My Kids Are Cute

Very Cute.

Another Foodie-in-Training

Before Eli started eating real food, I was hoping that he'd be a good eater. After Tali (aka the kid who eats everything), I didn't think I would know what to do with a picky eater. But secretly I was preparing myself for the worst. I was not, however, preparing myself for a kid who could beat Tali at eating. I didn't even think that was possible!

Eli is not yet six months and he's already eating three meals a day. He eats everything he's given and sometimes has two servings. Even more impressive? He can chew. Really chew. He can eat chunks of soft food without choking. He just chews and swallows. Tali didn't get pieces of food until seven months.

This morning he ate about 1/4 of a large banana - all in pieces. I'm impressed!

There is a whole new food movement called Baby Led Weaning where kids get "real" food from the very beginning. No purees, no mush, just real food that their parents eat. It's controversial and until now I didn't really believe in it. But I am now thinking of giving it a real try. Eli seems like the perfect candidate.

Typhoid Mary (and her little brother Mark)

This has been a week of firsts in our home:


1. First blow dry: Tali received her first blow dry this week. She had a high fever (103 degrees!) for two days and was so cold when she got out of her bath that I couldn't let her hair dry naturally. The first day I blew it dry she let me do the whole thing. The second day I didn't really wash her hair but it got a little wet. She wasn't so patient that day but at least it wasn't that much to dry.

2. First time being sick: Eli woke up this morning with a temperature of 99.5 degrees. I know it's not a fever yet, but given Tali's sickness earlier this week I'm sure it's headed there.

3. First time being sick twice in one week: Tali now has some congestion in her lungs. It crept in yesterday evening and is still there this morning. It's not terrible, but it's there. Not sure how she got this as she was only around other children Monday (too long ago for symptoms to now appear) and yesterday (too short of a time frame). She also has a temperature of 99.5. (Yes, I checked our thermometer, it's working and not just stuck on 99.5.)

Guess I get to take both kids to the doctor this morning. Lucky me.

First Bites of Food

It's been a week since Eli first started food and we are already up to two full meals a day! Like his big sister,  he loves food. Unlike his big sister, I was completely unprepared to start food with him. For Tali, I had pink bowls (which she still uses), spoons, bibs, etc. For Eli, I ran to the grocery to grab some cereal, threw him in Tali's high chair (no bib), mixed his food in a plastic container and fed him with one of Tali's spoons. Of course, it didn't matter to him. He ate it all just the same.

His first bites were very similar to Tali. He accepted it right away and ate the whole bowl. (I actually gave him a bit more because he was still hungry.) At two times during his first meal I walked away from the food and he started crying! He wanted me to come back and feed him some more!

The GI doctor told me to start him on  rice cereal mixed with apple juice (calories) and a tsp of safflower oil (more calories). In a week or two, I could add a second meal. Eli seemed so hungry that on day two I decided to split his meal and give 1/2 the portion at lunch and another half at dinner. But he was so hungry he ate the whole thing at lunch! He ate another full portion at dinner that night. One week later he's regularly eating two meals a day and has tried (and likes) banana, avocado and apple! Plus, he's already chewing. I was in such a rush to get food on the table that on day three I didn't mash his banana all the way and left some very small chunks. The first time one entered his mouth, he looked perplexed and then promptly chewed! 

I wasn't expecting to have another good eater but I'm glad I do. However, my future grocery bills are already giving me nightmares!
 

(PS I apologize to my favorite college professor, Dr. English, who always told me that I had three exclamation points in life. Use them wisely. Seems like I used them all on this post. Oops.)

My New Diet

Little Eli with his great grandparents, Granny and Papa, on a recent visit to New Orleans. This is two weeks in to our new diet.

As I wrote two posts ago (and ten minutes ago), Eli's been to a lot of doctor appointments this past month. At his four month check-up, he had blood in his stool and had stopped gaining weight. The doctor thought he might have a dairy allergy so she asked me to stop eating dairy for two weeks (he's exclusively breast-fed) and see what happens.

Two weeks later, the visible blood in his stool was gone, he'd mostly stopped spitting up and he'd gained a tiny bit of weight. So, she asked me to continue with my diet for another two weeks.

One month after the initial  diagnosis, he'd still gained very little weight so the doctor determined that he wasn't getting enough calories/milk. So she asked me to continue on the dairy-free diet (she has repeatedly apologized for doing this to me) and start to supplement with formula. She also wanted me to see a GI doctor because there was still microscopic blood in his stool. I left the doctor's office basically in tears. Not because I had to give formula (though I hated the idea), but because I couldn't supply enough food for my child and I was starving him. So, I tried the formula. He wouldn't take it. He made the "formula face" and screamed until the offending bottle was removed.

A few days later I saw a lactation consultant who wrote a prescription and also told me about some herbal remedies to increase my supply. I now smell like syrup but I think it's working. I also went to the GI doctor and she was fantastic! She confirmed the dairy allergy and told me to start food immediately so that he can get more calories.


Four days later we went back to his pediatrician and he'd gained 7 oz in one week!

After two months of staying at 10 lbs, he's finally growing. Maybe I'll actually be able to pack away his 0-3 month clothing before his 6 month birthday.

I am now dairy-free and will remain so until Eli turns one. At that point, he should be okay and able to drink regular milk and eat cheese and yogurt. It's been an adventure on this new diet. The hardest part is no butter. It's okay at home because I can use vegan butter but most restaurants cook with butter so going out to eat is a special challenge now. I've decided to look on the bright side of this. I'm getting to explore new recipes, eating healthier, losing the rest of the baby weight and learning how to bake (most commercial baked goods use butter, at least). I'm sure I'll want a huge plate of cheese and a big bowl of ice cream come June 5, but for now I'm okay with this.

Twins!

Eli at five months.

Tali at three months.

I often tell people that Eli looks just like Tali did, only in boy clothing. I'm not sure who believes me, but I have proof.

Well, Hello There!

I know, I know. It's the longest I've ever gone without posting. I've heard all of your complaints (I can't believe people actually read this and request updates!) so I'm back. Hopefully.

It's been such a busy time in our lives that I really never have a moment to myself. And if I do, I'm multi-tasking like crazy. (Can you breast feed one child, help another on the potty and make a phone call at the same time? I can.)

Our house renovation is taking up the majority of my time. I knew it would be a lot of work and very stressful, but wow! Things are moving along and our contractor tells me he's ahead of schedule. We're about halfway through and things are really starting to take shape. When we closed on the house, I had dreams of moving in before Thanksgiving. Now I have dreams of moving in before 2012. We'll see.

I've also been busy with Eli. Lots of doctor's appointments (I'll save the details for another post) and juggling both kids. I'm thankful that I have some help now and then. I recently found a babysitter who is out of a job and can come during the week. I also have my MIL who comes every so often and our cleaning woman/babysitter once a week. In the beginning, I thought I'd be able to handle it all myself. But as my life gets busier, and I accept the fact that I'm not Superwoman, I've learned to ask for/pay for help. I'm still folding laundry at 11:00 at night (sorry Mom, I know you don't want to read that), but it's something.

So those are my reasons/excuses for disappearing. Let's hope I can find a few minutes in my schedule to squeeze in some more posts.

There Goes My Lunch...Again

Once again, Tali wanted the rest of my lunch. She'd already eaten two whole carrots and most of a turkey/cheese roll-up when she saw what was still on my plate. Today's desire? Brussels sprouts! Yup, my 2 1/2 year old LOVES Brussels sprouts. Seriously, this kid will eat almost anything.

New Diet

Today Eli had his four month old check-up.

The good news: He looks healthy, is very strong and has excellent head/neck control.

The bad news: He's only gained 7 ounces in the past month (he should have gained between 1 - 1 1/2 pounds), is still spitting up a lot and I saw blood in his stool today. Based on all of these factors, the doctor thinks he might have a dairy allergy. The best way to find out is for me to eliminate dairy from my diet for a few weeks and see what happens. So starting now, I am dairy-free. No more ice cream, cookies or cheese for me. It's unfortunate, but I am happy to do whatever it takes for my son to be healthy. The doctor said that if he does have this allergy, he could outgrow it between the ages of 2 and 3. So that's good news.

If anyone has any good dairy-free recipes for me, please send them my way. Tonight I was going to make corn chowder for dinner. It's made with lots of milk. Guess I'll have to come up with a new plan.

But First...

Before her nap, I read Tali a book about moving. In the book, the family has their house painted and carpet installed before they move. When we finished the book, Tali started a conversation about it. The conversation went like this:

Tali: Tali has a new house.
Me: Yes, you do have a new house. And we will be moving soon. But first, we have to paint and put in carpet.
Tali: We will paint the new house. But first, we have to put on a smock.

Teething Has Begun!

Eli started teething today. He's sucking on his gums and drooling. Tali started a little bit older than this and didn't get her first tooth until after she turned one. Let's hope, for my sake, that Eli also waits that long to cut a tooth.

Taking One (or Four) For the Team

Our new house has a very old swing set out back. Tali loves it and I make sure she has time to play on it every time we go to the house. Unfortunately, our back yard is currently full of mosquitoes. Every time we are out there, we all get bitten (except for Tali, strangely). Today Eli is sporting four new bites (one is on the other side of his wrist) from this weekend's visits. Poor baby. Luckily, they don't seem to bother him.

Just Kidding!

Tali saying goodbye to the cherry tree she never got to climb.

In my last post, I mentioned that I was going to begin chronicling our house renovation in a new blog. Well, I've changed my mind. Instead of writing for all the world to see, I am going to simply send out regular e-mails, with pictures.  If you'd like to be included in those e-mails, please let me know. You can either respond to this post or send me an e-mail.

We've Been Busy

We've been very busy with our new house. Between the kids waking at night and all of the details H has been working on, neither of us are getting much sleep. The good news is that we've finally selected a contractor! Work will start next week. I plan to write about our renovation process here:

http://ourrenoproject.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

First Day of School (Parts I and II)

Tali's first day in the 3's.

Tali's first day in the 2's.

Last year when H and I were looking for a new school closer to our new home, we toured two different schools. Neither would take Tali in their 2's program as she was too verbal and they were worried she'd be frustrated and bored with younger 2's who didn't speak much at all. So we settled on a school and agreed to put her in a 3's class and simply repeat the 3's or 4's.

After Tali's first day in the 3's (a Friday), the teachers approached the principal with concern. Tali was so young (there was a girl almost an entire year older than her!) and she seemed a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps she'd be better off in the 2's. On Monday morning, I spoke with the principal. H and I both agreed that we'd like to put Tali back in the 2's as that is where she belongs. So, we made the switch. (Of course, after her second day in the 3's the teachers said she did great and they'd like to keep her.) I'm so happy we did. The 2's class started a week later so she didn't walk into a situation where everyone was comfortable but her. There are 10 kids in her class and two are actually older than her by just a week and two. Another two are younger by only a month and two. The kids in her class are very verbal and the moms I've met so far are very nice.

The only downside to all this change is that Tali has cried a lot. This makes her fourth new classroom in a year (last year's 2's, camp, the 3's and now back to the 2's). Poor thing is very confused. She quickly made friends with another girl in class so I'm sure things will calm down soon.

Finally Out of the High Chair

Tali's first meal in her new booster seat.

Yum!

This past weekend, Tali hit a very big milestone - she moved to a booster seat! While most kids make this move well before age two, Tali was perfectly happy in her high chair. And we were perfectly happy to have her in it. The only reason we moved her is because Eli will need the chair in 2-3 months and we wanted to make sure there was enough time between the two of them that Tali wouldn't consider it "her chair" anymore. It actually took a bit of convincing to get Tali into her new booster seat. Now that she's there, I wonder why we didn't do this sooner. It's nice having her at the table with us and it's so much easier to clean.

Tali's first meal in her new booster seat? A bagel with veggie cream cheese. Her sixth? A pizza with guanciale, black truffles and sunny side egg (note: she loved the truffles but didn't care for the guanciale). She'll happily eat anywhere!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Last Tuesday it was raining. I decided we would stay inside all day. Tali insisted on going out. She really wanted to wear her rain boots, rain coat and carry her umbrella. So I let her play out back. She had a blast!

My (Failed) Attempt at Sleep Training

Eli after his second night of sleep training.

Two weekends ago, I decided to start sleep training Eli. He was still waking up twice a night and not taking a good feeding at either time. When he slept an hour past his morning wake time, I thought it was time to teach him how to sleep through the night. I started right at three months, even though most say that you shouldn't start until four. I knew it would be rough in the beginning but I figured it would be worth it if I could get a full night's sleep when Tali started school (30 minute drive each way!). 

So, the training began on the Saturday night of a long weekend. It went exactly as I thought it would the first two nights (awful then a bit better). And then I really threw a wrench in the plans. A few people had been trying to convince me that it was time to drop the swaddle because Eli was three months old. I thought he still needed it but after a bit more thought, I figured maybe they were right. He was a terrible napper and since I already doing the sleep training, I might as well do this at the same time. WRONG! We went 1 1/2 nights without the swaddle and it was awful! He woke up every hour crying. In the middle of the second night, I swaddled him and fed him (yes, I caved) and he happily went back to sleep for a few hours. At that point, I decided that maybe it was too early to train.

Eli had his three month visit the next day so I spoke to the doctor about it. Yes, it is too early to train. And, yes, some babies need the swaddle past three months (even in to the fourth or fifth month). So now we're back to feeding at night. But we're down to one feeding instead of two. My fingers are crossed that he'll sleep through the night on his own soon. I could really use a full night's rest!

Random Cuteness

We live next door to a family who has a son about 5 months older than Tali. They like to play together because, as you know, Tali plays like a boy. She can run, climb and get dirty just as easily as the boys (sometimes even better than them). Here is a picture of them from last week. He was on his way home and we were on our way out so it was just a quick little hug to say hello.

Some Pictures of Tali

In her rocking chair.

Reading one of her favorite books (Brown Bear).

This one is my favorite.

She loves that horse!

I know you cannot see her face in this picture. But I'm obsessed with her hair and thought I'd show you how beautiful it is. Wish mine looked like this!

Tali starts school soon and they've asked for two recent pictures of her for her cubby and their board. So yesterday morning I snapped a few. Here are my favorites. (And yes, I switched up her outfit a bit so it looked like I actually take pictures of my daughter on more than one occasion. )

A Whole New View at the Grocery Store

Tali and Eli in the cart a day after this post was written.

For Tali, there's been a monumental change in the way we go shopping at the grocery store. Now, instead of riding in the cart, she gets to walk! Lucky girl. This all started because having Eli in the baby carrier is not as easy as it was with Tali. He's just not as happy there. So I decided to keep him in the car seat (which conveniently clicks into the front of the cart) and let Tali walk. We've done it three times now and she loves it.

The first time we did this, Tali was so excited that she did EVERYTHING. I decide that instead of asking her to name the piece of produce I had grabbed, I would ask her to help me find it. She loved this game. She also loved that most of the produce is reachable. So first she reached into the green beans bin and grabbed a green bean. Then she saw the nectarines and happily bit into one before I could stop her (I saved the sticker so we could pay for it). Nearby customers thought it was cute. She did, however, slightly abused her freedom and ran away from me twice.

The second time we went to the grocery store I was prepared. I had wet paper towels to wipe down any fruit she might grab (she ate a nectarine and green apple) and we had a conversation about running away before we got inside. This time, she was very well behaved. She stayed near the cart the entire time! Her reward was a number of customers telling her how cute she was. (I'm not sure if she understands this yet, but she will soon.)

Tuesday was the third trip to the grocery store out of the cart. Since the newness has worn off, Tali only wanted to be out of the cart for a little bit. Then she asked to go in the cart with Eli. So I put her in the large basket, told her she wasn't allowed to stand up and grabbed a small second cart to put all of my produce (grocery items went in with her as I wasn't afraid she'd eat those). Aside from the whole two cart thing, this was actually a great way to shop with both kids. They were contained and happy. Until checkout. Then Tali wanted out of the cart so she could build a tower out of the chocolate boxes at the checkout counter and Eli started crying. At least I made it that far!

I am convinced that one day soon I will leave the grocery store with a smile on my face and just as calm as when I walked in.

Picture

It's sad, but up until yesterday I didn't have any pictures of me and Eli and he's almost three months! Yesterday, I asked Savta to take some. Thought I'd share one of the better ones. (Note: The photographer did a good job. I just don't look so great right now.)

Hurricane Irene

We've been stuck inside all weekend due to Hurricane Irene. Luckily, we haven't lost power, even though most of our city has. But, obviously, Tali is a bit bored. This morning poor Jackson was the target of Tali's boredom. He handled it well. He's such a good boy.

Wow!

I can't believe it's been almost three weeks since I've posted anything. I think about it all the time but then get tied up in doing something else. This two kids at home/new house lifestyle has kept me busy! So here are some basic happenings:

ELI
Eli is doing well but has developed acid reflux. Honestly, I used to think that diagnosis was sort of a BS diagnosis for cranky babies. But I see how it sometimes bothers him to eat (arching back, constantly pulling away, screaming, etc.) and how he can get so upset before a big burp/spit up and continues to scream for a minute afterwards because it burned on the way up. Poor little guy. He's on medication and it's helped some but the reflux is still there.

Other than that one issue, he's a pretty good baby. Yes, he cries and has his witching hour, but on the whole he is much happier than Tali was. I find myself constantly saying "Tali never did this" about Eli's smiles and cooing.  This baby has to be good natured and flexible because I'm carting him everywhere. In two months, he's been breast fed in the car more times than I think Tali was for the entire first year. He's pretty good about it, luckily.

TALI
We're done with camp now so I have both kids home for a few weeks until Tali starts school. For the most part, she's been great. I try to do something fun for her everyday. On the days I can't, I make sure we get in a good game of hide and seek (she LOVES this and never tires of it, even though there are only about five "hiding" spaces in our apartment) or something else equally fun. She has become an excellent dog walker and now holds Jackson's leash 90% of the time we take him on a walk. When he has to pee or poop, she patiently sits on the curb and waits for him to go.

We go to the new house 2-3 times a week and she loves it because there is a (very old) swing set there. She's perfectly happy as long as she gets to play on the swings/go down the slide for a bit. She's also gotten comfortable napping in her Peapod in her new room. Last weekend we hired the 16-year-old down the street to babysit her while we met with our landscaper. Tali had no problem warming up to her and I'm glad we'll have a babysitter so close by.

ME
I have my hands full these days and am constantly reminded of this by strangers who hold doors open for me. I think I hear "you've got your hands full, don't you" at least 2-3 times a day. Luckily, my MIL and cleaning woman come to babysit every so often so I am able to run out and get some errands done without both children in tow. But, there are still daily outings for the little things. I am thankful that Tali has really handled the transition well. It makes it a bit easier.

Eli's still not sleeping through the night so I'm still not getting that much sleep. Between the lack of sleep and everything going on, I truly think I've lost my mind. H will agree. I say/do things that I just wouldn't have done in the past. It's strange and a bit embarrassing. Hopefully my brain will find it's way back to me soon.

H
H has been very busy at the house. He spends the majority of each weekend there either meeting with contractors or working out the details of the renovation. He's hardly had a real break in the past month. I don't think he's had a full day at home since we've closed. He's also up late at night working on house-related things. I feel for bad for him. We knew it would be like this but knowing about it and living it are two different things. For me, as long as I can keep the end goal in mind (a nice house that is ours, no more house hunting/renovations on weekends, etc.), then I know we'll get through it. When this is all over, we won't know what to do with all of our free time!

Jackson
Jackson has been on a diet for the past few months and the results are finally starting to show. He's lost about two pounds (which is something like 20 pounds for a human) and looks much better. He has more energy as well. Jackson has gotten very used to being walked by Tali or her 2-year-old friends and simply follows whoever is holding the leash. Oh, and he loves the new house also. When I take him with us, he spends the first few minutes just running around. He's never had such a large open space to himself before and it's great to watch him enjoy himself. Luckily, he's very well behaved and never strays too far from me. He comes when he's called and isn't interested in trying to escape.  

So that's the basic update over here. More to come soon. Promise.

Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. It was mostly uneventful. I went to pick up cupcakes for our dessert last night and bought one for Tali. The nice boy behind the counter put a "T" on the cupcake for Tali. She was very excited about "her" cupcake. She ate it all (of course). 

Bought A House

So I haven't posted in a little while. That's because I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to sit down, let alone type up a post about what Tali and Eli have been up to.

Last Wednesday, H and I purchased a house! This has been in the works since March but I haven't posted anything about it for fear of jinxing it. For those who know us well, you'll know that this was a four year search. We've looked everywhere and finally found what we were looking for - sort of.

The house needs plenty of work. It looks nice from the outside, but the inside is a mess. So on top of a toddler and a newborn, we are taking on a major house renovation and the house is about 30 minutes from where we live now. Yes, we must be crazy.

I was thinking about starting a separate blog to chronicle the house renovation but haven't had time to do it yet. If I do end up starting one, I'll let you know. (If anyone has a good name, let me know. I Must Be Crazy was taken - I checked.) In the meantime, here are a few fun facts about our new home:

1. We have 4 1/2 acres of land.
2. There are lots of wild raspberries growing on the property. Tali now asks to go pick raspberries every time we go to the new house.
3. Our backyard is on the local riding trails. Every once in a while, a horse trots through our backyard.
4. Speaking of horses, we have a barn. And two paddocks. H can't wait to turn them into Tali's and Eli's very own amusement park.
5. Our new town has NO chain stores or restaurants in their downtown. It's all local and completely adorable. Looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
6. We're hoping to move in some time this winter.

Some More Videos

I know I've posted video of this before, but it's just so much fun to watch Tali and Jackson play tug. They both have a blast. I only caught the end of this game on camera, but it's still fun to watch.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Tali has learned a lot of nursery rhymes and songs this past year. One of her new favorites is Hey Diddle Diddle. Here is a quick video of her "reading" that rhyme.

Having A Bad Day

The other day Eli was crying in the car and a song about having a bad day was playing. So I told Tali that Eli was having a bad day because he was crying. I guess it stuck. Now whenever Tali hears Eli or any other kid crying, she immediately says they are having a bad day.

Naps and Other Fun Newborn Things

When you have a new baby, you don't really get to sleep at night. What you get are naps. Some lucky moms get a few three or four hour naps each night. I get two two-hour naps and, on a good day, an additional one hour nap. There is no deep sleep, which leads to not thinking clearly, and in my case, being even more absent minded than usual. (For example, yesterday I left the house with the dishwasher open, half unloaded, and didn't even know it.) For me, it also leads to the never-ending lack-of-sleep headache. If you know me well, you know I rarely take medication so I have been living with this headache for about four weeks now. It's kind of become a part of me. I am so busy I don't even notice it until I sit down for a minute to catch my breath.

I truly can't wait for the day when Eli wakes up only once at night. But right now I would simply settle for Eli to stop these fussy periods at night. Last night he cried from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Tonight he started at 5:30 and it's been an hour. He's been fed, changed and burped. But he is just crying. There is nothing I can do - trust me, I've tried everything - but lay in bed and listen to him cry. Luckily, he hasn't woken Tali yet, but I'm sure that will happen soon enough.

The good news is that I have "Mommy Power" and can somehow get through the days with a smile on my face, everyone fed and still in one piece and my sanity still (mostly) intact. Part of what keeps me going is knowing that Eli will outgrow the baby phase in a few months (sorry, not a fan) and things will get better.

Sesame Place, the Movie

Here is the short version of our "movie" of Tali's visit to Sesame Place this week. You'll see her playing at the stoop, clapping along to the music at the Abby show, riding the merry-go-round, climbing Cookie Monster's tower (which is essentially a large blue tarp that reminded me of New Orleans) and enjoying the evening parade. There's some video of Eli, too, as we wanted to remember that he joined us on this trip. Many thanks to H, who produced/edited this movie.

Because

Tali recently learned the word "because." Unfortunately, she doesn't always use it correctly. It seems as though any time she wants to make a compound sentence, she throws the word because in the middle.

A good use of the word is when she says "Eli is crying because Eli is hungry." or "Tali is punished because Tali did not listen to Mommy." However, there are just as many misuses of the word. For example, today we were stopped at a light and there was a painting of a dog in a meadow in the store window. So Tali says, "A dog says arf because the dog is in the flowers." I would love to capture this on video but not sure I will be lucky enough to do so. It's just so funny!

Can You Tell Me How To Get...

Yes, Tali now knows how to get to Sesame Street!

H took the week off of work and decided that we should take the kids to Sesame Place on Monday. I agreed to go because it was his vacation and he so rarely gets vacation, but secretly I was very nervous about this trip. We do have a five week old baby, after all.

Luckily, my fear was for nothing and the trip went pretty well. We drove down on Sunday and spent Monday at the park. The morning was very hot so at one point I took Eli into a gift shop and we just sat on the floor for 20 minutes to cool off. But other than that, Eli was very good and Tali had a lot of fun in the morning riding the merry go round, meeting some of the characters and seeing an Elmo show. We went back to the park after a late lunch and naps and took Tali on a lot of rides (she loved them all), to see an Abby show, and to watch the parade. The parade started at her bedtime so she got to stay up two hours late and was pretty well behaved. She had a blast watching all of the characters sing and dance. All in all, a successful trip.

Some things to note:

Eli has stolen Tali's thunder. People used to stop and say how cute she is, now they say that about Eli.

Tali is really fearless. The higher or faster the ride, the better.

We bought Peapods for the kids. Tali freaked out but eventually slept just fine. Eli didn't love it and woke up a lot. But it was better than gross hotel cribs and we can use them for years.

Tali actually had a cold on Monday while we were at Sesame. But by Tuesday, it was gone. Either it was the fastest cold she's ever had (usually last a week) or being outside for the day sped up the recovery.

Uh-Oh

Tali's been at camp for two weeks now and she already has a new boyfriend. Who is this adorable boy, you wonder? It's the rabbi's son. He is a very cute blonde (she seems to like the blondes) who seems very sweet. Did I mention she goes to a camp that is run by Chabad? The rabbi's son is the ninth of ten children. He just turned three and had his first haircut - a big ceremony where the whole Jewish community was invited. He now wears tzizit that are longer than his shorts.

So how did I learn about this new love interest? The camp director, who happens to be the rabbi's wife, saw her son giving Tali a big hug today. She said he's been in school all year and never shown any interest in the girls in his class. But I guess Tali won him over with her endless energy and enormous appetite. While I am sure his family is lovely, let's hope this is nothing more than a summer fling.

Here We Go Again

Eli had his one month check-up today and things went pretty well. His jaundice is almost gone and soon he'll be as pale as the rest of us. His weight is excellent (7 lbs.) and most of his vitals check out.

But, just like his sister at one month, the doctor heard a heart murmur.  However, as Tali's turned out to be nothing of concern, we are waiting to schedule a visit to the pediatric cardiologist (who happens to be my neighbor - our daughters are friends) until his next check-up. If the pediatrician still hears the murmur at that time, then we'll make an appointment.

To be honest, I have been waiting for her to tell me she hears a murmur for some time now. For whatever reason, I just expected it. I'm not really worried either. To me, it's just part of the baby process.

Other than that, things are going okay here. This whole two kids thing is keeping me very busy. There is no down time here. At least I'm not bored!

I Wonder

I wonder how old you have to be before you master whistling. 

 

We Are Not Bottle People

During the entire year that I breastfed Tali, I never once gave her a bottle. I tried, but she refused to take a bottle from me. She would take it from others, but not me. So now that I have to give Eli a bottle for the next week, I am in unfamiliar territory. His first bottle experience wasn't too bad, but his second reduced me to tears.

I prepared his bottle before bed so I would be ready to go as soon as he woke up. I was so tired though, that H had to wake me and tell me he was crying. I went into his room and shut the door with the hand holding the bottle. Some of the milk spilled onto the floor. Ugh. I got Eli out of his crib, changed his diaper and sat down to feed him. The rest of the bottle spilled all over him, me and the floor! Precious breast milk wasted! Eli started screaming because he got wet and was hungry. I was so upset that I had somehow screwed up something as simple as a bottle. So I rushed him downstairs, put him in the swing and defrosted more milk. I triple checked the bottle to make sure it wouldn't spill and put him on my lap to feed him. Eli had other plans. He wanted to breastfeed. And, just like his sister used to do, he turned towards my chest every time I put the bottle in his mouth. I eventually got him to take the bottle. And after some choking and a number of breaks, he finished the bottle.

After the bottle was done, I took him back upstairs to change his pajamas and dirty diaper. I swaddled him, put him down and he started crying. Why was he crying? I hav no idea. Did he not get enough milk? Did he swallow too much air? Was it something else? It's been 15 minutes and he is still crying. I am pumping so I cannot go to him. After I am done pumping, I have to wash everything then prepare the next bottle. This whole thing takes well over an hour. Breastfeeding takes 15-20 minutes, including a diaper change.

Whoever said a bottle is easier must know some sort of secret. Clearly, I am not a bottle person.

Today Was Brought to Me By the Number Three

THREE DAYS
Tali's been in camp for three days now and she's already sick. Today she came home and threw up (what seemed like an entire watermelon) before her nap. Later that afternoon, she felt warm and was a bit shaky. Her fever steadily rose from 100 to 101 to 102 before bedtime. I'm hoping it's a quick virus and she'll be better tomorrow. I'm also hoping Eli doesn't get it.

THREE WEEKS
Eli had his first bottle today at three weeks old. Today I saw a lactation consultant due to pain from breastfeeding. She advised that I pump for a week and give Eli a bottle so that I can heal. It took him a few minutes to accept and drink from the bottle, but he did. I just hope he doesn't start to prefer it over breast feeding.

THREE NAPS
The number of naps Eli hasn't taken (or taken well) today. Instead, there was lots of crying.

Tomorrow will be better, right?

Tali and Eli

Tali at 2 1/2 years old. Eli at 3 weeks old.

The first question people ask me these days is how is Tali with Eli. When Eli was born, she acted exactly as I expected: not paying much attention to him and focusing on Jackson. However, as the days have gone on, Tali's reaction to Eli has changed.

Last week, she began to get a little jealous of him. She would often say "give Mommy a hug, no baby" if I was holding Eli. She would also try to sit on my lap and push him out of the way. On Friday afternoon I had a babysitter watch Eli for two hours while Tali and I went to run errands. It really helped things. Tali was so happy to be with just me and repeatedly said "it's just Tali and Mommy" while we were out.

Over the weekend her behavior actually surprised me - she asked to hold Eli! When I first put Eli on her lap, she lifted her dress as if to feed him like I do (Tali - I am posting this picture at your dad's request)! I explained to her that only Mommy feeds Eli like that and Tali and Daddy hold Eli with their shirts down. So, she put her shirt down and held him for a minute or so. On Sunday, she asked to hold him again. And today (Monday) she actually asked to feed him! Again, I explained that only Mommy can feed Eli. She wasn't happy with that explanation but she didn't force the issue too much. In addition to wanting to hold him, she is asking to kiss him, is much more aware of him and is accepting of when he is with us.

So, she's getting into the groove of being a big sister. I'm surprised by how quickly she's come around. And I'm very proud of her.

Tali trying to breast feed Eli.

First Day of Camp!

This morning Tali had her first day of camp. The one problem with this camp is that all campers are required to wear the camp shirt. Since Tali only wants to wear pink or purple, I knew this would be a problem. So I spent the past week telling her all of the fun things she'd get to do at camp, but she had to wear the blue shirt. Last night, I put out the shirt and let her pick out her shorts (pink, of course). This morning, we had a meltdown. She screamed and cried but I got the shirt on her! It was another battle for the shorts, but she eventually got dressed. I did promise that she could change when she got home, which she did.

Camp itself was great. Tali walked right into her classroom and got busy playing! (We took a tour yesterday so the facility was fresh in her mind.) I stayed for a little bit just to make sure she was okay. While I was watching her play, a few of the other parents were commenting to each other on how cute Tali was - always nice to hear. After about 15 minutes, I left for a parent orientation. When I came to pick her up, the counselors all told me how great she was. Her main counselor said she is the "quintessential camper" as she was excited for every activity and had a smile on her face the whole time. (The only thing she didn't like was the pool. But I warned them about that in advance.) They also commented on how well behaved she was and how much she liked to eat! Apparently, she left the cafeteria with carrots in her hand as she didn't want to see any food go to waste.

So Day 1 was mostly a success. Let's hope I have an easier time with the shirt/shorts tomorrow morning.

The Reason You're Punished

When we punish Tali, we always tell her "The reason you are punished is..." so now she says it herself. She usually knows why she was punished and inserts the proper reason.

Just a few minutes ago, I punished Jackson for not listening to me. Tali followed him to the crate and shut the door behind him. Then she said "Jackson, the reason you are punished is because you didn't listen to Mommy. And you have to listen to Mommy." He's been in the crate for about two minutes now and she keeps going over to him to tell him why he is punished. And, she's right every time.

Welcome Baby Eli!

Baby Eli - the spitting image of his big sister.

On Sunday June 5 at 7:46 p.m., Tali's little brother, Eli, was born. He weighed 5 lbs. 3 oz. and was 18 inches long.

The labor/birth story:

"They" say that second labors are usually quick and much easier than the first. But Eli and I are definitely the exception to that rule.

Because Eli had been measuring small, my doctor wanted to get him out (so he could grow on the outside and be properly monitored) as soon as my body showed signs it was ready. So the plan was made to induce me on Saturday evening and for me to give birth on Sunday - just about a week before my actual due date. (Everyone was surprised that I was still pregnant, given that Tali was 3 1/2 weeks early.) H and I checked into the hospital on Saturday evening and I was given cervidil a little before midnight to soften my cervix and hopefully start labor.

The next morning, when my doctor arrived, I was started on Pitocin because the cervidil didn't work. I endured seven hours of painful labor with very little progress. During this time, Eli's heart rate was regularly decreasing during contractions, worrying the doctor, doula and nurse. My Pitocin was constantly being adjusted to find a level that would progress my labor and keep his heartbeat steady.

After seven hours, I decided I was ready for an epidural. Once I was sufficiently numb, my doctor put her hand inside to correct the problem - Eli's hand was on top of his head, making his decent close to impossible. My doctor placed his hand in a better position and then my labor finally started to progress. I went from four to ten centimeters over the next three hours.  During that time, I was placed on oxygen for both the baby and myself as my blood pressure had begun to drop.

Around 7:30 p.m., my doctor came to check on me and told me I was ready to push. So, I pushed. As soon as the head came out, it was clear why his heart rate had been dropping - the cord was wrapped thightly around his neck twice and his head was turned about 180 degrees. I couldn't see anything but H said it was very scary. The doctor calmly and quickly cut the cord and Eli took his first breath. It was a long process, but we are all doing fine now and happy to be home.

Tali has been better with the baby than I expected. She is curious and asks to see him every so often. Jackson is so excited for him and constantly wants to be close to him and sniff him, tail wagging hard. So far, things are good here. Now if only I could get some sleep...

Pool Party!

On Monday (Memorial Day), we went to a friend's house for a pool party. They have three girls, ages 7, 4 and 10 months. Tali and the 7-year-old (I will call her Miss A) became instant friends. H and I got a free babysitter for the day. Tali followed Miss A everywhere and Miss A had a blast taking care of Tali. She took Tali on the swings, played with her in the kiddie pool, took her to the bathroom with me, sat next to her at lunch and taught her how to eat corn on the cob. Tali, having already downed almost an entire platter of baby carrots and broccoli which she slathered with some sort of very spicy dip, figured out the corn pretty quickly. She loved it! And, of course, she asked for seconds. Although she never really went in the big pool, Tali had a blast at the party and talked about her new friend quite a bit the next day.

First bites of corn on the cob

Polishing off her first piece

Jelly on Mommy's Belly

Look Ma, blue hands! (A gift from one of the nurses.)

Since Baby D2 is on the small side, I've had to go to quite a few doctor's visits lately. I'm now going to the hospital twice a week for non-stress tests and growth scans. And Tali is coming with me. Luckily, she's been pretty good. I give her a container full of dried fruit and Sesame Street on my iPod and she sits happily while we listen to the baby's heartbeat and then look at the baby on the monitor. It doesn't hurt that she has a huge crush on one of the doctors there and asks to go see Dr. Bobby on a daily basis. He's flattered and always makes sure to tell her hello. She's also developed a relationship with some of the other doctors and nurses on staff. They all love her and make these frequent visits tolerable.

The best part of this whole experience is that Tali plays OBGYN at home all the time now. She pretends to put "jelly on Mommy's belly" and then uses some sort of long device (a necklace, Jackson's rope toy, etc.) to listen to the baby's "heartbean" and makes the noise of the heartbeat. It's very funny, even if she wants to do it 5-10 times a day.

She's A Big Girl

Now that the weather is nice, all of the kids in our complex are playing outside. Of course, Tali wants to play with the big kids (ages 8 and up, usually) and just invites herself along. Luckily, the kids are very nice and most of them like her. In the past week, she's played with three different groups of kids and been on three different 'big kid" toys.

The first was a pogo stick. She didn't fully get on this one, but she tried. And the owner was very nice in letting her play with it.

Next, she learned how to ride a skateboard, sort of. She sat on the board and went back and forth while. Then she decided to stand on the board. We didn't let her go anywhere, but she had a blast.

At the end of the week, she got on a motorized scooter. Of course, we didn't turn the motor on or she would have sped away and fallen off, but she held on to the bar and we pushed her around a bit.

As her preschool teachers constantly remind me, this kid has no fear.

Hello, Old Friend

I cannot believe it's been more than a month since I've posted here. I've been so busy that I really haven't had a chance to sit down and write anything. Very sad. So, here's a quick recap of what has been going on in our world.

Trip to New Orleans
We went to New Orleans for Passover in April. Tali and I went down a bit early so we could spend some extra time with the family - including Tali's new cousin Ariel! Tali missed Jackson terribly (we left him with Savta) and even cried over it a few times. Then, H came down on Friday evening and we spent a weekend alone at a friend's B&B. We had a great time and it was nice to get away. Unfortunately, Tali didn't have such a good time. She was so depressed that I left her that she just want to take naps all day. She wasn't a happy kid. My poor mom and sister did the best they could with her. During Seder, Tali recited the Four Questions in Hebrew (she repeated after me), saving Uncle Brian the embarrassment of having to do them. My only regret is that we did not get it on video. She did a great job.

Colds
Near the end of our trip to New Orleans, Tali got a cold. We flew home with her cold and then I caught it. It was miserable. Since I'm pregnant, I couldn't really take anything. And I couldn't sleep because I couldn't breathe. I spent quite a few nights on the sofa (so H wouldn't catch it), just laying there. Its awful to be pregnant and sick and it took me about a week to get better.

Potty Training
I now consider Tali fully trained. It was pretty easy, really. There were some accidents in the beginning but she picked it up pretty quickly. The only downside is that she now wakes up at night if she has to pee. Even though I put a Pull-Up on her, she won't go in it. Usually, it's just once but sometimes it is two or three times. It's not fun being nine months pregnant and having to get up in the middle of the night. But I guess she's preparing me for a newborn. I just hope she's not waking at opposite hours of him. Then I'll never get any sleep!

We have a house!
H and I signed a contract on a house! Our four-year search  is finally over. It's a half hour from where we are now in a beautiful little town. But, the house needs some work. So now I am going to take on a house renovation with a 2-year-old and a new baby. I must be crazy.

Those are the main things that have been going on over here. I promise to be better about blogging going forward. (At least until the baby comes.)

Gymnastics

When I picked Tali up from nursery school today, one of the teachers told me that I need to put Tali in gymnastics. She went on and on about how flexible she was, as well as coordinated and fearless. The perfect combination for a gymnast.

Tali regularly sits in a full split (see picture above, we were rolling a ball back and forth and that's how she chose to sit), but I just assumed all little kids could do that. Apparently not. I did have her in a general gym class over the winter and she did well with the gymnastics part. However, she got very frustrated with the balance beam because the other children went slow and needed help while she was practically running across it. While the other children were learning how to a somersault down a wedge, I was teaching Tali how to do it on the beam. She has excellent upper body strength and tons of energy. At home, she likes to do headstands and handstands (with help) and always begs H for more when he flips her in the air.

All of these things, plus others, indicate that she would enjoy gymnastics. I did when I was a child. Now I just have to find a class for her and the time to do it. And for the record, I have no desire to be a "stage mom" and push her to go to the Olympics. I just want her to have fun with it.

Uh-Oh

H and I just punished Tali in her crib for pulling Jackson's hair (something she rarely does). When she's punished in her crib, she's not allowed to have her blanket. But that doesn't stop her from asking for it. We're in another room listening to her scream for her blanket and all of the sudden I hear a thump. I rushed in to see her on the floor on her knees! She'd completely climbed out of her crib and wasn't even phased by it! She just wanted to get her blanket. H told her she's not allowed to climb out of her crib and that it's very bad. I'm not so sure that's going to work, though. I thought she was too short to climb out but I guess I was wrong. Good thing I bought a toddler rail months ago so that we'd be ready when this happened.

Five Days

Although I consider Tali potty trained, it seems we cannot get past the five day mark without an accident. It's usually a "number two" (won't go into details) and she's always very upset by it. I know she isn't doing it on purpose, but it's very frustrating for both of us. I've been told that's the hardest part for them to learn to control and it just takes time. But she'll go four days without any sort of accident and then once day five rolls around, she just cannot hold it.  I try not to get upset in front of her but it's hard. It's even harder because I need to comfort her and clean up the mess. Yuck.

So the sign on our bathroom door is back to zero tonight. This time I drew a sad face inside.

Manipulation

Now that Tali's potty trained, she's found a new way to try and manipulate me. The past two days, she's tried to get out taking a nap by telling me she needs to go potty after I've put her in the crib. She knows I'll go in there, take her out, and bring her to the potty. But, what she hasn't figured out yet is that I'll just put her right back in the crib after she goes (or doesn't go, as has been the case). She might try, but I still win.

Embarrassing Moments

Tali's at the age where there are quite a few embarrassing moments for me (I'll get to embarrass her in about 10 years). Putting down the potty in the driveway of someone's house doesn't bother me. Neither does getting a bit messy at a restaurant (as long as she's well behaved). But within the past week there have been two distinct moments where I wanted to hide.

Last week, at the end of our shopping trip at Whole Foods, Tali told me she had to go potty. So I brought her into the bathroom and sat her on the toilet. She went and as I was washing up, I heard the alarm go off. I peeked outside to see if everyone was evacuating and no one seemed to notice. Then Tali told me she had to go again. I put her back on the potty and someone knocked on the door to ask if everything was okay. Turns out she pulled the emergency string next to the toilet! Ugh, I just wanted to disappear.

Yesterday, we were in a cafe picking up some salad and Tali walked away from me. I told her to come back and she walked back towards me with a giant ginger cookie that she'd taken a bite out of (plastic wrapper and all). I told her she couldn't just take things, that she had to ask and I took the cookie away from her. As I picked up my salad, she walked away again. I turned around to see her with two sugar cookies in one hand and munching on a piece of rugelach in the other hand! At this point I was both embarrassed and angry. So I paid for all of the cookies along with our salad and left. The entire way home, I explained to her that I was mad and she cannot just take cookies (to be fair, they were all on tables right at her height), that she must ask me first. When we got home, she began to repeat what I said in the car. It's hard to stay mad when she's being so funny!

(Apologies for the jumpy video. Jackson was trying to get me to play tug while I was recording.)

Ginger

In one of the many food documentaries I've convinced H to watch over the past few years, there was a scene that's had a big impact on how I raise Tali. The cameras and narrator went into a first grade classroom with a basket of fresh produce and other healthy foods. When asked to identify things such as potatoes, chicken or broccoli, none of the kids could do it. But, they could instantly identify French fries and chicken nuggets. I was horrified - guess the documentary made it's point. I have vowed to teach my children to recognize and eat as many healthy foods as possible.

As Tali and I are at the grocery store at least twice a week, I use some of that time to teach her about these different foods. When we walk through the produce section, I quiz her on what I am putting into the cart. By now she's pretty good and often identifies things that I am not buying. Today one of the items was ginger. I don't use it that often so I didn't expect her to know what it was. I was right. But once I told her it was ginger, her response was "try ginger." I explained to her that I had to cut it first and she could try it later at home. She quickly went back to the mango she was eating and I assumed that was the end of it. Nope.

This afternoon Tali saw a few ingredients for tonight's dinner sitting on the counter. Without me asking, she said, "that's a pepper" and "that's a onion" but then she pointed to the ginger and asked what it was. I told her it was ginger and again she asked to try it. Since I always encourage her to try different foods (and I never tell her she won't like something as I believe she can determine that for herself), I cut her a tiny piece. She ate it, made a face and asked for some milk. After she washed it down, she left the kitchen for a few minutes. Then she reappeared and asked for more ginger! She ate another small bite and again drank some milk.  I had a few more pieces ready for her but I guess that was all she could handle. Even though it was just two pieces, I am impressed. That's a lot of flavor for a 2-year-old!

They Grow Up So Fast

This was taken immediately after Tali said "Come on Jackson, let's go."

Potty Training

Inspired by the (never updated) signs in the NYC subway, I have created a new sign that is now posted on the door to our downstairs bath. Too bad Tali can't read yet. But she is a rock star in her new "someglasses."

Potty Training By Accident

On Friday morning, I began potty training Tali. This happened by total accident as I didn't really think she was ready yet. But, she'd developed a terrible diaper rash and I needed to keep her diaper free for a few hours. So I figured if she was already going to be diaperless, I might as well take out the potty and try.

I'm happy to report that we had success right away! Although Tali's been peeing on the potty after her bath each evening, I haven't done more than that. But on Friday, she used the potty consistently throughout the day. There were no accidents on Friday or Saturday (I put a diaper on her when we went out of the house and for nap/bed time) and we had our first, and so far only, accident this morning.

Initially, Tali wasn't even excited that she went on the potty. Now she gets it and is a bit more excited as she's figured out it's a good thing. So far it's been pretty easy but that's all going to change on Tuesday when she goes to nursery school. I think I will attempt to send her without a diaper (and extra pants!) and see what happens. But, who knows, by then I might change my mind.


P.S. I took a great picture of her reading on the potty last night. But in order to save on future therapy bills, I am not going to post it. Use your imagination. =)

Behind the Line

(Tali standing behind the line, which is right in front of her puppy.)

About four or five days ago, I was on the phone with Aunt Ilana when our conversation was constantly interrupted by me telling Tali that she was too close to the TV. So Aunt Ilana suggested I put a line on the carpet and tell her that she has to stay behind it. Great idea! And it's working! I am using masking tape to draw a line on the carpet each morning. Tali still goes in front of the line sometimes, but she's not touching the TV as often. And she'll even say "Tali behind the line" now.  I love things that make my life easier.

Making Himself Known

It's been quite an interesting week for me and Baby D2. I haven't written much about this pregnancy because I've been too busy with Tali but this week is worth reporting on. (Sorry this is so long.)

Last Friday, I had my monthly check-up and my glucose screening. The test is now about 2 1/2 hours and they draw blood three times. Luckily, there is a lab two floors above my doctor's office that can do the screening so I decided to get it done there in between my appointment. After my first round of blood drawing and drinking the sugar drink (cola flavor - yuck), I went down for my appointment. As my doctor is looking at Baby D2 on the ultrasound, her face suddenly gets very serious. She tells me that his heart rate is dropping very low. She watches it for a minute or two and then tells me I need to get down to the hospital right away so that the baby can be monitored for a bit. As far as the glucose test, she tells me, I can try to get them to draw my blood there, but I might just have to start it over another day.

I drive down to the hospital, check in, and managed to find someone to do my blood. I then wait for an ultrasound technician to take a look. She watches for a while and the heart beat seems okay. Then a doctor comes in and looks for a while. He says it's okay as well and it was probably a combination of fasting for the glucose test and laying too flat at the doctor's office. But, I still need to have the heart rate monitored for 15 minutes. So I go back to the waiting room and I realize that my babysitter won't be able to stay with Tali until I get home. I make some phone calls and find a friend in our complex who can take Tali. I get my blood drawn again and then go for the heart rate monitoring. But since I was only 25 weeks, the baby is still moving a lot and it's near impossible to monitor for 15 consecutive minutes so they do 30 - moving the lobes around from time to time. Before I can leave the hospital, I have to pick up my blood and drive it back up to the lab where my first blood was drawn as all three samples have to be sent for processing at the same time. I finally made it home just in time to put Tali down for her nap.

The weekend was uneventful but then Monday rolled around. I get an e-mail from my doctor that I don't have diabetes but my platelet count is very high. She asks me to call my GI doctor and see if one of my medications could cause this. He explains that my count could rise if I am having a minor flare-up (even though I have no symptoms) and that if it's between 450-500, there is no reason to worry. He asks me to get the exact number and call him back. I learn my number is 531 and call him back. He then says it should be fine and if it gets over 600 then we'll worry.

Later that evening, I had some cramping. I never had any cramping when I was pregnant with Tali so I looked it up but it seemed to be normal so I went to bed. I woke up with cramping again and then began to have some discharge (another thing that never happened with Tali) that continued for a few hours. I called the doctor (right as she was walking into surgery - I felt so bad!) and she told me I should come in and get checked out, just to be safe. After the heart beat dropping and the platelets increasing, she wanted to make sure everything was okay. Once I secured care for Tali - some time with the babysitter and then off to another friend's house in the complex - I went to the doctor. One of the other doctors in the practice checked me out and everything was okay. My doctor called me later that evening to see what her colleague had said and then told me that she's had patients give birth at this stage so they don't mess around. Yikes!

Yesterday, while at the grocery store, I had my first ever Braxton Hicks contraction. I actually had to stop for a minute until it passed. I didn't have any more contractions that day so I'm not too worried. They can start this early but hopefully that one was just a fluke.

Out of all this, the one good thing is that I've learned Tali can go play at a friend's house without me. Both friends said she was perfectly fine at their house. She played with their daughters (same age as Tali) and ate (of course). No crying, no misbehaving - just an extra toddler running around.

Jackson's Advocate

On Sunday, Tali took on a new role - Jackson's advocate. When she woke up in the morning, I told her that we were going to Saba and Savta's that day. Her response was "Jackson come with us." We hadn't planned on bringing Jackson so I told her that Jackson would stay home. All morning, she said "Go to Saba, Savta's, Jackson come with us." So, we decided to take him.

But before we went to Saba and Savta's, we had to go to a camp orientation. As soon as we got in the car, Tali said "Jackson in the car." I explained to her that Jackson couldn't come with us to camp but we'd go back to get him. As we were leaving camp, she reminded us that we needed to go get Jackson. We stopped home and picked him up.

As soon as we arrived at Saba and Savta's, the first thing Tali said was "Savta, get Jackson water." So she did. It was Aunt Judy's birthday so everyone was there and Jackson had a blast. His tail wagged for a few hours straight.

It's a good think Tali convinced us to take Jackson because we ended up staying there pretty late as H wanted to work on our taxes with Saba. Jackson was able to get walked at his normal time and wasn't home alone all day. She really loves that dog and he owes her a huge thank you.

How Do You Not Laugh?

Tali's at the age where she picks up on things I (or others) say. Some things are so funny that it's hard not to laugh.

For example, if one of her stuffed animals, Lion for example, falls out of her stroller when she's pushing it around, she'll comfort it by saying "I know, Lion, I know."

If a piece of food drops off of her tray onto the floor, the first thing she says is "Jackson, leave it."

Currently, she is having some dried mango as a snack and Jackson is begging for some (pawing at her in the high chair). So she looked at him and said, "Jackson, I'm eating."

I just hope she knows I'm laughing because she's funny. I'm not laughing at her.

How To

How To Eat an Apple

By: Talia D.

Step 1: Ask Mommy for "real apple" (as opposed to dried apple snacks).

Step 2: Pick your piece off the plate.

Step 3: Bite into the apple as if it's an orange slice. 

Step 4: Continue eating the apple in this manner until most of the inside is gone.

Step 5: Break the remaining bit of apple and declare "apple broken in half." Then eat both halves, at the same time if possible. 

Step 6: Ask for more apple.