Random

My last post was about the furnace being on, and last night we had to turn the a/c on!  Yes, it's gorgeous outside.  The kids' rooms were a little hot, so we had to cool it down a bit.  We've been enjoying the unseasonably warm weather by spending time outdoors - Mel can't stay inside when it's this nice outside.  She has gotten to spend several evenings over the last week playing with Grace, with Aya added in for good measure every once in a while.  Tonight, she and Grace ran to each other through the back yards, (with Mel yelling "I'm coming, Gracie!!") - when they reached each other, she & Grace had a whole conversation that I could tell you nothing about.  Very cute.  On the way to Aya's in the wagon last week, they talked all the way there and back.  Already swapping stories about clothes and boys?  :)

Mel & Jeff went to the pumpkin patch on Saturday.  This is Mel's third straight year to go to this one - at Clarian North.  Highlights included seeing a pony, hugging scarecrows, getting a fireman's hat, meeting Boomer (from the Pacers), and getting a free pumpkin.  Meanwhile, I was in Frankfort judging my second annual Clinton County Jr. Miss program.  Once again, I feel very happy with our selection, and think Clinton County will rock the state competition!

Sunday was spent around the house; outside, of course - as well as running errands and getting things done.  Mel and I went to Sunday School (a feat after my staying out with my friends until past 2am on Saturday night...) and enjoyed a no-nap-for-Mel day.  She's still hit or miss about sleeping through the night.  She did very well for a few nights, and then last night I slept on her floor from 1:30am on.  She was able to report to Daddy this morning "I don't get a sticker today."  We have been trying to incentvize her to sleep by using Dora stickers....

Joey is miserable during dinner time.  He wants to eat (but gags on his cereal, forcing Mel to yell "HE DOESN'T LIKE IT!!").  So we've ramped up his cereal eating by adding some fruits in.  With Melanie, I was crazy following the rules about doing veggies first.  Amazing how things change.  Tonight he was a total champ with his banana/cereal combo.  His teacher today was telling me that he always just laughs at the kids in the class who are crying.  Much like he does to Mel at home - I love it!

Mel's new favorite phrase is "Oh, Man!"  As in, "Mel, what did you get all over the floor?"  "Oh, Man!"  Or when our neighbor Paula's birthday was yesterday, and when Mel asked about Tom's birthday, I told her it wasn't until June.  "Oh, Man!"  Jeff took her to get french fries on Saturday, but it was still technically breakfast time at McDonald's "Oh, Man!"  She has been working on her letters - tonight I wrote various names on the sidewalk in chalk (my interpretation when Melanie says "Draw Melanie" - I write her name.  Because I can't draw).  She knew a lot of the letters of the names I wrote!  Slowly but surely.....

We are trying to decide what to be for Halloween.  Thanks to Molly & Melanie, Joey has about 6 costumes to choose from.  Melanie is allowed to choose for both her and him, and her choices change daily.  Stay tuned!

Fall Has Arrived

Sunday evening when we went to turn on our furnace, it wasn't working.  Luckily it wasn't TOO cold outside, but with Joey not being able to use blankets unsupervised, it made for a chilly night - Jeff reported that it was 64 degrees in Joey's room Monday morning.  We got it fixed for under $60(!!) on Monday, and we're back to warm around here.  The above pic is from our Friday evening walk.  Note the thumb in the mouth.

Weekend

We had a fun weekend, mostly in Frankfort.  Melanie and I went to my cousin Megan's bridal shower on Saturday afternoon; Julie and Gigi were also there.  Afterward, we met Jeff & Joey and the rest of the Doans back at my parents' house for dinner.  Laura Mullen joined us too - amid the chaos of three screaming children :)  Mel and Molly, as always, had a fabulous time together.  They loved that they were wearing matching outfits, and then were so excited to change into their jammies together.  We stayed the night there, and headed back Sunday morning for nursery duty (Mel assisted me).  Sunday was spent running errands and getting things done around the house.  Mel enjoyed a trip to the library's play room on Sunday afternoon too.

Date Hour!

On Saturday evening, Jeff's coworker Jill and her son Jack came over to play with the kids for a while so we could spend some time together (reference the below post :))  We walked to Stone Creek and took advantage of what is likely to be one of the last few evenings we could sit outside and have dinner.  We haven't done that for a while, so it was nice to spend some non-kid time together.  I'm not sure what is going on with my photography skills above, but I'm trying to capture the kids with their new friend Jack.

Other than that, the weekend was pretty low-key.  Mel got her second-ever haircut.  The intention was to straighten up what I've done to it over the past several months.  Her bangs are still really uneven, but oh well.  She had to sit in my lap this time - she wouldn't sit independently.  Sunday all four of us went to church, Molly came over to play, Mel went to the park....normal fun weekend stuff!

Update on Melanie

Melanie had a fever starting Wednesday, September 15.  She stayed home from school that day - we sent her the next day, but she was sent home mid-day.  Friday, Gigi stayed home with her, and Saturday she woke up fever-free.  The fever never got higher than 102 degrees, but anything over 100 is grounds for no daycare.

During this time of illness, Melanie was, how do we say it, "challenging"??  Yes, I am not a good sick person.  But at least I know my limits and will shut myself off from the rest of the world (when I can).  Melanie, on the other hand, on top of not having an appetite, was taking her bad feelings out on her brother and anyone else who stood in her path.  By the end of that weekend, our mode of survival was to keep the two kids away from each other.  Another coping mechanism was that I went downtown and met my girlfriends before they headed to the Colts game.  Off-topic, I know - but an illustration of how we keep our sanity.

I ended up taking Mel to the doctor on Thursday, September 23 since she still had the cough that started before her fever started.  The doc thought she sounded fine, and spent some time with me discussing some of her - what did we say? - "challenging" behavior.  That which couldn't be attributed to her not feeling well was confidently diagnosed as typical 2.5 year old behavior.  We have a strong-willed child, and I'm not sure where we got her?  Haha.

Over the course of the last week, Melanie has gotten MUCH better in her treatment of Joey and in her sporadic tantrums, leading me to believe she really didn't feel well last week.  Yes, of course she still pushes her limits with all of the above - but it's more reasonable.  She continues to cough, but it seems to be getting somewhat better.  She continues, as well, to cry at the door after we put her to bed, usually falling asleep in front of the door.  This is after she gets read her three books, gets willingly put down to bed, knows we're leaving, and is fine.  THEN she gets up and cries.  I'm hoping this, too, is a phase accompanying her illness and that she'll go back to being a good sleeper soon.

Mel weighs 25 pounds, which is up to 10% on the growth chart.  She was thrilled that the doctor found Mickey Mouse in one of her ears and Elmo in the other (he does great voices!)  Of course she was too shy to talk to him, but she talked ABOUT him all weekend. 

On another topic, Melanie is doing great with potty-training.  She wears underwear all day at daycare, and has only had one accident there. 

Happy Five Months, Joey!

Joey is five months old!!  I can't quite believe it.  He is cooing, sucking his left thumb (hmmm... sounds familiar!) , smiles ALL the time, and likes to look in the mirror, at fans, watch TV, or play with Sophie the Giraffe.  He eats about 30 ounces of forumla a day, has cereal at least once a day, and has tried applesauce.  He is wearing 3-6 month clothes.  He continues to be fascinated by his older sister, and can watch her for hours, with a smile on his face or laughter in his voice.  He loves to cuddle, but also loves his independent time.  He sleeps about 8 or 8:30 at night until about 6:30 in the morning (when we basically "have" to get him up to get fed & changed for daycare).  During the weekends he just takes catnaps all day - but at daycare he sleeps longer.  I think on the weekends he's just afraid he's going to miss something with Melanie (namely, being loved to death).

We have been so excited that we have not had the formula drama with Joey that we had with Melanie - since Day One Joey has been on Similac Advance.  We get great prices on it at Costco, and he has really thrived on it.  Well, lo and behold, this past week, Similac announced a massive recall on this product due to beetle larvae!!!  Our can was one of the "lots" affected, and so now Joey is eating Enfamil.  While I would certainly trust Similac again, I'm not going to switch up formula yet again - so Joey is now an Enfamil baby.  He had no issues whatsoever switching over.  He loves formula in any variety, apparently!

We have not had to take Joey to the doctor for any issue (knock on wood!!) other than his well-visit checkups.  Okay, one time I took him in because he had a few issues that seemed like they would be better to discuss in person than get into all the details on the phone.  He had a chest rash, bad gas, and a leaky eye all at once.  All went away without fanfare, and since then he's been doctor-free!

We love watching Joey reach each of his milestones, and are so blessed with a very happy, healthy baby!!

Trip to Chicago

The weekend of September 11, we headed to Chicago to meet Charli O'Donnell and visit Randy & Cory and the kids.  Jenny, Matt and the baby are doing great; and Charli is a sweetie-pie.  She is still sooo tiny, and doing great! 

Melanie loves hanging out with her cousins, and has recently learned that they all share a last name.  She's fascinated by that fact, and reminds me any time she says her last name that it's also Charlie Worzala and Sammie Worzala.  "Joey too."  Charlie & Sam taught her their moves while they danced to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" - over and over.

Charlie has a lot of things to teach his only boy cousin.  Hopefully his dance moves are part of the lessons.

He seemed less thrilled with Melanie in this photo:

It was great to get caught up with our old friend Lunchbox and his wife over dinner.  Chris (Lunchbox) and I worked together at Ernst & Young, and he ended up rooming with Randy for a couple of years. 

We also got to see Uncle Rick, Aunt Sandy & Becky Sunday morning for breakfast.  For some reason I don't have pictures of that!  All in all, it was a great trip - short, but fun!  Both of the kids were asleep before we hit the city limits - so much excitement!