sick

There has been so much going on since I was last able to write. Alex is changing and growing so quickly- he weighed in at 18 pounds 9 ounces at his six month appt.- and was back at the doctor a week later for a croup-y sounding cough and ear infection. He loves the site of the pink amoxycillin on its way to his high chair- smiles like crazy when I shake up the medicine knowing the sweet stuff is coming. He is doing better with rolling- we spent some good time on the floor this weekend and he did front to back a couple of times and the opposite too -as I held out a tempting toy for him to reach out to.

It has been a pretty difficult few weeks. Sophie had a bad cold for what seemed like forever- he nose and cough just never seemed to dry up. After weeks of letting her body fight it out, she woke up one morning and sounded much more deeply congested and had a slight fever. Geoff took her in and she got a ten day antibiotic. I think it was still something viral- but at least it cleared up lingering fluid in her ears. With all the yucky symptoms going on we have really layed low and stayed close to home for most days over the last few weeks/month. Soph and I are both so used to some sort of daytime activity- gymnastics, mommy and me class or kindermusik on the weekend. It was really hard to just be in- feeling cooped up. For quite a while I was able to stave off the virus/cold but it finally got me in the middle of last week. Of course with the kids I just got juiced up on sudafed, robitussin and coffee to keep the train moving. As always, I tend to get sad when I am ill, and was just trying to stay in good spirits for everyone's sake. This last Friday, Rachel was here at the house with Alex- and instead of going to mommy and me sophie and I had a glorious morning at Bee Canyon park with a couple of friends and went out to lunch afterward. It was heavenly- sunshine, fresh air, playing, laughter, conversation with my friends, just chilling out.

My mom has been sick too but was finally feeling well enough to take Sophie today for an overnight visit. I think they have both really missed each other as they are used to seeing each other so regularly- and really have not spent time together over the last four weeks. A break in all of this was Easter- we had a nice brunch (thank you Honeybaked!) and an egg hunt in the yard, lots of little goodies for sophie- stickers and chocolates and trinkets from Target.

I am really really happy to have my time alone with Sophie- it really strengthens the bond between us once we return home to the baby. I think she feels like she knows how special she is to me, and I tell her just how much I love having special time alone with her. It is fierce- my affinity for my daughter. She is looking more and more like her dad if that is possible, and she is just such a good person to be around- so goofy and enthusiastic, vocal and energetic. She brings such a warmth and beauty to our life. She starts at the Granada preschool in mid-April. I am so excited for her and of course sad, too, to let my little girl into a whole new world. It is such a dramatic change in some ways- but I know it will be so good for her. She normally gets an hour of TV per day but lately has been asking for more. I think this is because we have been in so much and she gets bored. This was really the sign to me to get her enrolled already and socializing and learning what school is about. She is so bright and doing so well with the potty and is growing up so fast. She takes off all of her clothes now for bed or bath- and is able to pull on her own pants and undies with a little help. She puts her shoes on opposite feet, and loves to pick out the black patent 'hard' shoes to wear in the house. I put her hair in two ponytails twice this week- which is super rare to do anything with her hair except brush it. It is growing quite long in the back - mom said I should let the sides grow out a bit so that they can fit into a single ponytail for summer. Such a cutie, I just adore her.

My boy's hair is getting lighter, and his eyes have become this creamy hazely green color. He sits up by himself now, that started around a week or so ago. He grabs at everything and puts whatever he can in his mouth. We have gotten in the bad habit of going into the big bed together at night. With being sick he just wants to cuddle and not sleep without me. He is in his bassinet now (so ridiculous to still be using that thing- he barely fits and it lists to one side with the weight of him) after having a couple of ounces of formula. Not sure if it is the sudafed, but my one, left breast seems to have dried up completely, and my right breast just really seems to be waning on the milk production. Just twice this last week for the first time I gave Alex formula at night to fill him up and get him to go down to sleep. I feel like he nurses but is just not getting what he needs. He seems to suck a lot at night, when it is dark and quiet. During the day he just gets so distracted by Sophie and the sounds of the house, that the supply just is not there because the demand isn't. It is really that simple. I feel mixed- ideally he would continue just breastmilk, no formula, for a year but it seems that it just won't work out that way. I guess as always I will just take it one day at a time and see what happens. He started solid foods a few days before he turned six months old, and is enjoying pureed pears, applesauce, carrots, peas and sweet potatoes. He tried baby yogurt for the first time today and seemed to enjoy that mixed with his rice cereal.

Party planning sophie's third birthday- we are co-hosting a party here with her little friend Amber- their birthdays are two days apart. It should be fun- we are renting a gymnastics 'bus' and have art projects planned. I hope the weather will be nice- not too hot...

Baby is awake- looking for mama. I am still relishing being a parent- the three words I try to think of every morning are teach, play, laugh. I get caught up just trying to keep the house straightened that I miss the crystal moments by being too worried about getting the counters clear. It is a lot of responsibility- and in the dredges of illness and runny noses, the monotony of diaper changing, meal preparing, teeth brushing, etc. has gotten me a little bummed out. But spring is here and once we are all healty I know we are going to have a lot of fun...