Happy Two Month Birthday, Joey!

Joseph turned 2 months old, and he got his shots today!  He weighs 11 pounds, 8.5 ounces (47%) and is 23 1/4 inches (64%!) 

He continues to be a very easy-going baby.  People tell me that this is because he is a boy.  However, I think it's because he's the second child.  He has to be a little more patient - and tolerant, particularly of his big sister! 

He is still eating 3-4 ounces every 3 hours.  He has made it two random nights with only one overnight feeding, but we're not close to going all night yet.  He's in size one diapers, 0-3 month clothes, and is a generally happy baby.  He smiles a lot!  He loves his pacifier and his swing.  It has been so fun staying home and getting to know him for the past two months! 

My maternity leave is rapidly coming to an end, and time will tell how everything will go sending both kids to daycare and juggling everything.  In a way I'm anxious to get back to "normal" since I know I have to return to work.  In many other ways, I'm sad my time at home is coming to an end.  I will miss cuddling & napping with Joey during the weekdays while Daddy & Melanie are gone!

TURN ON THE LIGHTS!!!

Jeff and I have been homeowners for over five years now.  First in Lake Zurich, and now in Carmel.  I have often thought how odd it was that we have NEVER lost power (other than a flicker here and there).  Tonight, we lost power.  However, it was only for about 45 minutes.  But, as you know, when you don't have power, you aren't sure how long it will last.  And since dinner was in the oven, it was 6000 degrees outside, and we don't have but one flashlight in the house, and it was getting darker outside, I was starting to get nervous. 

At first, Melanie just kept yelling at us to turn the lights back on.  Once I let her flip all the switches and realize they just weren't coming back on ("God decided to turn off our lights tonight"), she calmed down.  Then she discovered the candles & flashlight.  She tried to blow out the candles, and she was singing "Happy Birthday."  Gotta give the girl credit - anything to try to get cake!!

The power came on just in time to put the finishing touches on Jeff's AMAZING ribs, get Melanie to bed, and set everyone's mind at ease.  During the outage, Jeff & Mel went to the store, and Mel was excited to report that she got her head wet (from the rain) and that it was dark.

First Sleepover!

Saturday night, we had Molly stay the night, and we had so much fun!  (As long as Jeff's not the one you're asking).  I picked Molly up in Frankfort and the girls & I went to lunch with Gigi.  From there we went to the Little Boy Boone contest in the Lebanon park to watch Wyatt wow the crowd with his super-cuteness.  Then, to escape the heat, we played indoors at our house for a while before BOTH girls (and Joey!!) napped!  It was completely unexpected and fabulous! 

After dinner, we headed BACK to the Lebanon park for the Flying Toasters concert.  The girls did a great job hanging out in their wagon and on our blanket, sharing with Cayden & Cambell Carter, before deciding it was time to shake their booties.  They cut a rug out on the dance "floor" - and enjoyed hanging out with Bella, Lily, and Wyatt (even if they didn't express their enjoyment by actually including them in their dances!)  After several songs, they took each others' hand, and walked back over to our chairs/blanket, and it was clear it was time to go home. 

Once we got home, it was straight to the tub for these filthy girls, and then they went STRAIGHT to bed!  Another miracle!  Granted, it was about 1.5 hours past Mel's bedtime, and they were both run ragged, but I had been nervous about their combined energy when together! 

In the morning, amidst the playing, we had breakfast, we made cookies, and then we finally hit a wall in spending time together - I'm sure all reading this remember this wall.  You are loving hanging out with your BFF.  Everything is wonderful.  You play, you share, you argue a little bit.... and then.  Then, nothing either of you does is right.  You want to yell at each other and hit each other.  It's time to separate!  Luckily Gigi arrived in the nick of time - and still Mel is talking about how much fun she had on her sleepover!! 

Jeff's New Utopia

Jeff got lucky this week and got to play a round of golf at Crooked Stick.  According to him, this is a nicer course than Pinehurst or some of the other really nice courses he's played.  And he only had to go down the street for it!   I thought it was worth reporting on since he has taken the summer off of his one true hobby, due to impending double-childcare costs :)  At least, if he got on a course this summer, it was the "Best Ever!!"

Happy Fathers Day, Gigi!

Melanie and I practiced "Happy Fathers Day," "Happy Daddy's Day," "Happy Poppy's Day...." so many times.  The closest we got on the actual day was "Happy Fathers Day, Gigi!!"  Well, it's the thought that counts!  Mel spent the majority of the day in her pool and playing with her water table.  When she finally crashed, she slept hard, waking up right before Gigi & Poppy arrived for dinner.  Let's just say she wasn't Miss Pleasant for the first part of their visit.  After a cookie and a change into her "pretty dress," she quickly rebounded, and hopefully a good time was had by all.

Melanie & Joey are very blessed to have such a wonderful Daddy, Poppy, and Pappaw!!  Happy Fathers Day!!

Nature/Nurture

Nature?  Nurture?  Either way, we think this kid belongs to us.  Dipping her cookies in milk, heading to the pool (only upset because the door is shut), playing golf...great mix of Mommy & Daddy.We think we'll keep her.

Showering Clayton!

Joey and I made a day trip to Long Beach, Indiana for Gretchen & Clayton's baby shower; about three hours each way.  Clayton was due on March 23, and was born on January 5!!  We celebrated the miracle baby today; he is doing great, thriving, and completely on track for his age!  He has his daddy's hair, his mommy's eyes, and is totally laid-back - just like both his parents!  Joey enjoyed meeting his new buddy! 

After the shower, and after I spent some time at Gretchen's parents' house getting caught up, Joey got to meet his Great-Aunt Mary at her house right down the road!  He kept his eyes closed from the time we left Gretchen's parents' house until the moment we pulled on our driveway - a GREAT trip, in my book! 

Teeth Doctor... AHHHH!

(the spot on her shirt was from the water cup she just had to have after visiting the restroom)

Jeff had a dentist appointment last week, and we decided we would send Melanie with him to get a feel for what it's all about, and see if she'd get in the chair.  However, after talking it up ALL weekend, we decided that an 8am (first) appointment on a Monday morning wouldn't be best, since Mom & Dad of the Year hadn't told the dentist about our plan :)

So, we had another chance, unfortunately, due to Mel's recent fall at the zoo.  Joe & I took her today (Wednesday), and she was SO excited to go to the "Teeth Doctor" - she practiced saying "AHHHH!" - and talked about the teeth doctor with SO much excitement.  I picked her up at daycare, she told everyone bye-bye, blew kisses, and we headed out. 

(Sidenote - I told her we were going to the teeth doctor, AND I told her we were going to Gigi's.  So after that cat was out of the bag, every time I mentioned the teeth doctor, she would insist we were going to Gigi's.  The promise of Gigi's house was a pull to get her through her appointment...)

Anyway, she did pretty well at the appointment!  Except she wouldn't say AHHH or be very excited about anything.  But she didn't cry!!  I ended up having to sit in the chair with her on my lap; but she got a partial cleaning, got her front teeth looked at, and got a prize afterwards; she also gave the dentist a high-five and a fist-bump after she was done.  The dentist confirmed that she either knocked one of her teeth forward or one backward, but said that once she gets her adult teeth, it won't be an issue.  There's a slight possibility that the tooth/teeth could change colors, but that won't be a concern (other than cosmetic!) - but if a bump forms on the gum, she'll pull the tooth.  There should still be no concern about the adult tooth.  Interesting to note, the exact same diagnosis was given to my parents when I fell off the pool slide (much higher than where Mel fell) - so I remain optimistic!

Memorial Weekend - Sunday/Monday

Sunday after Mel & I had nursery duty at church, we all headed to Frankfort for a day by the pool.  Melanie really gained confidence in the pool, walking through the shallow end unassisted, and letting me take her to the deep end and swim around.  Hopefully each time we go to the pool she gains more confidence.
(PS - I cheated.  The second three photos are of her on 6/2, three days after the Memorial Day visit to Gigi & Poppy's.  But I got better photos that time, so those got added here.  Not that journalistic accuracy really matters, but the bathing suits aren't the same.)

Monday we headed back to the subdivision pool with the Dorans, and then had them and the Huffords over for dinner.  It took Melanie a little while to warm up to the three Doran kids, but once she did, she wanted to do everything they did.  It was a great relaxing weekend for all of us!

Memorial Weekend - Saturday

Saturday we enjoyed a beautiful day by going to West Park, and then Melanie got a special trip to the subdivision pool, where we mostly hung out in the baby pool, after a quick first stop in the big pool.  Joey did a good job hanging out at West Park, and Melanie loved running through the water for the second straight day!  She followed those two trips up with some water play at the house, helping Daddy water the yard.  A special treat for me was going to the movies with friends once the kids were in bed :)

Memorial Weekend Fun - Friday

We had a great weekend balancing lots of fun activities!  I planned to take the kids to the zoo on Friday and meet my cousin Suzi and Wyatt.  Melanie, however, was in fine form that morning, and I decided to send her to daycare instead.  Mid-morning, I decided I was over my frustration, and I was better fit to pick her up and go to the zoo.  So Joey and I headed to Target to pick up some water shoes for her.  While there, Joe puked all over himself.  When I got him home to clean it up (it was dripping out of the bottom of the carseat), it came out the other end.  So he got a bath, we picked up Mel, and to the zoo we went.  (I only include those details to remind myself later how fun these early years are!!)

At the zoo, we spent the whole time in the splash park.  Melanie loved it at first, then clung to me for the majority of the time, and then, when the other kids (Wyatt and two friends) were done, Mel got her second wind and was a tornado running through the park.  She got knocked down by a bigger kid, but got right back up.  However, then, she fell on her own.  I thought she just had a busted lip, but we're heading to the dentist on Wednesday to make sure her teeth aren't messed up.  She kept complaining that her mouth hurt.  At first I thought it was just because she knew her lip was busted earlier.  However, once I got a glimpse inside her mouth, her gums were a little bloody.  The gums seem fine now, but her teeth seem a little "different" than before.  She's never been to the "tooth doctor" before, so we'll see how that goes.   Joey was not so much a happy camper at the zoo; his carseat was a bit hot for him to hang out, so he liked being held the whole time.  Thankfully, Suzi was there to help!

Friday night, we had our friends Angie & Brian over for dinner.  Their daughter is the famous "Gracie" who Melanie loves to look for in our back yards.  We had a great time grilling out and hanging out with them!