Crazy Girls and Sweet Life

I can't believe that my little big girl is a month old already! On the 26th we took her to her 1-month ped appt. She was already up to 11#6oz (up from 9#7oz two and a half weeks prior)! The chunky monkey was 22 inches long (up from 20.5). At this rate, this child will outgrow her bassinet in the next month/month and a half, and her carseat at 6-7 mos old! eek! But I'm not complaining... I'm grateful to have a healthy little porker on my hands!!

And it's September already?! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday in some ways and years ago in other ways that I was at my new job a month already, a year ago today. I guess because I have had so much going on it makes time even more hard to discern. Started a job 8/2/10, 3.5 mos later found out I was prego again, got Jessy baptized, celebrated Jessy's first Christmas, first birthday, found out we were having another girl... it just goes on and on!

Now I must get attempt to get Natalie into at least somewhat of a routine before I return to work, probably sometime middle of/later this month. This little lady likes to eat, and eat, and eat, and eat, and eat, and pee, and eat, and eat, and eat, and poop, and eat, and sleep... Oh, and did I mention- she likes to eat? Some days it seems continuous. Which is okay, except... a babysitter won't be able to juggle the other kids with her this way! So the routine thing isn't going too bad, except Miss Natalie seems to be in a growth spurt, so she's eating and fussing a bit more than usual, and at 5 weeks, that's to be expected. I have began to give her mostly bottles during the day to help her transition, which has had an unexpected side effect- the two days I have done this so far she has STTN. Yup, STTN at a month old! I'll take it! I just hope it doesn't completely kill my supply (I have been pumping whenever I get the chance to- usually when the girls are napping, during the day). Hmmm I may exclusively nurse her over the weekend to hopefully save my supply ;) and perhaps give me an idea of what I am in for if I indeed pump while working. (besides the $$ savings)

Which brings us to another topic- who to send her to. We may have a slot at Jessy's old daycare. Jessy enjoyed it there, we get along with the lady, and Jessy seemed well taken-care of (she had a helper; there were alot of kids there). I also have a friend who is willing to take on my girls for what will amount to about $100 less per month and she has less kiddos. She's closer to our house and the one Jessy has been going to is closer to my work (keep in mind I live about 9 miles from work, so that's not a huge factor...). hmmm...

And now work! FMLA was no help to me, so my position isn't guaranteed. However, my boss stated that when I was ready to go back, to simply send in my resume to her recruiter to begin the process again. I really hope I can go back to where I was. Since I have to go back (didn't hit the lottery this time, either, lol), I may as well go somewhere where I enjoy the people and the company. The work can be a tad stressful (customer service) at times, but hey, it pays the bills and my co-workers rock (boss rocked too!). Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Next week I have my 6-week checkup with my OB. already. eek. I anticipate that I will be cleared for normal activities (YAY! Finally be able to "legally" lift Natalie and Jessy- technically shouldn't be lifting more than 10# per dr's orders) then and will be able to let the weight-loss games begin.I have at least 30# to lose- lots of work ahead but with the weather cooling off here hopefully soon (this monster heat wave we have been in has to break... right? RIGHT????) DH and I will be able to resume our walks. Hello, double stroller! No pic yet, but when we get it I will definitely post one!

Methinks Jessy will wake up here very shortly... better get ready. ;)

Murphy, will you please...

...go find someone else to bug?

I swear, since I have resolved to do two things before Firecracker's arrival, I have met probably every obstacle to getting them done. Why? Because, as everything else on this planet does, they cost money. I have decided that I want to start some sort of home-based business ;) and get new glasses/contacts.

Jessy has begun to attempt to pull my nearly-two-year-old glasses off my face several times, damn-near succeeding on several fronts already. They may just break in half, as did my last pair at the two-year mark. I swear the things have timers on them or something! Secondly, I need. my. contacts. back. These glasses, although I have worn them nearly two years straight, are starting to drive me batshit. Need I say more? Since I have been pregnant, my nose has become more like that dreaded, invisible oil slick we don't see on the road when it's lightly raining after a loooong drought. Translation? The things slide down like it's going out of style in the next five minutes, resulting in them being constantly dirty. As in, I just wiped off the lenses not five minutes ago and they're... muy sucio again. Yeah, no thanks.

And now, the other point: starting a business. Any way I go about this, it's gonna cost dough. Whether I go Mary Kay or I go craftiness, there is an upfront investment. The latter may have a lesser investment, but probably a little less profit as it would take time to fill one order. The former, however, may require parties, as my current housing situation severely limits my ability to entertain. (We Three Musketeers live on our own in a single-family home, but it's a bit tight. We need more s-q-f-t's!)

So what's the big deal? The fact that I have again had to miss work, this time twice in a week. As if Jessy's flu two weeks ago wasn't enough, the snowball caught a stomach bug, so I stayed home with her for a day. She was better by the next day so I went back to work, but that evening (same day Jessy was better) I started puking. Ick. Fortunately daddy made some arrangements so that I could stay home and rest and he took her to the sitter. Not a horrible deal, however I don't get paid for any time off at all, let alone sick time. The irony? I have been plotting taking a day off with Keith to tackle the house, maybe a Friday to send the babyjess to the sitter's house and we can hit it hard.

With this little cutey-monster leanring new tricks, cleaning house is hard work! But we don't mind. ;)

Snowy Daze

Jessy celebrated her first birthday on 2/5. Um, where did the time go?? Anyway, we had planned/envisioned having her first birthday party ON her birthday. How sweet would that have been? Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans:

Instead, she dumped tons of snow on us, instigating Snomageddon 2011.

Dude, where's my driveway?



While most of this cold, wet stuff melted off by the big day, we still voted to move the party up by one week, simply because of the sheer volume of the frozen stuff that hung around. We usually don't get this much in NTX, so this was a huge deal. HUGE, as in Dallas and Fort Worth (and needless to say, surrounding areas') schools closed. Those two cities never close their schools, unless Mother Nature is having major PMS. End of story.

We finally had the babyjess's party a week later, when there was nary a sign of any of Mama Nature's antics from the week before. It was a bright, warm and sunny day. Typical for Texas weather, if you don't like it, just wait a few minutes. It'll change.

Without further ado, The celebrity babyjess!

Is that a toof?

...but...but...but daddy!

Is this what I am supposed to do? Mommy, you're laughing awfully hard...

The unsuspecting cakes before

3 generations, engrossed in Jessy's toy drum.



Christmas? Already?!

Oh, wait. We blinked, and it's gone. This was Jessy's first. And last- as an only child!

Our little firecracker is due July 18! Mommy is now 11 weeks along, so still nauseated and icky, but not complaining. Hey, if it means Firecracker is doing well, BRING IT!!! We will find out if Firecracker has a hot dog or cheeseburger probably sometime mid/late February.

Jessy wore a little (ok, not so little) red and white dress for her first Christmas. She got soooo many toys and clothes! Hokey-pokey Elmo, a Disney princess pony, did I mention clothes?, and so! many! toys! If she complains she's bored I'm not buyin' it! ;)

She needed help with unwrapping her gifts; the babyjess didn't quite know what to do with the paper. It will be interesting to see what she does on her birthday (which is *gasp* around the corner! ;( can't believe how fast time is going!).

All the toys and wrapping paper did not keep Jessy from finding (and later chewing on) the coasters at Grammy's house...

Jessy pooped right out after opening (with mommy's help... wait, mommy did most of the work...) all her Christmas gifts.



Wow! Rolling OVER?? HA HA!

Jessy, you hit two milestones this past Saturday (and yup, I'm just now getting to write it down. lol)! You screeched with laughter and delight while your daddy was talking to you (as I do sometimes) and it melted my heart. You smile and laugh a little for me, but not quite so much. I think this is going to be a daddy-daughter thing, but I still love it.

You also rolled over- from back to front to side to front... all over the place in your little dress! And that's another thing- you wore a dress for the first time that day too! So make that three milestones! Your dress was little, strappy and had lots of red, as everyone can see in this video.  You are beginning to reach out at objects dangling in front of you, like the froggy that came with that neat mat that Cousin T gave you.

Mommy and daddy splurged a little and got you this bouncy-gym thing. You're still figuring it out, but starting to explore it more as you get to know it!

What's this do??

aaaaaaahhh... *DROOL*

Camera=Mommy??

I can't believe you're 3 and a half months old. Two weeks ago, when daddy took you to the doctor for the rest of your shots, you weighed 13# 6 oz. Up from 11# 9 oz! EEK! Little weed. ;) Oy, part of me can't decide if I can't wait to see what you weigh at your 4-month checkup, and the other part of me can b/c she doesn't want you to grow up so fast! Ah well... what happens, happens... you're still my little girl! Beautiful, to boot.