Year in Review

Wow, what a different place my life was at this time last year. Christmas was so similar this year yet so different and I think captured the newness of life for me. First of all the addition of Paisley was new. We had one less boyfriend and one additional girlfriend. We had a different type of meat this year too-yummo! The gifts were still plentiful as were the drinks :) I did manage to stay off the train tracks this year though--haha.

At the beginning of this year I had many goals, some immediate, some for the year, and some for the future. I think I did a pretty good job at most of them. I made some pretty significant changes at the office and it is starting to shape up nicely. I ended the year with numbers I"m proud of for my 4th year, I LOVE my staff (thanks Lisa), and look forward to further building the biz in my 5th year.

Lee and I decided in December 2006 that we wanted to try for another kiddo. We did a cleanse in January so missed ovulation that month and then I was away for what I thought was ovulation time in February---two lines in March proved otherwise and this November Paisley was born! Nothing makes a year fly by faster and move slower than being pregnant in that year---haha! Some days I still cannot believe I have two kiddos and other days it seems completely normal having us a family of 4...needless to say she is fitting right in.

So, onto 2008. We have no plans for more kids this year. I do have some goals for the office which I know will be implemented. In conjunction with that I plan to be home with the kids more too. I'm so psyched about that decision and making it come to life. Personally I want to get my abdominal muscle in check and get back in shape. Lee has vowed to stick with me too. I look forward to the HOT pictures of xmas 2008! I think we will spend a lot of time as a family with a few trips to look forward to as well, particuarly one to St. Louis in June. We both turn 30 this year so I'm sure that will be exciting as well. Big year ahead and I'm looking forward to it with gusto. Maybe we'll even get bikes finally....

Water Baby

So, how much is my water bill going to be this month? ha. I am feeling awful in regards to the environment but she LOVES the sound of the water running soooo much. The last few days it's the only way to get her to sleep not on me. I need a few moments to get things done or just be. I guess I'll worry about the environment later....

1st day home alone...

and I'm blogging so I guess it's going well :) Seriously though the kids have been great so far. Griffin has been playing all morning after eating a good breakfast. Paisley is sleeping in her swing after eating a good breakfast. lol.

check back later...

Almost 1 month...

My new favorite picture of little Miss P....check out those lips! hee hee.



and of my big guy. He desperately needs a haircut which he's getting on saturday but I still love his hair longer.

Ever have one of those days...

where you just wanted to get something checked off your "list"? Well, I am having one today so instead of doing the many things I should have done around our house or coming into work early I took advantage of Miss P sleeping in her swing and I reorganized my kitchen. I am sooooo happy with it. I hope it pleases Lee as well. My mom and I started this project the day before P was born and I just ran out of steam and then went into labor so we never finished. I've heard several complaints from Lee in regards to where items "ended up" so they were at least put away. I kept promising him I would fix it and make it functional which was the original intent. So, today I did! I think it's great.

Jinxed....

Do you believe in that? I might after last night. I posted that last post and then she decided to prove me wrong. lol. fussy baby galore...it was all gas but man, it was a tough evening followed by a restless night's sleep. I'm tired today and she is sleeping. ha. go figure.

Sweet Baby

So, if Paisley had been born first I think we might have had 2nd sooner :) ha. She really is a great baby. Just like her brother she likes to be held to sleep but she also sleeps other places, lets me work, lets others hold her, takes a bottle, sleeps a good amount at night just next to me instead of ON me, and rarely cries. She does seem to have more difficulties in the pooping/gas category but really, who wouldn't cry when that is difficult? lol.

So, we had another day at the office. All went well. I'm sure it won't always be easy sailing but we made it another day so I"m happy. I was pretty tired this afternoon/evening. I was questioning why in my mind and then I thought, "quit questioning it Allison. Just succumb to it." I did and took a little rest. I have to remember that just because I'm a bit maniacal and am back to "real life" doesn't mean I should be. lol. I know I'm not even 4 weeks pp so I really should cut myself some slack. Anyhow, I have and I feel less tired now from it.

well, off to surf the web for a few moments. Lee is holding P which is a nice break.

Smells...

So many of my posts are so boring and not that this one will exactly be more interesting, it's what is on my mind. I am sitting here at the computer as the scent of pizza fills our house. Lee cooked a frozen pizza for dinner. It got me to thinking about smells. They have always been so profound for me since I have a very very strong sense of smell. Sometimes this is a great thing to have, other times, not so much :) Recently I can say not so much as our house has a lot of POOP smell with 2 little ones and a dog that has awful gas. ha. But in my memories smells are so much a part of them. There is the smell of freshly cut grass which to me is one of the best best best smells around. Lee will disagree as even the thought gets him sneezing. For me, though, freshly cut grass has me back to my childhood when we would go on after dinner walks as a family. Sometimes people's sprinklers would be on and in my memory my sister and I would "sneak" into them joyously. I am sure my parents didn't really care that we got wet but in my mind it was sort of taboo to get all wet just because so it was even more fun. ha. How about the smell of rain on a hot summer day...sort of musty, moist, earthy smelling...love it. Then some smells from my childhood I don't like: lentil soup cooking (ew gross--still don't like it too as my father was cooking it one time recently when I was visiting), freshly tarred streets (makes me have an instant headache and still does), my sister's farts (rotten eggs), anheiser busch brewery (even worse rotten eggs smell--it's the kind of smell that you hate but can't help take in---awful).

anyhow, that's my crazy thought of the evening. The pizza is still in my nose, now I must get it in my belly. It's not what I want to eat though...I really want that pesto Mary cooked me a few weeks ago....must get to Costco to buy it soon!!!

I SLEPT!

She slept 5 hours, ate, slept 3 hours, ate, slept another 3 hours (I had to get up after 2 though to get ready)!!! I feel like a completely different person!! She had another really fussy evening and we got her to take about 3.5 oz. of EBM, then I nursed her to sleep....that lasted just a few minutes while I climbed into bed. Lee brought her to me, I nursed her to sleep again and she slept for 5 hours after that!! Of course part of that was while in Lee's care, rocking, walking, etc. but still, I got to get some sleep. It was amazing...it will still be awhile before I am caught up but that felt great.

In addition, Lee was in charge of both of the children while I worked for a few hours this a.m. All went well even if a little harried...they survived and I actually came home to a quiet, content house. Lee said, "it was fine but THIS is not what occurred" referring to the quiet. ha.

anyhow, off to feed the kidlet.

In Review

Yesterday went well. I was exhausted after maybe physically, maybe emotionally but definitely tired. Today has gone well so far...we are making it and it's going smoothly. I really really don't know how I did this the last time...maybe I just had to so I did but man, I was crazy :) haha.

anyhow, hoping to get more sleep tonight...Miss P has not been doing great in that department the last two nights so that has me draggy. And by the time I want to get some caffeine I fear consuming any so that she will sleep even worse. grrr.

anyhow, patients call...

We're HERE!!!!

It's 8:27 a.m. and we are at the office, me and Paisley. I got up at 6:30 to get myself and everyone ready. We were surprisingly only 12 minutes behind schedule. I hope we can maintain that for the future. Anyhow, I have 4 patients today and a bunch to call to schedule for next week. I have a sour feeling in my stomach this a.m. even though I know this will all be ok. It will, right? :)

I'll check in later....

Big Girl!

10 lbs. even today at nursing group! Wow!!

Last day to be a slug :)

Most people think I'm crazy for going back tomorrow. I am sure that I am but it has to be done. I've realized after having Paisley that I might not ever be emotionally ready to go back. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE what I do but I think for the first time I see the appeal of being at home. Now granted I don't think that would be easy either but I do think I might enjoy it. Anyhow, I am hoping to achieve a great balance of the two over the next year and keep it that way for some time. Be with my patients and be with my kids! I'm psyched about the prospect.

Paisley is 3 weeks old today! Wow. She had a really rough day yesterday. Still not sure what was the cause but she just wouldn't sleep much and her belly seemed to be bothering her. All she wanted to do was eat all day long. But she never seemed satisfied. Around 9 p.m. we gave her a EBM bottle and she ate that and FINALLY passed out. She slept well though the rest of the night so I guess that's a good thing. 3 hour chunks of sleep which was great. She continues to be a good baby but man, I was at my wit's end yesterday. Grrrrr.

Well, off to shower and to nursing group. Psyched to go again because I'm feeling a bit down about going back to work, etc.

1st bottle

Paisley had her first bottle last night of pumped milk. She took to it very well and sacked out for 3 1/2 hours afterwards. If this trend continues I will be a much better rested momma :)

G was in such a great mood yesterday and this a.m. It's good to see my happy boy! He was so playful yesterday physically. He was climbing all over Lee and standing on his back. I was cracking up but it probably wasn't funny to egg him on. ha ha. He has also been eating better. I know this is just a phase like the non-eating ones we endure but it's a weight off my mind for the moment. His lead levels came back lower too so I feel like we are doing something right in the nutrition category.

off to finish xmas shopping with Lee. I'm psyched to get it done...he is a little draggy though.

My surreal world

So, this is by no means a complaint..it's wonderful but it's wigging me out. Today I left the house after getting myself and P all ready. She promptly fell asleep in her car seat. I stopped at the bank and for a chai. Then I headed to Target but along the way saw that Tamara was working with a patient of mine at her studio so I stopped there to say hello and show her the baby. P stayed asleep, then wanted to be out of her seat and be held, then she ate. We were there about an hour and then I put her back in her seat, she fell asleep and stayed asleep on the way to Lee's work. I took her inside to "meet people" at Advanstar, she woke so I took her out and held her a bit, then we went to lunch. She fell back asleep in carseat and stayed asleep until after we ate. I took her out, fed her, and she fell back asleep. She screamed for the brief ride back to the office to drop daddy. I figured she wanted to eat again but no, she just had a dirty diaper. I then headed to target with her in the sling...I fed her while in the sling walking around Target. She passed out in sling and I xmas shopped for 2 hours. I transferred her back to her car seat, she stayed asleep, and we came home. I fed her a little and she had a major poop...then awake and happy for a little bit. Then it was time to go get G so we got back in the car, she fell asleep and stayed that way while we went to the in-laws (G has been asking to go). She woke and baba held her, put her back in the car seat, she fell asleep and stayed there while I went to the bathroom and sat down for a bit.....

Ok, so do you see a theme? MY child SLEEPS in the car!!!! Anyone who was around when G was little will understand why this is sooooo weird to me, wonderful but weird. Griffin only SCREAMED in the car, no sleeping, EVER!

anyhow, that was my crazy busy but wonderful day. Now, where is she? Asleep in her swing :)

Grow spurt?

Miss P was up every 45 minutes last night wanting to eat. She wasn't necessarily upset just hungry and squirmy. I suppose it is better than crying and I"m chalking it up to growth but man, I'm TIRED.

Funny site this a.m. I go in to get Griffin---I heard he was already awake and he doesn't have his pjs on. I can see his naked torso. Then I realize he doesn't have a diaper on either!! ha. I asked him where his clothes and diaper were and he said, "the chair." Sure enough he had taken them off because they were all wet..his diaper had failed and leaked to his clothes, pooor kiddo. Anyhow, he was romping around his bed naked just enjoying himself to pieces. Of course mean mommy had to end that by dressing him again :)

p.s. I am feeling a bit more "stable" the last 2 days..house is clean and all seems well. thanks for the thoughts all :)

2 weeks...

where does the time go? I really cannot believe P is already 2 weeks old. Wow! I think we are all doing pretty well considering though. She had a really hard time settling down last night. I think she wants to be more awake but then doesn't know what to do with herself. The good news is though that she has been giving me 2 three hour chunks of sleep...so either she is getting used to it or I am just working better with her cues. (sometimes I forget the basics--wet diaper, cold, hot, bored)

G has been a bit of a pistol lately as well. I think a large part of it is that he will really only interact with daddy and from my observations daddy is getting a bit short-tempered with said 2.5 y.o. I want desperately to step in but G won't let me nor will P most times. So, I figure they will manage and I move on. I know all of this is just a phase but it's hard to watch.

I'm at the office getting my carpets cleaned!! The guy just keeps saying, "wow there's a lot of dirt!" Ha. Guess I shouldn't have waited 4.5 years, eh? We'll just keep that on the blog though.

Off to P's first ped appt. after this too. I need desperately to go to the bank and transfer funds. Yikes! we are overdrawn as of today but I think if I put money in we will be ok. I hate this game we play still and I'm the only one who pays attention. payday is friday which will put us ahead a paycheck. At least I have money to transfer but I just need to do it.....always me, eh?

lastly, other great news..Liza comes today!!! Yeah clean bathroom.

Paisley 12 days old

Paisley getting changed


Paisley and Mommy

More illness and more tears...

Now Lee is sick...he was supposed to work today but about 9 p.m. last night got sooo sick with chills and fever and has felt the same through the night and today. Griffin is seemingly better but starting to show some aggression towards P, only when Lee is holding her. I guess he thinks Lee is his parent now and I am P's....

I continue to be weepy. It stinks. I am eating well, taking my vitamins, resting, calling on favors....but the tears continue. boo hoo.

In good news P gave me 2 three hour chunks of sleep last night and then a 2 hour nap this a.m.

I feel rested, just sad.