Dentist, ICEES, and French Braids!

 Today was the big day.  Addison went to the Dentist for her 1st real visit (other than chipped teeth at the beginning of the month).  Melody was also along for the event.  Mom was with me to help with the girls since it would have been completely impossible to do alone.  I tried to feed Melody before we left in hopes that she wouldn't want to nurse at the appointment.  Well, she wasn't hungry when we left but you can guarantee that she was starving as soon as we got in the waiting room!  I'm just gonna have to get over this public nursing thing.  I have no choice!  So, I took care of that situation while Mom and Addison played in the kid area.  Thank goodness for those indoor playground things.   They sure do keep Addison happy- and that is the main goal on a day like today!  So, they started with letting her pick out her own toothbrush and bringing her to a sink and kind of teaching her what to do.  She really could have cared less.  At home we make a huge game out of brushing her teeth.  It's the only way to get the job done. 

 Then, we went to the chair and did some more brushing and looking around with the mirror.  They have told us before and they told us today that we need to start saving for an orthodontist.  Great.  She has very crowded teeth and when they look at the xrays (from her big fall) they can see her permanent teeth and how big they are.  There just isn't enough room!  Sooo, when she is around 11 or 12 they say we may be pulling some teeth to make some room. 

 Now, I am fully aware that this appointment doesn't really do much because toddlers rarely cooperate.  I do know that its purpose is to get the child use to the dentist and the whole cleaning process.  They are really good at teaching at a child-like level and they take the time to show and explain to them.  Addison's 2 front teeth are doing just fine thank goodness.  The xrays looked great and they were able to file them down so that they are even.  She did wonderful through all of this.   They let her feel the sand paper thing before they used it so that she could know it wouldn't hurt her.  That helped alot I believe.  So, I'm glad we went today and got off on the right foot.  I think it's important for kids to start early with the dentist---I think this helps establish a healthy relationship with the dentist for the rest of their lives!  I love going to the dentist and I always have.  I love how slimy and clean my teeth feel so much that afterwards I don't even want to eat!  The FIRST thing I notice about someone is there teeth.  I think teeth say alot about someone.  More than their haircut or clothes.  I love seeing a good set of teeth!  I'm about to embarrass Matt for a second but that's ok:)  His teeth were the very first thing I noticed about him when we met.  Couldn't take my eyes off of them!  They are so dang perfect and lovely.  I have told him this for 10 years now.  Sooo, long story short.......I love teeth and I think you should take care of them from early on! 

Sipping some water

 Melody is doing fabulous!  We are still getting some good sleep- praise the Lord!  She is really starting to fill out and feel pretty heavy.  I can't believe she is growing this fast.  I think it took Addison a bit longer to fill out.  She is always sooo alert and seems to be taking everything in.  When she dreams she constantly smiles which is hilarious and so sweet!  She is extremely fiesty.  She fights us during every diaper change and hates the wipes.  She is certainly following the same activity as when she was in my belly.  There was always a constant party going on!  They always said she was a mover during my ultrasounds.  With Addison they used to have to push around or make loud noises on my stomach to make her move, and many times that wouldn't even work.  It is funny to see how different their personalities are even in utero. 

 I gave Addison her first french braid the other day.  It was a big day!  First, I didn't realize her hair was this long- Oh my gosh she is growing up so fast!   It took some very fast hands on my part and Matt had to sing to her and ask her a thousand questions to keep her from running around.  It worked.  My Mom use to braid my hair all the time and I loved it.  Then I would practice on all of my dolls.  I couldn't wait to have a little girl one day so I could braid her hair! 

First French Braid!

French Pigtails!

 She has learned the goodness of Coke ICEES.  Oh bless her heart!  This is something she will love for the rest of her life!  I adore coke icees.  We live really close to some wonderful icees and she is starting to ask for them quiet a bit. 

You may have seen this shirt in a thousand pictures of Addison, but it is one of our favorites.  Not only is it cute as can be, but it also doesn't stain!  The back of the shirt says "Peace, Love, and Cupcakes".  Addison is obsessed with cupcakes and when we saw the shirt we just couldn't pass it up.

Who's Who??

We knew from the very beginning that Melody and Addison looked almost identical but when we come across pictures like this it is so amazing to me!  They look like twins!  The top picture is Addison when she was around 6 weeks old.  Melody is below and she is two weeks old.  I'm sure we will keep comparing pictures as they grow because it is just too funny!

 

Melody's First 2 Weeks

Things around here have been going pretty smoothly considering. :)  We quickly adjusted to having 2 kiddos around.......and it is sooo different in so many ways!  I can't believe I ever thought having one child was hard! HA!  Looking back I wish I had known how EASY that was!  Having two is hard but I love how much more at ease we are with this one.  We have already been through it before and we know what to expect this time around. 

Melody's First Bath

                                  

 

Swimming time!

Melody has been sleeping pretty good at night.  She eats every 2-3 hours and then goes right back to sleep.  For awhile she was spitting up and acting uncomfortable so we got her on some medicine for acid reflux and she has been doing a lot better.  Matt has come up with a "block schedule" at night.  This means that he takes over from 10-12 and then I take over from 12-2.  Get it?  This is so we both are guaranteed some sleep.  We really haven't had to use this much cause she has been so good.  But I find this "block schedule" hilarious!  Matt gets so serious about it that I just crack up.  I'm surprised there isn't an excel spreadsheet to go along with it:) 

 Addison has been doing pretty good with the adjustments.  Every morning when she wakes up she says, "Baby"?  She does know her name very well but she also likes to call her baby.  I am nursing and she is VERY curious about that.  Everytime Melody cries Addison says, "feed her, feed her. and boobie."  She watches closely and has even tried to latch on herself.  Ha- don't think so honey!  I nursed Addison for a year and that was enough!  She has been walking around with her baby dolls and lifting up her shirt trying to nurse them.  Sooo funny! 

 She loves when Melody has tummy time in the play room.  She likes to participate and wants to be covered up just like Melody.  She then makes sure she has all her lovies before telling me goodnight. 

 Addison is having to learn to play by herself.  Something that she has NO clue how to do.  She is used to having my undivided attention so this is a huge adjustment for her.   While I feed Melody this is what makes her the happiest.  She LOVES to color and paint!

Loving her ice cream sandwich!

 We took Melody on her first "outing" the other night.  I hate that I don't have pictures but it was just a last minute thing.  We went to Outback while Mom kept Addison at home.  We weren't planning on going anywhere but figured we might as well take advantage of the situation.  Because of nursing, there is careful planning whenever we go anywhere.  I fed her right before we left and thankfully she stayed asleep the whole time.  I knew she would be hungry at exactly 2 hours and I just cannot do that whole "public nursing" thing.  I do have the nursing cover but I just find the entire thing uncomfortable.  It's just suppose to slip over your head and make it easy but it really doesn't.  You then have to pull your shirt up and whip your boob out while holding your baby and hope your not exposing yourself to other people while the miniature tent supposedly covers you.  No thanks.  I'll just go home:)

 We had Melody's 2 week check up this week and she was 6 lbs!  She had gotten down to 5 lbs a few days after we left the hospital (we know this because we took her in for a jaundice check).  So, within 9 days she gained a whole pound!  We were all excited cause they are only suppose to gain an ounce a day on average.  She has been a great eater! 

This is the pretty wreath Mom got for our hospital room door- I love it!

Melody Rose has arrived!!

Melody Rose made her debut last Thursday.  September 9, 2010 at 1:01 PM!  Weighing in at 5 lbs. 11 oz and 18 inches long.

Apgar was 9 and 10! (very proud of that by the way)!  She did fabulous and the whole experience was better than I could have imagined.  We delivered at Highland Clinic and from the very beginning had the best care and best nurses.  I also have to say we had the BEST doctor.

 

 Kerry Tynes was incredible throughout my whole pregnancy and bless her heart for having to deal with us!  We had been through a crazy pregnancy with Addison and she was very involved with that one as well- (even though we lived in Texas at the time).  So, she was always calming me down and easing any fears that she knew I had.  She is so passionate about her job and she cares so much for her patients.  She never let me out of her sight and was on top of everything.  So last Wednesday Matt and I had a fun date at Superior Grill and then went to the movie.  Afterward we went home one last time- (we checked on Addison and told Mom goodnight)- then we were off.  Matt was on a mission to get to the hospital.  I actually told him to slow down cause we were getting there WAY too fast.  We are only about 10 minutes from the hospital and I wanted to delay the process as much as possible.  We had such a fun time taking pictures in the parking lot and joking around.

We were so excited and happy.  So we checked in and got settled and they started the whole induction process at 12 AM.  That's when all the needles started to stick me.  UGH.  Let's just say I am WAY better than I use to be!  Like I use to faint everytime I would get stuck.  Not anymore!  I come very close but I am able to stay strong now. HA!  So after the needles came the cervadil and all that jazz and then Kerry broke my water that morning.  I didn't wait a long time to get the epidural this time around.  Made that mistake with Addison.  I got it so early this time that I was never in any pain and was able to smile the ENTIRE time!  Lesson learned:)  Things went very very fast after I hit 5 cm.  We all were so excited and joking around before I pushed.  One of the nurses came in and said ," Are you ready to have a Birthday Party"?  I loved that so much.  I instantly thought that a year from now we will be watching Melody eat her birthday cake.  Made me realize how FAST those years go by.  So weird and unbelievable.

When Melody popped out we all had our eyes on the scale....we all made bets as to what she would weigh and Matt got it right on!  In the end we all yelled with excitement because we were thrilled with her weight!  Addison was exactly 1 pound less.  It was all so great and such a FUN experience.  I loved how we got to keep her in our room the whole time and there was never any NICU!  I just couldn't believe how perfect it all went.  I got to nurse Melody right after and she was a natural.  Has been from day 1.  That has been sooo nice!  Addison saw her little sister about 10 minutes after she was born.

She just kinda stared at her and kept saying, "Baby Baby."  She learned her name that day and has loved saying it ever since.  She was curious from the beginning and wants everything to do with her.  She loves to touch her and always insists on petting her head while saying, "GEENNTTLLEE."  It's anything but gentle but she tries real hard!

 

 I just never take my eyes off of Melody!  She loves for her to be in the swing and gets real mad when I don't put her in it.

 

 Melody is "learning" how to sleep and it gets better and better.  I know that this stage goes sooo fast but at the time it always feels sooo slow.  I just need to soak it all in!  It is very, very hard to meet the needs of a 2 year old and a newborn at the same time.  I always feel like something is getting neglected but that's just me I think!  It is hard to keep Addison happy while I'm feeding Melody and vice versa.  I can't believe how blessed we are to  have two perfectly healthy little girls at home.  My cup is full!

Below are a few more of my favorite pictures from the first few days.

Our Crazy Summer!

Well, the very beginning of August started like this picture above.  Addison became extremely sick and we quickly learned she had salmonella!!!  WHAT??  There are a few places she could have caught it from but the important thing is that we got her to quickly recover and become her old self again (the next picture)!  We have been sooo very busy in the past month between Addison being sick, Matt traveling for work, trying to prepare for Baby Girl #2, thousands of doctor appointments, Addison potentially breaking her nose (found out that wasn't possible cause kids don't have bones in their noses), and Addison chipping her two front teeth last week!  WHEW!  I'm not so sure we can fit anything else in other than HAVING A BABY THIS WEEK!!!  That's right.  Miss Priss #2 will be arriving(AKA is going to be evacuated) later this week.  I have been on Modified Bed Rest for over a month (that's nearly impossible when you have a 2 year old by the way), and have been doing NST tests and ultrasounds twice a week for a month.  I know that may sound like alot but this pregnancy is completely boring compared to Addison's!  No worries though, Baby Girl is doing fabulous and they are just watching her closely.  I delivered Addison at 36 weeks 4 days and had to because my fluid dropped to nothing.  I have been so diligent about drinking water in the last month.  If I have anything to do with this, I will not let my fluid drop!!  So the modified bed rest has supposedly helped lots and has really let me have some serious play time with Addison.  I have really been able to focus on her without the constant thought of chores and duties around the house.  This modified bed rest was really the only way to get me to relax and soak in Addison before #2 arrives.  I have loved every second.  I know it will never be like this again.  So, this weekend it was just the three of us and we just enjoyed our time together doing only what Addison wanted to do.  I'm sure it will be an adjustment for her but I know she will love her baby sister.  Addison's teeth are fine we think.  She took a hard fall last Tuesday on our kitchen tile while she was running wild.  She falls all the time but this one was different.  She had the "different cry" and everything going on.  Fortunately, I had already found our Pediatric Dentist and had her scheduled for the end of September for her 1st dental visit.  They were so good to get us in immediately and did the whole xray thing and all.  She was sooo good and that makes me feel good about her 1st visit coming up.  They will see her in a few weeks to do more xrays and to see if the roots are dead.  They told me we would know more than likely within a week if the teeth started to change colors and get dark.  Thankfully they are the same color!!!  I think we will be ok.  They did have to sand the edges down to make them less jaggedy and will have to do more of that in a few weeks.  She knocked them loose but they have tightened back up and we are back to eating her favorite foods.  I believe that is all the big news for now.........I just wanted to start the first post before Baby Girl arrives this week.  Once I get the hang of this blog thing I hope to post all the time!   

Back to her old sweet self!

36 weeks preggo

One of the million NST tests

Chillin' with Daddy

If you look closely, you can see her 2 front teeth!

Giving kisses

What a GREAT weekend!!!