A Sad Goodbye

Today my brother left for basic training for the Army. His job and living situation here in Colorado didn't work out. Joining the Army is something he's been thinking about for quite awhile and the timing just seemed right. I guess I don't have much to say...I'm proud of him and sad all at the same time. It was a pretty emotional goodbye and it was really hard for him to say goodbye to Zadie. She's really going to miss him.
Here are a few pics of the last year...









You can see more pictures of Zadie and Dave at this link: Uncle Dave and Z. pictures

One Month Old...

It's so hard for me to believe that tomorrow (the 29th) Phoenix will be one month old already! I had the opportunity today to take his one month pictures (Zadie was napping and he was awake and happy!)...I've learned to take these kinds of opportunities when I get the chance! Anyway, I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you...I got a really good one of Zadie too...she wasn't very good at holding still today so even though I took like 50 pictures of her I only got one that I really love.

Things have been going really good with the kids (knock on wood!!). Phoenix is eating like a champ and is up to about 4 ounces at each feeding...it took Zadie months to eat that much! He's growing too. We have his one month check up on Monday and I am sure he's grown in length as well as weight. He's really good natured for the most part. If he's fussing I can be pretty sure that it's because something is wrong (gas, wet/dirty diaper, hungry). Zadie is really warming up to him. She loves to "help"...patting his back to help burp him, handing me his pacifier if it falls out of his mouth, watching my every move during diaper changes, I'm getting all sorts of help from my sweet girl! It's started to warm up here so a lot of days I still take her outside to play. I either put Phoenix in the Baby Bjorn carrier or I set him in his car seat with a blanket over him...so far it's been warm enough that I feel ok doing that. Today is not quite so warm and Zadie has already been asking to go outside. I'm hoping I can get her to wait until dad comes home. Speaking of dad...last night when Zadie saw him walking in she started saying "Daddy coming! Daddy coming!" That girl is really starting to talk! Well, I guess that's about it for now..I'm off to snuggle with Phoenix before Zadie wakes up from her nap!

Well, today is Thursday. So far it's been a pretty good week. My only complaint is that Brett has stayed up to late working (from home) so I know he's super tired. Does it surprise you to hear that I don't feel overwhelmed with taking care of two kids? Yes, it's still all new and I'm still figuring out how to juggle but I don't feel overwhelmed. It probably helps that the healing process this time was much better for me. Now if I could just loose the extra baby weight...

Ok, I'll leave you with a few pictures...today is laundry day and I'm trying to get as much done around here as possible!

Easter 2008

We finally managed to get a family picture! Every Easter I try to take one and for the last three years the number of people in our picture grows!



We went up to Winter Park to spend Easter day with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins...we didn't actually see a lot of Winter Park (except for the drive which was beautiful)...but it was really good to spend time with family!
Cousin Brianna helped Zadie find her Easter basket.

All's quiet...

It's almost 8 am and Zadie and Phoenix are both still sleeping! This is really unusual...Zadie never sleeps this late. She did go to bed a bit late last night so she must just be really tired! Why and I up you ask? Well, I had to change Phoenix and finish feeding him (Brett started feeding him), and then Brett locked himself out of the house without his keys so I had to get up and let him back in. By that time I was up for good...so here I am! I thought I'd take the chance to update you on yesterday...
Yesterday was my first outing with both kids by myself! I had a dr's appointment in the morning so I got my brother to watch Zadie so I could shower and get ready. Then I loaded up the kids and headed to the doctor. Zadie is finally starting to feel better and she was SO good. After that I was feeling really brave so the three of us headed to Kohl's. I had Brett put the double stroller in the trunk before he left for work so at Kohl's I put the kids in the stroller and we did a little shopping. Again, Z. was really good ...and of course Phoenix slept the whole time. Then we came home, played outside, took a nap (not me, just the kids) and then loaded up again so I could go to my Chiropractor appointment before heading up to pick up Brett from work. I can tell that I'm more tired today (that's the most I've done in one day since having Phoenix) but it felt good to be out and it was good to know that I can do it without help and have it be a GOOD time out.
On Sunday the four of us are driving up to Winter Park to spend Easter with my aunt, uncle and cousins. They live in Wisconsin (at the camp that I grew up on) and are out here for a ski vacation. They have a condo in Winter Park for the weekend so we are going to head up there. I don't think Brett or I will do any skiing or anything but it will be really fun to see them. My aunt hasn't seen Zadie since she was about 4 months old and none of them have met Phoenix yet. I'm excited about the weekend.

too sleepy to burp!




Zadie...I love looking up old pictures of her. On one hand Phoenix reminds me a lot of Zadie, and on the other hand he totally looks like his own person to me.

I just have to tell you that last night went really well. I had Phoenix sleep in his car seat...his poor little nose is stuffed up and I thought that he might sleep better if he was sitting up...and he did! He got up to eat but slept really soundly in between feedings. That means that mom and dad got more sleep.

I thought I'd share a few old pictures with you

Peanut #1 (Zadie)








Peanut #2 (Phoenix)

No sleep for mom...

I feel like I haven't slept in weeks. I remember feeling like this with Zadie too. I think partly because of my Lyme I just always need a lot of sleep. So times like now when Phoenix is getting up so much, and nights like last night where he fussed most of the night (except for one 3 hour stretch) just feel really hard. I know this won't last forever but honestly it feels like it now. Even the juggling two kids is easier for me than going without sleep.

Hey, do you remember this little girl?
(This was right about the time I got pregnant with Phoenix)




Can you believe she's changed into this little girl??

Tuesday Stuff..

It's only 7:30 and she's already started the wailing and crying. I'll write more later today if I get the chance...

*update*
So after that initial melt down Zadie has been better this morning. Of course that could be because I gave her baby advil and her cough medicine. I haven't been giving her the cough medicine that much the last few days because she had so much medicine all last week...I hate feeling like I'm doping her up. (her doctor told me to give it all to her, but you know what I mean...) It's 10:00...in about an hour I'll put her down for her nap...Hopefully I can convince her and Phoenix to sleep at the same time so that I can rest a little bit too. Last night wasn't as good as a lot of nights have been...Phoenix wanted to eat every two hours and then was restless. Of course being the worry wart that I am I hear every single little noise so I didn't really sleep that well. I know we won't be sleepless forever but sometimes it sure feels like it! Brett let me go to bed early and he brought Phoenix later. He's tired today because Phoenix was wide awake and wanting to eat non stop until late last night...I'm going to try to get us both to bed early tonight (or should I say all three of us?).

Well, Zadie is changing and growing so fast! She is now putting two words together! My personal favorite saying is "Whiny Butt!" Ha ha...yes, when she's super whiny and annoying I tell her "Zadie, can you say Whiny Butt?" ...and she does!! Someday as an adult she'll probably hate me for that. Her two new phrases that she says on her own are "cough cough!" (you can guess why she says that) and "cry cry!"...which she says when her coughing makes her cry. Her vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds...she'll try to say just about everything you ask her to and is pretty good at it too! She also says/signs "Love you!" too :happy:

Brett's cousin sent us a double stroller! This is the first ride...you can't see Phoenix, but he is in his car seat all covered up...it's still cold here!


This morning Zadie jumped on the stroller and started making "Vroom! Vroom!" noises! Um...do you all think I might have a biker chick on my hands?? (I promise...I didn't pose her like this!!) This is also probably the first real smile I've seen in a week and a half...I hope that means she's on the mend!


My sweet boy...

First day alone...

*Update #1*
1:45 pm. Well, the first part of the morning went pretty well...until I needed to feed Phoenix. Zadie sobbed hysterically and clung to my leg the whole time I was feeding him (probably about 1/2 an hour all together). I couldn't get her to sit with me, I couldn't distract her with anything at all (including trying to get her to give her doll a bottle). I finally managed to calm her down, although of course it meant putting Phoenix down. Shortly after that she took a two hour nap (good, but sometimes she sleeps longer). I used her nap time to wash bottles, feed Phoenix again, take a bath and rest for an hour. Anyway, we'll see how the rest of the day goes!

Well, today is my frist day alone with the kids. It's only 8 am so nothing to report on yet...I'll have to update later and let you know how it goes. One prayer request though. Zadie has been SO difficult (whiny and crying hysterically over everything) for the last week since she's been sick. If you could pray that she'll be better today that would be awesome! I'll update you later today or tonight :happy:

Phoenix sleeping on my lap...


My poor girl has been so sick...