Mommy/Daughter Day

Olivia and I spent the day just the two of us and I gotta say. . .it was a fabulous day! We had lunch at Bartelli's Pizzeria and then headed to one of her favorite parks a few towns over. Shortly after we arrived, another little girl came and the two became fast friends. Her name was Lilly and she is going to kindergarten next year too ( although in a different town.) They both even had two stuffed animals with them. LOL! Olivia isn't shy, but she usually sticks pretty close by me. Not today! Those two were off on their own adventure! I talked a bit with Lilly's mom who also has a little boy about Abigail's age. We figured we should go see what the girls were up to and this is what we found!!

http://youtu.be/ngnL-wc-LqY

And by that time we figured we'd just let them have fun! It was actually quite a milestone for us because I'd never seen Olivia get quite that dirty and enjoy it!! We then walked over to the parents' house of my best friends growing up! Surprise! Can we have a towel? Olivia also got a Popsicle and a water. Then, we trekked back over to the park and by this time, Olivia smelled pretty bad. So, we drove to Walmart nearby and bought some new pants and a towel to put over her carseat. She literally had mud everywhere!! Then, we had ice cream at McDonalds before coming home and taking showers. Whew! What a fun, fun day! It would have been more enjoyable had this not happened yesterday:



Yep, broke my pinky toe. I was getting Abigail's boogie wipes and caught my toe on her recliner. Yeeeouch! I was down for a few minutes and Olivia was like," What do I do?" Man, being a stay at home mom is some dangerous work! It seriously shoots pain up my foot and my leg. I even had to pick up some Tylenol at Walmart while I was out. I'm just hoping I don't bump it on anything again soon.
Jodi- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Eating and Oral Aversions

I am to a point where I really need someone’s help so if anyone is skilled in this area, please let me know.

Olivia was born, as you know, at 23 weeks.  She never had a g-tube and has been 100% orally fed since leaving the NICU.  But, it has been a struggle from the beginning.  More than 70% of premature children have a feeding disorder.  I have really begun to realize the extent of the struggle after watching Abigail eat so effortlessly.  I’ve known of this struggle all of her life and yet I could not get her doctor concerned.  Olivia has never surpassed the 1% on a growth chart, but she maintained her own line. . .until this past year.  I don’t know who can help me.  Therapists at her school cannot help because it doesn’t directly affect her education.  I’ve checked in with Heartspring and they simply left a message on our answering machine saying that she wouldn’t qualify.  I finally found a place who was confident that they could help, Erin Is Hope Foundation, and insurance would NOT cover it.  They said it had to be done by a medical professional and not a speech therapist.  Her doctor is the one that referred us to there!  So, that has been a big fight.  I’m reading all that I can on the subject, but I don’t really know what I’m truly dealing with.  She has oral aversions.  She chews on certain foods, but can’t swallow them.  Hours later, she will still be chewing on the same piece of meat.  Frankly, I’m thinking of going back to school to become a speech pathologist JUST so I can learn how to help my child eat.  I literally cannot find her the help that she needs.  I feel like she’s falling through the cracks.

Here is something interesting I’ve read:

My belief is, children eat the crunchy crackers and chips not just because they like them, but because they only have the skills to eat those foods. They eat those foods because they can breathe around them or they are successful. I don't necessarily think they love those crackers," she said.

In food chaining, the clinician put foods in an order and builds the child's oral motor skills. "We have to develop flexible oral-motor skills," Fraker said. "These kids literally do not know how to sequence the motor patterns to eat food of different textures. For example, with a challenging food like meat, you need to stabilize the bolus of food inside of the cheek, chew a piece off, and then swallow a portion of it and repeat. We teach the mechanics of eating different foods. I tell them, 'You drink soup differently than you eat a pretzel, mashed potatoes or a steak.' If you use the same pattern over and over with those foods, you'll gag, choke, and be unsuccessful."

Clinicians need to consider the sensory side of feeding. Take special note of a child's behaviors. Only 3-12 percent of children have a purely behavioral feeding disorder, yet over 90 percent of what people do to treat it is behavioral, she said. "You've got to build oral-motor and sensory skills, and you've got to get the body feeling well, or the child is going to say 'no.' It's not a behavioral 'no,' it's a 'No, my body can't handle this.”

I found this especially interesting since tonight, while eating beef and noodles, Olivia said, “Mom, I’m still eating this.  I don’t know how to swallow it.” Of course, her teacher sees no eating problems because all she eats at school are snacks like cookies, crackers, etc.  She knows how to eat all of that stuff.  It’s vegetables and meat that she really struggles with.  And when you don’t eat much, you don’t have much of an appetite either.  As a parent, I worry so much about her nutrition and giving her a well balanced diet when all she wants to eat are Pirate’s Booty cheese puffs and chocolate milk.  You want to see your child grow and thrive and be healthy!  Olivia is so skinny that any illness just terrifies me.  Most 2-3 year olds weigh more than she does.  But, it’s not just that she is small.  I was small.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I just know that she isn’t getting the nutrients and calories that she needs to grow.  I am the one that sees her eat every day.  So, if anyone can offer suggestions. . .books, websites, ways to get insurance to cover this, etc., I would be forever grateful.  Nothing is more frustrating as a parent than not being able to get your child the help that they need.  Thank you all so much for listening to my rant.  I want to help her so badly. . .and I don’t know how.

Oklahoma Tornadoes

Living in tornado alley all of my life. . . I feel a great sympathy for anyone in the path of a deadly tornado.  We were in the basement just yesterday under a tornado warning.  It looked as if it was heading straight for our city and somehow we were spared.

http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2013/05/wichita-avoided-catastrophe.html

But those in Oklahoma today were not.  And what makes it even more heartbreaking is that elementary schools took a direct hit.  I remember as a child being terrified of having a tornado hit while at school.  So terrified that I would get stomach aches (real or not, I don’t know) anytime the sky was dark.  So, if there ever was a tornado warning at school, I was most likely in the nurse’s office.  Now, as a parent, I imagine my fears of having a child at school during a tornado would be 100 times worse.  I’m not sure what kind of storm shelters they had at those schools.  At mine growing up, we basically just sat in the hallway covering our heads with our hands.  We would have never survived a direct hit. In Kansas, we usually know a few days in advance when the potential for really severe weather is there.  I don’t think I could stop my mommy instincts from going to pick Olivia up from school once a tornado watch is issued.  

Living here all of my life, I’ve never seen a tornado.  I don’t look for them, of course, but I’ve never even had a really close call.  My anxiety over them has greatly decreased over the years, but it’s still important to always stay on top of what’s going on.  Will my luck ever run out? I hope not.  We just don’t know what each day holds.  But I pray for all of those affected by the storms. 

http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2013/05/two-oklahoma-tornadoes.html

6 Months

Can you believe that Abigail is 6 months old today? Wow. She is such a blessing and fills my heart with so much love. My girls mean the world to me.



She is 16 lbs which is the average weight on my pediatrician's growth hand out. She is almost sitting up independently. Still a little wobbly. I'm sure it's probably because I hold her so much. LOL! Love this girl!!



So, is this photo shoot over now? Haha!

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Vacation Tips–Guest Author

Please welcome Kendra Thornton as she shares her tips on traveling with children. 

Bio: Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Vacation Tips From One Mom To Another

While a mother's role can often be stressful, it is true that hard work renders family vacations that much more special. Nothing is more valuable than spending quality time with those you love, and nothing can undermine the importance of being prepared when you embark on your adventure together. Here are some tips I’ve gathered over the years, from one mom to another.

Tip One: As soon as you decide to take a trip, start two detailed lists. One of them should name all the things you need to pack or purchase; the other one should name your tasks, including stopping the mail from being delivered and scheduling the dog sitter.

These lists will not only alleviate your stress but also help you save money that can be better spent on making memories. There is nothing worse than realizing your daughters old bathing suit is too small the day of departure. Figure out if you want to bring snacks or buy your food there. Make sure you know weight limits on suitcases and additional baggage charges. All of these things can be a pain if you encounter them on your trip but are easily fixed by planning ahead. Think about investing in a smart phone app to help you organize all your packing necessities like Packing Pro for the iPhone or Packing List for the Android.

Tip Two: If you are going on a weekend trip, you should look into a hotel in the business district. These hotels make the majority of their money during the week and therefore, often have cheaper rates on the weekends. This is recommended for families with older kids as most of the entertainment will have to be found outside the hotel’s doors.

For those looking for the whole package, look into hotels and resorts that cater to children. Unless you’re staying at a hostel, you’re likely paying for more than your bed when you make your vacation reservations. In order to get the most out of these added expenses, research your options. During my career in the travel industry, I was able to stay at a variety of the top hotels in Honolulu. But when we were planning to take our children to Hawaii, I knew there would be different amenities to consider. For our family, the resort with the closest beach was ideal for easily transporting our three little ones.

Tip Three: Do not fail to remember that this vacation is for you, too. Make sure you schedule time to relax and have fun. This may mean taking a spa day with your pre-teen daughter or golfing with your son. But spending time without the kids can also be beneficial. Family vacations are a time for you to bond and explore together, but that doesn’t mean some time a part wont be good for the entire family.

Let a babysitter keep an eye on the kids so that you will have some time to do what interests you. If you’re staying at a resort, look into a kids club or supervised excursion opportunities for your children. If your husband is with you, try and schedule a date night. Vacations are for everyone to enjoy, so make sure there is a little something for each member for the family.

Tip Four: Make sure you pack extra outfits in your carry-on luggage. Whether you are flying, cruising or taking a road trip, anything can go wrong with your baggage. By packing extra clothing, you will not have to fritter away money purchasing new clothes with marked up price tags.

This is often overlooked for road trips as your luggage is in sight the entire time. However, pulling over and digging through your tightly packed trunk for a new t-shirt is a definite time drain. This is especially true if you’re traveling with infants or car sick little ones.

___________________________________________________

As we plan our first family vacation, these tips will come in handy.  In the comments section, please add your own personal advice for planning or traveling for your summer vacations!  The season is almost upon us! 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Abigail loves bananas. A lot. Bananas and green beans are her favorites. I gave her one of those little mesh fruit things and when she figured out there was a banana in there, it was gone in no time.


In fact, I gave Olivia and Abigail the same size of banana and look who finished first?


Olivia is struggling with swimming lessons. She literally started hyperventilating about lessons this morning. We didn't make her go, but we are doing a make up session (with dad) this week. I feel bad for the other 5 kids in her class because she really requires one on one attention. Her swim instructor last week ( who I really like ) just dunked her to make her go under water. That is probably the best way for most kids, but it kinda traumatized Olivia. I did buy her some goggles to see if that helps. And the Y's outdoor water park opens next week and I think she will have a lot of fun. She struggles with a lot of anxiety, especially being separated from me. I just pray for her every day and that I may help her in the best way I know how. Our biggest challenges remain her anxiety, eating and weight gain. If we could just get a handle on those three things. . .well, I'm sure there are always new challenges out there. Please continue to keep my family in your prayers.


Totally off subject, but this week Olivia started watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates ( it's on Netflix now.) Adorable show. I had never seen it before either. She loves that there is an Izzy on it. This girl is crazy about her cousin.

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Last Day

Today was Olivia's last day of preschool. It was kinda hard for both of us to say good-bye as preschool has been such a blessing this year. Olivia has a lot of anxiety about going to new places and experiencing new things. But, never once did she cry about going to preschool this year. She adored it and her teachers were fabulous!!



She learned so much and it was such a positive experience for her. Thank you to the wonderful teachers and staff at Kidslink! We'll definitely see you with Abigail in a couple of years!



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And Now The Happy News. . .

After being told they could not have any more children, my brother and his wife are expecting! Izzy will be such a fabulous big sister!! We are all so excited! All of Abigail's cousins are at least 5 years older and we thought she would always be the baby. Christmas will be so much fun this year!! Please keep them and this new, precious baby in your prayers.



Izzy and Abigail

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Bad Day

What a rough, rough day.  [Insert the song Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It can play in your mind while you read the rest of the post.] My sanity was greatly challenged. I've had horrible insomnia the last two nights and last night I was up until 2 am. For 3 months Abigail has regularly gotten up one time a night.  She eats and goes right back to sleep like clockwork and sleeps until 7-8 am. Needless to say, 4 am came pretty early.  And for the first time, ever, she didn't go back to sleep!  She was up until 6:30 am.  I finally got her content in her swing and I laid down on the couch.  Olivia usually sleeps until 9 am and she woke up at 7:30 am and woke Abigail up in the process. Holy moly I was tired. I tried to work in a quick nap all day and nothing worked in my favor. Both girls have colds and I'm teetering on the edge of one. 

Olivia is really struggling with a lot of jealousy towards Abigail.  She literally broke my heart in two when she told me that I didn't take care of her as good as I did when she was 4.  I always take care of Abigail, she says.  Wow.  I don't see how parents of multiple children do it except maybe the kids are closer in age and don't remember what it's like to be an only child? Olivia very clearly remembers. She literally bawls if I go into Abigail's room with her and shut the door. I'm just at a loss ( and getting by on 3 hours of sleep right now.) So, I decided to cancel my appointments on Thursday, take Abigail to grandma's and Olivia and I are having an afternoon to ourselves. She wants to go to the park and swimming at the Y.  Just the two of us.  Maybe that will help.  Maybe when Abigail gets a bit older and able to play more, that will help Olivia too because she will have a playmate. Olivia is also acting out quite a bit too. I was feeding Abigail in the recliner and she was rocking it really hard.  I told her if she rocked it again, she would go to her room.  She looked straight at me and pushed the chair really hard.  So, of course, she went to her room and I became the meanest mom in the world.  Deep breath. :-) Some days are just rough.  Then, Olivia and I had a heart to heart and she said:

Mom, I love you every day and every night.  In the night I dream about you and during the day I have daydreams about you when we are in different places.  She is so sweet.  Just wish I didn't feel guilty no matter what I do.  And I need sleep.  Precious sleep. 

To further solidify my evidence that today was an awful day, my day's friend Marty that I told you about passed away today. Thankfully, my dad was able to spend Sunday and yesterday with him. Please pray for Marty's family and my dad.  Life can be so rough sometimes.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom.  I have been so blessed to have such an amazing mom all of my life.  Whether it was calming my fears as a child, playing Even Elephants Forget with me a million times, attending every school function I ever had, sleeping in a chair beside me (that we didn’t know folded out) every night while I was in the hospital as a teenager, taking me out for ice cream after I got dumped, keeping my house in order while I was pregnant, picking my daughter up from preschool or coming over at 3 am because my husband was gone and I had a newborn and a puking daughter.  She is always there when I need her.  35 years and always there.  Is there any greater mother than one who is always there when you need her? I try to be that kind of mother for my girls.  I hope that in 35 years, they can say the same about me.

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL of the wonderful mothers out there including my wonderful mother-in-law, my grandma, my grandma-in-law, my three wonderful sister-in-laws (or is it sisters-in-law?) and the many women who have been like a mom to me throughout the years.  Thank you for shaping me into who I am today.

Red 40

I talked with my sister-in-law this past week about children having a sensitivity to food dyes, like Red 40.  I’ve mentioned before how some days Olivia unexpectedly goes into this hyperactive state and I “lose” her.  She is always very active, but sometimes she literally bounces off the walls.  So, I’ve been paying close attention to what she eats and how she responds.  Every time she has acted that way, I have found that she recently ate something with Red 40 in it.  Tonight she had chicken and rice with some chocolate milk.  No Red 40, so I wasn’t expecting any hyperactivity.  And then it started and it’s never good when we’ve just put Abigail to sleep.  I was a bit perplexed until I remembered the juice that she had AFTER dinner.  Red 40.  Needless to say, we will be getting rid of all food and drinks with Red 40 and I’ll be reading labels at the grocery store tomorrow.  I just hate that it has taken me 5 1/2 years to figure this out.

Keep Swimming

Kicking off Mother's Day weekend with some Saturday morning cartoons. Sheesh, remember when the only time you could watch cartoons was Saturday morning? And I always slept too late and by the time I woke up, they were over.


Then off to Olivia's swimming lessons.



She is having a tough time with them. It's so hard to watch her cover her eyes and cry on the edge of the pool. And she has always been uncomfortable laying on her back ( feels vulnerable maybe?) So trying to get her to float on her back is difficult. She doesn't relax and pulls her knees up to her chest.
Not only does she have sensory difficulties, but she also takes too much after me: doesn't want to go under water or get her hair wet, doesn't like windy days or getting her hands messy, etc. She even has the same nervous habits as me.

We started going swimming as a family after her lessons to help her feel more relaxed. We officially got a membership to the Y today. I'm excited to do a lot of things together as a family there. Olivia is still very nervous in the water even with us when we make her do anything remotely like swimming lessons. I know this is sooo good for her even though it is very difficult as well. Abigail loved the water, as I knew she would. She was as happy as can be. . .our little Abbigator.



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The Downbeats

Prayers for my dad. As many of you know, my dad played keyboard in a band called the Downbeats back in the 60s. I know the six band members have shared that bond over the years. One member had a stroke a few years ago. Another was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Another, Marty, who my dad is especially close to, is currently in the hospital and given a week or so to live. My dad has talked with Marty every day for years and has been able to visit him out at Table Rock a few times. I always hear," I forwarded that email to Marty or Marty sent me this today or Marty was so impressed by Olivia's piano playing, etc."

Please pray for Marty and his family. Also keep my dad in your prayers as he travels to see him this weekend to somehow say good-bye. Pray for them as the Downbeats are reunited this weekend for maybe the last time. My heart is so heavy. We could also use a big miracle!

Marty is the one on guitar standing up by my dad on keyboard.

http://youtu.be/2N3FDtpOOLE

Mama

So I had written about something entirely different today, but had to switch subjects. Abigail said Mama!! She was in her swing getting a bit restless, started jabbering and then said, "Mama!!" Olivia and I both looked at each other and then Olivia said, "Abigail said mama!!" LOL! It's only fair because Olivia said dada first. I was totally not expecting this yet!! She is also sitting up unassisted for a few seconds at a time! Crazy! I'm in no hurry for her to grow up. :-)

Eye Doctor

My daughter. . .she is one of the funniest people I know!




She had an eye appointment today. I heard a baby in the other room screaming and I thought," Bless your heart. Been there, done that."

As the lady was taking her back, Olivia asked," Where's my normal guy?" And she asked,"Am I gonna get drops today?" She hates to have her eyes dilated. She kept asking every person who came in that same question over and over even though we told her no.

As she was reading the picture chart, she came across this one:




Most kids say horse. Olivia said "Cowboy rider." This cracked the nurse up.

Then she had to stare at this red dot across the room while the nurse looked in her eyes. The nurse kept reminding her to look at the red dot and Olivia finally said,"But your head is in the way!" And she was literally standing right in front of her. Then Olivia started talking in her British accent and I cracked up from then on. Especially hilarious for a girl who has barely left the state of Kansas.

Anyway, please make a mental note of June 13th. That is the date of Olivia's second eye surgery (her first was at a year old.) Lots of prayers needed for that day. The surgery will be tightening her eye muscles due to strabismus. By a certain age, people can start to develop double vision/migraines and we are hoping to prevent that. It will be nice to get that out of the way before kindergarten!
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Party Time

We had a party for Olivia today. Probably the first party of its kind. . . . ever. LOL.



It was a 32 lb party celebrating her weight gain. Weight gain is something we have struggled with since birth. She has been 31.5 lbs for over 8 months and her doctor is starting to get concerned. A few months ago, I ran out of ideas. So, I told her when she got to 32 lbs, we'd throw her a party. I just wanted to encourage her to take that extra bite and make healthy choices for her body. Keeping my word, we had her party today.


No gifts. . .just cake and balloons
and she had a blast!


And I got to use up some old birthday plates and napkins. It was really just an excuse to get together, have fun and encourage Olivia.

Abigail appreciated cuddles in the quietness of her bedroom.


Daddy drew some funny faces






And Olivia did too.



What a great time we had. But, seriously, I'm exhausted. :)

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My Abigail

I am so in love with my baby girl. Seriously, like I want to go in and wake her up just to love on her. LOL! She is laughing all the time now. She laughed so hard tonight that she started snorting! Now THAT is some funny stuff. And she is sitting up on her own for about 5 seconds before she falls forward. Thank you, God, for blessing me with another miracle. I cannot say that she fills the void of Logan. He can never be replaced. But, I have not been this happy in a really long time.

Swimming Lessons

Olivia started swimming lessons today for the first time. She was really excited until she found out it wasn't going to be outside in her kiddie pool. She thought I was going to teach her out in the front yard. I guess I should have been more clear.




We showed up at the Y and she was excited again until mom and dad left to go watch her behind the glass.



She sat on the edge of the pool and just sobbed. Olivia really struggles with new situations when she doesn't know what to expect. Her swimming instructor was really good with her, though, and by the end of the 45 minutes she was in the water, smiling and waving at us. She ended up loving it.



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Firefighters and Parks

What a fun day! It was firefighter day at preschool and I got to come along. They had separate presentations for the kids and parents (lots of good info that I'll have to remember to share.) Then, we got to go outside and view the fire trucks.



One of the firefighters climbed to the top of the ladder and waved. It was really windy and the ladder swayed back and forth. I think the parents were in awe just like the kids.



First time in a fire truck.




She got done about an hour early and so we decided to do something fun just the two of us. Olivia had been wanting to see where I went to preschool and kindergarten for some time. So we drove to the town where I went to school from K-7th grade (then we moved to where my parents live today.) On the way home, she spotted a really cool park. It WAS really cool. I hadn't seen it in years. So, we stopped and played for awhile.






This purple slide was her favorite.




I promised we would come back really soon. Luckily, I know the family that lives across the street so we could play all day and have a great place for potty breaks and great conversation. LOL!


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My Amazing Olivia

My amazing Olivia. I keep thinking back to her preschool program. She was the most happy, expressive, excited, energetic child on stage. I was so proud to say she is MY child and my miracle. She takes on every challenge. . . .every opportunity with such gusto! Sometimes it's exhausting to this mama, but i wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm sure she was noticed by everyone at the program (she was in the front row after all.) Little did the audience members know that she was born at 1 lb 1.5 oz. She wasn't even considered "viable." She faced extraordinary challenges and the odds were not in her favor. And yet she thrives! She lives every moment to the fullest! The first person who tries to squelch her spirit. . .goodness, I will have words for them. Her dream is to one day become a butterfly. Not sure exactly what she has in mind. For two years now she has said that and how can I not be supportive? LOL! Whatever she wants to do, she finds a way to do it. I still remember the words of her NICU doctor when Olivia really turned a corner.

"She has decided to fly!!"


So proud of my Olivia Paige. May she never stop trying, never give up, never get discouraged and never stop flying!
Please share when you started reading this blog about Olivia and how you came upon it. We are so blessed to have you following our journey.




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Squinkies

The only thing Olivia loves almost as much as stuffed animals are Squinkies.  She has been crazy about them for over 2 years.  Of course, she only likes the animal ones.  She gives the people Squinkies away.  LOL!

After countless hours of playing with Squinkies, I’ve learned some different ways to play with them and use them as teaching tools.  Olivia does not respond well to “let’s sit down and learn.” I have to sneak it in whenever possible.

The small size of Squinkies make them great for improving fine motor skills.  They come with many fun houses, cars and play sets.

We tell stories with them.  We also categorize them by animal or by color or by habitat, etc.  We guestimate as to which group will be the biggest.  For example, do you think there are more pink or yellow Squinkies?  Then we count them.

We practice writing our letters with them.

Sometimes we choose letters and place Squinkies on them that start with that letter.  The possibilities are endless.

Now, the true challenge will be to keep them out of Abigail’s hands until she’s old enough to learn with them as well. 

Kidslink Preschool

Olivia has anxiety about a lot of things, but preschool ( and being on stage ) is not one of them. She had her last preschool program tonight. Boy, she did good. I told her to sing from her heart and did she ever! Then, she clapped and pointed at us after every song. Hilarious! I cannot say enough good things about her preschool and her teacher. On the way to school today, she asked how many days she has left. So, we counted them on the calendar after school. Seven. Seven days left of preschool and Olivia cried.

"I'll always remember Kidslink in my heart. I can't believe I'll never go to Kidslink again!" And more tears.

Kindergarten has A LOT to live up to. I think the bar has been set pretty high.










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Opinionated Abigail

This girl. . .love her to pieces.




I can't say that she is a "difficult" baby, but she's not really easy either. She has her opinions and when she's not happy, she lets you know. She does not like to ride in her stroller. So, say I have to run into Target really quick and I need two hands. She screams bloody murder!! People look at me like there is something horribly wrong with my baby. . .like I've neglected to feed her or change her, etc. Have they never heard a baby cry before? Ok, maybe not quite like Abigail. Nothing is truly wrong. I pick her up and she's all smiles again. Unless, maybe, she wants to swing in her swing? Then, she wont stop crying until I put her in her swing. Or, maybe she wants to sit in her Bumbo and play with her Sing A Long Stage?




She will scream and cry until I go through the list of everything she could possibly need. And finally I choose the right one. Except baths. Those will always make her smile.




No pictures right now, mom.

Haha! I think she is going to be very stubborn like her daddy (which used to be cute, but after almost 10 years of marriage? Not so cute anymore. :-) One thing I've learned is that their personality as a baby is pretty close to what it is when they are older. I remember Olivia being wiggly and active and loving music in the NICU. Ha! Logan would desat when we sang to him, but Olivia's numbers would always improve!

We have Olivia's preschool program tonight at Abigail's bedtime. She must be laying down in her crib by that time or she is not happy. So, this should be fun. Yikes!

But, she really is a doll baby. Great eater, great sleeper, cute as a button. Love her to pieces! Love to see her personality blossom!!




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