Growing

We took Nicholas to work with us today, as we have on most Monday holidays in the last 2 years and in so many ways it was just like every other time and he referenced other times and they really seem like they just happened.  But I noticed when he was helping with photocopying that he can now reach the buttons standing on his tip toes rather than needing the table pulled over to stand on. 

And just as suddenly Elizabeth's 3 month clothes are looking snug and her diapers are getting tight.

Time really needs to slow down.

Rolling Over

As I said in an earlier post, Elizabeth is now rolling over, at least one way.  I posted the video in the January album.  I will embed it here, using a different embedding feature to see if it works better.  If not, look in the January album.

Location

Pictures

I uploaded pictures today and realized that it has been 10 days since I uploaded any pictures here.  To make up for it, here is some adorableness:

All bundled up for the cold:

From 2014 January

Me, me, I know the answer (I know this outfit is the wrong season, but I just love it and it is a hand-me-down and so won't fit by the right season):

From 2014 January

A little girl completely in love with her daddy:

From 2014 January

Sibling love:

From 2014 January

From 2014 January

From 2014 January

Smiley:

From 2014 January

From 2014 January

There are a bunch more in the January album

Quick Updates

A few quick updates so I don't forget these things:

• One of our big goals for last week was to get Elizabeth onto a more normal bedtime.  The goal was to push it back a little at a time.  The first couple days attempting a 10:00 bedtime were a mixed bag, with a little success and a lot of crying (for E) and frustration (for us).  And then she suddenly started acting like she was ready for bed at 9, so we ran with it.  And she did 3 of 4 nights going to bed around 9:30 (with one in the middle of fighting until 11).  And then the last 2 nights she has been acting ready for bed by 7:30 and was in bed asleep by 8:15-8:30.  I will not declare success because I know that is tempting fate, but encouraging.  She is still eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours overnight, but I don't mind that on nights that she easily goes back down.  It is the nights when after she eats she gets upset at being put down and I spend an hour rocking the bassinet and giving her back the pacifier every few minutes that are really frustrating.
• Daycare went well overall.  I trust Maria to keep Elizabeth safe and meet her needs, but it hard not being able to control (or even really know about) what her day looks like.
• Elizabeth is now rolling over from front to back going right.  She had done it a couple times over the last week but we thought it might just be chance.  Last night she did it 4 or 5 times in a row.  I have a video, but haven't uploaded it yet.
• I think Nicholas has had a growth spurt.  His pants all suddenly seem a little on the short side and he has been constantly complaining about being hungry.  Let's hope that explains some of the behavioral issues of late and that he goes back to his sweet self.  He has had a pretty good weekend so far.
• We have offered Nicholas the option of earning the privilege of a later bedtime on a day-by-day basis.  Some days he still is really tired by 7 but that is really early for his age and there have been many nights in the last few months where he lies in bed for sometimes hours before he falls asleep.  So he can now have an 8 o'clock bedtime if he is being well-behaved that evening and demonstrating that he isn't too tired.  The language of earning/losing the privilege has been working really well with him with putting on parmesan cheese and doing his own toothpaste, so we'll see if it works in this case as well.

Daycare

Elizabeth started daycare yesterday and everyone did well.  We ended up getting three days a week at the home daycare around the corner where our friend's daughter goes.  My eyes were full of tears as I pulled away and I picked her up at 3:30, but I was fine most of the day.  Maria said Elizabeth was talking and smiling a lot of the day and she ate well and even slept an okay amount.  And she was in a great mood when we got home. And them had her best night ever.  9-7 getting up about every 3 hours (3 times total)!

2 month stats

All of Elizabeth's stats are going to be off by a week or so, but here are her stats as of today (2months, 6 days):
11 lbs 13 1/2 oz. (gained 2 pounds in a month!)
23 inches

Everything checked out well and the doctor is happy, so we're happy.  In fact, the doctor today declared that Elizabeth had gotten her Ph.D. in something.  I think it was trunk control, maybe.  But, anyway, she declared Elizabeth above average in strength, head control, and curiosity, all things she has said at basically every appointment, but still good to hear.

The bad part of this appointment is that Elizabeth had to get 5 vaccines.  The poor thing's legs look like pin cushions.  And she has had a rough, cranky day.  Luckily for Joe (who had her most of the day), the cranky only hit after a 3-hour nap, so he only had to deal with it for a few hours.  And this evening she had a little good playtime and smiley time before getting cranky again.  I have the feeling it will be a rough night, but hopefully she'll feel better in the morning.

Burn Out

All I can say today is God knew what he was doing when he made babies cute. I am so tired and so frustrated. If this child doesn't start sleeping in a crib soon I am going to lose my mind. And running errands in the rain all morning lugging the heavy baby carrier all over kingdom come with Nicholas talking nonstop did not help. And so while I have 3 minutes to myself, I'm on the blog looking at pictures of the kids smiling to re-center. And eating thin mints. And now my 3 minutes are up. Elizabeth is crying and Nicholas has gotten bored of playing by himself.