Practice Makes Perfect

Our 22 month old Evie is using bedtime to practice new skills.  After listening to books and a quick snuggle, we put her down.  For the next 30 minutes to hour we hear her talking.  I think she likes to practice her new words or just tell Teddy about her day.  Hey, as long as she isn't screaming or crying, we are ok with it.  Some nights she is chatting until 9 PM. 

For the past 3 nights she has taken off her PJs.  We have found her partially naked (diaper still on, thankfully) when we check on her before we go to bed.  Our heat is set low overnight, so we have put her PJs back on.  Luckily she has gone right back to sleep.  We chuckle as we get ready for bed thinking about our daughter laying on top of her blanket, legs out the slots of her crib, with just a diaper on.  Crazy kid

On Tuesday morning I peeked in on her in the morning to find her sitting with Teddy on her lap, saying "good job", clapping, and doing so with just her diaper on.  Of course I quickly grabbed the iPad to video her. 

PJs off again this morning... and one of the tabs undone on her diaper... uh oh!

I am assuming this is a toddler, independence, "I can undress myself" phase.  Jason and I think it is hysterical right now, but when the diaper comes off, all fun is O.V.E.R. 

We will try a different set of PJs tonight (pants and top instead of the feet/zip ones).   Fingers crossed we won't be changing her sheets every morning! 

Spring Snow

After "snowmageddon" in 2010, there really hasn't been much snow in Maryland.  A dusting here or there and major storms forecasted, but no results.  Until March 25th.  We woke up to about 3 inches of snow and it was still falling at a steady rate.  The less hype and warnings, the more snow. 

Since it might be another 2 years before we see major snow again, Daddy "worked from home" so he could go sledding with us.  The forecast indicated the snow would change to rain, so we ate breakfast, snow suited up, and headed over to a less treacherous hill at our neighbor's house.

Even though I no longer teach, I still check for school closings to see if my friend, Lisa, will be off for the day.  I enjoy her company and our daughters get excited about the idea of playing together.  (they act shy around each other, don't share, have tantrums when one takes the other's baby doll.... BUT they ask for "Ev" or "Emie" all the time). 


LOL.  Love these two girls!

 The hill near Lisa's house was perfect for the girls.  It levels off at the bottom so we didn't have to worry about the girls flying into the woods. 

While we played outside, a sick Braylen hung out in the house

Like most play dates, the girls started out shy, had fits (about wearing gloves), played together with a ball for 2 minutes, then had enough after 45 minutes.  By then we were all damp and tired of fighting with the girls to wear gloves.  The snow changed on and off to rain the rest of the morning and afternoon, so I am glad we had our 45 minutes of fun!  More pictures of our spring snow day. 

**I am still having difficulty with Google +.  Let me know if you cannot get to our album from the link.  I can't upload like my older blog posts. **

Egg-cellent Weekend

We spent this weekend before Easter cracking, mixing, hiding, finding, opening, dyeing, and decorating EGGS!

First, I participated in a freezer meal swap on Friday night.  I packaged up the ingredients for 7 quiches to swap with some other moms.  I tried to make my life as difficult and smelly as possible and fried up 70 pieces of turkey bacon on Thursday night.  My pillow still smells like bacon.  Then instead of using egg beaters, I cracked 28 eggs for 7 quiches.  I think I kept the shell pieces to a minimum in the mixture :)

Second, we went as a family of 4 to the Egg Hunt at Good Hope Church (Uncle Sam's church).  Hannah jumped started the egg hunting experience on Friday when we were at her house by hiding some eggs for Evie.  We also had some extra practice Saturday morning in the house so she would know what to do at the main event.  It took her a few minutes to get the hang of it, then she was a top egg hunter (like her mother ) 

so proud of her basket of eggs

It always helps that her side-kick, Cole Bug, was there...


Our "small fries" putting the emptied eggs back in the bin for next year

 ... and her Auntie

In addition to the egg hunt, Evie also listened (ha) to the story of Easter and made some crafts.

It was a chilly morning, but the sun was out and we had a great outing!  Thanks Auntie L for inviting us.

Third, we decorated hard boiled eggies.  Dropping the dye pellets in the vinegar was by far the most exciting part of it for Evie this year. 

Thanks G for the new art smock. 

We will spend Easter with various family members in PA this year.  It will be our first road trip with all 4 (or 5 if I can't find a dog sitter...) of us.  Hoping the Easter Bunny brings some warm weather for Easter!

Pizza Pizza!

Take out pizza has become a staple in our house for the past year.  Evie associates Daddy coming home from work with pizza.  She doesn't know we only have pizza on Fridays.  "Piiiiiiizzzza!!" is now staple in her vocabulary as well.

Here is a glimpse into my favorite time of day- Jason coming home from work!  This is Thursday....

Then here's Friday!

B-Man is 3 months!

Not only is it Braylen's 3 month birthday, it is also pi day!  Happy 3.14!

Our baby boy is around 13 pounds.  He wasn't cooperating for us during his photo shoot.  We couldn't get a good picture of him stretched out.  He is bigger, the proof is in his clothes.  I packed away all the 3 month stuff.  Braylen is currently wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes. 

We all know Braylen will be bigger than his sister.  When will it happen?  My guess is 10 months.  I mean, look at them together...  Braylen is gaining on his 21 pound sister... fast.

I am pleased Evie wants to share her love of reading with her brother

I am so bad at the "he/she looks like" game.  I guess they look
like siblings?  Weigh in!

After our marathon appointment to the pediatrician last week, all 3 of us came down with nasty colds, Braylen being the worst.  By Sunday his cough sounded hoarse and the on-call nurse advised me to take him to a walk-in pediatric place.  Off we went to Kinder Mender. 

I was very impressed with Kinder Mender.  Clean, friendly staff, SHORT wait (like 1 minute), and very kid friendly.  No fever, ears clean, but the NP was concerned about his cough.  She tested him for RSV.  Negative.  So we left with the same instructions we already knew- humidifier and saline. 

In Braylen's short life he has already had 2 colds- one when he was first born and this one.  His worst enemy is his mother!

I will fully admit that I do not give Braylen enough tummy time.  If he has a flat spot or doesn't roll until 6 months, it is totally my fault.  However, I'll make it look like I do everything those darn parenting books tell you to do-

Tummy time AND books.  Wow, sign me up for Mom of the Year

Who knows the book?  The bright colors kept his interest just
long enough for me to get some pictures of him.

Rolling is the next big milestone for him.  He rolled to his side for a second time.. this time on camera!

What else?  Oh!  Braylen is taking bottles again!!!  We stopped completely for a few weeks and started up again on Sunday with a fast flow, brown Playtex nipple with the drop-in liners.  I think these are a huge waste of money, however, both of my children seem to love them.  Braylen has been taking a bottle no problem since the change.  Go figure.  The air is much thinner in the Hollencamp house these days.

Sleep?  Please!!!  Braylen, you are 3 months old now.  It is time to start sleeping better at night.  Your mama cannot function too much longer on 4-5 hours of sleep a night and getting up 2-4 times a night with you.  Decide if you want your arms in or out and sleep 4+ hours already!

I am gaining more confidence in my abilities to take both kiddos out.  For Braylen's 2 month birthday, I went to Target and Safeway for the first time with both kids.  Today, I went to the mall for the story time.  I swear, every time I take him out it is windy.  When did Maryland become such a windy state?  I hope to become more adventurous now that he is more comfortable in the Ergo and I have pulled out my big girl panties.

...And Exhale...

The weather this weekend was A.mazing.  After a total flop of a snowstorm on Wednesday, a sliver of spring arrived in Maryland on Saturday.  The warmth lightened my spirits after a long, lonely winter.  Evie played outside, we walked the entire crew, and I did some spring cleaning.  Well, maybe just cleaned one or two things, but I did finally remove the food blobs from the kitchen blinds that have been there for months.  Life with a toddler is glamorous.
Evie enjoyed being pushed around on her bike. 

She is still too short to reach the real pedals.  She was a much safer rider this year holding onto the handles.  Not having to bend over to push her is a huge bonus! 

Look at her- she looks like she is ready to
take off on her motorcycle.  Head down, revving
the engine.  Later, her biker friend, Emily, joined us

Spring is right around the corner!  And so is Ocean City, NJ 2013.  Less than 4 months until beachfront living.  I. cannot. wait.

11 Weeks Check Up

Braylen finally made it to the doctor for his 2 month well check-up.  He is closer to 3 months old than 2 months at this point.  Oh well.  Some month we will be on track!  Let me tell you, two kids at The Pediatric Center for 1.5 hours was tricky.  I left a hot, flustered mess with 2 screaming kids.  Braylen was much better than Evie and she didn't have anything done.  Sigh.  She is bound to get the flu after laying face down on the floor during crying fit #3. 
Stats:

Weight: 12 lbs, 10 oz (31%)

Height: 23.25 inches (26%)

Head:  39.5 cm (33%)

He dropped a little in percentages, but no concerns from Dr. Burke.  She was impressed how much he has grown considering he only eats for 5 minutes at each feed.

not quite as strong and beefy as Popeye

Braylen rolled onto his side last night for the first time!

We have given up on the crib and decided to stick with what works to get him to sleep- the swing.  We moved it out of our room into his room.  He slept 6 hours last night!  We'll gradually lessen the speed and hopefully he'll move to his crib by 4 months.  He wants his arms out to suck his hands.  Fine except he can't stay asleep.  Still swaddled tightly at night. 

he loves looking around flat on his back, but won't sleep that way

Braylen still has a full head of hair.  Daddy is jealous

depending on the way we comb it after bath,
he can look like an old man :)

Even though he has frequent rotten-egg smelling gas, I love him more and more each day.

Little Picasso

Since Evie is feeling a little under the weather, we needed a new activity to do at home today.  Crafts and art projects are close to nonexistent in this house.  I was a high school math teacher for a reason- I am quite clueless what to do with little ones!  I have been meaning to mix up some finger paints for Evie after seeing my artsy fartsy friend, Erin, make them to her son.  That was in August.  It is March.  Long time coming...

Evie really enjoyed getting messy, which was a little surprising since she geeks out when her hands have yogurt on them or her tray is dirty.  (Or Auntie's floor is covered in food dropped by Cole... had to put it out there, sorry L!)  It also took a lot of restraint on our part to let her be messy. 

I think I boiled the mixture too long because the paint was rather thick.  The spoon was a big hit

I am pretty sure the paint will never dry, but here's the final product!

I think I have seen artwork similar at the art museums.  Sorry artsy friends, I don't "get" art.

In Phil (and Aubrey) I trust

Even though there is talk of a nor'easter later next week, I have about given up hope on a major snowstorm to keep Jason home with me for days. Spring can come. I am done with winter, germs, and cabin fever.

As a native Pennsylvanian, I have to trust Phil's prediction that Spring is coming soon. Why not trust a fat, yet adorable groundhog?!

I was so excited to have a spring baby with Evie. Yeah, it was nice for the 2 days it was under 80 degrees and 70% humidity to walk her. But it wasn't great. It got so stinkin' hot, fast, that summer.

Now I have a winter baby and am really struggling to not go stir crazy inside All. The. Time. I want to protect him from the flu, cold, and scary world. Even if he was older, I am not sure how much more I would really be doing. The flu and cold are enough to scare me away from most crowded, toddler slobbering/germ-infested activities.

I remember my dear friend Aubrey telling me a Fall baby is the best. By the time they are old enough to sit and travel more easily, it was Spring and you can get out. I thought she was a little crazy at the time, but more often than not, this girl is right. Braylen hits the big 3 month mark this month and am hopeful the weather will turn warmer about the same time. I cannot wait to get out of the house even if it is just a walk around the 'hood

Hello, March!