We had a very busy week leading up to Christmas, with several parties to attend and me serving as a scribe for a student who couldn't write her exams, but luckily I already had our shopping done so there wasn't much left to do but wait for the exciting day to arrive! Cadence had her 18 month appointment on Dec 19 and got 4 more shots. She weighed in at 24 lbs (60 percentile I think) and was 33.25 inches long (89 percentile)
On Dec 23 we drove up to Nashville to Opry Mills so Cadence could see Santa at Bass Pro Shops (they give you a free photo, hence why we drove all the way there!) She was actually pretty happy about seeing Santa until she got on his lap, and then she just wanted me to take her away. She wasn't crying in the picture, but definitely doesn't look thrilled!
Christmas Eve James and Cadence went out to Walmart in the morning to get a few last minute groceries, and I cleaned up a few rooms around the house as I was slightly suspicious that he was going to be flying my parents in from Iowa as one of my Christmas presents. We went to church at 7:00 and Cadence was pretty well behaved, although she did cause a little bit of a joyous ruckus when she discovered how hilarious it was to put her sippy cup on a hymnal and watch it slide off--the other toddlers around her also enjoyed the show and erupted into a fit of giggles! But it's better than crying, right?
We came home, got Cadence into bed right away since it was later than normal, I set out the presents from Santa, filled the stockings, and ate the cookies and milk. I tolerated watching James's favorite childhood Christmas cartoon, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then we watched Love Actually. It didn't finish until 11:15, so after it was over I promptly went to bed--only to be notified 10 minutes later that one of my presents arrived--my parents and Katrina! I was right! It was so good to see them and we stayed up until 1am or so talking before exhaustion set in.
The next day Cadence was the first one up, and we just kind of hung around until everyone woke up. I made some waffles for breakfast, and then it was time for presents! Here's what everyone got:
Cadence- Snap blocks, toy mixer, wooden pots/pans, play food, puppet theatre, several books, toy phone, toy broom/dustpan, The Little Mermaid, socks, trilingual flashcards, animal crackers, pink sparkly TOMS.
James- TV, Bears book, NFL book, Despicable Me 2, KIND bars, socks, an original painting from Cadence, birds book and gift card for bird food
Mallory-Iowa blanket, parents for Christmas :), private cooking lesson, Despicable Me 2, Divergent book, two maternity shirts, crockpot recipes, cast iron brownie kit, cupcake pan, pregnancy body pillow, black sparkly TOMS, sewing set
It really was a great Christmas, and I think Cadence's favorite gift was either the pink shoes or the broom and dustpan. That night I made a roast chicken, red potatoes, and corn for dinner, and we watched Despicable Me 2. The next day, my parents' last in town, we went to the cafe for lunch, ordered a Pizza Hut pizza for dinner, and just hung around the house. We watched Taken 2 since my dad wanted to see it and he really gets a chance to sit and watch a whole movie. The Piehls had to head home the next morning, but we got breakfast at the Midway Diner before they left for the airport. It was so nice to be able to celebrate Christmas with them without having to drive 11 hours to do it!
Lilypie First Birthday tickers
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
healthy little heartbeat!
Today I had another OB appointment, and it was probably my fastest ever! My doctor was really behind so they asked if I would see a NP, and I swear she was in and out in a few minutes. It was the same NP who confirmed our miscarriage, so part of me wondered if she remembered us and was a little nervous about finding our little one's heartbeat with the Doppler. But she found it pretty quickly and said everything sounded great! In my head this appointment was the one that would calm my worries about miscarrying, so I'm glad that everything went well. It's crazy to think that our next appointment is the anatomy scan where we will find out if #2 is a boy or girl....the official date is January 14! Since James neglected to tell his advisees for awhile that I was pregnant he promised them they would be the first to find out the gender, so I may just tell people my appointment is on the 15th so I don't have to avoid telling anyone before them. I don't mind them being the first to know, as they have become our little funny family over the past two years--it's really like Cadence has 9 big brothers and sisters, they're all so sweet to her!
Cadence has continued to be a funny and feisty little girl lately. She insists that the Christmas lights be turned on whenever she's around, and she will grab the remote and give it to me asking for "zeek?" (Musique.) She loves to dance, and lately she's been really into kissing everything to show her affection. The funniest application of this is with her and Jeter--she's constantly trying to get Jeter to lick her face, and when he does she erupts into a fit of giggles. She's also discovered a love for clementines ("balls" because they look like basketballs)--when I had them out on the table she ate 3-4 a day! She's also become very fond of "crackies" (crackers....or cookies when they're available!) and one day she devoured a piece of bacon, although she hasn't since. Her favorite food now is probably pancakes, which I make for her on the weekend. If I give her one she will frantically stuff her face with all the pieces I've given her and then ask for "plus"!
Last night was Lessons and Carols so she got to sit on "Santa"'s lap--he was kind of creepy looking, but at least she didn't cry. Santa gave her a toy cell phone which she LOVES. I think it's cute how she will say "buh-bye" whenever the little recording on the phone says bye. Today she also learned a new game--golf with a wooden spoon and a stuffed block--she just hits it around the room and yells....crazy girl!
One of my favorite things that she does now is in the morning when James is getting ready she always brings him a pair of shoes to put on. He will tell her which ones he wants, and then she grabs them and follows him around until he puts them on. She is very persistent and moves them even if he just takes a few steps in one direction.
Cadence has continued to be a funny and feisty little girl lately. She insists that the Christmas lights be turned on whenever she's around, and she will grab the remote and give it to me asking for "zeek?" (Musique.) She loves to dance, and lately she's been really into kissing everything to show her affection. The funniest application of this is with her and Jeter--she's constantly trying to get Jeter to lick her face, and when he does she erupts into a fit of giggles. She's also discovered a love for clementines ("balls" because they look like basketballs)--when I had them out on the table she ate 3-4 a day! She's also become very fond of "crackies" (crackers....or cookies when they're available!) and one day she devoured a piece of bacon, although she hasn't since. Her favorite food now is probably pancakes, which I make for her on the weekend. If I give her one she will frantically stuff her face with all the pieces I've given her and then ask for "plus"!
Last night was Lessons and Carols so she got to sit on "Santa"'s lap--he was kind of creepy looking, but at least she didn't cry. Santa gave her a toy cell phone which she LOVES. I think it's cute how she will say "buh-bye" whenever the little recording on the phone says bye. Today she also learned a new game--golf with a wooden spoon and a stuffed block--she just hits it around the room and yells....crazy girl!
One of my favorite things that she does now is in the morning when James is getting ready she always brings him a pair of shoes to put on. He will tell her which ones he wants, and then she grabs them and follows him around until he puts them on. She is very persistent and moves them even if he just takes a few steps in one direction.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thanksgiving recap
This year for Thanksgiving we headed to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina for a week of relaxation. We got a 2 bedroom villa this time for $500 and although the weather wasn't as nice as Destin, we did sleep better! Cadence also enjoyed the beach a lot more this year--I think she could have walked for hours on the sand, even though it was a little cold for my liking.
I was able to get a little break as James woke up with her every morning and fed her breakfast. They seemed to bond quite a lot this week, culminating in Cadence crying when we were back in Bell Buckle and James left to go running. She's definitely become a crazy little girl lately, and I feel like she learns a new word every day! Her favorites lately have been icky, potty, lait, and Lily--she's crazy about that "L" sound!
We didn't do anything really exciting on vacation, just some shopping and eating out. The last two days of our trip Cadence was battling some constipation though, so that was painful for everyone to endure. She was definitely excited to come home and see her dogs, and throw all of her books around the living room.
The day after we got home we finished decorating for Christmas, and Cadence even put a few ornaments on the tree by herself. She doesn't seem too interested in taking them off, she just likes to find the kitty and the duck and make those animal noises, and she always insists that the lights be on--by walking over, pointing at the tree and saying "pretty?"
As for baby #2, we are a day away from the second trimester--woo hoo! I swear I felt the little peach kick last night when I was laying in bed, but who knows--I'm just excited to know it's coming soon!
I was able to get a little break as James woke up with her every morning and fed her breakfast. They seemed to bond quite a lot this week, culminating in Cadence crying when we were back in Bell Buckle and James left to go running. She's definitely become a crazy little girl lately, and I feel like she learns a new word every day! Her favorites lately have been icky, potty, lait, and Lily--she's crazy about that "L" sound!
We didn't do anything really exciting on vacation, just some shopping and eating out. The last two days of our trip Cadence was battling some constipation though, so that was painful for everyone to endure. She was definitely excited to come home and see her dogs, and throw all of her books around the living room.
The day after we got home we finished decorating for Christmas, and Cadence even put a few ornaments on the tree by herself. She doesn't seem too interested in taking them off, she just likes to find the kitty and the duck and make those animal noises, and she always insists that the lights be on--by walking over, pointing at the tree and saying "pretty?"
As for baby #2, we are a day away from the second trimester--woo hoo! I swear I felt the little peach kick last night when I was laying in bed, but who knows--I'm just excited to know it's coming soon!
Monday, November 18, 2013
A reason for the silence...
...I've been trying to keep a secret! We are currently 11 weeks in with Baby #2! I guess I felt like I couldn't post without spilling the beans, but there has been a lot going on--the month of October seemed to fly by!
October 1st we welcomed baby Nicholas Northrup Chicken into the world! Shortly thereafter James's mom came to visit for 10 days, and we were able to get out and do lots of things over fall break when she was here. We visited Walden Farms, the Discovery Center, the mall playground, and Kids' Castle. After she left, it was only a couple of days before Cadence got a nasty cough--I think it was probably RSV since it came with a pretty high fever (103 degrees), and we had about 4 days with little to no sleep. I even slept on the floor in her room with her a couple of nights so we could both get a little rest. It was so sad to see her little body dealing with such a horrible cough!
Then...it was Halloween time! Cadence dressed up as a Rockford Peach, and although not everyone knew what her costume was from, those who did were pretty impressed. I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together since my sewing skills are a little rusty, but given enough time I guess I can figure anything out.
Oh, rewind, about Baby #2! I took a test on September 25, but it was negative, which I expected since given the timing of things it was probably a little too early to get a + test. However about a week later I was needing to pee all the time--which seemed weird to me. So on October 6 we went to early church and I dropped James off at the dining hall since he was on duty and it was time for brunch. Cadence and I came home, and I decided to take a test, just in case. Boom! Positive! I went back and forth as to how I should tell James--I knew I couldn't tell him at brunch because his reaction would make people wonder, so I decided to spell out, "Mommy is Pregnant" using Cadence's blocks on the floor of her playroom. James would see it would he took out the dogs, so it seemed like the perfect plan! So we went to meet him up at brunch, stayed to chat for a little while, and then came back home. He took the dogs out, didn't see it, and then brought them back in and Maggi knocked over one of the blocks as she ran through. He then noticed it and said, "Mommy is Regnant? What's regnant?" I looked at him for a second, saw he still was getting the picture, and then flipped the block back over, and he said, "What?!? Really? You're pregnant?" So it's safe to say he was surprised!
We had our first doctor's visit while James's mom was here, but nothing major to report from that. We have a new doctor, Dr. Salter, who is very young, but very nice. She does seem to want to push me towards a C-section since Cadence was so big, but I think in the end she will respect my wishes, and having been through it once I feel like I can better advocate for what I want. Our second visit was on November 12, and I had a transvaginal ultrasound. They wanted an early ultrasound so that they could pinpoint the due date, since we weren't really sure how long my cycle was when I got pregnant. She also thought it would be nice for us to see the little baby after our unfortunate experience last spring. I was so glad we got to have the ultrasound, it was amazing to see how even at 10.5 our little raspberry was definitely a baby--seeing the little feet and hands moving around--s/he even played peekaboo with us! They said our estimated due date was right on, so June 7, 2014 is our goal!
October 1st we welcomed baby Nicholas Northrup Chicken into the world! Shortly thereafter James's mom came to visit for 10 days, and we were able to get out and do lots of things over fall break when she was here. We visited Walden Farms, the Discovery Center, the mall playground, and Kids' Castle. After she left, it was only a couple of days before Cadence got a nasty cough--I think it was probably RSV since it came with a pretty high fever (103 degrees), and we had about 4 days with little to no sleep. I even slept on the floor in her room with her a couple of nights so we could both get a little rest. It was so sad to see her little body dealing with such a horrible cough!
Then...it was Halloween time! Cadence dressed up as a Rockford Peach, and although not everyone knew what her costume was from, those who did were pretty impressed. I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together since my sewing skills are a little rusty, but given enough time I guess I can figure anything out.
Oh, rewind, about Baby #2! I took a test on September 25, but it was negative, which I expected since given the timing of things it was probably a little too early to get a + test. However about a week later I was needing to pee all the time--which seemed weird to me. So on October 6 we went to early church and I dropped James off at the dining hall since he was on duty and it was time for brunch. Cadence and I came home, and I decided to take a test, just in case. Boom! Positive! I went back and forth as to how I should tell James--I knew I couldn't tell him at brunch because his reaction would make people wonder, so I decided to spell out, "Mommy is Pregnant" using Cadence's blocks on the floor of her playroom. James would see it would he took out the dogs, so it seemed like the perfect plan! So we went to meet him up at brunch, stayed to chat for a little while, and then came back home. He took the dogs out, didn't see it, and then brought them back in and Maggi knocked over one of the blocks as she ran through. He then noticed it and said, "Mommy is Regnant? What's regnant?" I looked at him for a second, saw he still was getting the picture, and then flipped the block back over, and he said, "What?!? Really? You're pregnant?" So it's safe to say he was surprised!
We had our first doctor's visit while James's mom was here, but nothing major to report from that. We have a new doctor, Dr. Salter, who is very young, but very nice. She does seem to want to push me towards a C-section since Cadence was so big, but I think in the end she will respect my wishes, and having been through it once I feel like I can better advocate for what I want. Our second visit was on November 12, and I had a transvaginal ultrasound. They wanted an early ultrasound so that they could pinpoint the due date, since we weren't really sure how long my cycle was when I got pregnant. She also thought it would be nice for us to see the little baby after our unfortunate experience last spring. I was so glad we got to have the ultrasound, it was amazing to see how even at 10.5 our little raspberry was definitely a baby--seeing the little feet and hands moving around--s/he even played peekaboo with us! They said our estimated due date was right on, so June 7, 2014 is our goal!
Monday, September 30, 2013
15 months...almost 16, oops!
Cadence has become such a fun kid to be around the past few months--she's so funny that I find myself laughing so much everyday at the silly noises she makes and things she finds to play with around the house.
She got two new teeth in the past month--a 3rd molar on August 29, and one of the teeth next to her top front two teeth on or about September 19. She is still working on the whole talking thing, and I'm trying to keep track of all the things she says...mama, dada, nana (for banana), pain, pomme, down, dog, puppy, Maggi, Jeter, buck buck (for chickens), quack, ball, and she's said "bisou" a couple of times.
She loves to play with my camera, but only to take selfies, and she especially loves it when I hold it and take pictures of the two of us. She has also discovered the pull out spice rack, and likes to put spices in the bathroom next to the kitchen. She's trying to figure out how the elliptical works, and loves to wander around outside when we take the dogs out--she practices yelling at them and throwing balls at them. She's got the whole dunking the basketball down like a pro and loves to deliver pairs of shoes to James and me for either us or her to wear. Related to that, if she finds a bra in my room, she will promptly deliver it to me and try to lift up my shirt and put it on me.
She got a playset from the Hoovers this month and she's enjoyed exploring all it has to offer--climbing up the slide and lately, dancing on the top section---her best move being the moonwalk. We went to a Parents and Tots class at the Discovery Center last week, and on Sunday we took her to a big park in Murfreesboro. She's decided the best way to go down a slide is headfirst, which of course scares me, but by the look on her face she is thrilled.
Her favorite foods are animal crackers, grapes, cottage cheese, yogurt, string cheese, apples, bananas, and bread. She's done very well in church the past few weeks, only needing to leave to get her diaper changed!
She got two new teeth in the past month--a 3rd molar on August 29, and one of the teeth next to her top front two teeth on or about September 19. She is still working on the whole talking thing, and I'm trying to keep track of all the things she says...mama, dada, nana (for banana), pain, pomme, down, dog, puppy, Maggi, Jeter, buck buck (for chickens), quack, ball, and she's said "bisou" a couple of times.
She loves to play with my camera, but only to take selfies, and she especially loves it when I hold it and take pictures of the two of us. She has also discovered the pull out spice rack, and likes to put spices in the bathroom next to the kitchen. She's trying to figure out how the elliptical works, and loves to wander around outside when we take the dogs out--she practices yelling at them and throwing balls at them. She's got the whole dunking the basketball down like a pro and loves to deliver pairs of shoes to James and me for either us or her to wear. Related to that, if she finds a bra in my room, she will promptly deliver it to me and try to lift up my shirt and put it on me.
She got a playset from the Hoovers this month and she's enjoyed exploring all it has to offer--climbing up the slide and lately, dancing on the top section---her best move being the moonwalk. We went to a Parents and Tots class at the Discovery Center last week, and on Sunday we took her to a big park in Murfreesboro. She's decided the best way to go down a slide is headfirst, which of course scares me, but by the look on her face she is thrilled.
Her favorite foods are animal crackers, grapes, cottage cheese, yogurt, string cheese, apples, bananas, and bread. She's done very well in church the past few weeks, only needing to leave to get her diaper changed!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
back from our midwestern adventure! (forgotten post...)
We've been back from the midwest for a few days now, and we are slowly getting into the groove of having James back at work and finding activities to keep us busy at home. James started back at the office on Thursday, so it was nice to just have 2 days without him and then the weekend.
Cadence is STILL holding my finger to walk around, but today I once again tricked her into walking by herself to get a dehydrated fruit snack from James--she took 4 or 5 really good steps to get to him, but after that figured out what I was doing and as soon as I let go she would put her hands to the floor and crawl to get the food. Such a stinker!
On the way back from Chicago Cadence learned the French word for head, so we've been practicing that and working on some more body parts. I've also decided to get more serious about the weaning process by cutting out her short feedings before naps. Yesterday was rough, but today was much better, as she went down for her afternoon nap with just a little rocking, one story, and zero fussing.
She's been eating lots of peaches this week, and she enjoyed the whole wheat tortillas I made this morning, but no really new foods lately that I can think of. She's been very good at entertaining herself around the house as I clean or try to do little projects, which I am eternally thankful for!
Cadence is STILL holding my finger to walk around, but today I once again tricked her into walking by herself to get a dehydrated fruit snack from James--she took 4 or 5 really good steps to get to him, but after that figured out what I was doing and as soon as I let go she would put her hands to the floor and crawl to get the food. Such a stinker!
On the way back from Chicago Cadence learned the French word for head, so we've been practicing that and working on some more body parts. I've also decided to get more serious about the weaning process by cutting out her short feedings before naps. Yesterday was rough, but today was much better, as she went down for her afternoon nap with just a little rocking, one story, and zero fussing.
She's been eating lots of peaches this week, and she enjoyed the whole wheat tortillas I made this morning, but no really new foods lately that I can think of. She's been very good at entertaining herself around the house as I clean or try to do little projects, which I am eternally thankful for!
14 months old
Well, I've been slacking a little on updating, but the big news from the past month is that Cadence is officially a walker now! On Saturday, August 10, so just took off, and never looked back. Things have been very busy lately!
-Today we went to the park after breakfast, and there was this black and white cat that followed us there and then hung out with us. Cadence was obsessed with it, and kept following it around and petting it. The cat loved Cadence, but I think she was a little creeped out by it rubbing up against her.
-She is still practicing some new words--pain is no problem now, and she's making attempts to say "peche" and "jambon". And I swear she said Caleb the other day out of nowhere. She responds to a lot of things I say in French, so I'm pretty happy with that progress so far.
-She likes to play in this one kitchen cabinet, and is forever rearranging items around the house. She will put a little ponytail tie on each of her index fingers and find James to "attack" him with her "weapons".
-She's still sleeping well, with the occasional wake-up because she's leaked, pooped, or lost her pacifier.
-We attended Ella's birthday party last week, and today we have Jack's party.
-After her afternoon nap I put some snacks on the coffee table and she stands and dances to music while she eats. She also likes to talk on the phone while she walks around the house, and then she stops to make some notes on a piece of paper like she's doing business.
-She loves her little piggy bank and has been finding change around the house and depositing it away--Dave Ramsey would be so proud!
-Her favorite book by far is Good Night Gorilla, and her favorite page is just all black with the eyes of the zookeeper's wife wide open. We almost lost the book after a mishap after church, but I saved it from the road. Juliette et son papa on the other hand....not so lucky.
-
-Today we went to the park after breakfast, and there was this black and white cat that followed us there and then hung out with us. Cadence was obsessed with it, and kept following it around and petting it. The cat loved Cadence, but I think she was a little creeped out by it rubbing up against her.
-She is still practicing some new words--pain is no problem now, and she's making attempts to say "peche" and "jambon". And I swear she said Caleb the other day out of nowhere. She responds to a lot of things I say in French, so I'm pretty happy with that progress so far.
-She likes to play in this one kitchen cabinet, and is forever rearranging items around the house. She will put a little ponytail tie on each of her index fingers and find James to "attack" him with her "weapons".
-She's still sleeping well, with the occasional wake-up because she's leaked, pooped, or lost her pacifier.
-We attended Ella's birthday party last week, and today we have Jack's party.
-After her afternoon nap I put some snacks on the coffee table and she stands and dances to music while she eats. She also likes to talk on the phone while she walks around the house, and then she stops to make some notes on a piece of paper like she's doing business.
-She loves her little piggy bank and has been finding change around the house and depositing it away--Dave Ramsey would be so proud!
-Her favorite book by far is Good Night Gorilla, and her favorite page is just all black with the eyes of the zookeeper's wife wide open. We almost lost the book after a mishap after church, but I saved it from the road. Juliette et son papa on the other hand....not so lucky.
-
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Week without Dad
James has been in Atlanta this week, so Cadence and I have been trying to stay busy by ourselves. We've been able to see a lot of the Swaffords, including a visit to the Discovery Center this morning. Cadence loved exploring the center and was especially fond of the wind tunnel upstairs. She managed to last without a morning nap through not only fun play time with friends, but also several errands with me. By the time we got home she was exhausted enough to sleep even though the roofers were banging away on top of our house.
I've been busy trying to get ready for our trip to the Midwest. I'm excited about all the people we'll get to see that I haven't seen in a long time and that Cadence has never met! Lots of friends, family, and of course our big family picture next Saturday with all the Piehls!
Cadence's new tricks as of late are the sign for book and more, and practicing her French! She thinks she can say "pain", but it's not completely right...although it is completely adorable to hear her say it.
Her favorite food remains black-eyed peas, although she's always up for some applesauce and yogurt, too. She loved eating spaghetti with the Swaffords, and the only food she really isn't too fond of is cooked carrots--just like Daddy! She did get to try some beets at Monell's in Nashville, but she only ate one bite before refusing any more.
She's wearing 12/18 month old clothes now, still in size 3 diapers, and we're still waiting for her to really want to walk without my finger. She's started crawling everywhere now, going into different rooms when we're not looking and getting into some mischief here and there with toilet paper and trash cans.
I've been busy trying to get ready for our trip to the Midwest. I'm excited about all the people we'll get to see that I haven't seen in a long time and that Cadence has never met! Lots of friends, family, and of course our big family picture next Saturday with all the Piehls!
Cadence's new tricks as of late are the sign for book and more, and practicing her French! She thinks she can say "pain", but it's not completely right...although it is completely adorable to hear her say it.
Her favorite food remains black-eyed peas, although she's always up for some applesauce and yogurt, too. She loved eating spaghetti with the Swaffords, and the only food she really isn't too fond of is cooked carrots--just like Daddy! She did get to try some beets at Monell's in Nashville, but she only ate one bite before refusing any more.
She's wearing 12/18 month old clothes now, still in size 3 diapers, and we're still waiting for her to really want to walk without my finger. She's started crawling everywhere now, going into different rooms when we're not looking and getting into some mischief here and there with toilet paper and trash cans.
Friday, July 5, 2013
milestones
I need to take a post to make some official record of Cadence's milestones--before I really forget when they happened!
We've been battling teething for the past few weeks, and I think we're finally through it all, as Cadence has actually slept 10-11 hours straight the past 4 nights! I'd say about 2 weeks ago her first top tooth popped through, quickly followed by the second. She also took a few steps by herself on June 17, but only because I tricked her into doing it. She still loves to walk around holding onto my finger, and if that's not available, she will find a path around the house where there is something to hold onto in order to get around.
The past week we've had a French exchange student stay with us, and Cadence really likes entertaining her. Her name is Sophie and she will be with us for one more week, then head back to France. We hadn't planned on hosting anyone, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
Once she leaves we only have James for a couple more days, and then he's off to Atlanta for a week, and when he comes back we head to KC/IA/Chicago for our vacation!
We've been battling teething for the past few weeks, and I think we're finally through it all, as Cadence has actually slept 10-11 hours straight the past 4 nights! I'd say about 2 weeks ago her first top tooth popped through, quickly followed by the second. She also took a few steps by herself on June 17, but only because I tricked her into doing it. She still loves to walk around holding onto my finger, and if that's not available, she will find a path around the house where there is something to hold onto in order to get around.
The past week we've had a French exchange student stay with us, and Cadence really likes entertaining her. Her name is Sophie and she will be with us for one more week, then head back to France. We hadn't planned on hosting anyone, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
Once she leaves we only have James for a couple more days, and then he's off to Atlanta for a week, and when he comes back we head to KC/IA/Chicago for our vacation!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Happy Birthday!
We celebrated Cadence's birthday on Friday, and after what felt like two nonstop days of prepping for it, everything was done just in time for party time! We went with a theme incorporating Cadence's "spirit" animal, as determined by Kristen Linton--the whale. Little did I know, the whale theme is a popular one for birthday parties, so I was able to find lots of inspiration online. Obviously most of it was a little two over the top and expensive for my tastes, but we were able to incorporate several "whale" things into the party--my favorite being the whale watermelon fruit bowl--thanks to Aunt Emma! We had mini pigs in a blanket, BLT bites, chips, whale crackers, fruit, water/lemonade, and of course cupcakes! I made real cupcakes for the grown-ups, and some baby friendly mini cupcakes that consisted of applesauce, bananas, and whole wheat flour. Cadence's cake was also comprised of the "healthy" batter, and she really liked it! She did not forcefully smash the smash cake, but had fun picking up finger scoops of icing and eventually getting some bits of cake. She really enjoyed the wonderful chorus of Happy Birthday she received, and all in all just had a good time strolling through the party and seeing everyone.
For her gifts, we asked her guests to bring something for a girl we sponsored through CandleWishes, and I'm so glad we made the decision to go that route--it was so sweet to see the little girl's face when we dropped off her gifts a few days later. We definitely want to do this every year, and I look forward to Cadence actually understanding the impact of being generous to others.
For her gifts, we asked her guests to bring something for a girl we sponsored through CandleWishes, and I'm so glad we made the decision to go that route--it was so sweet to see the little girl's face when we dropped off her gifts a few days later. We definitely want to do this every year, and I look forward to Cadence actually understanding the impact of being generous to others.
Friday, June 7, 2013
almost 1 year old!
It's hard to believe that in one short week our little baby will be one year old! It seems like she learns something new every day, and it's been so much fun to watch her personality develop over the past few months. One of her favorite activities lately is going to the gym and sitting on the floor while James and I shoot baskets. She will clap for us when we make a basket, and when James makes a "grunt" while shooting, she copies him. She also just likes to crawl around and turn in circles on the gym floor.
She's tried lots of new foods lately, and she loves tomatoes, asparagus, and mushrooms, and green beans have become a favorite snack when we're on the go. The other day we were shopping for groceries and she was eating green beans in the cart, which made everyone around her comment and smile. She also tried whole milk for the first time a few days ago and happily slurped it all down, so that gives me hope that the weaning process won't be too difficult.
She loves her books and balls, and always likes to stand by where Maggi's bed is so she can pet Maggi and walk around the fireplace. She still takes two good naps most days, and is back to sleeping through the night after a couple of nights waking up at 11. I've been making an effort to speak more French to her, and she clearly prefers her French books (or those I translate into French for her) over her other books. I know that she knows a few words and phrases, like fini, ou est, and bisous, so we will just keep working on building her vocabulary slowly but surely!
She's tried lots of new foods lately, and she loves tomatoes, asparagus, and mushrooms, and green beans have become a favorite snack when we're on the go. The other day we were shopping for groceries and she was eating green beans in the cart, which made everyone around her comment and smile. She also tried whole milk for the first time a few days ago and happily slurped it all down, so that gives me hope that the weaning process won't be too difficult.
She loves her books and balls, and always likes to stand by where Maggi's bed is so she can pet Maggi and walk around the fireplace. She still takes two good naps most days, and is back to sleeping through the night after a couple of nights waking up at 11. I've been making an effort to speak more French to her, and she clearly prefers her French books (or those I translate into French for her) over her other books. I know that she knows a few words and phrases, like fini, ou est, and bisous, so we will just keep working on building her vocabulary slowly but surely!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
An unexpected turn in the road...
Unfortunately, we learned last week that we lost baby Garcia #2. We're not sure at what point it stopped developing, but probably before the 6 week mark. It was definitely a difficult experience, as we tried to remain hopeful and pray that everything was all right once I first noticed the bleeding on May 16th. James leaped into research mode that evening and tried to keep me calm as we waited to see the doctor the next day, but I knew something was wrong. We had an ultrasound, during which the tech was very quiet, and although I couldn't always see the screen, after leaving the office I asked James if he saw the flicker of a heartbeat, and he told me he didn't.
In all of this we are very thankful for our close friends and family who have shown how much they care for us, and I am personally thankful that I am surrounded by people who truly believe in the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception. I praise God that although we had to endure this experience, I was able to miscarry at home without any medical procedures.
In all of this we are very thankful for our close friends and family who have shown how much they care for us, and I am personally thankful that I am surrounded by people who truly believe in the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception. I praise God that although we had to endure this experience, I was able to miscarry at home without any medical procedures.
Friday, April 26, 2013
6 weeks pregnant
We had our first appointment with Dr. Moss this week, and everything seems to be fine at this point. She measured my uterus and says it seems about the right size for my estimate at how far along I am, so my due date is Dec. 20 at this point. It's still too early to hear the heartbeat, but we should be able to hear it at our next appointment. Because we don't have traditional insurance we are technically "self-pay", which means that we get to find out exactly how much it costs to have a child without insurance--wowzers! Just for my doctor's visits it's $2800, not including lab work or an ultrasound. I keep thinking that is a LOT of money, but then when I think about the cost of insurance, if you weren't buying insurance you can easily save that much money in a year...and probably enough to cover everything in 2-3 years.
I still haven't told anyone else--for some reason it's much easier to keep a secret this time. I keep thinking I'll tell Kelly, but there really isn't ever a good time, so who knows when I'll let her know--probably by the baseball game for sure.
Cadence is getting much braver these days, cruising around and even standing on her own for a few seconds every now and then--although she definitely prefers the security of someone's fingers to hold on to. She has a cold or allergies today, and just looks pretty pitiful. Poor thing.
I've been busy wrapping up this host family stuff--lots of work trying to get all these families on the same page, but hopefully it will all come together soon....or at least by May 13, right?
I still haven't told anyone else--for some reason it's much easier to keep a secret this time. I keep thinking I'll tell Kelly, but there really isn't ever a good time, so who knows when I'll let her know--probably by the baseball game for sure.
Cadence is getting much braver these days, cruising around and even standing on her own for a few seconds every now and then--although she definitely prefers the security of someone's fingers to hold on to. She has a cold or allergies today, and just looks pretty pitiful. Poor thing.
I've been busy wrapping up this host family stuff--lots of work trying to get all these families on the same page, but hopefully it will all come together soon....or at least by May 13, right?
Thursday, April 18, 2013
9 months old! (forgot to post this!)
Cadence is now 9 months old, and I feel like that signifies the end of her being a "baby" now for some reason. It really makes the 12 month mark seem so soon, and I can't believe she will be 1 year old before we know it!
She doesn't have her 9 month appointment until she is almost 10 months old, but judging by my unofficial weigh-in of her she is right around 19 lbs now. I can't wait for her to gain one more pound and put her in that big girl carseat! She's eating lots of different foods now
She doesn't have her 9 month appointment until she is almost 10 months old, but judging by my unofficial weigh-in of her she is right around 19 lbs now. I can't wait for her to gain one more pound and put her in that big girl carseat! She's eating lots of different foods now
Sunday, April 14, 2013
10 months!
Today marks Cadence's 10 month birthday--I can't believe she will be a year old in 2 months now--it's crazy! Yesterday we ended up getting a few pictures taken with the other babies and some with just our family as well, and unfortunately Cadence was not her normal happy smiley self--of course until the pictures were over. I think she was just hungry, tired, and in a wet diaper, and I can't blame her! Taking pictures with small children is exhausting--and 5 babies together--yikes! It'll be interesting to see how they turned out.
She had her 9 month check-up last week, and came in at 19 lbs. 3 oz. and 29.75 inches. So we're almost too tall for the infant carrier, but 13 oz. shy of weighing enough for the next car seat. Guess we'll just wait and see if we can't pack some ounces on her soon!
Cadence has tried lots of new foods lately--watermelon, egg yolks, chicken, cottage cheese, yogurt...bread is still her favorite, but she really chowed down on the watermelon tonight! She can definitely crawl now, although it's still just an army crawl, and she always wants to be standing and walking around. It gets pretty exhausting, especially since I'm busy growing baby #2, too!
Speaking of baby #2, I told my parents today and James told his dad, which is probably as many people as we'll tell (including James's mom and the Swaffords) until our first appointment. I'm definitely still pregnant, and got my first taste of morning sickness this morning. I'm happy to report though that all I had eaten was a banana, and bananas are really not that foul smelling coming back up--still gross throwing up, for sure, but way better than my battle with chicken salad when I was pregnant with Cadence. Thus far Baby #2 has not been as kind as Cadence was--and I will remember this when it comes time to hand out an allowance!
She had her 9 month check-up last week, and came in at 19 lbs. 3 oz. and 29.75 inches. So we're almost too tall for the infant carrier, but 13 oz. shy of weighing enough for the next car seat. Guess we'll just wait and see if we can't pack some ounces on her soon!
Cadence has tried lots of new foods lately--watermelon, egg yolks, chicken, cottage cheese, yogurt...bread is still her favorite, but she really chowed down on the watermelon tonight! She can definitely crawl now, although it's still just an army crawl, and she always wants to be standing and walking around. It gets pretty exhausting, especially since I'm busy growing baby #2, too!
Speaking of baby #2, I told my parents today and James told his dad, which is probably as many people as we'll tell (including James's mom and the Swaffords) until our first appointment. I'm definitely still pregnant, and got my first taste of morning sickness this morning. I'm happy to report though that all I had eaten was a banana, and bananas are really not that foul smelling coming back up--still gross throwing up, for sure, but way better than my battle with chicken salad when I was pregnant with Cadence. Thus far Baby #2 has not been as kind as Cadence was--and I will remember this when it comes time to hand out an allowance!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
2.0, installed and preparing for launch
James and I both agreed that we wanted to have our children close together, for many reasons (not having to buy new items for them like car seats since they "expire", me getting to go back to work sooner, etc.). We were so happy to get pregnant so quickly the first go around, but we really had no idea how long it would take the second time. Cadence has LOVED to nurse, so her ability to keep my supply up even once she started solids kind of made it all a guessing game. The first menstrual cycle I had since getting pregnant with her started on Jan. 7, 2013, but then I didn't have another until March 15. Clearly, I thought I was pregnant again, but 7 tests later spread over Feb/March proved that I was wrong. Oh well...no worries. When I had another cycle in March, James and I were excited to get to try and conceive again. We were in New York for most of my "fertile" days, so I thought we had missed the window this month, but I guess I was wrong!
Before I had Cadence, my cycles were exactly 28 days long, so with that as my only reference, I figured I could take a test if I didn't have another cycle by April 15 (3 days after the 28 day mark). However, on April 7 and 8 I felt unusually queasy, a feeling I'd never really experienced before. I joked with James on Sunday that I was pregnant, but when I felt the same on Monday, I decided to take a pregnancy test while he was at work. It took all of 5 seconds for the test line to appear (it appeared before the control line!), so I got my answer! I wrote James a note from Cadence to tell him the news that said, "Dear Daddy, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is you have to move out of your dressing room. The good news--I think you know. Love, Cadence." I gave it to him after lunch, and he was shocked and elated. He told his mom and his friend AJ right away, while I decided to keep it a secret until a few more weeks down the road--especially since we were REALLY early in finding out this time--this little egg just got implanted after all! I did end up telling AJ's wife Sarah since he told her first, but as James said, they are good people to tell because we know that they will pray for Baby Garcia #2 as we progress through this pregnancy.
I bought a couple of more tests to ease my worries until I have my first doctor's visit--which I don't want to schedule until next week, just in case. But for now James and I are very excited about Cadence having a little sibling--I think he will once again be very bad at keeping it a secret, especially after that initial doctor's visit! He thinks it's a boy since I did not feel bad at all when I was pregnant with Cadence, but of course we will wait and see.
Before I had Cadence, my cycles were exactly 28 days long, so with that as my only reference, I figured I could take a test if I didn't have another cycle by April 15 (3 days after the 28 day mark). However, on April 7 and 8 I felt unusually queasy, a feeling I'd never really experienced before. I joked with James on Sunday that I was pregnant, but when I felt the same on Monday, I decided to take a pregnancy test while he was at work. It took all of 5 seconds for the test line to appear (it appeared before the control line!), so I got my answer! I wrote James a note from Cadence to tell him the news that said, "Dear Daddy, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is you have to move out of your dressing room. The good news--I think you know. Love, Cadence." I gave it to him after lunch, and he was shocked and elated. He told his mom and his friend AJ right away, while I decided to keep it a secret until a few more weeks down the road--especially since we were REALLY early in finding out this time--this little egg just got implanted after all! I did end up telling AJ's wife Sarah since he told her first, but as James said, they are good people to tell because we know that they will pray for Baby Garcia #2 as we progress through this pregnancy.
I bought a couple of more tests to ease my worries until I have my first doctor's visit--which I don't want to schedule until next week, just in case. But for now James and I are very excited about Cadence having a little sibling--I think he will once again be very bad at keeping it a secret, especially after that initial doctor's visit! He thinks it's a boy since I did not feel bad at all when I was pregnant with Cadence, but of course we will wait and see.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
update on the C-dog
I realized it's been awhile since I last posted, so I need to do some catching up!
Cadence is now 9.5 months old, and she seems to be on the verge of getting into trouble these days. This weekend I put the bumpers on our slate fireplace landing, since I figured it's better to have them on too soon than too late!
Traveling to New York for spring break effectively ruined her sleeping schedule, and now that we've been back for a couple days it's still out of whack. Last night I had to sleep with her in the guest bedroom because she was very unhappy and was moving all over the place when I tried to put her in our bed. I hope that it's all because she's getting more teeth, but those screams these past few nights have been heart-breaking!
She's getting really good at feeding herself now, although I still have some purees in the freezer that I want to use up, so it's usually a combo of finger feeding and purees. Since my last post she's tried the cereal puffs (our happy snack for the long car ride to NY), banana/oatmeal bites, broccoli, mango, blueberries, and crackers/bread of different varieties. I think she is beyond adorable when she feeds herself, because most of the time after she gets a bite in her mouth she just smiles and says, "Mmmmm"--and sometimes she does it even if she doesn't get anything in!
It's been really fun to listen to her talk these days, and over the past few days she's actually said "Hi Dad" a few times, which has James completely elated. She will say other things that sound like different words, like dog, got it, Jeter...but who knows what she's actually trying to say. I really need to work on the sign language with her because I think that will come in handy very soon as she becomes more willful.
Cadence is now 9.5 months old, and she seems to be on the verge of getting into trouble these days. This weekend I put the bumpers on our slate fireplace landing, since I figured it's better to have them on too soon than too late!
Traveling to New York for spring break effectively ruined her sleeping schedule, and now that we've been back for a couple days it's still out of whack. Last night I had to sleep with her in the guest bedroom because she was very unhappy and was moving all over the place when I tried to put her in our bed. I hope that it's all because she's getting more teeth, but those screams these past few nights have been heart-breaking!
She's getting really good at feeding herself now, although I still have some purees in the freezer that I want to use up, so it's usually a combo of finger feeding and purees. Since my last post she's tried the cereal puffs (our happy snack for the long car ride to NY), banana/oatmeal bites, broccoli, mango, blueberries, and crackers/bread of different varieties. I think she is beyond adorable when she feeds herself, because most of the time after she gets a bite in her mouth she just smiles and says, "Mmmmm"--and sometimes she does it even if she doesn't get anything in!
It's been really fun to listen to her talk these days, and over the past few days she's actually said "Hi Dad" a few times, which has James completely elated. She will say other things that sound like different words, like dog, got it, Jeter...but who knows what she's actually trying to say. I really need to work on the sign language with her because I think that will come in handy very soon as she becomes more willful.
today's new toy
Today Cadence discovered that she can pull open the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet and move it back and forth. Her legs are just skinny enough to fit underneath the drawer when she pulls it out, and although she has closed her fingers in it a few times, she seems mesmerized by the sensation and not upset by it--I'm sure that will change sometime though!
She made this discovery this morning, and now this afternoon she's adding to the fun by putting any papers and books she can find in the drawer before closing it up. I guess I should ask her to start filing some things for me since it seems to be so much fun!
She made this discovery this morning, and now this afternoon she's adding to the fun by putting any papers and books she can find in the drawer before closing it up. I guess I should ask her to start filing some things for me since it seems to be so much fun!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Daddy's home!
After being gone for 4 days, James finally came back from his conference in Philadelphia last night. Cadence was asleep when he got home around 8:45, so she was definitely a little confused to see him when she woke up this morning. I had to drive a student to the TOEFL test in Murfreesboro this morning, so they got some one-on-one time at home while I was gone. It's nice to see James so comfortable taking care of her on his own now, and she definitely loves her time with Daddy.
I can't believe she's almost 9 months old though...I feel like this month has gone by faster than usual! In a matter of weeks she will have another new little friend join her in the world when Eden Leong arrives in mid-March.
This week I uncharacteristically did a lot of online shopping, buying some things that we had been talking about getting for a long time, and picking up Cadence's first birthday gift--a pink Radio Flyer tricycle. James has to assemble it, but luckily he has 3.5 months to do it.
We're still waiting on the little lady to make her first official crawl, but I have to admit it's nice not having to worry about her wandering and getting into something she shouldn't, so I guess I'll just enjoy these easy days while I can!
I can't believe she's almost 9 months old though...I feel like this month has gone by faster than usual! In a matter of weeks she will have another new little friend join her in the world when Eden Leong arrives in mid-March.
This week I uncharacteristically did a lot of online shopping, buying some things that we had been talking about getting for a long time, and picking up Cadence's first birthday gift--a pink Radio Flyer tricycle. James has to assemble it, but luckily he has 3.5 months to do it.
We're still waiting on the little lady to make her first official crawl, but I have to admit it's nice not having to worry about her wandering and getting into something she shouldn't, so I guess I'll just enjoy these easy days while I can!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
8 months--oops, a little late!
Cadence rang in her 8 month-day on Valentine's Day, but I wanted to give her her own post to document what she's doing now.
Eating: She is on a pretty consistent schedule these days, waking up between 6-6:30, and eating pretty much every two hours (6:30, 9, 11, 1, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30). She nurses at each of those times and at 6:30, 11, and 5:30 she also gets solids. In the morning she will get fruit (usually pears or plums) and oatmeal made with breast milk and her vitamin drops added in. For lunch and dinner she gets a mix of fruits and veggies--pears, plums, black beans, green beans, peas, acorn/butternut/yellow squash, nectarines, bananas, and apples are all food we have tried so far.
Sleeping: SO well! We've stuck with the "Cry...Wait...Soothe" approach, and although there have been some rough nights, she has completely dropped the need for a mid-night feeding, and can go 10-11 hours in her crib--she still usually wakes up once or twice, but she only cries for a few minutes before falling back asleep. Her napping has been so great lately, as she consistently takes two naps a day that are at least an hour (usually more) long, and putting her down for a nap is not as difficult as it was--no instant screaming when she hits the mattress.
Tricks: She's getting better at moving about on her stomach. She can pop her head up really high by pushing up on her hands, and sometimes she'll lift her belly and rock back and forth on her knees. She usually just scoots backward and spins in circles to move about her play room. She's getting really good at waving hi and bye, and she will say mama, dada, and baba consistently.
Favorite Things: She loves playing with shiny pots and pans in the kitchen, bath time, Maggi and Jeter, and going anywhere new where she can see new people's faces. She sometimes gets upset if I walk away from her, but it's not all the time. She will let other people hold her and play with her, and she loves everyone! Her favorite toys are her Sophie giraffe, her basketball, and her frog teething ring. She also loves to play with her magic wand while I change her diaper. I read her her "Go to bed book" every night before bedtime, and other than that she likes her "That's not my dinosaur" book a lot, and her cloth colors book from Grandma Garcia is a favorite before/after mealtime.
Eating: She is on a pretty consistent schedule these days, waking up between 6-6:30, and eating pretty much every two hours (6:30, 9, 11, 1, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30). She nurses at each of those times and at 6:30, 11, and 5:30 she also gets solids. In the morning she will get fruit (usually pears or plums) and oatmeal made with breast milk and her vitamin drops added in. For lunch and dinner she gets a mix of fruits and veggies--pears, plums, black beans, green beans, peas, acorn/butternut/yellow squash, nectarines, bananas, and apples are all food we have tried so far.
Sleeping: SO well! We've stuck with the "Cry...Wait...Soothe" approach, and although there have been some rough nights, she has completely dropped the need for a mid-night feeding, and can go 10-11 hours in her crib--she still usually wakes up once or twice, but she only cries for a few minutes before falling back asleep. Her napping has been so great lately, as she consistently takes two naps a day that are at least an hour (usually more) long, and putting her down for a nap is not as difficult as it was--no instant screaming when she hits the mattress.
Tricks: She's getting better at moving about on her stomach. She can pop her head up really high by pushing up on her hands, and sometimes she'll lift her belly and rock back and forth on her knees. She usually just scoots backward and spins in circles to move about her play room. She's getting really good at waving hi and bye, and she will say mama, dada, and baba consistently.
Favorite Things: She loves playing with shiny pots and pans in the kitchen, bath time, Maggi and Jeter, and going anywhere new where she can see new people's faces. She sometimes gets upset if I walk away from her, but it's not all the time. She will let other people hold her and play with her, and she loves everyone! Her favorite toys are her Sophie giraffe, her basketball, and her frog teething ring. She also loves to play with her magic wand while I change her diaper. I read her her "Go to bed book" every night before bedtime, and other than that she likes her "That's not my dinosaur" book a lot, and her cloth colors book from Grandma Garcia is a favorite before/after mealtime.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Great weekend!
I'm going to lump Thursday in with the weekend, just because James was off duty that night, too so it really felt like a weekend to me...and it was Valentine's Day!
The plan I came up with for us for Valentine's Day was for us to each get something we needed (new running shoes) and then use those shoes in a nice little date and dinner. I also had a few little surprises for James throughout the day, and all in all it was a great day. I had Cadence help me make him a card using her feet in the shape of a heart, and I gave him my secret homemade gift--a frame holding the important dates in our relationship. After I gave it to him I realized what a great gift that is for any guy--they can hang it up and refer to it daily to remind themselves of the dates that even women will forget--first kiss, first time he said "I love you", etc. He was impressed by it, so it was a win! I also got him some new pictures of Cadence to put in the frames in his office, and a photo card from Cadence and me. He surprised me with a dozen pink roses (which unfortunately died within 3 days, womp womp). For our date we headed to the Greenway for a 3 mile run, and then we got sushi at Sushin afterwards. The sushi was great, but the service left much to be desired--and this girl sitting across from us was ANNOYING. But Cadence was great the whole date--all 4 hours, and as happy as can be!
Friday and Saturday were pretty low-key, I cooked food for us and we stayed home and cleaned a little. Sunday was a big day, as we went to church and then went to visit our friends the Deans and their twin babies who are two months older than Cadence. They surprised us with the news that they are moving to Iowa this summer, which is a little sad for us, but at least we can still visit them when we're in Iowa visiting my family. Spending some time with them definitely made us thankful we only have one baby--I can't imagine how tiring their lives are! After that we headed to the Goodwill and Kroger near them, and then finally to dinner in Nashville since I had a Groupon that needed to be used within the next three days. Dinner was okay, but once again Cadence proved herself to be the most easy-going baby ever. We're so lucky that she enjoys being out in public around strangers.
Tonight we had James's basketball banquet, and tomorrow I'm going to talk to the French classes about hosting and then having the campus moms over for lunch. Another full day!
The plan I came up with for us for Valentine's Day was for us to each get something we needed (new running shoes) and then use those shoes in a nice little date and dinner. I also had a few little surprises for James throughout the day, and all in all it was a great day. I had Cadence help me make him a card using her feet in the shape of a heart, and I gave him my secret homemade gift--a frame holding the important dates in our relationship. After I gave it to him I realized what a great gift that is for any guy--they can hang it up and refer to it daily to remind themselves of the dates that even women will forget--first kiss, first time he said "I love you", etc. He was impressed by it, so it was a win! I also got him some new pictures of Cadence to put in the frames in his office, and a photo card from Cadence and me. He surprised me with a dozen pink roses (which unfortunately died within 3 days, womp womp). For our date we headed to the Greenway for a 3 mile run, and then we got sushi at Sushin afterwards. The sushi was great, but the service left much to be desired--and this girl sitting across from us was ANNOYING. But Cadence was great the whole date--all 4 hours, and as happy as can be!
Friday and Saturday were pretty low-key, I cooked food for us and we stayed home and cleaned a little. Sunday was a big day, as we went to church and then went to visit our friends the Deans and their twin babies who are two months older than Cadence. They surprised us with the news that they are moving to Iowa this summer, which is a little sad for us, but at least we can still visit them when we're in Iowa visiting my family. Spending some time with them definitely made us thankful we only have one baby--I can't imagine how tiring their lives are! After that we headed to the Goodwill and Kroger near them, and then finally to dinner in Nashville since I had a Groupon that needed to be used within the next three days. Dinner was okay, but once again Cadence proved herself to be the most easy-going baby ever. We're so lucky that she enjoys being out in public around strangers.
Tonight we had James's basketball banquet, and tomorrow I'm going to talk to the French classes about hosting and then having the campus moms over for lunch. Another full day!
Monday, February 11, 2013
we survived!
Today was James's first day since mid-October without basketball stuff to do, and it was so great! He came home and we put on our running gear and ran to the park with Cadence, where she swang and slid down the slide with Daddy. We then checked our mail and headed home. It got a little chilly, but it was nice to have some time to hang out as a family without being surrounded by students.
James's basketball team won the third place trophy on Saturday, and it was so nice to see them end their season with a win--they ended up surpassing his expectations, and I know that he was very proud of the work that they put in all season. Following the games on Saturday we headed to a party at the Broadheads' and stayed there until 11:00 since we had our trusty babysitter Anna Pryor watching Cadence. She does such a great job with her, and it's so nice to not have to worry about our baby girl when we go out!
Cadence's sleeping has been a little worse the past two nights, with her waking up at midnight one night and 2:00am last night, but I still haven't had to pick her up or nurse her to get her back to sleep, so I guess we're doing okay. It still hurts to hear her cry and cry :(. Her napping on the other hand has not really improved--she absolutely will not let me put her down, and when I do she cannot just cry herself to sleep quickly like she does at night. Today I just slept next to her in our bed, and she managed to take a 3 hour nap, which was awesome.
James's basketball team won the third place trophy on Saturday, and it was so nice to see them end their season with a win--they ended up surpassing his expectations, and I know that he was very proud of the work that they put in all season. Following the games on Saturday we headed to a party at the Broadheads' and stayed there until 11:00 since we had our trusty babysitter Anna Pryor watching Cadence. She does such a great job with her, and it's so nice to not have to worry about our baby girl when we go out!
Cadence's sleeping has been a little worse the past two nights, with her waking up at midnight one night and 2:00am last night, but I still haven't had to pick her up or nurse her to get her back to sleep, so I guess we're doing okay. It still hurts to hear her cry and cry :(. Her napping on the other hand has not really improved--she absolutely will not let me put her down, and when I do she cannot just cry herself to sleep quickly like she does at night. Today I just slept next to her in our bed, and she managed to take a 3 hour nap, which was awesome.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
a good night!
Last night James won his first round playoff game in MS Basketball, and Cadence had a great night of sleep--she fell asleep at 8:30, and woke up at 10:10 and 2:10, but only for a couple minutes each time before falling asleep on her own. She started her day at 6:30 though, which is a liiiiittle early for my taste, but oh well. Unfortunately since she's been sleeping better at night her napping has worsened. Ugh. We just can't win!
In other hush hush news, as in not even James has a clue, I think I may be pregnant again. I should have started my period on Monday, and it's now Wednesday....I'm not too frantic though because I read that your cycle can be out of whack after being pregnant, so it may just be that my cycle has lengthened. I ordered some pregnancy test strips online, so I'll take a test when they get here....hopefully by Friday. Plus, I really don't want to distract James from basketball right now, I may just reveal the news as soon as his season is over, if I can keep a secret (and if I'm actually pregnant!) I didn't think it would be happening this month because we didn't really make an effort during my fertile days, but who knows!
In other hush hush news, as in not even James has a clue, I think I may be pregnant again. I should have started my period on Monday, and it's now Wednesday....I'm not too frantic though because I read that your cycle can be out of whack after being pregnant, so it may just be that my cycle has lengthened. I ordered some pregnancy test strips online, so I'll take a test when they get here....hopefully by Friday. Plus, I really don't want to distract James from basketball right now, I may just reveal the news as soon as his season is over, if I can keep a secret (and if I'm actually pregnant!) I didn't think it would be happening this month because we didn't really make an effort during my fertile days, but who knows!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
sleep training---here goes nothing!
For the past month or so, Cadence has gotten into the habit of not sleeping very well at night. You might remember me trying the Sleep Lady Shuffle method at the end of the year, and although it worked for a couple of nights, it never really seemed to help Cadence progress--she still wanted to wake up to eat at night, she still would get upset, never really managed to fall asleep on her own, etc. It may have been just that the shuffle takes so long to implement, and that in the course of its implementation she got her first teeth and had some sick issues....but it just didn't seem to be the right fit. So a few days ago I decided we should go for the modified "cry it out" method by Dr. Ferber, where you check on them at increasing intervals of time, to let them know that you are there and they have not been abandoned, but also so that they will eventually stop crying because they know that all it will get them is a quick "hi and bye" from mom or dad.
We started Friday night, and let's just say it was pretty horrible. She cried for about an hour, and then woke up a little while later and cried again--I was very confused as to the time since we don't have a visible alarm clock at night -.- but in short, she cried a lot, and it was pretty hard on me. I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would strengthen us both and just listened to Him to tell me when I needed to go comfort her.
Last night I put her down later than normal (9:15 because of the basketball games), checked on her once at 9:30, again around 9:50, and she stopped crying before my next timed check. Yay! She woke up before 6 the next morning, but from what I've read that's pretty normal when starting this process.
Tonight I put her down at 8:00, after changing up the nighttime routine slightly by feeding her and then reading her a book, and putting her down not fully asleep. She hasn't woken up yet, and hasn't cried at all, so I'm hoping that this process is complete (might be wishful thinking!) and she's been successfully sleep trained.
Today we went to early church since James couldn't make it to late church, and it seemed to gel with her morning schedule a little better than late church--although the nap situation is still tough to figure out on Sundays. She also tried plums for the first time, and had her first "medley"--yellow squash and peas together. She really loved them, and then finished with some more plums for dessert--this girl was hungry for supper! It's good to see her with a good appetite because I feel like at the past few meals she's been really distracted and just rubbing her eyes and nose all the time and not wanting to eat too much.
We started Friday night, and let's just say it was pretty horrible. She cried for about an hour, and then woke up a little while later and cried again--I was very confused as to the time since we don't have a visible alarm clock at night -.- but in short, she cried a lot, and it was pretty hard on me. I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would strengthen us both and just listened to Him to tell me when I needed to go comfort her.
Last night I put her down later than normal (9:15 because of the basketball games), checked on her once at 9:30, again around 9:50, and she stopped crying before my next timed check. Yay! She woke up before 6 the next morning, but from what I've read that's pretty normal when starting this process.
Tonight I put her down at 8:00, after changing up the nighttime routine slightly by feeding her and then reading her a book, and putting her down not fully asleep. She hasn't woken up yet, and hasn't cried at all, so I'm hoping that this process is complete (might be wishful thinking!) and she's been successfully sleep trained.
Today we went to early church since James couldn't make it to late church, and it seemed to gel with her morning schedule a little better than late church--although the nap situation is still tough to figure out on Sundays. She also tried plums for the first time, and had her first "medley"--yellow squash and peas together. She really loved them, and then finished with some more plums for dessert--this girl was hungry for supper! It's good to see her with a good appetite because I feel like at the past few meals she's been really distracted and just rubbing her eyes and nose all the time and not wanting to eat too much.
Monday, January 28, 2013
first trip to the park!
Today was unseasonably warm (about 70 degrees!) so I laced up my old running shoes and hit the pavement with Cadence in the stroller after she woke up from her afternoon nap. Although it had been awhile since I had last really attempted to run, I ran 1.5 miles without stopping, at about an 11 minute pace. Not exactly my old sub-10:00 miles, but I'll take what I can get these days. Once I hit 1.5 miles after looping around the Bell Buckle park, I stopped to take Cadence out and let her enjoy the park for the first time. I put her in a swing for about 10 minutes, and she absolutely loved it. I wish I had had my camera with me! Before we left I took her down the big slide one time, which I think really confused her...I'm sure she'll love it soon though!
When we got home we said good-bye to James as he headed off to his game, and then I hopped in the shower for my first try at the no 'poo method. Basically it involves washing your hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar, instead of all the chemicals found in traditional shampoo. Apparently it takes awhile for your hair to adjust to the new routine, but after my first shower doing it my hair feels great--nice and smooth and soft, which is pretty remarkable considering it's been 13 months since I last cut it. I don't think my hair will take very long to adjust to this new regimen because I don't wash it that frequently anyway....but I will document how it goes!
When we got home we said good-bye to James as he headed off to his game, and then I hopped in the shower for my first try at the no 'poo method. Basically it involves washing your hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar, instead of all the chemicals found in traditional shampoo. Apparently it takes awhile for your hair to adjust to the new routine, but after my first shower doing it my hair feels great--nice and smooth and soft, which is pretty remarkable considering it's been 13 months since I last cut it. I don't think my hair will take very long to adjust to this new regimen because I don't wash it that frequently anyway....but I will document how it goes!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
sicky sick.
The past couple days Cadence has been battling her first "real" sickness--fever, vomiting, runny nose :(. Luckily it only took about 48 hours to run its course and get out of her system, but man oh man, were those some long hours to get through. Now I feel exhausted and she is ready to go! I think she's working on some more teeth, or at least I hope so!
Other than that, things have been mostly the same. Her new favorite game is, "Où est Cadence?" where I look around and act like I can't find her, then excitedly locate her face. I bought some new foods for her to try--butternut squash, yellow squash, and green beans. I'm looking forward to some warmer temps arriving so I can get some more in season fruits and veggies (read: cheaper fruits and veggies!).
All in all she's still my sweet, loveable little girl that is growing up way too fast. She also has her own play room now since I moved the dogs out...I can't wait to decorate it for her!
Other than that, things have been mostly the same. Her new favorite game is, "Où est Cadence?" where I look around and act like I can't find her, then excitedly locate her face. I bought some new foods for her to try--butternut squash, yellow squash, and green beans. I'm looking forward to some warmer temps arriving so I can get some more in season fruits and veggies (read: cheaper fruits and veggies!).
All in all she's still my sweet, loveable little girl that is growing up way too fast. She also has her own play room now since I moved the dogs out...I can't wait to decorate it for her!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
separation anxiety
Her whole life Cadence has been a pretty happy-go-lucky baby, as long as she has food available and has slept enough, she's content. This morning we experienced our first dose of separation anxiety--I tried to leave her in the nursery at Bible study and she did NOT want me to go. I managed to get her to play on the floor for a little while and snuck out without her really noticing, but then I came back an hour later and she was screaming again, so I stayed in there for the last half hour or so. I know she'll get over it and be fine, as she has lots of opportunities to be away from me and then have me come back quickly, but it's still hard to have her just stare at me and scream her little head off!
We've been busy with basketball (what else!) again this week, so her sleeping has been thrown off again, but luckily today she got a good 1.5 hour nap in this afternoon, and she went to bed pretty easily at 6:50 after her bath. I've been trying to work on a bedtime routine, but she is just not patient enough to sit through a whole book--two pages in and she's ready to nurse and go to sleep! I felt like we were making progress on the not nursing to fall asleep front, but there's been some regression there lately. It's hard because it's literally the only way to calm her down when she's upset--no amount of rocking, swaying, walking, pacifier putting in, etc. will do the trick--she just gets madder and madder!
I'm looking forward to the end of basketball season, as it also means the end of concessions managing! Although it's nice to have that extra money, it also adds a lot of work to my weeks. For now I'm just praying that I can find enough host families for all these French students that are coming in June--it hasn't been as easy as I imagined!
We've been busy with basketball (what else!) again this week, so her sleeping has been thrown off again, but luckily today she got a good 1.5 hour nap in this afternoon, and she went to bed pretty easily at 6:50 after her bath. I've been trying to work on a bedtime routine, but she is just not patient enough to sit through a whole book--two pages in and she's ready to nurse and go to sleep! I felt like we were making progress on the not nursing to fall asleep front, but there's been some regression there lately. It's hard because it's literally the only way to calm her down when she's upset--no amount of rocking, swaying, walking, pacifier putting in, etc. will do the trick--she just gets madder and madder!
I'm looking forward to the end of basketball season, as it also means the end of concessions managing! Although it's nice to have that extra money, it also adds a lot of work to my weeks. For now I'm just praying that I can find enough host families for all these French students that are coming in June--it hasn't been as easy as I imagined!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
teeth!
First things first, we have a tooth! I noticed a little white spot on Cadence's gum this morning after church, and then upon feeling with my finger I definitely felt a little pearly white poking out--so exciting! It also explains why she's been having some rough sleeping nights lately and just wanting to comfort nurse a lot. Or at least I'll use teething as an excuse for all her fussiness.
Emma, Josh, and Copper were here visiting us for four days, and we had a nice relaxing visit with them. We went to The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar on Wednesday night with them, ate at the China buffet in Shelbyville and went to Goodwill, and watched a lot of Netflix and played pool.
School starts back tomorrow and we will miss having James home, but such is life I suppose.
Emma, Josh, and Copper were here visiting us for four days, and we had a nice relaxing visit with them. We went to The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar on Wednesday night with them, ate at the China buffet in Shelbyville and went to Goodwill, and watched a lot of Netflix and played pool.
School starts back tomorrow and we will miss having James home, but such is life I suppose.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New (Car) Year!
First off, some resolutions for me...
1. Exercise. I have been really bad about not doing anything active since Cadence was born, but I know I need to, not to lose weight, but just to stay strong and healthy.
2. Read. This has been my resolution before, and I'm trying it again.
3. Clean. Lame-o resolution: check.
4. Get pregnant again. Whaaaaat? I know.
Okay, now that those are out of the way, yesterday we bought a new car! A 2012 Mazda5. It should hopefully fit our growing family and give us roughly the same gas mileage we had on the vibe. It's so nice to have a quiet, well-running car again. Although the pricetag was hefty, I'll get over it soon...what's the point of saving money if you don't spend it, right?
1. Exercise. I have been really bad about not doing anything active since Cadence was born, but I know I need to, not to lose weight, but just to stay strong and healthy.
2. Read. This has been my resolution before, and I'm trying it again.
3. Clean. Lame-o resolution: check.
4. Get pregnant again. Whaaaaat? I know.
Okay, now that those are out of the way, yesterday we bought a new car! A 2012 Mazda5. It should hopefully fit our growing family and give us roughly the same gas mileage we had on the vibe. It's so nice to have a quiet, well-running car again. Although the pricetag was hefty, I'll get over it soon...what's the point of saving money if you don't spend it, right?