Winter Break

We packed our bags and headed to Kansas last week. We where taking our annual winter trip to see Jeff's family. Luckily Jeff's parents have most things that we would need so we didn't have to pack much more than clothes. We had great plane rides both directions. This may be our last easy flight with Jessie. I imagine next time she will want to run around. Jessie had her worst cold yet which had me freaking out. I was away from our pediatrician (though I called and he called me back on Christmas. nice. I told him merry Christmas because that's what everyone seems to say, he didn't say it back which made me think... hmm he's probably Jewish..oops next time I should keep to the happy holidays). Even though I had talked to him I still took her in to urgent care because I wasn't going to feel better until someone listened to her lungs and looked at her ears. We where given antibiotics for her ears. She hates taking medicine but her body seems to tolerate it better than Jamie did.

Anyway... we all had a great time. Jamie loves this time of year.

Though, it is nice to have my kids back to their bed time routines. I depend on it.

Jessie's third tooth broke through. They seem to be coming fast and furious.

Jamie just loves to play with her sister. She loves that she can make her laugh and is in her face every chance she gets... I wish the car was bigger..

Jessie is starting to wave which is really cool. She seems like she is really close to crawling and really enjoys standing... though.. I wouldn't be surprised if we still had to wait awhile for that stuff. (fine with me)

I will try to post pictures soon. Jeff took some nice pictures and I just have to figure out if we have made them small enough to put them on the blog.

correction

Yesterday I said Jessie just had the one tooth. Well, last night I noticed number 2 had broken through. Maybe that explains the rough day at school on Monday. Poor baby.

Jessie turns 8 months today.

Jessie is 8 months today. So what is she like at 8 months... She is still a very happy baby. When she gets excited she flaps her arms up and down (which always makes me laugh). She always has lots to say (not as much as her sister). She says mama (I swear she knows how to use it) she says dadada, bababa and my favorite ohhhh and oooohh. She plays very well by herself. Though, there are the moments where I can't so much as touch her toe to the ground or she stars crying. She wraps her arms around my arm as if to say.. don't leave me. It's so sad. If I'm not with her but she sees me in the room.. get ready for the tears. This can make getting ready in the morning tough.

Jessie loves to stand. Her face lights up when she does. She is getting a little more sure footed and can stand up holding on to something (without parent support). Last night she even took some steps while holding my fingers. She doesn't seem to want to pursue crawling. I'm not worried either way.. she will figure out what works for her when she is ready.

Big sister Jamie adores her. Though, not a good idea to turn your back on them. Jamie's hugs can border on tackling and she always wants to hold her hands with every germ known to man on them. That's a little tough for me. The other day I stepped out of the room for less than a minute and Jamie was bouncing her a little too hard in the bouncy. Yep, don't recommend leaving a five year old with a baby. Jamie loves to have her around though, she likes to help give her baths, change her, and sometimes feed her.

Oh.. and how could I forget... teeth.. we are standing strong with our one bottom tooth. I'm sure more are on their way. Along those lines, she loves to eat. She will eat nearly any of the jars we give her and anything that you can mash up on your plate. She also enjoys toast.. and anything you will let her put in her mouth. She watches everyone eat and appears to be studying. She also likes to have her own spoon when she eats. She will take up to two (size 2) jars of food a day (usually 1.5). She nurses 3-5 times a day with me and I'm lucky if she will take any milk at all at school. We got all excited yesterday because she drank 3 oz. This doesn't seem right to me, but everyone tells me since she looks healthy not to worry about it.

I'm starting to buy 12 months clothes and they fit. She is a big little girl but somehow it seems just right.

She makes us all very happy and we are a better family for having her in it.

Jamie's pics

Jamie took some pictures on her own.

p.s she took more pictures than this.. I included more of them in this blog but for some reason they didn't show up.. next time I have time I may post more of them

just the girls.. (and logan)

A portait of the ladies (also taken at bree and john's).

family portrait

Yeah! We have a family portrait. We took this picture at a lovely dinner we had at Bree and John's house.

santa party

My work had an event where we got to make ornaments and receive a gift from santa. We go every year and it's lots of fun. This was Jessie's first year.

Fire Truck

We got to ride the fire truck for a donation to Toys for Tots. Jamie and I where very excited!

brrr... it's cold

bouncing fun!

woops

for some reason this didn't show up in the fall fun blog and it's my favorite

Fall fun

Since no one ever let me jump in a leaf pile I decided to make a leaf pile for Jamie to play in. I wanted to find a place with nice big leaves but couldn't find an ideal spot, so we made due with our yard. The neighbor kids started to line up. I new the look, so we invited them to join us. After awhile the parents came over and started to help me rake the piles back together. There where actually a couple more kids that just didn't make it in to the photo. Everyone had a very good time.

More bath pictures...

Jessie loves to be in the bath. Jamie loves to take a bath with her little sister. Though, Jessie doesn't want to be in the bath with her sister for to long because that usually reults in water in the face.

I'm coming up...

Jessie's first tooth is coming through. You can hardly see it, but it's a little white bump, poking through her gums. Jessie is about 7 1/2 months old. When her big sister Jamie's first tooth came in she was 14 months old. We kept thinking Jamie was getting a tooth.. and they didn't come for awhile. Once Jamie's teeth finally broke through, it didn't seem to bother her much. Jessie however, seems bothered. She cries hysterically at what seems like the smallest things. She is also not as interested in jars of food. I'm not even sure what the protocol is these days for this. Jessie seems to appreciate the refrigerated teethers and we gave her some tylenol which made her feel much happier and willing to eat.