4 months and 23 months

Eden is 4 months old and had her well check this morning!

At 4 months, sweet girl, you are:

• teeny tiny!  10 pounds 12 ounces - 4% (even smaller than Macy!)
• 24 1/4 inches - 61%
• in some 0-3 and some 3-6 clothes
• in size 1 diapers
• eating every 3 1/5 hours, 5 times a day (we just dropped a feeding)
• taking last feeding at 9:30 and sleeping 10 - 7:30
• having some tummy issues right now!  You've been pretty fussy and Dr. B thinks it could be reflux even though you never spit up.  We are starting cereal to see if that will help, but if not, we have a prescription to try.  I hate to see you hurting!  You get so stiff and arch your back and I can tell you're not comfortable.  It's not constant and seems to come in waves, but it's hard to console you when you get so upset.  Hopefully the cereal will help!
• usually a very happy baby when your tummy's not bothering you.  You smile and giggle so much and it's easy to get you cackling.  You're so ticklish!
• SPOILED ROTTEN!  You love being held and if I put you down and try to walk away, you turn that lip up and whimper!  If you're not being held, you prefer to have someone talking to you or entertaining you in some way:-)
• rolling tummy to back (1st time on Sept. 28) but you've only done it a few times since then

Eden Joy, you may be my high-maintenance baby, but I wouldn't change a thing!  I love cuddling with you and I really love the fact that your eyes follow Mommy wherever I go.  As a mom, you can just sense certain things in your children.  With Macy, I could sense a strong spirit, yet tender heart pretty early on.  And I think I was right!  With you, baby girl, I sense such a sweetness about you and sensitivity.  It doesn't take much to hurt your feelings and you are so content when someone is giving you attention and holding you close.  I still think you favor sister, but I'm starting to notice some differences (I think y'all have different mouths!)  I love you so much and I'm thankful for such a precious, healthy, beautiful baby girl!

Macy-girl, you are less than a month away from 2!?!?

Some of my favorite "Macyisms" right now are:

• "Mommy, I so excited!"
• "Watch this!"
• "Uh-oh.  Whoops-a-daisy!"
• "hmmm-mmm" instead of saying "yes"
• you say "mice" when you are trying to say "mine"
• you've learned when I'm putting you down for your nap, if you say "know what, Mommy?" I'll stay in your room longer
• loving girly things!  Just bought your own lipstick and loves for Mommy to paint your toes.
• you're really mothering right now.  You take your animals and babies to the store and put them down for naps.
• having the funniest phone conversations right now!  You will walk around with my phone on your shoulder saying "Hello....ok.....i just playing with my toys.....ok......see-u in -ittle bit....bye"
• you say thank you without being prompted
• very tender-hearted.  Hate to see other people crying or upset. 

Macy Caroline, you are smart as a whip, too smart for your own good at times!  You are still into everything and we are all ready for your birthday so we can get you some new entertainment!  You are really role playing right now and I overhear you telling Piglet to eat or change his diaper, etc. all the time.  You are still a wonderful big sister and have been so patient with Eden, even when she cries during Mickey Mouse Clubhouse;-)  I feel like you've grown up so much over the last month.  Slow down, sweet girl!!  We love you.

paint and stickers in your hair from school:-)

reading your Bible like Daddy

The Verdict

After a week of staying home and wearing only panties, I can (hesitantly!) say that I think Macy's got it!  She has been staying dry and going much longer stretches between potty breaks.  She's also waking up from her naps dry.  I know we're not "accident free", but I did notice a point where something clicked inside of her and she seemed to figure it out.  We've even ventured out a few times!!  She also had two really good tests this week...

Grant and Scarlett came over to play one morning and we had no accidents!

This morning, Macy went to play with Jack while Mommy took Eden to the dr.  Aunt Mandy did a great job and there were no accidents!  We even went to eat afterwards and she went once at the restaurant and again when we got home.

Enjoying all of Jack's toys!

I still don't think she's trustworthy to tell us every single time, so we are still taking her when it seems like it's been a while.  I'm sure that will come in time.  Our first long outings will be nerve-racking I'm sure:-)

***Saturday morning update: she woke up dry this morning!  Yay!

Hat Weather

 Macy - 2 months

Eden - 4 months

Potty-training Update

Day 2, Thursday:

Day 2 was pretty similar to Day 1.  She had two accidents that morning, but went the rest of the day staying dry.  My parents came over that night so Josh and I could go see the movie "Courageous" (a must see by the way!)  My mom said she didn't have any accidents and used the potty right before she went to bed.  She's still waking up from naps and in the morning wet.

Day 3, Friday:

Friday morning, our nephew Garrett was going to be born via c-section.  So around 8:00 we headed to the hospital.  Macy wore a pull-up and didn't have any accidents at the hospital.  However, she wasn't a fan of the big hospital potty and started fighting me when I would take her.  I decided not to push it and when we got home her pull-up was wet.  It had been an hour and a half.  Once we were home, she stayed in a pull-up and kept it dry all afternoon.  It was just a little wet after her nap.  We had a Sunday School party that night, so Macy went with my parents to the Lee football game.  My mom took a package of disinfectant wipes and a few extra pull-ups.  She took her to the potty about 3-4 times during the game and she kept her pull-up dry all night!  Went to bed with no other accidents.

Leaving for the hospital to meet Garrett

Waiting room

Aren't they sweet!

At the game Friday night

Day 4, Saturday:

This was an overall successful day!  However, she stayed in a pull-up most of the day because we were out and about.  She went to breakfast with Daddy and Josh said she went once in the potty there.  Then we all went up to the hospital to see baby Garrett and she went in the potty as we were leaving.  We went to lunch at Whataburger with Nana, Papa, Aunt Mandy, Mallory, Jack and Grandmother.  I think she went here but I can't remember!  Then, we had to pick up a few things at Babies R Us and she was dry when we got home.  She went down for a nap and woke up a little wet.  That night we had Mallory's birthday party at CiCi's.  She went once there but by the time we got home her pull-up was a little wet.

Day 5, Sunday:

Challenging day due to church!  She wore a pull-up and we told her Sunday School teacher.  When we picked her up, she had gone once in the potty but then made a diaper in her pull-up.  When we got home, I put panties on her during lunch and while she played before nap.  She had one accident.  That night, we used a pull-up again because we went to get something to eat.  She stayed dry until bed.

I'm starting to think that she keeps her pull-ups dry more than her panties!  So, we are staying home this week to see if she can get it.  She's doing pretty good, but she's still not telling me everytime she needs to go.  We have to initiate most potty times.  She's so little, though, and if she doesn't seem to be getting it, we may just wait a few more months.  Going to see how our week goes!

Slightly Ambitious!

Macy has been showing signs of being ready to potty-train for a while now.  This past week, she would even come tell me she wanted to sit on the potty and she's been going in the potty, especially before bath, for several weeks.  I went back and forth about really going full force into potty-training right now.  But, after some good advice from my mama, I decided to take advantage of the fact that she is showing interest and at least give it a try.  So, after I dropped her off at school yesterday, I headed to Target to get our necessary "supplies".  I also ran into two sweet moms at Target who had been through the potty-training phase and they both encouraged me not to miss the opportunity.

Last night, I wrapped it all and we let her open it.

Waiting for her present!

Sheer excitement over a potty seat!  I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that it was a "Princess" potty seat:-)

Candy!!  Mini M&M's for a little motivation

She pulled out the panties and said "Clothes!"  We explained to her what they were.

Minnie Mouse!

Trying them on

Showing Eden

I really prayed last night that I would have no expectations for how this all went down, especially since she is so little.  I know that sometimes I expect a lot from her and I didn't want to go into this unrealistically.  If it didn't happen, I wanted to have the wisdom to pack it up and try again later.  But I must say, we had a pretty successful first day!  She wore training pants all day.  They are just like cotton panties but with a little extra lining which aids in accidents.  She woke up this morning, put them on, and immediately began going in the potty.  I was going to do the whole timer thing about every 15 minutes, but she ended up initiating it before I would even have the chance.  By 9:00 she had probably gone on the potty about 5 times!  We drank juice for breakfast and refilled our sippy cup while we played.  She continued to tell me when she wanted to sit on the potty, and she pretty much went every time.  A little after 9:00, we had a big success (!) which earned her extra M&M's:-)  Overall, she had two accidents and at 5:30, we put a pull-up on to go to church.  I didn't think the whole pull-up thing would work, and sure enough she had already wet it when we got there.  We went to eat with Nana and Papa after church and she went once in the bathroom there.  When we got home, she had another extra M&M's moment which was super exciting!!  She sat on the potty one more time before bed then went to sleep in her diaper.  I'm encouraged that she's at least understanding the concept and we will continue to work at it!  My big girl!  So proud of her.

Family, Football, Fifth Generation and Feeling Wet!

This past weekend, my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews were in town.  We had a fun-filled family weekend together!

Getting ready to go to the Lee football game Friday night, all dressed in our red and black!

Daddy and Eden at the game

Mommy and Macy at the game

Friday morning, we all went to Palestine to see Mimi and Pappa and my great-grandmother, Mammaw.  Eden and Macy are fifth generations!

Mammaw meeting her newest great-great

Five generations

Holding Mammaw's hand

The nursing home has a beautiful courtyard and the kids really enjoyed running around

Cason telling Mammaw he's three

Macy and Daddy

Saturday we hung out at the house.  After we put the kids down for naps, Josh and I (plus Eden!) and Aaron and Kristyn headed to Arlington for the Rangers game.  My parents kept the three oldest kids and even braved Chuck E. Cheese after naps!  This was mine and Eden's first play-off game and the atmosphere was much different!  Very intense!

Napping just a bit before the first pitch

We were having a great time until the rain hit (which we weren't expecting!)  The temp kept dropping and before we knew it, it was 65 degrees and raining hard!  I took off with Eden to the tunnel and managed to keep her dry.  Kristyn came out and we passed Eden back and forth for about 45 minutes. They delayed the game for about thirty minutes and it seemed like the rain had stopped.  We all went back to our seats and about 15 minutes later, it hit again, without warning!  We all took off for covering and decided at this point to head back home.  It was 9:30 and they were delaying the game again.  We listened to it on the way home.  Bummer that we missed most of the game!  Sweet Eden was such a trooper.  I had thrown a blanket in the bag even though I thought it was going to be low 80's.  We kept her wrapped up and she slept through most of it.  Very eventful!

Sunday afternoon, Aaron and Kristyn headed back home.  We always enjoy our time together and Macy loves playing with Cason and Bryce.  They will be back for her 2nd birthday which will be here before I know it!