One last time...still trying

There are only 3 days left to vote for us!!! Please help us win a free highchair for Olivia. All you have to do is

1. Visit: http://www.facebook.com/rattlesandrhymesbaby on Facebook
2. "like" their page.
3. Post on their "wall" telling them that Lisa Killingsworth referred you!

thanks a million. Wanna help me extra big. Repost on your wall to help me! Thanks!


HEY heads up .... you can enter to win a $50 gift card!!

BIG NEWS!!! Rattles & Rhymes has reached 1000 FANS!!!!! To celebrate we will be giving away a $50.00 GIFT CARD! Please comment below for a chance to win! A winner will be randomly selected and announced Friday, September 30 at 8:00 PM.


thanks so much for all the help you ladies have done! It ends on Spet30th at 7pm!!

Tripod...

I have a tripod sitting baby!!   Olivia is just 4mos...how is it possible she is doing this....

She is growing by leaps and bounds these past few days.    Olivia had her 4mo appt this past Monday...she weighs..14lbs even and was 24.25in long.   Both are about in the 50%.    So overall she is doing good.    We have put her on medicine for her reflux...we tried without...but she is arching her back screaming and refusing bottles more and more...so it was time to add soem drugs to help.

Lily Anne aka Miss Hollywood or Drama Queen also had her 2 year appt on Monday.   (yes, we were brave and took them both at once....worked out really really well).    She doing so well!    She weighs 26lbs and is 36in tall.   Learning new things everyday now.   Tells me new words (several) and sings to me (which I am in love with!)

So the potty training...or should I say Diaperless!!!!   We have been in panties 99% with very very little accidents.   She did great over the weekend...even traveling.    She wore 100% panties all day.    My mom was impressed.    She is even doing great at daycare....staying dry all day!

Since Saturday she has been waking up dry!!!   I put a pull up on her..but we say lets put your panties on..."she repeats no pee pee or poo poo in panties mama!"   yup that is right.    I am so proud!!

One down and One to go...


so, once again.... if you are willing to help me!!!!

Okay ladies: I am currently tied ....

Can you all please help me by voting for me (directions below) and if possible can you post on your wall to help me?

Please help me win a Free Chicco Highchair for Olivia! It is really simple.
1. Visit: Rattles and Ryhmes on Facebook
2. "like" their page.
3. Make sure you post on their "wall" telling them that Lisa Killingsworth referred youMANY THANKS!!!!

(if you are kind enough to post on your wall.....copy and paste.."Help out my friend Lisa Killingsworth, go to Rattles and Rhymes, LIKE them, and tell them @Lisa Killingsworth sent you.")

I can not thank you enough!!!!

I need your votes!!

I would really really like to win this highchair for Olivia!    You can help me out by voting for me!!!

here are the instructions very very simple!

Please help Lisa Killingsworth win a high chair for Olivia!

1. Visit: Rattles and Rhymes (an awesome baby store online & in Athens, GA)
2. "like" their page.
3. Make sure you post on their "wall" telling them that I that you referred them  (IE.  LISA KILLINGSWORTH sent you!!!)

That's it!! Much thanks for anyone who does this!!

4 months!!!

How is it even possible?   I wonder how time seems to be speeding up more and more as I get older.   Olivia turned 4 mos yesterday!!   Amazing.  She is doing really weel these past few days with sleeping on her belly unswaddled!    I thought I was never going to see the end of swaddling days.   But once she realized sleeping on her belly was awesome...it has been heaven ever since.

Potty Training...HOORAY!

Lily Anne went to daycare with big girl panties.    I have called to check and so far...no accidents.   I am excited to see what happens by the time I pick her up this afternoon!

I am so proud of my little girl!   Yes, I just typed little girl...she is no longer a baby.   Sniff Sniff..

Olivia is 4 months today!!!!   Time is flying by so fast.   Seems like yesterday we found we were pregnant with her.   Amazed!!

Wordless Wednesday...well almost.



My Girls!



Lily Anne has such a pretty smile.   She will rarely share it with the camera though.



Olivia...always smiling!   Going to be 4 months tomorrow!


Kisses....
But look closely at Olivia...she has a expression of "do it and I am going to throw a punch"

so...Olivia has some chunky factors...I love every bit of it!!! 
Lily Anne was a skinny baby...wait she still is.

Comparison...Lily Anne and Olivia....
So different and yet so alike.



Labor Day???

Stolen yet again from Wade's World, and in honor of labor day ..

How long were your labors?

Lily Anne - about 6 hours with 3 pushes I think.   I know I was told to stop and wait after the first practice push..
Olivia: 31/2 hours with just a few pushes.

How did you know you were in labor?

Lily Anne:  I was induced 5 days early.   My choice.   I was dialated almost to 4cm and I wanted her out!   But when I checked in that night...I was already in labor on my own.   So no drugs other than the epi!
Olivia: It was a normal day.   I got up for a am walk, played with Lily Anne, took a evening (not normal), talked sykpe with my mom, put LA to bed.  Mich started a bubble bath for me, it was going to Mother's Day.   I felt horrible in the tub so I got out.   Crawled in bed and felt hungry at cereal started having contractions and 31/2 hours later we had Olivia.. 

Where did you deliver?

In a hospital bed. Like a normal person.

Drugs?

Umm...Epidurals are the best things ever!!  Lily Anne I got it pretty quick after I got checked in (around 4-5cm).   With Olivia...i got it within 15 minutes of arriving...I was almost 8cm!

C-section?

So blessed to not have.

Who delivered?

Lily Anne - Dr. Pridgen.   He is my OB...and he is the best and so sweet..
Olivia: Dr. Hollman.   She was great and on call while Dr. Pridgen was out of town.

How about you? What are your numbers?

Need a little help from you

Hey readers...(not many of you...but)

Can you all help me to win a free Chicco Polly Highchair for Olivia.

Lily Anne uses hers still will not give it up. Totally cool. But my favorite baby store is doing a give away and it would be really nice and helpful!!!!!

so...Here is what I need you to do! Pretty please!

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/rattlesandrhymesbaby

2. Say "like" their page.

here the most important part...

3. Make sure to post on the wall that Lisa Killingsworth sent/referred you!!!

I will love each and everyone of you!!!!!!!!

Camera Dump

With me not blogging this summer has me a little behind on sharing photos....so lets play a little cathcup...

4th of July!!! We had a blast at the pool and fun with friends!
Lily Anne is learning how to be a great big sister!Olivia is growing leaps and bounds
Lily Anne and the swing set! It was her early birthday present. She has spent hours out there. This summer has been very challenging with outside play because of the heat and the heat index well over in the 100's!I could not ask for better friends!! Katie (from TX), Jenn (from SC), and Lindsay (my weekend bud) These ladies have been wonderful friends and great mamas!!! We got together over the summer and had a blast and so did our kids!
Kisses with Daddy. Lily Anne and her daddy or is it Daddy and his Lily Anne. I am not sure...becasue they are one in the same. The sun does not set without each other. They have a bond that I can not touch! She absolutely loves him. Her eyes follows him in any room and not matter what is going on she finds daddy.
Olivia is a mama's gal. Which melts my heart. She is such a snuggler and talker! Smiles at me for days. I could just squeeze her to death.Lily Anne turned 2.... Where did TWO YEARS go? I have no clue. But the past two years I would not give back or ask to be different. She has change me and Mich forever. The love, bond, memories, and all that the future holds....I can not imagine. To be parents is the best gift god has ever given us. We are so blessed!Sleeping so peacefully! Wonder what she dreams of? What does she see? Yup I was the mom that dress my girls alike! They honestly could have cared less but I was in love. Although, neither were up for photos!What do these eyes see? I really wonder because I could stare into them for hours!Some of Olivia's best naps are outside with daddy. LilyAnne in the pool, mommy with the camera...these are the days. Alrighty folks now that I have blinded you with all the camera dumping!

Favorite Things

Totally stole from Amy(Wade's World) this morning...it is always a good reminder to share your lastest favs! Lots of things I love and keep to myself others I am glad to share...so here are my favorite things of today!

1. My OXO Tot bottle brush!! it is pretty awesome. I love the stand it came with and that it is sturdy and cleans the bottles. I hand wash and use the dishwasher on the bottles. Using the dishwasher is quick but we do not fill it up quite as fast as we use the bottles. Not wanting to buy more bottles....we end up handwashing alot. I have it in pink and love it!!

2. Summertime Swaddleme pods. Olivia would not get any sleep if we did not have these. After two weeks of her breaking my swaddle job I brough one to try. LORD HAVE MERCY is was a great night. It has been since we have used these. There are nights she still does not sleep the best but she is not screaming because she wacked herself! Now...I just need to figure out what I am going to do when it is time to unswaddle her.

3. Puddle jumper! My best friend for Lily Anne!! She puts this on and can go all over the pool with no worries at all!!!! She is my swimmer and loves the pool thanks to Lindsay for letting us come over all summer to enjoy. I really would not know what to do without you Lindsay!!! lots of hugs!

4. Pre-mixed drinks! I love them because they are quick and easy. (oh and mighty tasty!) After the kids are sleep Mich and I like to sit on the back porch and talk. This is our adult time and sometimes our only sanity moment of the day.

So, my few favorite things, while simple and a short list....

Sleep is wonderful

So all my complaining....We all slept last night!!!! Soon as we got both girls in bed, we went to bed too. 9:30pm....our house was dark and quiet!

Lily Anne is a great sleeper anyways! Olivia slept FINALLY! long bath with sister (lots of excitement from both), just a onesie, swaddleme, and one thin blanket. Brought out the sleep positoner with the incline...Olivia slept great! I think the small amount of reflux is waking her up and the breaking out the arms..which I fixed!

Magic juice...is called a full night sleep! I even feel better today then I have in the last two weeks.

I need to verbal blog! I can think of a million things to say in the shower...but when I sit to type I am drawing a blank... Does the mind just go to sleep, push pause, or stand still? I do not think so.

so I will share some funny stories on potty training...or at least to me.

1. Potty training...parent torture!!! Being stuck in the house for weekends trying to get to a toddler to understand body functions. Farting...the eyes of did that just occurr. Followed by her turning in circles to look at what come out. (Much like a dog chasing its tail.)

2. The words "I go potty"...can mean so many things!!!
alternate meanings.....I already went and you need to clean me or the floor.
I have to go now RUN!
I really just want to see your response....JUST KIDDING
I really have to go and I want the surprise first.

3. I now understand why I have always told her to sit and put her legs down in front of her. Lily Anne sat there and put her feet up on the seat .... only to then pee. ummm.. I saw a fountain start...que the quiet laughter from me and at the sametime Lily Anne feet down!!!! Lord have mercy!

4. Why liltte girl and boys should not share bathrooms... Lily Anne treid to pee in the toilet standing up last night!!!! Funny, but I had to really not laugh and tell her to sit down. Girls sit to pee!

5. Lily Anne gave me hig fives for peeing in the potty. Even told me I need to wipe with TP! thanks dear, mommy did not need that lesson.

so...life happens.

but the best of stories. A little embrassing but it is life... Lily Anne and a bandaid.
Mommy is having a moment on the potty and trying hard to hide the panty liner in her panties. One curious child told me. Mommy diaper! I said yup. She immediately pulled her big girl panties down to look. Her panties were empty...she was shocked. Her solution...take her bandaid off her knee and try to place in her panites.

Seriously!!!!! I died right there.....what do you do or say to that. Oh my days are numbered!!!!

Monday Blues

Oh it is back to work! I have been so out of it! Last week was sick Monday and Tuesday with strep...horrible. I am still feeling pretty yuck...but I am trying to finding the magic juice to make it better. MICH!!!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!

So, on to the girls....oh my girls. I love them, OH I LOVE THEM! Lily Anne is my heart melter! She finally hit the OMG, I love the potty! Since last Monday she has been in big girl panties! She has not pooped in them only in the potty! I can not say how happy and proud I am of her. Finally, a light bulb!!! I have been not bragging for fear of the dreaded JINX!!!!

So, lets hope this continues for the next million years! This morning she melted my heart. I got the girls in the car ready for Mich to take to daycare. Lily Anne rolls her window down and says: "mama, come here." I race to the window thinking it is for another kiss. Well that did happen, but she pulled my face close and said " I love you, mama". Seriously, the tears in the eyes were huge!!!! I love my little girl!!!!

Olivia...dear lord. She has cheeks for days, rolling thighs....all things Lily Anne NEVER had! I am in love with each roll. Yup she is chucky, but I am a proud mama!!! She smiles at me for days. But last night at 2am for a paci replacement...the smiles were really not welcomed. This sick mama is dragging! She is not sleeping at night like she started out doing...we are up several times with paci replacement, retighten the swaddle...yeah I have the swaddleme pods...but we wrap another blanket for warmth...how she likes it. But this is getting old. I have tried several times to leave a arm out, loosen the swaddle ....all things to try to unswaddle her...all FAILING! I am guessing it is what it is.....motto.

so, I guess photos would be great...

wow...I forgot about the blog

Life has been so busy!!!!!

I enjoyed my maternity leave to the fullest. Olivia is doing wonderful. She is adjusting well to daycare. I am adjusting okay....not to the new price each week. Anyway, Lily Anne is growing and becoming one incredible big sister. She is constantly asking to feed or help with Olivia. The girls are starting to form a bond...I noticed that few mornings ago. Lily Anne was talking to Olivia and Olivia had her full attention on Lily Anne and was laughing and smiling. I could have cried right then.

Potty training....Lily Anne took a HUGE slide backwards after Olivia's arrival. Just this week she is making huge steps forward. Told me that pullups are for babies and demanded she wear panties. So, she has been wonderful in the mornings and evening with going to the potty. LOVE IT!!!! She is even using the potty several times a day at school again. So hopefully we are on the road to success in the potty room.

Olivia....she growing by leaps and bounds daily. She laughs and coos all the time except when hungry or tired. She is rolling machine. She can roll belly to back and back to belly. She found her hands pretty quick....but she found her feet last night. Hard to believe that she is almost 4 months...where is time going????

Going back to work has been harder on me this time than it was with Lily Anne. I am struggling to find my way back to working me. My mind wonders several times a day.... Maternity leave with Lily Anne was about struggling with becoming a mom, new worries, new everything...I wanted normal life again...working!!! But this time, maternity leave was so relaxing, enjoyment, loving my new expanded family. Yes, at first it was hard...but things went normal quickly. I found myself each day not wanting to go back to work. But I am not wired as a Stay at Home Mom gal. So all good things must end.

It has been 25 days....really...19 days....but I struggle each day to sit and remain focused at the task at hand. A million things run through the mind...maybe it is my job, maybe it is me...ie. Le sigh...my mind will catch on and focus eventually.

Stationery card

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It's the small moments ....

It truly is the small things that make me happy. It makes each day enjoyable. Lily Anne came home from school yesterday all smiles. Her smiles lights up the room. She has a strong personality....sometimes it gets the best of her, but yesterday she shared her smiles with the camera.

Olivia slept most of yesterday...must be so NICE!! And gave us a pretty good night of sleep. only waking at 12am for food, then 2am for the paci.

oh the paci...I could curse it....but I love that it comforts her.

Chin Up or should I said Head Up.

What more can I say than "sisters". Lily Anne shared her blanket with Olivia this morning. Lily Anne does not share it with anyone or anything. But this was them on the couch watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Then it was off to school (daycare) for Lily Anne and work for Daddy. Me and Olivia enjoyed some music and Olivia showing me she is growing up. She is starting to gain some head control and lifting it off the ground.

After all that working out she napped in her swing for the morning. Oh the life!!!

Trying to get life to normal....

The joys of having Two under Two.... life has been so interesting. Actually the house got turned upside down and we are now finding our way to our "new" comfortable life. Some things are easier the second time around and then there are things that are harder than ever.

Lily Anne is adjusting very well to being a big sister. Although we have more meltdowns because she has to share the spot light with everyone (including Mom and Dad). This alone is her biggest adjustment. She loves her sister and kisses her all the time. Lily Anne has really taken to her baby dolls and whatever I do with Olivia she does to her baby dolls. I love watching her play mommy.

Lily Anne talks so much now and repeats almost everything. I am working so hard on her saying "olivia"...she just looks at me funny. So she calls her "O" or Baby.

Olivia is a growing weed. Each day brings a new joy and smile to our faces. She is still fitting into her new born clothes. She is a peanut! She is so different from her sister. She is very calm and chill. (except when hungry, wet, tired or gassy) We have had a time trying to find the right bottle and formula. After a few tries we are on a good road.

Mom and Dad....we are making it and taking each day as it comes. No two days are the same. I am enjoying my maternity leave and taking it easy while I can. Somedays are extremely boring others I barely have time to shower.

I have stopped breastfeeding. Olivia was so much better than Lily Anne ever was at it. But it is just not for me. First, I hate the emotional roller coaster it puts me on. (the constant worry) Second, I hate not being able to go to far or a long time because of the feeding schedule. Third, I love spending time with Lily Anne and I felt like I was always feeding. I tried to pump to see if that would help...nope...so we started to wean. Forth, my boobs are just not the best milks makers...enough said!
**Now with that said...I did love the feeling of being so close to Olivia and the bond.

so for now...Olivia's newborns.