Get out of Jail Free Card

When she smiles at me, I forgive her anything.

16 Month Old + Phone = BAD

Note to self:

When preparing dinner, always make sure that your 16 month old infant daughter is nowhere near the phone. Otherwise you'd best prepare yourself for the impending arrival of the Sheriff's department asking about the 911 call that ended in a hang up and consequent investigation.

Thanks Bella - you're already starting trouble with the law.

Look what "I" made Mommy!!

My dear sweet Annabel is - beautiful, funny, and lovable. She is also cranky, sleepless and clingy. There is give and take, it's to be expected. So it really should have come as no surprise when she unveiled her new favorite "thing" - if you will.

My sweet baby girl loves to play with her poop. The first few times I figured: dirty diaper + too small = hands in poop. But I got smart to her game when I saw her grunting and reaching into her diaper.

What started out as something we all laughed about has now turned into the most repulsive game of cat and mouse. Now I hawk eye her with one thought churning in my brain -

Must.Not.Let.Baby.Play.With.Poop.

My husband, of course, thinks it's funny, reminding me she is just sharing what she so proudly "made herself". I think this weekend I'll leave him for a few hours alone with her. I don't think he'll find it so funny when it's his shirt, hands and potentially face, covered in steaming shit.

Annabel, so adorable, so sweet...so disgusting.

I never thought I'd hear...

Vincent and Logan : MOMMY! There's a french fry in the toilet!

**LOUD FLUSH**

Vincent and Logan: Bye bye, french fry!!

Seriously, I never thought I'd ever hear that. As for the real world. My PC finally just went ka-plow and we had to order a new one. The one one arrived and I just have to get my email back up and running. I hope no one has emailed me and I've not responded, if so, you know why. Now I will be back to speed and blogging more often (2 weeks for an entry, blasphemy!!)

I survived fall break but I'm sure some new gray hair is forming under my impressive Feria dye job. I also found out my thyroid issues have returned. At first I thought I needed to lay off the food, but now I know no dieting in this world will help.

And to all you husbands out there (and wives too). If your spouse has snot spread across their shirts from your offspring, gaping at him/her with mouth wide isn't exactly helping. Just lift your jaw and curb your disgust and tell us "hey, you have snot all over you!" Then we can go change and not feel like a total douche when the FedEx guy arrives and stares like we're the most disgusting creature since Smeagol.

And finally, a picture of the baby girl. She's growing so fast!!

No Rest for the Weary

Remember that little entry of mine entitled "Craptastic" where I shared my usual sleep time is around 4 hours that is constantly interrupted? Well, the sandman just jacked me again, thanks to that little bundle of joy named Annabel.

The last few weeks she has become increasingly difficult when it comes to sleep cycles. She wakes anywhere from 1-6 times per night. Each time I will check her and if she isn't wet will put her back to bed. She gets one nursing at her 12:00am wake-up (yes, like clockwork she wakes for this) and after that I've stopped giving it out. So she'll wake up and scream...and scream...and scream. Since she sleeps in our room this is problematic...we can't escape and therefore can't sleep.

Last night she screamed from 12:30 until 2:30 and I finally came downstairs on the couch. The sickness the kids shared with me forced me to go back up (while she was still screaming) at around 3:30. Around 4:15 I came back to the couch (she was still sqwalling) and passed out from exhaustion, waking up at 6:30 to start my day.

I'm at my wits end here. Crying it out obviously isn't working.

Nevermind...

Never mind what I said about energy...it wouldn't matter if I had some anyway since my soon to be 1 year old little girl can't stand to be put down for anymore than 10-15 second durations.

Out of all of my children she is by far the most clingy. It's so bad I've learned to use the toilet with the use of only one arm (while she is held in the other).

I need a Mommy vacay...

Bubbles

I love the bubble machine. It's a cheap, easy and fun way to spend 15-20 minutes. Annabel enjoyed it too and I have her on video saying "bubble"! It's her first word other than MaMa and DaDa!

Annabel's Pictures!

I love these shots of her, they came out so beautiful. It was so difficult to pick and choose poses! Jimbo ordered a 8X10 of the last one for his office.

Worn Out

Today was spent cleaning, doing laundry, baking and organizing. I'm so exhausted I can barely move.

On the positive side, the laundry is almost caught up (3 loads, 4 if you count laundry from tonight and tomorrow), the house is clean (I won't say spotless and jinx myself), and the boys actually chipped in on the pie making this time around (they usually refrain from pie making as there is no icing to devour). All in all it was a good day. Maybe I can spend tomorrow finishing my book, relaxing and planning our 4th of July. I'm really excited this year, we're having some family over to eat and set off fireworks for the kids.

Oh and before I forget! Annabel had her first pictures made Friday. They came out so gorgeous! I'll share them as soon as they arrive. I have the negatives coming via email within a week or so. I hope you all are enjoying your weekend.

And Nikki, you're suggestion worked wonderfully! Thanks again!

11 Months Old

I can't believe time has passed so quickly. One more month until we celebrate her very 1st birthday.

Check Up & Shake Up

Today was Annabel's check up and routine vaccinations. She did very well and the doctor said everything was perfect. He commented on her food allergy and said to continue nursing as long as we can, he also said if things persist he will want to do some testing.

We came home and I wasn't feeling well so I laid on the floor and passed out with the baby while the other children napped. When I woke I still wasn't feeling well so I went back to bed. I woke to the phone ringing at 8:30. It was the doctor calling for Mom and I was worried so after we got everyone settled I called to check on her.

Today she was rushed for testing when she had severe chest pain. They did several things and a few of them came back "bad". She was sent for a few more things and finally was told everything was ok that it was induced by stress.

When I found this out my heart sank and I fought back panic. I adore this woman, she is my best friend, my rock. She brings out the best in me and I realized today I can't even imagine my life without her and even more so, I don't want to.

Shared Mornings

Big Brothers and Baby Sisters

Vincent adores her. Each morning without fail he comes into our bedroom and the question is always the same; "Where's Annabel?" He then comes into the room where she is usually in the bed with me nursing and he'll climb up to wait patiently to kiss her and pat her gently on the head.

After we come downstairs and eat breakfast he will motion for me to place Annabel on the blanket and then he will run to gather his toys which he brings back to her. Then he'll sit down and play for the next hour, handing her various things and trying to make her smile. It's a joy to watch.

I knew my children would be close but I can tell you with all sincerity that I can see this huge bond between my two youngest. They always seem to seek one another out and it amazes me just how gentle a 3 year old little boy can be with a 10 month old baby.

I had to share this picture I just snapped, she has 4 teeth now!! I can hardly believe how big she is.

Before my Eyes

She still cries to communicate, requires breastfeeding to keep her full, wakes up several times a night to eat and cuddle, fits perfectly in my arms, and smells heavenly.

But she also is crawling, reaching, laughing, saying Mama and Dada. She has recently cut her top two teeth meaning she now has four teeth all together.

I know she is still a baby so why does my heart start to ache as if she's already grown? Is it natural to feel this way? I know people say they would keep their children babies forever if they could so it isn't just me...is it?

One thing is for certain, whether I'm prepared or not, hopefully she will continue on course as she grows first into a little girl and then into a young woman. Time passes by quickly but I'm sure my children will always be my babies. No matter how big they grow.

But it's not all bad. Last week Vincent started calling me "Momma" instead of "Mommie" and for some reason it just makes me melt. Some changes are good, I just have to find ways to embrace them.

Exhausted...

Annabel is cutting both of her top teeth at the same time. She is uncomfortable and therefore irritable. This means little sleep on her part which means little sleep on mine.

It's 2am and I have not been to bed yet. Tomorrow is going to be a LONG day.

To confound matters the teething is perpetuating Annabel's delicate skin and her eczema is breaking out. Poor baby.

It's Begun

This is why we can't keep new recliners. I found them doing this while making their snack...

Note the ripped corner...

Thank god for this baby girl or they'd be in sooooo much trouble.

Annabel

Growing by leaps and bounds...

Where it stands

I called my surgeon's office this morning and spoke to the sweetest receptionist you'll ever meet. She told me he usually doesn't see young patients but since he sees me perhaps he would make an exception. If not she assured me that they have a partner in the office for young children and that he can coordinate with my Ears, Nose and Throat doctor when having her tonsils removed if in fact she needs the biopsy. She's supposed to contact me tomorrow and let me know.

Today I'm feeling much better. The neck is sore but bearable. The only issue being Annabel who began vomiting at 6:25 this morning. She hadn't eaten since 11:50 or so the night before and threw up all that milk from then. She has since vomited once more but I'm hoping she's on the mend. Poor baby girl!

I wouldn't recommend anyone come to visit our house. It seems like there is a cloud of sickness and bad luck surrounding it recently. I'm going to have to do some major spring cleaning when I'm all better.

Maa Maa

The past few weeks I thought she was saying it. But last night I realized it for certain, Annabel is speaking and her first word is Maa Maa.

Even after 4 children my heart melted.

Teethies!

Finally! She's shown her tiny bottom teeth in a photo. I know I'm partial but I think she's the most beautiful thing in the world. This girl makes me want to take on the world.