Operation sweet potato...

Might or might not have been a success...the jury is still out.  She thought the sweet potatoes were ok but not great.  She did manage to eat the full tablespoon I had dished out for her but didn't appear to want any more.  Not sure if it was the sweet potatoes, something I ate that made it into my breast milk or a new virus but she was up every hour last night for at least 20 minutes - she's super congested again and she has bad gas. Some places I've read say that food allergies can look like a cold. So who knows.  Last time I accidentally ate something soy she threw up on me for five days until it was out of my system.  Today she's grouchy, her nose is running like crazy and she threw up. Hopefully she'll be better soon...but until she is we probably won't give her any more "first foods".   Here's some pictures from yesterday:

What in the world is this?

Uh, maybe it's ok

Ok, I guess it's not that bad...

Overall thanksgiving was good.  Unfortunately my Mom was too sick to come and so were M's grandparents =(  We missed them and ended up with a small crowd of seven.  There was PLENTY of food and it was all wonderful.  M's parents and aunt were here and loved visiting with Kylie.  They brought tons of toys and clothes, it almost looked like Christmas.  My Dad was also here and was a wonderful help in getting things on the table and cleaned up.  I looked at Kylie no less than 100 times yesterday and silently gave thanks for her choosing us as her parents =) 

Thanks for those that read and/or commented on my big vent from Wednesday. The drama with M's aunt turned out fine, she stayed at a hotel and was here and pleasant for thanksgiving dinner =) I had a talk with my Mom and we are going to try to swing by after my company party next Saturday to see my sister. After talking with my Mom about my concerns she was understanding so hopefully the guilt train has left the station.

I'm gonna go catch up on a few zzz's but wanted to give the promised sweet potato update.  Hope you all had a wonderful turkey day!!!

Let the holidays begin...

Every year I'm hopeful that the drama will be nonexistent and this year with Kylie's arrival I was extra hopeful.  But alas...my plans of blissful peace have been foiled.  So I find myself in need of a serious vent session.

Drama #1 - We are hosting turkey day and invited M's parents, grandparents, and aunt.  We also invited my parents and my brother and his family.  My brother told us early on that his family are going to spend the holiday with my SIL's fam so that left us with a party of 10.  M's grandparents and aunt would be coming from out of town (about 4 hours away) and staying with us for a couple nights.  We have been fighting serious viruses in our house and still aren't all the way better.  So on Monday I sent an email to everyone we invited letting them know we have been ill, still are and just wanted to let them know.  We got a note back from his Grandma that she had been ill as well and actually spent two days in the hospital because of dehydration so they wouldn't be able to make it.  His aunt sent me a message asking if we were still up for it and I responded that while I thought we could manage the dinner having house guests would be difficult.  I asked if she could possible stay somewhere else (hotel, with M's folks, etc.).  She sent M an email this morning being a total martyr saying things like "I feel like if Grandma and Grandpa aren't around I'm excluded and not really wanted." and "I have no one else".   M has to call her today to smooth things over but I'm just annoyed that a 55 year old woman can't realize that a couple with a new baby that has been sick might have a hard time having house guests.  And why wouldn't she stay in the town she lives in with her parents who are sick and might need her help?   Sheesh!  Why in the world does it have to be this big of a deal that we'd prefer not to have house guests?   

Drama #2 - Background...my sister and I don't get along, she is actually my 1/2 sister and is basically bitter I was ever born (as she loudly told my Mom when she was about 35-she's now 45).  She lives in AZ and we make nice when she's in town because (1) I love my niece and nephew and (2) my sister is fake and never wants to actually talk or deal with our "issues".  So the drama now is that she'll be in town Dec 3-5 and her b-day is the 5th.  My Mom mentioned to me about a week ago that she is planning a b-day meal for my sister and hoped we could come.  I thought dinner would be on the 5th since that's her actual b-day but I found out yesterday that it's not, it's on the 4th.  That happens to be the night of my company x-mas party that I RSVP'd to weeks ago.  So I told my Mom we couldn't make it and I got a guilt email from you-know-where saying that my sister hasn't been home in 18 years for her b-day and she hoped we would find a way to be there for this "very special celebration".  The issues I have are:

1. It's impossible to do both - my company party is at 5 and the dinner my Mom is planning is at 5:30. 
2. Kylie's routine typically starts at 6:30 (eating oatmeal, bottle with apple juice, reading, bath, bottle with breast milk and bed).  This routine gets her asleep around 9:15. There isn't really any hurrying ability in the schedule so the later we start the later she gets to bed and the crabbier she is the entire next day.
3. Work parties aren't really optional and I don't want to show up and leave an hour later with the fear that will be seen as worse than not coming at all. The earliest I think we could leave is about 6:30.
4. My sister hasn't acknowledged my b-day in five years...I don't feel like it's my responsibility to go out of my way to celebrate hers.
5. Using guilt to get me to do something makes me mad and resistant to doing it. 

I keep telling myself I should be the bigger person and stop by on our way home from the company party to let Kylie meet her Aunt and give my sister a b-day card.  But again, why does it have to be such a big deal?  And why does my Mom feel the need to pull the guilt card?  Please say I won't do this to my daughter....

Wow, that turned out to be quite the rant!  Any advice on either drama is of course welcome =)  WWYD if you were me?

I'll post a much happier update about Miss Kylie on Friday...complete with turkey day photos.  She's getting her first food (other than oatmeal) on thanksgiving day, I think it'll be sweet potatoes.  Here's wishing everyone a wonderful holiday...without the drama!

Ok, who am I kidding...I can't post without a pic of Miss Kylie.  Here she is a few weeks ago during tummy time.

Happy dance!

After a week where Kylie and I have had colds and pink eye (no, I didn't escape it) we are now in recovery mode and to top it off M has returned!  Overall I think Kylie and I held down the fort nicely.  We managed to get all the animals fed and cared for...including ourselves.  But can I just say how thankful I am for M?  He is most certainly the cheese to my macaroni =)  I don't think I'm cut out for solo parenting that's for sure. 

We still have a couple days of eye drops left to take and our congestion isn't all the way gone but it's getting better.  Kylie actually slept all night in her crib instead of needing to move to the swing part way through the night.  Mic - that nap nanny was a total score...after you mentioned it I looked on my local craigs.list and could only find one for $75.  It would have been great to have...

Thanks for your thoughts on x-mas gifts.  We have printed off 8x10 collage prints of Kylie's 3 month photo shoot for parents, grandparents, etc. and will do the same of her 6 month photos the end of this month.  I wanted to find some frames that both 8x10's could go in.  For some reason I feel like giving out pictures of Kylie as their only gift is kind of lame.  Is it?  I'm having trouble finding the energy to figure out another gift for each person though.  All in all we buy for around 20 people.  Maybe we'll try to figure it out this weekend.  I'm feeling the need for a plan!

I need to wrap up this post so I'll close with a picture of Kylie in her diaper and robe.  She loves her robe and I think she looks like a little boxer in it so it always makes me chuckle. 

Pink eye...BOO!

Poor litter girl has a cold and pink eye...in both eyes.  UGH!  Her cold has her so congested she's waking up almost hourly at night to cough, struggle to breath and complain about it all.  Not my typical good little sleeper and I just feel so bad for her.  The last two nights we've gotten up multiple times and then for good around 3 to move to the swing (I nap on the couch next to her swing).  The incline of the swing helps her congestion and she gets a few more hours of zzz's.  I've never had pink eye so I was shocked to see all the green gunk in her eyes and the eye lid swelling.  We've now got meds started and I'm hoping she'll be good as new in no time.  Worst of all...pink eye and the cold have taken away her giggles, so sad...mama wants those back darn it!  And to top it all off M downloads pics off the camera so there's not even any new pics for this blog post *sheesh*  I keep repeating to myself, "this too shall pass" but in my sleepy state I'm starting not to believe that *lol* 

In other news, yesterday was M and my 7 year dating anniversary =)  I know it's silly to keep track of that as well as our wedding anniversary but we do.  Usually we go have fondue at the melt.ing pot but with my dairy and soy diet restrictions we'll have to come up with something else.  I can't believe it's been seven years...I am so, so lucky to have met him and traveled down the path we have together! 

In random news - the horse has been found (http://www.stuffedsafari.com/Greta-the-Bright-Flower-Print-Plush-Fuzzle-Horse-p/dg-4210.htm), thanks Trisha!  This site has unreal prices on any kind of stuffed animal you could ever want - good find with Christmas around the corner.

That brings me to the last topic - Christmas.  Usually by now I have 1/2 my shopping done and know what I'm getting for everyone else on my list.  This year...no flippen idea what we're getting anyone.  And also no idea when we might go out and do any of said shopping.  Anyone have any suggestions for me except to get off my backside and get started?

Fun Day!

I'm sneaking in a blog post in my last 10 minutes of work *shhhh*  But I had to say a YIPPY for a fun day yesterday =)  Kylie and I went to Fort Collins to visit some friends.  Not sure I've ever posted about it but Ft Fun is an hour away from where we live now, is where M and I met and where we still have tons of friends.  Since having Kylie we haven't gone there much so it was nice to get up there and see a couple close girlfriends.  My friend L is a "fertile" and has a 2.5 year old son Matt (center) and is preggo with #2.  She's a SUPER understanding fertile though so don't hold it against her =)  My friend A is a fellow IVFer and her son is 1.5 year old Jake (left), she is TTC #2 with a FET cycle in December and is pretty nervous.  Here's a picture of the collective cuteness:

I call this Kylie's Al Bundy pose ;-)  We talked about all the normal catch up stuff and it was an easy, light afternoon with the girls.  Just what mama needed!  Sometimes I just don't know what I'd do without such awesome friends. 

Anyone have any earth shattering weekend plans?  Kylie and I don't =)  We'll do some grocery shopping tomorrow and then are going to a friends for girls night...although we'll go early and check out shortly after it officially starts since it'll be Kylie's bath, reading, eating, bed time.  Such a schedule the shrimpy one has!  Then on Sunday we'll probably hang loose and maybe go to my folks for a visit.  Have a good weekend bloggy friends!

A lazy, restful weekend =)

Hey there bloggy friends!  Hope everyone is doing well and had a good weekend =)

We had a nice lazy weekend.  Friday night was homemade pizza night after a long week at work.  Saturday we got new tires on M's car and while we waited we did a little Target shopping for canvas toy bins that fit in our entertainment center shelves (to hide the ever increasing number of living room toys), a few clothes for the wee beast who is growing by leaps and bounds almost daily it seems, and also some size 3 diapers (holy crap!).  We're giving the target brand ones a shot because blow outs were happening a lot with the others.  Anyone ever use them?  After our Target adventure we went to lunch at Qdoba and then to PetSmart to let Kylie see some animals.  Her favorites were the birds, much to M's chagrin...he seriously dislikes birds for some reason. She also liked the fish and we also got some more for our fish tank since the natural selection process seems to be alive and well and the number of fish had dwindled.  Kylie really enjoys watching them these days so we figured we'd give her more to look at.  The rest of the day was spent grocery shopping and chillin around the house.

Yesterday we took massive naps (2.5 hrs) in the morning since Kylie's clock wasn't exactly switched yet and she got us up at 4:30 for the day.  At least she let us take the naps!  Then we ran some errands, I went to the gym and M went for a run.  The weather has been beautiful here, in the 70's and not one flake of snow yet.  That's suppose to change this week though and we're expecting some on Thursday.  M has requested that I don't talk about when he is leaving for his trip or getting back because after all we don't know who reads this blog...he worries about his girls =)  He doesn't ask for much so I won't blog about it  anymore but just know that I may be on radio silence for a while.

This has gotten long so I'll save my updates for our new nightly routine and this weeks plans for another time.  And since I know the real reason any of you read...here are a couple pix of Kylie ;-)   The skunk is her new car toy and was actually purchased out of the *gulp* pet toy section of Walgreens after I showed it to her and she decided to slobber all over it and wouldn't let it go.  We've named him Pepe.

This is us just before bed time after her bath.  I love those cheeks!!!

Hope you all have a great week!!!

Halloween and schtuff

Hello my bloggy friends =)  I just wanted to post a couple pictures of Miss Kylie on Halloween.  I meant to do it yesterday but go called in for jury duty and ended up being on the jury.  Kind of a strange experience...but all in all it was ok.  Anyway, now to the cute stuff!

She was only in her costume for a few minutes because she got too hot.  And the pose with the pumpkin was right after eating her oatmeal (which is going great!) and before bath time.  We were hoping to get her to sit up on her own with the pumpkin but as you can see that didn't really work =) 

I'm on antibiotics again for the sinus infection from you-know-where and it appears to be causing constipation for Kylie.  It turned rock hard and had some blood in it on Monday so the doctor had us do a glycerin suppository (SO sorry Kylie) yesterday and give her some apple juice.  After a day of 7, yes 7 dirty diapers she is feeling much better *yippy*  Now we'll do daily apple juice until I'm not with the meds next Monday.

M leaves next Wednesday for a work trip that is a full week and I'm scared!  How the heck am I going to take care of Kylie, the dogs, the horses, getting ready for work, etc. all on my own?  Any BTDT tips for me would be MUCH appreciated!

And a few answers from comments to the last few posts:

• No she isn't always this smiley.  Mom and Dad work hard to get these smiley pics but I think she's a pretty happy baby so it's not tooooo hard =)
• I have a tag issue and can't let tags stay on anything.  So the horse you asked about...I'm sorry, I don't have any info for you on the brand.  My MIL got it at a boutique shop where she lives but I'll ask her if she recalls the brand next time I see her.