleep at the same time, regardless of when we start the routine.)  Then we go to his room, he picks out his pajamas, and we read books and rock until he falls asleep.

This is the one part of the day that I haven't figured out the logistics of having two kids and being by myself.  I am working on it and I am getting there, but its a work in progress right now.  This is the time that Avery is most irritable (from about 6:30 until 8:00) -- she can't get situated very easily and likes to be held, rocked, bounced, talked to, etc.  She just isn't quite content.  When John is home, it's no problem.  One does Rudy's bath and the other hangs out with Avery.  And it's not that Avery is bad at this time or difficult, she's great and happy, she just wants attention.  When John is at work, my mom or dad, or both, come over to help.  And I feel like I need them to do that right now.  I'd like to get to the point that I can do it on my own, because they may not always be available or John may want to leave to play basketball or something and I don't want to feel panicked -- how am I going to do bedtime alone??  Am I going to leave Avery to cry in one room for what could be 30 minutes, and not only does that thought seem horrible, but will Rudy even be able to fall asleep when he can hear his sister crying?? -- But Avery has been falling asleep about 8:00 lately and with Rudy's later bedtime (it used to start about 6:30), it might actually work out.  Although, I LOVE that my parents come over when John is at work because all day and all night without any other adult interaction or kids that haven't had attention from anyone besides me... well, let's just say we are all happy to see them come through the door!  And a little help is always much appreciated around here!...so I'm not really in a hurry to figure out the evening or anything! :)

About 8:00:  Avery falls asleep and I am done putting Rudy to bed (lately its been closer to 8:15-8:30).  And usually about this time I go through the list of things I thought I would do when Rudy goes to bed and quickly decide to do nothing instead because I am exhausted.  I spend my free minutes throughout the day picking up the kitchen, doing dishes, at least one load of laundry a day, putting away clothes, picking up toys...basically going in circles...its messy, its clean, its messy, its clean.  We typically pick up and clean up before bed.  It feels good to start "fresh" in the mornings...but after all of that, I have no more energy for "extras."  

Anywhere between 9:30 and 11:00:  Avery eats for the last time of the day.

Throughout the night Avery will squirm or start to wake up, but I am quick to give her her pacey, rub her tummy, and shush her back to sleep.  I read (who is annoyed when I start sentences out this way??) that babies go through sleep cycles and they will "wake" several times (more just stir in their sleep, make some noises, but not actually "wake up").  Moms often think they are waking because they want to eat, so they feed them (which actually wakes them up, when they really are still sleeping), and then the baby becomes used to eating at this time and then comes to expect it...so breaking the nighttime feedings becomes difficult and "sleeping through the night" is a ways down the road.  <---- this was me with Rudy.  He didn't sleep all night without eating until about 4 or 5 months.  If I thought Avery was hungry, I would of course feed her.  But she goes right back to sleep and never even cries.  And I know the girl.  If she was hungry, she wouldn't accept the pacey and would start her whimpers.  And that usually happens between 5:00 and 6:00 am.

The approximate 4 nights of me getting to sleep all night (with the occasional popping in the pacey), has made a HUGE difference in my energy level!  For the first time in months, I am feeling energized and even think about doing things besides what has to be done, the "extras"...like I am feeling motivated to come up with some new recipes for next week...something different and healthy.  And I started thinking about doing some projects around the house and working out again.  It feels good.  I wondered if that would ever come back, or if it was always going to be so exhausting with the two.  I think it must just take some time to catch up and adjust.

I still feel calm and not nearly as stressed as I used to be, or as I was when Rudy was young.  I think I've learned that things always have a way of working themselves out.  Sure, I still worry and try and plan things, but it's not consuming my every thought.  I am very content and happy with our routine and life with the two.  It's a really great feeling, I don't even know how to put it into words.

This routine will likely change again in no time.  It always seems like whenever we get it figured out, something else changes.  But I've worked with this schedule and adjusted as need be, all while keeping the peace (and by that I mean working it out so that both kids don't need me at the same time...its no accident how the timing of the day worked out!...minus the whole bedtime part).  I used to think about weeks or months in advance and worry, "how is this going to work when I go back to work/when we go on vacation/when we have that event/etc" -- but now, I don't worry about it.  Who knows what our routine will be like then?  And I'll "adjust" it as need be when the time comes!  And really, if we get off for a day or two, no major harm done.  We will get back to good.   

Pictures to come soon!   

Closer to Two

This little man is officially closer to age 2, than age 1.  Rudy is 18 months and 1 day old today.  

My baby is growing up too fast.  

We had Rudy's 18-month wellness check this morning and he did great.  No shots and the doctor said everything looks good and he is right on track.  

Stats: 

Weight: 25.6 pounds (69 percentile)

Height: 33.75 inches (89 percentile)

Head: 48.8 (86 percentile)

Our big homework assignment is speech.  She said, on average, 18 month olds speak 4-5 words and by 2, they speak 50 (with a swing in range of up to 300+).  At first we looked at each other like, "Shoot.  He doesn't talk at all."  But she also said sounds count (like consistent sounds for things)... so we got to thinking and, for the record, Rudy can say:

1. No

2. Yes

3. Dada

4. Mama

5. Papa

6. Ruff (or Arf-Arf)

7. Moo

8. Wow

We think he thinks he is saying words, but it all comes out sounding the same.  Some days he gets a babbling and I'd just love to know what is going through his head because he looks and acts like he is giving someone (or Rufus) an earful.  He understands us very well and communicates in his own way -- lots of pointing, yelling, etc.  He is sure to get his point across and he is awfully bossy lately.  He points to where we each have to sit, where he wants his food on his plate, and what clothes he wants to wear.

Rudy and his best friend

Rudy checking out the fish at Scheels.  

He walked up and took a seat.  And then bossed Gran into doing the same.

Rudy LOVES cheese.  He eats his fair share of shredded cheese, mostly because we can't get it out of the refrigerator without him going crazy until he gets some.  Gran was over and didn't know about this infatuation when she got out the shredded cheese to make lasagna.  Rudy just about leapt out of her arms to get in as much as he could.  She looked up at us with eyes wide, "He really likes this stuff!"

Avery was all eyes for Rudy.  He keeps her pretty occupied when she is awake!

 And he likes her quite a bit, too!

 "Rudy don't leave.  Stay here with me!"

Rudy is a fan favorite around our house :)

Avery's Baptism

Avery's baptism was beautiful.  The mass at Blessed Sacrament was so nice and we just love Father Grant.  He did a great job with the baptism ceremony and we couldn't be happier.

Avery was all smiles before we headed out the door...

 ...and was looking quite beautiful!

Avery's Godparents, Kevin and Jennifer Burke

Father Grant with Avery

 Rudy wasn't quite sure what was going on, but he was definitely taking it all in.  

Little Miss slept through the entire ceremony except when Father poured water on her head...but it hardly bothered her.  She just popped her eyes open real quick, looked around, then fell right back to sleep.

After the mass we invited everyone over to our house for breakfast.  John made some delicious egg casseroles, Papa made gravy for biscuits, and we had lots of fruit and yogurt, donuts, juices, coffee, and of course cake!  Our camera died at the mass (of course!) and I forgot to take pictures back at the house, but it was so great seeing everyone and spending time together.  Avery is a blessed little girl.

Avery with "Aunt" Kate (who traveled all the way from Western Springs to see her!)

February 3, 2013 also happened to be the Super Bowl.  Dawn and Kate's train didn't leave Springfield until 7 pm, so we had a mini Super Bowl party at home -- we colored, ate football shaped brownies (thanks to Dawn), and Gran cooked up some delicious Super Bowl food (chili cheese nachos and lasagna -- yumm!).    

Then we had a quiet evening at home, just our family of four and Rufus, to watch the rest of the game.  

...oh just a couple of dudes, watching football... 

 Rudy is shirtless, in case you didn't notice (food from the day took its toll on his clothes!)

What a GREAT day!