15 months!!

Miss Jaycee is 15 months old!! Actually she was on Tuesday. I wanted to wait until we went to to the doctor today to post this so we would have her stats!

Because she has had RSV, and she still sounds junky, she didn't have to get any shots today!! WHOO HOO!! She said that they were just boosters, and could do them at the 18 month appointment. The bummy news I got was that her lungs still sound horrible, and said we needed to continue doing breathing treatments twice a day. Dang you, RSV....go away!!

This past month, has been a LOT of sickness for us, but in between all that, she's of course been up to a bunch of cute things!! Here's some of her stats and new things:

*She is 30 3/4 inches long (60th percentile)

*Her weight- 20lbs 11ounces. (10th percentile). :/ (I'll get to that in a minute)

*Her vocabulary is slowly expanding. New words: "go go" "doggie" "papaw" "gi gi" "jo jo" "mmmilk", "book" (She actually will try to repeat everything I say to her, but it's not things that just automatically come out)

*She loves to pretend to have tea. She brings over her tea pot and two tea cups, and she pours me tea! (I love it!)

*If I am vaccumming, she has to vaccum too, or else she wants to jump on and ride on the one I'm using!

*She is getting more proficient at using the spoon, but she still needs some help

*She's getting better about not being so picky on what she eats

*She goes and reaches on her highchair when she's hungry

*When I say let's go change your diaper, or let's go take a bath- she heads straight to where she needs to go!!

*She loves playing pat-a-cake. Clapping is her favorite part. Watching her trying to "roll it up" is hysterical!

*Her new thing is walking backwards. She loves it, and gets a kick out of it, if you act surprised she's doing it!

*She is finally enjoying being read to! This little girl is such a busy body, she wouldn't last but about 2 pages of the book before she was off, but now she enjoys them!

Ok- regarding her weight. The doctor and I are certain that part of it is because of how sick she has been. But if you are my friend on facebook, I'm sure you've seen me begging for help on what to give my picky eater child!! The child went thru a phase where she wouldn't eat!! If I put it on the highchair- it went in the floor. If I put it in her mouth, she spit it out!!

Nonetheless- our priority for this little girl is to put some meat on those bones!!

(I laugh and told Josh that 10 lbs of her twenty are in her cheeks!!) They are deceiving!! She really doesn't look that skinny, and I was shocked to see she hasn't gained weight from her 12 month appointment, but it's nothing a few carbs, peanut butter, pediasure, and ice cream can't take care of...right!! :)

I could gobble the little girl in that picture right up!!! :)

Baby sleeps/Mommy worries

So Thursday afternoon, they called me at daycare and told me to come get Jaycee b/c her fever was 103. Little did I know how sick I was about to see her. Bless her heart. From Thursday evening to Saturday morning she was awake MAYBE 5-6 hours. High fever, horrible cough, wouldn't eat or drink, and her nose just pouring. By Friday night, I was one worried momma. She was asleep in her crib, and I would be sitting on the couch crying b/c I didn't know what to do, how worried to be, was she ok...etc. All of my nursing knowledge I feel like goes out of the door when my daughter is sick. So Saturday morning we went straight to the doctor. He listened to her and got concerned for pneumonia. So after nasal swabs, blood work, and chest xray (which is horrible to do with a one year old)...we found out she has RSV.

This is her at the doctor, getting a breathing treatment. Completely out of it. This is how my child was for 2 days...ugh, killed me. She looks so pitiful.

Then this is us later that afternoon at home. Every 4 hours.

(yes she's in christmas pjs. they still fit, enough said..)

When she woke up this morning, the whole way to her bedroom, I was nervous on how she would be. Thank goodness, for the majority of the day, this is the face I saw...

We are FINALLY fever free!! Whoo hoo!!

(as I am typing this blog....she started coughing so hard she just threw up in the floor.) Bless her heart, we're getting there. ) :

Spring where are you!??! We need you asap!!

Discovering the outdoors

IT. WAS. GORGEOUS. TODAY!! It's February 16, and it was 70 degrees!!! Spring fever has kicked into full gear!!

Look how beautiful the sky was today!! Sun shining through those trees that are waiting to bloom!!

Jaycee has been under the weather the past few days, but after her nap, I thought we'd try playing outside and if she didn't feel like it, we'd go back in, but just like I thought....

She was lovin' it!!

We even decided to take Walker for a walk. We did a little bit in her new push car, but she definately wanted to me to let her out and walk. She is SO independent!

(yes, she's wanting kisses!)

Walker is going to love hanging out with this little girl outside this year!! But as you can tell, I'm

thinking it's going to go both ways!!

LET SPRING TIME BEGIN!! (hopefully!!)

14 months!!!

Jaycee Anabelle is 14 months old today!!! Whew, things sure do get interesting around this time!! I'm pooped, 24/7, but wouldn't trade it for the world!! Thank goodness though, she seems pooped by lunch time, and I know that nap time is right around the corner!! To me, she has started doing so much in this past month than any other month so far!! I'm guessing it's b/c she's walking, but she seems like she's turned into a little toddler in the past month instead of a baby. She is doing something or saying something new everyday!! I try to write them down as she does them, but it was kinda hard this past month, when other months I was driving my little head crazy to think of things!

So here are some of those things that she's doing that either make us proud, crack us up, or make her daddy and I look at each other and say, "how are we going to handle that one?!?..."

*She sleeps from about 8pm to 7-7:30 in the mornings. She has also gotten pretty good about taking an hour and a half to a 2 hour nap a day, even though we're down to only one a day.

*She has 8 teeth, and just the other day I found 2 teeth towards the back of her mouth that are coming thru...I'm assuming her molars?!?! So counting those...10.

*She is about to go to the toddler room at daycare!! argh....I don't want her to leave the baby room. When I think of toddler room, I don't know, all I can seem to think of is hitting, pushing, biting....I know that's probably not the case, but it still makes my stomach tight!

*Her new words on top of last months are: "ibby" for sippy, "go", "dog" "doggie" "baby". We are still just doing one word sentences, but at least the list is getting longer.

*She LOVES helping with laundry!! I sit the wet clothes onto the door of the dryer, and she pushes them in there. Of course, that backfires, when I'm folding clothes, and I fold them and sit them on the dryer door, and they get pushed back into it, but oh well!!

*Unfortunately, she has figured out how to unlock Walker's Kennel. She doesn't allow him to be put in time out...she wants him out to play!! She gets so excited when she does it though, so I've decided to pick my battles, and that's not one of them!

*She has figured out how to unlock my iphone. I mean Really?!?! She hits the circle button, then slides her finger across with the arrow, and bam. I hate it, and I don't know who showed her how to do it, but that just took away an always accessible toy for her to mess with when we are at a store!! Once again, she gets so proud when it's unlocked!

*We now don't have to get her off of the couch. She actually gets mad if you don't let her do it by herself. But she turns herself around, gets her feet first, and slides off all by herself!!

*Everytime our phone rings, she keeps saying, "hi" "hi" "hi" until we answer it ourselves.

*Yo Gabba Gabba and Fresh Beat Band are her favorite shows!! She dances so hard when Fresh Beat Band is on!! She stomps her feet and waves her hands in the air!! It's pretty adorable!

*She has turned into one PICKY eater. I can't get this girl to eat to save my life! The only thing she will eat right now is peanut butter and bananas. I don't know what else to do. Everything else, she throws a fit, spits it out of her mouth or throws it in the floor for the dog. I've exhausted every route to get meat and veggies down her, but it's not happening! Any tips are appreciated... :)

*She loves getting chased by Josh or I. All we have to do it look at her like we're going to get her and she takes off running with hysterical laughter the whole time!!

*She has discovered biting and Josh and I are discovering how to teach a 14 month old that it is not acceptable. I need to go to Barnes and Nobles and get a parenting manual...I don't have a clue how we "should" be handling this, but I pray that our way is teaching her.

*She loves to "rock" her baby dolls and she always has to wrap them up in a blanket. If I'm holding the baby and acting like I'm rocking it, she "pats" her belly, like I should be patting it's bottom. It's so stinkin' cute!!

I think that is it for month 14!! We are having a blast raising this little girl. She cracks us up on a daily basis!! WE ARE READY FOR SPRING!!! I can't wait to get this little girl outside and playing all summer!!! It's bound to be loads of fun!!

Confessions

So Dictionary.com states that a confession is a formal acknowledgement of guilt. While I hardly think that blogging is a formal acknowledgment, it's all coming out here.

So I have to start this off right- my first confession is that I copied this idea from another blog I stumbled upon, but I loved it!! It's raw. It's true. It made me laugh.

So I thought, it's Sunday, a day of rest, and a day of reflection, baby is napping - why the heck not admit my "guilt" on the internet for who so ever stumbles across this website. You ready?!?

Confession #1: I act stressed out sometimes at home (when I'm not) just to get my husband off the couch to do something. It's not fair, even if I'm not stressed, I don't ever get to sit.

Confession #2: I more times than not have to rewash the clothes that have been washed in the washer b/c I start it, then forget about it for a day, and then open it up and go "oh yeah.." rewash (grosses me out to think they have sat there for 24 hours) i hate laundry that bad that I can THAT easily push it to the back of my mind... :) it's a talent.

Confession #3: There are days that I still watch Full House in the middle of the afternoon.

Confession #4: Just like this other mom put on her confession blog, I like her, do not listen to kid tunes like i should around my child. It is all "today's hit music", and honestly, she loves it. We dance to my ipod quite frequently, and there is no "this little light of mine" kid music on it. But she has developed quite the beat when she dances, and I'm already thinking ahead into dance classes b/c of this. How bad am I?!?!

Confession #5: I sit up in bed everynight when we're in bed in hopes while my husband is watching "Pawn Stars" he'll rub my back since, hey, it's right in front of him...most of the times he does, but if he doesn't, I've started a huge habit of pouting. hahaha. Spoiled...yes, I can admit that too. :)

Confession #6: I feel on the days that I do the BIG walmart run, should mean that I don't have to do anything else the rest of the day. I mean both (Jaycee and I) have to get dressed, load her with me, spend 1-2 hours at walmart, load the car, unload the car, unload the child, and put all the groceries away...which usually ends with me having to clean out the cabinets and the refrigerator, b/c well, it just doesn't all fit. And tend to the 1 year old that at some point is going to have a breakdown. Doesn't that wear you out reading it!! Josh doesn't understand this..

Confession #7: When we have doctors appointments, I make them as early as I can...why...b/c it MAKES me get dressed. B/c on the days we have nothing going on, I tend to stay braless and in pjs all day, and while I know this is unacceptable, Jaycee is the only one around, and at this time, doesn't seem to mind.

Confession #8: In regards to confession #7, on these days, I tend to get dressed, brush my teeth, and brush my hair right before Josh gets home (at 430), to try to make it appear I've done something with myself on that day. For all he knows I've been like this since 8am...right??! I'll never tell him otherwise... :)

Confession #9: There are times when Josh and I are in the car and a song will come on that in MY mind, I think I can sing pretty well, so what do I do...I start singing it, and I keep singing it, and I try my hardest to sing it so well in hopes my husband is going to compliment my singing ability....it hasn't happened yet...not even once...I should get the picture.

Confession #10: I secretly still consider my dog "my firstborn" and I WILL be in a mental institute one day when he passes. My husband has stated he has already mentally prepared himself to realize that he will be visiting his wife in a "facility" when that day comes. :)


Whew, I think I'll stop there!! :) I can't believe I just admitted all those things! It was actually fun though. Whats yours?? Don't lie to yourself, you got em' too!! :)

13 months!!

Jaycee Anabelle is 13 months old!!

The whole month of December was absolutely crazy for her!! Between her birthday that went on for about a week, and then Christmas was so close to that, it felt like one big whirlwind!! I am so glad to see January!!

From her 12 months to her 13 months, I just can't get over how much I think she has changed. I think her hair is getting so much longer (now if we could only get some thickness without mommy having to get out her teasing comb!) hahaha. I think she's also getting a little bit taller. I honestly do think she's going to be petite, but she's fitting better and better into her 18 month clothes. I'm sorry, but I think there is a HUGE difference between 12 month clothes and 18 month clothes!!! I find myself now only buying her clothes that say 12-18 months. I feel like it's an in between size, and I'm much more satisfied!! She's got a long torso, and short legs. :)

*We are in size 4 diapers

*We wear a size 3 shoe (finally!)

*She eats like a pig!! Loves nutri grain bars or peanut butter and smashed banana for breakfast.

Eats lunch meat, cheese, and bread, with applesauce for lunch

Then eats either whatever we're having for dinner, but if it's too spicy or unhealthy, I'll fix her a gerber graduates dinner, and she likes those pretty well too!

*She can say: mama, dada, ball, bye bye, hi, and is just starting to say dog. (It's so cute, I look at her and go "hello" and she goes, "hi!" hahaha. It's so stinkin' cute, b/c once again it's very country sounding!

*She is a true, hardcore walker now! No more crawling, unless she's chasing a ball she's rolled. I love watching that little girl walk. I could watch it all day. I sit and think about how she'll be running around in no time. She tries to run now, but quickly falls.

*She has 7 teeth with 2 more at the surface ready to come through! We've really been battling the teething phase again lately, but she's had SO many I think 3 or 4 already in this past month come thru. She's done pretty well this time around, except she seems to find comfort in sucking on her paci. I hate to take it away, b/c I know that helps the teething, but I hate to let her use it all the time. I get so torn on this subject.

*We have been trying to teach her to hold her hands up and say "all done" when she's ready to get out of her high chair. She had gotten into a bad habit of wiggling really hard and crying when she was done eating, so I'm trying to encourage a healthier way for her to relay to us when she's ready to get down. So far, she's got the hands up part down. But isn't saying it. So I look at her and go "all done??" And she throws her hands up!! it's cute...

*I hate to even mention this unless I'm jinxing myself, but we are napping better throughout the day. Usually about an hour to an hour and a half, and I'll take it compared to her 30 minute ones. And what's even better is that it's IN HER CRIB!!!

*Also, regarding nap time, we have gotten to where I will get her relaxed, and then I will put her in the crib awake, and she will get herself to sleep now!! WHOO HOO!!! I am beyond pumped about this! ( I know many of you moms out there have done this from the beginning, but we were suckers and always got her to sleep first...)

*She loves to dance!!

*She LOVES it if you act like you're going to eat her feet!!! I think she pees her pants everytime I do this to her. Her belly giggles get so hard she can't breathe!!

She's so adorable, and so much fun, and getting to raise this little girl is the biggest blessing of my life!! Her inner beauty is just as beautiful as the outer!! My prayer is that never changes!!

HAPPY 13 MONTHS JAYCEE!!

i looked in the mirror...

Well since I couldn't procrastinate any longer on how to change my life for the next year, I decided to take an even harder look at myself this year, a look that is more personal...and I discovered many things about me that I wasn't super excited to see.

I not only decided to do the 'eat better' , 'exercise more', 'lose 15 lbs before we go to Jamaica in June' resolution, but to actually see what part of me as a person that could also change for the better. I usually try to avoid this and tell myself that I usually always try to do what's right, and I try to be a good christian and friend and that those things are enough to make up who I am. I find myself though, with those that I'm the closest to, to not always have those qualities show through as much as I even try to portray those to merely aquaintances.

So I did, what I had to do. I looked at myself in the mirror and talked outloud to myself (like a fool) and told myself the things that I needed to work on as a person of quality. I did the whole "what if I died ,what would people say about me at my funneral" type of thing. And while I can assume what most of my friends and people I hardly know would say, but what would my husband say (or think..which is scarier), or what would my siblings and parents say or think b/c they seem to be around the real me. They see and know me "raw." And is me "raw" the best I can be?? Of course not, and that is why I decided this year, I would work more on the inner me.

As much as we all should have accountability partners in life, I think we should also do this for ourselves at times. I have brought to the surface the things that I wish to work on, and while I hope only positive things can happen from this, it has humbled me so much.

I want to share with you my biggest challenge. I can be at work, or with friends, or people I hardly know, and if I think I've done something wrong, I'm IMMEDIATELY freaking out and apologizing for whatever it might be that I have done. With my husband, or my family, for some reason it's the opposite. Why, I have no clue. The people that are closest to me, I put up the biggest/baddest front. I have learned that I struggle between weakness vs. humility or humbleness.

If I apologize to my husband, will he think he's won the fight that I so desperately 'want' to win?? Or if I apologize will he humble himself too and apologize for his part?? I struggle with that so much, and it's so much apart of stubbornness and I'm sure part pride. I have vowed that if I am in the wrong, even if his wrong started the fight, to at least apologize for my part even if he hasn't said he's sorry yet. This to me is going to be a HUGE battle for me, while I'm sure it's easy for others, it's a fault of mine. I like to be right!! hahaha.

I want this little girl to grow up with parents that strive to be the best they can be, and I want her to grow up humble, and to know what we all fall short and none of us are perfect. And that has to start with me and her daddy. We have to portray that to her, for her to learn those qualities.

I am so sorry for those of you who actually read through this whole thing. If you're not asleep, I thank you and ask for your prayers for 2011, and I will do the same for you! It's never too late to make yourself a better person. Some people just don't have as much work as I do!! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I PRAY THAT EVERYONE IS BLESSED BEYOND WORDS IN THESE NEXT 12 MONTHS!!