JUST CHILLIN'

Kelsey really enjoys this "kick and play" bouncy seat. She likes to prop her feet up on the sides and just "chill." Too funny. :)

SISTERS ARE SPECIAL

I am loving how the girls are starting to interact more and how Kelsey is now very aware of her sister and loves to be around her. Morgan is always giving her kisses and hugs, telling her "Hi. I'm your big sister" and "When you get bigger, you can _____ just like me!" Tonight Morgan was in rare form, and as long as she was in the room singing and dancing and being silly, Kelsey was all smiles and would even giggle and laugh at her. But if Morgan left the room, Kelsey would get all fussy and cry. In this picture Morgan was singing her Christmas program songs at the top of her lungs and using my calendar as a "song book" to "teach" Kelsey the songs as well. Kelsey was loving the attention!

MY BIG GIRL!

We aren't quite ready to try solid foods yet, but I got out the highchair for her to sit in while we eat so she gets used to it. I can't believe she is old enough to sit in the highchair already. These months fly by too fast!

CHOICES

Mornings have been a battle lately as Morgan has a strong opinion on what she wants to wear (and it's not always practical). AND, she usually doesn't want me to do her hair.....but you should see it in the mornings! Then, after battling over getting dressed, she usually is in a bad mood and refuses to make her bed, too.

SO, we sat down the other day and made a plan. On days we aren't going anywhere, she can pick whatever she wants to wear (within season)....even if that is her pj's. And we don't have to do her hair if she doesn't want me to. On days where we have somewhere to go, Mommy will give her a choice of 2 outfits that she can wear, and she can choose HOW Mommy does her hair. On "church days," Mommy picks what she wears and how her hair is done, no questions asked. So far, it has gone better.....not perfect, but better. And she doesn't fight me as much anymore to make her bed since there hasn't already been a battle over getting dressed.

MORGAN QUOTES

1. One day, I was looking for the carmel dip to go with my apple slices, and when I couldn't find it in the refrigerator, I said, "Bummer. Daddy must have taken the rest of the carmel dip to work with him." Morgan put her hands on her hips and said to me, "Mommy, stop whining and just eat your apples."


2. When she was in the hospital, the doctors were doing their rounds one day and talking to me about her diagnosis. Morgan tapped me on the hand and said, "Mom, do we have a plan?"


3. We were working on one of Morgan's new online powerpoint shows, and her new "book" that day in the lesson was called One Way. The last page said, "Jesus is the only way for you and me." But when I had Morgan read it for the first time, she said, "Jesus is the only way (then she paused and looked at me).... to GOD!"


4. She loves wearing her little dress up cheerleader outfit. She asks me all the time if she can be a "chilly leader" today. :)

18 WEEK UPDATE

These updates are getting shorter and shorter, but things are a bit crazy around here right now. Just a few things to note:

• 4 months is known to be a hard month, and it has been! But there have been some really good things going on, too.


• Reflux is at its peak....she spits up more and more each day, and her "gulpy" swallowing is getting worse, too. Thankfully it hasn't seemed to interfere with her sleep.


• She was on an "eating boycott" again for awhile.....just did NOT want to eat. Yesterday and today, though, have been better. She was back to eating only about 13-15 ounces a day, but then yesterday she took 20! Who knows.....


• She is getting FOUR teeth in right now....yep. FOUR! I knew she was working on the bottom middle ones, but yesterday she was sticking her fingers way back in her mouth, so I felt inside her mouth, and sure enough, there is one on each side on the bottom that is coming in. The middle ones are almost through. I'm sure it will take the ones on the side awhile to poke through, though. Ugh.


• About 9 days ago, I just decided to go cold turkey to a four hour schedule, and she took to it great! I just decided she was close enough to being able to stay awake for 2 hours, and I just tried it one day, and wallah! It was like magic. She started sleeping better, too. She naps at least 2+ hours in the morning and again in the afternoon with a short evening catnap, and I often have to even wake her up to eat. I like it because her afternoon nap now lines up with Morgan's, and I now have a 2 hour chunk all to myself again! Yea! Right now she eats at 7:30, 11:30, 3:30, and 7:30. She naps from about 9-11:15 and from about 1-3:15. Then she takes a little catnap from about 5 - 5:45.


• When she is not miserable with her teeth, she is a very happy baby. I missed her SO much when I was at the hospital with Morgan. I truly can say that I am really enjoying her now, and I simply cannot imagine our lives without her. I am learning to really cherish each moment with her and not wish these hard days away. She will grow up way too fast the way it is. I adore her giggles and belly laughs when you tickle her, her smiles and coos first thing in the morning, the way she snuggles in the rocker with me at her bedtime feeding and falls asleep in my arms, and the way she smiles at her sister when she is in the room. I love you so much, Kelsey Faith!!!!!

UPDATE: Kelsey had her 4 month checkup today (11/8/11). She weighs 15 lbs. 7 oz. and is 26 1/2 inches long. She is 97th percentile for height and just about 50th for weight. So, there's a bit of a discrepancy there, but she IS at least gaining weight, so I guess the doctor said we don't have to worry. Tall and skinny, just like her Daddy! :)

A SAD DAY AND A STAY IN THE "HOSTABLE"

It was a hard day yesterday. Jared's Grandma Miller passed away on Thursday morning and we attended her funeral yesterday morning. She was 92. We will miss her dearly and always remember her loving and serving spirit. Though we were sad to see her go, we did have a good time visiting with lots of family that we don't get to see very often. It made for a crazy and hectic weekend, though. We were at Grandma Faith and Grandpa Bob's house for most of it, and the girls were a bit...... off due to the craziness. But that's just how it goes sometimes. Goodbye Grandma Miller. You will be missed!

Then, on top of all that, Morgan got sick. She threw up Sunday evening at Grandma Faith's house, but was acting totally fine. She ended up throwing up in her bed, though, Sunday night, and continued to be lethargic, listless, weak, and unresponsive on Monday. Not to mention that she vomitted more and her heart was RACING! When we got back from the funeral (my mom stayed home with the girls), I called the doctor and they told us to go straight to the ER because they couldn't do anything for her at the doctor's office, and it sounded like she was dehydrated and needed to be admitted for fluids. Well, that is exactly what happened. Morgan got to have her own stay in the "hostable." She has been a trooper and a very well behaved and cooperative patient. The new children's floor is awesome here, and they have treated us so well. Hopefully we will be able to go home sometime today.