A Little Shut Eye Goes a Long Way

We are finally ready to get Rudy back to his normal sleep/nap schedule.  Between the holidays, Avery, and the excitement of John being around 24/7, Rudy has really resisted naps and bedtime.  We have tried just about everything to get him to sleep, and to stay that way.  After several nights of waking up multiple times, and many missed or nonproductive naps (as in he spends the majority of naptime crying in his crib), Rudy has gone several nights sleeping from around 7-7:30 pm to 6:00-6:30 am.  

Bedtime:  Check. 

Naps, on the other hand...I'm at a loss.  I honestly don't know what to do.  "Crying it out" doesn't seem to work because he cries for the entire nap, which in turn means he gets no nap and is a complete nightmare the rest of the day.  Part of me thinks we just need to be persistent with making him stay in his crib and tough out the bad days (like all the books say)... but then he will fall asleep easily with John in our bed, or on the couch watching a show.  And its real easy to give in to that method when he wakes up happy!  For whatever reason, he flips out whenever we try and lay him in his crib at naptime.  Bedtime is fine and has been, but naps...not a chance.  Unfortunately, he doesn't just lay down and fall asleep with me (at least not regularly).  So what's a mom to do?!  I can't possibly drive him around every day -- what a chore to pack up two kids just to get one to sleep.  Not to mention, it's cold out there!  And c'mon, that'd be a bit ridiculous.

Day 1 being home with both kids alone:  From 12:30-1:00 I attempted to get Rudy to fall asleep with me in our bed, watching a movie on the computer.  The kid was jumping around, laughing, trying to touch buttons on the computer -- no signs of slowing down and being onry (and obviously on purpose).  So I took him in his room to rock.  He flipped out, but then fell asleep within a few minutes.  (Now this is when Avery starts to squirm and could use my attention)  As I stood up, he woke up and lost it.  I told him we could go back in my bed, but he had to calm down and go night-night.  He nodded and cuddled back on my shoulder.  However, 2 minutes of being on our bed and he was back to his antics.  So back to his room we went.  Only this time he did not settle down and I had to put him in his crib -- considering I do have another child that was in the hallway needing me.  He screamed for 15 minutes, then laid down and was quiet for about 10 minutes.  Off and on for the next 1.5 hours, he was screaming or quiet -- always laying down, just refusing to fall asleep.  "Crying it out" at night always worked because he eventually fell asleep.  But I can't leave him in there all day -- hence, to him he "wins" because I go back and get him before he has a real nap.  Ugh.  

It is a constant struggle for me.. and then there's John -- I walked out of the living room to make lunch the other day only to walk back in and find them this way... seriously?!

Cute as a Button...Belly that is!

Avery finally lost her umbilical chord!!  Woo-hoo!!  It took her almost 3 weeks to get rid of, and I am so happy... bring on the normal baths, onesies, and the cute little pant outfits!

Avery seems to be getting bigger and fuller, but she is still sporting her newborn clothes.  I keep pulling out her 0-3 month sizes, but end up putting them away because she is just not quite there.

And since we are talking cute... 

One night several months ago I was giving Rudy a bath and put this little plastic bug on my head.  I then acted like I didn't know it was there and when Rudy pointed it out, I squealed and pretended to want it off my head right away, saying "Ah!  Ah!  There's a bug on my head!!  Get it off!!"  Rudy found it hilarious.  And the game, "There's a bug on ____'s head" was born.  Now Rudy will put it on his head and put his arms out, like "Where's the bug?"  And when we tell him, "there's a bug on your head!" he quickly shakes it off while squealing.  

Or he will put the bug on someone else's head and expect the same reaction... 

Much to Rudy's dismay, Avery just laid there.

Rudy pointing out Avery's nose

Avery is increasingly alert and awake these days.  She spends a couple hours during the day and a couple hours in the evening, in spurts, of being awake and checking things out.  We love having her up and playful!

2013!

I'd like to refer back to the post I did for New Years Eve at the turn of 2012...

"We have had some amazing, big milestones happen in the last few years...

2009:  Bought, redid, and moved into our house

2010:  Got married

2011:  Had our precious Rudy

2012:  ??  Maybe we are in need of a simple, not life-changing event filled year!  But then again, who knows what it will bring?!"

So let's try this again...

We have had some amazing, big milestones happen in the last few years...

2009:  Bought, redid, and moved into our house

2010:  Got married

2011:  Had our precious Rudy

2012:  Bought, redid, moved into our house, and had our precious Avery (wowza!)

2013:  ??  I'd say we are definitely, absolutely, positively in need of a simple, not life-changing event filled year!

Once again, we spent the end of the year celebrating Jorja's birthday -- look out for this adorable 2-year old!

Her party was at Cherry Berry, a self-serve frozen yogurt place.  Sugar overload!  Rudy had a blast.  Cheesing it up with a mouth full of cookies (Oreos - his fav)

Again this year, we had dinner and drinks with the Allotey's and Leonard's while Gran and Papa watched the kids.  And of course, Gran brought the party hats!

Rudy was diggin the hats, but not so much the camera.  We couldn't get him to cooperate, but he was in party-spirits, too!

It was my first time away from Avery during a feeding.  I was nervous, as you can imagine, about how it would go so the night before John did a test-drive with the bottle -- just in case she wouldn't take it, etc. so I would be there for back-up.  The girl is a guzzler!  She did great taking it, but sucked it down a bit too fast.  Even with John stopping her several times, she projectile vomited all over.  That was the third or forth time she had done that, and its usually always been after she eats in a hurry!  So we told Gran to slow her down... and they did great!  Phew!  

It's always hard leaving my babes.  I look forward to John and I having time together without kids and I think it will be fine, and I'll be fine, etc. and just as we head out the door I can't help but tear up.  When does that stop?!  Because it always is fine.  We had a great time and the kids were in great hands.  And really, it was only a few hours!   ...I'll blame it on those post-pregnancy hormones for now!

Avery's first bottle

A great way to end a great year!  

Happy 2013 - may it be filled with lots of love, health, happiness, and good memories!!

Christmas 2012

First off, I have to admit, as much as I hate it, I have not been on my game with taking pictures since Avery has been born.  "They" all say this would happen and I was convinced that wouldn't be the case with me, but three weeks later and I already am feeling like I've "missed some shots."  I'm working on that, though!

Christmas Eve was not as we had planned (as mentioned in my last post), but luckily we didn't have much planned anyway.  And being less than 100%, it forced us to slow down and just "be" for an entire day, which ended up being really nice.  

After Rudy and Avery went to bed, Santa came!

Stockings all stuffed

Rudy was SO excited when he walked into the living room on Christmas morning.  He actually slept in until almost 7:30, so he was in great spirits.  He ran out with his arms extended, laughing, and saying "Wow" -- he wasn't sure where to stop even.  He kept pacing back and forth between his new slide, the unwrapped toys, and all the presents.  It was hysterical.  

Rudy, on top of the world, on his new slide.

He's a champ at climbing up and sliding down -- but tends to take the safe route on his belly, feet first.  Or he also loves taking his cars and trains up and rolling them down the slide

Rudy had LOTS and LOTS of presents to open.  We expected it to take awhile, but he was surprisingly good at ripping them open and gasping at what he would find...and then want to quickly move on to the next.

Tearing through his presents

Cracking up at his new book made of all pictures of Rufus

Tools!
We had to stop occasionally to open up something and give it some quick play-time...

 ...like his hammer that was quickly put to use.
Working on the hoop

Avery enjoying her Christmas present, doing what she does best.

Gran, Papa, Uncle Tony, and Patrick came over in the morning and brought even more presents for Rudy to open and to have breakfast with us.  Papa brought his biscuits and gravy and John made his traditional Christmas morning snowman pancakes.  It took almost all morning to get through the presents and have breakfast, but what a great morning!

Snowman pancakes

A new tradition this year, opening new pajamas on Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning in our Christmas pajamas.  

Grandpa and Grandma Cicci were out of town visiting the Keough's, but we were sure to get some FaceTime in with them.  Rudy showed them all his new toys and all his tricks.  He loves chatting it up with his cousins!  

After all that excitement, we got dressed and ready to go to Gran and Papa's to continue our Christmas celebrations!  All of our family from Gran's side came over for dinner and presents.  Avery got lots of snuggle action (while she slept soundly the majority of the time) and Rudy was soaking up all the attention.  

Another favorite Christmas tradition, Christmas sweaters.
A little background:  The Christmas before Gran's dad (my Papa) passed away, he bought all his daughters and daughter-in-laws some beautiful poinsettia Christmas sweaters.  Since then, they have all worn their sweaters on Christmas day.  And sure enough, a few years ago, the next generation were gifted some poinsettia Christmas sweaters that we proudly wear on Christmas day as well.

Modeling our most beautimous Christmas sweaters

Three of my favorite guys

But the fun didn't stop on Christmas day.  Aunt Maria came in town from DC a couple days later and Grandpa and Grandma Cicci were home so we were able to celebrate Christmas with them and the Burke's shortly after.  It worked out really nice.  We were able to spend lots of time with both families without having to travel back and forth all in one day.

Rudy modeling his new shoes (CP3's) from Grandma Cicci with help from her shopping partners Mark and Michael who insisted Rudy had to have these shoes.
He is obsessed with them!  He hasn't taken them off since.  He cries when they have to come off for naptime and bedtime and he gets them first thing in the morning.  One morning he wanted them on so bad, but they wouldn't fit over his onesie pajamas so we took his pajamas off and he had breakfast in his diaper and shoes (all to avoid a complete meltdown, which he has mastered the art of).  Everywhere we go or anyone we see, he points to his shoes to show them off.  He is something else (and definitely an offspring of John's).

We all were very fortunate with our Christmas gifts this year...Rudy has enough toy to keep him busy for months (let's hope!), Avery will be dressed to impress with all the adorable new additions to her wardrobe, and a good-sized donation to add to their college funds.

John and I were given a priceless certificate...

For anyone who is familiar with my mom's cleaning, you'll agree this is an AMAZING gift!!

And "Life with Rudy" in print!

Gran had the blog turned into a bound, hard cover book from Rudy's birth to his one-year check-up.  All 284 pages!  Wowza!!

And you might see us out and about in our new double-stroller!  It's going to be so great to be able to take both of the kids with me with ease!...and some serious walks when this weather warms up!!

We had such a great Christmas, but most importantly, we are so blessed to have such great family to spend it with!

A House on Injured Reserve

John had been taking Rudy with him to the gym every morning since Avery was just a few days old. The gym has a free daycare so Rudy gets to get out, play with other kids, interact with other adults; John gets to work out every day (and usually with people he works with so I imagine there's some socializing in there too!); and I get about 2 hours at home with just me and Avery (which usually is enough time for a shower and a feeding! And maybe a bath for Miss Avery, too).

It's been working out great...until Christmas Eve.  John came home early while I was still in the shower.  He yelled at me through the door that he had hurt himself and had to go to the ER.  I was speechless immediately concerned.  John has to basically be on his death bed to go to the doctor, so I knew it must be serious.  I could tell he was in a lot of pain and he was very upset...this was not how we had envisioned our first Christmas Eve as a family of four.  When he returned home they had told him he "must have just pulled something" due to what motion he had and gave him some pain killers, a shot for the inflammation, and a sling.  He was told it would be 4-6 weeks to heal.  Considering John's job, this was some pretty awful news.  Not only did we have a 10 day old baby, but also a crazy 16 month old -- and now two parents on pain meds who aren't supposed to lift more than 5-10 pounds.  To top that off, I had been having bad back pain that dissipated all around to my lower abdomen for a few days.  It kept getting worse and I was feeling pretty bad, enough that I thought to take my temp.  It was 100.6.  I checked the "When to Call the Doctor" list of symptoms the hospital had given me when we left and sure enough, I should have called earlier.  It was 12:15 and the office closed at noon.  Of course.  Luckily, the telenurse was great and was able to get ahold of the ob-gyn on call who diagnosed me with an infection -- either uterine or my episiotomy.  Both would be treated with the same antibiotics, so thankfully,  I didn't have to be seen, just a quick trip to Walgreens.  If that is what was bothering me, I would be feeling better the next day.  If not, she said to go to the ER.  We were a couple of sad-sacks!  I was determined I would not be at the ER on Christmas, though... and thank God, I felt so much better even the next morning!

John, on the other hand, was not feeling much better the next morning...or the next morning...and he had swollen up like crazy and had a HUGE, super nasty bruise on his entire bicep.  He went to see his doctor the morning after Christmas, who took one look at him and said, "You had to have torn something.  I'm calling the orthopedic doctor right away."  He met with the ortho doc that afternoon, had an MRI a couple days later, and due to all the holidays and weekends, he was just able to get the results of the MRI late last week (talk about an anxious wait!).  And thank God, again, he was cleared to go back to work for his next shift.  He ended up tearing a muscle in his chest and rotators cuff, but all would heal on their own and with at-home exercises.  Best news we could have gotten.  The thought of surgery, more time off work, being "limited," etc was incredibly disheartening for John.  Luckily, this was just a little hiccup and he's been feeling better every day.

Which means the time has come for me to spend 24 hours alone as a mother of two.  Deep breaths.  I can do this.  Gran is going to come over to help out for the first shift, but I won't have that luxury next week.  I keep reminding myself how nervous and sad I was when John went back to work when it was just me and Rudy.  And how it was difficult at first, but now I would take Rudy alone any day (Sure, he's a hellion and makes it nearly impossible to get anything done, but I'm not intimidated by it and I've learned how to make it work to do what I need to do) .  So this has to be the same.  (Right???)  I'm sure it will take us some time to get a routine worked out and for everyone to adjust to just "Ma-Ma" around, but we will get there.