Toddler Bed Night 1

Its happening people. Tonight M is sleeping in her new toddler bed for the first time after a week of escaping her crib. I AM SO NOT READY FOR THIS on many different levels!!

As I write this blog (from my trusty iphone) I've watched her climb out of the bed a few times already on the video monitor. Which btw, how did we EVER survive as mothers with a video monitor??! I mean really?! Each time she's returned quickly as if she's about to get caught. I can only pray it's a smooth transition and I don't have a wondering toddler at all hours of the night.

But if I do, I'll be blocking her in by double stacking baby gates like I had to do with K. Sounds crazy, but if your kid can climb out of a crib with the mattress on the floor- a baby gate is nothing! But 2 is impossible! And yes, K slept the first 3 nights on the floor in front of her door, but she was safe.

Have I said IM SO NOT READY FOR THIS??!!

3 Things

1.) M loves her new "Nastics" class! And she is by far the cutest one there. For realz, just look at her its totally obvs.

2.) Toddler are complete little weirdos. If you have toddler this is no surprise to you. Tuesday's and Thursday's I am home with M, and today she asked for a "unkin" (Pumpkin) shaped sandwich (turkey & cheese) and INSISTED on a side a Trix. I obligedd because she really is such a great eater and I knew she would eat all the good stuff first (and she did!)

3.) If you have an iPhone and take 18166372 pictures a day like I, then you must download this free app called Postal Pix. It allows you to order prints (and more!) directly from your iPhone using your iPhone pics! Of course you have to pay for your prints, but its pretty reasonable. I think 4x6's are .21 cents. I cant believe I didn't discover this sooner. Finally I will have some of these prints, because really some of my most precious pictures I capture on my phone and then I am too eRetared to do anything with them after that. This one is a WIN!

Reactive Airway Diesease

This is also something I haven't blogged about. My poor little M's health issues. She officially has Reactive Airways Disease and has been on the nebulizer (or the breathing machine as we call it) for the past  2months, and will continue to stay on it twice a day at least until April :( Good thing is, is that the Dr. thinks she will outgrow it- either by elementary school, or if we are one of the lucky ones- high school.

Basically every time she even gets a slight runny nose (even if its from teething and not cold, etc.) she coughs and wheezes until we are on the verge of taking her to the ER. We've had a few VERY close calls this month where even after ALL the neb medications continually we couldn't get her breathing under control. It's VERY scary stuff.

She's also developed this very odd rash that runs along her "dermal nerve" down the back of her left leg. We've treated it every way possible, and over the last 4 months it hasn't gone away. BUT it also hasn't gotten worse, which is a good thing. However, wen she is truly sick I've noticed that it "flairs" up as I like to call it - basically it just gets redder. Here is a picture of it while red red red, she was in mid sickness:

When she's not sick, its still there, just not red. Very very VERY odd. Even my pedi who has 25 years experience has never seen anything quit like it. He does think they could be related to her RAD and that she has some sort of auto-immune issues. So Feb. 9th we are going to The Phoenix Children's Hospitals dermatology department- best of the best- to have it looked at and hopefully get some answers to this odd thing.

Since the arrival of this odd rash, bath time has become a NIGHTMARE. She literally scream bloody murder and WONT sit down in the water. It obviously bothers her skin, so they are a in out, get-er-done type process now, and also not everyday anymore. The pedi told me NOT to bath her everyday, which that is very hard for me. She's a toddler, and they are gross little things. So on the night of No Bath I give her a whore bath....you know....a wipe down with a washcloth ;) Ah..Poor M and the whore bath.

The Pedi did also say to "be prepared to see an allergist in the future, lets see about this rash first then we'll go from there".

So there you have. All of M's health issues. Bring on the neb twice a day (or more sometimes!) is challenging, but we are finding ways to make it doable. Poor little think is such a good girl, so knows its part of her routine and will just sit, and even hold it to her mouth/nose, while she waits till its over. I just hate this for her. No parent wants a sick child, especially one with ongoing issues like this. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY aware that things could be much worse, and count my lucky stars every day. I still cat believe I'm her momma and that she's my daughter. How did I get so lucky AGAIN?

Everyone Love a Good Dance Party

PINKALICIOUS Party {Sneak Peak}

More to come...... :)

True Love

First Post of 2012

I decided I'm not going to do one of those 'looking back' posts. 2011 was a CRAZY ASS YEAR and lets just leave it at that K?

But what I am going to do is vow to make 2012 the best year I possibly can. I usually do make a New Years Resolution, but let me prefce that its always something completely reasonable- like for 2010 my NY resolution was to complete ALL my dental work! Took me till Septmeber, but I did it. See? Completely reasonable. Would I like to lose 30 lbs and hit the gym 6 days a week? SURE, but I know that is not reasonable!!!  And as a matter of fact I HATE THE GYM in Jan/Feb and look forward to March! Thats when my gym becomes back to normal once all those people fall off the wagon....serisouly, its packed until March. And it drives me nuts!

I've had a hard time finding a good resolution for 2012, but here's what I did manage to come up with (completely resonable ;)

• Start printing more of the 250 pictures a month I take. Everything is digital, which is great but my family hasn't received pictures in the snail mail since 2006.
• Make hard albums of said pics.
• Finish both my girls' baby books. I've always been good about updating (I update both bi monthly, but alas, neither have any PICS!
• Be more in the moment. Less worrying about my house, or the clutter and be more in the moment!
• Finally do things that make ME happy that doesn't involve kids, babies, or shopping. This is going to be TOUGH.
• And finally, take the time and get whatever professional help I need to to be okay with not having anymore kids. What I haven't blogged about the last couple days, is that I had  complete mental breakdown over all the TTC/ not TTC/ pregnancy announcements and kicks to the gut, and then all the M turning 2 stuff, and it I just literally broke down hysterically crying. It was real, it was in the moment, and it needed to come out. And I need to let it out more. I HAVE to start working on getting past this, rather than just distracting myself. Because that's exactly what I've been doing. Distracting myself from the pain and reality of never having another child and feeling completely robbed of the family I desire.

So there you have it my friends.

Lets get 2012 off to a great start and lets kick some ass and take some names!

And lastly, I will leave you all with some pics from M's Birthday Breakfast at IHOP yesterday!

{First time wearing makeup in a week because I was on my death bed for 6 days with the flu}

{Sunshine felt so good!}

{First time facing forward!}

{So happy to be alive and OUT}

{The prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen}

{My little Loralai (that's my nickname for her)}

{At their own tables like big girls}

{What M thought of anymore pictures}

{Special Socks}

Happy New Year!!!!

New Years

New Years/ New Years Eve has a whole new meaning as of 2 years ago. Because at 7:35am on Decemeber 31, 2009 this little miracle decided to bless us with her presence...

Tomorrow my beautiful little baby turns 2. I cant even express into words how this little person has changed my life. Its more than I could ever express into words. She is an amazing, special, magical little human being. A perfect daughter, sister, and friend. I owe her so much, which is why everyday I try to be the best mother I can possibly be for her. Because she deserves the world and more. And I will do my best as her mother to give her that.

You are loved to the moon and back, and then some. I hope your second birthday is all your little hearts desired! Tomorrow, NYE morning, we will be having a special celebration for you with your closest loved ones. We will celebrate your joyous 2 years of life over your favorite meal- Breakfast! At IHop : )

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY MISS M!

 

Toddlers

Fashion Friday

Harijuju Mini Shirt $13.00

Childrens Place Jean Skirt $12.00 w/ 20% off

Harijuku Mini Knee Socks $10.00 (2 pack)

The amount of cuteness in this picture: priceless!

Fall Photos

I took the girls to get their pics done last Friday for our Christmas card this year and here are a few of my favorites so far! And don't let these pictures fool you....M did NOT want to have her picture taken. Like at all. She kept running and screaming NO CHEESE, NO CHEESE, NO BOW, NO CHEESE the.whole.time. But my fabulous friend (who is a photog) managed to get some amazing shots. They are beautiful and I love them :)

These girls are MY WORLD!

Baby Sign

M has only been 22 months for a few days, and literally overnight has started doing an array of new things.  She can unlock my iphone, get to the camera and take pictures and videos with no assistance, as well as find her favorite apps like Talking Gina, Shapes, and Elmo.

I've lost count of her word count because she pretty much repeats everything. She is putting 2 words together consistently now such as "My Cheese" 'Baby Sign" "Mommy No" Sweetie (the kitten) down" and "Sissy School". But her favorite words remain, No, Stop and Mine :) Toddlers...

She also has become more fluent in sign language. We started teaching her the basic signs at around 7-8 month. At around 15-18 months we began expanding on that and I am AMAZED at how much she can sign. She really loves signing, and that's all she wants to watch, is her Baby Signing Time DVD's. And its something I feel comfortable letting her watch as much she wants! It really is like learning a second language, and she has successfully learned both over the last few months. It makes me so happy!

Right now she can sign the following consistently:

-More, Please, Thank You, All Done, Eat, Again, Stop, Play, Yes/ No, Share, Telephone, Music

-Friends, Baby, Sign/Signing, Hot, Cold, Juice, Cup, Dirty, Clean, Feel, Cry, Happy/Sad, Laugh, Bubbles

-Cat, Mouse, Moose, Chicken, and Duck

I'm sure there is more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.  My little lady is so smart!

Halloween Recap

We had a great Halloween this year! M was going to be Piglet, but it turned out to be a 91 degree day yesterday, so we had to go to plan B! Too bad...the Piglet was so cute too...

Thank god one of my good friends had a beautiful Princess dress that was just the right size! 

K's was a Vampire this year and let me tell you, as soon as she got that costume on she was IN the role. She is so animated and dramatic naturally so when you pair that with a costume, it really comes out! She was a fierce vampress!

Her BFF and her mom came over for dinner and to trick or treat with us. Her BFF was Marilyn Monroe and they had a blast together! They don't get to see each other as often anymore, so these times are special!

We had a very Happy Halloween!

First Day of School

Last week was M's first day at school! The morning started out a little rough...

And although it doesn't quite look like it in the pictures (she woke up on the wrong side of the crib that morning!), she had a great time! She didn't cry at all at drop off and even napped for 1.5 hours! I was a little impressed with that, considering she is light sleeper who has never slept outside of her crib. When we arrived, she ran right in with her little classmates, didn't shed a tear when I left, and they said she was perfect all day! She participated, sat at the table like a good girl, ate all her snacks/lunch, and made some friends and particularly with a little girl named Ella. Makes me feel so good that she is enjoying her time there!

Getting 2 kids, dressed, ready, lunches packed for school, me dressed and ready for work and out the door by 8:15am however is a different story. I wasn't prepared for that! I was realllly missing the nanny at that moment let me tell you! I prepped a lot the night before, but its one of those things that you just have to be thrown into to really see how its going to work ...even if your pulling your hair out and running around like a chicken with your head cut off. It will get easier I know, this is a whole new routine for all of us!

And speaking of the little lady, she's a talkin' machine now! As of about a month ago at 21 months, she started repeating EVERYTHING and even started putting 2 words together on a regular basis. It happened literally overnight. She went from being mildly delayed and evaluated for her possible speech delay, to talking. Just like that! It's crazy! People and her pedi would say that "Oh, she's just going to be one of those kids who just decides to talk one day". and I would think "But really? She's just going to TALK out of the blue one day....sure" But that's exactly what happened! She is so amazing and last night when she said "Ni Ni Mom ma" and hugged me tight, my heart melted. These are the moments that I wish I could freeze forever.