Blah blah blah Kinsey

Wednesday night is family dinner night. I make waffles and eggs. Tonight I also made some sausage. It feels weird to say I made sausage, since I just put it in the frying pan and nothing else. The waffles were homemade, so that requires some prep. Well at least compared to the sausage.

At fam dinner night, Kinsey complained about my lack of blogging. This is the obviously required reaction to said complaining - a not interesting blog post written on my phone complete with iPhone photos.

John just complained at me about putting two knifes (not just one but two) into the sink without rinsing off the sun butter and nutella. It is pretty annoying to be married to me. That is true. I did make Maxwell's lunch though, that counts for something, right?

Bids are due on Monday. Yay. Blogging will resume a somewhat normal schedule at that point, although probably not daily. We'll see if our lives become more interesting next week. Right now all I have is I make waffles for family dinner night, and I've already used up that topic.

Finally I found a free collage application for the iPhone photos (pic collage), woo hoo!

Randoms

• Less than two weeks until bids are submitted. That makes me happy. I am so ready to have my life back.
• John and I are going to Vegas in June. I'm obsessed about how logistically I'm going to be able to pump. I get obsessed about random things. Frequently. I need to remind myself to simmer down on this one. We are also going on a cruise in June without Frances. For some reason, I'm only worried about Vegas. I'm a crazy crazy woman.
• I picked Maxwell up early from school on Tuesday, and we went to Starbucks (obviously). He wanted applesauce, but they were out. Instead he got chocolate milk. Big treat for Mr. Maxwell. Big treat. 
• On Monday, Maxwell didn't want to go inside while I was picking up Frances, so I let him sit outside on the bench (at the home daycare Frances goes to). He came inside and went into the bathroom, and  he POOPED! Amazing. He is so totally potty trained (only the 200th time I've pronounced that on this blog). 
• Tuesday I signed out of work only 30 minutes after I was supposed to sign out for the day, and I didn't sign back in. It felt like a vacation day.
• Frances's mobility is freaking me out. She already gets herself into places she isn't supposed to be. Oh my. This girl is going to be trouble. 
• I'm really proud of myself that my six month old hasn't had formula. I am a crazy crazy woman. I know we won't make it to a year without formula, but we'll see how long this can go for. I can do the breastfeeding thing. I have lots of friends who make their own baby food. That one, I can't do. I can barely get dinner on the table for us non-puree eaters. 
• It already freaks me out Frances's golden birthday is also her 21st. That was some bad planning on my part. Next time (ha!) I schedule a c-section it most definitely won't be on the 21st. I wonder if there is a statistical difference on the number of schedule inductions and c-sections on the 21st. Or maybe I'm the only person that is obsessively worried about what her daughter is going to be doing 20 years 5 months 30 days from now. I am most definitely a crazy crazy woman.

Total Siblings

I snapped the photo below with my iPhone, and then I had a delayed realization. Oh my, my kids look alike. Whoa. I didn't notice it before I saw this photo. Their personalities are so different, I think I focused on that more than their looks. Total Siblings.

Frances at 6 Months

Frances rolls and rolls and rolls. All around.

She typically takes two naps a day.

The past two night have been very bad sleeping nights for miss Frances. She woke up upset frequently. When she has been upset, we've found her up against the side of the bed, stuck. She'll fall back asleep after we put her back into the middle of the bed. Hopefully she figures out how to resolve the issue herself soon.

She still wakes up to eat once a night. She'll kill a 6 ounce bottle on the nights John feeds her, so she isn't just waking for the cuddle time.

Other than the once a night feed, she sleeps from 7pm to around 7am. 

She babbles on and on.

Frances has a piercing scream when something isn't going her way.

She has two teeth (both arrived May 9th without much fanfare).

Frances pretty much only laughs for Maxwell.

Frances is now eating baby food - squash and other assorted nastiness.

Frances is too little for everything (except baby milk) according to Maxwell.
She is still nursing well, and will switch between bottle and breast without issue. She does get distracted while eating, and if something else interesting is going on, she needs to know about it. She believes (correctly as the case may be) the boob and/or bottle will still be there when she decides eating is more urgent than being nosy.

Frances is taller than Maxwell at six months, but weighs less - she is a big girl.

She loves her exer-saucer.

Frances puts weight on her legs.
She can sit when supported.
Her hands are either in her mouth or on a mission to find something else to put in her mouth. At. All. Times.

Frances wears bloomers everyday (almost). For some reason our hand-me-down clothes are short on bloomers at the 9 month size. So I went on a mission to find plain old bloomers on the interwebs, with no success! I ended up finding a couple pairs at Buy Buy Baby, that were sort of way more expensive than I would normally want to pay for bloomers, but I did it (not that I have any idea how much bloomers should cost). She is wearing those bloomers in the photos above. I know this is totally obvious but dressing a girl is like 5245 times more fun than dressing a boy. 

Because I LOVE to Compare

I wanted to find some "Maxwell at six months" photos so I could compare Maxwell and Frances at six months... and I found this....

Which should make John and I feel guilty because we haven't even thought about playing with toys like this with Frances. At least Frances should be happy the quality of the photography has improved. 

Here Maxwell is, right around six months.

And Frances this afternoon - one day shy of her 1/2 birthday.

Growing Baby Stats

Frances and Maxwell had their well baby/child appointments this week.

It was the first time I EVER took them out by myself. I know that is pretty shocking. It probably deserves its own blog post on how I could possibly avoid that for SIX months.

Frances's six month stats:
17 pounds 14 ounces  (82th percentile)
28 inches (off the chart)

For comparison's sake Maxwell's six month stats:
20 pounds 3 ounces (90th percentile)
27.5 inches (85th percentile).

I think it is safe to say I make BIG babies.

Maxwell's three year stats:
40 pounds 1 ounce (97th percentile)
39 inches (81st percentile)

I cannot believe Maxwell weighs 40 pounds.

Frances Photos

On Sunday afternoon, I took some photos of Frances on the bed. I was trying to get some work in, but she wouldn't let me. As punishment, I forced her to endure a photo shoot. She enjoyed the attention, and I enjoyed that she doesn't move very fast. I didn't edit any of these yet, they are all SOOC. 

I played with the depth of field a bit.

This one makes me smile.

Hello? Her head is cut off. I should hate this photo. But I totally love it.

Here Frances is already mastering the "are you done yet" finger tap. 

Frances's Sweet Laughs

Only one person can get Frances to laugh.

That is her big brother Maxwell.

Get him in the right mood to entertain Frances, and Frances to be in the right yea, I find you entertaining mood, and then you have baby laugh bliss.

I guess you can't blame Frances. Does anyone else jump on the couch for her?

Mother's Day

Graham learned how to spell mom this week at school -- he says M-O-M spells MAMA! The first few times he did it, he said M-O-P spells mama. You know like the alphabet if you think M and N are the same letter. I asked him how to spell Graham, and he said E-F-G.

He also learned that on Mother's Day he should SCREAM "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" frequently. It is quite cute.

Frances's care giver texted me a photo this morning of Frances holding a piece of paper that says, "happy mother's day, I love you!" She is so sweet (the caregiver and the baby). It just makes me thankful.

Mother's Day is a weird day for a mom who doesn't have her mom. I could sit her and sulk because my mom isn't her to celebrate, but I choose to just focus on the "me" part of mother's day. That being said, it still hangs out in the back of my head. My mom isn't her to see my sweet baby Frances, who she would just adore, mostly because Frances is a girl. My mom is quite partial to girls. Even after raising 4 girls herself, through those dreaded teenage years, she still had a preference for girls. Maybe that should make us all feel better about what is to come during those years, or maybe that should just reinforce that my mom was crazy.

Here my mom is with little not even supposed to born yet Maxwell. I'm so thankful to have a few photos of them together, but it is bittersweet, since right now Frances is the same age Maxwell was the last time we visited my mom. Maxwell has become this awesome person, and I didn't get to share that with her. Frances is a whole different person, and Frances will never know how crazy-awesome my mom was. My mom would have been my kids #1 fan, undoubtedly, and someone who would love to listen to how smart, beautiful, kind, just generally awesome they are. Oh, and she would LOVE the potty training stories.

Sibling Love

I'm at the hair salon, under the dryer blogging. Because there is no other time.

Maxwell ASKED to hold Frances last night. It was slightly dangerous for Frances, but made everyone happy. I love witnessing the little bits of sibling love.

More Photos

I've recently purchased Frances some clothes. And now I'm addicted. Hand-me-downs just aren't the same. I am imagining John shaking his head as he reads this. Fortunately for him, I have about a $12 cost limit per outfit for Frances. I like clearance items coupled with a coupon. 

Frances's eyes aren't in focus, but still super cute.

So cute. 

Maxwell refuses to sit next to Frances  hen I'm taking photos of her. He is happy to come sit on my lap (and get in the way of my photos) though.

He was willing to this close too. When I ask him to sit next to her usually he'll sit about 5 feet away. Which really doesn't result in cute photos. And my house (which is pretty big) isn't big enough to take photos like that with a 50mm lens. (Kaci he is wearing his pirate Mickey Mouse shirt.)

I like this bath time photo. Maxwell getting in the way, and Frances looking at me slightly concerned that I might be leaving Maxwell in charge. 

Would it be that Hard to be Logical?

Our last nasty poopy accident was one week and one day ago. That was the one that sent us over the edge, and we followed up by taking away his green blanket and Mickey Mouse. I was trying to be one of those parents that positively redirects their children with postive results.  I was spewing out rewards for good potty results, and not getting anywhere.

One night without his green blanket and Mickey Mouse resulted in Maxwell not once pooping or peeing his pants. He hasn't even pooped in his diaper! Seriously. Screw positive rewards, I'm on the negative consequence bandwagon.

Unfortunately since I am a big softy, I will continue positive rewards without even realizing I am doing it until I get frustrated again about the lack of progress. 

I just wish children were more rational beings. Hello? Which scenario is better for everyone involved:

1) Positive reward for positive behavior or

2) Negative consequence for bad behavior?

I go with #1 EVERY SINGLE TIME in my rational adult mind. 

New Lens

SOOC

Edited

Graham playing outside. 

Frances

Just some photos of Frances.  I am eagerly waiting for my new lens to arrive, it is supposed to be delivered today. I'm sure I'll take lots of photos over the weekend.

Frances has been resisting an evening nap this week. Here she is very tired, unwilling to nap. All of the stops have been pulled out -- a paci, a blanket (so she can cover her face -- she loves that), and the bouncy is on. We just get tired eyes and no actual nap.

I'm learning that the photos that look like they are too light on my camera are actually my favorites. After taking this one, I edited my settings to make it darker, but the "too light" one is my favorite one. 

Gwen chewing her hands, playing with her feet.

One Special green Day

Maxwell's golden birthday was full of some pretty special things. He got to enjoy applesauce (his favorite food) THREE times. I made him green cupcakes, that he got to help frost and put sprinkles on. His Aunt Kinsey spoiled him by buying him a green ball.

For dinner he requested mac n cheese with green olives, applesauce, and juice. The crown is from school, he wore it all night.

He was pretty excited about the green cupcakes.

He gobbled them down Graham style, frosting first.

I'm so sad this photo isn't in focus. So sad. My happy birthday boy.

After dinner and cupcakes, we opened presents from papa and nana, which of course he thought was amazing.

Maxwell at 3

He is a big boy. If you forget, he'll remind you.

Maxwell's favorite question is WHY?

The bedtime routine starts at 7:30 and he sleeps until 7am or so. He still naps one 1.5-2 hour nap a day.

He is mostly potty trained. Just with the occasional accident that I can't help but blog about. My blog makes it seem much worse than it actually is.

Maxwell loves to play outside.

When we leave school and it is warm out, he always exclaims "It's a hot day!"

He doesn't know how to be quiet.

Maxwell loves to wrestle.

He can finally jump really well.

Maxwell's favorite song is the ABCs. Sometimes we sing it really fast and then we sing it slowly.

His favorite color is green.

His favorite shape is a circle.
Sometimes I can use the circle and green combination to get him to eat his green circular veggies.

Maxwell likes to say "I don't like that."

Then I get him to try it, and he decides that yes he likes it.

If he smells something he doesn't like he'll say, "I don't like that in my nose."
Maxwell loves to make Frances laugh.
He knows some days of the week, but usually if you ask him what day it is he says, "Friday night".
Maxwell is a great eater. It is the #1 thing his teachers talk about with me.
He can dress himself - everything except his socks.
At bedtime, we read imaginary stories that involve us visiting a boat, a firetruck hotel, a beach hotel, or a train hotel. Either Aunt Kinsey, Papa or Nana will join us at the hotel. Sometimes we take trains, and sometimes we go on airplanes. You have to take an airplane to Iowa or Minnesota because they are very high.
If you ask him a question and he doesn't feel like answering he'll say, "no you say it" or "I don't know."

I'm still amazed that this little NICU baby has grown up to be the biggest one of his friends. How did that happen?

The first time I got to hold Maxwell.

Maxwell at 1. 

Maxwell at 2.

Maxwell these days. Big sigh.

Maxwell's 20 Questions at 3

1. What is your favorite color?  Green.
2. What is your favorite toy?  Green ball and green fire truck (optimistic since he has neither of these toys).
3. What is your favorite fruit? Applesauce.
4. What is your favorite tv show? Thomas the Tank Engine (he was more generic - "choo-choo trains," but that is not a show, as such, I used editorial discretion...in reality his favorite show is either Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Jake and the Neverland Pirates, although his father attempts to foist Little Einsteins on him ad nauseum).
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Applesauce and mac and cheese.
6. What is your favorite outfit? Green shirt and green pants.
7. What is your favorite game? House.
8. What is your favorite snack?  Applesauce.
9. What is your favorite animal? Horsey (green, of course).
10. What is your favorite song? ABC song.
11. What is your favorite book? Goodnight Minnesota.
12. Who is your best friend? Miss Dulce.
13. What is your favorite cereal? New cereal (right now - organic fruit loops).
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with choo-choo trains.
15. What is your favorite drink? Grape juice (editor comment - doubtful....not sure if he has ever had grape juice).
16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter.
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Mickey Mouse and my green blanket.
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Blueberry Pancakes (original answer was mac and cheese and applesauce - but with a little prodding, he gave an appropriate response).
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac and Cheese (with GREEN olives) and applesauce.
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Dada.

I stole the idea from here. This is one of those things I saw on pinterest, and I thought I CAN do that! The plan is to it every year until Maxwell is too cool to answer 20 questions his mom or dad is asking. 

Frances Pictures and Lens Update

Since I didn't work this past weekend, I actually took some photos!! 

Frances is always chewing on something.

Or sticking her tongue out.

Her feet are her favorite.

These are all SOOC, we are having some computer issues, and my normal computer has been shipped off to the manufacturer to replace the hard-drive (right under warranty though, woo hoo!). I do have PSE installed on this computer, but I don't have any of my actions on it right now. I'm sure they'll all be gone after they replace the hard-drive too. Thankfully I have everything backed up on my external hard-drive.

I *think* I've decided to buy a more moderate priced lens. I think I'm going to get upgrade my 50mm f/1.8 to the 50mm f/1.4 and sell my 1.8. I've been reading reviews on-line, and it seems like the natural progression of what I should do. The reviews are all really positive on the 1.4, and it'll allow me to shoot in a little bit lower light situations than I currently can. This is never-ending though -- I'm always going to want the next best thing. Fortunately the photography equipment all holds its value pretty well, and I can sell the formerly best thing to offset the price of the next best thing.