This Week...

This past week has been it's own special version of crazy. It's not been any one thing in particular, but rather all the little things that have added up. So by today (Friday), I'm DONE! I'll be honest there were a lot of cute moments (and I'll post pictures of those), but most of the other moments were just snowballed crazy.

We started Corina on rice cereal this past Saturday (7-31), and as the days wore on we could tell something was just not right about it. By Tuesday her reflux (or at least what I assume was reflux) had increased again to being closer to actually vomiting than she'd ever been before. Mind you, in the two weeks since she'd started on the Prevacid, her reflux had been TONS better. So on Wednesday (8-4) put a call into the pediatrician's office to find out what to do. Thankfully the advice was simply switch to oatmeal. We did, and she hasn't had any more trouble. So I don't know what it is about rice cereal that doesn't agree with C's system, but I'm not trying it again to find out.

Also on Wednesday Lukas ended up going into the pediatrician for a headache he'd had for several days over his left eye. The result of that appointment is now an appointment with the pediatric ophthalmologist in early September. That result also had Mommy complaining for about a day that the poor kid can't catch a break between the helmet, constant upper respiratory infections, severe asthma, and now maybe glasses! I mean Eric and I both knew that our poor kids didn't stand a chance since every member of the extended family (and beyond) has needed glasses at some point (although most before leaving high school). We were, however, hoping that we wouldn't need to be having this appointment quite so early.

By today (Friday) Eric and I are both exhausted and I'm sick since every night this week, one child or the other has been up and down all night. I am glad that I took pictures to remind me of all the fun we had this week because I'm simply too tired to remember it at this point.



When she just needs a break from all the noise and stimulation that Lukas brings, she gets to play in her crib with her ladybugs for a while.



Corina was having so much fun splashing in the bathtub, I had to try to get it on video. It's a bit dark because there's not much "natural light" in the bathroom.



The picture is dark because I was trying to capture the really cool light up effect that the sword does. I kind of caught it.



They're working on a model catapult.



We're playing Vikings. It was even more fun when Daddy got involved and it became a huge war of epic proportions.





This picture is mainly for Paul and Jennifer. I looked over to find him playing his computer games with his cave hat on. :) Thank you so much!! He loves it!



On Sunday (Aug 1) we said the official goodbye to some of our best friends, the Wages as they move to Abilene to begin a new chapter in their lives. As much as we will miss them, we are also very excited for the new opportunities awaiting them.

I love this picture because it is so representative of their friendship.



Rachel definitely got a better picture of the four of them, but this is the best one I got.



Paizlee and Corina. Sweet new friends.

An Update on the Parents

I rarely post about Eric and I because the kids are the ones that do all the changing. Eric and I realized a while ago that for the most part we've reached the "boring" stage of lives. We're fairly status quo in our daily lives. A few fun things have happened recently though, so here's a quick update.

Eric and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary this past June 28th. It's amazing to think that we've now been married 7 years. We've had Ember (the first cat we adopted) for 6 years, and Melody (the second cat we adopted) for 4 1/2 years. Added to the fact that we have two kids, it's simply amazing. We are truly blessed to still deeply love each other as we do, even after time and life have occurred for 7 years.



Eric started a new job at Rockfish Interactive in mid-July. This new opportunity completely fell in our laps, and happened so fast there was no other way to explain it than to praise God! After being there for a few weeks he is loving it, and we are all feeling blessed by the drastic slow down in pace this change has brought. It's fantastic to actually be able to see him when he gets home instead of simply watching him work more from home after the work day.

After two years teaching the toddlers two days a week, I'm now a full time stay-at-home mom since Corina is not old enough to attend the preschool Lukas attends. This year will show me if I love it or need that part time job back.

Rice Cereal

We tried rice cereal for the first time this morning (7-31-10). Corina didn't have a huge opinion one way or the other, she just kind of tolerated it.

Prepped and ready to eat some cereal!



Daddy started, and then Mommy finished.



Yummy! By the end she was getting ready for her bottle though.

A Few Random Things

We recently moved Corina's bath stuff from our bathroom into the kids bathroom. Hanging up their towels on the same rack was simply adorable.



Corina has been simply adorable!





Lukas has been very busy! Most days you can either find him at his craft table or the computer playing games at sesamestreet.org.





I finally got Corina rolling around on video. It took several takes and Lukas being busy playing games (that's the noise in the background), but I finally got it!

4 Months Old!

Corina is 4 months old! I thought time flew by when Lukas' first year, but now that there are two to keep up with all I have to do is blink and the whole month is gone. It makes me sad in lots of ways because it feels like I don't get to treasure what she's doing as long. As soon as she learn one new skill, she also seems to have learned 5 more in the following week.

Corina at 4 months:
- is 13lbs 13oz
- 25 3/4 inches
- smiles huge smiles at everything and everyone.
- laughs all the time for Daddy, and sometimes for Mommy.
- enjoys watching Brother talk and play around the room, until he gets too loud and then it's a little scary.
- is very laid back. Only reflux, being tired or hungry make her upset.
- grabs at everything. She likes playing with her toys, jewelry, books, and anything else that catches her eye. Since she's starting to put it all in her mouth, she only needs to play with baby toys.
- sleeps on her tummy.
- sleeps at night for 10-12 hours. Lately this has been a little skewed because she's been waking herself up rolling over or because she's been refluxing at night. When she does wake up, she usually wants a bottle to go back to sleep since she's realized that she's hungry.
- is now on Prevacid for reflux. She's only been on it a week (since 7-21), but it has already drastically reduced the amount of spit-up....and crying....and pouty faces....and general sadness that tiny, adorable baby girl simply should NOT have to endure.
- loves her feet. When she's sitting up, she likes to watch them from above. When she's laying down, she likes to hold on to them and watch them from down below. Feet are simply very interesting!
- can roll over from her tummy to her back.
- can roll over from her back to her tummy. The little stinker has yet to let anyone see the actually rolling, only the completed change in position.
- is beginning to intentionally verbalize. She's putting so much effort into making her mouth make and 'oo' sound or an 'ah' sound, and it' so CUTE!
- loves her Mommy, Daddy, and Brother more and more every day!!!

She loves her mirror! That other baby is very entertaining!



I tried for smiles, but the hands tasted too good.



Lukas and Daddy were reading "The Lion King", and Corina was reading "Winnie the Pooh".









She was really tired, so that's why she keeps rubbing her face into the blanket. Poor baby all she wanted to do was go to bed, and Mommy made her play for the video camera.

Medieval Times

We took our third trip to Medieval Times tonight (7-24-10). We all had fun, but Lukas had a BLAST! He cheered wildly and had a running commentary during the whole thing. He was as much a part of the show this year as an audience member could be. It was hilarious to watch him!

Locked in on the action!



We cheered for the green knight (as designated by our green crowns), who is actually the "bad guy" in this story. He's at the back of the procession.





Corina watched and enjoyed (as much as an almost 4 month old can) a good portion of the show. A few loud bits startled her, and thus resulted in some serious wailing.



So happy!!

Water Safety Day

Today (7-21-10) was 'water safety day' in swim lessons. They brought out the swim vests, and practiced basic water safety. I think the main point was to make them swim on their own using the float vests. I've gotta say it was probably the cutest swim class with Lukas kicking his legs for all he's worth to be able to swim around. Near the end of class they even got to go swim in the big lap pool. Class is usually held in the shallower leisure pool, so this was a treat.

Lukas' class...Emma, Lukas, and Simon. Emma and Simon are both 4, so Lukas is doing really good to keep up with them.



Goofing off while waiting for their turn to swim.



Lukas is swimming!



Lukas swimming by himself!




This video is very similar to the first one, but it's closer so you can see how fast his legs are moving to make himself go.