Links & Socks

I have a basket with about a hundred coloured links that Matthew and Kayla love to play with.  Every time we play with them I hold them up one by one and state what colour that link is, usually in a super high or super low or crazy voice.  They love it.  Matthew bursts out laughing every time.  Anyways, we were playing with them today, and I had only chosen a couple to name.  Five minutes later, Kayla picks one up, holds it out to me, and babbles.  I stated the colour, she put it down, and quickly picked up another one, held it out, and babbled.  We did this for quite a while!

Once she tired of playing with the links, she crawled over to the window.  I noticed that she was missing a sock, so I asked her where her sock was.  She looked up at me and started pulling off her sock.  Coincidence?  Or did she understand (to a degree, or course) what I was saying?

Matthew's Third Tooth

Upper right.

Yesterday.

For my info only :)

Please don't remind me that I need to do another entry.  I already feel guilty every time I see that my sister in laws have updated theirs.  It's sad when they've done multiple posts since I've done my last one.  I've given up promising when it will be...

Hearing Giggles

Because Kayla had a rough night last night, I allowed her to sleep in this morning.  She woke up at 8:30am, over an hour after Matthew.  I knew this would mean I would have to delay Matthew's morning nap and give Kayla's hers early otherwise they would be on opposite schedules and I would have no 'me' time today.  Matthew was more than ready for a nap at 9:30am, so I put Kayla in her crib as well...at least for long enough so that I could shower without having to worry about what she was getting into.  When I finished showering I could see that she was just sitting in her crib, playing with the few stuffed animals she had in there.  Great!  At least she was getting some 'quiet' time if she didn't want to sleep.  I changed, and then went to check my e-mails.  After being at the computer for a little while I heard Kayla giggling.  Wondering what she could possibly be laughing about I went over to check on her.  When I walked in the doorway I saw exactly why: I could see Matthew was laying down, but his little hand and the top of his head were stretching to peek over the edge of his crib.  Matthew's crib hasn't been lowered yet...but this is definitely an indication that I'll have to get Jon to do it soon!

In our Bedroom

This past month, if you were to walk into our bedroom on any given night, you wouldn't be shocked too see an extra body lying right in the middle of the bed.

Well, it's not that bad.  It's not like Matthew or Kayla are in there every night...but at least once a week someone is.

It's usually Matthew.  In December he had quite a few nights where he would wake up at 10pm and be super wide awake.  We'd try to lay him back in his crib when we went to bed, but he would cry the saddest cry ever.  It tugged at the strings of my heart...and so into our bed he came.  Jon doesn't like to share his side of the bed, so I moved over to the very edge of the bed and gave Matthew my share.  And eventually, after squirming around for a while, he would fall asleep.  And then I would fall asleep, teetering on the edge of our bed.

Last night, it was Kayla.  She hadn't been napping very well during the day...only napping for 30 minutes at most at any time...so it didn't surprise me when she woke up shortly after she was put to bed.  She didn't wake up with her usual whimpering/crying though...she was screaming shrieking, as if she was being tormented and in pain.  So out she came.  She wouldn't settle down with Jon at all, so he quickly gave her to me (yes, he has overcome his dislike jealousy of how our children usually favour my cuddles over his when they are upset) and she settled down and cuddled.  She felt warm, so I took her temperature and she had a slight fever, so I gave her some Tylenol and back to bed she went, and back to sleep she went.  30 minutes later the same thing happened.  So out she came, more cuddles, and back to bed.  30 minutes later the same thing.  This time, at least, she slept until 5:15am, when she woke up shrieking again.  I quickly took her out of her room for fear of waking Matthew, and brought her to bed with me.  She quickly fell asleep in my arms, and so I transferred her to the middle of our bed, and moved over to the edge myself, and we slept.

I really enjoy these moments, knowing that you're the person that they need for cuddles and to feel safe and secure.  I love waking up in the morning seeing them right beside me, hearing them breathe, and getting whiffs of wet diaper as the fan blows the air past them and into my face (!).  One day, sadly, they'll be too old for this, so for now, I enjoy every minute of it.

Sorry...

...for all of the picture-less posts.

I'm scrambling to create a photo album/journal type book out of all of my blog entries.  I have a gift certificate I received as a baby shower gift that expires in the middle of February, so most of Matthew and Kayla's nap time is spent working for BackCheck/BLG, and then on this book.  I'm up to their birth...so only 9 more months to go! 

I promised to put up some Christmas pictures soon though.  Maybe Jon will give me a little break tomorrow so that I can do it then.

Updated on Matthew's Head

I had followed up with my family doctor in the middle of December  because I still had not heard anything from BC Children's.  They said they had re-faxed my referral request in November, but would do it again.

We got the call early this week that Matthew's appointment is with Dr. Paul Steinbok, the head of pediatric neurosurgery (http://www.surgery.ubc.ca/faculty/psteinbok.html) on February 20.

I'm going to call to see if there is a cancellation list I could be put on, as his appointment is still 6 weeks away.  He'll be 11 months by then!  Our time is precious...the quicker we take action on a treatment (if needed) the quicker it will work.

First Sign of Jealousy

I was sitting on the ground, feeding Matthew.  Kayla crawled up to us and stood up against me and started crying.  She then proceeded to push the bottle out of Matthew's mouth.  I put it back in.  She pushed it away.  I put it back in.  She pushed it away again.  I put it back in and put Matthew on the ground to finish feeding to see what would happen.  Kayla climbed onto my lap, cuddled against me, and was quiet.

So cute.

Dropped Another 1/2 Pump

(on Tuesday, Jan 4)

I'm down to one pump a day, usually at 8pm (just after the kids go to bed).  As nice as it is to be free from having to pump, it's a little bit sad.

It's interesting because I'm weaning myself before they get weaned.  Not sure when (or how!) I'm going to start weaning them.  I guess when my frozen supply really starts getting depleted?

Now that I'm only pumping once a day I'm *trying* to watch what I eat.  Long gone are the days where I ate ice cream every night.  I miss ice cream.  I'll be glad when all of our Christmas (read: Boxing Day 50% off) chocolate is gone.  Do you blame me for buying 5 boxes of After Eights when they're only half price?  The entire family (yes, Matthew and Kayla too!) love them...