Claire's Microphone

I don't think these videos need much of an introduction...just enjoy the cuteness of a toddler's imagination. I'll have to remember these videos so I can use them as bribary when she's older!

Hershey's Chocolate...The Breakfast of Champions?

Each morning when Claire gets up, she sits on the couch with her cup of milk to watch Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. She's usually so content, that Derek and I are able to stay in bed a little longer or hop in the shower while she camps out. This morning I came out of my bedroom after she had been on the couch for about 30 minutes only to find her rounding the corner covered in chocolate. I thought maybe she had tried to make chocolate milk by herself or something. Then I remembered that I had put chocolates in each door of the advent calendar, and Claire has taken to pulling her stool up to just about every piece of furniture to get at things on top. She had gotten into the advent calendar, removed every piece of chocolate and managed to consume at least four of them before I found her. She was a huge mess, but luckily none of it got on the furniture. Normally I would have been so upset and she would have ended up in the corner, but the whole thing was just so funny that I didn't have the heart to punish her. Here she is...SO proud of herself!

What do you mean I can't have chocolate for breakfast?

Just one more Mommy.

So happy to be covered in chocolate.

Carter Update

Today I took Carter to his doctor for a follow up after our hospital visit. They deep suctioned him again and gave him a breathing treatment. He definitely sounded much better by the time we left. The bulb suction I've been doing at home just doesn't do the same job as the machines at the doctor's office and the hospital. I feel so bad every time I have to stick that bulb up his tiny nose because I know that his nose is probably sore and swollen. The doctor did give me a steroid nasal spray to help with the swelling though. She's also keeping him on breathing treatments every four hours through this Friday. We are to reduce the amount of breathing treatments per day at our own discretion after that. We return to the doctor next Monday for our next followup. She suspects he'll be much better by Friday, so let's keep our fingers crossed and keep praying.

On another note, Derek came home from work for a few hours this afternoon to watch Claire while I went to my doctor (my last checkup since my delivery) and Carter's doctor. Derek working late tonight seemed like it would be better on me and Claire than having a two year old who misses her daily nap. Claire was so good for me tonight. I think she was just excited to be having some one on one attention from Mommy. Of course Carter was awake, but I had to give her more attention than usually since Daddy wasn't here. We had to leave the house to pick up my perscription and drop off Carter's so I decided to take Claire for icecream. She was so excited and talked about it the whole way there. When we got home she was very eager to put on her new Christmas pajamas, and it was very easy to get her into bed. She really can be such a good girl. All it takes is me giving her just a little bit more attention and treating her like the big girl she is becoming.

Call Me Crazy

Our four year old Christmas tree finally bit the dust this year, so I went out last weekend and got us a new one. We decided to go ahead and open it to make sure all the lights worked and to see where to put it in our new house. So for the past week, we have had a Christmas tree sitting in our family room, and I decided we mine as well decorate. Yesterday Derek and I got down all the Christmas stuff from the attic and proceeded to decorate the entire house. We are now Christmas from top to bottom including ornaments on the tree, stockings over the fireplace and lights trimming our roofline. The earliest I have ever started to decorate for Christmas is the first week of December, and usually that is even pushing it. I'm not sure what possessed me to get into the spirit so early this year. After my mom passed away in January, I wasn't so sure I even wanted to decorate at all. Maybe subconsciously I was afraid that if I didn't get it over with early, then I wouldn't do it. I just can't believe that my husband has been so supportive of this early decorating rampage. Claire has found it especially exciting. Last year, I didn't want her to break the ornaments on the tree and she was too young to understand "no touching," so I only decorated the tree with flowers and pinecones. This year she's not only old enough to understand our rules, but she's also old enough to appreciate the beauty of them. We let her hand all the unbreakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree, and she was so excited to be a part of the decorating. Now I just have to convince her that the ornaments are supposed to stay on the tree.

Yes, Claire was also wearing Christmas pajamas

She was very proud of her ornaments


Daddy and Claire were playing dressup with Mommy's boots while I was taking a nap

Nona's House

Last night Derek had to work late, so the kids and I went to dinner at Robin's house (aka Adam's mom or Nona). She's from Louisiana, so we were treated to some authentic red beans and rice...yum-o! She also made homemade peanut butter cookies - my favorite! Claire had a blast playing with her BFF's and especially enjoyed bath time with Peyton. Nona was in heaven holding Carter all night. I also broke out my new little toy - the Flip - to take a video of the kids doing their "silly faces." The silly face is something Derek taught Claire a couple of months ago, and she taught her best friends how to do it too. Hope you enjoy the video of our kids being total goofballs. I've also posted a small clip of Carter and Nona loving on eachother.

Carter Update and An Awesome Birthday Gift

Carter is now more than three weeks old! I can't believe how quickly everything flies by. He is the sweetest boy - I am so in love. It's amazing how much less he sleeps than Claire did. He stayed awake for 3 hours straight yesterday! I couldn't believe it. He wasn't fussing or anything, he just laid in his swing with his eyes open just checking out the world around him. Nights are proving to be a little more difficult. He lays in his pack 'n play grunting and groaning on and off for hours, and as many of you know, that does not make for a restful night for Mommy and Daddy. It's much easier to sleep through the little noises when the baby isn't resting in a bed right next to yours. These noises aren't so bothersome when heard over a monitor. So of course, I am a walking zombie right now. In the beginning, he was grunting and groaning in pain with bad gas through out most of the day, but we've now switched formula for the third time (from Gentlease to Soy) and he seems to be doing much better. It's only been a few days, so time will tell. Everybody keep your fingers crossed that this is the answer. Also, let me just give praise to the lord for the papasan swing! Aunt Heather loaned us her swing and Carter sleeps so well in it - it's my lifesaver during the day. Big sister Claire is adjusting well to the changes our little boy has brought. She either wants to help me with everything or she's just indifferent and completely ignores him. The only time she really acts up is when she gets impatient and needs my help with something. Patience is definitely a virtue she has not learned, but is slowly adjusting to life without Mommy's undivided attention. She absolutely loves her baby brother and enjoys kissing him, holding him in her lap and watching him get diapers changes. All in all, life is good and we're really enjoying our sweet angel. He's so beautiful and he has totally stolen my heart!

On another note, my husband got me the coolest present for my birthday. A small - about the size of a cell phone - video camera called a Flip. It has a built in USB that just plugs into the side of my computer to quickly download video clips. It's perfect for putting small videos up on my blog. I can't wait to post my first video. Stay tuned...