Pictures from home

Once again I return from North Carolina with lackluster pictures.  I wish I had taken more but here are the best of the worst.

Watching a movie on Granddaddy's DVD player

Cheers!

At the children's museum

Climbing up the beanstalk

Who knew?

He loves horses

Chuck E. Cheese's

Her absolute favorite thing there

The best chocolate chip cookies ever

Making brownies

Phillip and I went to Elizabeth's Pizza - yum!

Diaper change

My love

Lovely and Not so Lovely: North Carolina Edition

LOVELY

Family meals

Shopping with Mom

Shopping with Andrea

Cade and Ashling meeting their new cousin for the first time

The Dessertery

Caleb's shrimp pad thai

Mom and Dad staying up with Lilly so I can get some rest

Church at South Fork

Dinner with Russ and Nancy (and the yummy chocolate chip cookies Nana made for Ellen)

Catching up

Going to Grandma's house (seeing family we missed at Christmas)

Lilly's sweet smiles (started smiling this week, just a few here and there)

K&W

All things Cade (he is the cutest!)

Matinee with Andrea

Seeing Ellen so blissfully happy

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If Ellen had a LOVELY list...

Playing dress up

Children's Museum

Being at Ashling's house

Potting plants with Grandmother

Chick-fil-A play place

Watching Berenstain Bears

Chuck E. Cheese's with Granddaddy

Rekindling her friendship with the three wooden giraffes she loves to play with at Grandmother and Granddaddy's house

Dress and shoe shopping with Grandmother

Going to work with Granddaddy

Playing the piano

Surprising Grandmother at her office

Riding the carousel at the mall

Picking out a few crafty things at Walmart (hooray for Valentine's Day clearance sale)

Going to Ashling's gymnastic class

Making brownies with Grandmother and Jello with Granddaddy

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NOT SO LOVELY

Inopportune sneezes

Lilly pooping in the bathtub

Missing Phillip

Making arrangements to go back to work and for the girls to go back to/start daycare

Phillip getting a speeding ticket on his way back from dropping us off in Crossville, where we met up with Dad last Saturday (it was his first)

Ellen's wild side making far too many appearances

Lilly's been a bit congested and had a runny nose

Lovely and Not so Lovely

LOVELY

This little cutie

Sleepers that zip

Elastic waistbands

Watching Ellen dance

Lilly sleeping in my arms

Phillip walking through the door each evening

Thoughts of home

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NOT SO LOVELY

Baby acne

Not being able to go back to sleep once I am up for that first feeding

Taking the easy way out

Forgetting that a certain someone never forgets anything

Going back to work in a few weeks

Praying for change but questioning if I am doing my part (lack of faith?)

Packing

Booked

We ate lunch with Phillip on Valentine's Day and then stopped by the office before heading home.  I was dreading going by work even though it was just for a friendly visit, but it went well and I am glad we did (I just really don't ever want to go back there!)  While Phillip was showing Lilly off to a few co-workers Ellen and I hung out in his cubicle.  I suggested she write or draw something special on his calendar thinking she would draw a flower or write her name.  Nope.  She flipped to March and went to town (and it looks like something she would have done a couple of years ago).  She also heavily marked up April 27th.  Maybe it's a good thing we didn't linger at my desk.  

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day

See you next week?

Just in case the girls didn't catch anything at the pediatrician's office the first or second time we came in for Lilly's recent well visits, we went back for a third try this morning.  Not really.  But Ellen did manage to dump the contents of my wallet on the floor which only further increases all three of our chances of involuntarily getting sick.  Lilly "failed" the newborn screening test they did at the hospital so we had to go by the doctor's office to give another blood sample.  It was eating time for Lilly so she was not very happy but it was a relatively quick process so we were able to wait until we got home to feed her (we live less than 5 minutes away).  Glad to get that taken care of but hopefully no more doctor's visits until her 2 month check up.

Lilly weighs 9 lbs 3 oz.  She is a growing girl!  

Our Newest Addition

A few things about Lilly...

Answers to: Lillian, Lilly, Little Radish (Ellen came up with this one), Lil Lil, Lilster, Lilsey, Sister, Little Sister, Little Sis, Buggaboo, Stinkerbell and Poopington

High maintenance

Restless sleeper

Vocal (meaning cries a lot)

Spirited (meaning fussy)

Perfectly pink

Snuggly

Sneezes with her whole body

Frequently has the hiccups

Not fond of traveling

Endures Ellen's hugs, kisses, endless chatter, loving words and squeals

Prefers the NUK pacifiers by Gerber (one she was given at the hospital)

Sleeps in the makeshift nursery in our room for now (pack n play)

Eats every 3 to 4 hours - we aim for 3.5 to 4 but she lets us know (jams her fists in her mouth as if to say, See what you are making me do?)

Cute as can be

A great addition to our family

So little, so cute

I came across this as I was rummaging through a stack of papers from the hospital looking for information on applying for Lilly's birth certificate, which I found and put in the mail today (with a check, of course).  We got her social security card last week.  There's no going back now :) 

Someone's been eating their Wheaties

Lilly had a 3+ week well visit yesterday.  She is doing great.  We talked about my two concerns, her belly button (I have a hard time looking at it) and the spitting up, amongst other things, while Ellen pretended to be a nurse (had pen and paper in hand and everything).  Lilly's belly button looked fine and Dr. Frank isn't too concerned about the spitting up based on how much she is growing (we discussed it in length).  We go back for a 2 month check up in March.

Length - 20.75 (42%)

Weight - 8 lbs 10 oz (39%)

Head - 13.88 (21%)

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Lilly watched her first Duke/Carolina game last night.  Go Duke!  Phillip woke me with his screams of delight and we were not even in the same room - he was downstairs and I was fast asleep in our bed.  I think I heard his battle cry.  He was happy to say the least.

No rest for the weary

Yesterday was not our best day.  This picture was taken last week but it just about sums it up.  Long story short, Lilly was fussy and could not be consoled.  Ellen was pretty much on her own while I tried anything and everything to restore peace to our household (and ultimately to the world).  I thought for sure she would eventually give up the ghost and take at least one really good nap, which would not only make her feel better but also get her back on a good eating schedule, but she continued to fuss all afternoon and evening.  She already likes to prove me wrong.

Today has gone much, much better.  We went to the grocery store this morning (the first time I have been out with the girls by myself) and plan to take our library books back this afternoon when Ellen wakes up from her nap.

Both girls are currently sleeping.  Ahh, serenity!  Serenity = folding laundry but I am totally fine with that.

An overdue Ellen update

Can't play enough Pretty Pretty Princess

Can be found practicing her "legendary spins" in the kitchen while wearing her special dance/ballet outfit and watching Angelina Ballerina on the iPad (Netflix)

New favorite show is Octonauts on Disney Junior

Has been playing with Barbies a lot lately

Still loves her little sister

Has been staying up way too late

Picky eater the last several weeks (even more so than usual)

Enjoys being at home (says she doesn't miss school and calls it her old school)

Tolerates Lilly's crying better than I do (goes on about her business like nothing is happening)

Needs an attitude adjustment on occasion (as do I)

Likes watching Pioneer Woman's cooking show with us

Has been extra loud ever since Lilly came along (she turned the volume way up)

Will do just about anything to avoid taking a nap

Drinker of hot chocolate (new drink of choice)

Finally has a quilt for her bed.  Besides pillow cases the rest of the collection was sold out (because it was on sale) but it looks great and was worth the wait.

Instrument player extraordinaire (drums, harmonica, recorder, guitar, horn & cymbols)

Cute book she picked up at the library that we highly recommend.  We have read it several times.

Plenty more where these came from

Sweet Lilly

I haven't taken many pictures of Lilly but not because she is the second child (I don't think?), but because they would all look pretty much the same.  They do all look the same.  Same location, same poses, same outfits.  During her awake time I am usually holding her (when I am the only one here) and therefore it is difficult to get a good shot even then.  I get frustrated when my pictures don't turn out well but I am trying not to let that completely zap my motivation.  Lilly is changing every day so it is neat to look through iPhoto and see just how much she has grown in such a short amount of time.

My days are confused.  I would say every day seems like Saturday except Phillip is only here on the real Saturdays, so weekends still hold their own (and can't come fast enough).  When Ellen was born, each day of her precious little life seemed like a week and not in a good way.  I still can't get over how much better it is this time (answered prayers for sure).

The exhaustion has caught up with us but for the most part we are doing okay.  The nights are rough, especially the last 3 or 4, but we work together and that helps a lot.  

Lilly has been spitting up quite a bit (a couple of gushers) and that makes feedings rather stressful (will she or won't she?).  Andrea and Caleb had similar issues with Cade so she shared what worked for them and we are grateful for the advice.  I also called the pediatrician and talked to one of the nurses but it wasn't a very helpful conversation.  We go on Wednesday for a check up so I will discuss it with the doctor at that time.  She is also congested so I am glad we are going in a few days.  Looks like this well visit might turn out to be a not very well visit.

Ellen is doing great, all things considered.  We are starting to see some negative behavior and other side effects emerge but we are mostly to blame.  Our routine, or lack there of, has us all a bit rattled and it is starting to take a toll on our whole family, but especially on Ellen.  We are determined to get back on track this week (technically tomorrow because today is already a bust).

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A few comparisons:

Ellen had a soft cry - Lilly is loud!

Ellen was chunky - Lilly is not (seems so little)

Ellen had a lot of dark hair - Lilly has less hair and it is a lot lighter (and she seems to have inherited her Daddy's widow's peak)

Ellen wasn't fussy - Lilly is very fussy (but we love her anyway)

Ellen didn't spit up more than usual - Lilly may have acid reflux or may need a new kind of formula or she may just be a fussy baby

Ellen took to a pacifier rather quickly - Lilly is hit and miss

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A few happenings:

Thanks to my parents we now have 3 functioning toilets.  Ellen, and our guests, can now use the upstairs hall bathroom for more than just a sink and a tub.

Friends who are moving soon gave us their outdoor toys.  We now have a playhouse, sand box and a slide in our back yard.  Ellen is thrilled.

Lilly's umbilical cord fell off on Wednesday (or at least most of it - there is still something in there but I leaving that for the doctor to check out).

Andrea flew back to North Carolina yesterday morning.  We miss her.

We celebrated Kendra's birthday last night since Russ and Nancy were in town (they left today).  She will be 30 on the 24th.  We all chipped in and got her a Kitchen Aid mixer.

Valentine's Day presents have been purchased and hidden where hopefully nobody, meaning Ellen or Phillip, will find them.

Planning to go home for a week or so later this month.  Looking forward to it!

We are so thankful for the presents, cards and packages we have received in honor of Lilly's birth.  Unexpected but very appreciated.

Thanks for everything Aunt Andrea

[Lilly at 3 weeks old]

Just like on the soap operas

Andrea is here and I feel like I have my very own baby nurse.  What am I saying?  I do have my very own baby nurse.  She loves babies and is taking great care of Lilly.  We have gotten out of the house some, had time to talk (real conversations!), she encourages me to rest and allows me to take naps, she helps around the house, she plays with and reads to Ellen and so much more.  It has been so nice having her here.  I am not sure how I will manage when she leaves this weekend.  Don't leave, Andrea!

Story time at the library