Well Child Visits

I took Norah and Daphne to the doctor today for well-child visits - Norah's 5 year and Daphne's 2 month.  I thought I was being smart by scheduling them at the same time so I only had to make one trip to the doctor.  In the end it was NOT a good idea because both girls needed shots.  I'll start with their stats. 

Norah's weight: 32 pounds, 10th%

height: 40 1/4 inches, 10th%

Daphne's weight:  10 pounds 2.5 ounces, 25th% (I thought she would only be 9 something!!)

length: 22 3/4 inches, 50th% (the doctor actually said, "What?  Swinigan babies aren't that long!")

Daphne did great!  She smiled and cooed at the doctor.  She screamed during her shots, but go over it quickly.  Later in the afternoon, however, she screamed non-stop!!  I spent the entire afternoon rocking her and walking her around, but she continued to scream.  She finally settled down in the car on the way to pick up Norah and Lucy from MDO.

I didn't tell Norah she was getting shots until we were in the car on the way to the doctor.  I think she thought I had tricked her into getting in the car.  She said, "You didn't tell me I needed shots!"  

She acted very shy with the nurses and they had to take her out of the room to do her hearing and vision test because she wouldn't cooperate with me in the room.  

When the doctor asked her if she was going to kindergarten next year, she said, "no."  I explained that we are homeschooling.

When it was time for Norah's shots, she started screaming and wiggling in my lap BEFORE the nurse even started giving her any shots.  After the first one, Norah was screaming at the top of her lungs, "I don't want anymore shots!  Don't give me anymore shots!! No more!  No more!"  It actually took a nurse and me to hold her still while the other nurse gave Norah her shots.  After the shots, Norah acted like her arms were broken.  She just held her arms stiff at her sides and climbed into her carseat without using her arms.  She really calmed down fairly quickly, but WOW, those nurses earned their pay today! 

Note to self:  If more than one child is getting shots, schedule their appointments at different times!!!

Homeschool Expo

This weekend was the St. Louis Homeschool Expo.  I helped Max and Denise at their vendor booth for Foreign Language Friends.   We were very busy most of the weekend!  Quite a few people seemed very interested in adding Spanish to their curriculum.  A number of people said they have been looking around for something that is kid-friendly so they were pleased to find out about FLF.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of their booth, but I did take a picture of my niece, Contessa (my mom watched Norah, Lucy, and Contessa).

Tea Party

Norah had her birthday tea party on Thursday.  We kept things small this year - so she invited 3 of her friends.  The girls seemed to have a great time dressing up, playing Pretty, Pretty Princess and drinking "tea."

Happy Birthday, Norah

Today is Norah's 5th birthday!! The last 5 years have really flown by - it seems like just yesterday she was as little as Daphne!!

Norah is a very passionate little girl! She puts her whole self into everything she does!! She has an incredible imagination and loves to pretend!

Over the last year, Norah has started reading. She reads a number of Step Into Reading books with little help. She is developing a love for writing! She writes notes to us all the time - espcially to Lucy.

Norah has a fascination with skirts right now. She wants to wear one every day. If for some reason I don't let her wear a skirt, she wears a dress up skirt or dress.

She is a great big sister! She plays very well with Lucy and loves to interact with Daphne! She wants to hug and kiss on her sisters all the time.

Norah has had several little parties this year - one with the Swinigan's, one with part of the Leitch side, and one with us today. She is also having a little tea party with friends later this week.

I asked her what she wanted for dinner tonight - she replied, "Breakfast for dinner, like pancakes."  Like father, like daughter!  

God has really blessed us with Norah and we can't wait to see what He has in store for us over the next year!!

I Love Being an Aunt!

I seriously have the cutest nieces and nephews!!  AND, I am going to be an aunt AGAIN!!!!  My sil, Denise, is pregnant.  She is due the end of October!!!  We are so excited and Contessa is going to be a great big sister!  She was so great with Daphne this past week (we were in Morton - more on that trip when I am not so tired and when I get pictures from Denise and my dad.  I forgot my camera!).

2 Months Old!

Daphne is 2 months old (yesterday actually)! She is a delightful baby!! She is a great nighttime sleeper - going to bed between 7:30 and 8. Kevin feeds her around 10 and then she sleeps until 4 or 5 a.m. Although I am tired - this is totally manageable!

We are still working on the nap thing. Some days Daphne fall asleep awake without making a peep and sleeps for a couple of hours. Other days - it takes forever and I have to put the paci in over and over!!! I'm sure she will get it sooner or later.

Although she smiles often - she seems to be like Norah, in that she doesn't give out smiles freely to many people. She hesitates and really makes you work at it!! (Lucy smiled at anyone who looked her direction).

She already loves her big sisters! In fact, on Monday when the Norah and Lucy were at MDO, Daphne was very fussy all day - the first really fussy day we have had. As soon as Norah and Lucy were home, Daphne was happy as a lark. She tries to follow their voices and turns her head to see them. She often gasps in delight when they interact with her.

Daphne still eats about every 3 hours, but is pretty flexible. If we are in the car, she can go a little longer.

She just started batting at toys and reaching for things - cracks me up because you can tell she is REALLY concentrating to move her arms.

8 Weeks

Daphne is 8 weeks old tomorrow!  She had her picture taken today - she did great!!  

I know I say this all the time, but check out that hair!!!  

This one really shows how long (maybe I should say 'tall') her hair has gotten!!

The Interview

I know several other moms (Nicole's is here and I think Nicole B. did it awhile back too) have "interviewed" their kiddos, so I thought I would give it a try.  It was just a joke with Lucy - definitely too little.  

Here are Norah's answers (with my thoughts in italics):

Questions about Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Go clean up your room (I may say this, but does she listen? Hmm)

2. What makes mom happy?
When I obey

3. What makes mom sad?
When I disobey

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were like me.

6. How old is your mom?
30 (since I just turned 30, we talked about this alot!)

7. How tall is your mom?
40 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with Norah and Lucy

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Go to the grocery store

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
(she wanted to skip this one)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Taking care of 3 kids (Wow!  After the week we have had, I was beginning to wonder) (Lucy's response to this was "no things")

12. What is your mom not very good at?
I don't know

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Clean the house

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
bananas (I sometimes eat part of a banana for breakfast or banana on pb on toast, but I rarely pick up a whole banana to eat)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you play with me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Dora  (I'm not seeing the connection)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play with Lucy (sadly the poor girl had a hard time thinking of something we do together - I'm using having a new baby as the reason)

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both have blond hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
You are taller and I'm shorter

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She hugs me

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Steve's house

Questions about Dad

1. What is something dad always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes dad happy?
When I hug him

3. What makes dad sad?
When I disobey him

4. How does your dad make you laugh?
Tickles me alot (she then said to me, "Make sure you write ALOT?")

5. How old is your dad?

32 (right on)

6. How tall is your dad?
50 inches

7. What is his favorite thing to do?
Play with Norah and Lucy 

8. What does your  do when you’re not around?
go to work

9. What is your dad really good at?

working 

10. What is your dad not very good at?
Let's skip this one

11. What does your dad do for her job?
computer work 

12. What is your dad’s favorite food?
bananas (Kevin does take a banana to work everyday, but I'm pretty sure it isn't his favorite)

13 If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?

 Diego (seriously?  I don't even know the last time she watched Dora or Diego!)

14. How are you and your dad the same?

We have blue eyes

15. How are you and your dad different?
He has bigger feet and I have littler feet

16. How do you know your dad loves you?
He says he does

17. Where is your dad's  favorite place to go?
church

Sleeping Beauty

I tend to worry a little when the girls sleep in later than normal - thinking one of them is getting sick.  Now, don't get your hopes up - Lucy was still up extra early this morning!!  It is 9 and Norah is still sleeping.  I realize with the time change that her body thinks it is 8, but even 8 is late for her these days when her 2 year sister wakes her everyday!! 

I am hoping she is just catching up on some MUCH needed sleep!  We had our small group Bible study at our house last night and with the time change we let the girls stay up later.  We have a new couple, Ric and Liz, who started last night and they have a 2 year old little girl who came to play too!  

We don't have anywhere to go today - so Norah can sleep as late as she wants!!

She CAN. NOT. Be. Trusted!

In Daphne's room, that is.  Lucy has become a pacifier thief!  If we can't find a paci, she usually knows where some extras are - but they must be washed first because they have probably been in her mouth.  In case you don't recall - or are a new reader to my blog - Lucy doesn't even take a paci.  She sucks her fingers.  She has some weird fascination with Daphne's pacifiers!!!  There is always atleast one paci in Daphne's bed - usually because when she wakes up she is happy and doesn't need the paci.

We have learned that if we don't hear/see Lucy for a while, she is probably is Daphne's room.  Today, the girls wanted to go outside so I sent Lucy upstairs to get socks while I pulled Norah's hair up.  After about 2 minutes I decided to make sure she was obeying.  I called up the stairs and asked Lucy if she was in Daphne's room.  She said no, however, I did not believe her so I asked her what she was doing.  She said, "I have a paci in my bed."  Translation - I WAS in Daphne's room, but now I am in my room with the stolen paci.  The only paci in Daphne's bed is the one that was in her mouth when I put her in bed.  (Lucy told me later that the paci was actually in Daphne's mouth anymore.)  Daphne had been sleeping soundly for about 45 minutes and probably wasn't going to wake up for another 30 minutes or so.  

I remind her not to take the paci's out of Daphne's bed and send her outside.  

Meanwhile, Daphne starts crying hard so I go upstairs to check on her.  She usually sleeps on a lap pad in her crib so when she spits up or pees out, I just have to change the lap pad - not the sheet every time.  When I check Daphne, she and the lap pad are scrunched up in the corner of the crib - meaning Lucy grabbed the lap pad and pulled it towards her so she could reach the paci.

Lucy ended up in time out, but really doesn't care.  The temptation is just too great - she will gladly take the punishment.  

6 Weeks Old!

Daphne was 6 weeks on Saturday!  

Highlights at 6 weeks:

- Daphne is consistently going 5 1/2 hours at night between feedings (Went 6 hours last

 night!!)

- She is smiling at Daddy all the time!

- Turning her head towards familiar voices

- Ooh's and Aah's

- During tummy time, she lifts her head up and turns her head side to side

- Daphne has finally started wearing 0-3 month clothes!!  Goodbye newborn sleepers!!

Ignore the baby acne-but check out that hair!

Smiling face!