I Did It! (With a lot of Help)

Last week James left for a conference in New Orleans for four very long days.  I usually don't attempt to stay here on my own when he goes on trips, but I didn't have much of a choice this time.  Traveling with both girls is a little hairy right now with Sarah Ellen not sleeping through the night, and Mom and Dad were not able to come down as they usually do because they were going to Montreat with their church.  I survived on my own in September when he went to Chicago, but this trip was more daunting to me.  Lily had been going through a rough stage (to say the least) for the past few weeks, and I couldn't imagine how I was going to handle her by myself, much less her and Sarah Ellen.  Let's just say she was being VERY TWO. 

Wednesday:  Wednesday evening the girls and I went to WNL at church as usual and had a lot of help from our church family.  I made an executive decision earlier in the day not to bathe the girls before bed, which made bedtime much more doable.  They say God will only give you what you can handle.  Well he must have known that I couldn't handle Lily in the throws of terrible twos.  It was like someone turned a switch in her.  She went from a screaming little monster to the sweetest two year old around.  I could just eat her up now.  This is a switch from last week when I was trying to decide if we were spankers.  I survived the day.

Thursday:  Donna and Snookie came over in the morning and I escaped for a little while to King Street.  What a sweet escape.  I meandered in and out of shops at my own pace with no one fussing at me, pulling on me, or telling me what to do.  Pure bliss.  I came home to two sleeping girls.  I even stopped on the way home and picked up a juicy cheeseburger and big fat fries from Bessingers for lunch.  This definitely is not on my weight watchers plan, but more than worth it.  After naps, the girls and I went to Mommy and Me at the Park and had fun with our friends.  While at the park, Lily began complaining that her "poopy hurt." (Disclaimer:  I apologize for poopy details but my blog not only serves as a scrapbook but also as a reference for me to look back on later.)  She had been saying this some earlier in the day as well.  She has done this before when she was a little constipated so I just thought that was what was going on.  Her discomfort continued to get worse as the evening went on and I just felt so bad for her.  The Clums had us over for dinner which was a nice distraction for both of us.  I survived

Friday:  Lily woke up very uncomfortable and her little bottom looked irritated, so I decided to take her in to the doctor.  About every 20 minutes, she would cry out that her poopy hurt.  I felt just awful for her.  Thank goodness Donna was able to come right over and keep Sarah Ellen while I took Lily.  That would have been a miserable trip: a 2 hour doctors visit in the pouring rain with both girls.  As it turns out Lily was impacted and had a strep infection on her bottom.  Poor little girl.  I'll wrap it by saying that the poop issues were solved by Saturday evening and the infection cleared up quickly.  Friday night Aunt Nette and Paul came over to help with dinner and bedtime.  This was the first night since James left that both girls got a bath.  I survived

Saturday:  Friday night didn't go so well.  Sarah Ellen was up twice and Lily was also up a few times.  I didn't get too much sleep which made for a very rough Saturday.  Doncie came over for a little while in the morning and then Aunt Nette and Paul came to take Lily to a carnival at Paul's church.  I was able to catch a little nap while she was gone.  I think Saturday afternoon may have been one of the longest afternoons of my life.  I probably checked the clock every 30 seconds.  Caroline could here the desperation in my voice and brought me some chicken pot pie for dinner.  Finally, at 7, James came home.  I was in bed at 8:30.  I survived - barely.

Mommy and Me at the Park

Last Thursday, we ventured to a great waterfront park in Riverland Terrace for Mommy and Me.  It was our first cool day and the kids and mommies were loving it. 

Porter and Lily on the seesaw.

Miss Olivia didn't make too many peeps all snuggied up with her Mommy.

Oh those boys, Tyler, Langden, Matthew, and Austin

I actually have some pictures of me because Cameron took my camera.  That probably explains the better quality of these shots as well.  I actually held Sarah Ellen very little on this trip.  Cameron kept her warm and cozy most of the time.  Cameron just might give my Mom a run for her money on the title of "Baby Hog."  I am not at all complaining, though!

Sarah and Tyler.

Lily Bean started not feeling so hot and needed some love from Mommy.  Cuddles from her are a sure sign that an illness is on the way. 

Fall is Here!!!

Don't you just love last minute get togethers.  Cameron and Jason wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather and asked us over to cook hot dogs and marshmallows in their backyard.  Good friends, good food (that I don't have to cook) and good weather - heck yea, we're there. 

Sarah Ellen relaxing in the bouncy seat.  Yes, that would be a TV behind her.  Jason snuck that outside when Cameron was gone. 

Sarah Ellen staying warm with Daddy. 

Sarah Ellen staying warm with Mommy.

Two peas in a pod.  Lily and Porter sharing a meal.

Literally sharing.  Lily is helping herself to Porter's plate.

Lily felt the need to keep her safety goggles on most the night.  What is it with this child and eye coverings?

Lily and Porter having fun on their obstacle course.

The boys insisted that Jason help them plant this "tree."  It really was a large branch, but Mr. Jason helped them plant it anyway.

Cameron loving up on Sarah Ellen. 

Chris and James

Matthew and I trying to roast our marshmallows without burning our hands off.

Messy, messy Lily Bean

Lily waiting in her chariot. 

Sweet Mr. B

Lily pulling Porter with a little help from James.

Can anyone guess what is about to happen here?  Three two year olds and one wagon.   It looks like James and Allison are moving in to referee.

There you go guys - good teamwork.

Cameron once again with Sarah Ellen.  Who are they kidding when they say they are done having children?

Porter and Lily. 

 

Thank you Cameron and Jason for having us over for an impromptu fall bomb fire.  We had a blast.

Just a Cute Picture

Another First

Lily rode a tricycle by herself for the first time today.  We have been working on this, but her feet don't quite touch the pedals of her own tricycle yet, so we tried her out on Margaret Anne's and off she went.  Check her out - we'll work on steering once we master pedaling.  One thing at a time.

 

Here's a quick clip of Margaret Anne (the professional) pulling Lily around.

Abigail found another way to cart Lily to and fro.

Later that day we were heading down to Waterfront Park for Mommy and Me.  I was running a little behind and still needed to feed Sarah Ellen.  Problem solved - Lily fed her.  Lily is such a good helper when it comes to her little sister.

The gang at Waterfront Park.   Lily isn't so excited by Matthew's idea to swing high, and by Margaret Anne's ear holding, I don't think she is either.

First Field Trip

Lily went on her first field trip with school on Wednesday to the pumpkin patch.  We didn't last long enough to make the hay ride because the bugs were about to carry us off, but we will return in two weeks with church for another chance.  Feeding the animals.  Lily wasn't into this so much.  Can't say that I blame her.

Going down the slide with her teacher, Mrs. Tanya.

Playing in the Tent

Check out Lily reading to Sarah Ellen in the "tent."  These two are going to have so much fun together.

Playdates

On Tuesday, Porter came over to play with Lily in the morning.  They had a blast.  I still think of Porter as the baby of the group, but he hangs right in there with the big kids now.  It was so cute to hear him and Lily carry on little conversations.  They played so well together.  Porter also was a little smitten with Sarah Ellen.  He helped me feed her and gently rubbed her on the head.  Between Porter and Austin, Sarah Ellen might be destined to be with an older man.

Thomas and Parker joined us for lunch after Thomas was out of school.  Sarah Ellen and Parker happily enjoyed their bouncy seats while the big kids ate and played.

A Morning at the Citadel

Last Saturday was Parent's weekend at the Citadel so we headed down with the Trey, Molly, Thomas, and Parker to check out some of the festivities.  We made it just in time for open barracks, so we let the children check out the quad.  We were in fourth battalion which is the one that James lived in when he was there.

 

After leaving the barracks we went out to the parade deck to watch the parade.  Lily loved watching the cadets marching, but she didn't love the cannons going off.  Why in the world must they blast them 10 times.  It was not long after the cannons that it began to rain and chased us inside.  We ended the fun morning with lunch out - four adults and four children and we made it just fine. 

Good Times

Today was just about a perfect day.  It all started with my wonderful husband allowing me to sleep in this morning.  This is after he did the 3:30 AM feed.  That is true love.  We had a leisurely morning around the house, then went to run a few errands.  We ate lunch out and both girls were great for the entire outing. 

Caroline and I were feeling a bit guilty that neither of our husbands were able to exercise this morning because they took care of the children while we relaxed, so we planned for them to go for a bike ride after lunch.  Because Caroline was taking Abigail to birthday parties all afternoon, the only way Allan could ride was for Margaret Anne to come over and play with Lily before nap time.  I can't remember how long it has been since just the two of them were able to play.  They had a blast.  I wish I could have recorded their sweet little conversations.  One time, I came upstairs to check on them and Lily told me to go back down (gladly).  As I was listening to the two of them discuss two year old life, I was so thankful that Sarah Ellen will have this same joy and friendship with Olivia.  Speaking of, here is their first picture together - the first of a million I am sure. 

James and I had a good balance of relaxing and getting things done around the house during the girls' naps.   We then geared up for dinner with the Clums.  Our two families quickly went from juggling three little girls to FIVE little girls.  We were amazed, though, with how much the adults were able to enjoy dinner together.  The big girls left us to go play outside and the little girls are still pretty manageable as long as we moved them from one baby gadget to the next.   We should have known better, though, that we were enjoying ourselves a little too much.  If you check my blog regularly you may recall previous posts of the girls being a little too quiet: Snow Angels and Too Quiet....Continued.  We noticed they were having a little too much fun with the dirt in the potted plants, but we let them go - they were having such a good time. 

Mama Abigail cooking for her children.Sarah Ellen wasn't too bothered by it all.