Fall

We went apple picking at Hick's Orchard. It was fun, but pricey. Also, the other day I went on a short hike and leaf hunt with Lauren, Kobie, and Addison in the hiking backpack. Actually, to clarify, just Addison was in the backpack. It was a lot of fun, the weather has been great. I'll include a mysterious quote from Lauren:

Lauren: (Wearing my hat backwards.) "I look just like Dan Stewart!"
Me: "Who's Dan Stewart?"
Lauren: "Just... a nickname for myself."

... Weird. Does anyone know who Dan Stewart is?

Food, glorious food...

It's not that they're not doing cute things. It's just that I don't have time to sit down and write about them. I don't think I've ever been busier or more tired in my life than the last few months. I think it's starting to get a little better, though. I hope.

Addison is SO interested in food. I started cereal at 4 months because she's been lunging at any sort of food or drink that I'm holding and sucking on my cheek. She loves it. One day I didn't get a chance to give her cereal in the evening but at night she was sucking on my cheek so hard she gave me a hickey. I mixed up a bowl of rice cereal and formula (yuck) and she wolfed it down, banging on her tray if I paused while spooning it into her mouth. She's tried rice cereal, baby oatmeal, applesauce and peas. I think she likes the rice cereal with formula the best. She's grabbed for brownies and graham crackers that were in our hands while holding her, though. Smart girl. I wonder if she's old enough for teething crackers?

Lauren is the proud owner of a blue and gold shirt that says Jr. Spartan Volleyball. She is so excited to match the "bollyball girls" and wants to be "on the team". She's asked for a number on the back of her shirt. (4 if you're curious.) She has been having very good days at daycare. Her teacher, Mr. Hoffman, is just great. Addison's very happy at daycare, too.

Last weekend we visited "Uncle Great Great Fran" and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Wiley. It was fun, I'm glad we did it. We met Alonna and her husband and two children at Fran's house. It seems like we'd have a lot in common. Too bad we don't know them better.

Hoping to go Apple Picking this weekend, and buy a pumpkin, and maybe back to Fright Fest again. We're going to participate in the TD Banknorth Parade (Formerly Joy Store parade) on Nov. 18th, World Class Kids is doing a Candy Land float. Fun!

Can't remember anything else right now...

Visitorphobia??

Is there a word for the fear of having people come over to your house? I was not the best housekeeper before by any means, but add a 4 year old, a baby, a dog to the mix and our house is a disaster zone. If I ever turn up missing, it's likely that I'm buried under a pile of dirty laundry or dishes.

Addison is 15 lbs., 25 inches, that's 90th percentile for each, if you're keeping track. Still happy as can be...

Milestones

Addison laughed for the first time yesterday! What a great sound. I was bouncing her in front of the mirror and she just laughed and laughed. Later that night Megan Capone was bouncing her and she laughed again.

Even more exciting, she slept through the night! Tyler's parents were watching both girls and Addison had a bottle of formula before bed which probably helped. She slept until 5:15, nursed, and went back to sleep with me. Hopefully it's a pattern that will continue, I could get used to this.

Lauren reached an interesting milestone. She has her first crush! I had no idea it would happen so early or the way it did. The first time she saw the contractor building the porch at Tyler's parents house, she just stared at him. His name is Brody, and he's probably 28 or so; he is quite handsome. I guess she kept bringing him cookies, and lemonade and flowers. The other night she told me she had a secret, she said Brody is her first boyfriend, but she's too shy to tell him! She said Grandma and Grandpa could tell him, though.

In other news, we traded our Ford Focus for a Ford Windstar. I never thought I'd own a minivan but it really is convenient for kids! It's a few years old but the mileage is low. It's got two sliding doors, bucket seats in the back so the girls' car seats are not right on top of each other, and lots of other neat features, like the warning alarm when you're backing up and something is behind you. Tyler will mostly use it to drive the girls to daycare and back and forth to work.

We had a great time at Bill and Hilary's house yesterday. Lauren swam in the pool for hours, and had fun playing with Grace Frasier and Sophie Campopiano. It's so strange to see my daughter playing with the children of my friends from high school. When did we get old enough for that???

Happy Labor Day... hope you're enjoying the nice weather.

Maine

"This is the life." -Lauren

We had a great vacation in Maine. Lots of family time, lots of swimming and relaxing... and a brief stop at Six Flags, New England, which was more fun than any of us thought it would be!

Now it's back to work. Lauren is back at "school" and Addison is coming with me to work each day. A babysitter (one of my students) watches her for me in the school library and brings her to me when she needs to nurse. Boy, will she get a good letter of recommendation! It was a last minute arrangement, but it's working out great. On the 4th Addison will join her sister at daycare. Hopefully I'll still have time to update this as the school year gets under way... no promises!

A Day at the Track...

We went to the track last Sunday. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

The Adventures of Porca and Tomkey

You may remember the twin baby dolls Lauren received for Christmas this past year. She loves them, but they are taking a real beating. They started out as Porca and Tomkey but their names change almost daily. The pink baby has been to Haviland's Cove, on the swings and to the top of the monkey bars, from which she fell into the sand numerous times. She is pretty dirty and doesn't appear machine washable. The blue baby has been to the camp in Newcomb and on many other day trips. Oh, and she decided they wanted to have their faces painted so she colored all over their faces with ball point pen which will not come off. One is a lion and I forget what the other is. The blue baby is mostly named Jason lately and Lauren nurses him when I nurse Addison. He has a funny, rubber mohawk wig that is black and purple. Hope you get to meet them again soon...

We had a nice visit from Bryan and Jill, glad they stopped to see us! I talked with Bryan about how kids choose funny names for toys and such. Some names Lauren has suggested that I like are Davin and Bustin. She also used to have a doll named Tunafisha Jameson Tanya Tanya. I guess I should be glad that Lila was the name she suggested for our baby.

Speaking of Addison, she is now 11 pounds 6 ounces. She had to have 3 shots yesterday :( but she did fine. Lauren covered her eyes and couldn't watch. She wanted Addison to squeeze her thumbs while she got the shots (that's what she does when she has to take her nose spray or have tangles combed out of her hair. Addison is right on track for weight, height, etc. and is generally healthy. We are very grateful. She's a happy baby who is happiest in the morning, she usually gives beautiful smiles to anyone who smiles at her and makes eye contact. She likes to be outside and she loves her vibrating baby seat. She likes to be where the action is and seems to nap the best in her seat wherever we are. I think she likes the background noise and doesn't like to be alone. She's generally fussy in the evening, but usually going outside, nursing or just changing her environment helps her to calm down. She has been sleeping long stretches at night, last night from 9:30 till maybe 3:30 or so. it was the best night of sleep I've had in a long time.

That's all for now...