First Trip to the Zoo

We went to the zoo for the first time on Thursday.  We chose the Woodland Park Zoo because it was closer but we still had to drive about an hour and half to get there.   The ride down was great and we only had to make one potty stop where Katie used her little potty in the back of the car.  

all ready to go

We got there around 11:00 and made our first stop at the penguins since they were right at the entrance.   

 After that we headed to this great indoor space where toddlers could run around.  It was perfect for the girls since they had been stuck in car seats and strollers for three hours.  

 

happy girl free to roam

Carly loved this fish tank even though it had the same exact fish as we do.  The only difference was that it was down at her level

 We wondered around checking out all of the animals but it was lunch and nap time so most of them were being lazy and sleeping.

The elephants and monkeys were the only animals we really saw up and moving around.  Katie loved both of them.

close encounter with a monkey

someone is getting very sleepy

Around 2:00 Carly woke up from a very short nap in the stroller and this is where our family fun day ends. It went from bad to disaster in about 10 minutes.   Our sweet Carly does not do well if she is either hungry or tired and when she woke up she was both.  She started crying and we thought we could just stop and give her a snack and then leisurely make our way back to the car with a stop at the merry go round (which we had told Katie we would go on last).  Oh no...little miss had other plans which was nonstop crying. 

So now we are quickly saying bye bye zoo and speed walking to the exit.  Of course Katie, who is overly tired, starts crying because we can't go on the merry go round and all we can think to do is blame it on her sister.  We make it to the car with Carly bawling and Katie whining.  I keep telling myself it will be ok because Carly will fall asleep as soon as we get moving and both girls will have great naps on the ride home.

Nope, didn't happen.  Carly continued to scream and Jeff and I started to think about our options.  She could be hungry but of course I forgot any jar food and she was refusing the snacks I had brought along.  So we scramble to find a grocery store but we are in downtown Seattle at the start of rush hour.  We endure the screaming until we get to the Lynwood Target and I make a mad dash to get some baby food.  Of course they were remodeling the store so all of the sections were messed up.  Finally I found it in the Health and Beauty Section (are you kidding me) and rush out to the car praying some food will calm her down and she will fall asleep.

Nope, didn't happen.  She was so worked up she wouldn't calm down enough to eat. So I am walking around the parking lot trying to shush and console a screaming one year old and I am on the verge of tears because we still have a two hour drive ahead of us and I have no idea what to do for her.   And I just have to say Katie did great throughout the whole ordeal and even slept for about 20 minutes even with her sister crying right next to her.  That girl amazes me with her sleep habits.

So now we get back on the highway just praying that she will calm down.  Of course she doesn't and it is on and off crying/screaming as we make our way through traffic.  We stop at the first rest stop thinking if she gets out and walks around she will calm down enough to eat and then will be happy for the rest of the way.  There was hope as she was all smiles snacking with her sister on the blanket in the grass.  But oh no...as soon as we started to pack up and head to the car the tears came back and at that point Jeff and I gave up and just endured the tears until we got home.  We knew she had all of her basic needs met and there was nothing else we could do.

Finally, three hours later we got home at 6:00 and Carly was happy as a clam once she was out of the car seat and freed in the backyard.   After that trip we are REALLY dreading our road trip to Montana.  I am desperate for any ideas on how to make it go well for Carly.  We thought about leaving at bedtime and driving all night, but now my fear is that she will wake up and still be tired and not go back to sleep just like she did on the way home from the zoo.

So, at one point Jeff and I said we broke even on the trip to the zoo but once we got home we decided it wasn't worth it.  Maybe next year...

Wedding + Baby + Toddler = Exhausted Mommy and Daddy

Jeff's cousin, Brady got married this past Saturday to his beautiful bride Nichole.  The events were up north across the border in Canada.  Luckily it was very close and we didn't have to travel far because by the end of the night Jeff and I were exhausted.  The ceremony was at a Catholic church and luckily they had a "crying room".  We attempted to sit with everyone else but after a whole two minutes we realized that was not the best choice.  Carly was being very vocal and it was just less stressful to let them wonder around the room and be free to talk.   After the ceremony we had about an hour and half before the reception started so we went back to the hotel where all of the out of town family was staying.  We are discovering that Miss Katie is definitely not shy because she loved meeting and talking to all the people...she is a social butterfly just like her daddy. 

After a little visiting we all loaded up and got ready to go to the party.  Since we were trying to stick with the potty training we brought Katie's little potty along with us.  She refused to go in the big toilet at the church but was all for sitting in the back of the Subaru and using her little potty.  She once again did her business and Jeff dumped the potty contents (luckily it was just pee) in the bushes.  Probably not the best solution, but what else are you supposed to do with it when you are in a parking lot.  I really wish I had gotten a picture because it was just too funny seeing this pretty little girl sitting on her pink potty in the back of the car. 

But I was scrambling all evening keeping my littles out of trouble.  It was exhausting and probably not something I would recommend.  Carly is just at an age where she doesn't want to be confined.  She constantly wants to be walking and exploring which is difficult to do at a golf course wedding reception full of people.   She and I spent a lot of time outside wondering around while Jeff stayed inside with Katie.  And although Carly struggled, we thankfully avoided a major meltdown.

Katie once again surprised me and did great.  She had good manners during dinner and even sat through about 40 minutes of speeches just chatting with her new favorite Aunt Louis.  They talked about all sorts of things including marriage.  Katie said "I will only get married when a boy gives me a ring." That's right Katie girl...and make sure it has a very shiny rock in it!  The other highlight of the evening for Katie was when Aunty Gloria took Katie up to meet the princess (the bride).  She even got a flower from the princesses bouquet which Katie didn't let go of until we got home. 

Overall, it was a beautiful wedding and it was great seeing family, but it was just very hard to really enjoy it having two little ones to take care of.  I wish I had taken more pictures but I forgot my camera and honestly I wouldn't have had time. 

Congratulations again to Brady and Nichole and thank you for including us in your special day...toddlers and all.  :)

One is Easy

I woke up as usual this morning and got ready for work.  Then around 5:45 I heard Carly fussing and when I went in to check on her I immediately knew she had a blowout diaper.  And of course this was not just a minor blow out that a few extra wipes could clean up.  Oh no, this was an all out, need a bath to get everything clean blowout.  Fifteen minutes later she is bathed, dressed and ready to eat.  I feed her and sit her on the floor while I go get Katie up.  I think I am only a few minutes late, no big deal.  Nope, I come back out to the living room and discover that Carly threw up.  Never mind how late I am now because I am obviously not going in today.  But since Katie is all ready and very excited to go to Sharry's, off we go.  

An hour or so later Carly and I are home and have the house all to to ourselves.  It's very odd being here without the little miss.  It is unusually quiet and stays oddly clean for more than 2 minutes.  Luckily Carly is doing fine and hasn't had any other episodes since this morning.  But because of her history I can't help but worry, automatically assume the worst, and think we are going to end up back at the hospital.  Hopefully after a few more little stomach bugs, I will get past my paranoia and remember that all kids get sick every now and then. 

So today has been a very relaxing day because life with one eight month old is surprisingly easy.  I have gotten some much needed organizing done, vacuumed the whole house, and just played on the floor with my baby girl.

 

So all is well with the little one and in a few hours we will go pick up big sister.  And once again the house will be filled with the familiar little voice that I love so much.

I Love Lazy Days

Today has been one of those days where the rain poured down outside and we lounged around inside.   While I felt a little guilty, it was wonderful and something we all needed.   Carly actually let Jeff and I sleep in until 6:30 and Katie slept until 7:30 which is even more unusual.  After a good nights rest we all felt better and I think we have finally beat this nasty cold. After that we just hung out around the house.  Katie and Jeff went to the grocery store and Carly and I had a little photo session.  Here are some pictures from our day

reading cards from Grandma Sharon and Grandma Maryann

trying very hard to crawl

 

Carly's first V-Day

Sisterly Love

Katie met Carly for the first time after we got home from the hospital on Thursday afternoon. It worked out perfectly because we got home before Katie woke up from her nap. The introduction was so sweet and Katie immediately knew who the baby was. She gave Carly kisses and was curious about her, but also very sweet and loving. She quickly lost interest though and went on about her play which was exactly what we had hoped would happen.

Since then Katie has been incredibly gentle and sweet with her baby sister. We are trying to involve her as much as possible and give her a chance to help us with Carly. She will give her kisses and talk to her and she loves telling us where Carly's hair, nose, elbow (etc.) is. My grandma also sent Katie a new doll and it arrived at the perfect time because Katie has been role playing and doing all the things with her baby as I am doing with Carly. It really brings tears to me eyes to see the love between them and I know it will only get stronger as the years go by. I also know that there will be plenty of not so loving moments, but for now I am cherishing every kiss and hug Katie gives her baby sister.




Now for the rest of the family....Carly, mommy and daddy are doing fairly well. Yesterday was the first challenging day but that was mostly because my milk came in and we were having some issues getting a good latch. Luckily that is improving but poor Carly had an upset tummy last night which kept her up quite a bit. Sleep isn't too terrible and we are getting about 5 hours at night and then trying to take a nap in the afternoon assuming both girls nap at the same time. However, I don't know what I would do without my wonderful husband. He is such a great daddy and I don't know what I would do if he wasn't home these first few weeks. Katie is still busy as usual and he has been keeping her occupied by going to the grocery store, playing outside, and visiting grandma and grandpa a lot. Hopefully by the time he goes back to work in a week, we will have a little bit of a routine down because everyone knows I do best with schedules and predictability, something that a newborn isn't exactly known for :)

Lastly, I will leave you with some pictures.

Poor Carly, daddy is already messing with you.