T-R-O-U-B-L-E

a rare moment of 'calm-ness' as she watches Mickey Mouse (By the way: I checked on her 5 minutes later, and the Cheerios were ALL OVER the playroom!...oh, and her diaper was completely off and the rug was soaked...sigh)

That's what Lila has been lately!! She is into EVERYTHING and is getting tall enough to reach the counters, table, tall shelves, and climb onto the kitchen chairs (and the table from there). She is getting busier everyday (I thought that wasn't even possible), and is completely wearing me out! She scopes out things that she can get into or mess up and then goes to town. Where she used to be perfectly content playing in her playroom, now she is trying to climb on top of shelves, climb on top of her old pink car walker, and make the biggest mess possible.  I don't mind the mess-making at all, I just have to be very active now at making sure she isn't going to hurt herself exploring her new found height and courage!

Today, I got locked out of my house (I know...ridiculous huh!?!). In the 10 minutes it took for the locksmith to come, Lila had managed to destroy and throw down everything in her reach in the pantry. I must admit, when I saw the pantry, I was relieved to know that she had spent that unsupervised time in a relatively safe manner! Much easier to clean up spilled cereal than make rush a trip to the ER.

and I thought newborns were supposed to be hard to take care of?!? Toddlers are a totally different breed!

Liquid Gold

...AKA Breastmilk!

I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with enough milk, and then some, to feed my precious babies! It really is such a blessing to be able to nurse and provide my babies with the milk that is perfectly made to nourish their growing bodies at each stage of their development.

“From the fullness of grace we have received one blessing after another” -  John 1:16

“Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward.” – Psalm 127:3 

I think I need a bigger freezer! :)

Routine

It only took about two months, but I'm proud to say that we are finally back into a routine around here! I think the hardest thing about having a new baby is having to establish a routine, which takes time due to newborns random feeding and sleeping schedules. Having two children made it that much more important to me to establish a routine early because I didn't want to mess up Lila's already established routine. Therefore, I used Lila's routine as the goal, and meshed Alli's routine in with hers.

I know that schedules and demands of children are constantly changing, but it has been so nice these past few weeks having them both synched to the same schedule and routine. Alli will wake up for her last feeding around 7am, so I either go back to bed or wake up and get ready for whatever we are doing that day depending on the time that we need to be there (sometimes, the girls even let me sleep until after 9am!).  Alli will fall back asleep for the time when I'm getting Lila ready (which is so nice!!), so that I only have to concentrate on one child at that busy time of the day. Once we're ready, I wake Alli up, change her diaper and clothes, and plop her in her car seat where she takes her morning nap because we are usually out running some sort of errands or taking Lila to a playdate.

Alli is usually still napping when it's time to feed Lila lunch, which again, makes it much easier to feed Lila since she fights me to eat here lately. Once Lila's done, I'll feed Alli (I still feel like I'm always feeding someone!!).  The girls have a couple hours where they are both awake at the same time, and sometimes Lila will play with her sister on the floor, but most of the time Lila plays and reads in her playroom while baby will kick in her pack-in-play, have tummy time, hang out in her bouncer, or I'll hold her while we watch Lila play.

After that, it's nap time for BOTH girls!! This is our new accomplishment!! Alli's afternoon naps used to be all over the place and only about 30-45 minutes long when I was laying her down in her crib. She used to HATE being swaddled, but doesn't mind it so much anymore, so I tried swaddling her and putting her in the swing just to see how long I could get. Well,  I had to wake her up after 3.5 hours because it was 6 o'clock. The same thing happened the next day also, so that is what I do now if I need her to take a long nap. I don't want her to only get used to napping in her swing, so I have been switching off, but it's so nice for both girls to take such long naps so that I can actually get dinner made or laundry done!

The absolute BEST part about our routine though is the fact that BOTH girls are out for the night no later than 8:30! We put Lila in her bed between 7:30 and 8, and Alli can't hardly keep her eyes open past 8:30.  When Lila was Alli's age, her bedtimes were still all over the place, and most of the time were as late as 11pm. I'm so thankful that Alli is such a good baby and a great sleeper!!

As a mom, I'm still having to constantly adjust to everyone's (including my own, which is hard for me to do sometimes!) schedules, but I'm really liking where we are right now! :)

What's a blog post without some pictures too...here ya go!

Color Wonder

Lila's Mamu bought her some Crayola Color Wonder markers and paper back when Alli was born, and she's just now getting to the point where she doesn't just want to eat the markers. Therefore, we are able to enjoy our new art supplies and have been having art time lately since the weather is still too hot and humid to play outside. The only bad part about her new-found love of art is the fit that follows clean-up time!

 the pink marker is her favorite...it's the only one that she still wanted to eat

 figuring out how to use three at one time

 finished product

 pitching a fit because we had to clean up

 proud of her finished product

Baby Chandler's Meet-the-Baby Shower

Yesterday, I hosted a meet-the-baby shower for baby Chandler who was born on September 9th. Her mom, Ashley, and I have been friends since Josh and I first moved here to Texas last July (2010), and we discovered that our first baby girls are only 8 days apart! Karysn and Lila are such good friends and have the best time playing with each other. Our second baby girls are only 8 weeks apart, and I hope that they become just as close as Karsyn and Lila are. I was so excited to meet baby Chandler, and of course, she is as cute as ever! She is such a sweet baby, and we had a great time celebrating her arrival!

 Lila chasing Karsyn around the house

 sneaking in some snacks

 playing with the baby gate in the hallway

 picture with our new babies

I am Auburn

"I am Auburn."

I am Auburn.

I am the 30-year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her first blue and orange cheerleader outfit; the other wears #34 even though he is too young to understand why.

I am the 50-year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the eagle circled the field. I was too choked even to say 'War Eagle'. For a moment, I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman granddaughter who is now the 3rd generation of AU students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Auburn and I have always believed I was different. You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Tennessee’s and my blue is not that of Florida. But the differences go much deeper than my colors. Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things. To be a real Auburn man or woman speaks of character, not of geography. All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

Georgia and Alabama may have their nations, but we have always been family. Make no mistake, we loathe defeat, but even in defeat, we would rather be an Auburn Tiger than anything else. We are family and you are the sons of Heisman, the sons of Jordan and Dye. You come from a long line of brothers whose names include Burkett, Sidle, Owens, Sullivan, Beasley, Jackson, and Rocker. It is a great heritage.

So this Saturday, when the warm-ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken, when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you run onto my field. Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the burnt orange and navy blue. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Auburn is so much more than a city or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are...

It is driving into town on a game day. You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their orange and blue flags, magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Jordan-Hare later that day.

It is the Tiger Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to an Auburn game is like going to church for Auburn people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Auburn was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME.

It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays the Alma Mater as the eagle is soaring over your head during pregame.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified (Auburn people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then, you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "War Eagle" and a confident grin because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our undying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for, and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream War Eagle" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state.

No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it.

It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone. You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."ITS GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER."

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Village on the Plains"...the place where you came from...your home. It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same.You still love it as much as you always have because Auburn is as much a part of you as your arms, legs and the orange and blue blood that runs through your veins.

And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you because you know it's almost time....It's about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?

Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSE

Republished from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/50839-i-am-auburn.

I just loved this article! I came across this on a friend's blog, and it really encompasses everything that I feel about Auburn. I can only hope that my girls will be lucky enough to be part of such a wonderful family and college one day! I can't wait to take them to the Loveliest Village on the Plains for the first time in April for my best friend's wedding!!! WAR EAGLE, friends!

8 Weeks Later

Newborns grow SO fast, and I want to make sure I document each and every stage of little Alli's new-babyhood.  I try and do a mini-photo shoot each week to document how fast she is growing and changing. She was wearing the same knit hat in both so I put them side by side to compare her 2 week pictures to this week's 10 week pictures. She is really starting to give me the cutest facial expressions and is coming alive more and more with each new week.

Loving Two

I borrowed this poem from a friend's blog and I thought it was so sweet. Thankfully, Lila didn't exhibit many jealous traits, other than the fact that she wants to be sitting in my lap when I nurse her sister, but I still thought this poem was sweet!


Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.
I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.
You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.
But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.
I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.
I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
Author Unknown

Two Months Old *September 13, 2011*

*you weigh 10 pounds 4 ounces and are exactly 21 inches long.  These are actually accurate since you had your check-up at the doctor's office this morning. 

*you are sleeping pretty well. You start off sleeping between 4-6 hours (from about 8:30/9-2 or even 3), and then you wake about 2.5-3 hours after that throughout the night. You want to be up for good between 8 and 10am. 

*you sleep swaddled from the waste down in your bassinet. You get so mad if you can't get to your hands, so we only swaddle you just to keep your bottom half warm in our cold room. 

*you are starting to be awake more throughout the day. You will give us 2-4 hour stretches of awake time with 1-2 hours of nap times in between. Your nap times during the day are still pretty unpredictable though. 

*you are still nursing like a champ! You want to eat every 2-3 hours during the day. We always give you a bottle at 7 pm and it takes you until about 8:30 to finally finish the 4 ounces. You would much rather nurse, but we want you to get used to a bottle! 

*you will take an Avent bottle somewhat well. You don't seem to like any other kinds, and the bottle sometimes makes you mad when you want to nurse. You take between 1-4 ounces at a time in your bottle, depending on how hungry you are. 

*you still love your Mam paci.

*your starting to wear some of your 3 month clothes and your newborn clothes are getting put away already :( You wear a mixture of 0-3 month and 3 month onesies and outfits. 


*you are in size one diapers, and even those are getting snug around the middle. You still have a way to go before you'll need size 2's though. 

*you like your swing okay, but could do without it. Sometimes at night, I put you in your swing, but don't turn it on, just to lift your head up so that your nose doesn't become stuffy after your feedings. You are only happy in your swing if you are well-fed, and it doesn't immediately put you to sleep. You really like to watch the animals turn around while the music plays on your swing as well. You will coo at your animals, and it is so cute!


*you recognize our voices and will turn your head towards the sounds we make. You can follow our faces as well and are able to track objects with your eyes.

*you can grab onto a rattle with the tips of your fingers.


*you love to kick and swat at the animals in your pack and play. I have lots of video of you doing this!

*you can lift your head about 90 degrees when laying on your stomach. During tummy time, you love to push your legs forward and back like you are trying to crawl. You also like tummy time a lot more than Lila did!


*you first rolled from your tummy to your back at five weeks old. 


*you can hold your head steady when we hold you upright. You will still let it flop forward on occasion, but not very often. You are getting so strong!

*you smile all the time, much more than Lila did! It is so sweet! You always smile at me when you are done feeding and pull off. I always wish I could video it, but I just soak it in!


*you "talk" and coo all the time now when you are happy. I just love those little noises. You started cooing around 5 weeks old. 

*you love to roll from your back to your side. 

*you are getting more used to the Baby Bijorn, but don't have to go in it very often. You are very content in your bouncy seat, which we have on the table so that you are safe from Lila. 

*you had a check-up today and the doctor said that you are growing on a perfect curve! You also got three shots today and cried so hard! You're little eyes were so red all morning, and it just broke my heart! 

 waiting for the doctor to see her

You have grown and have really come alive this past month. You just melt our hearts with your sweet smiles and coos! I can't wait to see what next month will bring!