Our Christmas

Our Christmas season began with us going to have our pictures made at our favorite portrait studio, Portrait Innovations. Tinsley did pretty good for her first time getting her picture taken.

My mom came in to town the Tuesday before Christmas and the girls and I got to have some fun with her while Bill worked. We went to Kohl's our favorite place to shop and then we went to a couple cute places in Watkinsville. On Christmas Eve we met my godparents and my godfather's mom (who is 100 years young) at Chequers (note the spelling, not the burger joint) for a nice dinner and then we went to look at some Christmas lights on the way home. We just can't bring ourselves to pay $40 or more to look at lights.

As is our tradition we stayed home on Christmas and enjoyed our morning. Tinsley was ready to watch everything that was going on.

Meredith really had a great time opening her gifts. Well that is when we could pry her away from the things that were already out. The first gift she spotted was her Cozy Coupe from Santa.

She loved it! So much so that once she was in it, she didn't want to get out, even to open her other gifts. We would say but you have more presents to open and she would say "NO!"

Here I am trying to get her out of her car. As I am writing this she is in her car now taking her babies for a ride.

Tisnley got a Bumbo seat from Santa and she seemed to enjoy being in it.

She doesn't like to be confined that much so I was very impressed that she sat in it for about 10 minutes on the first go around.

The Morgan side of the family came over for Christmas dinner and the girls got a few more gifts. The adults opted to not exchange gifts this year and instead are making a donation to the Special Olympics in my Uncle Richard's name. Here, my Aunt Pam teaches Meredith how to drink her tea from the tea set she got. We laughed because Meredith already knew to stick her pinkie out while drinking. Meredith also switches back and forth in calling it tea and coffee. She knows what a coffee cup looks like so she likes to pretend she is having "mommy's coffee."

This holiday has been a rough one for my family as it is the first one since my Uncle Richard passed. He always brought us something to laugh about and his holiday spirit is greatly missed. However, Aunt Pam made all the families a memory pillow from some of my uncle's favorite clothing. She also made Meredith a bunny from his clothes, which she squeezed tightly. I hope Meredith loves that bunny just like I loved my snuggle bear that Uncle Richard gave me when I was about her age.

Princesses and Mickey are all the rage in our house right now. Here Meredith models the latest in princess fashion and tries to get pretty.

And finally here is our happy girl on one of our many outings while Mom was here. She rarely smiles in her carseat so we had to take a picture.

Ever since Tinsley arrived Meredith has been obsessed with all things baby and is always putting her "babies" in all of Tinsley's things. So my mom got Meredith her very own baby, complete with all the "stuff". Meredith loves it and has to put the baby to bed every night. However, in true Norton fashion, anything that belongs to the baby belongs to him. This is where we found him yesterday morning.
I wonder how he is going to feel about all this stuff when Meredith decides she wants to dress him up and haul him around like her baby?

Besides my girls, the best part of Christmas this year was a night out with my husband. He booked us a room at Chateau Elan and we went on Saturday to the winery tour, had a 25 minute massage, and then went for a nice dinner before returning to our room to get some much needed sleep. I am very thankful to him for doing this and to my mom for watching the girls to allow us to be able to get away.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for the New Year.

Catch up pictures and such

Finally I have downloaded all our pictures from Thanksgiving and other days since. Hope you enjoy!

Chillin' at Mimi's

Chillin' at Mimi's

Mom's cat Shoe

Our little turkey

Tinsley and Mimi

Our time with Santa, Meredith was not interested in sitting in his lap.

Mommy and her girls

Daddy's little Yellow Jacket

Working Girl

I am behind on blogging and I hope to get some pics from Thanksgiving posted soon. I went back to work on Monday. Things have been good on my end, not so much on Tinsley's until today. After almost two months of trying bottles everyday and being unsuccessful she has finally sucked down three 4oz bottles (as of 3:30pm and Bill was getting ready to feed her again). I am so lucky to have a wonderful, patient husband who has worked hard with her the past three days. We had been having so many issues with her that I must admit I was a little glad to leave on Monday just to be an adult. Like many people say, it was easier to leave the second child. Don't get me wrong, I love her and would rather be home any day of the week with my kid's than at work, but the last two weeks have been really trying. We did discover that she has reflux and now that she has medicine she is doing great.

So here's to making it through two weeks at work then trying to keep Tinsley on the bottle while on break.

Thankful

I decided to list 26 things I am thankful for (since Thanksgiving is on the 26th). Many people have been doing this daily on Facebook, but I wanted to do it my way (imagine that). Before I get to my list though, please say a prayer for Aubrey Bowden and family as she is undergoing surgery today to remove 4 tumors that have popped up. You may remember that Aubrey just recently beat a rare form of cancer, so this news was very heartbreaking. Aubrey is only 22 months old.

I am thankful for...(in no order)
1. Sorority sisters. You may not know every single one but they have your back whenever you need something.
2. My great job. I work with the best people ever and as much as I want to stay home with my girls, I don't mind going back to work in a week.
3. My education. I wouldn't be where I am today without it.
4. Patience. Mine is being tested so I have to remember this one and walk away when needed.
5. My faith. It may not always be perfect, but I believe in God and that he takes care of me every day, even if it doesn't feel like it.
6. My Mom. She has been with me through everything and I wouldn't know what to do without her.
7. Meredith. She is one great kid and a fabulous big sister.
8. Tinsley. She is a gift and has allowed us to grow closer as a family.
9. Bill. Words alone cannot express how much I love him.
10. My pets. They are my furry children, even Bill's crazy two that don't have much to do with me.
11. My house. I have one.
12. Lenora. She is the best friend any girl could ask for.
13. My friends. They can always be counted on, even those that are far away.
14. My family. Helped me grow in so many ways.
15. Bill's family. The best set of in-laws out there. And I get to be called Aunt Stacie because of them.
16. Maternity leave. It has enabled me to be able to bond with both of my girls (maybe too much with Tinsley as I don't know how the child is going to eat when I go back to work since she still won't take a bottle.
17. Afternoon naps. They allow me time to get things done.
18. Sleeping children. Both of my girls sleep through the night so I can too.
19. Facebook. It has allowed my to reconnect with so many people.
20. The Internet. I have gotten lots of valuable information from here, as well as being able to find a laugh when needed.
21. The mountains. I am always at peace there.
22. Our daycare. Wonderful folks that care so much for Meredith and can't wait to welcome Tinsley. When your child could care less that you are there then you know you have found a great place.
23. Word World. Let's me get dinner ready.
24. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Ditto (gotta have a little variety).
25. Good neighbors. They have helped us out in a pinch many times.
26. My health.

Wordless Wednesday - Two Months Old

Bottle Blues

As some of you may know (since I have posted it on Facebook), we cannot get Tinsley to take a bottle. Originally we were going to wait until the end of October to even try to give her one, but then I read somewhere that you shouldn't wait any longer than 5 weeks old to introduce a bottle or your child might refuse it. I read this when Tinsley was 4 weeks old so we gave her a bottle the next week and she didn't give us too much of a problem. Then the night we bought our new car Bill gave her another bottle and she sucked it right down. After that the following week I met a friend for dinner and when I returned a phone call from Bill, discovered Tinsley screaming her head off and poor Bill had been trying to feed her for almost an hour.

Fast forward to today, 4 nipple types later and we still are unsuccessful. This was never a problem with Meredith. Now, granted Meredith had to be supplemented with formula the first week of her life, but she had no problems going back and forth from breast to bottle. My sweet, darling husband tries every day to give her a bottle and she screams her head off, occasionally sucking a little bit, but nothing more.

We have Avent bottles as that is what we used with Meredith. We used an orthodontic nipple from the hospital, but she gags because it is so small. I bought a Soothie bottle from Walmart on Friday because on the few times Tinsley takes a paci, that is the one she takes. She wouldn't take that bottle either. We even tried putting the paci in her mouth then switching and that didn't work. Yesterday I bought one of the expensive Adiri bottles and she wouldn't use that one either.

None of this would be a problem except for the BIG problem, I have to go back to work on December 7, just 4 weeks away. Luckily she will be home with Daddy the first week, but she still needs this skill. I can't be that mom that drops her breastfed kid off at daycare knowing they won't take a bottle.

So I am taking advice, any and all of it out there, to try to get her to take a bottle. We don't really want to buy any more, but I think we are willing to possibly try one more brand. Let me know you thoughts. Should we just suck it up and let her cry in hunger until she takes it?

This momma needs a break!

Halloween 2009

This Halloween we had a wedding to attend. My cousin Leah got married on her favorite day of the year. Our family had a wonderful time at all the festivities, everything was beautiful. So needless to say we did not do the trick-or-treating thing, but that was ok, Meredith did get some candy and the girls did get dressed up. I think Meredith had about 5 wardrobe changes between Friday and Saturday (she was the honorary flower girl). Here are some pictures...

Wordless Wednesday

1st Haircut

Meredith had her first haircut on Saturday. She only had a tiny trim because she has too much hair to try to cut it all at once. Not that we want her to have it short or anything. I didn't do bangs because that is just more upkeep and I know I cannot trim them myself. That is just not a skill I have. Enjoy the photos...

Rainy Day Fun

I took these last week during all the rain and I am just now getting around to posting them. I am so glad the rain is gone (for now anyway). Our days have been better this week now that we can go outdoors.

Chubs!

Tinsley had her one month check-up and she is doing great! The chubs weighs 10 lbs., 4 oz.!

Washington Farms 2009

Last Saturday Bill and I took the girls to Washington Farms. It was our 2nd annual trip and one we will continue to take as long as the girls like it.

Meredith had even more fun this year than last. She showed no reservations in climbing up the stairs to the big slide and wanted to do it over and over again. She and Bill picked out our family pumpkins, she got one for each of us, plus a big one to carve. Tinsley did very well for only being three weeks old. Here are some pictures from the day.

Home Alone

I am adjusting to life as a mother of two, which isn't so bad, except it is hard taking them out right now. I have managed to go to the grocery store twice, but that is it. My fear is that if we go to the park I won't be able to play with Meredith and if we go to the library, Tinsley will break down. All this wouldn't be so bad if it would just stop raining. All the wet has kept Meredith inside a lot, which I hate. So here are a few pictures from this week. Meredith helped me make a cake. She liked the batter, but won't eat the cake, which cracks me up.

That evening we needed to bathe the girls so we started with Tinsley and it became a family affair. Meredith helped keep her warm by pouring water on her and Norton was there for moral support and to drink up any water he could.

I can't reiterate enough how good Meredith is at being a big sister. All she wants to do is help and she has only had a few tantrums when I can't get to her when I am feeding Tinsley. I hope this continues!

Wordless Wednesday

Sisters

Meredith seems to be adjusting well to being a big sister. She only gets mad every now and then when I can't always be focused on her.