Monday, February 24, 2014

Attack of the Bailey-Monster.

I am a little at my wits end. Bailey has been attacking the kids non-stop for the past few weeks. They are very scared of him, even Aubrey who LOVES him to death is afraid of him 90% of the time. I have kids crying all day long, with cuts all over them from bites and scratches. I am not sure how much more I can take or the kids can take. I am exhausted and I feel awful having to constantly put Bailey in a separate room so he can calm down and I can keep the kids safe. I am thinking I made such a bad decision in getting a puppy while the kids are so young. Addi and Greyson really don't like him, and Addi is obsessed with dogs. It's breaking my heart. I guess that's all I have to say for now. Just had to get it off my chest.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Growing up!

It has been a while since I have done an update on the kids (at least I think it has, I have like no memory so I could of written about this yesterday and have completely forgotten already). So I know you must be dying for an update, because I am sure you all love knowing what my kids are up to these days.

Aubrey is growing like a weed, she is tall for her age but not overly tall. She is around 75th percentile for both height and weight (maybe a little teensy bit higher for weight, but shhh). She was amazing at her 4 year appointment (pretty much what sparked this post). She did everything the doctors asked, and was so super serious the entire time. She acted like it was a test, which she loved. They checked her eye sight by having her say the shapes, so she thought they were quizzing her on her knowledge of shapes and she was smiling so big shouting them out.

Oh Man, I just can't believe she is four already.

She is loving school and learning a lot. She loves to be creative. Painting, crafting, drawing, making up stories and all that jazz. But most of all she loves to talk and sing. The girl never stops talking and she says words I didn't even know she knew and just acts like a grown up sometimes. She asked me today in the car "Mom aren't you proud of me for waiting so patiently to go to Disney?" and "Mom can we go to Grandma's ice cream place since I was so good at my appointment, I will help you take care of the kids, so please don't worry it will be ok." She just cracks me up, especially since she is being so serious about it. She is just smart as a whip. Man, I just adore that little girl!

This is a picture that Aubrey took of us this morning, she always asks to use the clicker to take our picture. Maybe a photographer in the making! :)
Addi has become so sweet. She still has her tantrums here and there, but nothing like before. She has been saying a lot more this last week, which is giving me hope. She is very stubborn so speech therapy is tough. She does not like when people tell her what to say or try to get her to repeat what they say. I am very happy with her internal vocab though, she understands so much more than she used to. I keep reminding myself that she has been through a lot and has only been hearing clearly for a very short amount of time, so I try to not expect it all to happen over night (I really have to remind myself of this daily, it's so hard).

I am hoping to start potty training in the next few months, now that she is starting to understand more. Aubrey was potty trained by this point but we started trying with her a lot earlier. I am wondering if I should start with Greyson too or not, get it all over with at once. That would be some craziness for sure! Addi is still my little peanut, so tiny and adorable (her speech therapist loves to remind me that Addi knows how cute she is and uses it to get out of talking). Every time I look at her I just want to scoop her up and give her the biggest hug! I remember when I was pregnant with her, I hoped (and vocalized many times) that I would have a little baby this time, since Aubrey was HUGE and did a number on me. I just wanted a baby I could carry without killing my back, and I definitely got that with Addi. Oh how I just love my tiny little munchkin. (Side note: While pregnant with Aubrey I hoped (and again vocalized many times) that she would have beautiful blue eyes, even though neither Greg or I had blue eyes and Bam I had the bluest eyed baby you'd ever see. Isn't that just crazy and a little freaky?!) 

Last but not least, Greyson! He is learning a new word almost daily (scaring me that he might be talking more than Addi soon). Right now his new favorites are "oh toodles", "spoo" (spoon), "shoe", "stop, "peeeaase" (please), "go" and "Moooooo". Looks like he is really into words with O's right now! It's crazy how much he understands. I feel like I am on a rollercoaster with these kiddos. First I have Aubrey who is so vocal and understands things so early on, to Addi who went through a lot and didn't really catch on until recently, to Greyson who is like Aubrey and just very aware and vocal. I knew kids would be different but geez, just when I adapt to one another throws me for a loop. Oops, got a little off subject... back to Gman. He is getting so big, growing tall and wide. It is crazy how he just took off. He has almost caught up to Addi in size (and already outweighs her). Let me just tell you my back is hurting every. single. night. He is such a sweet boy, but if he doesn't get what he wants, watch out! He thinks he is the funniest child in the world. He is constantly cracking himself up, usually by being up to no good. He is into everything but slow enough to stop, unlike hurricane Addi. He is such a mix of his sisters, it's crazy. He is always watching and listening like Aubrey, and has no fear like Addi. I just can't get enough of that little boy and his chunk!


Just looked back through my posts and I kind of did give a update for the new year. Yep, I am losing it. OH WELL!

Just re-read this post, man I am all over the place with my thoughts... must be this cold medicine. Yeah that sounds good, lets blame the cold medicine.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Disney, here we come!

So after years of my begging and pleading, we are finally purchasing annual passes to Disney. I had pretty much wanted to get them the second Aubrey was born. I know, I know, I am nuts. I just always pictured taking my kids there. So the older Aubrey has gotten them harder I have tried to convince Greg we just HAD to go. We had some bumps along the way, like me being too pregnant or having a newborn, or like having to spend money going to Lego land instead of Disney, a little bit of a sore subject for me since I had finally convinced Greg that we should go but then we found out about the family Lego land trip and we couldn't say no. We were going to go for Addi's first Birthday. Greg didn't want to bring a child under 1 so if we didn't go then we'd have to wait until Gman was at least on. So after that it took a while but I had come up with a plan...

First things first: stop getting pregnant...check. Secondly: have a reason to go...check. Thirdly: make sure we don't buy tickets to any other parks for the year, check. Fourthly: Keep bringing it up until Greg is also convinced yet again that it is a good idea... check, check, checkkkkkk! 

So it worked out perfectly for this year... we decided to go for Aubrey's 4th Birthday instead of a party (there is my reason!), with her birthday being at the beginning of the year there is no way we would have a chance to buy tickets to any other parks (YAY!), and the not getting pregnant part, well that was easy! :P

Aubrey is so excited to "go to Princess Sofia's house" for her birthday. She can't wait! Her excitement get's me that much more excited! I hope she doesn't chicken out and actually meets Princess Sofia! You know that I am going to go picture CRAAAAZAYYY! We are hoping to try to make it there once a month after this trip even if it's just a day trip. I have so many good memories from there, mostly about food but still, I just remember how happy my family was and how everyone was in the best moods and we got to spend such amazing quality family time together. I hope its a much fun for my little family, and look forward to making so many more wonderful memories! 

So Disney, HERE WE COME (Saturday that is)! 



Thursday, February 6, 2014

These past 4 years.

These past 4 years have been the best, most exhausting, most exciting, wonderful years. I think back to my life before and it seems like a lifetime ago. I miss parts of it but at the same time LOVE where I am now. I can not believe how blessed I am. I go to bed exhausted every. single. night. but I am always thinking about how incredibly lucky I am. We struggled to conceive Aubrey, it was a long and painful process. I am constantly reminded that there are so many couples out there that are going through the same thing and may not get as lucky as we did. Aubrey changed our lives in such a BIG way, and I will never forget that. She is seriously so amazing. Her fire, her wit, her spunk, her silliness, and her sweetness just make her so incredibly lovable. I really don't know how I would survive the day without her. She is like a second Mom to "the kids" (as she likes to call them), she is always lending me a helping hand and always up for cuddling and big bear hugs! She is one of a kind and I am so lucky she is my little girl.

I love you so much Aubrey Lyn, you are such a big light in my life. I adore everything about you and I can't wait to see you grow and learn. You have such a sweet and loving old soul, and I am so blessed to call you my daughter. Happy Birthday baby girl!