Really??? 1 already??

I have found myself everyday this week thinking back to this time last year.

March 16, 2009- I had a very extensive ultrasound and other tests as Caroline's fetal movements had greatly decreased. The doctors were also worried as I was measuring small that my fluid levels were low. Everything turned out fine and still no baby.

March 17, 2009- My birthday. I wasn't sure if I would have a birthday baby! Secretly, I hoped not. I knew as soon as I had a baby on my bithday, it would no longer be mine!

March 18-19th, 2009-All the miles I walked in our neighborhood..whew! I was ready to get things moving. I had been 4 cm dilated for the past week. When was labor really going to start?

March 20, 2009- I knew something was different when I went to school that morning. The contractions I had been consistently having every 8-10 minutes for the past 2 weeks were a different bit stronger. I made it through school and was lucky to get home before they were getting very, very strong. Once Tommy got home and we were checked into the hospital, Caroline was born 45 minutes after getting settled into our room. It was a great delivery and I would go drug-free again (ask Tommy though and he says there won't be another again!).

And now, it is so hard to believe that was really a whole year ago! Why did it go so much faster with the 2nd? What a year though. Caroline is such a sweet baby. She has a temper, but she is such a lover. Those snuggles and huge hugs/kisses that she gives just melt my heart. I am so fortunate for the nursing experience we had. We just stopped last weekend and she is getting her last bag of milk tomorrow. Now to figure out the process of stopping bottles. Any suggestions?

Family will be in town for the weekend for her party. Let's hope she can kick this stomach bug and feel like showing off!

Now, thanks to our dear friend Lauren Bryson (see her link on the side bar), here are some of my favorites of the 1 year photo shoot. My sister made the bloomers and her friend made the dress. I need to get her etsy page to give her credit!

Circus Fun and Mixed Feelings

Jack and I had a date to the circus last night. Here he was posing for pictures with pretty ladies while on our date! As you can tell from his face, he wasn't so sure about being too near her. When she asked for a high five, he shook his head no and walked on. It was a bit overwhelming! This was the pre-circus activities where you could go down to the floor and meet the performers. The place was packed! He did well during the show. His favorite was "the lady getting shot out of the gun" ie...the cannonball. He also like the dog tricks and the elephants holding tails. I think he would have liked the tigers more if he wasn't so fixated on going home! The poor little guy...just like his mom...we're such homebodies! Anyways, great night, great date. And did I mention he talked me into getting popcorn...for $7!! I'm turning soft. I tell you though, the circus is definitely a money making operation!

And Caroline, our sweet girl, is going to be one in a week! How did that happen?? (Some of you men may want to change websites now.) For the last 51 weeks, I have been her main food source. I was hoping to make it a full year, but I think today is the day. In the last couple of weeks, Caroline's top 4 teeth have come in. yes, you know where I'm going with this. I got bit. And I remember. I think it's messing with me! I have not been able to have good let downs the past couple of days. I think it's just time anyways. Such mixed emotions though. Anyone else go through that as well? So glad to be finished, but know that I won't be able to repeat this experience again. I so enjoyed the nursing experience...even the pumping, the late night feeds, etc, etc. But I think it's now time to end. Atleast I have a deep freeze stashed with enough breastmilk to get her to her birthday...whohoo. And now, wine for me! (I even drank the glass offered to me at my hair appointment yesterday while letting my color process!)

I have to end with a link to my friend Kat's page with her take on Good Night moon that she calls Good Night Boobs from when her nursing experience with Griffin ended...so fitting!

As requested

My mom has been asking for more videos. I've just been bad about posting. So, here goes. Enjoy! The kids are growing so fast!

Caroline sending her greetings!

Jack teaching Caroline how to sword fight.

And here, the kids being so sweet to each other!

Caroline's birthday and Jack's allergies

This post is for all the family out there that has recently asked us the question, "What does Caroline want for her birthday?". Well, here are just a couple of things. And by the way, party info will be coming out before long. Chances are, it will just be some kind of electronic invitation. There's just no time right now to actually write and mail them all!


Here are a few ideas for her:

1. We do have a college account set up for the kids. Money for that is always great. That will be so appreciated in the future.

2. If you do any clothes, she has plenty of winter/long sleeve stuff right now. I would suggest spring/summer things. She is wearing a solid 12 month size right now (and not sure for how much longer!). So if you do summer stuff, 18 months is probably safer.

3. She loves Jack's cars, but gets mad when I won't let her chew on them. I don't know if they make any girlie cars?

4. Any books that your girls have enjoyed? Board books are good too.

5. No stuffed animals or things of that type of material. With Jack's new allergies, we are really getting rid of those kinds of things and we ask that people not give them to the kids. We just can't keep them! Dust mites love them!

6. Between both kids, we really have GOBS of toys. We are trying to keep things as de-cluttered as we can. So if you really want to get toys, maybe something she can grow into. We've got bunches of things for this current age. I know, no fun, but just trying to keep things simple around here!


Those are just suggestions for those that have been asking lately.



Jack update:

We took Jack to an allergist a few weeks back. We found out that he is pretty allergic to cats, dogs, and dust. So, what does this mean?


Dust: We have to wash bed sheets once a week in hot water. Please, please, please...don't buy any stuffed animals for the kids. We can't keep them! Apparently, they are a great place for dustmites to live.


Cats/Dogs: Yes, this is a hard one. He can be around them, but we are going to keep him from petting, touching, be breathed on, etc by the animals. I said try. I know he is a 3 year old boy and this is going to be hard. We do have to ask though that if we stay at your place, please just try to limit how much the animal is in the room that Jack would be sleeping in. The doctor said that is one of the most important things about our travels. We will have to keep him medicated with claritin when we know we are going to be around animals.


We are hoping he won't get any worse and have to have shots. They would not start those until he is 5 though. The more exposure he has to these irritants, the worse the allergy could get. There is a slight chance he could grow out of them, but the doctor was rather doubtful since he is already so young with such a strong reaction. We don't want him getting worse for fear of asthma!