tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1330251901586927812024-03-14T01:25:15.916-05:00A New Type of NestingThis is the story of two people making their way through love, life and marriage--nesting if you will. The trials, the celebrations and the mishaps along the way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger887125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-64908230326329453002016-04-03T14:55:00.000-05:002016-04-07T05:06:05.814-05:002003<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not a throw-back post about my wild days of college.
No, this is about growth. And celebration.</div>
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I stopped nursing Otis on March 4<sup>th</sup>.
Approximately 2,003 days before that I found out I was pregnant with Matilda.
Given that Nate and I wanted our kids to be close in age, this meant lots of
pregnancy in a condensed amount of time. We were lucky enough to actually be able
to make that happen. What that also meant, is that as a Mama who breastfed for the
full year plus some, I have been <b>pregnant
or nursing a baby</b> for 2,003 days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My body has been growing babies inside my body. And outside. for TWO THOUSAND DAYS.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And what started out with a “I’ll see how it goes and if I
don’t like it I will quit” approach to nursing with Matilda, turned into an
absolute labor of love. My milk didn’t come in. My nipples were bloody. She had
reflux. And allergies and I cut everything I loved out of my diet (except for
candy since it has nothing but sugar in it—FTW!).<br />
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I felt like nursing was
supposed to be the most natural thing in the world, but it felt so far from
that. I had to work at it. And work some more. People encouraged me to quit—to try
formula to give myself a break, but there was something about it that made me
keep going. Perhaps it was that I felt like I was failing in every other way as
a new mom, and THIS was something tangible I could succeed at. Or, because as I
struggled with post-partum anxiety I felt like this was the way to keep me connected
to my baby even when my emotions were getting the best of me. Days of crying
from pain gave way to weeks of milk supply crashing—but then.<br />
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We figured it out,
and we made it. All the way until she was 14 months old and I learned that we
had baby #2 on the way.<br />
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With Baby #2, I was ready. Started pumping in the hospital
and had all of the milk supplements on-hand and ready to go. No WAY was I
having milk supply issues this go-round. And we didn’t. But you know what we
did have? Mastitis. And thrush. </div>
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And little “One Boob Bea” who would only nurse
on one side and call it good and leave her Mama to either pump and continue the
increased supply or in pain—with mastitis and clogged ducts. I think we passed
thrush back and forth for a solid 8 months. I got to learn new drugs like
Nystatin and praise good health insurance that covered them.</div>
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Bea made nursing
such a quick job that I didn’t really even have time to snuggle in to do it
before she was done. That ended up paying in spades for the feedings in the wee
morning hours.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>And then Baby #3 came around, and I just assumed that my
body would know what to do. Which I should know better by know—it is the first
rule of parenting: never assume you know what will happen. </div>
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Two days after coming
home from the hospital I called my good friend Allison in tears because Otis
wouldn’t sleep. He was up all night crying, inconsolable, but would sleep all
day. She gently suggested that perhaps he was hungry and was I sure that my
milk had come in. No. No it hadn’t. I knew it in my mind, but at the hospital
they said all was looking good so I didn’t even think about it (because I was
chasing two other kids around). </div>
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But the third-time Mama kicked in. I made haste
getting the supplement regime started, and we were off and running. And Otis was
back to sleeping—very long chunks of time at a very young age.</div>
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I had a really hard time deciding ‘when’ to cut the cord
with Otis. It is saying goodbye to a stage that we have been in for almost six years. An acknowledgement that our family is
complete and there will be no more babies to grow. Nurse. Snuggle. Console.
Watch become amazing human-beings. But the opportunity presented itself one
weekend where I would be gone for the nighttime nurse for two nights in a row. Just
like that we were done. Otis no longer connected to me in that way. Me no
longer to him. I felt sad. And then…I felt free. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My body is back to being mine. I can eat what I want without
thinking about how it will affect another tiny person. I can exercise and not
worry about if I have enough calories to keep my supply up. Nursing isn’t for
everyone. Some people can’t do it. Some don’t want to. And you know what? That
is why there are very smart scientists that develop formula that can feed and
nourish those kids. But for me, it was something I wanted to do and was lucky
enough that my body worked with me to make it happen. And I am really proud of that.
Yes, this body is CERTAINLY not the same
as it was before all of this. But it brought me these three and that is quite a
feat.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-4547914497158856582016-02-19T23:14:00.002-06:002016-02-19T23:14:42.898-06:00Styled By Nate<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t ask me why (I blame my Facebook newsfeed) but I
decided it would be fun to have Nate dress me for a week. Call me bored. Call
me crazy. But I thought it would be fun and Nate was (barely) game.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I<s> cornered</s> asked him if he would be interested
in partaking in this fun social experiment he was quick to say no. But nothing
a little ‘don’t you want the blog to live on’ guilt-trip couldn’t handle and he
was in. He spent the first 10 minutes pacing back and forth in our closet just
pointing at all of my clothes saying things like: “I don’t even know what these
things are” (<i>they were shirts)´</i>or “How am I supposed to know what to do
with all of this stuff <i>(meaning pants)</i>” and finally pulled out this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sure, it was the pair of jeans from the top of the pile. And
yes it was literally the first sweater he touched. BUT—generally
speaking--These two things go together. And are relatively appropriate for
work. SCORE! (<i>Editors note: I DID have to add a camisole under the sweater
because MN Winter and a girl cannot sit in her office all day freezing because
her husband “does not know about these things” even though he himself puts an
undershirt on every day).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><u>Day Two</u></b><br />
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I gave Nate direction--I have a couple of big meetings and I 'want to look nice'. Most men would shudder at the pressure of that ambiguous statement. But not Nate. He confidently strode to the closet and busted out the Blazer. And that is where the confidence stopped.<br />
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He then spent the next 10 minutes asking me the same question over and over again: "Where are all of your sweaters without buttons?" (<i>also known as a cardigan by fashionistas everywhere). </i>I pretty much just sat there giggling at him. And finally had to tell him that I don't really own any sweaters without buttons that would FIT under my blazer because women's blazers fit a little different than mens.<br />
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So he changed his course, and pulled this ensemble together. I took my first deep breath of "am I actually going to wear this to work" because I really dislike that button down under the blazer which led me to my first eureka, why do I have clothes I would feel bad about wearing in my closet?<br />
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<b>Day 3</b>:</div>
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Nate gets home before me and as I walk in the door, he proudly tells me my outfit for tomorrow is already laid out. As we head upstairs to check it out, he shows it to me all put together and says: "I think this is something!". I have to say I was semi-impressed. We have some meaningful layering going on. Point Nate!</div>
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<b>Day 4</b>:</div>
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This is when it all starts to fall apart.Nate pretty much sent me to work on Friday in pajamas. No seriously, I think I sleep in this shirt more than I wear it in public. And yet---here I am. Dressed in it to go to work for the day. (sans slippers of course).</div>
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<i>Another important lesson I learned:</i> Either I wear pajamas around the house WAY to much and Nate thinks they are real clothes OR he just isn't paying attention and i can wear pajamas more often.</div>
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But Day 4 did not want to be out done by <b>Day 5</b>:</div>
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The most embarassing day of them all. So much wrong with this. These gray pants had to have been pulled out of the darkest corner of my closet as they are from my sophomore year of college and only hung around because they are really stretchy and perfect for being pregnant. Great for the last 4 years. Bad for me now. </div>
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And then he pairs it with more gray and..purple?? Yup, purple. So I put it on and come downstairs and Nate says: "That looked better than I pictured it". Luckily it was a Saturday but I got dressed to go out in public. I was quite thankful for the cold MN weather as I pretty much let my coat cover the worst of this up.</div>
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The grand finale of this experiment was the evening of Day 5--we were headed out on a rare date and I told Nate to dress me 'nice for a nice event'...and he did GOOD! Sweater dress and tights.</div>
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My favorite highlights of this process:</div>
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<li>Nate starting at two dresses--one CLEARLY a winter dress and one CLEARLY a summer dress and not being able to make the decision..like he had forgotten the weather was currently 2 degrees with a -15 windchill.</li>
<li>Nate opened my drawer of leggings and tights and promptly shut it saying: "I assume you can just pick these out..but I want credit for knowing you need them."</li>
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So now I am back to dressing myself and I have to say if I had to do it all over again I probably wouldn't do it right as I start a new job as the way to impress your new boss is definitely NOT by wearing pajamas to work, but I seem to have come through it.</div>
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I have some serious purging of my closet to do because there were palpable moments of cringing as he considered options.</div>
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Also, men don't understand accessories. Or shoes.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-87206986438756388352016-02-03T20:58:00.001-06:002016-02-03T20:58:38.115-06:00Winter Escape!Last weekend was our annual trek to the Wisconsin Dells and this year did not disappoint. I have such vivid visions of these four crazy kids running the halls and chasing each other just like I did with my cousins when we went to Midway Motor Lodge each winter. Look at these faces--don't the just scream: "we are going to own this place someday"?<br />
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And then there is this one and his partner-in crime. The two beefiest beefcakes there ever was. Otis reminded me a lot of Finn the first time we all went (except of course that Finn had 6 adults falling over themselves to take care of 1 child and Otis was just lucky to not drown). But I digress--Otis and Finn, alike because all they cared about in life was having a basketball from the big kid pool.<br />
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Cash got in on that action too.</div>
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And then there is Miss Bea. Queen of the Littles, or the littlest Big. She can't quite hang with the big kids yet, but doesn't have too much interest in just being with the babies. So she does her own thing. Like riding this beaver....<br />
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And swimming like a fish. I was quite annoyed that the Wilderness makes kids wear life jackets now. They are bulky and uncomfortable and after the 2nd day Bea was done with them. I spent a solid chunk of time chasing her around and trying to force her into a life jacket and then she just plunged into the pool and laughed at me (as she sank to the bottom). This girl....</div>
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And this one too... never ending adoration for her cousins.<br />
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This is one of my favorite family traditions and I look forward to it so much every year. I can't wait until they all want to take on the big slides and hang in the hot tub all day.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-58486778722536594142016-01-26T20:19:00.000-06:002016-01-26T20:19:04.451-06:00Happy Birthday, Otis!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard to believe that it has been a full year since I was debating when to allow the doctors to break my water and then a few moments later gathering a little boy into my arms. I will be the first to admit that I was in shock to see that you didn't quite look like your sisters, and the questions of ' will I know how to be a Mom to a little boy' played in my head.</div>
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But it didn't take long for Otis to put those questions at ease. He found his way into our hearts immediately. It's ironic to me that it took until 'the final baby' for me to love and appreciate the newborn stage. For it's quiet. It's snuggles. It's ooey-gooey baby squishiness.</div>
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Of course, it should go without saying that Otis was a good eater. A good sleeper. Generally amenable to life in our crazy home. All of these things definitely contributed to said 'love of the baby stage.'</div>
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I remember the first few weeks when the sleep had not yet come, and the darkness under our eyes was darker than we care to admit--telling each other we just had to make it through the first 2 years and then it would get 'easier'.I know that isn't true. Everyone tells me it actually gets harder. Or the challenges are just different.</div>
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And I get that.</div>
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And honestly, looking at my tank-of-an-almost Toddler I know we have tantrums and whining and bumps and bruises still to come. But I will take all of it. Because our family just would not be complete with out this little man.</div>
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Crying and everything. After all--it was his party so....</div>
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If you want to see more amazing firsts of my little Odie Boy check out the video we made for him here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVNHTnj-Tk">The Year of Otis</a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-15806394321802461432016-01-24T20:33:00.002-06:002016-01-24T20:33:57.278-06:00Don't Call This a ComebackAfter not blogging for almost 6 full months, and hemming and hawing about how/when/what the first post back would look like, I decided to just throw-down this post to break the seal and start to get my groove back.<br />
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I could blame it on three kids being 'so crazy', but the reality is that is only a half-truth. I am a 'heart-on-your-sleeve' kinda gal, and I really struggle blogging when there is a big piece of my life and current state that I cannot share. And there was a LOT of that this fall. Stuff that I won't bore you with the details on.<br />
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But what I have learned from all of that quiet baggage is that sometimes you have to focus on something right in front of you to see the bigger picture. And right now this is my bigger picture:<br />
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This guy is almost a year old, and it is blowing my mind. And I am truly sorry you guys (if anyone is still out there) have missed out on all the amazingness that is one Mr. Otis Hanson. But I promise to make it up to you on Tuesday.</div>
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One of my goals of 2016 (because I don't really do resolutions) was to start blogging more. I am not sure it will be up to my 16 times a month like the pre-kid days, but it will be more than once every six months. How's that for a super achievable goal?</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-40261519115739729972015-08-22T21:12:00.000-05:002015-08-22T21:12:11.096-05:00Deerfoot in PicturesDeerfoot.<br />
There was fish.<br />
There was sun.<br />
There was a candy shop.<br />
And Donuts.<br />
There were hungover adults.<br />
There were smiles and laugh.<br />
There were cousins.<br />
And Smores.<br />
And so much jumping off of the dock.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-50004850881335728202015-07-13T14:59:00.001-05:002015-07-13T14:59:20.756-05:00Stars and Stripes and "Fireworks"<br />
We kicked off the Fourth with "stars and stripes day' at the Girls' school, and given that Otis is starting so soon, I figured I should start getting him used to theme days and joined him in on the action.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tickle Monster is a new favorite game. By all parties, until Bea starts doing the 'pinching monster' or 'punching monster'.</td></tr>
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We headed to LaFarge for a very traditional small (ie micro mini) town parade filled with vehicles carrying 'princesses', vets carrying flags, fire trucks, and some vehicles that just seemed to want to join in on the action. And SO SO SO much candy. Which we managed to keep a pretty tight lid on for the girls. Bea picked up on how to run out in the street pretty quick, and every time she ran into the street and came back she would say: "no hurt" and Tillie would cheer for her for not getting hurt. </div>
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Oh my children....</div>
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Otis, being woken up from his nap to attend, spent the bulk of the parade trying to amputate my arm with his weight and continued nap in my arms.</div>
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And then spent more time watching this zebra than the parade.....</div>
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We are still not fans of very loud noises....<br />
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Or horses that are in the street.....</div>
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And this event brought one of my more public nursing moments for this babe....</div>
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We had a good ACTUALLY liking a dog in theory and practice moment (versus the typical just in theory).....</div>
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And a rare Mama and Otis picture. I love this little boy.</div>
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Afternoon Strawberry Shortcake Social. No shortcake for this one but he was still all smiles.</div>
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But as you can see the smiles get bigger when the shortcake can be consumed....</div>
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Call me crazy, call me mean, you can call me whatever you want, but my kids don't get to stay up for fireworks. 10PM is just NOT happening for a few years. So I bought a couple of 'popits' at Target and some sparklers and at about 6:30PM we had our own firework celebration.</div>
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All was great until the very last sparkler when a little ember flew off and nipped Bea on the inner thigh. Sooooo...maybe no 'fireworks' at all. Ever. Again. #badmom</div>
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It was a great day--filled with lots of festivities that helped us celebrate. Tillie was certain we would have a big cake for America, and was just slightly disappointed when that didn't happen. There is always next year, right?</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-59544484658735118332015-07-10T09:43:00.001-05:002015-07-10T09:43:06.405-05:00Role Call!It's been another month filled with firsts. Maybe it is because I am going back to work soon, but I am becoming increasingly more sentimental with every passing milestone. Matilda is seeming so OLD to me. I can honestly just picture her teenage eye-rolling and disgust with Nate and I, and it feels like it is going to happen tomorrow. Beatrice is in her amazing-two's and makes us laugh and cry and filled with frustration and love all in a two-minute span. And Otis---well he is just being the third baby---amazing, sweet, and go with the flow.<br />
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It feels like each day is a whose who of "i'm doing something for the first time so you better pay attention to me..." each of the kidlets vying for attention by doing, saying or just generally being cute. Or often times doing something naughty that forces us to pay attention. But I digress, this post is about the former.<br />
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So Matilda---first dance lessons at a local dance school. I am NOT super keen on the dance scene but she had been asking do to dance and her little best friend also was doing it so off she went. With tap shoes and ballet shoes and a little bigger piece of my heart.<br />
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We had our first visit to our 'new' house by Rebecca and Cash. The girls were excited although Matilda really was wondering where Finn and Leo were....</div>
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And Otis has hit a few of my favorite milestones:</div>
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Finding his toes...there is just something about a baby grabbing onto his toes, rolling around, putting them in their mouth that slays me.</div>
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AND, Otis started to eat food. I use that very loosely as he hasn't really decided to EAT anything. He is super interested in watching us eat. Him, not so much. But as Nate keeps reminding me, this is just 'practice'...and in the meantime it makes for some fun pictures.</div>
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With the warmer weather, we also have had a number of first visits to the pool as a family of five. Jury is out if this is where Matilda got ringworm (yes, that actually happened), but it doesn't matter because these two have so much fun there. And Otis, well he is pretty content to just sit and watch it all happen.<br />
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The final HUGE first that happened in the last week is that Bea is now officially potty trained!!! Her little booty in underwear is pretty darn cute, and she is oh so proud of herself (as she should be!). This also means I had my first at the park port-a-potty incident with both girls and answered a lot of questions about why the water is blue, why does it smell, etc etc. :)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-4314076344256897802015-06-23T10:44:00.002-05:002015-06-23T10:44:40.102-05:00Little RedAnother year has passed.<br />
It is so hard to believe that Matilda has made Nate and I parents for FOUR years now.<br />
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And she continues to make me so happy to be her Mom.<br />
I love watching her grow into her own skin, becoming more comfortable with herself.<br />
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She has a tender heart, and listening ears. She likes to learn, and do puzzles.<br />
A silly streak, and a cautious approach to things that she is uncertain of.<br />
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She is an observer. A great big sister. An ear-rubber and finger sucker (at least for nap time!).<br />
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There is never too much time that passes before she poses her next question, whether it be why a squirrel can balance on the fence and she can't, or where do buttons come from, this girl is always thinking.<br />
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We hosted 10 of her little friends over for her Little Red Riding Hood Birthday Party and it was everything you would imagine 90 minutes with that many kids in one house would be. Loud. Silly. Fun. Crazy. Hectic. Amazing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Red Storytime</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the door to open to go on our Red Riding Hood Scavenger hunt</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matilda wasn't quite sure it was fair that Bea got to have a GIANT egg hunt for her birthday, so we had to get creative on how to incorporate some sort of 'seek and find...'#justicepolice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Masks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcakes courtesy of Grandma Nancy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to be devoured</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So sweet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloon Dance Party should have been called Screamfest</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Matilda!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The anticipation of the cake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make a wish!</td></tr>
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And just like that we have a four-year old.</div>
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I cannot believe we are lucky enough to call her ours.</div>
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And how fast time is going.</div>
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It seems like just yesterday I was crying to Nate saying "I just want her to be an age that I can DO stuff with her."</div>
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And now I am crying to Nate saying, "It's going to go too fast. Pretty soon she is going to be way to cool to play with us and just want to hang out with her friends. Can you invent a time machine??"</div>
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We love you Matilda!!!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-23625016046028862402015-06-08T14:16:00.000-05:002015-06-08T14:16:06.305-05:00Summer Lovin'This maternity leave continues to get better. Day after day, the thought of work creeps in and makes me wish I could figure out how to strike it rich (or at least rich enough to not have to worry about losing our house and car) so that I didn't have to go back to work. Can you blame me? This is who I am hanging out with each day....<br />
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Sure, he can be cranky at times. Definitely poops his pants more than the average human. Drools. Spits. And has recently discovered the joy of making fart noises with his mouth. But....he is also smiley. And snuggly. And pretty damn cute.</div>
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We have busted out the exersaucer which is the perfect little entertainment center for Odie, while the girls run around in the backyard. And as a double bonus acts as a little fortress of protection from Bea.<br />
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The girls...well they like water. Water for washing rocks. Water for washing much. Dump it out and start all over. I love games like this. That require just imagination (perhaps some would call it manipulation) and whatever you can discover laying around your backyard.</div>
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We haven't busted out the swimsuits yet. But personally, based on this picture, I am quite ok with it. Check out Bea in her little undies. GIves me extra motivation to potty train. That booty.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-25755879535038753322015-05-26T19:54:00.001-05:002015-05-26T19:54:46.620-05:00Reading MachineThe last month of maternity leave has not only been a love affair between Otis and I, but a rekindling of my love of reading. Not that it ever went away, but pre-Otis I could never really seem to muster up the energy to want to tackle a book, choosing to stare at a wall or maybe a TV screen for 45 minutes every night before I went to bed.<br />
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But the last month has had me cruising through books. Some bad, some decent and a couple good (depending on what your definition of good is). I am still waiting for my earth-shatteringly good book though....so who has it for me? Who can give me the recommendation that will rock the remainder of my leave and keep the love affair going?<br />
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For the record, check out my Shelfair shelf on the right side of the screen. Here is the order I would rank the books I have read in the last few months:<br />
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1) The Girl on the Train<br />
2) Left Neglected<br />
3) Eleanor and Park<br />
4) All The Light We Cannot See<br />
5) Hidden<br />
6) Wreckage<br />
7) Ghost Boy<br />
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I am currently digging into a new book from my one selection each month that I get with my Amazon Prime membership (my new favorite membership perk)....<br />
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Send me your recommendations!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-69620766739573324742015-05-01T13:18:00.000-05:002015-05-01T13:18:04.120-05:00Firsts!April was a month of Firsts for us!<br />
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Bea had her first Tumbletot experience and I am pretty sure the smile below was the only one that came across her face the entire night. She is NOT a fan of the 'coach' that teaches her class, doesn't understand why she has to wait in line to go on the trampoline, and really just wanted to know why she couldn't be in Matilda's class. She even sat down next to Tillie after her class was over and expected Tillie's coach to give her a sticker.I guess keeping up with the big sister is alive and well in this house.<br />
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Otis had his first <i>enjoyable</i> moments under the playmat. Up until a few weeks ago the mere motion to try and put him under this thing would set him off. Now he is pretty impressed with himself that he can reach up and bat the toys. Big stuff, Otis. Big stuff.</div>
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Bea also had her first haircut. I know the toddler mullet is a stage that we all must go through but I just couldn't do it anymore. So, in we went. Bea was mesmerized by the TV. For about 2 minutes....</div>
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And then the kind soul who tried to cut her hair got close and the tears and tantrum began. Oh Bea....</div>
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So we did the cut in my lap and forewent the blow dry.</div>
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This is the face of the girl that knows she just got her way....</div>
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But so did Mama...the mullet is gone!</div>
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It was a BIG first for Matilda too! Her first time riding on a big girl bike. After months of research, I finally told Nate he had to make a decision because at this rate she would never learn how to ride a bike. Off they went to the bike store and came back with this red beauty. Tillie loves it, and honestly picked it up so easy (which of course Nate likes to credit with his research and picking the perfect bike).</div>
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She is ready for action and already asking to bike to the park.</div>
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Not to be outdone, Bea needed to show us that she can do her scooter all by herself now.</div>
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Otis rolled for the first time and got some good giggles. He gives out his smiles and laughs pretty easy. </div>
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And just because this picture is too much, here was the girls' first look at some duck that have moved into our yard and like to perch on our roof.</div>
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I mean, the toddler legs. The pre-schooler wedgie. Swoon.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-84376983772566697852015-04-21T20:24:00.003-05:002015-04-21T20:24:57.067-05:00Tillie TalksSitting around the dinner table, Matilda says she wants to go to Africa out of the blue. Nate got super excited and started telling her about all of the animals she would see. And then I tell her how far away it is and say it would be like 8 trips to Grandma and Grand's house. To which this happened:<br />
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<i>Matilda: "I don't want to go to Africa anymore."</i><br />
<i>Me: "Where do you want to go?"</i><br />
<i>Matilda (thinking): "I don't know....maybe just school. And the zoo?"</i><br />
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_______________________________<br />
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Beatrice waas having an especially tough morning (lots of crying, whining, temper tantrum throwing) and I was feeding Otis upstairs....<br />
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Matilda: "<i>I wish there were two people right now. It's really hard when there is just one people and two kids."</i><br />
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<i>_____________________________</i><br />
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Nate: <i>"What are you going to be when you grow up?"</i><br />
Matilda: <i>" A teacher with long hair."</i><br />
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<i>_____________________________</i><br />
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Nate: "<i>Matilda, how did your eyes get green?"</i><br />
Matilda: "<i>I think someone painted them with a little tiny paintbrush."</i><br />
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_____________________________<br />
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Driving to the hair cut place, and we get stopped at the stoplight by Trader Joes...<br />
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Matilda: "<i>Mama, this isn't the hair cut place. This is sloppy joes!"</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-19263365579733854672015-04-13T13:48:00.002-05:002015-04-13T13:48:36.773-05:00Fourth Annual Egg Hunt!!Easter has come and gone, and I realized I didn't post about our Annual Egg Hunt! First off, I am SO bummed with my photos of this event--clearly when you have 100 people to your house you should put someone else in charge of photos, because I had very few.<br />
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But, that's fine because it was a super fun time! I think we hid close to 500 eggs (and by we I mean Auntie Meghan did the bulk of the hiding!), and had 45 little ones under the age of 7. I really could have used a little more help from Mother Nature, but it could have been worse. But to say we had a full house is an understatement. Although, for how many people we had, we managed to have WAY to much food.<br />
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I was SUPER excited that I actually would have mantle to decorate this year.<br />
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We brought back a crowd-favorite from our first year....<br />
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And introduced a new little pudding cup treat.....</div>
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Little did I know, that these little Jello Bunnies would be the ONLY thing we actually ate almost all of. Good thing my Mom was in town to painstakingly extract each of these from the mold, or I don't think they would have happened.</div>
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And, since Bea's birthday was the day before, we had to have a cake and sing her a quick round of Happy Birthday. Queen of Cakes did an AMAZING job whipping up a Peter Cottontail inspired treat...</div>
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We also started a little photo wall. Since we have been doing this for so many years, it is fun to see how much some of the kiddos have changed!<br />
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This is one of the few pictures I have of either of my kids hunting for eggs...:)</div>
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And there is Grandma--holding down the baby fort inside!</div>
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Tillie and Bea had so much fun with all of their friends, It was the talk of our dinner table for about 3 months leading up to the actual event. I am actually surprised that Matilda was able to calm herself enough to take a nap that day...but she did!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-TAvxFM3Xg/VSgdE8xdX0I/AAAAAAABgnI/4NTOtFcCyrw/s1600/DSC_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-TAvxFM3Xg/VSgdE8xdX0I/AAAAAAABgnI/4NTOtFcCyrw/s1600/DSC_0423.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthday Girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stealing a lick</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bea's 'after-party' look inspired by Auntie Meghan</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-75527654186168832792015-04-10T13:52:00.001-05:002015-04-10T13:52:24.722-05:00Her Royal TwonessLook out, World. We have another 2-year old. And her name is Beatrice. I cannot believe that we are already celebrating her 2nd year. It truly feels like we were just figuring out how to adapt to life as a family of four, and now it's two years later, we have a third child, and Beatrice is talking, singing, running, demanding, hugging, scooting, and wrapping us around her finger.<br />
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To say that Beatrice can hold her own is an understatement. She gets what is hers (and sometimes what isn't actually hers), communicates readily without words (her eyes say it all), and seems masterful at negotiation (but perhaps our patience is just worn so thin that we give in a little too easily these days).<br />
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Her independence is something fierce with "I DO" ringing out from any room she may be in. Whether it is her wanting to do something for herself, or try something her big sister is doing, Bea is ready to take it all on. No height is too high for jumping off of, and no bag is too heavy to lift.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJgUMX9qLkc/VSgalVlTzyI/AAAAAAABgjk/1f7enX7At4A/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJgUMX9qLkc/VSgalVlTzyI/AAAAAAABgjk/1f7enX7At4A/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Bea loves her brother and her sister. She loves doing what Matilda does, and telling us what to do to Otis. So I guess her position as Middle child is perfect. She is surprisingly good at helping pick up toys, and equally as surprisingly good at ignoring us when we tell her NOT to do something (like eat yogurt with her fingers).<br />
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Her second year of life was scattered with a variety of illnesses, some landing her in the hospital, and some just landing her at home where she could soak up a few uninterrupted snuggles. She has definitely been the sickest Hanson kidlet to date, but if this is the worst of it, I consider us lucky. Perhaps that is why she enjoys playing doctor so much....And how she knows now every night we put on her 'special lotion' of coconut oil and essential oils mixed in.<br />
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She is sassy and sweet. Unafraid (unless of course you have a dog with you). Vibrant. Hilarious. Expressive. She knows what she wants, and how to get it (which sometimes right now involves teeth or pinching...).<br />
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It is without a doubt going to be an exciting ride to be with this little one the next 16 years. We love you, Beatrice! Happy Birthday!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-89425349941849396082015-03-16T09:08:00.001-05:002015-03-16T09:08:06.374-05:00Status UpdateSo, blogging.<br />
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Not as easy with three kids as with one. I look back on my blog when it was just Matilda and you guys (if anyone is even hanging with me on this thing) knew every.last.detail about that girl. Now...you know Otis was born and that is about it.<br />
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Maybe it is because it is a 3-ring circus here, or because I am enjoying just <i>being</i> with Otis and not documenting every last thing. Although then the Mom guilt sets in and I know he needs pictures too, lest I hear about it the rest of my life.<br />
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So here are a few details on our Otis.<br />
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There is far less of THIS than there was with the first two (at least so far):<br />
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He seems to be relatively even-keeled. Just don't try to put him to sleep if he doesn't want to me. He can, apparently, do that himself. We are still working on tummy time, which is definitely not his favorite thing.</div>
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He likes to be on his back staring out our bright windows. And every once in a while, he doesn't mind be accosted by his older sisters.</div>
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Otis is super snuggly. Has lots of coos and 'stories' for me. He is a boy through and through--I get that comment more than anything. "Man, he is ALL boy". Which is good, because he burps and toots like a boy.</div>
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We busted out the bjorn this week for the beautiful weather and he loves the fresh air. I should say I love it because it is like the baby equivalent of ambien for him. Right to sleep. Which makes the mama very happy.</div>
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And finally, while it is unconfirmed until his 2-month appointment next week, he is huge. At least compared to my girls. And no complaints here on the size if it means that his sleeping continues on the trend it has been (of which I will not comment so as to avoid jinxing it). Also, how is this child already almost 2 months old. I think time goes faster with each child....</div>
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The moment all Mamas wait for during those hard newborn weeks...the first smile! I can't say this is his first official smile (which was right around 5 weeks), but it is one of them. And I adore it.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-90853188270286983412015-02-23T11:50:00.004-06:002015-02-23T11:50:52.925-06:00The Sisters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The most popular question I get every time I run into someone I haven't seen since having Otis is: "How do the girls like him" (followed by how are you adjusting to having a boy...more on that later).</div>
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The girls.</div>
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The girls love him. And so far have been great with him (minus the admitted drive-by biting/hitting incident that cannot be verified by anyone but Bea and since she doesn't have all of her words yet--only Otis really knows).</div>
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The each have their own style with him.</div>
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Matilda is Mother Hen. </div>
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Less interested in holding, cuddling, nurturing and more interested and telling him what is what and offering words of encouragement.</div>
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"<i>Otis, don't you cry. You don't need to cry right now"</i></div>
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<i>"Otis, Mama will feed you soon"</i></div>
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<i>"Odie, I love you!"</i></div>
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Bea, on the other hand, wants to hold him. Touch him.</div>
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Change his diaper.</div>
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ALWAYS suggesting to us that we change his pants. If Bea had it her way Otis would go through about 37 diapers a day.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AO8ghpd4d_Q/VOtmFLTkKyI/AAAAAAABgdc/I9Y0xXcXHS4/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AO8ghpd4d_Q/VOtmFLTkKyI/AAAAAAABgdc/I9Y0xXcXHS4/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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She also has moments of jealousy. Where she will say "move" and start to shove Otis off of whoever's lap he is currently residing (did we mention that Bea is DEFINITELY an Alpha?)</div>
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Or climbing up right onto the pillow while Otis is nursing and just saying: "sit". Like..."hey! I deserve to sit here too, buddy".</div>
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She has also started to want to hold him by herself (shocking no one that knows this independent soul)....motioning for me to get my hands outta there when she is trying to hold him. Which usually ends up with Otis crying, and Bea saying "shh, shh, shh" to him.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_asfdHX91I/VOtmFzVczQI/AAAAAAABgdk/epsyMFNhLLQ/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_asfdHX91I/VOtmFzVczQI/AAAAAAABgdk/epsyMFNhLLQ/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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We have been the lucky recipients of a non-stop cold and flu virus extravaganzaa the last month that has landed up with 16 visits to Ready Care in 35 days, 2 stays in the hospital for Beatrice and a whole lot of vomiting for Matilda.</div>
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With this, came very limited access to Otis, as I didn't care to see any of their plague sicknesses manifest in a newborn.</div>
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So it will be very fun to see how their bond continues to grow stronger with him when they aren't relinquished just looking from afar and 'head kisses'.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGsFQj_U1pc/VOtmBDwKa9I/AAAAAAABgdE/fI_rLPZfAB0/s1600/DSC_0016-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGsFQj_U1pc/VOtmBDwKa9I/AAAAAAABgdE/fI_rLPZfAB0/s1600/DSC_0016-001.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Toddler toes. Because I love these two girls so much that even their toes make me smile.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-63493113568875693252015-02-08T21:44:00.002-06:002015-02-08T21:44:31.387-06:00Welcome Otis Reid!When we found out we were pregnant with our third, I told Nate that I would think about this baby after Christmas because I knew how fast this pregnancy would go. And it did....right up until the end. Where instead of ending, kept going.<br />
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Now, I couldn't complain. I was feeling great, not uncomfortable, and enjoying each additional night as a family of four (knowing the chaos that would soon ensue). But the 'delay' did NOT help my denial. Which I think I was in right up until we drove to the hospital, even telling Nate at about 12:30PM that I bet we didn't leave for the hopsital until 8PM.</div>
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Well fast forward about 40 minutes and we were leaving for the hospital.</div>
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And it wasn't much longer after that, that we welcomed this little guy into our lives and family:</div>
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Otis Reid Hanson</div>
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January 26th, 8:10PM</div>
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8 pounds 5.5 ounces</div>
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21.5 inches long</div>
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Nate had a feeling the entire time that this one was a boy. And admittedly, I think deep down I really did think it was another girl. Poor Otis is still getting called 'she' and 'her' and referred to with "the girls" but we are trying <i>really </i>hard to get used to all the new boyness.<br />
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As we move into the legit baby stage for the third and final time, I can only hope that Otis' personality emulates the birth---predictable and easy. :) He has a sweet personality and has been very patient with many kisses, pokes, prods and bumps from the big sisters. Matilda is obsessed with holding him, and Bea is just downright obsessed....unless one of us is holding him. Then she wants us to put him down and hold her.<br />
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We thought it would be such a <i>great idea</i> to do Otis' first bath in the hospital once the girls came to visit. WRONG. Otis screamed the whole time and both girls cowered in my parents' lap and were very concerned with what was going on. Bea still points to Otis' belly button and says "owie". We brought cupcakes to celebrate the arrival of 'baby cupcake' and sang to him.<br />
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We changed our boy name about 1 week before we delivered. We landed on Otis Reid. There is no family significance for Otis, but we really liked the name and thought it fit perfect with Matilda and Beatrice. And we were really excited to share my Dad's name with Otis (his middle name). The one thing that Otis didn't fit in terms of 'requirements of Nate' was a good nickname. That was his qualification for the first two. Ironically, upon meeting Otis Matilda had a nickname for him in the first two minute: Odie. And for Bea, he is still just 'baby'.<br />
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We are adjusting our pronouns from she to he and from 'girls' to 'kids'. And learning how to do parenting to a sweet little boy. Otis has blended right into the family and so far has been quite the sport through many pokes to the eye, drive-by paci stealings and a little-to-tight hugs. We are so excited that he is finally here and that our family is finally complete.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-46159716119111928202015-01-18T21:03:00.002-06:002015-01-22T14:36:49.685-06:00Our Trip to Children's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In a twist of ironic fate, my last post about my little Bubonic Bea and sarcasm about her cold that will 'turn into pneumonia' totally and completely came true.</div>
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After 4 days of 104+ degree fevers, one trip to urgent care, one trip to her pediatrician and MANY doses of tylenol and ibuprofen, my Mom gut sounded the alarm and I knew I needed to take her back in.</div>
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Feeling quite silly, I sit down and explain the symptoms and the Dr. promptly puts on the device that measures oxygen, which Bea fails miserably. I get to learn how to nebulize a toddler--an experience I have been fortunate enough to avoid up until this point. It helps with the oxygen, but then she crashes about 10 minutes later. Rinse and repeat. Throw in a chest x-ray for good meausre.</div>
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Verdict is in, and we are off to Chidlren's hospital (only after pulling the pregnancy and one-car household card to avoid an ambulance ride). </div>
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Good thing we had the most important item with us: Susie Doll.</div>
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I didn't have my wallet, a charge in my phone, a diaper bag or anything. Because I was assuming it would be a quick trip to the Ped, get some meds and we would be home.</div>
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So with the 10% phone battery I had left, I texted Nate and called my friend Summer (and promptely started bawling) to arrange for some necessities to get to the hospital.</div>
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Bea was such a sad baby. I was a sad mama. </div>
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She didn't cry getting her IV in...such a champ, and perhaps just so exhausted she didn't care at that point.</div>
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Blood tests came back: bacterial pneumonia. Which was great in the sense that she wasn't contagious and none of us could catch it, but bad in that the antibiotics they had started weren't working.</div>
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So 8:45PM, Nate rolls in with a hospital bag for me, stuff for Bea, and I drop the bomb on him.</div>
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Sooo...umm...I am having contractions. </div>
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Yup. </div>
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After much logistical scheming, we decided it was best for him to stay with Bea so I could be at home only 4 blocks away from the hospital i am set to deliver at.</div>
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To leave this one......ugh. I have decided there is not anything on this planet more sad than a baby in the hospital. It doesn't matter what they are in there for. It's just all around sadness.</div>
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Blood tests came back: bacterial pneumonia. Which was great in the sense that she wasn't contagious and none of us could catch it, but bad in that the antibiotics they had started weren't working.</div>
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But once they found the ones that did...this girls sprung back into action!</div>
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And naturally, the first thing she did the morning after returning home, was to get her doctor kit and perform many tests on Susie doll (who I think was by her side the ENTIRE time in the hospital).</div>
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As a fun (fun in hindsight, that is) story: of course Bea took it upon herself when we were in the hospital to essentially REFUSE to go to the bathroom in her diaper. So everytime she had to go (which was a lot because they were pumping her with fluids through her IV), we had to unhook her oxygen monitor, and cart her IV through the hall, get her to keep a mask on and sit her on the potty while holding up all of her cords. </div>
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It was a wild ride, made wilder with the 39.5 week pregnant timing, but thanks to some great friends and amazing care from the staff at Children's we made it. Now I am just hoping we can all stay <i>relatively</i> healthy until this baby arrives. I say relatively because Matilda is coughing, wheezing and complaining of a sore throat today....soo........</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-33596368872104323782015-01-11T21:43:00.001-06:002015-01-11T21:43:43.184-06:00The Sick OneAfter an afternoon of coughing, fever and urgent care, Nate plopped down on the couch tonight and said: "Bea really is a sickly child."<br />
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Now, I know that in the scheme of sickness she is closer to the healthy end of the spectrum than the sick end of the spectrum. Our illnesses are not serious. But they are....persistent.<br />
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And the bummer about it is that she is a totally different kid when she is healthy (but again, who isn't?), and just when we catch a glimpse of how laid back, silly, independent she is, she catches the next virus du jour and she is sad, unrested, clingy and crabby.<br />
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Yes, I definitely miss my Beezy when she is under the weather. Especially, since this little monkey clings to her daddy when she isn't feeling well. But here is the thing.....we are not sleeping in this house. And we have a newborn coming in lets call it under 9 days. </div>
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I am not asking for a miracle of health for the rest of the winter. In fact, I am fairly certain this baby will have whatever whopping cough/pneumonia/flu that Bea currently has before it actually comes home from the hospital. But dear lord, PLEASE let us get a few solid nights of sleep before this baby comes.</div>
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And if you can throw in a wake-up call that has 6 in it instead of a 5 that would sure be an added bonus.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-41907914157379278642014-12-18T10:04:00.000-06:002014-12-18T10:04:09.579-06:00Holiday AnticsAs always, I seem to have a handful of excuses for my lack of blogging and usually they are really good. But this time.....I have to confess. We are deep into season 2 of Homeland, and the only way we can watch it is by hooking our laptop up to the TV. And I am not about to lay my 8.5 month pregnant ass on the floor to blog while we watch it. Sorry people.<br />
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But I find myself with a few spare minutes today, and wanted to share some of the holiday antics we have been up to the last month or so...<br />
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Thanksgiving was spent in Viroqua and we enjoyed good food, getting to watch Macy's Parade, and then attend our own Twinkle parade. But the highlight of all highlights might have been the pumpkin pie (or for Bea the whipped cream).<br />
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We also got to attend a very cute event at a local garden center, where the girls caught their first glimpse of Santa (and lets just say they were okay with the distance between him and themselves). There was a little Santa play which Tillie loved and Bea could have cared less about so we split up and I followed Bea around and sought out some photo op spots.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl has the perfect mix of naughty and nice down pat. Just enough of both so that you are never bored.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Just look, Bea....just look"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "I am totally too cool for this" look. We are in trouble for the teen years...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
And then amidst fever, chills and other unmentionables, we decorated Christmas cookies. Don't worry--they were not shared with anyone else. We kept our germs to ourselves for this year.</div>
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I think Matilda may have been happy to just eat the sprinkles, but eventually got into it.</div>
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Bea tried her best to stick with it. But her fever was higher and her attention span shorter. She didn't really care about eating the frosting or the cookies, but rather was determined to collect and lick every knife we had on the table claiming them loudly as "MISE" (mine).<br />
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She is so ready to be a middle child.<br />
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Some of the end products</div>
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Tillie--hold up your cookie!</div>
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I promise you behind that cookie is a very beautiful snowman (with a white blob of frosting and one red hot).</div>
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More holiday cheer to come in the next week, assuming we can get healthy-stay healthy-and not cut any more teeth. :)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-9299943210641064322014-12-10T11:02:00.001-06:002014-12-10T11:02:17.570-06:00Realities of PregnancyI haven't really given much thought the impending arrival of Baby #3. I'm sure to some that sounds really flip, untrue, or perhaps like I am a pretty terrible parent.<br />
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The truth is that I know this baby will demand so much time and attention when it arrives that I want and need to focus all of that on my kids that are here, live and in the flesh and actually verbalizing their needs (like the BUNNY water, not the cow water. Do NOT bring me the cow water).<br />
<br />
So many people have asked me if we have names figured out. No. No we do not. We barely have thought about it. Nate will randomly throw names at me every once in a while and I can't even process the thought of it. So.....we just sort of pretend this baby doesn't need a name. For the first 2 we had names 100% decided upon before going to the hospital. I am sort of thinking instead of name, we will be bringing a name book, or app so we can decide once we are holding the baby.<br />
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Have no fear--this baby has a way of making sure I am not totally forgetting about it. From insane acrobatics every night at about 9:45PM to the quite large and in charge belly, I am definitely aware that I am, in fact, pregnant.<br />
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Probably the most painful reminder (visually and physically) are these amazingly beautiful vericose veins that have come with each pregnancy. I have one from each pregnancy. And of course, the one I got with Matilda is absolutely gigantic now as it has had three pregnancies to flourish. They hurt my eyes, and they hurt my legs.<br />
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And after this morning, you can add my ego to that list.....<br />
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I walked downstairs in a dress, and hadn't put my tights on yet. (because lets be honest at 8.5 months pregnant you wait to pull on those suckers until the last minute).<br />
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I'm standing next to the table, and Tillie is on the ground coloring. She looks up and says:<br />
<i>"Ew, Mama, what is that?"</i><br />
"Well Tillie, that is a vein"<br />
<i>"Does it hurt?"</i><br />
"Yes"<br />
<i>"It's warm!"</i><br />
"Yup. I have one on this leg too" (turning to show her the really bad one)<br />
<i>"NOT GOOD, Mama. Not good, mama. You need an ice pack"</i><br />
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At which point she goes to freezer, wraps the ice pack in a towel and follows me around the house applying an ice pack to my leg.<br />
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So, any hope that these suckers aren't noticeable is completely gone. Time to embrace them (and also hope they go down after this baby arrives!).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-29981343693516157332014-12-02T20:58:00.001-06:002014-12-02T20:58:56.409-06:00Tillie TalksTonight at dinner, Tillie got quiet and was contemplating something. She looks up and asks:<br />
<i>"First you eat the food, then you poop it out, and then you puke.That's how it works right?"</i><br />
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"<i>Daddy, are you the boss?"</i><br />
"Yes"<br />
"<i>Ok, but I'm the boss of Bea"</i><br />
"No you aren't."<br />
<i>"Yes, I am</i>."<br />
"Tillie, what does it mean to be the boss?"<br />
"<i>You get to tell people to stand in line and listen to the rules."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
________________<br />
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"<i>I won't bite Clifford."</i> (after being asked why she bit Bea...although to be fair Bea DID put her hands in Tillie's mouth).<br />
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In the ultimate display of Matilda's well-timed jabs this conversation happened just after Nate got a new bike (his was stolen...again):<br />
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"Daddy is super excited to show you his new bike. Do you want to see it?"<br />
Tillie quiet--thinks on it.<br />
<i>"Yes"</i><br />
(a few more seconds)<br />
<i>"Did you get a new ring too daddy?"</i><br />
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Seriously, you cannot make this stuff up. First of all we NEVER talk about Nate not having a ring because I don't really care, and it isn't a big deal for us. But I love that she has filed it away and is keeping him honest on priorities.....<br />
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Walking into the bonus room, Tillie is standing on the couch. I say to her "Tillie on your booty, no standing on the couch"<br />
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And she yells:<br />
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<i>"Stay away Mama!"</i><br />
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Just as I was about to launch into a 'that is not how you talk to your mama' speech, Nate pops up from behind the couch (he was hiding) and says: She is pretending to be Elsa and doesn't want to freeze you.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-38525373042054178972014-11-08T13:46:00.003-06:002014-11-08T13:46:47.994-06:00Halloween Hijinx!<br />
After much debate, and convincing with Matilda, the girls dressed up as Lions for Halloween this year! I really wanted them to have the same costume..don't ask me why. But I do know the number of years that they will be willing to be the same thing will be extremely limited.<br />
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And since Bea has an absolutely adorable little roar these days, I only needed to get the eldest on board. She wanted to be a kitty, a zombie kitty, a peacock, and more. I couldn't quite get her to agree to the lion. UNTIL, we went to Chicago to visit the Keaty's and got to watch the Lion King.<br />
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Then I capitalized on that excitement, and branded it as "dressing up as Simba" and she was all in. (what can I say--thats what you get with a mom in marketing). And even as what seemed like every single friend from school told her they were dressing up as Elsa or Anna from Frozen--Tillie didn't waiver. She was going to be a lion.<br />
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Which meant that I was getting tips on tutu-making and pulling together some lion costumes. (as a girl mom tip--if you are ever making a tutu--buy those super cheap crocheted headbands, throw it on a canister of some sort, and just slip-knot tie the strands of tulle in each hole). Super easy!!!!<br />
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I was a little concerned that after just a VERY short walk down our own walk-way, Bea eyed up her little chair and seemed to already be 'all-done'.</div>
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But that was short-lived, because as soon as she understood what the night held she was OFF. And Matilda was trying to keep up with her. It was unfortunate that the first 5 or so houses we went to had dogs because Matilda got a little gun-shy. Not Bea. Bea would step right up, Snag her piece of candy. Wave bye-bye and literally turn on a dime and say more to go to the next house.<br />
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As you can see, she was having no fun at all. It was the first night that it was actually cold this fall (which by the way is so typical for midwest halloweens...we literally missed it by one night), and Bea refused to put gloves on. She got a hold of a tootsie pop, and once I realized she had started <i>eating the paper, </i>I gave in and let her have it. Both of the girls ended up getting 2 suckers from their Halloween stash. And Mama got the rest (although I did share with Nate :)).</div>
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A few weeks before Halloween we also had a very fun get together with some of Tillie's best friends from early on. Eila and Amanda and their adorable new brothers came over and we had quite the brunch and pumpkin-carving party.</div>
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The girls had fun, and each had their own style of carving and how grimey they were willing to get. And of course, Bea was not going to be left behind. As they get older, it is getting harder to get a good picture of all three, but we did our best! :)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133025190158692781.post-89778511765191523572014-10-30T14:51:00.004-05:002014-10-30T14:51:27.783-05:0018 months!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Ok, so I have been
putting off this post. It first started out with procrastination due to
unwillingness to admit Bea was a year and half old. THEN, I wrote the ENTIRE
post and went to publish it and it vanished. I swore. A lot. And then Nate gave
me a foot run. Another full week has passed, and I decided I better get to
writing this or it will never happen and it might just be the post that kills
this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, here we go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Beatrice is 18 months
(okay, you can call me on it, she is actually 19 months at this point, but that
is what procrastination will get you). She is a wiggly, giggly and quite silly
little girl (23 pounds 5 ounces at her 18 month appt, 32.5 inches). She climbs
on everything and will not be stopped if she is on a mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18.1818180084229px;">Bea loves her sister, so long as Matilda isn't taking anything that Bea is playing with, may want to play with, or at some point in her past life played with. "MINE" was quickly one of her first words that is overused and abused. I feel like I can almost hear her singing "anything you can do I can do better" as she follows Matilda around and tries to keep up with her (which she actually does a good job of).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She is already attempting to ride the bike we got for Tillie for her 3rd birthday (of which she has no interest in) and prefers to grab hold of Tillie's scooter and go for a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But in the last few months she has also figured out how to slow down, sit still for longer than 1 minute and enjoy a good book. In fact, she had a brief love affair with one book in particular that came <i>everywhere</i> with us for about 3 weeks. I was getting worried it would replace her lovey and that I would have to order about 12 copies of it on Amazon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18.1818180084229px; text-align: start;">Bea's vocabulary has exploded! She has her "b" words down (which I guess is appropriate): book, ball, bread, etc. And she is not for lack of comprehension. Good lord, this child understands everything we say. I feel like we are already in the 'spelling' zone with her. She has "mama" down, has a sound for Tillie, and well--still calls Nate mama. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Nate likes to say that Bea is an inch wide and a mile deep. She is pretty easy going with most situations, but watch out if you misstep on something that she has deemed important. She will meltdown on you like an ice-cream cone on a 90 degree day. I am talking full-out laying on the floor, inconsolable tantrum. Something we haven't had to deal with to date with the eldest (although I realize there is still time).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So that is fun. And we are learning how to walk away and ignore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But then she gets over it and pops back to her mostly-sunny self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18.1818180084229px; text-align: start;">Bea has had a significant Daddy phase over the last month. I blame work travel. I traveled two weeks in a row and I think she is still punishing me for it. But it is sweet to see how much she loves Nate. And of course to see it reciprocated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One of my favorite things about Bea right now is her mischievous side. And her facial expressions. Together they give her away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18.1818180084229px;">She has a great little eyebrow lift that seems to say: "watch what i am going to do....you are going to love it as much as me, but just in case you don't i am going to move really fast and then run away"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Bea is a happy explorer--happy to be by herself and doing her own thing. Happy to play with you or by you. It's been so fun to see her grow and become a 'little person'--helping unload the dishwasher, understanding what 'throw your diaper away' means and where to throw it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She has actually started to use the potty in the last 3 weeks. Telling us, at times, when she has to go and then actually going. It is blowing our minds, but we are fairly certain this will be short-lived as is anything that seems to good to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Bea</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18.1818180084229px;">Looking forward to the next 6 months, and watching this one become a 'little big' sister. It's good to know she has the personality that will ensure she doesn't get lost as the middle child. :)</span></div>
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