What a Week!

What a week last week! Alayna spent her first night in her big-girl crib on Tuesday night. It was a bit of a sad night for me (mommy) - but she did great. It just looks so lonely in there. A big bed with a little girl swaddled in a blanket in the middle of it - no blankets, bumper, etc. She is sleeping until between 5 and 6 most days which is great - but the issue comes up about when she falls asleep. Sometimes she will fall asleep around 11 and go until 5/6 and other nights she won't fall asleep until 1 am (those hurt).

She loves to be on her changing table. She smiles and kicks - she's so cute! She is smiling more and even reacting to us talking to her. This weekend she started to smile at me when I played peek-a-boo with her.

Still not taking a bottle well (translation - a little bit of milk gets in her mouth and comes right back out dribbling down her chin, she cries and it's not a very fun 15-30 mins for any of us.) We've tried two different kinds now - so I guess we continue on trying more?

Thursday Grant was at school and Alayna and I went to the zoo with some of our friends. It was kinda rainy - so not a great time, but good company. Since the weather was perfect for zoo-going on Friday we went back. Grant, Alayna and I went back for a couple hours on Friday and had lots of fun. Grant LOVES animals - so I'm sure he will really like the zoo pass this summer. We ran into some friends on Friday as well - they are in the picture with Grant.

Grant had been taking meds all week for his ear infection. WELL on Saturday he woke up with a bit of a rash. As the day went on it got worse. Brian took him to the doctor and she said it was in fact a reaction to the ear infection meds (which is what we thought) and to stop those meds (his ears were clear) and give Benadryl. So we did. The rash continued to spread, but we expected that. At about 10:30 Grant woke up crying. I was checking his diaper and realized his knee was very swollen and looked bruised. He wouldn't let me put his legs back in his jammies nor would he walk on his own. So - an 11:00 call to the doctor and a visit there again today.

When Grant woke up this morning, his face looked just awful (see below). Brian took him to wash his face and when Grant saw himself in the mirror he was a little scared. He had a very puzzling look, patted himself to make sure it was really him and stuck out his tongue. Cute - but sad :( We felt so bad for him. He was still reacting to the ear infection meds and now has to take an oral steroid.

He is doing much better tonight. The rash is starting to clear, he is walking better and in much better spirits. Poor little guy. Hopefully this week will be less eventful :)

Now some random pics...

Daddy...I just want to sleep. Stop taking my picture!

Monkey Pile on DaddyDaddy & Grant with really cool "hats"

Baptism

Alayna Mae was baptised this weekend. She was a great girl in church - not one little peep. She didn't even grunt this week. Grant did ok with us through the baptism and then it was off to play in the nursery :) We were thankful our families and even some great-grandparents were able to celebrate with us. Alayna's gown is one worn by much of the Meidam family. We think Great Great Grandpa Meidam wore it, but know for sure Great Grandpa Meidam did. Then Grandpa Meidam (Brian's dad), Brian and his sister, our neice and nephews and Grant wore it. (see picture below - all of these people have worn the same gown).

Alayna is 2 months

Alayna is 2 months old today! I can't believe how fast the time with her is going! We had her two month doctors appointment today. She is 10 lbs even and 22 1/4 inches long. She is in the 35th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for length. There were four shots and one oral vaccine she had to drink. She did really well with the oral one and cried really hard with the shots (I would have too!). Tonight she is doing ok. We continue to give her Tylenol for the next 36 hrs. She woke up to eat once since her appointment. We went for a walk and when we got back she started crying REALLY hard. It was like her "I'm Hungary" cry when she hasn't eaten for 4+ hours. She wouldn't eat though - I think her shots were bothering her. Now she is sleeping again - so hopefully sleeping goes alright.

Taking the first one like a champ!

The next 4 were a bit tougher - on both of us! :) Poor Baby!

What else is our little princess up to? Well - she is still wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes. She is still sleeping quite a bit during the day and likes to be awake from about 7 or 8 at night until 11, 12, 1AM! (We've got to get that changed a bit still.) Alayna is sleeping about 5 hours at a time at night - which is great! She started "socially" smiling just over a week ago, coos a bit when she is playing on her playmat. Snuggling in with Mommy and Daddy is a favorite thing to do and easily sends her off to sleepy time.

Alayna loves bathtime!

BIG SMILES!

Alayna's Easter basket goodies

Grant, Grant, Grant...

Crazy boy! Here are a few updates on what Grant has been up to....

See the chocolate on his face. This Easter is the first time Grant has really had candy - he likes it :) M&Ms and Smarties are his favorites.
Grant at an Easter egg hunt with his friends. He would find one egg and open it - no interest in finding any more after that!
Here is the whole "hunting" gang.
Grant's first Dentist appt. Our pediatrician told us about a pediatric dentist group in Brookfield that does FREE Well Baby Dentist checks for babies 18mos or younger. We have been waiting for Grant to get a few more teeth - but since he is now 17 mos thought we better get is visit in. The hygienist and dentist were very nice and all the walls and decorations are "under the sea" themed. Grant did a great job - laying between the laps and allowing them to check his teeth. His 4 teeth look good :)

Last night we had to resort to a new time-out place. The corner was just not too effective as Grant continues to throw his food on the floor at every meal. SOOO...we are trying something else. This is the "naughty boy time-out chair". He still throws his food on the floor - he visited the chair 3 times today during breakfast alone. We'll see if facing the wall becomes "no fun" for him - I hope so!

Tonight we went to the playground at a school near daycare. Grant had a lot of fun with the slides!

See the corner of Grant's mouth? He attempted to climb up the slide the wrong way and fell - bumping his mouth. This is a mix of the little bit of bleeding from his lips and the M&Ms he was given afterward to make it "all better". It worked!

He really liked these slides - "more, more".

Happy Easter

Little Miss Alayna in her first Easter dress. Sorry -I have posted this picture about 30 times and it either loads like this or up-side-down - no matter how it is saved.

Grant being a bit goofy

Grant on his first Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma and Papa Meidam's house - Thanks Grandma and Papa! (He looks like he is "hunting" this yellow egg - but really he was more excited to pick up and throw the stones.)

The whole "hunting" gang

Hope you all had a great Easter.

Grant's New Room

We did some work on Grant's room this weekend - finally getting the pictures and his name hung on the wall. We were able to get a great deal on a firetruck toddler bed last summer - so we picked that up. We have one more pictures to hang - Grant in a fireman hat. Thanks to Brayden for letting us borrow your fire hat for the picture and to Aunt Sheila for taking a great picture (or Uncle Ryan - not sure who got this one).

What a cutie!

Grant's Room

Monkey?

Grant - 17mos

Here are the pics for Grant at 17mos that I couldn't post the other night.

Alayna 7 wks, Grant 17 mos

I know - I'm pretty cute :)

"What - I didn't do it!"

Alayna Mae is 7 weeks old today. She started cooing a bit last week. I think I caught a smile or two as well - but it's not a regular occurance yet. It seems like she's had a huge growth spurt in the last two weeks - I can't believe it! I don't want to jinx anything, but last night she slept from 11:30 to about 5. She must be getting to much air when she eats (doesn't seem too normal for a nursing baby) because she has quite a few deep burps that get stuck. I feel so bad for her b/c until they come out she cries and cries b/c she is in a bit of pain.

Grant Arthur turned 17 mos old yesterday. The camera battery died before I could get the rest of my pictures downloaded - so I will have to post his pic later. He hasn't had a great weekend. He was at the dr Sat morning b/c he had had a fever for a day and a half and then his eye was starting to get all mattery. I thought it was an ear infection - but thankfully I was wrong. It is some other virus though. We got drops for his eyes (you can imagine how fun those are to get in a 17 mo olds eyes) which seem to help.

Then - we were headed off to his first Easter Egg hunt at the neighborgood park. Well - Mommy goofed on the times. I thought it was 11-12 but it was really 10-11. So we went on the swings and went home :( He spent the afternoon with his cousins at Nolan's b-day party. He had a lot of fun with the other kids!

His eating is becoming more frustrating for us. He is getting two teeth and feels crummy with this virus - so he has basically stopped eating. We offer meals, snacks, just about anything you can imagine for him to eat and what does he say "NO" with a shake of his head. He has been drinking his milk (with Carnation Instant Breakfast mixed in) - but that is about it. We feel bad he feels this bad! BUT - while Brian had him at the dr this weekend - they put him on the scale. Since a week and a half ago he has gained weight! He was 19lbs 9oz and now....20lbs 3oz - WOW!!! So - thankfully the carnation instant breakfast in his milk is working with his weight gain issue - but I just wish, wish, wish he would start eating better.

Pictures of Grant to come soon!

Buddies...

Daddy and Grant are "buddies"

Mommy's 30th Birthday

Alayna's first Snugli ride