21 months & 8 months

Seriously, how is my baby 8 months old already? Since I was so late, doing the 20 month/7 month update, it seems like I just did this, but it has been a crazy busy month filled with tons of milestones and more sickness.

This past week, the kids and I have been dealing the a cold from hell. Both kids got ear infections and pink eye. I went to the doctors so much in the past two weeks that it really became a joke. The kids were about a two-days off from what ever the other one had. Maisie had pink eye first, then Calan's ear infection, then Calan's pink eye, and then Maisie's ear infection. Seriously, this was my life the past week and a half. Now, throw in there that I also had the cold from hell and it was the week from hell. Luckily Bob has been immune up till now and as he seems to be coming down with it, we are all getting better.

So here is what the kids are up to:

Sleeping

• We started to let the kids sleep together at night and from 7 p.m. till 3 a.m. it is fine, but after that usually Maisie makes her way up stairs with us. If she fusses too much and wakes up Calan, Calan will stay awake rocking for at least an hour or more. I usually grab Maisie and put her back to sleep upstairs. However, if Calan wakes up, Maisie pretty much sleeps through it. So, we are getting there, but we are not close enough yet.
• Calan - The ear infection really threw me for a loop. Because he is known to wake up in the middle of the night rocking, it took me 3 nights of no sleep for me to realize that something more was wrong. Poor little guy! His naps have been hit or miss, but usually 2 hours. I love the days that it is 3, but it does seem to be more 2 to 2.5 hours this month. And it goes without saying that his rocking is still my archnemisis. Not sure when I will let go about it, but geez to I just pray that it will stop SOON.
• Maisie - Seems to be settling into a good 2 nap schedule. She usually takes a shorter nap in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon. She has been having a hard time going to bed and needs to be more cuddled, but she is going down. Maisie does seem to be going through her 37 Wonder Week, which is may include nightmares. Maisie seems to be affected by this. She cries out the saddest cry about an hour and a half into sleeping. I usually just lay her back down and give her a pacifier and she settles back to sleep instantly.

Eating

• Calan - His appetite has decreased by a ton. He use to be an empty pit for food that he liked, but he really has slowed down quite a bit. One issue that I am facing is that when he gets a little bored at the table or he seems to have finished only the things he likes he says "All done" and throws a bit of a tantrum till I let him down from the table. I try to ignore it and get him to eat more, but the behavior is just not getting better. It is always worse at dinner than during the day. I have found that time outs really don't help the situation. He calms down sit quietly in his crib and then when put back at the table instant tantrum. So, I have just been trying to stretch the time each day. I usually use Maisie as an excuse saying that we need to wait till she is done. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. Oh, how I love toddlers. He is doing really well with his spoon and fork. He still makes a pretty big mess, but he gets a lot of food in his mouth.
• Maisie - She is now eating a few more purees like peaches, peas, and green beans. I have tried giving her Cheerios and she is just not into picking up food to her mouth, which is so different from Calan. He ate food so quickly and I never had to worry about the way he chewed and at his food. He was a great eater. It has been a very slow go with Maisie. She only likes purees. I tried giving her a a banana piece and she choked a little and spitup, so that was a failed attempt. Getting her to eat finger foods is my goal for this month. Hopefully, we will get there.

Activities/Milestones

• Calan - He is still our little golfer. He has been swinging up a storm and loves to go outside and hit balls in the backyard. We also took him to the driving range for the first time. He was adorable. He wanted to hit every ball, which only allowed Bob to hit probably 6. But he listened well and stayed with Bob and loved watching the other golfers take their swings. It was a great family moment.
  I have also started to transition Calan from pack-and-play-time to room-time independent playtime.
  He is doing pretty well, and for the most part sticks to playing with his toys and reading books while I shower. Unfortunately, our bathroom is right across from his bedroom, so the second I am done showering he wants to come out of his room. So, we are working on it.



Calan playing during roomtime

• Maisie - What a busy little girl! She has learned to crawl and sit up on her own. She was so proud of herself when she finally got it. She is loving the fact that she can get to Calan's toys now. I can place her toys within reach and she crawls right over to his toys. On top of being sick, Maisie also had both top teeth cut through. So she is now up to 4. As I have transitioned Calan into room time, I have started Maisie on pack-and-play time. I don't do it every day, but when she isn't napping and Calan is having room time, she has pack-and-play time. She does just fine in there playing with toys.

Maisie playing during pack-and-play time

Schedule

There was a lot going on this past month between Bob's grandmother unexpectedly passing away and the kids being sick and daylight savings time, we have really gotten away from our schedule. But here is what it sometimes looks like:

7:30 a.m. - Kids wake up. Maisie has her bottle.

8 a.m. - Family breakfast, including Maisie's solids.

8:30 a.m. - Playing in the family room and getting Maisie dressed

9 a.m. - Maisie nap, chores for Calan and I

9:30 a.m. - Calan room time

10:00 a.m. - Structured activity like puzzles or craft or something like that, But with the kids sick the last week or so it has been more TV time

10:30 a.m. - Maisie wakes up / kids play in family room

11 a.m. - Maisie Bottle

11:30 a.m. - Lunch

12 p.m. - Both kids blanket time, but again since the kids were sick it has been more TV time instead of blanket time.

12:30 p.m. - Story time and then Maisie and Calan afternoon nap

3 p.m. - Kids wake up, Maisie bottle. Calan is slow to wake up, so he again usually watches a little TV (this month TV again was a bad habit. I blame it on the sickness through our house)

3:30 p.m. - Calan snack time

4 p.m. - Free time (this becomes anything from crafts to errands to TV to music to sibling playtime to whatever keeps everyone happy.)

6 p.m. - Dinner time

6:30 p.m. - Bath time

7 or 7:30 p.m. - Bedtime (Depends on how well their afternoon nap went. If it was more of a 2:15 p.m. wake up then bedtime is closer to 7 and if it was a 3 p.m. wake up, then it is closer to 7:30)

Overall

• Calan - Well the plague sickness, really threw us for a loop. Calan was just not his happy go lucky self this past month, but he did have his moments. He is getting a little more interested in structured activities like crafts and puzzles, but still loves physical activities most. He learned to jump as well this month and is pretty cute jumping around and dancing. He is playing so well with his sister and is really understanding that soon she will be a playmate. But doesn't always get that she isn't quite big enough yet. He has tried to pick her up and move her a few times, but then asks for my help to "get" her. They laugh and giggle with each other. It is so adorable.
• Maisie - She is loving her new found freedoms. She is so proud of herself. Even with a Wonder Week, 2 teeth coming through, pink eye, an ear infection, and a horrible cold, she was actually pretty good. I felt so horrible for her, but she just smiled through.

Ever since her top teeth have come through, she has been doing this with her tongue. It is absolutely adorable!

Calan during an Easter egg hunt. He got six eggs and then told me he was all done. 

Wordless Wednesday

First trip to the driving range

Love toothy grins :)

Look Back: Calan at 8 months

Fishy, fishy

Paper plate collage fish

Once again we are sick here in our household. So, there has been little activities, but here is a craft we did a few weeks ago. It is no secret my son loves water and anything that has to do with it, so I set up this easy fish craft that he for the most part enjoyed. 

Staple tail at point and curved opposite from body of fish

I added just a little glue at a time. 

Supplies

Paper plate

Torn construction paper (multiple colors)

Scissors

Glue

Stapler

Directions

1. Cut wide triangle into paper plate
2. Staple triangle point to opposite side of plate. Make sure curve of body and tail are opposite directions.
3. Place torn paper in easy reach of toddler. (I put mine in a bowl for him)
4. Drip a little glue on to plate and let toddler stick pieces of paper till paper plate is covered. 

Calan actually had fun with this craft. Nothing stuck to his hands and he liked to make his fish swim around the house afterward. 

They maybe cute, but they are energy zappers in disguise

Well, life is once again not going smoothly at the Wilson household. I once again think I have 2 teething babies at the same time, which makes for great cranky babies.

While Calan's 2-year molars have yet to make an appearance, I swear that is what keeps bothering him. He is barely eating, waking up in the middle of the night for hours at a time, and chewing on anything and everything.

At least, I am hoping it is teeth. I can't figure what else it would be. I keep checking his ears. He has never had an ear infection, but could it be that even without a fever or without more than normal ear discharge?

Every night this weekend he was up for at least 3 hours. Sometimes rocking, sometimes laying with me, and sometimes playing. But if he is up, I am too, which is making me a walking zombie.

Not to mention Maisie's top teeth are coming through. She has been at least sleeping well and for the most part pleasant, but man she is drooling like a Saint Bernard. Her bibs are lasting for about 15 minutes at a time.

Unlike with Calan though, I see her teeth and know that there is an end to this soon. One of Maisie's top teeth is through and the other is right there, so it can't be too much longer.

How long did it take for 2-year molars to come in for your little ones? I need know what to expect.

On a brighter note, my goal this week is to get back on a routine. We have gotten away from it with all the night wakes ups and whiny behavior, but I think routine will help Calan. So, praying that goes smoothly.

This week we are:
Monday: Staying in and doing laundry and resting.
Tuesday: Story time at the library and grocery shopping
Wednesday: Not sure yet. Might be a another day at home focusing on our routine.
Thursday: Tour of a Royal Oak fire station. (Calan is going to love this. Kind of excited about it.)
Friday: Bob is taking the day off. The kids and I are going to go to a playdate in the morning and I am FINALLY get my hair done in the afternoon!! Just in time for a girls' night out in the evening. Yeah!
Saturday: Hopefully we will make it out to eat and to the farmers market. It has been 2 weeks since we have gone.
Sunday: church in the morning and a first birthday party in the evening.

As for our menu:
Your guess is as good as mine. It is a winging it kind of week in terms of food. Sorry.

Motherly advice. Thanks Mom.

So, I called my mom today to tell her to add Maisie has pink eye to my list of things to deal with right now.

And she says she is going to let me in on a little life secret that she just did not figure out or embrace till she was 40.
The secret is: That life just never slows down. It is different, but never slows down.

Thanks mom for the optimism.

She told me that letting me figure it out at 31 would save a lot of time by 40.

A part of me knows that she is right. Since graduating college in 2003 life has been a blur. Bob and I talk about things we will do when we have the time, but life just keeps happening. There is no breaks.

Not sure I like this pessimistic outlook on life, but I guess I need to accept it. My life is crazy. I am a mom. Life keeps happening and the years are flying by.

Not sure what's next on my life journey, but life is definitely keeping me busy.

You will truly be missed

Grandma Wilson holding Calan at the hospital. She had 3 great-grandchildren.

My husband's family is closer than most that I know. From aunts and uncles to cousins and siblings, we see each other often. Their love for one another and loyalty to each other is incomparable. And I am positive that the love and loyalty that they have for one another comes from one person, Bob's Grandmother.

This past Saturday she passed away suddenly and we are all feeling a bit shocked. It is all feeling a bit surreal. Her 77th birthday would have been Sunday.

His Grandmother was seriously the most selfless caring person I knew and she had such a forgiving heart. In her life, some have not always been so nice, and yet, she never had an ill-word for anyone or anything. 

She was blessed with an unbelievable servant's heart. She put every one's needs above her own. And her family loved her so much and cared for her so much that to lose her so suddenly leaves us bewildered. 

This week Bob and I will be spending quite a bit of time with family. Tomorrow will be the visitation and Wednesday will be the funeral. 

This will be another survival week. We just need to get through. I am lucky that a friend and my mother-in-law will be helping with the kids, so that I can be there for Bob. 

It is going to be a long week, but like everything it is just one step at a time. 

Baked Apple & Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Baked Apple & Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Door to Door Organics

Sweeten up your grilled cheese! I made these today for lunch and they were sweet and delicious. I didn't have cheddar cheese and I used Colby Jack instead. Cheddar would make it better, but they were still good.

Ingredients
Apple - peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
Apricot preserve (optional)
Cheddar cheese
Butter
Bread

Directions
Bake apples @ 400 degrees to soften. About 5-8 minutes. Then thinly spread apricot spread on one side of a piece of bread and butter on the other. I would recommend only using apricot spread on one piece of bread. It was a bit too sweet on both. Compile sandwich and grill  on stove over medium heat.

We get a bitty box of organic produce (fruit and vegetables) delivered every week from Door-to-Door Organics during the fall and winter months. I love the service and it really widens our variety of fruits and vegetables. Plus, it is great for having a ton of organic options for baby food. 

Hello, Sun. How are you?

Today's gratefulness is a no-brainer. I am absolutely grateful for the warm weather and sunshine. I think without it I might have gone insane this week, but I am happy to say that I am happy and joyful instead. 

It is no secret that last week (and the 2 weeks before) have been pretty stressful and hard. With the kids sick, us stuck inside, and Bob working a ton, I was ready to pull my hair out. But then the sun came out. All my worries and stresses washed away. 

I have been in the best mood this week. I have had a ton of fun with my kids. We have soaked in the sun. 

It is amazing what a little sunshine and warm weather can do for the soul. I truly believe that winter only makes me appreciate nice weather even more. Even though we had an extremely mild winter, it was still dreary, and sick kids, no matter the weather, are instant energy zappers. 

I needed a break. And even with Bob still working a ton, the sun gave me the break I so desperately needed.

This week, we played in our backyard, went to story time, ate out, enjoyed lunch at a park with friends, and played and played and played. Have I mentioned how grateful I am?

And while the sun is not shining now, and yesterday there were tornadoes in Michigan, I am so grateful that the weather is starting to change and more sunshine is on its way. 

Long overdue 7 month / 20 month update

Well, this month is almost over, and Calan will be 21 months in 9 days, but I still haven't shared everything that has been going on for my 7- and 20-month-old. So here it is:

Sleeping

• I would love to say that Calan's rocking is done, but it is still going strong. I feel like a little bit of a broken record about it, but I just wish it would stop. We have tried intervening and we have tried ignoring; nothing seems to help. Though I have found that during nap time, if we get to him right as he starts, he will stay asleep his full nap. So, that is a little victory. His naps were hit or miss this month with some only an hour and a half and others a nice 3-hour nap. But his night sleep (besides rocking) has been good.
• Maisie is still sleeping upstairs. I thought I would try letting them nap together, but I found that one of them would ultimately wake up the other one too soon, so that was short lived. Just the other week, we tried night sleeping together, but unfortunately they got sick, so that was short lived. Maisie is great about missing a nap and making it up later. Calan was never like this. Most kid activities are during her morning nap, so if we are out and about, she usually doesn't nap. However, she takes a great 2.5- to 3-hour-nap in the afternoon and if needed, she will take a catnap from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. My girl is a great sleeper other than ending up in bed with us each night around 4 a.m. till 7 a.m.

Eating

• Again, I sound like a broken record with Calan on eating. He loves his carbs and fruit, but meat and veggies are hit or miss. I try to hide them and he just eats around them. He would eat 20 bananas a day if I let him. There really haven't been any new foods; just trying to get him to eat vegetables. He has started to eat with a fork and spoon. He makes a mess, but he will eat more veggies if they are on a fork or spoon.
• Maisie is doing a lot better at eating solids. Though she still won't eat plain cereal. I usually just mix it with whatever veggies or fruit she is having with it. She has had bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, and peas. I have tried giving her Cheerios, but she does not seem interested in self-feeding yet. She still makes a bit of a mess with the solids, but at least they are being eaten.

Activities

• Well, TV watching is still more than I would like, but with the weather changing, I think this problem will fix itself. However, we have been doing more out of the house. We joined the Royal Oak Mom's Club and between that and other friends and outings, we have kept ourselves pretty busy. We have gone to a few indoor play centers and he really loves going down slides. He is such a social little guy. He loves to play chase with other kids. Some little 3- or 4-year-old usually matches up with him and let's him chase them around. He grins and laughs the whole time.
• Maisie is doing her thing. She is starting to move. She pushes herself around in a circle and scotches backward. She loves to be on the ground, and actually holding her is quite difficult because she twists and turns to be put down. She loves to be talked to and smiles and grins and kicks about when you just look at her. Cracks me up.

Schedule

• 7/7:30 a.m. – Maisie and Calan wake up. Maisie eats and gets dressed. Calan slowly rises and either plays with some toys or watches TV and drinks milk
• 8 a.m. – Family eats breakfast (even Maisie eats with us at the table).
• 8:30 a.m. – Bob leaves for work. I do a few chores and make some coffee and we play for a bit in our family room.
• 9 a.m.- Maisie naps and Calan plays in his pack-and-play. I either shower or do chores or just enjoy some me time.
• 10:00 a.m. – Calan and I play. I usually try to do some activity with him, but he usually does what ever he wants.
• 10:30 a.m. – Maisie wakes up.
• 11 a.m. – Maisie drinks a bottle.
• 11:30 a.m.- We have lunch (all of us).
• 12 p.m. – Calan and Maisie have blanket time. This means Maisie is usually on her play mat.
• 12:30 p.m. – Calan and Maisie naps. I do whatever needs to be done (me time, shower, blog, chores, etc.)
• 3 p.m. – Calan wakes up
• 3:30 p.m. – Maisie wakes up and has a bottle and Calan has a snack.
• 4 p.m. – We play or do some errands.
• 5 p.m. – I start cooking dinner, so either Calan continues playing well or if he is cranky, he has been playing in his pack-and-play again.
• 5:45 p.m. – Dinner for everyone.
• 6:15 p.m. – Bath time
• 6:45 p.m. – Maisie has her bottle
• 7 p.m. – Maisie and Calan bedtime
• 11 p.m. - Maisie has a small bottle
• 4 a.m. - Maisie tends to wake up and moves into bed with us (a HORRIBLE habit that we are going to try and break this weekend)

Overall

• Calan still is the happiest kid I know. Every time we are out and about, strangers comment on how smiley he is and ask if he is always that way. And besides when he is a bit cranky, he really is ALWAYS that smiley. If you just start laughing, he starts laughing. Cracks me up. He has become a great big brother and really has been amazing with Maisie, but I have noticed a little jealousy. For example if I am holding her in my lap, he tends to move on to my lap as well. He is learning to share a little. He knows the word, but says it as he takes whatever he wants or if we try to take back something, he holds tight saying, "share, share." Better than nothing I guess.
• Maisie is really on the move. She is inching her way to mobility. Not sure what I am going to do when I have 2 mobile children, but many mothers before me have done it, so I am sure I will be just fine. She isn't very vocal and hasn't started saying and sounds yet. She does giggle and coo, but no "ba, ba, ba" or "da, da, da" yet. She is really observing so many things. She has really started to study the world around her. Love her smile and her two little teeth that show when she grins. She melts my heart.
• As a mom of two little guys, I would say that since 6 months life has gotten increasingly more difficult. I feel a bit stretched. It probably hasn't helped that Bob is working a ton, so I am doing a lot by myself. However, I am starting to get use to my new routine and as the weather keeps getting better, life seems to be getting better. Can't wait for more.

Calan and Maisie at 6 months. 

P.S. This is my 200th blog!

Wordless Wednesday: Let the sun shine!

Trouble!

But pretty cute.

1 ... 2 ... 3 ... Go!

Yeah!