slippers for little m.

I picked up a pair of slippers at the store for Maisie.  She needed something with grippies on the bottom, since her socks are too slippery.  And it's starting to get chilly here! 

I snapped this picture as Miss Maisie was on the go.  She's walking so well these days!  For instance this morning she walked across the living room, through the kitchen and into the dining room to find her cup.  It was something like 24 steps--yes, I was counting.  She's choosing walking over crawling by far...unless she's tired or somewhere unfamiliar.

Finding real soled shoes has been a challenge because her feet are so tiny.  These slippers?  Size 0-6 months!  She just finally got into size 3 about a month ago.  Now that she's at least a 3, it's easier to find real soles on shoes that size. 

i love this picture!

creepy crawly creatures

We spotted this big fella on our fence!  He was a good 4-5 inches long.  I was happy to see him, as they're good bugs to have around.  Maddie and Caleb enjoyed watching him scale the fence.

duke and tummy time

Duke is my first baby to actually like tummy time.  I was beginning to wonder if it was me and something I do wrong since I've had 3 kids who all hated tummy time and were all late crawlers.  But then I put Duke on his tummy and he loved it!  I guess maybe it's not me after all.  :)

Just about better!

Maisie and Duke are pretty much all recovered from the RSV. We're so glad!  They got the "all clear" from our doc on Thursday.  Maisie's cough is just about gone.  Duke either never contracted RSV or he was strong enough to handle it without it affecting his lungs.  I just don't see how he could NOT have contracted it from Maisie, and he had a cold and cough that progressed just like Maisie's.  I think he was just able to weather it well.  And you know me!  I was drinking doses of echinacea and thyme tea, trying to eat really healthfully, taking greens powder, seaweed, bee pollen, cod liver oil...all those lovely nutritional boosters I've got around the house. I wanted Duke to get some powerful milk!  :)

We're just grateful to have this virus out of our house and to have made it through without nebulizers or hospitalization!

Madeleine's birthday morn

On Madeleine's birthday morning, FaFa took her to La Madeleine. How fitting!  For the first time ever, Maddie woke up on her birthday morning away from home, due to the sickness I mentioned before.  But, as you can see from all her cute poses, Maddie didn't give it a second thought and thoroughly enjoyed herself.  Spending the night at her grandparents' probably made the morning all the more special. 

After breakfast, FaFa let her pick out special pastries to bring home to us that we enjoyed that evening as we celebrated her birthday. 

Thank you, FaFa, for making Maddie's birthday morning special!

RSV

Yep, Maisie came down with the dreaded RSV...and of course I found this out when I took her to the doctor right after Braden walked out the door traveling for the next 4 days.  Maisie's bronchiolitis was just beginning, so we were glad for that, but our Dr. was very concerned for Duke.  So my wonderful parents came to my rescue and took Maisie for the next 4 days, to keep her out of the house and away from Duke.  Maddie went along to help out.  Caleb, who had a minor cold, Duke and I (who caught the cold the next day) stayed home together. I've never had that much time with just Caleb before. It was actually a sweet time for us. 

So far Duke has had a very minor cold and mild cough, but we're still watching him, as Maisie still has her cough.  Her cough was supposed to get worse over the following 4 days before it got better, but my mom cooked her rice in chicken broth, put eucalyptus oil in the humidifier at nights, gave her femented cod liver oil and cell salts, and Maisie never got worse but has held stable.

I was sure glad when Braden came home.  He ended up coming home really late at night, the night that was supposed to be his last night away.  I hadn't slept much due to Duke being sick and was sick myself, so it was a relief to get some sleep. While Duke still has symptoms, he has begun to sleep really well again, so I think he's feeling better.  We're still keeping a close eye on him as RSV is nothing to mess around with, especially in infants.

Hopefully the RSV has come and is on its way out!

It's official!

Eight hearts means that Maddie is 8 years old!

caleb sings to dukey

4th time's the charm

Looks like we've got ourselves a thumb sucker.  Duke gags on his passy and spits it out, so I don't even try it any more.

The only time he takes a passy is during his fussy time from about 7-9pm each night. Once he's through, he spits out the passy.

I have to say it's kind of cute watching him suck his little thumb on his way to sleep.

eggplant parm

We've discovered Maisie's favorite dinner time meal...besides pasta, that is.  Eggplant parmigiana!  When I made it for dinner recently, she devoured it.  This little girl has an appetite, let me tell you!  She ate more than Maddie or Caleb. When I gave it to her for lunch the following day, I couldn't put the bites on her plate fast enough for her.  "Mo! Mo! Mo!" 

And my was she a mess!  This picture I snapped somehow didn't pick up all the mess that she was. Eggplant parm caked in her hair, smeared all over her face, up her sleeves, in her lap. 

When Maisie really likes her food, she wears it.  :)