Avery's Claim to Fame

After we had the girls' pictures on Saturday, I game them permission

to use my images in advertising, and here is what resulted :)

Avery's Claim to Fame:

Bring in your Lil' Ghouls & Goblins for a Fall Mini Session Two sheets of one pose for $19.99 Additional sheets/poses are $6 11x14 standard print for $25 Add-on a CD with print rights for only $35! Enter our Second Annual  Lil' Pumpkins Contest! October 1st-October 31st *Contestants must be in costume to participate*   First Prize: Gallery Wrap 16x20 & a $50 gift certificate Second Prize:  16x20 Print Third Prize: 11x14 Print *Minimum Purchase of $19.99 to enter contest.

"The Last Time"

 Feeling emotional? I have come across this poem on

my Facebook feed a few times and it makes me cry every time I read it.

So I thought I would share it - read only if you have time for a good cry ;)

 

(PS - I was just thinking about this idea of "last time" with Avery as she is now

sleeping consistently through the night - the past two weeks straight.

And I mentioned to Steve that it could have been the last time, 

but I didn't even realize it. And for some reason...tears :))

 

The Last Time

(Author Unknown)

 

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms you will never be the same

You might long for the person you were before
When you had freedom and time
And nothing in particular to worry about

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before
Days will run into days that are exactly the same
Full of feedings and burping
Nappy changes and crying
Whining and fighting
Naps or a lack of naps
It might seem like a never-ending cycle

But don’t forget…

There is a last time for everything
There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down
And never pick them up that way again
You will scrub their hair in the bath for one last time
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone

They will hold your hand to cross the road
Then will never reach for it again
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this

One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus” and do all the actions
Then never sing them that song again

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate
The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face
They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time
Until there are no more times. And even then, it will take you a while to realise.

So while you are living in these times, remember there are only so many of them and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.
For one last time.

6 month pics

We went to Digital Galleria to get the girls' pictures this morning.

Avery did pretty well and Aubrey didn't really cooperate very well at all

BUT we did get a few nice pictures:)

Avery - 6 months, Aubrey 3 1/2 years

6 months

Avery had her 6 month Dr. check up today.

Here are her stats:
Height: 28 in - 98%
Weight: 17lb 14 oz - 82 %
Head Circ: 16.5 in - 25%
(that's two inches and a pound and a half in 3 months!)

Aubrey's: 27 in long and 16 lb 6 oz
at this same age

Here are some things to remember about her:

SLEEP:

-goes to bed drowsy and puts her self to sleep

-loves to suck her thumb to soothe to sleep

so no need for any pacifiers ever 

-has started sleeping with a crotched white blanket

(same one Aubrey used at this age)

-no longer sleeps in a sleep sack or suit

-sleeps on her tummy

-takes 3 naps a day

-sleeps at night from about 8:30-7:00

-has been sleeping through the night the

PAST FIVE NIGHTS IN A ROW!

FOOD:

-nurses 5-6x a day and takes one 5 oz bottle at the babysitters

-gets very excited when it's time for milk

-has started rice cereal and veggies and fruits

-beans, peas, carrots, apples and pears so far

-likes to "snack' on mum-ums

-can do ok with puffs but still chokes on them yet

PLAY:

-loves to sit up and play

-rolls all around a lot across the entire floor in a minute

-rocks back and forth on her hands and knees and 

very close to crawling - just has to figure out how to move her arms

-loves watching Aubrey play

-puts anything she can find in her mouth

-likes to listen to Mommy and Daddy read to Aubrey

-likes to watch TV - lol!

-likes to get into Aubrey's toys - time to baby proof!

(Aubrey is learning how to SHARE!)

-likes to flair her arms 

(like she is slapping her knee if something is funny)

OTHER:

-has two bottom teeth

-smiles and laughs all the time

(babysitter says she is one of the happiest baby's she's had!)

-wears 9 mo and some 12 mo clothes 

-loves taking an evening bath with Aubrey before bed

(they have a lot of fun laughing together -

Avery in her little tub inside the big time with Aubrey)
-still saying "babababa" all the time
-likes to click her mouth - Aubrey says she is saying "tick-tock"

Vision

Since the beginning of the school year, I have had

some seasonal allergies that settled in my eyes.

You know, the itchy, red, blurry, and scratchy eyes

that look probably worse than they really are.

For the first few weeks at school I dealt with it 

and occasionally put in some rewetting drops to help.

Well, about 2 weeks ago it was getting pretty bad

that I decided to just go in.

Sure enough, my corneas were pretty scratched and irritated

so the eye Dr. prescribed a drop that is safe for 

nursing mothers like myself.

I gave that about a week and it just didn't cut it.

The Dr. decided to prescribe a steroid that

*could* diminish milk supply, but I was game

to try it anyway since I was pretty miserable.

Yes, that did work! Yay! 

It was like instant relief for my eyes

and no effect on this nursing mom - double yay!

After I stopped all the drops, I noticed last week

that my vision was getting REALLY blurry!

I thought it was just my contacts, so I switched

and then put on my glasses but it was the same problem!

So, I called in two days ago and he recommended

that I just use some other drops again - okay will do!

But now the last couple of days have been HORRIBLE!

I'm talking...

Like can't even read the computer unless it

is three inches from my face!

Like can't read street signs. At. All!

Like can't identify students from a distance.

Like shouldn't probably even be teaching!

I called back and said this is NOT GOOD!

From what started as a small allergy has turned 

into something ridiculous!

I go in today and he was SHOCKED at how much

I couldn't SEE AT ALL!

He tried to bump up my prescription but that was worthless.

It appears that there is a very think layer 

of scum and nast over my eyes that is hindering my vision big time!

So,  he gives me yet some more drops to try solid

for the next two days, like put in every thirty minutes

kind of drops and see if that helps.

If it doesn't, I will need to get on an antibiotic!

Good grief! What an outfit!

The Dr. made a comment that I must be pretty tolerant...

well as a teacher and mother of two young ones, ya,

I guess that fits :)

I'll keep you updated!

Sorry if there are lots of typos...I can't read it clearly :) LOL!

Gymnastics - videos!

These videos were taken about two weeks ago. 

It is amazing how much she has improved in just two more weeks 

of practicing those same skills!
The rest of the class has done gymnastics before,
so Aubrey is the only "newbee" and she is picking it up just fine.
Her teacher Miss Meghan is great with the kids!

running on the trampoline and doing "donkey kicks"

running down the track and doing a "flip"

the beam - this was her first time on the higher beam -

 she has improved from this video

a lot just last week 

I did have a few more videos, but our home computer is 

SLOW and ridiculous, so this is what you get for now :)

Locked Out!

Yesterday afternoon, I was home alone with the girls

 and decided to use the bathroom. 

I left Avery on the floor in her room playing and 

Aubrey was flying around being "Elsa!"

As I am using the bathroom, she decided to lock me

in the bathroom - not a big deal. 

I hear a few other doors slam and that's when I get worried!

As I am still in the bathroom, 

"Aubrey?!?!?! Did you lock any other doors?!"

All the while I am praying, please not Avery's door,

please not Avery's door, please not Avery's door!

I quickly rush out of the bathroom only to find my deepest fear=

Aubrey locked Avery in her bedroom...

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE KEY IS!

Panic takes over!

Aubrey is sent to her room and she is crying since 

she is being punished and Mommy may have raised her voice.

Avery is still hanging out with no tears, yet, good!

I try to call Steve- no answer.

I try a bobby pin - no luck.

I try a paper clip - no luck.

I try Steve again - no answer (10 times!)
I try the school - 3 times - no answer!
I try a flat head screw drive - no luck.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

Avery has started crying now - great!
Call Steve again - no answer!
Try school again - FINALLY, someone answers!
I said, "Please find my husband Steve Kaisand.
He is in charge of the weight room, Tell him to call his
wife - there is an emergency at home!"

It's been about 35 minutes now and I am waiting
for Steve to call me back.
Meanwhile, I tell Aubrey to go sing to Avery
so she isn't so scared!

Aubrey just so happens to check the door again -
AND IT OPENS!
What?! How in the world?!
And little Miss Aubrey thinks she's the hero since she opened the door-
PAHLEASE! ;)

I quickly get Avery -
who had rolled and scooted herself UNDERNEATH her crib
and was drenched in tears, snot, and sweat - poor sweet girl!
Steve finally calls me back - 40 minutes after our fiasco started.
He wonders what's going on but everything is fine. Now.

Turns out we DO have a key for the door - I just didn't know where.
Lesson for all.
Oh. My. Goodness!
Please tell me things like this happen to other families-
and not just mine, :)

Ear Infection

These last few nights have been HORRIBLE in the Kaisand household.

Avery has NOT wanted to go to sleep or stay asleep for that matter.

Last week she slept through the night 3 nights in a row

and now, the past 4 nights have been atrocious! 

Night one - sucked

Night two - ugh, not again!

Night three - a bad pattern!

Last night it took us 3 hours of trying to soothe her in any way:

-nursing then bottle

-motrin then tylenol

-swing, then tummy

-jammies, then onesie then sleep suit...

nothing, seemed to help and we were exhausted!

FINALLY, at 1:30 we decided to just take turns sleeping with her

while holding her - either on the couch or the chair - 

that is what made her the most comfortable.

Steve took the first shift and I set my alarm for an hour and 15 minutes later

and we switched. I told Steve to do the same and come 

and switch around 4:30. Well, Steve never came - he set his alarm 

for the p.m., so Mommy and Avery were on the couch 

sleeping together for four hours - not the most restful night in my life.

5:30 I decided to put her back in her crib

 and she actually stayed sleeping!

So, I called the Dr. this morning and got in at 11:30.

Steve stayed home with her in the morning and I took the afternoon shift.

Turns out it there was fluid in the ear and an ear infection!

They prescribed amoxicilon (?) which I hope she isn't allergic to like

her sister and Daddy - we shall see!

I wanted to get her in since we *plan* to go to the Clay County Fair this weekend!

Hopefully the meds do the trick.

Side note - I was thinking this was about when Aubrey had her first ear infection

so I went back to my blog posts and SURE ENOUGH!

It was this SAME WEEK that Aubrey had her first ear infection

because we didn't know if we should go up to the fair or not either - CRAZY!

I guess they really are more alike than we thought ;)

Here's to PRAYING for a better night!

This Momma is officially whooped!

(not good for my patience with students or Aubrey!)

Girls Laughter in the Tub - video!

Saturday night provided some great entertainment in the bathtub!

Here are the girls having way too much fun!

Love the giggles from everyone :)

Labor Day

We did not do anything extra special for Labor Day weekend,

but here are a few pics of our normal day-to-day life :)

Aubrey with her new "Frozen" jammies

"Good morning, Avery Leeeeeeeeeeigh!"

Hmmm...they both have this look down pat - lol!

Poor Avery was sleeping against the rails and got a nice mark :)

 sisters 

Daddy with one happy and one sad girl :)

We took a family bike ride with both girls in the trailer - 

I think it was a success!

Aubrey kept saying she was a little squished with Ave leaning on her. 

And, just for fun...we tried some GREEN BEANS!

"Mom, what are you going to do to me?!"

"Hmmm...."

"Seriously?!"

"Oh, if you make me laugh, you think you can squeeze it in?!"

"Okay, not so bad!"

"Oh, Aubrey, I love your crown!"

sweet baby girl!