Help Me.

These pictures are so indicative of what it's like here on an hourly basis. Insane three year old, mixed with an innocent, teething and learning to crawl 8 month old, tossed with a few hilarious toddler observations, topped off with WAY TOO MANY TOYS.

Warmth

A week ago, it was snowing here. Today, it's warm enough for a baby diaper photo shoot. A week ago we were all sick with the stomach flu. Yes, all of us, even the baby. Today, no one is on antibiotics or throwing up. I think it's going to be a good week!

I live in a Zoo

We had a reprive over here from The Germs and The Allergies and enjoyed a day at the zoo.





























































And then today The Germs retuned in the mutated form of vomit and other smelly things coming out of Lucy's body.

Ambushed at Walnut Pass

Hey look - this is what happens when Lucy consumes a minuscule bite of walnut disguised in the form of an oatmeal raisin cookie!



















(This is Lucy passed out in the ER after about 4 doses of Benadryl).

I knew as soon as she took a bite of the cookie, there would be a problem. She started saying something along the likes of 'my mouth, my mouth'. I gave her some Benadryl and she seemed fine except for a swollen lip. An hour or so later, as Ken was putting her to bed, she started coughing and wheezing. I gave her an additional antihistamine and took her to the ER. by the time we got to the ER, hives started appearing on her entire body and the wheezing was very bad. An IV, Steroids, more Benadryl, 2 rounds of breathing treatments and 4 hours later we were on our way back home.

I guess she REALLY is allergic to nuts!

She is fine today, barely even talked about it. I'm more traumatized than she is. She'll be on steroids and antihistamines for 5 days to prevent a rebound attack....

Never a dull moment over here.

Delirious

I am so sleep deprived, this is what we now do for entertainment:

My name is Eli

I just figured out I can chomp on my toes when getting my diaper changed...















I'm getting better at sitting up, but need a little assistance...















My eyes are very blue and my hair is still looking reddish/blonde...















I'm almost 6 months old and think most of what comes out of peoples mouth is hilarious. I could be better at the sleeping through the night thing, but I'm cute and get away with pretty much anything I want. I'm just now starting to think this whole eating concept might be something I should delve into further. And yeah, so I know, my ears stick out a tiny little bit.

Goodbye 2008

We were supposed to have a few friends with kids over tonight to say goodbye to 08, and welcome in 09, even if it was going to be a bit early (before the young kids all needed to be tucked into bed). But, just like most of 2008, our plans were foiled and I am sitting at home with 2 sick kids and one sick husband. And I know I'm next to fall.

I've never been so glad to see a year end. It's been a year (or several) unlike none other, and one I hope to never repeat. Here are things I hope to NOT do in 2009:
Sell a house
Buy a house
Move
Renovate
Pack
Look for a new job
Watch someone die
Grieve
Go through a lifetimes worth of possessions
Get pregnant
Be sick for 9 months
Get fat
Give birth
Recover from birth
Be sleep deprived

For 09, I just want to be. Be happy, see friends, play outside, sleep and watch my children grow. I want nothing monumental to happen. I just want to be non dramatic, and maybe a touch boring.

Cheers to that and a good nights sleep.

A Photo Log of Christmas

(from a three year old).

Lucy got this for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Bonk:

It's a digital camera made for little kids. She could throw it down the stairs and it would keep on clickin' (not that she would EVER do that)....

Here are a few of Lucy's best photos from Christmas day:

Clearly, we have a budding Annie Leibovitz on our hands. We are so proud!
Hope yours was Merry! Now, onto the New Year.

Christmas Eve Day

The tug of war with Santa, a few weeks ago.
















Enjoying Christmas Eve Day

Disney World 'n Stuff

We went to Disney World. It was crazy. Lucy hated the lines, but loved the characters. We got back last week, and it has taken me this long to put up pictures.

























Eli was the super secret champ of the week. This was his post for much of the time.

After two days of Disney World, we could take no more and went to Busch Gardens. Here, Lucy amazed us once again by climbing on this ride all by herself. No fear.

The fit that proceeded this nap was monumental.

Today we went and got our photos taken with Santa. Once again, Lucy showed no fear and crawled right up onto Santa's lap. Remember last year?

And finally, today a swan bit Lucy on the leg at the park. And there was lots of fear. The end.

4 months old

Eli is four months old now, and on a whim I decided he needed to eat cereal. I was going to hold off for another month, but I had visions of a full nights sleep clouding my judgement. Turns out, he didn't like it anyway and spit it all out. My heart dropped a little with each spoonful of food that landed on his bib. I knew he wouldn't make it until morning to eat. After talking with his Dr., we decided to indeed, wait another month or two. Since his sibling has all those allergies, he's much more prone to developing them as well. The longer I wait to introduce food, the better his odds are that he will not develop food allergies.

















He's a big kid, this Eli. He is in the 83rd percentile for height and 71 for weight. And that's all from breast milk my friends. You'd think I'd be a skinny minnie, but mother nature is cruel and evil to me.
















All the kid wants to do is stand up. No tummy time, no sitting, just wants to stand. Enter, the jumperoo I bought on Craigslist for $30.
















Lucy calls this hat his helmet. She gets funnier by the day. Today she told me she wanted to go on a vacation when she woke up from her non existent nap. Which brings me to my next announcement. Apparently, I've completely lost my mind as we are planning to take Lucy to Disney World in December. Please feel free to either tell me what a fantastic idea that is, or shake me until I wake up from my sleep deprived fog.

Bangs

I didn't mention it, but I lost the war on bangs. Lucy's bangs were almost grown out, but they just hung in her face all day and made her look like an orphan. I cut them a few weeks ago, and am so glad. We don't have the daily battles surrounding rubber bands and barrettes.

Very Belated Halloween Photos

After I reluctantly purchased a Snow White costume, and then Lucy refused to even touch the dress once we got it home, I decided the costumes this year would be based on comfortable pajamas. Introducing the Tiger and the Zebra:



















And any attempts at a photo of the two of them together, smiling was out of the question. The candy high produced a kid who ran around outside for several hours before finally collapsing in bed after only two stories.

*Note - those are not our Halloween decorations, but Lucy sure did like the graveyard scene, complete with 'dinosaur bones' and 'babies', aka skeletons.

Eli and Lucy

Eli is very excited for his first square dance



















And Lucy just loves being outside

Super Kids

Lucy has been exceptionally well behaved lately. And, I don't want to jinx myself, but I've been getting more sleep than usual because a certain baby is now what I call, super baby.

I joined a gym, and Lucy likes it at the child care center! The earths axis must have tilted. Life is good!