Happy 2nd Birthday Ramey!!

Wow... 2 years old!!!

Ramey had a great birthday week...

Monday ~ Tot time at the library

Tuesday ~ Playgroup at the park followed by a play date with Mia, Molly, Whistler, Sadie & Olivia

Wednesday ~ Special dinner of homemade mac-n-cheese followed by cupcakes and practice candles (Ron thought he might have to work late on Thur so we did an early b-day dinner)

Thursday ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Great start to the day with pancakes then Playgroup at the park and then my 2 year old thought she was too old to take a nap... finally fell asleep around 245. After a short nap it was back to the park for Story time and Kathryn & Kiley brought her cupcakes. Ron surprised us and came home for dinner... her first birthday dinner at a bar!!! Highdive! Then more cupcakes at home.

Friday ~ Relaxing morning at home before Aunt Donna & Grandma Betty arrived.

Saturday ~ Party day

We had a small party at the house with a small group of friends and family. The kids all had a great time running about laughing and giggling

Sunday ~ Nana & Papa stayed and we went to church then out to brunch...

It was a great week!!! All the while working on potty training... which is improving

Peas, Yank You & Saw-ee

I am very proud of my polite little girl!!! She has been saying please for a while and sorry has been around for a few weeks, last week something that sounds like your welcome was overheard... This weekend thank you emerged. Most of the time they are used without much prompting too!! Momma is so proud!!

I just hope she continues to use them...

A few more frequently heard phrases:

~ I want ______ (cheese, fruit, apple, melon, etc)

~Les go

~ Yeah, ok!?!

~ Lefty stay (she now makes the dog stay in her room when she goes to sleep)

~ Sit down (sounds like "see dow")

~ Baby s-eeping & baby eatin' (She is finally able to say "Ethan"* but still calls him baby)

~Dadda work/Dadda bus

~Momma/Dadda talk (phones)

~All done & No more

~ Momma cooken

~Wha do-ing? (over and over again)

~Waz dat?

~I jumping

Yesterday I even heard an "I need help"

*The progression to Ethan... E T (which ironically are his initials), Eh-ta, Eeeten and finally Ethan

I just love hearing her little voice... I wish I could box it up and save it forever. (although the whiney I could live with out, my have to get the whiney box from my parents LOL) We are working on using our words... somedays are better than others

Ethan is also starting to become more vocal... his little ooh's & ahh's just melt my heart and make me smile... enjoying every minute with the little bug

Nature Museum

In memory of Grandma Cheryl, we took a trip to the Nature Museum

She loved nature and being outside so we felt a trip to the butterfly garden would be a great way to remember her.

Ramey and Ethan had a great time

Cooken'

Ramey loves to "help" in the kitchen.

Whenever I cook, she is right there ready to help...

She likes to help pour and stir...

We made peach muffins:

and she did a great job helping make pancakes this weekend!

And while I was cooking the pancake, Ramey "played" with Lefty

I have since learned that once you have a toddler help you in the kitchen, they will always want to help... on the plus side she likes to "help" unload the dishwasher!!

Potty Training

I feel like we've been in a potty training holding pattern for a long time...

The last month or so of my pregnancy, Ramey really started to show some interest in potty training, but given my state, it wasn't something I was ready to tackle but got the potty chair, the big girl panties, m&m's and pull-ups... Every now and then she would sit but we never had much success, we had 1 or 2 instances when we "caught" it and timed it right.

Well I'm feeling back to normal and am able to bend over so I'm ready to put a little more attention into potty training, I just hope Ramey doesn't fight me too much and still has some interest in doing it... I also would like to get it somewhat underway sooner than later, as next week we start some classes.

I was starting to worry that we had missed the window and we were going to really struggle... The m&m's have taken that worry away!

Day 1 - Monday
I decided to give potty training more attention... Got Ramey to sit on the potty chair but only for a few seconds, she then wanted a pull-up... No biggie will just set the timer and have her sit every 15-20 mins and keep her water cup full. She stayed dry all morning but no success on the potty chair... After nap she went diaper free.. a few accidents but a success too!!

Day 2 -Tuesday
"pee pee on the potty... pee pee on the potty" Success, first thing in the morning!! A few more hits (and misses) thru out the day.

Day 3- Wednesday
Just like Tuesday... She is wanting to sit more...that and she knows she'll get a chocolate when she sits, looks like it might be time to up the ante

Day 4 - Thursday
More of the same... when home she is diaper free and is getting closer... we are having more hits than misses, even caught a poo!!! Not sure if I'm ready to tackle the outside world... at least the park has a bathroom, which we did visit this week...

Day 5 - Friday
We are on the right track!!! Definitely getting closer... Still taking her to sit every hour, but she is starting to head there on her own, sometimes right after she has already gone... but that's a start!

First thing Saturday morning she asked for the potty and went!!! Mornings are better than afternoons, but we are getting there!

Next week is the first week of a bunch of classes/play groups so may stick to pull ups while we are out but visit the potty before, during and after... very excited to be cutting down on our diaper purchase...

Potty training with an infant in the house has presented its own set of difficulties... it never fails that she has to go (and/or goes) while I'm with Ethan, even if she just sat (or it could be a ply for more attention... hmmm) I do see the light at the end of the tunnel

4-6 Weeks

Once again, time is going by WAY too fast!

Hard to believe my little man is six weeks old!!!

He is getting so big (4 week stats)
Weight: 9lbs 2.5oz (25-50%)
Height: 21 1/2" (50-75%)

His neck is getting stronger everyday... He is really starting to hold it up high, so high that he has rolled over a few times!! (Will work on getting video of it)

AND we've gotten a few baby smiles and giggles!! (really need to get the video camera out)

A little grin

I really didn't want any more baby paraphernalia in my living room but at the end of one extra fussy day, I decided to get out the swing... So glad I did!! He LOVES it!! (so does Ramey!!) Naps have improved since starting to use it! (as long as Ramey doesn't help "push" it) Night time sleep is going well... up 2-3 times to eat but he's right back to sleep most times. Every couple of days I get a 5-6 hour stretch (unfortunately typically starting at 7 or 8)

We are getting out of the house a little more, mainly to the park... We got the wheel board for the stroller so going for walks have gotten much easier. Running errands is still a challenge, but a baby carrier will solve that!

A quick shot of Ramey getting her baby ready to run some errands

She makes a great big sister and mommy's little helper!

Bath time

Just shy of 3 weeks, Ethan's bellybutton fell off... however when this happened the bellybutton didn't look completely healed, so we opted to wait a few more days to do bath time...

The time finally came... Sorry little man, but you get to use your sisters old bathtub for a few months... (I like it 'cause it fits nicely on the sink) Please don't hold it against us!

Ramey helped too

He did very well and really enjoyed his first bath! Hope the trend continues (will load video later)

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As I mentioned in a previous post, we had a potential leak in the tub in our bathroom, so we stopped using it for a while... well Ramey still need to be cleaned...

Luckily the handheld shower head in the guest bathroom is the perfect height!!!

To say that she LOVES to take a shower is an understatement! She is always asking to take a "shaw-oh"

All clean!

She even will use the squeegy to clean the glass

Nighty Night

We have a fairly well established night time routine...

-bath (or now shower ~ see end note)

-jammies

-gathering of the bedtime necessities... blankie, baby, water... oh and the dog

That's right, Lefty is required to attend story time... she is such a good sport, she even knows when its time and will head towards the bedroom with us, we don't even need to call her! It's almost like Lefty has an internal clock that tells her when bedtime is and will automatically head to Ramey's room before we say anything about bedtime.

Once we have everything, it's story time...

If you've had the pleasure of putting Ramey to bed, you know that story time is not short nor easy... She has a collection of books which she wants read in a certain order... she will request books but not by the title, so you must be a little skilled at Ramey-ease.

After "boosh" time, we sing a few songs... "Tinkle, tinkle" would be a favorite; followed closely by "Bus" (wheels on the bus)

~ We had an issue/leak with the tub a few weeks ago so we had to use the guest bathroom which is only a shower... a rainshower head and a hand held shower head, which is mounted at the perfect height for Ramey... She now LOVES taking showers!!!

2 & 3 weeks

Two Weeks

I love how he crosses his feet!

Our first week home alone(ish)... so far so good!

All our "help" has headed home, so it's just the four of us now!!! It was wonderful having the help but it's nice to start working on/getting back into a routine.

Ethan and Lefty just hanging out

We went for Ethan's 2 week WBV Sunday.
weight 7-14
height 21
head 14
(The Dr didn't give us his percentiles)

Although he is gaining, the ped wants us back again next week for another weight check since he didn't make it back to his birthweight. We went thru this with Ramey, so am familiar with the drill... I guess I grow big-ish babies but make tall skinny kids. I'd be more worried if he didn't grow in length as well... but he is up an inch and half from birth.

As for me, I'm doing well and healing nicely...only need my meds occasionally (usually when I've over done it) but Ron has been great at entertaining Ramey in an attempt to keep me from over doing it. He even took her to see her first movie this week!!! (Toy Story 3) Jealous I wasn't there but glad they got in some daddy/daughter bonding time.

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Started this with the intent to post it durning week 2, but here I sit at 3 1/2 weeks without it posted... oops!

WEEK 3

We went in for our weight check on Sunday and Ethan was up to 8lbs 8oz!! I knew he would be fine with his weight gain but wasn't about to argue with the ped (it is neat to watch them gain and know how much they weigh) His jaundice is pretty much gone, even his eyes are almost back to normal. We go back on the 26th for his 4 week WBV... wow, 1 month... where does the time go!

He isn't a huge fan of tummy time, but it's a must! His neck is getting stronger and he is getting better at holding his head up! Overall he has been sleeping very well... every now and then I get a 5+ hour stretch at night, will be nice when it's a consistent thing...

Ramey "helping" with tummy time

This week was my first week home alone with 2 kids!!! We even made it out of the house, once... will shoot for twice next week! My daily goal of a shower, make-up and making the bed was met completely most days... It's amazing how much better I feel when I am able to accomplish these simple things, now I just need to try to have them all done before noon! (may be a challenge giving that the shower tends to take place while Ramey is napping, although once this week, she got to go swimming* while I showered (*play in the tub thanks to separate tub/shower)

Ramey does very well with Ethan... she asks to hold him and loves to give him kisses... and tell him "shh" to help him get to sleep. She even tries to get him to take his pacifier! (If only I could get her to help with diaper changes LOL)

Enough, mama... Time to go play!

Ramey initially refused to let Ethan use the bouncer... whenever we tried it was a massive screaming fit... Luckily things have changed:

Enjoying an afternoon on the deck:

Week 1

Well it's more like day 11, but close enough...

We all are doing well... eating well, sleeping well and pooping well (the jaundice is clearing up nicely)

A few pics:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QbN2blmzbsX0g

Camera fun... edits:
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QbN2blmzbsX4Q

Donna and Grandma Betty have been her all week helping me and taking care of/entertaining Ramey